Revolution, War... and Peace
Chapter 2: A blast from the past
Quatre was looking through the window of his personal shuttle. The Stars, they were so beautiful, and the blue sphere was like a dream. How can people fight when there were such marvels to see? Quatre didn't know. He was on his way to L-3 to inform Trowa about the new problems Relena was facing. They thought it was better to inform him in person, they didn't want the paparazzi or even the senate to find out her life was in danger. He closed his eyes remembering her sad aquamarine eyes.
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"Relena!"
Relena turned her face around to look at the man who had called her name.
"Quatre!" She ran to him, jumping into his open arms. Quatre closed his arms around her, holding her tightly.
"Relena."
When Quatre had learned that Relena had been attacked, it was as if his heart had stop. He could have lost her for ever. His dear friend, maybe his dearest. God, please don't let something like that ever happen again. Quatre hadn't noticed the quiet tears Relena had begun to shed against his chest. She had gripped her fingers in his shirt, much to Gabriel's displeasure, and wouldn't let go. Quatre wasn't about to let her go either. Having her near him like this was like a dream for him. She's alive! He thought. Gently, he started caressing her hair telling her that everything would be ok, that he was here to protect her now . But Relena wouldn't let go. She felt so great in those arms, almost as if it was him holding her, telling her that she would be all right and that he had kept his promise to protect her.Quatre noticed that everyone in the conference room was looking at them and shyly detached himself from her.
"Now, now sweetie, everything is going to be all right. I'm here now."
"I know, thanks Quatre."
Quatre then turned his head to look around in the conference room. Almost everyone was there. They had all gathered at the Preventer's HQ to discuss the new threat. Lady Une was sitting at the end of the table, clearly, she would be the one in charge this time. Noin was close to Zechs, her fiancé. Beside Noin was Sally and Wufei who had greeted Quatre by a small nod of the head. They were almost all here, just like old times. They were all wearing their preventer's uniform. It was so great to see them again, a great team.Quatre kindly guided Relena to her place near Gabriel then continued his way to sit at his own place, between Duo and Wufei. He had never met Gabriel but had heard very nice things about him through Relena. He didn't know why but he didn't like the guy. But the way the others acted with him, it seemed like he was the only one. He decided to give the man a chance, maybe he was wrong after all and Relena seemed really close to him. Was that the reason why he didn't like him? He didn't know.
"Now," Started Lady Une "everyone, you all know why we asked you to come here. We need your help and you guys are the best. Vice foreign minister Darlian was attacked 2 days ago by an unknown enemy." She turned her head towards Relena's direction and asked her: " Miss Darlian, can you tell us anything about what happened? How many were they? Were they good? We need
you to tell us all the details you remember."
Relena turned to face Gabriel. She was scared. Many times she hadn't been afraid to die but now she was and didn't know why.She kept seeing the faces of her aggressors in her head. Dark black spots that were surrounding her and taking her life away. She hadn't been sleeping for the last two days and her nerves were starting to crack. She inhaled slowly. Come on Relena, you are the world leader. You can't be weak. You have to be strong. She then turned her head to face the group and started with an assurance that surprised even herself."I'll try to tell you everything I remembered or noticed."
Relena raised from her chair and went beside the window. She then put calmly her hand on the glass and started to tell her story.
"We were just walking, Gabriel and I, in the Sank kingdom's gardens. It was so peaceful. I was tired so I didn't really noticed what was going on around me. Gabriel was talking to me when I heard some noise in the branches. I knew something was wrong. At that hour, the gardeners are all asleep or with their families. I told Gabriel we should get back inside but he didn't seem to notice anything. He was asking me what was wrong when 4 men appeared before us. They were soldiers, I could tell. They knew how to handle their guns and they looked really strong and fast. Gabriel told me to run towards the castle and I did. He shot 3 of them down, I saw it. But one of them was still up and ready to shoot me. Gabriel told me to look out but before he or I could do anything, the forth man was killed by someone else. We don't know who it was. Gabriel was as surprised as me." She then turned around to face everyone again. "But that's not what is wrong here. The men that were down came back to life. It's as if Gabriel's shots hadn't hurt them at all. Again, before we could do anything, they were shot down." She paused a moment before continuing. "I went to Gabriel's side to tell him we should run. He grabbed my arm and we did." She then took her place back in her chair.
"The next morning, there were no trace of them, as if nothing had ever happened." She looked at each of them, a serious expression on her face. "But it did happened, we didn't hallucinate. I know what I'm going to say may sound selfish but I can't die. I don't want to, not until I've seen
him again. If I do, this world is going to have another war and I can't accept that. We worked too hard for it; we can't allow something like that to happen again."
Everyone was starring at Relena who had stop talking. They were sort of amazed by her speech. She hasn't change one bit, thought Quatre.Lady Une was the first one to get her composure back. She turned her face to Gabriel's, looking directly at him. "Is there anything you would like to add M. Dulipocivi?"
Gabriel looked carefully at the people that were surrounding him. They wanted peace so badly and they were all going to protect Relena with theirs lives, he knew that. How much more important can she get? He was wandering."No, I have nothing to add except that we are not absolutely sure that the men were shot. I didn't hear any gun shot. But then again, when they fell, the movements of their bodies were like those of bodies that had been shot."
He passed nervously a hand trough his hair. "What I mean is that the person who saved us was prepared and didn't want to be noticed."
"Wow, great story you guys!"
"It wasn't a story Duo." Added angrily Relena. "Do you think I was joking?"
"Hey , hey, don't panic. What I mean is that we still don't know anything
about those guys and well, that it was exciting. NO OFFENSE here!"
They all looked at Duo, a surprise expression on their faces.
Duo backed up, raising his arms in a protective way. "Hey don't look at me like that! Ok, I admit it, I like action stories and that sounded just like one."
Lady Une sighed. Duo Maxwell hadn't changed at all. I wonder some times if he'll ever grow up one day?
"Well, I think everyone knows that Miss Darlian is facing a great danger. Unfortunately, as Duo said, we don't know anything about this menace. I really think we're going to need everyone's help again." She turned to face Quatre. "Quatre, we need you to go get Trowa. He would be of great help. " She then turned to face Noin and Zechs. "Wind, I know you have a country to
run and that I can't ask you to be one of Relena's personal guards."
"I'm not going to let my sister be guarded by anyone else." Zechs was serious. He wasn't about to let his little sister's life in the hands of someone else."Wind, I understand your concern but you won't be of any help if you are caught between to jobs and-"
Zechs was about to cut Lady Une again but Noin stopped him before he could
say anything."She's right Zechs, you cannot just leave your duty like that. You have a country to rule and you won't be of any help if you try to do both. You won't be able to give your 100% and that just maybe enough to get Relena killed or lose your country's stability."
Zechs turned to face his fiancée. "And what about you Noin, what are you going to do?"
"I'll stay by your side, like I'll told you before. Besides, maybe they are after the Peacecraft, we don't know. We can't let you be alone. I'll protect you."
Zechs looked deeply in the dark blue eyes of his fiancée. He then took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on it. With his lips, he murmured "I love you."
"That's settle. Now Wufei and Sally, you'll be Relena's bodyguards and-"
"Hey, I can do that. I did it before, I should be the one protecting her."
"No Mr. Dulipovici. No offence but you aren't as skilled as a Gundam pilot. Relena needs the best. You're good, don't be offended, but you aren't the best."
Gabriel wasn't happy at all by Lady Une's comments but for now he had to do has told. You'll see.
"As I said, Sally and Wufei, you'll protect Relena, M. Dulipovici just
continue do to your job like if nothing happened. Duo."
"Yeah?"
"You'll have, probably, the toughest job."
"What? Why me?"
"Because. You'll have to find Heero Yuy."
"What? Heero? But we have NO idea where he is. We've been looking for him for the past 3 years and we found nothing. That guy is like a ghost and you want me to catch it! If Heero doesn't want to be found, we won't find him."
"Well then you'll be a Ghostbuster."
"Like that old movie? That was a cool one! Have you guys seen it?"
"Shut up Maxwell so we can get this over with." The Chinese pilot was already exhausted by his companion's comments.
"Ok, ok, I'll work on it."
"Good, everything is now clear. Report back when Trowa will be here and when Duo, hopefully, will have found Heero. You are all dismissed. Oh yes, also, don't forget to always report back to me. I'll be in charge of the operations"
Everyone raised for their seats and all left the conference room of the Preventer's headquarters.
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"Trowa, have you fed the lions?"
"For the third time, yessss Catherine." Catherine had asked him the same question three times and for three times he had answered the same thing.
Catherine came beside him looking at him with her great big smile.
"I'm sorry little bro. I wasn't paying attention."
"You're telling me?"
"Hey, hey, everyone can be distracted some time. I was practising my knife throwing show." She leaned back on the lion's cage looking at the beast Trowa had fed more then half an hour ago.
"I still think you two look a lot a like."
Trowa turned his head, surprised by that comment, but as usual he didn't show anything.
"Hey, you know what, the girl that usually takes your place in the show is coming back today. You'll have the chance to meet her. She's a great kid."
Trowa didn't answer to that statement. He left the lion's side to continue on with his chores.
Trowa had been working at the circus for the last two month. His sister had asked him if he could take on the place of a girl who was working with them. She had to go visit her father back on Earth. Catherine also thought this would be a great occasion to see him again. Trowa had accepted it. He said it was to give them a hand but in fact, he really missed his sister and was happy to see her again. e was supposed to have left the circus 4 days ago but Catherine had ask him to stay one more week just to be here until the girl's return.
Trowa, like the other Gundam pilots had been working for the preventers for the past few years. He thought that his job was ok. In fact, he liked it because he still felt useful for Peace.
Trowa, had also grown into quite a handsome man. Catherine was proud to say that her little brother was one of the cutest men of the entire galaxy. His features were more masculine and he had kept those incredible deep green eyes. He was still wearing his hair the same way, his anti-gravity style. He was well built and stronger than before.But Trowa was alone and Catherine didn't know why. Some rumours said that he preferred men. But Catherine didn't believe that. Something else was behind Trowa's loneliness but she didn't know what it was. He wasn't the
talkative type and she couldn't ask him, she wasn't comfortable enough with this subject.
"Catherine! Where are you?"
"I'm here!" Catherine answered the manager's call.
"Well, come here. Eve is back!"
Catherine jumped in the air. "That's great!" And ran towards the entrance, leaving Trowa alone, to greet the girl that had become one of her bestfriends.
At the girl's sight, she smiled joyfully.
The girl was about Catherine's height. She had long blond hair that was gracefully falling on her back. You could say that she was really beautiful but also that her life hadn't always been happy. This girl had a long and painful history that she would be carrying with her for the rest of her life.
"Eve! I'm so glade to see you!" Catherine hugged the young woman with all her love and friendship. "I missed you." Letting the girl go, she asked "So, how is you father? I hope his getting better."
Eve smile gently at Catherine.
"My father his doing well, don't worry. Thanks for asking."
"Na, it's nothing." Grabbing the young woman's arm, she pulled her towards the lion's cages. "Come on, there's somebody I want you to meet." Eve was letting herself being pulled by her friend. She knew the performer wanted to present her brother. Catherine had kept talking about him all the time, but she never showed her any pictures telling her she should meet him person. So, she would finally meet that guy name Trowa Barton. She knew he was one of the Gundam pilots who had save the Earth and the Colonies. She was happy to meet one of the greatest people in the universe, one that had been able to do what she had dreamed of doing.
Trowa was again kneeling down beside the lion's cage when Catherine and Eve arrived beside him. He rose slowly from his position to greet the girl that Catherine was calling: her friend. He then turned to face the young woman.The shock was enormous and even Trowa couldn't hide it, even for a short moment.
It was her! He knew her! She wasn't just a circus girl. She was the one who had him betrayed long ago. What was she doing here? Why was she here? Was Catherine in danger? All those questions pumped into his head.
Something also happened in Trowa's heart that he couldn't control. His heart started to beat faster. He was; He couldn't say how he was but he wasn't indifferent, that's for sure. That girl, the girl he had hoped but never dreamed to see again but at the same time, the only girl he was
afraid of, the girl that could read into his soul.
The girl seemed as shocked as him. He was Trowa Barton. She should have known. Only he could have become that Gundam Pilot. He was the one that had left her there to die, that had abandoned her. She had always told herself that she would never want to see him again. She tried for so many years to forget him. But to see him like this told her that she could have never forgot him. You don't forget a guy like him. The one that had broken her heart and her soul.Catherine didn't seem to notice the change into her brother and friend's attitude. She was too happy to introduce them to each other to notice anything else. Placing them in front of each other, she started the presentations.
"Eve, this is my brother, Trowa Barton. Trowa, this is my friend Eve Darcy."
Neither of them moved, they were still too much surprise to say anything. At that moment, Catherine started to suspect something. Why weren't they talking? They looked at each other like if they knew each other.
"You." The word had slipped out of her mouth without her even
noticing it.
"You guys know each other?" The situation wasn't good at all. That silence
between them. Catherine shivered. They were so cold.
"Yes."
"I don't know you." With that, Eve started to walk towards her trailer
leaving a speechless Trowa and a surprised Catherine.
Catherine stared a moment at her leaving friend and then turned to face her
brother.
"Trowa, what is that supposed to mean?"
Trowa started to follow Eve's direction.
"I'll explain later."
"But Trowa?"
"Later Catherine."
He was heading towards Eve's trailer, she could tell. But what was going on
here? They were supposed to like each other.
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Eve was sitting at her desk, trying to make some sense about everything that had happened. He's back, I can't believe it. She had been looking at her reflection for the past couple of minutes. Her deep grey eyes, looking through her. She couldn't calm herself; his face was always popping back into her mind. She had been fighting against this memory for so long and she had almost succeeded in forgetting him. Why do I have to see him, and NOW? I don't need this. With Trowa's appearance came all her painful memories: the death of her younger brother, her time living has a traitor just to assure her family's survival... And what had come out of that: nothing. Her other brother had disappeared, taken away by the Alliance, while her father died of pneumonia.
Thinking about her deceased father, she remembered all the lies she had been telling Catherine. She couldn't tell her the real reason she had to go to Earth, she couldn't tell anybody the truth. That was her life and she would be living it for the rest of her life.
A knock on her trailer's door brought her back to reality. She knew who it was and she didn't want to see him.
"Go away!" She hadn't moved from her position, hoping that the rude tone of her voice would make him leave.
But Trowa didn't care. He opened the trailer's door, not saying anything, and then leaned back on the door. He looked directly into her eyes through the mirror on the wall.For a brief moment, she returned that look but she soon couldn't and turned her head away.
"I told you to go away."
Trowa wasn't about to move from his position. He wanted to know why the girl was here, he wanted to know what was going on in that head, but most of all, he wanted to see her.
"Midii Une, " At her real name, the girl shudder. "Why are you here?"
"To work. What do you think?"
"I don't believe you."
"Well, that's sad."
At that answer, Trowa pushed himself away from the door. He then grabbed her setting her on her feet. Looking directly into her eyes, trying to see her soul, he told her with his deep voice:
"I don't know why you are here, but if you put my sister's life in danger, I'll kill you."
The young woman pushed herself away from him
"I have no doubt. You are capable of many things. To kill is easy for you."
"And to lie seems even easier for you."
At that statement, Midii couldn't control herself and the echo her hand made when it slapped his cheek surprised even her.Calmly, Trowa put his hand on his red cheek but his eyes never left hers.They stayed like that for a long moment, looking into each other's eyes.
They couldn't move, they couldn't do anything.
Midii tried to feel sorry for what she had just done but she couldn't. She had wanted to do that years ago and now it was done. But it seemed so empty. She wasn't happy about it. Why?
"You haven't change at all Midii Une."
"You neither, No-name, or should I say Trowa Barton."
Trowa looked at the girl one last time before leaving her alone.
"I'll find out why you are here."
Midii watched him leave her trailer. He'll find out. That, I am sure. But he can't. If he does then my part in the game will be over. I must tell my superiors. But, what can they do against a Gundam pilot?
