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Once and Again (AC 295)…


I


Leaders of the Space Colonies and of the Earth Peace Alliance, headed by Prime Minister Relena Peacecraft, will mark another history as the meet for a peace treaty conference. This weeklong event will bridge the widening gap between the two worlds. For almost a decade…
"Daddy!" The lad shouted excitedly cutting off the rest of the news. He suddenly leaped off, knocking his toy soldiers down, and ran towards his father who had just entered the room.

Mirialdo Peacecraft lifted his five-year-old son high up in the air. "How's my young prince? Mmmm… you're getting tall so fast. Have you eaten already?"

The young lad giggled as his father nuzzled his tummy. "I ate my dinner already 'cause I got tired of waiting for you."

"I'm sorry. You're daddy had an important business that needed his attention. Tomorrow, promise, I won't be late for our fishing."

"Yehey!" the lad gladly shouted. Mirialdo brought him down and bent low so that his eyes were leveled with his son. He ruffled his son's blond mane and said, "Why don't you go up to your room and see what surprise I have for you."

The boy's blue eyes and smile grew wide. "Thanks, dad!" he said, then kissed his father. "'Night, mom," he kissed his mom then went out of the room hurriedly to go to his own.

"Darling, you are spoiling him too much," Lucrezia Noin commented as she looked up from the sofa she was sitting to her approaching husband.

Mirialdo bent to give her a kiss on the lips before sitting beside her, gathering her into his arms. "I am not," he denied. "I just want to be alone with you, that's all. Sorry, I am more late than expected."

"It's all right," Noin said nuzzling closer to her husband.

"Any news from Relena?"

"Thank God she arrived safely at the New L1 Colony. What's gotten in your mind in sending her up there when you know perfectly well that she is not safe to be anywhere far from here?"

Mirialdo gave a throaty laugh. "I know, but the Foundation has a bad feeling about these rebel attacks. A few days ago, a report came to me from the attack at the Southern Hemisphere. The photos show the latest designs of a mobile suit. Judging from the remains of the place, I'd say that these are no ordinary mobile suits."

Lucrezia gave her husband a surprised look. "Huh? You mean after all these years, the OZ foundation has risen from the ashes?"

"That's the difficult part, we don't know who is the enemy. We are not sure for certain that the OZ is back."

"And Relena…?"

"I know that the leader of the new L1 Colony would do everything to protect Relena."

"It is not only that," Noin said, pushing herself from her husband's embrace to look at him straight in the eyes. "I can feel that there is a hidden agenda behind this conference."

Mirialdo expelled a deep breath and sat back. "Why do you say that?"

"Because the Federation did not bother about the lack of communication between the earth and the colonies for the past seven years! Why the sudden interest in bridging the gap?"

"You are right," he finally admitted. "There is more to it than meets the eye."

"I know so. I may not be active in the service but I still know what's going on. Perhaps you could tell me the rest over dinner?" Noin suggested as she cupped her husbands jaw and planted a kiss on his lips.

"My pleasure."


II


Prime Minister Relena Peacecraft of the United Earth Alliance stepped out of the jetliner to the awaiting crowd of the New L1 Colony. As she descended the escalator, she was blinded by the flashes of cameras and deafened by the questions of the reporters.

Relena was looking regal in her suit in the shade of pink with her hair in a tight bun on her nape. The passing years did her justice, she had bloomed into a beautiful woman with a figure and height which would certainly gain the attraction of the male populace, as well as envy from the female.

Behind was her entourage of four headed by Capt. Trowa Barton, which her brother had assigned to oversee the conference and to protect her as well. As soon as she stepped on the ground, the troops parted the crowd to let the Prime Minister pass towards the receiving area of the arrival port.

President Heero Yuy and his second, Duo Maxwell was already waiting inside. The other delegates had already arrived and were being served in the reception area.

"Well, my man, this isn't so bad after all, huh?" Duo whispered.

Heero stood there waiting patiently. He looked different now, his built and height drew admiration from the opposite sex. His business suit fit him perfectly and his presence emitted a sense of leadership.

Except for those prussian blue eyes.

Those eyes still lacked something after all those years of attaining what he had. Someone …

Then those eyes mirrored the woman who entered through the sliding door, as if filling in the void.

Relena locked gazes right away to the man that stood motionless at the center of the receiving area. Although she remained composed, deep inside she was feeling mixed emotions; shock, at the transformation of the perfect soldier; longing, for this moment after so many years, and anger, at the same look in his eyes.

Heero held her gaze as they stood a few feet from each other. Although he remained passive, he took every second to drink in her beauty. For years he had been dreaming of the woman who stood before him now.

Duo and Trowa exchanged glances as the two moved motionless still, which drew whispers and curious glances from the crowd.

"Relena," Heero said in deep tones, sending shivers down Relena's spine.

"Heero," Relena acknowledged in return.

Duo expelled a deep breath, then stepped in front of his friend extending his hand. "Well, Relena, long time."

"Hi, Duo," she pasted a smile as she turned towards him, accepting his hand. "How are you?"

"I would say still the same, but doing better is more like it," Duo answered and released her hand. "Umm, Trowa," he raised his eyebrows towards the other man, "about the thing we were talking about…"

Trowa got the message and after a brief nod to Heero, who nodded in return, followed Duo towards the other end of the room.

Relena and Heero were left together.

"Just like what Duo said, long time," Heero said breaking the silence.

"Yes, long time."

"You've changed."

"Yes. So are you. I am really surprised."

"I am nothing compared to you," Heero said, meaningfully.

"Heero…" Relena began but was cut off when Heero finally moved and reached out for her hand. Both of them felt the shock of the longed for touch but said nothing of it.

Then Heero did something that surprised her even more. He smiled. And so did his eyes.

"I have to present you to the other delegates."


III


Quatre piled up his attaché case with his paper works glancing on his wristwatch every now and then.

"Sir?" his secretary asked through the opened door.

"Not now, Michelle, I have a meeting to catch," Quatre answered without getting his attention from the file he was skimming before piling it up in his attaché case.

"But sir, surely you must now that today is…"

"Have you seen the Noble file?" Quatre cut off his secretary, raking through the paper works on his desk.

His secretary went to her desk to get the file and handed it to him. "Here you go, you asked me to make a copy a while ago."

"Thanks," he simply said as he scanned through the pages while taking sips of his coffee.

"But, sir, the Rom…"

"Michelle, please have somebody bring the car in front," he said while closing his attaché case.

His secretary expelled a deep breath and left his office to do what she was asked.

Quatre wore his coat, got his paraphernalia and hurriedly went out of his room. He heard his secretary bid him good luck and of something else he did not catch, he simply nodded in her direction and went straight to the elevator. Clearly, his mind was focused on the impending meeting that he was subconsciously aware of his surroundings. When the doors of the lift opened, he stepped out into the Winner's Building massive lobby and stopped dead on his tracks as soon as he lifted his head towards the main entrance.

Quatre stared closely at the entering figure, afraid that his vision was deceiving him. But his vision proved to be right, as the nearing figure was the same woman he thought he would never had the chance to see again. "Dorothy," he breathed out.

"Hello, Quatre, long time," Dorothy said smoothly as she removed her eyeglasses when she came abreast with the man she have not seen for years.

Quatre quickly recovered as he held her sight. Then his eyes narrowed, dawning on him with realization. "You were sent by the Federation," he stated.

"I am afraid so," Dorothy said. She held up her portfolio with one and tried opening it with the other to get some papers to show him. Her hands trembled.

Quatre snatched her portfolio from her hands and guided her outside the building towards the waiting limousine. "I am sorry but I am running late with the meeting. Since I could not personally attend to you right now," he said while opening the door and let her in, "might as well come with me to the meeting." He sat beside her at the back.

For once in her life, Dorothy was tongue-tied. She just stared at the man beside her, unable to focus her thoughts and sort her feelings out.

Quatre looked straight ahead, although knowing that Dorothy was staring at him, her gaze mirroring her unvoiced questions.

In due time, Dorothy, Quatre thought, In due time.


IV


Passengers en route to the L2 Colony, please proceed to Gate 34. The shuttle will leave in five minutes.

Passengers en route to the X922 Colony, please proceed to Gate 16. The shuttle will leave in one hour.

Passengers….

The announcement could be barely heard around the throng of people in the shuttle port of the X6542 Colony. But one man was oblivious of the noise around him as he made his way towards Gate 34 where his shuttle was stationed that would take him to his new mission: the L2 Colony.

Wufei sliced through the crowd and was near the clearing when two young men ran over a young lady who almost fell if not for him cushioning her fall.

"I … I am sorry," the lady said apologetically, as she staggered to get up.

Wufei gave a disgruntled sound. He let the lady stood up so he could stand up himself. "No problem," he muttered passively.

"Thank you," she said and left without looking at Wufei, almost as if she was afraid about something or in a hurry to escape from someone.

Wufei could barely discern her features but from what he could collect, the lady had rounded eyes and light chestnut hair. Very familiar.

Hmmm…That's the least of my problems now, he thought. Wufei picked up his backpack and proceeded towards his destination.

He boarded the shuttle and sat at the back on a window seat but he did not care enough to look outside as the shuttle launched through the outer space. He closed his eyes and resigned himself to his surroundings.

After thirty minutes of floating in the space, the right wing of the shuttle blew up sending the young lady off-balanced on Wufei's lap. His reflex was fast as he enveloped the lady with his arms to prevent her from falling while the shuttle suddenly dropped on its right side.

"You again!" Wufei hissed out.

"I'm sorry," the lady said fright evident on her rounded eyes as she clutched her bag tightly against her bossom.

"You do have a habit on falling to other people's lap," he commented off-handedly.

Wufei shifted her aside as he take a look on the damage on the shuttle's right wing.

Please fasten your seatbelts and put on your oxygen masks. The …

With the lady still on his lap, the overhead speaker rattling about the safety regulations and the up front screaming her lungs out, Wufei ears pricked as he picked up a distant sound of approaching attackers. Then another explosion from the cockpit of the shuttle sending one of the stewardess screaming out declaring that the pilot has become unconscious due to electrical shock, sending the rest of the ten passengers inside the shuttle panicking.

Wufei muttered a silent curse as he eased the frightened lady off his lap and placed her on the vacant seat beside him. "Stay there and follow the safety guidelines," he stated left for the cockpit to take control of the shuttle that was losing control.

He found the unconscious pilot, checked the faint pulse, and manned the control. Knowing that he could not fight off the attackers by himself and that there are innocent people aboard, he sent out a distress message to the Preventers' headquarters in X6542 Colony. He maneuvered the shuttle to prevent from further damage from the attacking mobile suit.

"Well, I'll be damned," he muttered under his breath. "What made them attack this shuttle knowing that this is a civilian aircraft?"

Wufei switched on the communication channel as he made contact with the attackers. "Please state your purpose of attack. This is a civilian aircraft. We carry no weapons or whatsoever."

The overhead communicator suddenly showed an image of one of the masked fighter planes pilot. "What we needed is on board that space shuttle right now. That was only a warning shot. If the courier would not hand over what we need, we are going to blow the thing up in mid-space!"

The comlink suddenly went blank. Wufei cursed and banged the control. "What are they talking about?!" Wufei asked rather loudly as another beam was fired near the shuttle.

"I heard what they said," the lady suddenly stated from his back, rather shakily.

Wufei made a disgruntled noise as he turned to look at the lady. "It is not safe for you to be here. Didn't I tell you to seat back and follow the instruction?"

"You have to turn me over. I am the courier."


V


It had been a while since a festive affair was celebrated in any of the Colonies, especially the L2 Colony. No communication whatsoever had come across the Earth and the colonies for a couple of years since the Mariemaia incident, and the entertainment brought by the people of the Earth was met with suspicious speculations.

However, despite of the fact of the negative outlook of the many locals, children's voices, carnival music and laughter filled the air of the L2 Colony. Inside the dome, the Family Bloom had received a warm welcome and applause from the audience as they finished their show.

As the crowd enjoyed themselves at the park, at the dark recess of the town, two men were concealed at the shadows of the building. Only the light of their cigarettes could be seen.

"What now?" the man with a bigger built asked.

"We continue as planned. There is no turning back now," the other one replied. "We have waited for so long and it would be crazy to back out now."

The other man gave a throaty chuckle. "Subtleties is not really your style."

"I know," the older one replied, he took a final smoke from his cigar and threw it on the ground then stepped on it. He then started to walk down the alley towards the busy street ahead. "I expect you to carry out your duties well." He said as he continued to walk. Then at the end, the light fell upon his ruthless face. He showed his evil grin as he scanned the Colony below. "Soon, everyone will speak my name…

Odin Lowe."

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