Torment of Paradise
A/N: I hope this chapter length is decent for those who tire of reading so much. So this chappie is pretty much dedicated to Jasmine Maxwell-Yuy, who kinda yelled at me for the length of the others and gave me a swift kick in the ass (domoo Jas, you always were the realist among us...more or less.... ^^) and as well as the others who are actually still here. If you are, I really am touched...*sniffles* Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 18
The deep red-orange sky greeted Quatre's eyes as he looked up from the book. With a sigh, he got up from the hammock in the backyard and headed inside the house. Two days had passed since Jess had left and not a single word had come from her. 'I should have expected as much.' He slid open the patio door and closed it behind him. 'She never really talks about what she feels.' Pausing he noted the strange silence in the house.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" he called as he headed to the foot of the stairs. Not a single answer.
Puzzled he walked into the kitchen to see a note held to the fridge by a magnet. It seemed as if they had gone out with Adrian and Duo and wouldn't be back for a bit. 'Now it seems as if I am alone now.' Rubbing his eyes wearily, he headed up the stairs to put away the book back in Jess' room. As usual, her room was a mess, the bedcover pulled back hastily and a pile of clothes beside the laundry hamper and not in it. Shaking his head with a smile, he placed it back on the shelf and left.
"I could use some dinner now. It must be about eight or nine." he mumbled as he headed into the kitchen.
He paused now as the sounds of notes playing reached his ears. 'I know that sound...that's Jess' playing.' He walked out of the kitchen hesitantly as he looked around for the source of the music. The living room was empty and her room certainly was. Perplexed he leaned against the wall as the music kept playing. 'Huh? It's coming through the wall...' Pressing his ear close, the music sounded louder. He looked along, searching for a doorknob. Finding it tucked away just out of sight, he opened the door and saw a flight of stairs descending down. Slowly he walked down, peering ahead of himself. Setting his feet down on the cool carpet, he looked around. The basement was decorated simply, the walls converted to bookcases and filled. And sitting right in the middle of the room was a piano, the music rolling off gently with a force behind it.
"Jess." he called softly not really wanting to disturb her.
If she heard him, she made no motion, the music still playing on. Her brow furrowed together as she started to pick up the speed and intensity. Soon enough, the room was filled with the lashing notes, her mouth a grim line as she poured out the obvious rage, anger and weariness. Quatre sat down on the step as she played feverishly, simply watching her and trying to catch himself; this kind of intensity was something new for him. After what seemed like a good while, she finally stopped, slamming the cover back down over the keys, her hands resting on it.
"Do you have any idea what your father has done Quatre? Doesn't he have any idea what Oz is like?"
"And when did you get back?" he asked rising and seating himself beside her.
She remained silent as she obviously struggled to maintain her composure. "I got back a few hours ago. You were reading in the hammock and I didn't want to disturb you. Just what the hell was your father thinking when he made that deal with Oz?"
Quatre remained silent for a moment unsure of how to answer. He had no clue that his father had finalized the Oz deal. And he still hadn't told her that he had been kicked out. He looked back up to see her playing with the little spider in her fingers. A wistful smile crossed his face briefly. "I don't know what he was thinking. He's been driven by money for so long now. I remember a time when he wasn't like that."
"Well, his greed has created an even bigger problem now." she said in a tight voice as she bent her head forward, the blonde locks screening her expression.
"Why? What's happened?" Quatre asked, a bad feeling gripping his heart suddenly; she wouldn't be playing like that for no reason at all. It was too emotional.
"The contract that your father made with Oz, they're cashing in on it now. I did some research and it turns out that he listed it as colony business."
"And I guess it's not?"
"What do you think?" Jess said as she stood up and started towards the wall. "What a bakayaro, as well as a bakana hidoi otoko, bakemono...[1]" she trailed off in various muttered curses. "I know he's your father and I apologize for what I said but I can't believe that he would..." she trailed off as she slammed her fist into the wall angrily. "As if that wasn't bad enough, how the hell am I supposed to solve this?!"
"Hey, calm down. Maybe if you tell me something I can help." Quatre said walking up to her and placing his hands on her shoulders.
She shook her head. "No. I won't. There's no way in hell that this is going to turn out good. The less of us involved the better. Five can still go on."
"What are you talking about? Could you stop talking so cryptically?"
She looked at him "Fine, I'll put it this way instead. If I go up and die, the five of you can still finish this. If two or three go, then it will be harder for the remaining few to actually accomplish something."
"You mean to go up there to die? That's ridiculous Jess. If he did sell the colony resources, which is highly improbable, the people would protest such irresponsible actions."
"And what if I told you that I was going up to the colonies Quatre; what would you say then?"
"Uh...why aren't you pushing for the Treize thing anymore?" he gave a weak smile and shrug. "You were adamant about going to find him. Duo wasn't thrilled not to mention me."
"Heh. You hid it better." she paused. "Nothing you can say is going to stop me Quatre. I am going up to the colonies."
"Don't you think you should think this through before rushing up there like it's the end of the world?"
She shook her head. "I'll think as I rush up there. It is the end in a way." stepping away from him, she paused as she ran her hand along the smooth black wood of the piano. "Someone has to be the sacrificial lamb. It just happens to be me."
"Would you stop talking like that?" he asked as he walked up to her. "No one has to be a sacrificial lamb, certainly not you."
"Don't start Quatre. I know your going to say something like 'There has to be another solution.' and 'I don't want you to do that. Please be reasonable.' Not this time Quatre...not this time."
He paused as she started stonily at the door before walking closer to it. "And did you ever consider why I say those things? You always rush off on something that you deem to be important. For once would it kill you to relax and take an objective look at the situation?" he turned her around to face him. "Just slow down and let me in please."
Her eyes softened before she turned away. "Quatre...could you just-"
"Please?" he asked again, turning her back to face him. "I'm not asking for much. I just want you to be happy. I just want us to be happy. Is that too much to ask for?"
She sighed as she hugged him tightly. "That's all I want too Quatre. It's not asking much." she whispered with a faint tinge of sad resignation.
He held her close, unwilling to relinquish the feeling of her in his arms. "Then, you'll take an objective look at things?"
"Gomen [2] Quatre..."
He drew back slightly to look at her for her puzzling words. He never even saw or felt her hand rising up before it clipped him in the back of the neck hard and he fell down like a heavy sack.
Stretches of sand greeted his eyes as he looked out the window for the countless time during the train ride. A feeling of slight anger and frustration welled up inside as he looked down at the small spider that rested on the palm of his hand. 'Jess...I can't believe that you did that...you really can be...but I know you'll need Anansi.' He broke off his train of thought as he watched the light wink off the amber; how long ago had he bought this for her? One month? Two? A few weeks? Time had seemed to pass by more quickly when she was around, no matter what the situation. The feeling of the train coming to a halt made him look up. It seemed that his stop was here. Grabbing his bag from the overhead compartment, he made his way out with the other passengers onto the loading platform.
"It's been a long time Master Quatre."
He looked up at the familiar voice to see Rashid stand before him with a smile. "It has Rashid. How have you been? And the others? Well I hope?"
"Yes. The others send their regards. And you Master Quatre? Have you been doing well on your own?"
"More or less, yes." he paused for a moment. "Do you know what I came for...finally?"
"I have a pretty good idea Master Quatre." Rashid said as they headed out of the crowded station. "Abdul and Ahmed told me of Ms. Knight."
An involuntary shudder passed through him. "I'd rather not recall that. I know I must have surprised you all by me walking out like that. Was Father mad?"
"I think you surprised him as well Master Quatre. He does want what's best for you, you know. In his own way."
"I suppose. But I couldn't tolerate it anymore. Is he still there or up in the colonies?"
"Colonies Master Quatre; he said that he had business up there. To be honest, I don't like his involvement with Oz."
"Neither did Jess. She got mad and nearly punched a hole in the wall, plus called him an assortment of things." Quatre paused. "How did you know that I was going to be here anyways?"
"Miss Jess. She came by here earlier and left...with her Gundam."
Quatre paused. "And she told you I was coming?"
"She said that she figured that you were and not to let you know where she was going. She never even told us her destination. I can't help you there Master Quatre. She just showed up, took Anansi and left."
Quatre didn't reply, simply nodding his head as they walked to the car and drove back to the house. He opened the door hesitantly, the same cool interior greeting him as before; he distinctly got the sensation that his father was going to come down the stairs and scold him. Brushing it aside, he walked in, heading for the stairs down into the hangar area. Standing there just as he left him was Sandrock, ready for battle.
"Well old friend, it looks like we have to go to space."
"I wouldn't advise that young man."
Quatre started at the sound of the aged voice, turning to see a person half in shadow near the corner of the wall. He motioned for Rashid to put away the gun as he watched the person start to walk out of the shadows. The lined face came into view, wrinkly hands curled around the knob of a cane. Dark hair was streaked with vivid lines of white gleamed in the light.
"Are you..."
"I am Sensei V. Not that she ever bothers to refer to me as that." V sighed as she sat down in the chair. "That girl has a wide streak of various things in her."
"What exactly are you doing here? How did you get past security?" Rashid asked as he placed himself between her and Quatre.
"I do believe that this does concern Quatre Rashid and not you." V said in a firm voice. "Why don't you run along and see to the recommendations I left with your men?"
Rashid spluttered for a few seconds. "I am not going to leave Master Quatre here alone with you. You simply waltzed in, bypassing security flagrantly and you expect me to let you talk to him like that?"
"Hai [4]. Is there a problem with this?"
"Ah...how do I know that you really know Jess?" Quatre asked, stepping out from behind Rashid; it was clear that Rashid was not pleased with this person.
V's eyes flickered from Rashid to Quatre before she chuckled lightly to herself. "And do you plan on giving that back to her once you find her little Quatre? She is rather attached to it."
"You can leave us Rashid. If there's any trouble, I'll let you know right away." Quatre said watching the lady carefully.
A frown crossed his face briefly. "As you wish Master Quatre." he said before he left promptly.
Drawing up a seat, Quatre sat down slowly, regarding the woman in front of him. "I don't believe that I've met you before."
"You haven't. H talks very highly of you." V paused. "I am not really one for formalities. What did Jess do this time?"
Quatre shook his head. "Clipped me on the back of the neck and took off. When I came to, all she left was her necklace and a note."
"What did the note say?"
"It said 'Q-kun, I want you to be happy."
"Well now..." V gave him an amused glace. "And she hasn't told you anything? Never mind, that can wait for the moment. What did she tell you before she left?"
"Just something about what my father did and that she didn't seem thrilled to be the one to solve it."
"Do you realize what he has done?"
"From Jess' reaction, something very foolish and irresponsible. Since she wasn't too clear on it-"
"To make matters short, he gave Oz the foothold they've been looking for. And I am sure you know that the Winner empire stretches far and wide. Why don't you take a look at this as you head up? I have a feeling that you will want to have a few words with your father little Quatre."
Quatre took the proffered disk like it was a hot coal. "It's all here?"
"Hai, the entirety of it, though it doesn't explain about the large amounts of gundanium that Oz has been shipping around; that should be self-explanatory."
"Gundanium?" he regarded her for a minute. "It's already expensive enough."
"Oz oversteps themselves." V rose slowly. "Pop it into the drive here and take a look. You may be surprised at some of the lucrative business practices that goes on in the organization."
Quatre walked over and seated himself down in front of the drive. It didn't take long before he pulled the information up and started skimming over it. 'Allah...how could he have agreed to such a contract?' Turning back around to say something to V he found himself facing an empty space. Looking back at the screen, he ejected the disk and opened the door. There stood Rashid against the wall.
"Is everything all right Master Quatre?" Rashid asked, seeing him standing there, holding the disk tightly.
"Yes Rashid. Prepare Sandrock. I am going up to have a few words with Father."
Patches of green greeted his eyes as Quatre sat in his father's chair, looking out over the curve of the colony. 'So now it comes down to this.' Never a million years would Quatre have thought his father capable of such actions. Yet even when he arrived and accessed the Foundation's database, it was all there, confirming what was on the disk from Oz. And here he found himself, in a place that he was forbidden from since childhood. Rising from the leather chair easily, Quatre gazing down at the streets; even now, he could see protestors down on the sidewalks, stirring up a crowd. 'It wouldn't surprise me if the citizens knew of this already. . .there have been some who never trusted the Winner Foundation. And their fears are now justified. It's bad enough that base went up in flames shortly after I left and people suddenly grew very anti-rebels.' He turned away with a sad sigh, seating himself back down in the seat and closed his eyes; his father should be back in here any minute now. His meetings would be over for the day.
"And tell the colony citizens that there is nothing to worry about concerning Oz. Fill in the rest with whatever you want by get the main message across."
Quatre didn't move as the door opened and shut quietly to be followed by an exhausted sigh. It was only when the chair was turned around that he finally opened his eyes.
"Quatre!!" his father took a step back clearly surprised.
"Hello Father." Quatre rose with deliberate slowness. "How have you been?"
"What are you doing here? I thought I told you-"
"I know and remember what you said Father. And yet, I do find myself here in your office. Aren't you the least bit curious as to why I am here after your express order?" he waited patiently for a response.
"Why are you here? To apologize and come back?"
"No Father. I find that I am doing pretty well on my own. But I have been keeping an eye on things and one of your contracts has drawn my attention. I'm sure that you're familiar with the Oz one?"
His father's face paled visibly as the slight stiffening of the shoulders went almost unnoticed. "I am. That was a good deal."
"Good deal? You define a good deal by leaving the colony citizen's to starve and become destitute? What about my sisters? Would you have left them here too as well to suffer?"
"They would be taken care of; they still reside under my roof." Quatre's father came to the side of the desk. "I'm sure that the people of the colony will understand that this is for their benefit."
"And how is that? I saw the conditions here as I came; they suspect something from the Foundation and when they find out for sure, there will be bloodshed Father. How could you willingly let the colony erupt into such violence? You always told me as a child to avoid fighting when possible."
"I said that because you weren't the strongest of children Quatre. I never thought you would take it to heart and become a pacifist."
"I'd more call myself a partial pacifist. Do you know that Oz is making good on that contract now?"
"Yes. But our last shipment of supplies should be coming in now." his father sat back into the chair. "It's all been planned out, so that the citizens can survive for the next few months. It will require the tightening of belts, yes, but they will survive."
Quatre placed his palms on the desk and looked his father in the eye as he leaned forward slightly. "And do you know about the gundanium and the resource satellites Father?"
"Gundanium? I gave them rights to utilize the resource satellites as a way station."
Quatre's mouth twisted into a wry smile. "Guess what they're doing there? It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. They've been shipping large amounts of gundanium parts to MO-6 Father, almost like they've been assembling the pieces of a puzzle."
"That's ridiculous Quatre." his father rose and walked up to the window, looking out.
"Father, open your eyes!" Quatre said rather forcefully. "This is Oz, in the middle of a war. They won't be beyond anything. If it takes the fall of a company and whoever else involved, they'll do it. Do you even know who's in charge of Oz now with Treize gone?"
"Colonel Une and Colonel Samuel, exemplary leaders in times like these."
Quatre rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. "Father, you aren't listening are you? The deal you made with Oz was a bad idea and I'm sorry to say it but you'll regret it soon enough."
"Quatre, nothing is going to happen. The limits were set in the contract and as such Oz is bound to honour them."
"And you said that I was hopeful." Quatre sighed. "Father, I am asking you to do whatever you can to counter the deal with Oz. Nothing good can come of it."
"I shall decide that Quatre. So far, things have been going rather nicely. Oz stays out of our affairs and leaves us alone. They protect the area and-"
A brief knock on the door made them pause and look up. Upon his father's word to enter, he saw Rashid come in with a grim look on his face as he shut the door quietly.
"What is it Rashid?" Quatre asked. "What's wrong?"
"There's an unidentified ship coming towards the colony. It hasn't responded to any of our hails. Perhaps if you tried..." Rashid trailed off with a laden pause.
"I'll take it from here, thank you."
Quatre watched as his father seated himself down in front of the computer terminal and connected to the radio. With a sigh he leaned against the desk as his father hailed the ship, demanding some form of identification from the pilot. He started suddenly as a static filled reply came through.
"Do you copy? I...fixed...radio. Do you copy, someone, come in."
"We copy. Identify yourself please. Where are you coming from?" Quatre said before his father could blurt out a belligerent reply.
"This...Cap...Sproule spea...coming in...resource satellite MO-6."
"From MO-6? How close are you to the satellite?" Quatre asked, edging his father out of the seat.
"Not very....about a few more...have to let....they're chasing me...can't last very long."
"Rashid, see if you can send someone to help this man out; he's being chased down, probably all the way from MO-6."
"Quatre what are you doing? This is clearly not your-"
"Dear God, they caught up...evasive action...move it or we're...." the rest of the transmission ended with the brief sound of a blast before the line went dead.
Silence came as Rashid and Quatre looked at his father who had turned slightly pasty. Quatre didn't say a word as he looked at his father wordlessly. The resolute expression that he had seen there before cracked now, uncertainty seeping in slowly. Shaking his head he rose and headed towards the door.
"If you need my assistance, I'll be here on the colony. I'll stop by once in awhile and you can let me know then."
He walked out, barely giving his father anytime to respond, leaning against the door with closed eyes.
"Are you sure that was a wise idea Master Quatre?" Rashid asked.
"Father has to see that I am not little child anymore. If anything I can help him with this situation before I leave for good." he paused. "It would now seem that Oz is starting to make its position a bit clearer."
Rashid simply nodded in response before he spoke again. "Shall you be handling this on your own or shall you be calling for some reinforcements?"
"I'll handle this myself. The others will most likely have their hands full and trying to get into space with a Gundam will be near impossible." he looked up at his burly friend. "You don't have to help me with this if...why am I even bothering; I know exactly what you're going to say. Not that it bothers me much."
Rashid blinked at him a bit blankly for the first time. "Are you referring to the fact that I would not let you go into battle like that by yourself?"
"Yes." he couldn't stop the chuckle that rose up. "I should do that more often...the look on your face was rather priceless."
"How very amusing Master Quatre. Perhaps now would be the time to find you some suitable lodging while you're staying here in the colony."
"I found a place already Rashid. A small little motel; it's out of the way, close to where Sandrock is, close to the house and your room is right beside mine, so you should have no worries." he said as they started down the hallway.
Rashid looked at him for a moment before he laughed. "Perhaps Master Quatre, you can be a bit too thorough."
Notes
[1] bakayaro, bakana hidoi otoko, bakemono
bakayaro - bastard
bakana hidoi otoko - stupid cruel man
bakemono - monster
[2] Gomen - sorry
[3] Onegai - please