Cinq Kingdom Palace

The limo ride to the palace started out relatively quiet. Heero was glad because he certainly didn't feel like conversing now. Heero had tried talking to Trowa at breakfast, but his friend wouldn't open up, and now he was staring glumly out the window at the passing scenery they all had seen hundreds of times in their year at the Cinq Kingdom. There was a nasty bruise on his face and Heero suspected his Calabrian watchdog of having put it there. Apolo was now discussing with Lars Nelson the merits of women with different shades of hair. Heero ignored the inane discussion, even trying to snooze a bit before the briefing at the palace, but when Quatre joined the conversation, Heero began to itch with a need to close his hand into a fist and pound the pilot of the Sandrock gundam. The very sound of his voice was nauseating this early in the morning, and if he said one word about Relena…

"I prefer blondes," stated Quatre, and Heero relaxed a bit. He closed his eyes and tried to recapture his nap.

"You would," said Lars. "What you see in that blond barracuda Dorothy Catalonia is beyond me."

"You wouldn't understand. You don't know her well enough."

Lars snorted. "She's a controlling hag, but deep down inside she wants some guy to dominate her."

"You think you're a judge of character?"

Heero opened one eye. Was Quatre going to goad Nelson into fighting?

"I'm a pretty good judge of her character, at least she thought so a couple of weeks ago," commented Lars with a smug smile.

Quatre turned three shades of red and pink and would have lunged forward, but Trowa put a hand on his shoulder and shoved him back. "Save it. Now is not the time."

Those weren't pacifist words, thought Heero with a smile. Later they could all enjoy watching Nelson turn Quatre into a pretzel when the little rich boy tried to avenge Dorothy's honor.

Apolo had watched the exchange in silence, then remarked, "I confess to preferring dark-haired women. They tend to be more docile."

Duo chuckled. "I doubt Trowa would agree with you on that."

"Shut the hell up, Maxwell," snapped Trowa irritably.

Heero raised a brow. Now this was interesting. Duo hadn't talked about their excursion and Wufei had only complained about the mauling that he had received from Princess Ryana. What had Trowa been up to? And where had he really gotten that nasty bruise just below his eye?

Apolo looked at Duo. "What do you mean by that?" By the low, steady tone of his voice, the Calabria must have some suspicion.

"Nothing!" Trowa glared at Duo.

"Your sister popped him good yesterday." Duo laughed.

Trowa reached out for him, but Quatre pushed him back. "Save it."

Apolo leaned toward Trowa. "My…my sister…??" He was too shocked to even finish the question as he stared at Trowa's face. Then Apolo's brows drew together. "What did you do to her?"

Duo snorted. "A little of this, a little of that…"

"You know what I really like," interrupted Lars, oblivious to the tension now brewing between Trowa and his imperial guard.

"Let me guess," said Wufei with a bored tone. "Red-haired women."

Lars chuckled. "That, too. But I was going to remark that a few weeks ago during training down at Dover, I noticed how hot Commander Po is. Why do you suppose King Miliardo gets these babes to command his forces? Do you suppose it's some kind of reward?"

Heero bit his lip to keep from laughing at the look on Wufei's face. He obviously still had feelings for the woman that Nelson had just insulted. Lars was in for the beating of his life when they returned to Seaside Lab. Perhaps he had a deathwish. When Lars glanced at the god of death who was still smiling about his own little coup, Heero was quite sure of it. "So what do you think, Maxwell? Dark and delightful Hilde or red-hot Trynity? I have a hard time deciding."

Duo flew across the limo, but Wufei helped Heero grab him and hold him back. He was growling like a rabid dog. "Later," Heero whispered in his ear. Although he was still very tense and glaring malevolently, Duo didn't make another move for Nelson.

Lars was laughing as he looked at the fuming Apolo. "So, do you have any plans to connect with Princess Relena? She's a ripe apple ready to fall to the ground. I was going to pick her off the tree myself, but you go ahead, and let me know how tasty she is."

That did it! Heero pulled out his gun. Lars threw himself out of the way just in time to avoid a bullet to his brain. The limo began to swerve.

"Crap! You shot the driver!" shouted Quatre before diving after Lars with clenched fists.

Nobody cared that the car was out of control. Everyone was trying to get a piece of Lars except Trowa who was trying to land a good blow on Duo. Apolo was trying to protect Trowa, and Heero thought that while Wufei and Quatre were pounding Lars, he might get some satisfaction of his own after having to watch the alien peacock make moves on Relena at the supper table two nights ago at Seaside. It felt mighty good to smash his knuckles in the imperial guard's face.

As they careened through the streets of New Port City, horns honked and Heero could vaguely hear screams of pedestrians almost run down by the king's personal limousine. But the punches didn't stop flying even when the limo jumped the curb to climb the steps to the palace before it finally came to a stop part way up. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, and the horn was blaring.

Soldiers surrounded the car and flung open the doors. Lars' unconscious body fell out first before everyone filed out rubbing knuckles and jaws. Heero stepped on Nelson and was only a little mollified to hear him grunt.

They were escorted immediately to King Miliardo's conference room where Miliardo and Noin were both waiting for them along with Colonel Benton, their angry expressions speaking volumes before they even opened their mouths.

"Where is Nelson?" asked Colonel Benton.

"Right here," muttered Lars who entered holding an already blood-soaked handkerchief to his nose.

Noin made a sound of disgust. "Thought you could take them all? In a limo?"

Lars shrugged.

Noin looked at Miliardo. "During his training at Lake Victoria Base he was reprimanded on several occasions for brawling. I think he has a need to prove himself the alpha male."

Miliardo chuckled. "Then I suppose it is difficult for him to get along with a pack of alpha males."

Lars raised a brow. "It was particularly difficult at Lake Victoria when the alpha male was a female."

Miliardo's eyes widened, his face reddened at the insult directed at his wife Noin, and he took a step towards Lars, but Noin laughed and put her hand on his arm. "Later, Miliardo."

"Famous last word," commented Trowa. He glanced at Apolo. "Did you hit me?"

Heero had clearly seen Apolo deliberately slug Trowa although he didn't seem to know how to properly punch a guy.

"I'm sure it must have been an accident," lied his imperial guard. Heero had never felt the kind of fear he now saw reflected in Apolo's eyes.

But Trowa laughed. "Must have been. I hope you don't have any more of those accidents because you almost broke my jaw."

Apolo dropped to a knee at Trowa's feet and hung his head. "Forgive me, my lord prince."

Benton cleared his throat. "If you are done groveling, we have a military situation to discuss."

"I see no reason for Apolo to be involved in the discussion," said Trowa.

"I do," said Miliardo with a lift of his brow. "Otherwise I would not have requested his presence."

Ignoring the king, Trowa looked at Apolo. "You are excused."

Apolo bowed low and walked out the door without glancing at Miliardo.

Miliardo crossed his arms. "Are you my gundam pilot or the crowned prince of Calabria?"

"A little of both," said Trowa with a self-deprecating smile. "Apolo's only duty is to protect me."

"He may have been useful for information."

"I wouldn't expect him to betray Calabria."

Heero frowned as he looked at Trowa. "Should we expect that you will not betray Calabria? Whose side are you on?"

Before Trowa could answer, if he had been planning to, Noin spoke up. "We asked Apolo to come so that I might begin training him with Arora. The white Taurus suits have been refitted with gundanium salvaged from the Shadowhawk. Trynity is with Arora at this moment on a training exercise."

"What?" Trowa was furious. "Arora is not a pilot!"

"Be reasonable," said Miliardo gently. "When you go into space next week, both her and Apolo will want to protect you. This is the best we can do at short notice. According to Dr. Stryfe, their ship is not equipped for battle, and should you find yourself in a situation that requires fighting, they must be given the means to do as they have been trained."

Trowa still didn't look happy about the news.

Noin came to put a hand on his arm, but he shrugged it off as if she had offended him. "I think we have refitted the Taurus suits to fit their particular skills."

"And you have discovered them how? Have you used her to get information about her home?" When Noin didn't respond, Trowa turned away from her in disgust.

"You are being ridiculous," pointed out Heero. The man now standing before him was no longer Trowa Barton. Heero wondered if Trowa even realized that he had become crowned Prince Trey. "The Calabrians are in space breaking the peace which came to us for a heavy price in war and loss of life. We have a right to use any means possible to protect that peace."

Miliardo put his hands on his hips. "You will have to make a decision now, Trowa. I can't allow you to pilot the Heavyarms gundam when you seem to have such misgivings of our intentions."

The threat of losing Heavyarms toppled Trowa from his throne. "I'm sorry. My only concern is for Arora and Apolo. They are my responsibility."

Miliardo's relaxed. "I am glad you realize that."

"I will send Trynity here." Noin walked out and after a few moments, Trynity walked in accompanied by Sally Po. Wufei's face turned when she glanced at him, and Heero noticed that Sally couldn't help meeting that longing gaze. That was a broken relationship doomed to failure. Heero almost laughed until he remembered his own stupidity on the beach the previous afternoon.

Sally immediately set about briefing the king and the pilots under her command. On the viewing screen they watched footage of the battles near L3. Parts of the colony had been destroyed. Almost a dozen people had been killed; people who had refused to evacuate from the only home they had ever known. Heero might act no differently in the same situation, but then again, he was a soldier, not a mother and father with three children, two old men and their wives, two scientists and a medical worker.

"Have they made contact?" asked Miliardo.

"Only with the citizens of L3." Sally played a transmission.

Lady Une's face appeared on the screen. She was flanked by men wearing clothing similar to that worn by Arora and Apolo. Heero guessed they were also imperial guards protecting the arrogant man they could just barely see standing toward the back. Glancing at Trowa, Heero almost asked him if he recognized anyone, but Trowa seemed to be mesmerized by the sight of other men from his home planet.

"People of Colony L3, the imperial forces of Calabria will give you one more chance to surrender and hand over the traitorous Calabrians. Do so, and you will be left in peace. Refuse, and you will be destroyed." The transmission ended.

Sally turned to face them. "My sources inside Lady Une's organization have been able to discover that the Calabrians scanned the area for gundanium. They call it imperial alloy. Apparently it is very rare in their system. They found what they were looking for, on a resource satellite."

"My ship," murmured Trowa. "On my ship…I…I took Arora's sword." Heero saw that Trowa was pale and shaking. "Those people…they are dead because of me."

"Don't be ridiculous, Prince Trey," said Benton, wisely choosing to acknowledge Trowa's true identity. "The fact that they have made an alliance with Lady Une proves that they do not have peaceful intentions."

"He's right." Sally looked from him back to Miliardo. "It is only a matter of time before they near Earth and discover our gundanium. Since they haven't really met with any resistance, we don't know the full capabilities of their redesigned ships. We do know that if Une has been supplying them with technology, we may have a problem because she has in her organization some men who worked on the Coalition Base in Dr. Stryfe's lab. My guess is some of the technology developed by him is being put to use by the Calabrians."

"We must prepare for battle," stated Miliardo, with a sad shake of his head.

"That won't be necessary," said Heero. Everyone turned to look at him. "We will continue with our original plan and leave Earth. We can fight the aliens in Space to prevent them from reaching Earth."

"My father can cloak the transport ship until we pass by the Calabrian forces," added Trynity, "and once through their defenses, he can uncloak the barge and they will follow us to L10, away from Earth and the populated colonies."

Miliardo frowned. "I don't like using you as bait. I am not a coward."

"No one is suggesting that you are a coward," said Duo. "The plan makes a lot of sense."

"I think the people of Earth and the colonies have suffered enough," said Quatre. "Let's take the fight away from them."

"We will need gundams to stay behind to protect the kingdom," said Benton.

Sally glanced at Wufei. Heero knew the Altron wouldn't be headed to space.

"I'll stay," offered Lars. He chuckled. "I wasn't too keen on heading back to L10 anyway. I made too many mistakes there."

"That's the first intelligent thing I have heard you say," commented Duo.

Miliardo chuckled and looked at Trynity. "This mission may take months, Miss Stryfe. I would feel safer knowing you were a part of it, but I must in all good conscience inform you that your accomplishments at the academy have not gone unnoticed. You were recommended for a fellowship to join a deep space exploration expedition."

"I was recommended?" Trynity was surprised. She shouldn't be, thought Heero. She had plenty of deep space exploration experience already in the form of Duo Maxwell's cranium.

"Dr. Elias Plume recommended you, and you have been accepted to join the team. If you choose not to go on this mission, I will understand."

Trynity looked so excited that she was ready to burst. Duo looked like someone had already burst him. Heero knew Trynity's brain would eventually come between the two. "I can't believe Dr. Plume would recommend me!"

"Didn't he claim that you drove him to early retirement?" asked Quatre with a chuckle.

"Dr. Plume had the highest respect for your work and dedication," Miliardo told Trynity. "He wasn't much of a teacher, but the man could recognize talent."

One glance at the dispirited Duo made Trynity moderate her excitement, and it was with determination that she looked at Miliardo. "I am grateful for the honor, but protecting the peace of the kingdom is more important at this time."

Miliardo seemed almost as relieved as Duo. "I thank you, Miss Stryfe."

"I will stay behind," volunteered Quatre with a suspicious glance at Lars. Who would have thought Quatre would have a reason to be jealous?

"Does this mean that ridiculous tournament and festival are off?" asked Wufei.

"Certainly not!" Sally was smiling. Damn, she was a part of the conspiracy! "The base has been overrun by decorators and thousands of tickets have been sold to the tournament. The people would be very disappointed and demand an explanation."

"We would rather the citizens not know for the time being that our peace is threatened," said Miliardo.

Another war under the leadership of Miliardo Peacecraft would be too much for the people of the Cinq Kingdom to accept. His control over the Assembly was tenuous at best. The old nobility was losing power, and while they might be ignored now, they could become a threat. There were just too many people still afraid of Zechs Merquise. His saving grace was that Noin was his wife, and the people loved and respected her from her days as Cinq Kingdom commander under Relena's leadership. If Noin could welcome a man like Zechs Merquise into her heart, the people of his kingdom could at least trust him to lead and protect them. But like some of his critics, Heero still had difficulty believing Zechs could control his warrior instincts. Heero couldn't control his own. The virtual games were not enough to satisfy his hunger for fighting.

The telecom buzzed, and Benton pressed the button to answer. Relena's face appeared on the screen. "Miliardo, is Heero Yuy in there?"

Damn, it was starting already! She was going to screech for him to take her somewhere. Then why did Heero feel a strange sort of excitement about doing so? He caught Duo grinning at him, so he flashed him an obscene gesture.

"He might be," answered Miliardo with a half smile.

"Send that jackass to the salon. He missed his appointment at the costume shop yesterday. The tailor doesn't have time to be available when Yuy feels like complying. I want him in here in ten minutes." The screen went black.

"Tinkle, tinkle," said Quatre with a smile.

"Jingle, jingle," laughed Duo.

"Ring-a-ding-ding," added Wufei smugly.

Miliardo laughed. "You had best get moving, Heero, or I think Relena might follow through with her threats. I wouldn't want to see you prancing around in multicolored tights with bells on your toes."

"I would," stated Lars.

"Screw you," muttered Heero as he walked out with Trowa. Duo and Trynity walked away together, and Wufei and Sally barely waited for the door to the conference room to close before they were in each other's arms making up for lost time.

Heero frowned and looked at Trowa. He was preoccupied, and Heero knew that they were losing No-Name Trowa Barton. He had a name now, and a past that he was beginning to remember. "Don't worry, Trowa. None of this is your fault, and I am sure from what I have seen that Arora and Apolo can take care of themselves. Hell, they were trained to protect you, weren't they?"

Trowa looked at him. There were ghosts in the depths of his dark green eyes. "I…I don't remember why I took Arora's sword."

"Don't think about it. When you are ready to remember, when you can handle it, you will." Heero felt confident about that. Whatever had happened to Prince Trey had been traumatic, and his mind must be protecting him from reliving it.

Sally and Wufei had slipped away together, and Duo reappeared without Trynity. He was scratching his head. "Trynity went to help Noin," he remarked.

Both Heero and Trowa stared at him silently, neither knowing what to say.

Duo shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor. Trynity Stryfe was giving up a great honor and the chance to do something that was dearer to her than pillaging with a gundam. Her excuse about wanting to protect the Cinq Kingdom was honorable, but Heero doubted anyone believed her any more than he did. She was doing it to remain with Duo. Heero was glad he wasn't Duo Maxwell. Seeing the morose expression on the god of death's face drove him to do something he didn't think he would ever do voluntarily.

"I am going to go see Relena."

"I'll go with you." Trowa stayed at his side as they walked to the salon. "I wouldn't want to be in his shoes."

Heero raised his brow. "Why not?"

"Trynity is giving up her dream for him."

Heero paused at the door to the salon. "Trynity is following her heart. Maybe we don't really know what her dreams are. Anyway, if she loves Duo enough to give up the great honor she has been given, all of us, including Duo, should trust her to know what she is doing and what she wants." With those words of uncharacteristic wisdom – Heero didn't know where they came from – he pushed open the door to the salon.

Relena was standing with her arms folded facing the door. "I was expecting you ten minutes ago," she snapped like the shrew she was.

Catherine, sitting on the sofa, stood to greet them. "Hello, Trowa. Relena has told me you have chosen to be a knight instead of an entertainer for the tournament. I had hoped you would perform with me."

Trowa looked her in the eye. "I won't be performing with you anymore, Catherine." Heero almost winced at the steel edge in his voice. Even the dimmest star in the night sky could understand that rebuff.

But Catherine didn't seem to notice or if she did, she didn't care. Smiling, she crossed the room to slip her arm around his and despite the stiffening of his body said, "Let's go for a walk in the garden. We can discuss this in privacy."

Heero watched them leave, then glanced at Relena. She was holding a tape measure in her hand. "Just what do you plan to do with that?" Although she wasn't wearing provocative clothing, there was something about her black skirt and pink frilly blouse that made his pulse quicken. Damn! Why did Trowa have to leave him alone with Relena?

Noting the sour expression on Heero's face, Relena wanted to wrap the tape measure around his neck and string him up. "The tailor left!" she snapped. "He told me how to get your measurements and I was to send them to his shop immediately or your costume will not be completed by this week-end." She took a breath. "Take off your jacket."

He pulled off the black leather pilot's jacket and tossed it over a chair. "Can't you just take the sizes off my clothing?" Heero seemed as uncomfortable as she felt.

Relena took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her jangling nerves. She wished Catherine hadn't dragged Trowa away. Now she was alone with Heero Yuy, and she was afraid she would do something stupid. "Don't be ridiculous!" She forced herself to sound in control. "These aren't items of clothing we can just buy off a rack somewhere."

"Get it over with!" snapped Heero.

Her feet took her to Heero, and she concentrated on draping the tape measure around his shoulders. When had they become this broad? She checked the number, then turned away to write the numbers on a notepad on the coffee table. When she turned back, she saw that Heero was unbuttoning his shirt.

"What are you doing?" she almost shrieked. She didn't need to see more of Heero than necessary. Her knees were becoming weak.

"You can't measure my waist over my shirt. The tailor always makes me take it off. My pants, too."

Heero was being completely serious. Relena was shaking like a leaf. She was in over her head! "Don't do that!" She walked over to the telecom. "I'll just tell him to use the last measurements he had from you."

"I've grown since then."

He didn't need to remind her! Relena's hand hovered over the telecom. All she had to do was to call in Benton, and he would do what was necessary. But Relena didn't want to look like a coward in Heero's eyes. Glancing at him and seeing that his shirt was hanging open, Relena could do nothing but stare at the movement of his muscles as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Are we going to do it or not?"

"Do it?" she squeaked. Relena felt light-headed.

"Get over here and measure me! I have other things to do!"

Relena managed to reach him although she bumped into the coffee table and he caught her before she fell on the floor. When she looked up at him, she saw that his eyes were dark and menacing. Her gaze traveled down to his lips. They were closed in a straight line of disapproval and disgust. How often had she seen that look? Too many times, she thought, forcing down the lump in her throat that made tears jump to her eyes.

She shook off his hands and slipped the tape around his waist. Relena tried not to touch him although she noted that he had become very tense. Relena turned away to write the number, then managed to take measurements from his shoulders to his waist, then from there to the floor without doing anything foolish.

"All done," she said with a sigh of relief as she turned back to him. She brushed back her bangs and realized they were moist from perspiration. It was hard work measuring Heero Yuy! "You can go."

"You're not done," he said with a low voice.

She turned to look at him.

"You forgot my hips."

No! She couldn't do that! Relena tossed him the tape. "You do it."

He tossed it back. "You've done such a good job. Besides, I wouldn't be able to keep the tape straight."

Relena saw a challenge in his eyes. Jerk! Who did he think he was dealing with? She marched over and pulled the tape around him, but when she brought it around the front to measure him, the tape dropped from her hands when she encountered more than she expected. Before she could react, Heero grabbed a handful of her hair and he covered her lips with his own. Relena didn't even think about fighting him as he dragged her down to the couch. This time she returned his kiss, and she touched where she wanted, the places she had measured and places she would like to, and he was taking full measure of her as well. The buttons of her blouse clattered as they hit the floor. Clothing was tearing, hers, his, she didn't know. She didn't care.

Suddenly Heero's weight was gone, and she heard the sound of a punch thrown. Relena blinked at the sight of Colonel Benton punching a dazed Heero again.

Jumping off the sofa, she hurried to grab Benton's arm to stop him from pounding Heero senseless.

"Stop it!"

Benton looked at her with disgust and she realized her blouse was hanging open, her skirt was hiked up and her hair was a mess. Shocked to see how she must look in his eyes, Relena quickly buttoned what she could of her blouse as he looked away from her back to Heero. "Get out now, or I will report your behavior to the king."

Without looking at her, he snatched his jacket and walked out.

Benton followed him without looking again at Relena. By the time Noin walked into the salon, she had composed herself enough to call in the measurements to the tailor.

"What was going on?" Noin's eyes scanned the room before coming back to rest on Relena. The coffee table had overturned. A vase was broken. Relena's shirt was held together with one button, her skirt was rumpled and she could only imagine what her face looked like.

Relena was so ashamed of her behavior in her brother's salon that she couldn't answer. The public relations fallout hadn't begun yet from the limousine incident. What if some palace tour would have stumbled in on her heated interlude with Heero Yuy? The press and her brother's opposition in the Assembly would have that bone to gnaw on for weeks!

Noin laughed and came to put an arm around her shoulder. "I think you've found a way to get past that gundanium shielded heart of his."

"He doesn't love me! What went on in here had nothing to do with love." Relena could feel herself blushing.

Noin tried to tidy Relena's hair. "Heero Yuy wouldn't do that to just any girl, Relena." Noin frowned and thought aloud, "Actually I couldn't really imagine him doing that at all, so I think you have him hooked. Believe me, he'll fight the line. Just hang on, give him some slack when he wants it, but hold on tight. I landed a big one. So will you."

"I didn't know you knew how to fish," remarked a voice from the door.

They both looked to see Miliardo glaring at the two of them, hands on his hips. Relena didn't know if he was angrier with her for her behavior or for Noin's analogy.

Noin's face turned red and without a word to either of them, Miliardo walked out with his back stiff.

Noin sighed and looked back at Relena, and shrugging, she said, "He'll get over it. His pride is a little hurt. As for Heero, when he goes out to space, he will think of nothing except returning to you. Just don't screw it up, Relena."

Relena had no intention of waiting for his return. She smiled to herself. Her plan was looking better and better.

"We didn't have a chance to talk the other day," said Catherine after they had been walking in the garden for awhile in silence. When they came to the gazebo, she sat on the bench and patted the space beside her.

"You were never big on talking." Trowa didn't bother looking at her.

"I thought you liked it that way."

"I didn't like it any way," he admitted.

"So now that you have found another girl, you think you can treat me like dirt?" She seemed more angry than hurt.

Trowa looked at her. "I'm sorry, Catherine. You were right at school when you said that I didn't love you."

"I took care of you, Trowa," she reminded him.

"And I appreciate that." This had gone much more smoothly at school when she had ditched him to run off with the circus. Why couldn't she just leave it at that? Women were unpredictable! A noise overhead made him look up to see the Cinq Kingdom Taurus suits in flight. His heart beat faster thinking that Arora was in one of the mobile suits. He could see the gundanium resurfacing, and they were equipped with beam sabers.

"Trowa!" Catherine had been talking to him but he found it difficult to concentrate on anything but the mobile suits in the sky. He forced himself to turn to look at her. Catherine had left the bench to stand by him. "Relena explained to me everything that has happened." She put her hand on his arm, and Trowa felt uncomfortable, but he checked the urge to shove off her touch. "I hope you do not get hurt."

"Don't worry about me, Catherine. I'm a big boy."

The Taurus suits were high in the sky. Trowa couldn't help but turn his attention back to them, to watch as they dueled with their beam sabers. They were just practicing, but he was anxious for their safety, both for Apolo who was like a brother to him, and for Arora whom he…he…

"Trowa? You aren't listening! You haven't listened to a word I have said!"

"I'm sorry. I was concerned about Arora and Apolo."

Her head tilted up to watch the mock battle in the sky between the three Taurus suits. "I'd say you have cause to be concerned. Miss Stryfe is making fools of them."

Trowa sighed.

"Do you love that girl?" demanded Catherine.

He looked at her. "Arora?" Did he love her? Had he loved her? He certainly was drawn to her. His one memory seemed to indicate that he had loved her. But then why had he left? Why had he taken her sword? Trowa wished he could remember more about Arora and why he had abandoned her. Hurt and angry from his betrayal, she could not trust him, so Trowa didn't know if he could trust himself. Especially with her.

"You didn't answer my question," Catherine reminded him.

"You are getting on my nerves, Cathy."

She slid her arms around his neck and pressed herself close. "I know just what to do for that. Let's go back to the circus. I have something in my tent that can take the edge of your nerves."

The thought of getting high and having sex with Catherine churned his stomach painfully. He shoved her back. "Don't touch me!"

Catherine looked hurt, but he didn't want to comfort her. Had he always been so selfish? Had she always repulsed him? Did Prince Trey treat women so callously? Had he done it to Arora? "You will regret this, Trowa Barton."

"I don't think so." He headed back to the palace, his head aching, his heart in turmoil. The Taurus suits had landed, and he got back to the pavilion in time to see Arora lowering on the cable. Trynity was just dismounting from her own and went to talk to Apolo who was already on the ground.

Trowa marched to Arora and was disgusted to see her dressed in the form-fitting space uniform. On Calabria such a garment would be considered indecent and dishonorable, and he felt uncomfortable and irritated that she wore it although he had seen many women, not the least Trynity Stryfe, dressed just so. "What are you doing?"

"Training," she informed him, matter-of-factly, and tried to walk past him.

"Don't turn your back on me."

Arora didn't turn around. "I should have learned that lesson four years ago, Trey. Now stop treating me like a helpless child and allow me to train without your interference."

Trowa took a step toward her, then stopped as she turned to look at him. He saw himself in her eyes, a spoiled, petulant boy who demanded everything, who was denied nothing.

"Stop treating me like a helpless child!"

"You are a child!"

Apolo was laughing as he sat on a rock tossing pebbles in a stream as he listened to them argue.

"Stop following us around. You are going to get hurt!" Trey glared at the annoying pest.

She glared back at him.

"You can't handle that sword, so why do you even try?" Apolo's little sister disgusted him, but he had no choice but to put up with her.

"You can't handle your sword," she retorted. "You will never be able to take the throne from your father." They glared at each other for several moments during which time he considered beating the gods forsaken female, then Trey snorted and started to walk away. He couldn't beat her; he wouldn't beat her.

"Stupid, useless female," he muttered as he neared a stream where he knelt to take a drink of water. Ever since that day when she had sworn her blood oath she had been a plague in his life. She spoiled all his fun, and Apolo spent more time watching out for her than he did Trey. It wasn't fair to be saddled with her. Imperial Guard Arora was a joke! His father's men laughed behind his back whenever he entered the hall with her on his heels. Dilan mocked him. His father outright ridiculed him. And the look in Dax's eyes made Trey shudder when his dark gaze swept over them as if they were vermin. Someday he would be rid of her! The brat would get herself into trouble, and that would be the end of her.

A growl made him lift his head from and he found himself facing a large wildcat almost twice his own size. Across the stream from him, it bared its long fangs, and saliva dripped from corners of its mouth as it growled. Trey was so paralyzed with fear that he couldn't breathe let alone move.

"Don't move." Arora was standing several feet away from him.

"Get away," he hissed over his shoulder. The little pest would get in the way as usual.

The wildcat roared.

Ignoring him, Arora ran, jumped and flipped high in the air before landing in the water in the stream between Trey and the wildcat. Trey's heart seemed to stop as the wildcat sprang at her, but she put up her arms and rays of light flew out from her, knocking down the wildcat.

As it roared and sprang for another attack, Apolo came running from behind Trey. He tossed the sword through the air. It flew end over end until Arora reached up to snatch it by the handle, and in the same motion swung it smoothly to slice cleanly through the attacking wildcat fell which fell on either side of her in two pieces.

"I guess she knows how to use her sword," remarked Apolo in Trey's ear.

Trey turned to look at him. "What witchery did she use on that beast?"

Apolo looked startled. Arora quickly went to his side and slipped her hand in her brother's. They were both frightened, but Arora recovered before Apolo and she glared at Trey, her chin raised in that defiant pose that made him want to beat the insolence out of her.

"I saved your life!"

"It is your duty," he reminded her angrily. He narrowed his eyes at them. "Answer me! What manner of sorcery was that?"

"Our mother was a Guerani."

"Who else knows?" demanded Trey. This was all he needed! The Guerani tribe had been annihilated before Trey's birth because their sorcery and evil rites threatened the security of the empire. There were rumors that scattered survivors hid in the Guerani Hills or in the Wastelands, and from time to time hunts were organized to kill the vile creatures. Trey could not believe Dax would put two in his midst!

"No one!" cried Arora.

"Not even our father," stated Apolo fearfully. "Our mother would not dare tell him!" Dax, himself, had lead many Guerani hunting excursions into the hills.

"Only you know." Arora stared defiantly at Trey, yet he could see in her soft brown gaze that she was frightened "What are you going to do?"

He knew what he should do. Trey should tell his father. Dax would be punished, banished to the desert to live with the outcasts, his house ruined and Arora and Apolo would be put to death. Creatures with powers that Trey had just witnessed could be very dangerous.

"I saved your life!" cried Arora anxiously. Tears glistened in her eyes, making them look like big, dark amber jewels.

"Trowa?"

Trowa blinked his eyes. Arora was looking at him curiously. Her hands were clenched at her sides, and Trowa either felt or remembered what he had learned about them. Although Apolo had powers, Arora was stronger. Apolo had once confided in him that his mother, Valerya, had been the daughter of the last chief of the Guerani tribe. She had been raised by a childless Wasteland couple who one day found the child at their doorstep sobbing and alone. Valerya had come to the imperial palace with Dilan's mother, and she had caught the eye of Zeno's imperial guard. She had died the night Arora had been born.

Apolo came to them, disturbing his thoughts by remarking, "Those machines are difficult to handle."

Trynity came to stand with them. "You fought against the controls of the Taurus, Apolo. You must become one with your mobile suit, and it will react as you wish. Once you discover the technique, you will become adept, I have no doubt." She smiled at Trowa. "They are very skilled."

"That's not what I saw," remarked Trowa with a frown. "You were making jackasses out of them."

Trynity raised her brows. "I wasn't really fighting. Arora was giving you the show."

Trowa looked at Arora. She was smiling smugly.

"I told you I could take care of myself."

Trowa was finding it difficult to sort the past from the present.

"I swear I will use my powers only to protect you, Trey."

"Forever?" He glared at the little pest, realizing for the first time that he had the power of life or death over the wretched witch-child. Arora knew it too.

"Forever," she vowed. There was a glow about her as she stared at him with her big eyes.

Trowa was looking into those big eyes now. But they were they eyes of a woman, not a child.

"You don't look too well," remarked Trynity with concern. "You aren't coming down with something are you? Maybe you better get back to Seaside. Relena will have a snit if you try to weasel out of her extravaganza next week because if you come down with something, so will everyone else."

"I will accompany you, my lord prince," said Apolo, unzipping the flight jacket.

"Stay," ordered Trowa. "There is much to learn and little time. Noin and Trynity will need to train you every spare moment they have."

Before turning to leave, Trowa noted that Arora and Apolo looked like lost children, standing side by side watching him. Or was he remembering how they had looked that afternoon so long ago when they had returned to the palace? Trey hadn't told anyone, not ever, what he had learned about his imperial guards. Apolo and Arora were likely the last of their race, and no matter what happened, he would never betray them. Trey felt the need to protect them just as strongly as they felt theirs to protect him. They were tied, knotted forever in a pact of blood. Arora's powers must have drawn her to Earth, and now because Trowa didn't want them to reveal their whereabouts to the Calabrians, they had become rebels.

Trowa would need to protect them.

He thought of the transmission Sally had played and the men he had seen.

Prince Dilan had come, and with a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach, Trowa knew it wasn't for Princess Ryana, and he hadn't come to find a brother he believed dead. Dilan had come for Arora.