Stealth, that was the key. Silence through the morning mist, frozen in time by the icy chill of a rainy spring mountain morning.brbr
Hundreds of people populated the foreign mountainsides, crowding in with the winds and the mists and the dirty snow. The Alps caught the wind and rain, screaming protest to it's militaristic intruders.brBr
Not one soul in the city of Constance noticed the stealthy invasion and the rains stopped.brBrBr----------brBRBR
In the far recesses of the L2 colony cluster Jonathan Phoenix was settling down to dinner with one of his most trusted Preventor correspondents.brBr
The terrorist leader drank his scotch in peculiar sips, waiting in anticipation for the latest news from his two bugs.brBr
The private dinning room was not guarded. Why should it be when only twenty feet above loomed a heavily armed fortress? Tonight though, for some reason, this made the ambitious Jonathan Phoenix nervous. Maybe it was the absence of the guards, or maybe it was the absence of the gun he forever kept hidden in his jacket, or maybe it was just an absence. Whatever it was, he showed no outward signs of apprehension as the dinning room door creaked open.brBr
A young man with dark auburn hair waltzed confidently into the room. Phoenix turned his head and nodded, condescendingly acknowledging the boy's decisive entrance.brBr
Devon Steele's auburn hair glistened as he turned benevolently to face Phoenix. He chuckled slightly as his vision landed on the evilness of the man's eyes. Phoenix never noticed him reassuringly patting the pistol concealed in his waistband.brBr
br----------brBrBr
The night had been long, and she hadn't been able to sleep. The bombings were weighing heavily on her mind. So many people were dead and injured--too many casualties. Granted, she, herself was one of the so-called casualties, but she deserved it. None of the people who died would have another chance like she had now. She would heal... brbr
Concealing her dull, tired black eyes with her eyelids, she removed her glasses and massaged her temples. It had finally stopped raining and she could see tiny rays of sunlight protruding from beneath the curtains. brbr
The thoughts whirring through Meiran's head slowed and dulled. Sleep was slowly tugging her away from reality. Determinedly Meiran shook herself awake, causing pain to resound through her entire body.brbr
Her husband slowly stepped into the room, freshly showered, heralding a small cup of coffee. He'd been training since four-thirty that morning. She'd only pretended to be asleep as he'd fluidly swept through normalities such as push-ups and quiet drills to his solemn meditations.brBr
His muscles were sore, she observed, watching the very slight change in his gait. It was doubtful that any of his comrades would notice.brBR
Tearing her attention away from her husband, Meiran closed her documents into a folder, ready to hand in. Finally, working for hours, sifting through hundreds of printouts, she had all the information on the Earth's Life Forces in order.brBr
Sitting next to his wife, Wufei relaxed a little, welcoming the release of the muscular strain. He scolded himself for allowing his body to become so out of shape that he would be sore. Even though he was in much better shape than people his age, he was still not satisfied with his own physical ability. He had always been able to count on his intelligence and his strength--though these two constants never seemed to be able to outweigh his emotional instability. In fact, it seemed that the latter would affect the former instead of the other way around.brbr
And then she came back.brBrbrbr
"I have some information for you," Meiran stated, waking Wufei from his thoughts. brBr
"You should be resting," he said, taking the documents. His tone was much too soft for Meiran's taste.brbr
"Stop babying me Wu Fei," she demanded.brbr
"I'm only encouraging your well being--" He stopped himself short, as if he meant to say something more, but changed his mind at the last second.brBr
"Well, I can take care of myself. I know my limits."brBr
Wufei snorted, opening the folder. Meiran sat indignantly as he scanned her three page introductory report.brbr
"Three E.L.F.'s ?" He asked skeptically. She nodded. "So Phoenix is a puppet?" Again she nodded, aggravating Wufei..... "Answer me respectfully when I ask you a question Onna."brBr
"I cannot easily answer rhetorical questions."brbr
He snapped his head up, ready for a stare down. brbr
Reading his thoughts, Meiran responded. "Everything will be explained. I suggest reading before you become cross." She was fiery, returning her husband's glare defiantly. The two let a miniscule smirk slip almost simultaneously onto their glowering faces. Memories of how terribly they had treated each other the first time around crept into their eyes.brbrBr--------brBrBr
A paler than normal Lucrezia Noin sat next to Zechs as the team crowded around the table. To her right sat Lady Une. On Zechs' left Relena shivered, separating her brother and Heero. Quatre and Heero had been conferring prior to the meeting's opening, but Trowa had stopped their conversation when Lady Une began to speak. Duo, out of sheer exhaustion was having trouble concentrating on the lecture, even though he desperately wanted to know the updates. Wufei sat prepared, folder in hand. brBr
He had not looked at her all morning, had not shared with her what he had found out--and she was frustrated, Judas could tell.brBr
He'd listened to Sally grumble to herself all morning. It was his turn to speak. Almost in a surreal state of being he stood, watching himself like one would see himself in a dream. He watched as he spoke from the fax in his hands. Supposedly it had been sent from a disclosed location. Judas knew it could, and would, be traced.brbr
... "Jonathan Phoenix has been assassinated," he repeated. The room's silence dropped to a new level of quiet.brBr
Slowly Quatre raised to the board and with one stroke added another tally mark to the mass, making the total of those confirmed dead 275.brbr
"What does this mean for us now?" Duo asked, breaking the silence.brbr
"The assassination most likely occurred from within the Earth Life Forces..." Judas added.brbr
A dazed concentration settled like a dense fog over the room. Slowly a pinhole of light began to break the darkness.brBr
"Jonathan Phoenix was only a puppet for the ELF," Wufei recited from Meiran's paper. "The purpose for his instatement was to retract from the current ELF's purpose." Questioning looks came from the preventors. "These current beliefs, however, hardly coincide with those put forward by the original founder To Meilun," he added.brbr
"What are these beliefs?" Lady Une asked, anger brewing below her calm tone. A murmur of agreement arose amongst the pilots.brBr
"Perhaps knowing the objectives of the Earth's Life Forces would help to explain what exactly is happening,
and what there is we can do to squelch this problem," Quatre stated.brBr
Hurriedly shuffling through the large stack of papers Wufei scurried to find the main objectives of the current ELF.brBrBr
----------brbrBr
"Wufei!" Heero called after his fellow pilot.brbr
Slightly aggravated the youth turned to silently acknowledge his comrade, strictly business.brbr
"What was your source?" He asked simply.brbr
Wufei's eyes narrowed, forcing Heero into explanation. "Relena and I searched for hours, the only information we were able to locate concerned the ELF under Meiran-" this caused an even sharper glare to stiffen on Wufei's face. Heero took notice, yet continued on, "and its change of leadership to Jonathan Phoenix."brbr
"Why do you patronize me?"brBr
"An enemy normally wouldn't give out strategic information."brbr
"You're calling my wife a traitor, but without her justice would be depleted. Good day Odin." Making his point, Wufei turned his back only to find himself alongside a bewildered Sally.brbr
"That was some heavy information back there," she said. He nodded.brbr
"Not to be dishonorable, but if you could just clarify something for me...it would be tremendously helpful."brbr
Wufei continued walking, only grunting in an affirmative response.brbr
"Everything you shared with us came from Miss To correct?" He nodded. "When did she dictate this all to you?"brbr
"She's spent her time gathering the information. She only gave it to me this morning."brbr
Sally bit her lip. "There's just one other thing. Did I understand correctly that you got the information from you wife? That doesn't exactly coincide with what you just told me, considering..." She trailed off, not wanting to push it too far.brbr
Wufei's step did not falter, though he sighed outwardly. Exasperated, he decided the time had finally come to tell the truth, whether he was ready for it or not.brbr
"I told you once that I was married when I was younger...?"brbr
"Yes I remember the whole arranged marriage story." brbr
"And I told you that she was killed not long after we were married?"brbr
"Yes, she was going to fight, but was killed before she got a chance, I remember it all Wu Fei," she said gently, afraid of where this was going.brbr
"For years I believed her to have joined the rest of our family. A few weeks ago she appeared here. She's been staying with me in secret. To Meilun is just the alias she used, her true name is Chang Meiran. There was a mix-up in the shuttle logs. We thought she was on the civilian shuttle that was attacked..."brbr
"So, Hilde's friend, my patient, is your wife?" He nodded, gauging her reaction.brbr
Sally just kept walking.brbrBr---------brbrBr
Struggling, Meiran forced herself out of her bed. The pain didn't bother her, she was used to the ache by now. Her leg was getting stronger, and her ribs were only sore now. She'd always been one to heal quickly, it was a well-known trait of her clan.brbr
Without warning, she lost her balance and began totopple. She braced herself to his the hardwood floor. Instead of landing roughly, she found herself being supported by a young woman not much larger than she.brbr
When Meiran was upright and steady, the girl stepped back, revealing her face. "Are you alright?" Relena asked.brbr
"Yes. Thank you," Meiran bowed slightly and began hobbling to the kitchen.brBr
"Would you like a hand?" Relena offered, following closely behind the injured woman.brBr'
"No thank you," Meiran said politely.brbr
"Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?" Relena was cautious.brbr
"I don't suppose I would..."brbr
"Do you want any further association with the current ELF?"brbr
Meiran, unfazed by the direct nature of the question continued pouring herself a glass of water. Slowly she lowered herself into one of the straight-backed chairs that surrounded the kitchen table. "I will always cherish the ELF, seeing as it is a creation of my own. Though I do not agree with the path is had chosen to take, I believe that eventually the organization will find its way.brbr
"So you see it as a prodigal child?"brbr
"One might say that..." Meiran nodded.brbr
"Why did you leave in the first place?" Relena asked, only meaning to keep the conversation going.brbr
Meiran, knowing that Relena would not know about her so-called 'relationship' with Wufei, chose her words carefully. "I reassessed my priorities," was all she said.brbr
"Your husband?"
Unsure of where to proceed, Meiran simply nodded again.brbr
"I admire that," Relena stated. "I doubt now that I could leave my position, even for love"brBr
"I was absolutely in love with my job, and I must say that my relationship with my husband was hardly enjoyable. We were terrible to each other, but that's the way it goes with arranged marriages...." There was silence.
"Miss Darilan, I highly doubt that you snuck over here unescorted simply to inquire about my personal feelings. So why ihave/i you come?"brbr
"Well, to be honest," Relena blushed a bit at being discovered, "I wanted to speak to you in private. I knew that if I asked permission, Wufei would not allow me in his house alone. I also knew that I would not be allowed to meet with you privately since at this moment you are considered a suspect. I'm sure that comes as no surprise to you."brbr
"I suppose not. What is it that I can do for you Miss Darilan?"brbr
"Relena, please." brbr
Than by all means call me Meiran," Purposefully giving her real name.brbr
"I'm simply trying to make sense out of all this. I remember when the ELF first started. I remembering supporting the organization politically and financially. The Earth Life Forces was a splendid idea, I just don't understand how it has turned from helping victims of war to creating them."
"Nor do I..." Meiran said. "All I know to say is that some of the wrong people were left in charge, and that is no one's fault but my own."brBr
"But surely there was something going on underground before you left, it hasn't been that long has it?"brbr
"I've searched my mind over and over since the day the University was bombed, and I cannot remember once ever finding any evidence that would point to corrupt activities going on down below."brbr
Relena thought for a moment, trying to make sense of things... "Did you know that Jonathan Phoenix was assassinated this morning?"brbr
Meiran turned swiftly, sending pain shooting through her limbs. "No, I was not aware of this."brbr
"It was in his own dinning room, by a fellow member," Relena informed the former leader.brbr
"This certainly changes things..." Meiran sighed, becoming confused herself.brbr
"It certainly does iOnna/i." Wufei was posed, leaning in the door way.brBr
The two women swiveled their heads, surprised to see the houses owner watching over them. Meiran looked back at him silently, waiting for his reaction. Relena sat, looking unfazed, but secretly she was apprehensively awaiting her reprimand.brbr
To the surprise of the chatting pair he neither became cross, nor indignant.
"Frau, du sollst im Bett sien.", Wufei muttered in German, a language he figured neither of the woman knew. He was wrong.brBr
"She seems to be doing fine," Relena assured the slightly intimidating figure.brBr
His eyes widened, and his tongue reverted back to English.brbr
"Are you tired Meiran?" he knelt in front of his wife in concern.brbr
"Actually, I wouldn't mind going for a run," she kidded. His sober expression did not change. "Please do not confine me to that bed more than absolutely necessary," she corrected herself.brbr
"Understood, we need to talk later." He stood, ignoring Relena altogether. This left Relena feeling rather uncomfortable, so in turn she excused herself and slipped through the nearest exit.BRBRBR---------brbrbr
A bead of sweat detached from his scraggly hair line and slid smoothly into his right eye. He closed it to stifle the stingy and kept climbing. This night was different from the rest. He climbed his mountain not driven from angst, but by a phantom whispering into his ear. brbr
Instinct. That was the phantoms name, and the phantom said something was hiding in those mountains.brbr
And he kept climbing with the same three words running through his head: Odin doesn't fight.brbr
-----br
Well, this chapter was going to be longer, but it was so long I decided to break it into two parts. I mean really, I've already been working on this one for over a month and a half. I'm finally satisfied with it though, it took me so long to get it that way.brbr
Wufei: All standard disclaimers apply in the line of duty.br
Hundreds of people populated the foreign mountainsides, crowding in with the winds and the mists and the dirty snow. The Alps caught the wind and rain, screaming protest to it's militaristic intruders.brBr
Not one soul in the city of Constance noticed the stealthy invasion and the rains stopped.brBrBr----------brBRBR
In the far recesses of the L2 colony cluster Jonathan Phoenix was settling down to dinner with one of his most trusted Preventor correspondents.brBr
The terrorist leader drank his scotch in peculiar sips, waiting in anticipation for the latest news from his two bugs.brBr
The private dinning room was not guarded. Why should it be when only twenty feet above loomed a heavily armed fortress? Tonight though, for some reason, this made the ambitious Jonathan Phoenix nervous. Maybe it was the absence of the guards, or maybe it was the absence of the gun he forever kept hidden in his jacket, or maybe it was just an absence. Whatever it was, he showed no outward signs of apprehension as the dinning room door creaked open.brBr
A young man with dark auburn hair waltzed confidently into the room. Phoenix turned his head and nodded, condescendingly acknowledging the boy's decisive entrance.brBr
Devon Steele's auburn hair glistened as he turned benevolently to face Phoenix. He chuckled slightly as his vision landed on the evilness of the man's eyes. Phoenix never noticed him reassuringly patting the pistol concealed in his waistband.brBr
br----------brBrBr
The night had been long, and she hadn't been able to sleep. The bombings were weighing heavily on her mind. So many people were dead and injured--too many casualties. Granted, she, herself was one of the so-called casualties, but she deserved it. None of the people who died would have another chance like she had now. She would heal... brbr
Concealing her dull, tired black eyes with her eyelids, she removed her glasses and massaged her temples. It had finally stopped raining and she could see tiny rays of sunlight protruding from beneath the curtains. brbr
The thoughts whirring through Meiran's head slowed and dulled. Sleep was slowly tugging her away from reality. Determinedly Meiran shook herself awake, causing pain to resound through her entire body.brbr
Her husband slowly stepped into the room, freshly showered, heralding a small cup of coffee. He'd been training since four-thirty that morning. She'd only pretended to be asleep as he'd fluidly swept through normalities such as push-ups and quiet drills to his solemn meditations.brBr
His muscles were sore, she observed, watching the very slight change in his gait. It was doubtful that any of his comrades would notice.brBR
Tearing her attention away from her husband, Meiran closed her documents into a folder, ready to hand in. Finally, working for hours, sifting through hundreds of printouts, she had all the information on the Earth's Life Forces in order.brBr
Sitting next to his wife, Wufei relaxed a little, welcoming the release of the muscular strain. He scolded himself for allowing his body to become so out of shape that he would be sore. Even though he was in much better shape than people his age, he was still not satisfied with his own physical ability. He had always been able to count on his intelligence and his strength--though these two constants never seemed to be able to outweigh his emotional instability. In fact, it seemed that the latter would affect the former instead of the other way around.brbr
And then she came back.brBrbrbr
"I have some information for you," Meiran stated, waking Wufei from his thoughts. brBr
"You should be resting," he said, taking the documents. His tone was much too soft for Meiran's taste.brbr
"Stop babying me Wu Fei," she demanded.brbr
"I'm only encouraging your well being--" He stopped himself short, as if he meant to say something more, but changed his mind at the last second.brBr
"Well, I can take care of myself. I know my limits."brBr
Wufei snorted, opening the folder. Meiran sat indignantly as he scanned her three page introductory report.brbr
"Three E.L.F.'s ?" He asked skeptically. She nodded. "So Phoenix is a puppet?" Again she nodded, aggravating Wufei..... "Answer me respectfully when I ask you a question Onna."brBr
"I cannot easily answer rhetorical questions."brbr
He snapped his head up, ready for a stare down. brbr
Reading his thoughts, Meiran responded. "Everything will be explained. I suggest reading before you become cross." She was fiery, returning her husband's glare defiantly. The two let a miniscule smirk slip almost simultaneously onto their glowering faces. Memories of how terribly they had treated each other the first time around crept into their eyes.brbrBr--------brBrBr
A paler than normal Lucrezia Noin sat next to Zechs as the team crowded around the table. To her right sat Lady Une. On Zechs' left Relena shivered, separating her brother and Heero. Quatre and Heero had been conferring prior to the meeting's opening, but Trowa had stopped their conversation when Lady Une began to speak. Duo, out of sheer exhaustion was having trouble concentrating on the lecture, even though he desperately wanted to know the updates. Wufei sat prepared, folder in hand. brBr
He had not looked at her all morning, had not shared with her what he had found out--and she was frustrated, Judas could tell.brBr
He'd listened to Sally grumble to herself all morning. It was his turn to speak. Almost in a surreal state of being he stood, watching himself like one would see himself in a dream. He watched as he spoke from the fax in his hands. Supposedly it had been sent from a disclosed location. Judas knew it could, and would, be traced.brbr
... "Jonathan Phoenix has been assassinated," he repeated. The room's silence dropped to a new level of quiet.brBr
Slowly Quatre raised to the board and with one stroke added another tally mark to the mass, making the total of those confirmed dead 275.brbr
"What does this mean for us now?" Duo asked, breaking the silence.brbr
"The assassination most likely occurred from within the Earth Life Forces..." Judas added.brbr
A dazed concentration settled like a dense fog over the room. Slowly a pinhole of light began to break the darkness.brBr
"Jonathan Phoenix was only a puppet for the ELF," Wufei recited from Meiran's paper. "The purpose for his instatement was to retract from the current ELF's purpose." Questioning looks came from the preventors. "These current beliefs, however, hardly coincide with those put forward by the original founder To Meilun," he added.brbr
"What are these beliefs?" Lady Une asked, anger brewing below her calm tone. A murmur of agreement arose amongst the pilots.brBr
"Perhaps knowing the objectives of the Earth's Life Forces would help to explain what exactly is happening,
and what there is we can do to squelch this problem," Quatre stated.brBr
Hurriedly shuffling through the large stack of papers Wufei scurried to find the main objectives of the current ELF.brBrBr
----------brbrBr
"Wufei!" Heero called after his fellow pilot.brbr
Slightly aggravated the youth turned to silently acknowledge his comrade, strictly business.brbr
"What was your source?" He asked simply.brbr
Wufei's eyes narrowed, forcing Heero into explanation. "Relena and I searched for hours, the only information we were able to locate concerned the ELF under Meiran-" this caused an even sharper glare to stiffen on Wufei's face. Heero took notice, yet continued on, "and its change of leadership to Jonathan Phoenix."brbr
"Why do you patronize me?"brBr
"An enemy normally wouldn't give out strategic information."brbr
"You're calling my wife a traitor, but without her justice would be depleted. Good day Odin." Making his point, Wufei turned his back only to find himself alongside a bewildered Sally.brbr
"That was some heavy information back there," she said. He nodded.brbr
"Not to be dishonorable, but if you could just clarify something for me...it would be tremendously helpful."brbr
Wufei continued walking, only grunting in an affirmative response.brbr
"Everything you shared with us came from Miss To correct?" He nodded. "When did she dictate this all to you?"brbr
"She's spent her time gathering the information. She only gave it to me this morning."brbr
Sally bit her lip. "There's just one other thing. Did I understand correctly that you got the information from you wife? That doesn't exactly coincide with what you just told me, considering..." She trailed off, not wanting to push it too far.brbr
Wufei's step did not falter, though he sighed outwardly. Exasperated, he decided the time had finally come to tell the truth, whether he was ready for it or not.brbr
"I told you once that I was married when I was younger...?"brbr
"Yes I remember the whole arranged marriage story." brbr
"And I told you that she was killed not long after we were married?"brbr
"Yes, she was going to fight, but was killed before she got a chance, I remember it all Wu Fei," she said gently, afraid of where this was going.brbr
"For years I believed her to have joined the rest of our family. A few weeks ago she appeared here. She's been staying with me in secret. To Meilun is just the alias she used, her true name is Chang Meiran. There was a mix-up in the shuttle logs. We thought she was on the civilian shuttle that was attacked..."brbr
"So, Hilde's friend, my patient, is your wife?" He nodded, gauging her reaction.brbr
Sally just kept walking.brbrBr---------brbrBr
Struggling, Meiran forced herself out of her bed. The pain didn't bother her, she was used to the ache by now. Her leg was getting stronger, and her ribs were only sore now. She'd always been one to heal quickly, it was a well-known trait of her clan.brbr
Without warning, she lost her balance and began totopple. She braced herself to his the hardwood floor. Instead of landing roughly, she found herself being supported by a young woman not much larger than she.brbr
When Meiran was upright and steady, the girl stepped back, revealing her face. "Are you alright?" Relena asked.brbr
"Yes. Thank you," Meiran bowed slightly and began hobbling to the kitchen.brBr
"Would you like a hand?" Relena offered, following closely behind the injured woman.brBr'
"No thank you," Meiran said politely.brbr
"Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?" Relena was cautious.brbr
"I don't suppose I would..."brbr
"Do you want any further association with the current ELF?"brbr
Meiran, unfazed by the direct nature of the question continued pouring herself a glass of water. Slowly she lowered herself into one of the straight-backed chairs that surrounded the kitchen table. "I will always cherish the ELF, seeing as it is a creation of my own. Though I do not agree with the path is had chosen to take, I believe that eventually the organization will find its way.brbr
"So you see it as a prodigal child?"brbr
"One might say that..." Meiran nodded.brbr
"Why did you leave in the first place?" Relena asked, only meaning to keep the conversation going.brbr
Meiran, knowing that Relena would not know about her so-called 'relationship' with Wufei, chose her words carefully. "I reassessed my priorities," was all she said.brbr
"Your husband?"
Unsure of where to proceed, Meiran simply nodded again.brbr
"I admire that," Relena stated. "I doubt now that I could leave my position, even for love"brBr
"I was absolutely in love with my job, and I must say that my relationship with my husband was hardly enjoyable. We were terrible to each other, but that's the way it goes with arranged marriages...." There was silence.
"Miss Darilan, I highly doubt that you snuck over here unescorted simply to inquire about my personal feelings. So why ihave/i you come?"brbr
"Well, to be honest," Relena blushed a bit at being discovered, "I wanted to speak to you in private. I knew that if I asked permission, Wufei would not allow me in his house alone. I also knew that I would not be allowed to meet with you privately since at this moment you are considered a suspect. I'm sure that comes as no surprise to you."brbr
"I suppose not. What is it that I can do for you Miss Darilan?"brbr
"Relena, please." brbr
Than by all means call me Meiran," Purposefully giving her real name.brbr
"I'm simply trying to make sense out of all this. I remember when the ELF first started. I remembering supporting the organization politically and financially. The Earth Life Forces was a splendid idea, I just don't understand how it has turned from helping victims of war to creating them."
"Nor do I..." Meiran said. "All I know to say is that some of the wrong people were left in charge, and that is no one's fault but my own."brBr
"But surely there was something going on underground before you left, it hasn't been that long has it?"brbr
"I've searched my mind over and over since the day the University was bombed, and I cannot remember once ever finding any evidence that would point to corrupt activities going on down below."brbr
Relena thought for a moment, trying to make sense of things... "Did you know that Jonathan Phoenix was assassinated this morning?"brbr
Meiran turned swiftly, sending pain shooting through her limbs. "No, I was not aware of this."brbr
"It was in his own dinning room, by a fellow member," Relena informed the former leader.brbr
"This certainly changes things..." Meiran sighed, becoming confused herself.brbr
"It certainly does iOnna/i." Wufei was posed, leaning in the door way.brBr
The two women swiveled their heads, surprised to see the houses owner watching over them. Meiran looked back at him silently, waiting for his reaction. Relena sat, looking unfazed, but secretly she was apprehensively awaiting her reprimand.brbr
To the surprise of the chatting pair he neither became cross, nor indignant.
"Frau, du sollst im Bett sien.", Wufei muttered in German, a language he figured neither of the woman knew. He was wrong.brBr
"She seems to be doing fine," Relena assured the slightly intimidating figure.brBr
His eyes widened, and his tongue reverted back to English.brbr
"Are you tired Meiran?" he knelt in front of his wife in concern.brbr
"Actually, I wouldn't mind going for a run," she kidded. His sober expression did not change. "Please do not confine me to that bed more than absolutely necessary," she corrected herself.brbr
"Understood, we need to talk later." He stood, ignoring Relena altogether. This left Relena feeling rather uncomfortable, so in turn she excused herself and slipped through the nearest exit.BRBRBR---------brbrbr
A bead of sweat detached from his scraggly hair line and slid smoothly into his right eye. He closed it to stifle the stingy and kept climbing. This night was different from the rest. He climbed his mountain not driven from angst, but by a phantom whispering into his ear. brbr
Instinct. That was the phantoms name, and the phantom said something was hiding in those mountains.brbr
And he kept climbing with the same three words running through his head: Odin doesn't fight.brbr
-----br
Well, this chapter was going to be longer, but it was so long I decided to break it into two parts. I mean really, I've already been working on this one for over a month and a half. I'm finally satisfied with it though, it took me so long to get it that way.brbr
Wufei: All standard disclaimers apply in the line of duty.br