[Notes: **eyes go all huge and SD-starry** I have had reviewerz. They're my new bestest friendz^^ Besides that…. Mmmmm. Bleh. I want to hit FIFTEEN reviews before I churn out Chapter 4. Cause I do. Fwee. You laky, you pluggy, ne? +0.^+]
{DISCLAIMER: ShinkidouSenkiGundamWing (say that five times fast) is the sole property of a bunch of guys who work in a company and the Japanese dude they bought it from. I do not own GundamWing anymore than the next semi-rabid fangirl out there—or at least, the ones who don't think they own it…. Yeah. So. Like, the bad guys are mine, and the plot is mine; any resemblance to actual fics, people, or other stuff that this shouldn't resemble, living or dead, is purely coincidental ^^}
"Ukiyo-e"
c h a p t e r 2
Relena watched the screen before her tensely, gray-blue light from the screen casting a flickering glow over her features. A newswoman was reporting on the situation, and Relena was distinctly unhappy with the message she was sending.
"The developments of the unknown colony's activities are being carefully monitored and there is no cause for alarm. Any untoward developments will be immediately reported. —Aya Maerio, outside the capital."
The girl's fist clenched, grasping the arm of her chair until her knuckles whitened, but her face did not betray her intense worry and indignation. She stood quickly and turned from the screen, lifting a hand as though to cover her face, but retiring it to fist over her heart.
As she stared at the floor through eyes slowly misting over, thoughts came unbidden to her mind—what if Une was keeping something from her, despite her assurances that she wasn't? What if that colony was planning violence, the unspoken worry of the entire nation? What if there was nothing she could do to save what she still thought of, despite her lack of political office, as her country? She felt so phony, here awaiting her little speech at the dedication of the newest colony to be built—the first since the end of all wars, after Mariemaia.
And in the very back of her mind, surrounded by clamoring political puzzles, demure but clear-voiced for all of that, was one last question. Heero… where are you now—when I need you?
She silenced it—or tried—with a remorseful shake of her head. She didn't need him now; after all, he had no Gundam and she had no right to ask of him something that she didn't even think was possible. Who was she fooling? –she didn't even know what was going on. If he were to appear, she wouldn't have anything to ask of him, anyway. She was just… powerless. Hopeless. A lost girl alone in her impotency. Really, said a thought unbidden, she missed the sense of security she had when she knew he was watching—he never knew she knew. But she did. But then, self-pity wasn't going to get her anywhere.
She walked to the window, turning her back on her sumptuous lodgings and looking up at the moon for answers.
---
Heero looked down from the night sky and at his hands lying limp in his lap. Sitting in the back of a passenger transport heading to the newest colony, the only to be built by the Earthsphere Unified Nation, he was slightly off balance in the seats and not in the cockpit. He never questioned his decision to head there. After all, it was possible he'd hear something from a visiting dignitary.
It was madness to question yourself. Debating a decision in battle got you killed nine times out of ten. Which is why he did not consider the fact that the dignitaries would know nothing he did not. That he, in all probability, knew more than the dignitaries. And why he did not wonder if it would be a mistake to be where Relena was. The ceremony hall would only be so big.
It was not, of course, public knowledge that Relena Peacecraft was going to be there; officially, it was confidential information, a sure sign that the vast majority of the population knew. All Heero had to do was place himself inconspicuously in a crowded location, and the information was supplied happily to his ears.
"We're very sorry," said a voice over the loudspeaker in at least four languages, "but we have been notified of a temporary delay." The voice hesitated, then resumed, crisp, professional, and unperturbed. "We will be landing on a nearby moon base until the all-clear. There is no cause for alarm; again, this is simply temporary."
Five minutes later the shuttle docked, dislodging its passengers into a small, somewhat ill-maintained terminal. As the other people milled about, the young man strode purposefully toward a deserted corner, removed his laptop from a satchel over his shoulder, and quickly hacked into official communications. He typed in a command and the sound shut off, words appearing transcripted on the screen.
HQ 3198463 – ATTENTION ALL CIVILIAN SHUTTLES, YOU ARE TO LAND AT THE NEAREST AVAILABLE SITE AT ONCE. REPEAT, LAND IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. YOU WILL BE NITIFIED OF ANY CHANGES.
CVAR 473892 – WHAT IS THIS? HOW CAN WE LAND WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON?!
HQ 3198463 – THERE HAS BEEN A MESSAGE FROM THE CAPITAL. WE ARE TO LAND AT ONCE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. REPEAT, ALL CIVILIAN TRANSPORTS LAND IMMEDIATELY.
He closed the computer. Enough. There was something wrong, and he was going to find out what. He shoved the device back into the bag and walked innocently toward the exit of the terminal. He glanced around from the corners of his eyes, hidden by thick brown bangs: one pilot. Two pilots. Three pilots. Fools, to leave their craft unattended. He strode though the door, down the attached arm, into the craft, into the cockpit, and was taking off before anyone noticed he was gone.
The pilots rushed to the windows, shaking their uniformed fists in futile rage. "What does he think he's doing?!" one cried. "There's a situation out there! Can he even fly?!"
That question was answered as the trail of light flashed further and further away.
The same pilot lifted his hand to scratch his head. "I wonder where he's going, anyway."
---
Duo stared uncomfortably at the tea in front of him. Hot tea. Hot. Tea. He looked out the window disconsolately at the heat waves rising from the sand and concluded that millionaire or not, Quatre was absolutely insane.
The current subject of Duo's less-than-complimentary thoughts was hunched over a computer that was plugged into the radio, typing away with a random Maguanac leaning over his shoulder apparently giving him instructions.
"I sure hope he finds something," he told Trowa, glancing at Wufei, who was meditating.
Trowa, who also recognized the signs of a Wufei near to snapping, nodded in agreement. "It does seem odd that Heero would purposely close us out of what be knows. I mean, he's never been too vocal, but still…"
"If you ask me," the braided young man said, leaning forward conspiratorially, "it's because Relena's involved somehow. That guy," he continued, raising his eyebrows with a look of condescension, "has no idea how to operate around women."
"And you do?" A female voice broke in. Duo whirled, turning tomato-red as Hilde strode through the door, characteristic beret as in place as ever. "I regret that I was unable to find Heero," Quatre said without a trace of humor, despite the rather impish expression in his blue eyes, "but Miss Schbeiker was also on the waves, and I asked her some time ago to join us. She may be of some help."
Duo nodded wisely, his bangs accidentally obscuring his face as he waited for the burning to leave his cheeks. When he was sufficiently sure that he was back to normal, he tossed his head back, winking at Hilde. "Long time no see, Hilde, how's it been?"
"Fine," she answered, grinning at him in greeting. "Howard seems to love the yard more than you do. He's considering building something just to prove he still can. Have you guys found anything?"
"Not really. Heero's off somewhere again. I think he's gone off to find Relena again…" Duo ignored the soft snickers from the area of Trowa and Quatre. Wufei opened one eye.
Hilde looked concerned. "Does he know where she is? It's all over that she's on that new colony—"
"What new colony is that?" Rashid asked, coming into the room with more tea on a silver platter.
"It's the first built by the Earthsphere Unified Nations," she told him, setting her beret on the table and flicking her bangs further from her eyes. "She's making a speech. Technically no one's supposed to know, but everyone does."
The radio made a soft hissing sound. "Are you ready?"
Wufei jerked like a live wire, grabbing the microphone before anyone else made a move. "YUY! WHERE THE [explitive deleted] HAVE YOU BEEN, [explitive deleted]?!"
The cool voice undercut Wufei's tirade. "Someone take the receiver away from Chang. He's going to damage my speakers."
Hilde snatched it from the Chinese boy as he stared in mute fury at the mic, turning her back before she could see the look of spite he flashed her. "Shoot."
There was a pause, then, "Ryoukai. Relena's on the new colony—"
"Tolja," Duo muttered out of the side of him mouth. Hilde kicked him.
"And I'm sure that's where they're going to try something."
"Is she going to be taken hostage again?" Quatre asked in alarm, and Hilde relayed the message.
"I doubt it, that would be strategically unwise. I think they're going to make a statement—but abducting Relena isn't part of that statement."
"So what are they going to do?" several voices asked simultaneously, although Hilde's was the only one heard with any clarity.
"I don't know. Are you guys ready?"
Duo motioned for the mic, which Hilde handed over. "What're you planning, buddy? Let us in on it, whyontcha."
"I need you all to be ready at the nearest shuttle launchpad at twenty-one-hundred hours."
Hilde glanced at the clock. "But that's in three hours! What's he thinking of? The official opening of the colony isn't for five days!"
"Whoa, buddy, how 'bout clueing the rest of us in, here?"
"I'm assuming Hilde's coming as well."
"Well, yeah, but…"
"Fine. Don't tell anyone."
"What are you talking about? It's just—"
"Do as I say, it's for everyone's safety. Be ready."
"Fine, buddy," Duo said, setting the mic on the table with a resigned expression. Wufei snatched it up immediately. "YUY! Don't you dare to—Yuy? YUY!"
He was met with dead silence.
"Well," Quatre said gently, albeit with a sardonic look, "where's the nearest launchpad?"