Phoenix Fire
Chapter 1
Around September 18th. The prologue took place mid-August.
"Hilde! Have you seen my clipboard?!" Duo's voice sounded muffled, since he was frantically rooting through a desk full of paperwork. He held up a meaningless paper in each hand, surveying them with a frenzied look in his eyes. He threw his hands up in exasperation, letting the papers fly free. "Hilde! There's a customer waiting!" He attacked another stack of paperwork
Hilde blinked the sleep from her eyes and peered over at where her husband was tearing through her carefully organized paperwork. She glared in his direction, intent on giving him a piece of her mind. "Duo! My paperwork! Stop that!" He didn't notice, and she began to toy with the idea of grabbing that overly long braid of his and pulling it back rather hard. . . then she slowly started to grin as a more subtle way of revenge came to mind. "Clipboard, Duo?"
A head of frazzled brown hair popped up over the top of a mountain of scattered papers, the cobalt blue eyes nearly bugging out. "Yeah. That. Where?!" Intelligent articulation was apparently out of his grasp at the current time. Hilde grinned like the Cheshire Cat, mentally.
"Where you put it last!"
Sometimes she could aggravate him no end with her untimely cheerful attitude--which was much like his own. But hey! He was the great Shinigami; who couldn't love and adore his witty sense of humor? Or so Duo liked to think. "Hilde..." He moaned slightly as he surveyed the mess surrounding him. "Come on! Can't ya help me a bit here? There's a customer waiting!" He turned and frantically attacked another pile of papers.
Hilde's grin and plan slipped a bit, and she tilted her head, pitying his plight. "Did you try looking on the nail it's usually hung on?" She asked, pointing.
"Yaaahhh!" With that yelled, he pounced on the newfound treasure and ran for the door with his clipboard under one arm, pausing only long enough to sweep his wife up in a brief, tight hug of appreciation
Hilde blinked, then grinned as she observed, through the window, Duo nearly run into the aforementioned, not to mention impatient, customer. After Duo ushered the customer back to the front of the store, the serious side of her started to kick in when Hilde noted the horrible disarray Duo had left of her nicely organized paperwork. Well, it looked like her morning and afternoon work schedule had already been decided for her. First thing's first, she reminded herself, finish getting ready and start Duo's breakfast. She peered out the curtain towards the little store next door to their house, where Duo had taken the customer. Goodness knows that he'd want a big breakfast, claiming that all the stress of the morning had drained all his strength away, and that only "Hilde's Famous/Notorious Cure-all Soup" would cure him. Along with some pancakes, eggs, full pot of black coffee, and just a bit of toast... "with blackberry jam! Death needs nourishment so he can keep swingin' his scythe at the paper-pushers!" reminded the little Duo-voice in her head. Grinning, Hilde turned around and went back upstairs to get ready for the day.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Minister Darlian! How did your meeting with the delegates here on J18315 progress? Is it true that you are really trying to help the White Fang residents here get well-to-do lifestyles, like the ones in L2 colony cluster?"
Another reporter tried to push her way to the front of the throng. "Is it also true that you are working with the Winner Foundation on these matters, and that Quatre R. Winner himself is spearheading the movement?"
Relena Darlian, Vice Foreign Minister and ex-princess, tried to find a way down from the top of the steps to her limo, and found it impossible with all the reporters blocking the way. She sighed mentally, but outwardly kept a mask of calm professionalism on. "Please excuse me, but I must be on my way to prepare for the next series of these meetings on L1-A04782. You all will hear about the entire matter, once it has been settled, at the scheduled news conference. Now please," she bowed her head, "if you'll kindly excuse me." The dour reporters still clustered in the area and begged for more information, although they grudgingly allowed Minister Darlian to be escorted by some ESUN guards to her limo. With a weary sigh, Relena sunk into the comfort of her portable sanctuary.
"Back to the hotel, Miss Relena?"
Relena recomposed herself and nodded to her driver. "Yes, thank you." She glanced out the window at the reporters that were just now starting to disperse. I dislike them. I really 'dislike' them. Memories of reporters chasing her around after her father had been assassinated came back to her again. Quickly, she averted her gaze to the receding sweep of the colony wall and allowed her thoughts to wander. Even a year after its initial debut, the movement to have equal rights on the colonies--mostly for the sake of the ex-White Fang members--still needed some major work. The majority of the colonies in the L1, L3, and L5 clusters were refusing to accept the new policies, and it was starting to give her a headache. Why did all colony leaders seem to be so keen on prejudice?! Relena drew her brows together in a frown, then brightened a bit. No matter how stubborn the three, odd-numbered colony clusters were being, L2 and L4 were doing great with the new policies--thanks to Duo's and Quatre's help.
Her eyes softened, smiling. They're such dear friends. It was always a pleasure to see Quatre at the normally dull and two-faced political meetings. Relena knew she had a powerful ally there. Duo was just always fun to be around, when he wasn't mad. Much like a brother, and Hilde like a sister. The Minister sighed again. She hadn't seen her real brother or sister-in-law since their wedding. However, the reports she received regularly from Zechs confirmed the fact that he and Lucrezia were making good progress with the Mars Terraforming project. Another fifty years and life could survive without artificial help on the red planet, with a bit of luck That was one thing that rested easy on her mind. However, for everything that rested easy, there was another thing that weighed heavily on her psyche.
Heero. . . With that name spoken in her mind, she looked out the limousine's
window with a mild expression of sadness. She hadn't seen him since Duo and
Hilde's wedding, a few months ago. All of a sudden, she smiled brightly mentally.
That had been the wedding that Duo had tricked his friend into going to as the
"best man", and had also been when Heero had found out about the extravagant
matchmaking plans Hilde had for him and the young Vice Foreign Minister Darlian.
The revenge that the reclusive pilot had enacted upon Hilde and Duo had consisted
of writing a flaw into the program that monitored the remaining fuel in the
shuttle they had rented for their honeymoon. Needless to say, the newlyweds
hadn't been pleased when they ran out of fuel in the middle of nowhere and had
to be towed to the nearest colony. Relena smiled sadly again and then focused
on her surroundings, immediately straightening before her driver even informed
her that they had arrived at the hotel. Quickly slipping her mask for the public
back on, Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian stepped outside and hurried to
her room to pack for A04782, before any of her 'adoring public' found her.
A dark shadow perched up on top of an adjoining roof smiled sinisterly down
at the figure dressed in the light pink business suit. Pink eyes danced with
dark mirth and the Phoenix allowed himself a small, chilling smile. Go on.
Hurry to your shuttle, Vice Foreign Minister. Life's full dangers that can come
to you at any moment, should you hesitate. You never know what breath might
be your last.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mr. Chang," her voice dripped with contempt, "you've called Trowa away three times now in just as many months. Does the fact that he's a member of the Preventer Reserves, not a full-time Preventer, keep escaping from your thick skull?!" Catherine was getting herself into a good full-blown mad now. This was the first time she had had any contact with an officer directly responsible for taking her psuedo-brother away to the Earth for the seemingly frequent meetings they had there, and she was going to make quite sure that this officer knew just how much she disapproved of the matter. And if Trowa himself hadn't previously known about Catherine's distaste of his being a part of the Preventer Reserves, he was going to find out as soon as he set foot back on the circus grounds.
Wufei narrowed his eyes at the stubborn, defiant woman on the vidscreen before him. Why, oh why did Barton have to be away visiting now of all times? Furthermore, why had he been chosen to inform the part-time Preventer that there was yet another meeting he had to attend on Earth? Repressing a growl, he addressed the irate Catherine for what he hoped would be the last time, but he had been hoping that for the last fifteen minutes. "Woman, I am not in charge of who has to attend what. I am to make sure that Preventer Barton makes it to Earth on time for the organization's meeting coming up in precisely two days from now. All you are required to do is inform--" Wufei's temper came dangerously close to exploding as Catherine terminated the connection while he was still lecturing. He slammed a fist down on the desk he was sitting at. "BLAST IT! Foolish woman. . ." He snarled in annoyance, and pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger in an effort to ease the headache that had come up out of nowhere. Muttering to himself once again, Wufei comforted himself with the fact that at least Barton would be getting a similar temper tantrum from the red-headed hooligan.
From her spot at the doorway, Sally grinned at her partner. She had to find
a way to give him these sorts of assignments more often. He seemed to enjoy
them so much.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Still in a huff, Catherine jerked a hat over her unruly red curls and glared
at herself in the mirror while she tied the ribbon under her chin. How dare
he go and tell me what to do like that! And after I merely told him I disapproved
of these frequent meetings that Trowa has to go to. Well! He hasn't heard the
last from me. Not by a long shot! I'm going to make sure, once and for all,
that Trowa doesn't have to keep going to these meetings. From what he tells
me, they certainly don't need him at all of them. There are more than enough
Preventers out there to take care of security at political conventions, and
they don't need all their officers for organization meetings. She checked
a schedule that was lying on the top of the dresser, critically examining the
times listed there. There won't be any more performances by the circus until
late tomorrow, and Trowa will be away visiting Quatre on L4 for the rest of
the day, so I should be able to be on Earth and talking that Mr. Chang
before he ever gets back. She tried to reassure herself with a nervous smile.
I'm sure he'll understand. I better leave a note for him, just in case. .
. She reached for pen and paper, but stopped herself as another thought
came. But what if he tries to contact the Preventers then and stop me? Or
try to continue on to the meeting? No, he can't know where I am or that the
Preventers need him again. I'll just give him a call after I'm done and let
him know. For now, she checked herself in the mirror one last time, and
snatched an L3-J18315 shuttle schedule and purse up, I have a shuttle flight
to catch!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For one of those rare moments, Relena looked surprised. "The meetings have been delayed? What caused this?"
Regarding her with a bland expression, the receptionist recited the mini-speech she had practiced so much. "I'm sorry, but I have not been informed on why the L1-A04782 meetings have been delayed. However, they should start again on 24th. If you wish to inquire why they have been delayed with the lead colony delegate, I can transfer you over to that channel."
Minister Darlian closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly. "No, that will be quite alright. Thanks for taking the time to inform me."
"Very well. If the need arises, we'll contact you again at a later time." With that, the receptionist terminated the line.
Relena leaned back in her chair, smiling wryly. "Don't call us, we'll call you." She looked around her room; everything--she only had about half a suitcase of items she required on this trips--was already packed and she was ready to leave. But where to? Relena sighed, "Well, back to Earth, I guess. Hm. . ." Thoughtfully, she tapped a forefinger against the desktop. A few days to burn, and half an hour before my shuttle is scheduled leave. I suppose I'll just have the pilot continue straight to Earth. . . She blinked as she remembered something.
***Flashback***
"Now you be sure to drop in on the two of us sometime!" Hilde smiled and embraced her friend.
Duo was just as cheerful as he winked at Relena."Just give us a call and we'll fix up a place for you to hide from the paper-pushers."
Relena smiled lightly at him, "Don't forget that I'm a 'paper-pusher', too, Duo."
Grinning, he avoided the swat from Hilde. "Yeah, but you're a decent one. After all, you and Heero helped us get the Paradise Plaza jobs rollin'!" Duo scowled as Hilde nudged him. "Well. . . okay, so it's really Frank's business, but still. . ."
Frank smirked lightly and pretended to not hear Duo, instead ruffling hair of a young Paradise Plaza inhabiter. The young boy--self-named Zeero--smiled, staying in close proximity to his idol. The aforementioned idol--Heero Yuy--tried his best to ignore his fan club and just kept darting glances at the rented shuttle, looking faintly, yet eerily smug--or at least it seemed that way to Relena.
Hilde interrupted Duo's mutterings with a bright smile, and began pushing him up the rampway to the rented shuttle. "Anyway, Relena, just give us a call here anytime and we'll get a spot ready for you to hide." She and Duo waved and said their goodbyes to the remnants of the wedding guests before stepping into the shuttle.
***End Flashback***
Relena smiled. Of course! Now that I have some time, I'll try calling Hilde
and see if I can visit with them on L2 for a while. The shuttle will be stopping
there anyway to refuel. Still smiling, she reached over and started tapping
out the number on the vid-phone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Phoenix scowled and muttered darkly to himself--why was the Minister taking so long? According to his research, she didn't carry much with her on a business-related journey, and therefore the time she required to pack was minimal. Does she suspect? No, that couldn't be. I've been too careful with this for her to detect that something's wrong. She's so gullible, anyway. Frustrated, he repressed the urge to pace and checked the watch on his wristcom. She had fifteen minutes left to get to her shuttle. The time required to drive to the spaceport is exactly 8.46 minutes, if the chauffeur drives at a steady 35 m.p.h. For the third time in as many minutes, Phoenix looked around at his surroundings with a now perpetual glare. So why--Ha. There she is. He smirked lightly as he watched the small figure--dressed casually now, he noted warily--get into the waiting car. Enjoy your last fifteen minutes on L3, Vice Foreign Minister. Because in exactly forty five minutes, you're going to be dead.
Keeping the colonies straight: L1-A04782 is where Relena was SUPPOSED to go for her conference with the L1 delegates, but the meeting was delayed. L3-J18315 is where Relena, Catherine, and Phoenix are right not.
