Royal Palace, Cinq Kingdom

"Two weeks and no sign of Miss Stryfe?"

Sally Po sadly shook her head. "We have no where else to look. We know that she took Trowa Barton's motorcycle and left the conservatory long before the attack. We can only speculate what happened next, and I fear any scenario does not look good for Trynity Stryfe. If she ran away, she left with only the clothing on her back."

"Interesting choice of apparel," commented Miliardo as he steepled his fingers and leaned his elbows on the desk. He didn't believe for one moment that Trynity Stryfe had disappeared into thin air like the Shadowhawk, but he didn't voice his suspicions to Sally. The facts remained consistent. The Shadowhawk was gone. Trynity Stryfe was gone.

"Duo thinks she may have gone back to outer space," she said.

"I doubt you will find record of her on any shuttle," he told her. No doubt the Shadowhawk had picked her up. Ivan Stryfe was without question behind the gundam's existence. After the debacle at the conservatory, Dr. J had come to Miliardo and confidentially confessed to attempting to steal Ivan Stryfe's work. He had done extensive research in bending energy, hence the many explosions that occurred in his laboratories. What little he had managed to glean from Stryfe he had incorporated in his gundam design. The only question in Miliardo's mind was how involved Trynity was or whether she was now being used against her father.

"There are still two weeks left of school break," Sally was saying. "Duo wants to go to space to look for her."

"I have already asked Colonel Nelson to look into her whereabouts," Miliardo told her. Nelson would find nothing. "I do not want Duo Maxwell leaving Earth. The Coalition is gaining strength, and we don't want to risk his safety on a futile search."

"But your Excellency…" she started before he interrupted her.

"I have given my answer. Duo Maxwell stays on Earth."

Sally sighed. "I am sorry, but I had to try. He is nursing quite a heart break."

Better a little heartache than having a pile of ashes left in your chest by the blaze of deceit. "I will talk to Maxwell myself about the matter."

Sally's gaze shifted for moment, and then she looked back at him with an uncertain smile. "There is someone here who wishes to speak to you."

Miliardo pressed the button to shut off her transmission, then stared at the blank screen of the telecom. That ache in his chest made him feel like a wounded animal and he wanted to strike out. His anger and hurt was irrepressible, even after two weeks. Now he shouted angrily and swept his arm across his desk, sending the telecom crashing against the wall, his papers scattering over the floor.

The door opened and Benton stepped in as the last few papers floated to the floor. He did not so much as raise a brow at the mess Miliardo had made. "Your Excellency, Colonel Nelson is waiting in the salon."

Miliardo was staring at the broken telecom. "I will need another."

Benton chuckled. "It won't help, your Excellency. Break as many as you wish, but in the end you will have to actually fix what is really broken."

"When I want your advice, Colonel Benton, I will ask for it." Miliardo followed him out of the office. By the anxious looks on the faces of the staff they passed on the way to the salon, he knew he was scowling. Again. As usual.

"Will you be visiting Vice Minister Une today?" asked Benton as they neared the salon. "She is feeling much better and I heard she was out of bed."

Miliardo sighed. "I will not have time. Take my regrets to the Vice-Minister."

Benton nodded and opened the door.

Stepping in, Miliardo was annoyed to see his sister serving tea to the head of the Cinq Kingdom Space Security Operations. Nelson was listening to Relena with a polite smile.

"…And now that Roxie Rivera has dropped off the face of the Earth, I have compiled a list of young women who are more suitable for my brother to escort. Do you have any suggestions?"

"I would be interested in his suggestions also," said Miliardo with a half-smile. As he and Nelson shook hands, Relena's cheeks turned bright pink.

"Will you be joining us for tea?" she asked.

Miliardo raised a brow. Did she think Nelson came to Earth for tea with Relena Peacecraft? He almost laughed as he joined her on the stiff, elegant sofa opposite the chair occupied by Nelson. A tea service was set on the small table between them. "Will one of those young women be joining us?" he asked Relena.

Colonel Nelson stood again, his eyes on the doorway, and Miliardo feared that Relena had invited one of her acceptable prospects. But turning and standing politely, he was both relieved and unnerved to see Lady Une entering the salon. What was she up to?

"Vice Minister Une!" Nelson crossed the room to take her arm. "Should you be out of bed?"

She seemed so fragile.

Miliardo hoped Benton had checked her for weapons.

Lady Une smiled up at Nelson. "I am feeling much better today." Lady Une smiled at Miliardo. "I waited for your visit, and when Colonel Benton informed me you would be detained, I decided to join you."

"Will you have tea?" asked Relena, then proceeded to pour them all tea. They chatted amiably about the weather; the official royal schedule and then Relena began a lengthy discourse on her vacation activities. Smart girl, thought Miliardo as she rambled on about shopping and going to the beach with Heero Yuy. She had an inexhaustible supply of Heero Yuy stories. As he sipped his tea, Miliardo pitied the young man. Although he had been an assassin, Heero Yuy was showing incredible restraint where his sister was concerned. A weaker man would have put a bullet between her eyes already.

Miliardo watched Lady Une over the rim of his teacup. For the last ten days she had remained at the palace drugged and subject to intense hypnotic suggestion to purge her of memories of the attack on the conservatory. While he did not like using such methods, there was no other way to ensure her silence. Unless Lady Une was a highly skilled actress, the aftereffects of their brainwashing left her with only the official explanation of the explosions at the conservatory.

The news agencies reported that a terrorist group had attempted to kill Miliardo Peacecraft. The same group had killed Commander Noin over a month ago. Instead of the disasters that would overturn his government and cause his execution for treason to the World and Space Alliance, these 'attempts on his life' actually turned public opinion in his favor. There was outrage that the terrorists would attempt to kill the ruling prince. His opposition in the Cinq Kingdom Assembly was forced into silence as the airwaves were overrun with accounts of his bravery against the unidentified mobile suit. Even bungling as she had, Noin managed to make him look good.

Lady Une's soft laugh drew his attention and he realized he had spilled his tea. Relena took a napkin to the spill. "My dear Miliardo, I believe you need to use a sippy cup. You are always spilling."

Miliardo stared at her blankly. A reference to the limousine ride? What else did she remember? "I was distracted," he confessed. He turned to Nelson. "Do you have any news of Trynity Stryfe?"

"I am afraid I do not. She must still be on earth. There is no record of her landing at any colony shuttle port, and she could not have escaped detection." Nelson's gaze was unblinking.

Lady Une looked from one man to the other. "Perhaps she was killed at the conservatory?"

"She left before the explosion," said Relena. She was looking guilty. Well she should, thought Miliardo as he remembered her confession about her selfish and jealous behavior towards Miss Stryfe.

"I am sorry one of your wards has disappeared," commented Lady Une. She sipped her tea. "How are the others getting along in school? I have heard plenty about Heero Yuy."

Relena dived in with lengthy descriptions of Trowa Barton, Quatre Winner, Chang Wufei and Duo Maxwell. Lady Une listened with intense interest. When she finished, Lady Une turned back to Miliardo. "Is your little experiment with these hardened street orphans a success? I am not sure letting them loose to attend school with the Cinq Kingdom elite is a smart idea."

"The worst they have done is wreck Miss Dimster's teddy bear," reported Relena.

Colonel Nelson chuckled. "From gutters and guerilla warfare to teddy bears. I think you can consider that a success." He smiled at Miliardo. There was no warmth in that smile.

Lady Une set aside her cup. "I am feeling very tired," she commented. Her brown eyes fixed on Miliardo.

Having no choice, he escorted her from the room to the extravagant suite that had become her residence in the Cinq Kingdom. She leaned against him as they walked, and when she stumbled, Miliardo was forced to lift her and carry her the rest of the way.

When he laid her on the bed, she held his arms so that he could not escape. "Stay with me for a while," she said breathlessly.

Miliardo gently pried her fingers from his arm. "I have duties to attend to."

She fell back against her pillows and regarded him with half-closed eyes. "You are an obstinate man, Miliardo Peacecraft. Now I see why Noin had so much trouble with you."

He started toward the door. "I have much to do."

"What is wrong, Miliardo? I am only asking for a little amusement in the afternoon." She propped herself up on her elbows. "I am bored."

Miliardo turned around to look at her. "If you wish, Benton can escort you…"

Lady Une made a sound of disgust. "Benton is Noin's creature! Even from the grave she controls your life." She folded her arms and pouted as she regarded him. "Forget Noin. Spend time with me."

He wasn't tempted in the least.

"Well," she sighed, "at least I got rid of that actress. Just as I told her, she would go on without you."

"What are you talking about?" asked Miliardo as he took a step toward her. "When did you speak to her?"

"At the ball," stated Lady Une. "She was a very sensible young woman. I think she understood there was no place in your life for her. Her physical resemblance to Noin was amazing, so I understood your attraction to her. But I think you should stop regretting what you could have had with Noin when she was alive. Removing Roxie Rivera is the first step."

"I have much to do." He needed to get away from her before he put his hands around her scrawny neck.

"I shall see you later?"

He raised a brow. "I have plans to visit Seaside Laboratory." He hadn't, but he did now.

"I will wait up for you," she said softly.

When he returned to the salon, Relena seemed relieved. He thanked her for entertaining Colonel Nelson, and before she left, she whispered in his ear.

"Lady Une is not on my list!"

Miliardo smiled and watched her leave before turning back to Nelson. "I am sorry for the social niceties that you had to endure."

"Not a problem." He chuckled. "Your sister is a handful. To have her and Vice Minister Une under your roof must be a challenge."

Benton slipped into the room, and for some reason, Miliardo was glad. Nelson glanced at him, then looked at Miliardo. Miliardo smiled. "I am sorry if you are offended, but after the attempts on my life, I cannot be too careful."

Nelson raised a brow. "We are discussing the Shadowhawk, are we not? I understood that gundam left Earth's atmosphere before the attack on the conservatory."

What did Nelson know? What did Miliardo want him to know?

"Do you have something a little stronger than tea?"

Benton didn't need to be told. He produced two glasses of whiskey. Miliardo hadn't been drunk since that fateful afternoon when Noin destroyed his trust in her. He didn't plan on drinking too much now.

Nelson swallowed half his glass, then regarded Miliardo. "My intelligence reports indicate that a different gundam attacked the conservatory and battled three of yours. Do you believe it was working with the Shadowhawk?"

It would be easy to lie to Nelson, but Miliardo could not afford to lose him. Nelson was a superior officer with an exemplary record. He had known him too long to play games with him. They had trained together along with Noin, and he owed him some honesty. Noin had even trained his younger brother at the Lake Victoria base. "The gundam was from my laboratory. The pilot was fighting the Shadowhawk and had problems using the zero system."

"A dangerous system," commented Nelson. "It takes a well-trained mind to master it." He drank more of the whiskey. "And the pilot?"

"The pilot will not be stepping into that gundam for a very long time, if ever." That much was true. Noin couldn't be trusted. "It is called the Valkyrie and was designed for Noin."

There was a moment of silence as Nelson contemplated his whiskey. Miliardo knew he was thinking about Noin by the sadness of his expression.

Then Nelson sighed. "Now you have a gundam without a qualified pilot." He looked at him. "You are aware that my younger brother was an accomplished Aries pilot and distinguished himself with the Taurus suits in space." He was watching Miliardo. "Lars was one of Noin's students. Unfortunately his career skidded to a halt when he made some bad alliances in space. He fell in with an unsavory group."

Miliardo knew the story. Noin had been disappointed that Lars Nelson had betrayed his corps, causing many men and women to be killed in a trap he had set for them. Lars had befriended the true Trowa Barton and became tangled in the designs of the Barton Foundation. Since the dismantling of Dekim Barton's plans, Miliardo did not know what had become of Lars Nelson.

"My brother was being trained to pilot gundam 06 before the explosion at L10," Nelson told Miliardo as if reading his mind. "It would be a shame to waste his training, both Noin's and the Barton Foundation."

His meaning was clear. Nelson wanted his brother to be considered to pilot the Valkyrie. Miliardo could not imagine anyone other than Noin sitting in that gundam. "I shall give it some thought."

"If you wish, I can arrange for him to prove to you his capabilities. Perhaps you can take some time to come to space."

Benton cleared his throat.

Miliardo smiled. "I have a very full schedule."

"You cannot afford to lose an opportunity like this," said Nelson. "My brother has been fully trained. You have two gundams without pilots. With Noin dead, the Epyon will need a pilot also and there are others in my unit who could be considered candidates."

"The Epyon is my gundam," stated Miliardo.

Nelson seemed surprised. "You don't plan on piloting again, do you? You have a kingdom to rule."

"The next time the Shadowhawk attacks, I have no intention of sitting by without acting." Miliardo set aside his glass and looked at Nelson. "Your men allowed the Shadowhawk to pass right past them after it left Earth's atmosphere. You have not given me an adequate explanation."

"The Shadowhawk was not visible to my troops."

"Yet it was able to destroy two dozen Leos, and a dozen Taurus suits. I cannot believe our space pilots are that incompetent."

"What are you suggesting?" demanded Nelson as he rose to his feet.

Miliardo stood. "That you have not given this problem the attention it deserves."

"Me? What of you?" Nelson was furious. "Between your women how do you find time to rule the Cinq Kingdom?"

They glared at each other for a moment, and then Nelson sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I beg your pardon, your Excellency. I shouldn't have said that."

Miliardo reached out to put his hand on his shoulder. "You were right, Lionel. I have been distracted. I had no right to lash out at you. Tonight I plan to settle my distraction once and for all."

Nelson grinned. "Big plans for Lady Une?"

His stomach churned. "Not quite." He noticed Benton grinning from ear to ear. For the first time in many days he felt as if a weight lifted from his chest. His little talk with the grasping Lady Une could be thanked for his change in attitude. Noin would hate owing anything to the Vice-Minister.

When Nelson left, Miliardo looked at Benton. "Check my schedule and clear it of any engagement. I don't care how important."

"Yes, sir."

Miliardo smiled at him. "Is she still under house arrest?"

Benton chuckled as he nodded.

Seaside Laboratory

"Serve the damn ball!"

"I have to concentrate!" It was Quatre's whiny voice. The delay in the beach volleyball game was annoying Wufei. Noin didn't bother to raise her hat to watch them. Listening was bad enough.

"Serve the ball or I'm going to cram it down your throat."

Noin couldn't resist. She peeked from under her hat and saw Dorothy shove the net up to stalk across the sand toward Quatre who stood with the volleyball positioned before his face.

"Serve!" she barked.

Quatre did and the ball bounced off Dorothy.

"Good one!" laughed Duo until Dorothy grabbed the ball and spiked him with it.

Noin laughed as Duo spun and fell in the sand. It was good to see him having fun.

But Hilde shrieked and ran to him. "You gave him a bloody nose, you hag!"

"Is that all? I must be losing my touch!" Dorothy tossed back her long blond hair and returned to her side of the net where she received a high five from Wufei.

Duo shoved Hilde's hands away. "Get off me! I can take care of myself." He jumped to his feet, then stalked away from Hilde who watched him go with a lost look on her face. A part of Noin understood how Hilde felt.

She was about to push her hat back down so that she could doze, but Duo was headed her way. The others drifted to their towels, the game over. Soon Trowa was forced to apply sunscreen to Catherine. Quatre was hiding his pale complexion under a huge umbrella while Dorothy stretched out on a towel beside him in the sun. Hilde shook out two towels and sat on one.

Duo dropped in the sand beside Noin. He wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his hand.

"I think someone is waiting for you." Noin nodded toward Hilde.

Duo didn't even look in that direction. "Hey, she dumped me! I don't want her back."

Noin sighed and laid back. She closed her eyes and put the hat over her face. "Go away, Duo."

"For a prisoner, you have some nerve telling me what to do!" But Duo laughed. He peeked under her hat.

Noin glared at him. "I'm not in the mood, Duo Maxwell, for your silliness. Now go away."

Duo ignored her order. "Hey, Commander, I need you to do something for me."

Noin propped up on her elbows. "As you pointed out, I am a prisoner. I am under house arrest."

Duo snorted. "You? Ha! Prince Charming will come to his senses. Hey, we all got a chance to wig out on the good old zero system. Nothing shameful about that!"

She wanted to kick the young man grinning at her. "Go away! I don't need to be reminded!"

Heero dropped to the sand on the other side of her. "Freedom never felt so good!"

"I wouldn't know!" snapped Noin as she laid back. This was punishment indeed!

Heero chuckled. "I was talking about freedom from Relena Peacecraft. She stayed at the palace to entertain Colonel Nelson."

"Nelson is on Earth?" Noin sat up. She would ask Sally later and hope that Miliardo did not order her to keep information from her. Noin hated this separation from her duties as well as Miliardo. They were intertwined although she would have liked differently.

"You know Nelson pretty well," commented Wufei as he sat by her.

So much for a quiet afternoon! She noticed Trowa and Catherine rolling around in the sand and couldn't figure if out what they were doing was mutual or whether Catherine was attacking. Should she say something? It was really none of her business.

"Hey!" shouted Duo as if he had read Noin's mind. "You two get a room!"

As Catherine dragged Trowa away, Noin heard Quatre begging Dorothy to put sunscreen on him. Now that was a strange relationship!

"Nelson's report stated that the Shadowhawk was cloaked when it reached space," Heero was saying.

"He's lying!" exclaimed Wufei angrily. "I saw it with my own eyes as it left. It was damaged and it was not cloaked."

Noin sighed. "We have to believe Lionel Nelson. I trained with him under Treize Kushranada. I have known him a very long time. He is an excellent soldier and pilot. He, Zechs and I rose in the OZ ranks together and when Zechs and I left to rebuild the Cinq Kingdom, he chose to join us. We trust him."

"Noin, you were there." stated Heero quietly.

"Don't remind me!" She glared at him.

Heero smiled. "You kicked my ass pretty well!"

Noin laughed. "I guess you need a little more training Heero Yuy! Actually, I barely remember anything. The Valkyrie must have walloped you on her own." Then her smile faded and tears threatened to spill over her lashes. It wasn't true! She did remember! She would never forget Miliardo standing before Lady Une, protecting the vice-minister from the Valkyrie. And the helpless feeling she had when she realized she had no control over the gundam would never fade from her memory. The Valkyrie would have taken Miliardo's life.

"Will someone please put this sunscreen on my back!" Quatre was standing above her. "I'm getting pink!"

Noin grabbed the bottle from him as she sat up, and Quatre wriggled onto the towel in front of her. "You know, commander, you didn't kill anyone. Just scared the crap out of one or two of us."

"Unlike Quatre," muttered Wufei.

Quatre glared at him.

"Hey, we aren't going to get into the stupid things we did during the war," interrupted Duo.

"A very good suggestion," said Noin as she rubbed sunscreen on Quatre's back and shoulders. He really should eat more, she thought. "Soldiers can't dwell on the mistakes made in the heat of battle."

"You should listen to your own advice, commander Noin." Trowa dropped cross-legged beside Heero.

Heero looked at him. "Where's Catherine?"

Trowa smirked.

Noin didn't speculate what that meant, but she did wonder what Catherine's secret was. The girl seemed to have Trowa Barton on demand.

"You put some good moves on the Shadowhawk," commented Heero. He was staring at her intensely. "Perhaps if I ask Prince Miliardo, he would allow you to go to the Sahara to train against me."

"Prince Miliardo can't even hear my name without self-detonating," she snapped. Benton was kind enough to keep her informed. As for Noin, she would never forget stumbling shaking and distressed from inside the Valkryie only to have Sally Po serving her with a warrant for her arrest on the grounds of treason. Noin deserved it, yet to see Miliardo's signature on the order broke her heart. All she had wanted to do was to protect him and she had tried to kill him. Noin had been relegated to a subordinate who had disobeyed him and forged his orders.

Duo sighed loudly. "I was hoping you would speak to Zechs on my behalf," he said.

Noin laughed. "Do you want to be arrested as my co-conspirator?"

"Why not? He won't let me leave anyway!"

"Not this again!" snapped Wufei.

"I wouldn't mind finding Miss Stryfe myself," remarked Trowa. "She messed up my cycle."

"I say good riddance." Wufei again. Noin found his attitude tiring. Sally should work on softening him.

"I was starting to like her."

Everyone looked at Heero. "She was a challenging opponent. No one has ever defeated me. I would like the chance to take on the victorious Zorbon knight again."

They were stunned silent for a moment, then Quatre said, "I liked how she didn't take our crap."

"She was intelligent," remarked Wufei grudgingly.

"I miss her scowling at us over breakfast," remarked Trowa.

Duo sighed. "She had a heavenly smile."

Now they all got a dreamy look on their faces and Noin almost laughed. Then they were staring at her expectantly, and Duo looked like a begging puppy. "What do you want me to do?"

"Duo knows all the nooks and crannies of the colonies," commented Heero.

"Just bat your pretty long lashes at the prince and ask him to let Duo go into space," suggested Quatre, turning to face her.

"That won't work," Noin told him. "He's furious with me."

"Then strut your Roxie stuff."

Trowa didn't need to wink for her to know what he implied. Noin felt a blush heat her face. Roxie Rivera was behind her, gone forever. Sally had helped her color her hair again so that she looked like herself, and Noin had ordered almost everything in Roxie's apartment disposed of. None of it had done her any good anyway.

They were waiting for her answer.

Noin snorted. "That is less likely to work than your first method."

They stared at her incredulously.

Duo scratched his head. "Has anyone ever checked to see if Miliardo Peacecraft has an engine?"

They looked at Noin again.

She grimaced. "Sorry, guys, but I haven't even been able to pop the hood." Noin gathered up her things. This conversation was getting a bit too personal. "I'm going somewhere for some peace and quiet."

Duo watched her leave with disappointment. He had hoped Noin could persuade Zechs to change his mind about leaving Earth to look for Trynity. Duo was certain Trynity had gone back to L10 even if it was deserted. He couldn't stand the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach when he imagined her alone in the abandoned scientific station, far from civilization.

He noticed Hilde watching him. When she got up, the guys scattered, Quatre returning to Dorothy, Heero and Trowa went into the water and Wufei followed Noin into the gundam hanger. He was on his own now.

Hilde sat by him. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"

"No." He refused to look at her. Sally had demanded to know what had made Trynity explode at the Stardust Ball and Quatre had squealed like a pig about what Relena and Hilde had revealed to her. Hilde didn't deserve any kindness.

She put her hand on his arm. "We could go see a movie."

Duo shook off her arm. "No, we can't."

Hilde sniffled. Duo didn't care if she was crying, but she threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. "I miss you, Duo!"

"Hey! You're getting snot all over me." Duo shoved her away and stood. He brushed the sand off his shorts. "Don't worry, Hilde. There's gotta be some guy out there for you. It just ain't me."

Duo ignored Hilde's calls for him to return. He went to the gundam hanger after keying the code on the lock. The hanger was eerily quiet. The technicians were at supper, and the scientists were attending a meeting to discuss the modifications they were making to each gundam to prepare for future attacks of the Shadowhawk.

When Duo was settled into the comfortable cockpit of the Deathscythe, he mumbled, "It's not like I am asking him if I could take you to space. Sorry, buddy, but I would have to go by shuttle."

He flipped on monitors. "I think Prince Uptight Peacecraft needs a little action." Duo pressed a button on the telecom. "Hey, Noin, are you in the Valkryie?" No response, but the communicator flashed off. Duo chuckled. Princess Uptight needed a little action too. He leaned forward to look at the sinister shadow of the Epyon in a far corner near the Altron. It was finished, repaired and upgraded. How could that be used to his advantage?

Shrugging, Duo began to review data about the L10 scientific station. One name stood out. Lars Nelson. He remembered Trynity mentioning the pilot, and Duo noted that Nelson had been at the station for six lunar months. Maybe Nelson knew something about Trynity Stryfe that would give Duo some clue as to her whereabouts.

Discovering that Nelson was assigned to Space Operations of the Cinq Kingdom under the command of his brother, Duo contacted the base on the moon to speak to him. The younger Nelson was on training maneuvers, but the transmission was relayed to his Taurus suit.

The pilot's face appeared on Duo's screen. It was nice to be able to pull strings, thought Duo. Being under the protection of the Cinq Kingdom's ruler definitely had its advantages.

"What can I do for you, Duo Maxwell?"

"I am sorry to disturb you."

"Whatever I can do for one of Prince Miliardo's ward, I will be happy to do."

Duo saw the smile on his lips, but it never reached Lars Nelson's dark eyes. He gave Duo the willies. "I am investigating Dr. Ivan Stryfe for a report for school," he lied. "I know that you were stationed there and must have known him personally."

"I was training to pilot Gundam 06."

Duo couldn't imagine Lars Nelson in a gundam. It was bad enough to have to work alongside Chang Wufei! "Hey, that sounds like hard work!" He grinned stupidly at the pilot.

Nelson smiled politely. "What do you really want, Duo Maxwell? Trynity Stryfe could have told you all you wanted to know about her father when she was staying at your little orphanage."

Duo scratched his head. "Okay, so you got me! I'm looking for Trynity. Did she have any family beside her father?"

"Her father had none. Her mother and her family were all killed during a raid by OZ on Colony L6. They managed to pull her out of the rubble barely alive. So in answer to your question, she had no family but Dr. Stryfe."

Duo didn't know that about Trynity. He doubted she would want his pity. "So all she had was her father," he mumbled.

"She adored that fool." Nelson smiled and Duo felt the hairs rise at the back of his neck. He leaned closer to the screen, and one of his black brows raised. "Trynity was quite amusing during my stay at L10. Did you find her as…amusing?"

Without realizing what he was doing, Duo pressed a button to activate the beam scythe. "Oops!"

"Duo!" It was Noin. "What are you doing? You just fried Dr. J's desk!"

Duo flipped off the transmission from her and deactivated the scythe.

"Where are you?" Nelson asked suspiciously.

"I think they called it a Leo," lied Duo. "We are on a field trip to Dover Mobile Suit base. Just thought I'd steal a little air time and contact you."

"Are they keeping the Valkyrie there?'

"What's a Valkyrie?" What did Lars Nelson know about Noin's gundam?

"A gundam. Prince Miliardo's new gundam. I heard it was built for Lucrezia Noin. She was a great pilot and teacher. It will be an honor of me to pilot her gundam. My brother assured me that the prince is considering me to replace that incompetent fool who took it against the Shadowhawk."

"What's a Shadowhawk?" Duo saw the eyes of the Valkryie light up. Naughty Noin! It's not nice to eavesdrop. "Hey, how does one become a gundam pilot?" he asked Nelson with a blank look on his face.

"Brains." Nelson smirked. "Are you finished with your questions? I have work to do."

"Yeah! Thank you for…" Nelson's face disappeared before he had a chance to finish. "Jackass! Takes more than brains to pilot a gundam."

Duo glanced at the Epyon again, then at the glowing eyes of the Valkyrie. Then he rubbed his hands together and opened a line to Noin. Her cheeks were wet with tears. Damn! He hated crying women. They were even more mysterious than angry women. "Did you hear that?" he asked although he knew the answer.

She wiped her face on her sleeve. "He's giving my Valkyrie to him?" She was outraged. Good, Duo could handle anger as long as it wasn't directed at him. Sometimes even he was angry enough to cry. Maybe next time he would try it!

"Lars Nelson did train to pilot gundam 06. He must be qualified."

"Qualified? He's qualified to put a knife in your back. He betrayed his own unit to the Alliance because he was passed up for promotion. I am ashamed to have trained him. The only thing that would make him a good gundam pilot is that he is a ruthless, heartless scoundrel."

"Gee, thanks, Noin."

"How could he do this to me!" Noin was working up a good rage. Duo tried not to smile.

"Hey, do you feel like taking the Valkyrie for a little fresh air?" he asked her. "Quatre and Wufei are training against the mobile dolls tomorrow on the Sahara field. The airwaves are already jammed to hide detection. What do you say, commander? We can have a friendly little match-up and be back in time for lights out."

"Zechs will be furious!"

Well, that was encouraging. Still, Duo was surprised that the door lock clicked open as Noin entered the codes. Where did she get those codes from?

Duo activated his gundam. If they used boosters they could hit the training ground in less than an hour, duke it out for a few hours, then return. That is, thought Duo with a grin toward the Epyon, if they weren't caught. But that would be part of the fun!

Noin certainly had no reluctance about escaping her confinement at Seaside. Immediately after stepping onto the sand, the Valkyrie shot into the sky. After a graceful pirouette during which she slashed her glowing pike, she snapped open her wings and blasted away.

Duo whistled. "Here goes nothing!" He followed and swung his scythe in an arc to light the twilight sky.

**********

"Your Excellency, there is an incoming call."

Miliardo looked across the car to Benton. "I told you to hold all calls."

Benton smiled. "Yes, sir."

A few more minutes and they would arrive at Seaside. What would he say to Noin? He had to plan before she was standing face to face with him or he would not be able to say what he needed to. God, Miliardo knew he would lose the power of speech. Their two weeks of separation felt like two years. And he knew she was Noin again, not Roxie. Roxie was amusing, but he had fallen in love with Lucrezia Noin. Her dark hair, her dark eyes, her fresh, natural beauty…

"Your Excellency, I know you said to hold all calls, but this caller is insistent."

Miliardo glared at Benton. "I meant it. This time, I don't care if the Shadowhawk is carrying off Vice-Minister Une. I am going through with it."

Benton chuckled and snapped shut the telecom. "Might I say it is about time!"

"You just did," pointed out Miliardo with a chuckle.

"Do you have the ring?"

"Do you take me for a fool?" Miliardo reached into his jacket pocket. There was nothing. He checked the pockets of his pants. Empty. He remembered putting it on the table, then… "I left it at the palace."

Benton pulled the velvet-covered box from his own pocket.

Miliardo took it and smiled at him. "What would I do without you, Benton?"

"I'm sure I don't know."

Miliardo snapped open the box to look at the ring, then raised his brow. "This isn't…"

Benton reached across to snatch the ring. "Sorry, Your Excellency, wrong box."

Miliardo held out his hand. "Let me see that!"

Reluctantly his aide returned the box. Miliardo took an exact replica of the ring he had made for Noin from the box and held it up. It was bigger. He slipped it on his finger. It fit perfectly.

"Your Excellency, I don't think I was intended to give you that ring," said Benton.

Miliardo looked at the box. It appeared to be water stained. "Where did you get this?"

"The pond at the conservatory," confessed the young colonel. "I had to have it drained." He sighed. "I shouldn't be telling you this, your Excellency, but the commander had plans to ask you to marry her."

"Her? Me?" Miliardo stared at the ring. "She can't even wait for me to do it?" Benton's brow was raised. "All right, I will concede I have been a little slow, but you knew I had planned to do it that night."

"I couldn't tell her!"

"Of course not!" Miliardo laughed and slipped the ring off his finger. "I don't deserve that woman."

"Probably not!"

They both laughed as the limousine pulled to a stop before the Seaside Laboratory and Miliardo tossed the ring back to Benton.

The door flung open spilling light into the courtyard as Miliardo was exiting the car. Sally Po hurried out. "There you are! Why aren't you answering your calls?"

"Because I didn't want to be disturbed." He rubbed his hands together. "Now, where is my prisoner?"

Sally looked helplessly to Benton, then to Miliardo.

He got a bad feeling. "What happened?"

"She…she escaped!"

"Escaped!" The word exploded from him. "What in the hell is going on? I didn't tell you to lock her up!"

"She wasn't locked up," argued Sally. She took his arm and led him into the building. Heero, Trowa, Quatre and Wufei were waiting with eager looks on their faces.

Miliardo looked at Sally. "Where is Duo Maxwell?"

"He went with her."

"What?" Miliardo turned to the other pilots. "Would one of you care to explain what is going on?"

They all shrugged.

Miliardo glared.

"Duo wanted to look for Trynity!" cried out Quatre.

Trowa slapped him over the back of the head, and Wufei put an elbow in his rib.

"What does this have to do with Noin escaping?"

"I don't know," said Sally, "but it must have something to do with it if Duo is involved. They are headed to the Sahara."

"I suppose she is in the Valkyrie." It was a statement more than a question. Sally nodded. "Damn!" He stalked across to the elevator and punched the code to take him to the hanger. "That woman! It will take me the rest of my life to understand her!"

Benton came to him. "Will you be returning to the palace tonight?"

"No! I may be awhile. Tell my sister that she is in charge until I come back."

Benton saluted, spun on his heel and left.

Sally came to him. "Zechs, what are you planning to do?"

"What I should have done a long time ago. I am going to clip that Valkyrie's wings." The elevator door opened, and he turned back to Quatre. "Come along with me, Mr. Winner. I have need of your assistance."

**********

Noin was laughing as she watched the Deathscythe crash to the ground. "Nice try, Maxwell, but I got you!"

"I didn't know we were playing rough!" he complained as he was rubbing his head. "Now you are going to pay!"

She almost did not avoid a blast from the vulcan gun mounted on the head of the Deathscythe. But Noin spun and charged downward with the pike. Duo rolled and darted into the sky. She swore and quickly retracted the wings in time to deflect another round from the gun.

"Not quite fast enough, Maxwell, and besides, I was expecting it!"

"You're not expecting this!"

Noin took the Valkyrie in the sky and saw instantly what Duo was talking about. There was a force of at least two dozen mobile dolls approaching. "You got some firepower left?" she asked Duo.

"Enough to play with them!"

Sally must have sent them out, mused Noin as they confronted the force. The mobile suits were ruthless and quick. Someone skilled, likely Heero Yuy or Quatre Winner, was probably controlling them from Seaside, so Noin had to concentrate on the battle. They certainly were out for blood! They swooped in blasting with beam rifles. Noin fired missiles and missed, almost hitting Duo instead.

"Hey, I think I'm on your side!"

Noin laughed. "Sorry, Duo." She worked up a sweat fighting the dolls and felt triumphant when she managed to down three of them with the plasma lightening. Duo took out two with his beam scythe.

"Behind you, Noin!"

"Got it!" She thrust back with the pike and powered the tip. Pieces of the suit flew past her. Swinging around, she wrapped one up in the legs and blasted it with a missile as Duo sliced down the middle of another.

One suit fired a beam at the Deathscythe's back, but Noin flew in its path, and seizing the other gundam by the shoulders, she drew in the wings of her own to protect them from the blast.

"This is mighty fun," laughed Duo, "but what would Prince Miliardo say?"

Noin laughed and flipped away from him, using her boosters. They continued to battle the dolls until only a half-dozen were left. She hadn't even thought about turning on the zero system and was congratulating herself when her radar flashed a danger warning.

"Crap!" shouted Duo as three mobile dolls converged at him at once.

Noin looked up to see the dragon-like form of the Epyon bursting from the clouds, its segmented heat rod swaying behind like a tail. But she knew it was ready to strike. Noin shot away at the last second to avoid the blow and it destroyed a mobile doll. She shot one of the dolls away from Duo with the lightening cannon, then turned to raise her shield as the Epyon slashed down with its beam saber. Almost immediately it slashed with the whip-like heat rod, then shot away to avoid a blow from her pike.

"He's using the zero," warned Duo.

Noin wiped the sweat from her brow and looked at the switch to turn it on in her gundam. She couldn't do it. She wouldn't do it.

The Epyon charged again, and when Noin tried to counter, it flew past and quickly spun to hit her back with the saber. She knew it was coming, but could not close the wings fast enough. The Valkyrie hurtled downward, and when she hit the ground, Noin blacked out for a moment, then came to dizzy and nauseous. But she managed to scramble the Valkyrie to its feet, and as the Epyon dived from the black night sky, she shot upward intending to strike with the pike. From behind a mobile doll fired its beam cannon. Noin saw it coming, could not react fast enough. The Valkyrie absorbed the energy and she was jolted. She fell back against her seat barely conscious.

"Turn it on!" She heard the voice ordering her as if from a distance.

Noin shook her head. There was another mobile doll aiming a beam rifle at her, and she stared at for a moment in confusion before she began to raise her shield. Suddenly the mobile doll became two halves to one piece split by the beam scissors of the Deathscythe.

"What are you doing, Noin?"

She shook herself from her dazed state and checked her radar for the Epyon. It was above her. Noin refused to let Heero Yuy best her. She reached out to turn on the zero system, but this time she was prepared to master it. The Valkyrie scanned, and she read the information. As soon as she made her decision, the Valkyrie acted, but this time she maintained control. Instead of meeting the Epyon, she dropped to the ground, and when it landed and tried to deliver a blow, she had already leapt into the air and slammed the pike down on the head of the machine. It swung the heat rod, and she fired a missile, slamming it onto its back.

"Nice try, Heero Yuy!" Noin laughed as she sprang high into the air, then spiraled downward with the pike poised to impale the gundam attempting to rise from its back. At the last minute, she landed atop it, the pike held horizontally across it. "Do you give up, Heero?"

"Noin." She was shocked to hear Miliardo's shaky voice.

"What are you doing here?" She raised the pike to let him up. Miliardo sounded injured. That was all she could think of now.

Suddenly the beam saber came between them and she was thrown off onto her back. He could easily have attacked, but the Epyon instead sliced the arm off an attacking mobile doll, sending it's beam rifle into the sand and the suit itself spinning wildly until it exploded.

Noin brought the Valkyrie to its feet. The Epyon approached but did not have a weapon drawn. She noticed that the Deathscythe was finished with all the mobile dolls, and it stood a few hundred feet away. Duo Maxwell! She suspected he knew Miliardo would be in the Epyon. What did he have to gain?

The wicked dark red gundam came to a stop face to face before the Valkyrie. Noin sighed and powered down just as the Epyon was doing. She looked at her sword, then decided to leave it. As she stepped outside, she wished she had it with her for protection. Miliardo looked angry enough to kill as he came from the dark interior of his gundam.

There was a space between them. She was glad for that. But that buffer was gone when Miliardo leapt across the void, and she held her breath fearing he would fall to his death, but he landed neatly beside her. Before she could give any excuse, he swept her into his arms and his lips silenced her. He held her tightly to him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She wasn't going to let go. Not this time!

**********

Duo was sitting with his legs crossed and his feet up as he watched the scene on his monitor. Well, well, well, so he Prince Uptight did have an engine! Did they care that he could see buttons popping and clothing falling to the desert? Finally, after they had the decency to duck into the Valkyrie, Duo unbuckled and pulled out his space suit. They would be busy for a while unless he had misunderstood the meaning of Lightening Count. When he was ready, he checked the energy levels, then fired rocket boosters. With the scramblers already in place over the desert and with his own, Duo could leave undetected. Deathscythe would take him into space, but it wouldn't be easy.

He was sure Trynity was out there.

And he would find her.