Restaurant de la Paix, Cinq Kingdom

"If you review the data, you will see that the abnormality in energy pulses occurs over the Cinq Kingdom."

Miliardo sipped from his wineglass as he studied the screen before him. "We can reasonably assume the Shadowhawk gundam is hiding somewhere in my jurisdiction." The thought was galling. Saying it aloud was humiliating.

Sally Po picked at her salad. Even she could not look at him. The gundams had been discovered by someone, Lucrezia Noin was dead to the world and all the while the Shadowhawk was hiding under his nose.

The waiter inquired if they would need anything else. After re-filling Miliardo's glass, he left them. The restaurant was elegant and exclusive. Miliardo needed to get out of the palace and Sally suggested meeting him here. His arrival had caused a sensation. It wasn't every day the ruling prince walked into a public restaurant. The proprietor had come to greet him and escorted him to a table himself. Miliardo was not unaware that the restaurant was a veritable shrine to the Peacecraft family. Portraits of his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were tastefully placed on the walls. There was even a portrait of Relena. There was none of him.

The other diners stared at them, their heads coming together. They were talking about him. These arrogant noble people viewed him with a mixture of contempt and fear. They criticized him for the life he had lead as Zechs Merquise. They could all go to hell! Without Zechs Merquise there would be no Cinq Kingdom.

The telecom on the computer flashed and Miliardo pushed it back towards Sally. She took the call from Headmaster Himmler after dabbing her lips with a napkin.

"Sorry to disturb you, Miss Po, but I have just finished speaking to Miss Stryfe. She caused a major disruption in her Physics class. Dr. Plume has had to leave for the day because of it."

Miliardo frowned. That was all he needed! His special orphans were supposed to make him look good! That scientist's brat was worse than Duo Maxwell. He drained his wineglass; the waiter discreetly refilled it.

As Sally was listening to the headmaster and empathizing with his dismay, promising a severe reprimand for Miss Stryfe, a group of young school girls arrived at his table bearing a bouquet of white flowers. They giggled and blushed as he thanked them and kissed their hands. The flowers symbolized their hope for peace. Miliardo mused that they should be sprinkled with red for peace could only be maintained with blood.

Sally finished her call just as he finished his wine. "Jerk," she muttered.

"Problems with Miss Trynity Stryfe?" He glanced at the waiter who promptly filled his glass. "I had hoped she would have a positive influence on the others."

Sally laughed softly. "They are not opposite ends of the spectrum! Trynity Stryfe is all five of those boys rolled into one."

"A female to boot!" snorted Miliardo. He drank his wine. "God help us all!"

His companion raised her brows ever so slightly as the waiter popped the cork to another bottle and refilled the prince's glass, but then she turned her attention back to the computer screen. "We ran a highly sensitive scan as recommended by…well…you know who."

Did he? Oh, yes! He certainly did! He smiled as he thought of her, but the smile faded when he remembered how eager she had been to be away from him when they returned from Dover the night before. No kiss good-bye, barely a word. She had been distracted. Just as distracted as he had been by her throughout the day. He had hoped to end the day a little differently, but he spent the night alone.

He drank his wine.

Miliardo didn't like this feeling at all, this feeling that she did not need him.

"Your Excellency?" Sally was speaking to him.

He shook himself out of thoughts of Lucrezia Noin. Before they could continue their discussion, they were interrupted when old friends of his parents stopped by the table. Marquis Dietrich shook his hand and began to reminisce about Miliardo's peace-loving father, and by the time he left, Miliardo needed something stronger to drink. The waiter didn't blink at his request.

Sally frowned. "I hope Lieutenant Benton is close by. Someone is going to have to carry you out of here."

Miliardo chuckled. "I don't think they will be hanging my official portrait anytime soon." Then he added. "This was a bad idea."

"You can't hide in the palace," Sally warned him. "You belong in public. Let your people see Miliardo Peacecraft and they will forget the man known as Zechs Merquise."

"How can they see Miliardo Peacecraft when I don't know who he is yet." Miliardo took a long drink of the glass of brandy set by his hand.

Sally would have spoken again, but she received another call.

"Miss Po, I regret disturbing you again, but Mrs. Drivel informed me that Duo Maxwell walked out of her class midway through."

Sally was very good at hiding her true feelings. She assured the headmaster that there would be consequences. When he was off the line, Sally laughed. "How does one punish the god of death?"

Miliardo threw back his blond head in laughter. The other dignified diners stared at him, scandalized. "Take away his scythe for a week?"

Sally joined him in laughter.

Another course of their meal arrived and another refill of his glass. How did it get empty?

"As I mentioned earlier, we ran a sensitive scan, but were unable to located the Shadowhawk. We can assume that whatever is masking that gundam is using variable waves that are almost impossible to detect in the area we have to cover. If we could narrow down the search, we may have a better chance. But with our present technology it is almost like looking for a certain grain of sand on a beach."

"Just who would have the advanced technology to create such a force field?" Miliardo stared at the glass of brandy before drinking. "And why is there no record anywhere?"

Sally was about to speak when she was interrupted by the telecom again.

"Miss Po, I truly hope this is the last time I need call. I have in my office Miss Stryfe and Mr. Maxwell. Miss Dimster sent them. The poor woman has resigned her position at the academy! I shall have a very difficult time replacing her!"

Miliardo laughed aloud. Suddenly his glass was empty. When did that happen?

Sally sighed with exasperation. "Mr. Himmler, I can send a car to pick them up."

"As if their behavior in Miss Dimster's office wasn't bad enough, I caught Mr. Maxwell making improper advances toward Miss Stryfe in my outer office!"

The shocked expression on Sally's face made Miliardo snort with laughter. The maitre d' took a step toward his table, then seemed to think better of reprimanding to Prince Miliardo Peacecraft.

"I will certainly have a long talk with Mr. Maxwell," Sally said when she found her voice.

"I suggest you do the same with Miss Stryfe!"

The man ended the communication.

Sally stared at the screen and muttered something that made the diners nearer their table turn away in censure.

Miliardo raised his glass. "To Duo Maxwell, god of death." He ignored Sally's look of disapproval and drained the glass.

"You were right, this was a bad idea. I had hoped to give you a report," she said as she set aside her napkin. "Apparently I will have to cut this delightful experience short."

"Yes," he agreed. "You had best go to the academy and pick those naughty children up yourself."

"Indeed." Sally smiled. "I suppose I shall have to sit between them."

Miliardo watched the waiter fill his glass. He loosened his tie and undid the top two buttons of his shirt. His thoughts were becoming quite sluggish, but that certainly was not unpleasant.

A commotion at the door drew Sally's attention and she frowned. "Here comes dessert."

Miliardo half turned and had to grasp the table to keep from falling off his chair. Good reflexes, he congratulated himself. He wasn't called the Lightening Count for nothing!

Then he saw her walking toward the table, her womanly saunter causing an eruption of whispers and outraged gasps. She wore more clothing than usual, but the flimsy fabric coupled with the way she walked drew all male eyes her way. The silk black vest was shortened so that I barely covered her, and the matching pants were loose, but they hung so low on her hips that only her curvy backside and her hipbones kept them up. The slightest tug and…Miliardo's hand was shaking as he drank more brandy. She was wearing a golden chain around her trim waist from which dangled a lightening bolt.

Miliardo motioned to the waiter. He now reluctantly refilled the glass as Roxie Rivera/Lucrezia Noin deposited her shopping bags by the table. She lowered her dark glasses and pushed up the wide black hat so that she could see him.

"You are a hard man to find, my little prince," she said huskily, then leaned down to kiss his cheek.

That alone was enough to outrage the respectable Cinq Kingdom nobility dining at the exclusive Restaurant de la Paix, but Miliardo put his hands on her bare waist and drew her roughly against him. Noin couldn't have been more surprised until she tasted the strong liquor in his kiss. She managed to wriggle out of his embrace to sit on a chair provided by the stern-faced maitre d'. Noin tried to sit closer to Sally, but Miliardo put a hand on her chair and jerked it beside him.

"You are drunk," she whispered furiously.

He ignored her. "What have you been up to, my little Valkyrie?"

She raised her bleached brows. "Shopping for something to match your gift." He was reaching for the glass, but Noin put her hand over his. She understood his uneasiness to be in public, and finding him here, of all places was unexpected. They could not have picked a worse place to dine. Sentiment among the nobility ran against Miliardo Peacecraft because of his past association with OZ.

Miliardo raised her hand to his lips. "I hope you didn't spend too much of my money. The royal treasury does have its limit."

Sally cleared her throat.

Noin reluctantly looked away from Miliardo who did not release her hand.

"I was about to leave. The prince is in your capable hands." But Sally pushed her computer to Noin who noticed addresses of files for her to read.

The waiter appeared after Sally left. "Miss…Madame…" He obviously did not know how to refer to the prince's plaything. Noin was amused. "Can I get you anything?" he finally asked.

She was about to say she needed nothing, but Miliardo was kissing her hand again. Under normal circumstances she would enjoy his lips against each knuckle, but his drunken slobbering was anything but romantic.

"Coffee," she told the waiter. "Bring a pot."

Miliardo was so busy with the task of worshipping her hand that he did not even notice that she swiped his half-full glass of brandy to hand to the waiter who gave her a look of mingled surprise and gratitude. What did they think was going to happen? she wondered. Did they think Zechs Merquise was going to leap up and pull a gun? She noticed people leaving, their angry gazes straying to their table. Oh, Miliardo, you have royally screwed up this time!

Shrugging, she turned her attention to the computer. Sally's report was on the screen. Miliardo was talking to her, his words slurring, and he didn't seem to notice that she answered his questions with unintelligible monosyllables. No doubt his behavior today was brought on by Sally's report concluding that the Shadowhawk was hiding in the Cinq Kingdom. Zechs Merquise hated to be outplayed. Miliardo Peacecraft was taking it personally. There was no way to fight back against the unseen enemy.

The waiter arrived with the coffee. Noin persuaded Miliardo to drink a cup as she studied the data Sally left for her. Finishing, she placed a call to the Dover Base underground lab were Howard and his crew were working on the Epyon and Valkyrie. Without speaking, she transmitted the data. He assured her the scanning system of both gundams would be upgraded.

She typed in; "All gundams should be upgraded. Report to Seaside Lab today." Noin glanced at Miliardo.

He was resting his head on the table. A sober Miliardo Peacecraft would absolutely refuse her next request. Drunk, on the other hand…

"Transport gundams Epyon and Valkryie to Seaside," she typed.

Howard raised his brows. "My dear, is this what Prince Miliardo wants?"

"He will give you the codes," she lied as she typed in Miliardo's personal access codes. Then she flipped the screen to Miliardo who sat up and reached for his coffee.

"Howard! Nice to see you!"

Noin entered the codes. Howard watched them appear, his brows raising, then said, "And you, your Excellency are looking quite blissful."

Miliardo spilled the coffee he was raising to his lips. The cup and saucer clattered, the dark liquid stained his shirt. He swore loudly.

Howard chuckled as Noin quickly soaked the mess with her napkin. Miliardo was too drunk to be embarrassed. More customers were leaving and a couple waiting for a table turned and left. So much for public opinion!

"Very well, your Excellency," said Howard, but he was speaking directly to Noin. "I will do as you request." He winked at her, then ended the communication.

Noin didn't have time to feel guilty for her deception. The waiter arrived followed by the maitre d'. They had anxious looks on their faces. Noin wondered what they would do. Were they going to throw Prince Miliardo Peacecraft out of the restaurant? Although she would like to see how it would have played out, she sent a message to Benton who quickly appeared at the doorway.

"Is there anything more we can do for his Excellency?" asked the maitre d'.

Noin closed the computer, then stood and looked around the room. She pointed to a far wall. "I think his portrait would look good about there. See that it is done within the week."

Benton bit his lip to keep from smiling when the maitre d' stared at her in stunned silence. Miliardo rose unsteadily to his feet, but he brushed off Benton's stabilizing grasp and forged ahead on his own. He walked with dignity to the door.

His dignity was gone only a block from the restaurant. Noin managed to save her purchases from one bag before he shoved his head inside and vomited. Benton smothered a laugh. Noin patted Miliardo's back, then handed Benton the bag and sat back against the seat with Miliardo's blond head on her shoulder.

She stroked his hair as he groaned into her neck. "My apartment is closer than the palace," she reminded the lieutenant.

Benton grinned. "May I have your word, Miss Rivera, that you will not take advantage of the prince?"

Noin smiled. "No, you may not!"

Seaside Laboratory/Gundam Hanger

Duo's fingers were tangled in wires when he saw Sally Po approaching. She hadn't said a single word of reprimand for what happened at school. He and Trynity surely owed that to a call from Howard informing her that he would be arriving with a rather large shipment. Once back at Seaside Lab, Trynity escaped to her room, probably embarrassed over the whole matter. Himmler had raked them both over the coals. What had Duo been doing? In front of the secretary? Even thinking about it made him cringe.

But now Sally bore down on him. "Duo, if you are finished, I want to talk to you."

He looked from her to the wires. Sam was waiting inside the gundam, making intricate modifications to the wiring. Shrugging, Duo tossed the wires to him. He could figure it out! He was a smart guy. As he followed Sally he heard Sam cursing.

"If it's about school…" he started.

Sally frowned. "I wasn't going to mention the incident, but since you have, we have no choice but to discuss it now."

"Then what did you want?"

"Not so fast, Duo Maxwell. Walking out of Literature class, I can understand. You have done that plenty of times. Harassing your math teacher, well the woman almost expects it. But what were you doing to Trynity Stryfe in Mr. Himmler's office?"

Duo had no answer.

Sally crossed her arms. "Now is not the time to be Trowa Barton. I expect an answer."

Duo put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "I think I was going to…to…"

Sally raised her brows.

Duo swallowed. "…to kiss her."

There was surprise in her eyes and it annoyed Duo. Was he the only one who could actually see Trynity Stryfe?

"Well," stated Sally. "That is a far cry from the molestation suggested by Mr. Himmler. Do I need to tell you not to take advantage of Trynity? Besides, it would be improper for anything to develop between the two of you because as Prince Miliardo's wards you live under the same roof."

"Improper?" repeated Duo. This was ridiculous! And Sally's disapproval angered him. "Improper, as in what was going on between Prince Miliardo and the commander of his army?"

Sally gasped. "Duo! There was nothing going on between Noin and Prince Miliardo."

"But if it had been," he winked at her, "then it would have been improper. But what is going on with his white-haired hootch, now that is not improper?"

"You are twisting this," complained Sally. She sighed. "Duo, just don't toy with Trynity. She does have feelings."

So do I, thought Duo. Aargh! What was happening to him?

They had no further opportunity to speak. The shipment from the Dover base arrived, and Duo was happy to greet Howard. As the giant doors slid open, Duo dragged Howard to the Deathscythe where he and Sam listed all their improvements and repairs. Howard made suggestions, then left to run diagnostics on the other gundams.

By the time the shipment was brought in, the lab was devoid of the extra space reserved for the Epyon and another huge, covered mobile suit was blocking the entrance. They were barely able to close the doors. Duo joined Sally as technicians removed the tarps. Duo wasn't surprised to see the torn apart form of the Epyon. But the other…

"It's a gundam," he murmured in awe as he stared at the midnight blue and purple mobile suit. "Whose is it?"

Sally stared at it with a raised brow, then looked at Howard. "Who ordered this?"

He snickered as he showed her the orders, complete with Miliardo Peacecraft's codes.

Sally frowned. "When?"

"Sometime between snoring on the table and spilling coffee all over himself."

"I thought as much." Sally was biting her lip as she stared at the gundam.

Duo ran his hands along the surface of it. "Can I take it for a spin?"

"I think it is some else's toy," said Howard, smiling. "I am quite sure that someone would not want you taking it for it's first flight."

Duo could think of only one person capable of piloting a gundam like this, and she was dead. The work on this suit must have started months ago. Duo felt sad the gundam would never know the pilot for which it had been created. He was surprised Miliardo Peacecraft did not destroy it.

When Trowa, Quatre, Heero and Wufei arrived home from school, they were equally amazed and perplexed about the new gundam, but neither Sally nor Howard would reveal the pilot's name.

"Maybe they will train Miss Stryfe," suggested Quatre.

They all laughed, even Duo. Sure, she could pack a nasty punch, and she was smarter than all five of them put together, but she would never be able to master a gundam!

She couldn't even tie her shoes!

"Speaking of Miss Stryfe," said Wufei, "I believe it is time for supper."

Quatre rubbed his hands together excitedly as they rode the elevator to the main level. "I can't wait to taste what she has cooked."

"Nor can I," commented Wufei as he punched some buttons on his palm computer.

"Anything is better than Spaghetti Os," remarked Heero.

Duo chuckled.

The elevator door slid open.

"I don't smell anything," commented Trowa, then added, "I should have asked Catherine to make us a meal."

Heero snorted. "Then how did you plan on getting her the hell out of here after she was done."

"Good point."

There was no sound from the kitchen. Heero reached behind his back and pulled a gun. "This doesn't look good."

"I don't think she's armed," said Duo.

They inched toward the dining room.

Duo was forced to peek in first when Wufei shoved his head around the corner. He reported that the table was formally set, complete with lit candles and tablecloth. There were covered platters, but no sign of Trynity Stryfe. He motioned them in.

Quatre cried in delight. "I knew she would come through!"

Heero tucked away the gun and sat while taking a napkin.

Trowa made no comment.

Wufei stared with his brows raised. "Where is Miss Stryfe?"

"Who cares? I'm starving!"

Duo reached for one cover and pulled it up. Two writhing tentacles flopped over the platter onto the table. Quatre screeched. Heero leapt to his feet, pulled the gun and pumped several rounds into the creature. A bloody tentacle splattered Quatre, guts drenched Trowa, and Duo managed to duck an eyeball. Wufei had raised his plate as a shield.

"Who wants to dig in first?" asked Duo with a chuckle.

Trowa lifted another platter as Heero aimed his reloaded, smoking pistol.

"Seaweed," stated Wufei.

"She didn't even wash it," commented Duo as he watched a tiny crab scrabble across it.

There was one more platter.

"I've seen enough," stated Wufei.

"Me too!" Quatre was still peeling off squid and octopus pieces.

Trowa said nothing as a bloody pulp dripped down his cheek.

"Do it!" ordered a wild-eyed Heero Yuy, his gun aimed at the last platter.

Duo raised the cover to reveal a large, molded chocolate mousse on a crystal platter. Heero cocked the gun. They waited. Nothing moved, so Heero put away his gun.

"What's that?" cried Quatre, throwing himself behind Trowa.

Heero almost pulled his weapon, but Duo grabbed his arm. "It's just a note."

Quatre reached around Trowa to pick it up, and everyone was startled by a click. They could hear the steady tick-tock of a clock. But looking around they saw nothing. Quatre leaned away from the card as he opened as if expecting something to jump out, and when nothing happened, he read.

"Sorry about the supper! I can't cook. Enjoy the chocolate mousse. But eat fast. Time is running out!"

"What does she mean by that?" asked Heero.

The clock stopped ticking.

Wufei raised a brow.

Before anyone could react, there was an explosion. One minute there was a delicious, edible dessert, the next, a dining room splattered with sweet chocolate.

Duo took his finger, scraped some off his cheek and tasted. "Delicious."

The doorbell rang.

Heero pulled his gun. "Damn her!"

Wufei put his hand out to push aside the gun. "Don't shoot. I took the liberty of ordering a pizza."