"Relena.." came a voice…
Relena tossed, Heero? Her mind said hopefully. She felt a slight pressure on her shoulder. No… Not Heero.. she conceded sadly.
"Relena? Said the voice once more.
She sighed, "I'm awake." She said, though her voice indicated that the truth was hardly so.
The voice hesitated, "We have a problem." Relena's eyes snapped open, and she assumed her 'Miss Foreign Minister' Look, at the word 'problem'.
She sat up, "What's the problem?" she said, voice hard.
Gundam Wing: Star's End
Chapter Two: I Don't Really Wanna Be The Queen
"Well…" Zechs said, "We have the colony's defense system trained on us. It's not very strong, just about strong enough to blast the largest meteors from the sky, but this ship isn't very large, meant for survey, not battle." He said.
"No ships are made for battle anymore.." Relena said in a low voice, raspy from sleep.
Milliardo smiled, "That's true. It's all your doing, little sister." He said, "But now, we have T10 colony defenses targeted to vital systems, and they want to know why we're out here. I was doing my best to keep them occupied, but they found your signature."
He sighed, "Now I don't see any alternative to revealing your presence."
She sat up, flipping her slightly tangled hair over her shoulders, "Right, well, I suppose I must make an appearance, then." She said, completely in 'Miss Foreign Minister' mode.
Zechs almost laughed, "I do hope you were planning on changing your clothes.. I don't know that they would recognize you.." he said.
She looked down, and realized that she was still wearing her nightie, one arm wrapped loosely around her teddy bear. She blushed slightly, but threw her head forward stubbornly, "Well, it might do them some good to remember that I'm only seventeen.." she said, jutting out her chin.
"Just get dressed," he said, ruffling her golden hair.
She frowned for a moment, but then grinned, and got up.
"Is she up?" Noin asked, looking harried, "I have been having a tad of trouble with these comms… They're barraging every sensor with questions of 'Who's the third?' Ships for miles around must be confused." She said, running her fingers through her hair, "Every language, too, just so we could get the point… Qui est la troisieme? Dare wa sannin desu ka? Quien es el tres persona? It's really giving me a headache." She said.
Zechs leaned forward on the console, staring at all the visual comms, "Huh.. I believe it.. I wonder how they preempted all the radio stations.." he said, "Open a link." He made a gesture towards the screen.
Noin nodded, "Connection… in… progress.." she said, making the last keystroke.
Zechs pressed his lips together in distaste, "T10 colony, please take your weapons off of my ship." He said.
A forbiddingly angry face stared back at him, "We cannot identify your third passenger. As soon as that person's identity is revealed to us, we will consider it." The voice sneered.
"You'll be sorry, once she shows up." He murmured, face in one hand, "It's not as if anything you have out here isn't attributed to her work." He said.
The colony comm man laughed, "Please! Who do you think you have there, Relena Darlian?" they asked, and there was a round of laughter at the colony end.
The door at the back swished open, "Is my being here so unlikely-seeming to you as to cause so much laughter?" Relena asked, hands on hips.
The man on the other end of the comm was speechless, "M-miss Foreign Minister! I.. I apologize!" he said, bowing slightly.
Relena rolled her eyes impatiently, "Is it so much to ask to be left alone?" she questioned, "I have some important business to take care of in the outer colonies, will you please leave off targeting my ship.. I would hate to have to tell Earth Sphere that colonies were targeting the ship that I was in.. Don't you think?" she asked.
"Yes.. Yes.. of course, I'm so very sorry Miss Darlian.. We will take care of that right away."
"As it is, you've interrupted my rest, and I doubt I shall be able to get back to sleep now." She said crossing her arms.
"If you want, we will send you with full police detail." The colony comm man said eagerly.
"No, that will not be needed, thank you for your offer. I'm sure we'll be able to deal with any future enemies." She said. She noticed the Comm man flinch at the usage of the word 'enemy'.
Zechs took the comm, "I trust that there needs to be no more threats for this ship?" he said.
"No.. No of course not.. You have our permission to leave." The man said, with a salute.
"Thank you." Zechs said, and Noin closed the comm.
Zechs turned to look at his sister, "My my my… You sure have grown up, haven't you. Just acting a little testy can get you whatever you want." He said, and then smiled, "My sister, you are truly a woman." He said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Noin gave him a look, "Well, Miss Relena, that was a close call. If you want, there's some coffee in the mess. It's about.." she glanced at her watch, "0840 hours. A reasonable time to wake up, isn't it?" Noin said.
Relena blinked, "What about either of you? Haven't you slept?" she asked.
Noin smiled, "Don't worry about us, we slept." She said.
Zechs grinned, "Just fine." He said, exchanging a secretive glance with Noin.
Relena mock gasped, "Brother! It seems that time in space has calmed you.." she said.
Noin nodded, "Well, in case you're wondering, we really did sleep." She said with a dirty look towards Zechs, "And your brother over there stole all of the blankets." She said.
Relena giggled, "So.. Where are we headed?" she asked, plunking herself down in a seat.
Zechs stared at her, "I don't know.." He smiled, "Honestly, you never told us." He said.
She blinked, ducking her head, "Sorry, well, you see… Quatre's email was sent from Colony T13, and that was where the Zero Angel last docked, so…" In the years after Operation Meteor, colony hierarchy had changed a little. The Lagrange colonies were set up around the atmosphere of Earth, and with the impending terraforming of Mars, there were the T'écurie colonies, set up around Mars. There weren't very many, and they were mostly occupied by workers, but T13 had been for merchant ships and supplies, and came to be the diplomatic government for the T'écurie's.
"So you figured that if anyone knew where Heero was, and if there was anyone who was looking for him, it would be his own ship." Zechs said, nodding, "Well, I suppose you're right, But I wonder how we're going to get past T13 colony without alerting Quatre." He said.
Relena nodded, "Lord knows that Quatre would kill me if he found out I was here." She said dryly.
"Right," Noin said, nodding, "Well, it would help us to know what Heero's ship actually does." She said.
Relena bit her lip, "Well, it is the ship in charge of transporting colony and earth ambassadors around to all the colonies. They have luxury suites, I remember Heero sent me pictures. Someone went absolutely nuts snapping pictures around this place. Probably a new ensign excited to be on such an auspicious voyage. I also remember that Heero's piloting system was strange. He had a capsule built into the deck, so that he could pilot with his whole body." She said, making movements with her arms.
Zechs nodded thoughtfully, "I can see how he would want that.. After all, all he's ever piloted is a mobile suit. I'm sure if that was all I had ever piloted, a normal bridge would make me feel a little agoraphobic."
"Yes. That's exactly what the letter said. Huh… Strange. Anyway.. I remember seeing a young girl with.. Well, she looked a lot like you, Noin. And Heero was in a lot of those pictures, so I know he didn't take them, which means that there has to be at least a crew of three, most likely more, It's a large ship.." she sighed, "I don't know how we'll ever find even a large ship in endless space." She said, throwing up her hands.
Noin and Zechs exchanged a worried glance, "Don't worry, Miss Relena, I'm sure that even if we are unable to find them, the Zero Angel will find Heero, and then you can both laugh about this story." Noin said.
There was a long pause. Relena frowned distantly, biting her lip, "Heero will never spend much time on planet. I wonder if I could spend a lot of time off of it." Relena said, in such a way that they knew she had changed the subject.
Zechs shook his head, "You're too important to Earth, Relena." He said.
She whirled, "I know! And I hate it! I've never known what it's like to be a normal girl! I was queen once! I was always queen. I'm sick of being the queen." She said.
Zechs stepped forward, "Relena, you're not the queen any longer,"
Relena stared at him, "I know. I know that, but do they?" she asked, pointing a hand out the window and into space, "People still call me Queen Relena, do you know that? They still call me that sometimes. I hate it.. I was never allowed to be a child. And.. And everything went so smoothly!" she shouted. Her face reflected a feeling she could not voice, "I mean, when I look at you, you had to really work to become what you are.. And, and no one bows to you! No one shows respect! What did I do? I did nothing! You are my brother, and yet, I still cannot know you, because you've had to work hard your entire life, and I've never had to do a thing!" she said, trying hard not to cry.
Noin reached a hand forward, "Relena…" she said.
"Relena, you're still young." Zechs said firmly, "And you have to work harder than any teenager I've ever known." He said, "No other teenager has to worry about the peace of the entire world, and the entirety of outer space. You do. I don't know whether your father, or ours had wanted this for you, but you have the will and the means to be that for the Earth people, and the colonies. You cannot say that you haven't done anything, you've worked harder than anyone else." He finished, with the same firmness.
Relena nodded, "I know… It's just.. I don't know how to explain. I know that.. I would never be able to justify myself to Heero, who has worked so hard to be what he has become, and I... haven't done anything." She said, throwing her hands up helplessly.
Noin shook her head, "I think I know something about Heero, and I know he wouldn't believe that about you." She said, "He is proud of you, just like we all are. And he really believes in what you have worked for, I know that. However hard it is for him… For all of us, we believe that your ideals are right. The hard part is implementing those ideals, with all that the human race has grown to be. But.. if anyone can bring peace to all worlds, I know that it is you." Noin said.
Relena turned away, "Mmm… Well, you'd think, being as important as I am, I would be allowed to get a little sleep." She murmured, knowing that they both were right.
Zechs laughed, "Well, you're here now." He said, "Allowed to sleep as much as you want." He laughed.
Before anyone could say anything else, the comm system complained.
"Shiroi no Kaze here." Noin spoke.
"ES ship, please identify passengers." An uninflected voice said.
Relena blinked once, and then frowned and shook her head.
"Ummm…." Noin cut the comm, "What should I say?" she said in a stage whisper.
"Just give them a fake name," Zechs offered.
Noin nodded, and pressed the button, "Passengers.. Zechs Merquise, Lucretia Noin and… Elizabeth Tudor.." Noin said.
Relena gave her a dirty look.
"Elizabeth Tudor?" the voice returned with a slight lilt. There was a pause on the other end of the line.
Noin blinked, "Hello?" she said.
"This is Colony T13. Do you have authorization?" the voice asked.
Relena blinked once more, and frowned in thought.
Noin cut the comm again, and helplessly blinked, "This one won't be as.." She said.
Then Relena snapped her fingers, "I know!" she shouted, running forward and pressing the comm button, "Trowa!" she said. The voice paused.
"Miss Relena?" Trowa returned, amazed, and then his voice took on a hard tone, "Miss Relena… Didn't Quatre tell you not to come?"
"Did anyone really expect me to listen?" she said.
Trowa paused, "Well, I think Quatre might have..." he said, pausing in thought, "But he's an irrepressible optimist. In any case, it's nice to speak to you again.." he offered.
Relena pursed her lips, "Trowa, I thought you worked with the circus." She said, "How did you end up taking calls for Quatre?" she asked.
"Well.. It's the off season for the circus, and when Quatre became colony leader, I suppose he just wanted to be charitable, and gave us jobs." Trowa said.
"Us? Oh, you mean you and Heero." she said.
"No." Trowa said, "Actually, he gave Duo and his new girlfriend jobs as well. On Heero's ship."
Relena vaguely remembered a remark about seeing the first mate on Heero's ship 'again'. She nodded, understanding now, "What possessed him to make you comm man?" she asked.
"He said something like, 'You sound so much like an AI, people will tell you more things.' I dunno."
Relena blinked, and then laughed, "Trowa, that was meant to be a joke." She said.
Trowa made a thoughtful noise, "Huh… Well, I suppose it was.." he giggled a little.
Relena raised an eyebrow, "Why, Mister Trowa, I see you are getting better at controlling your emotions." She gibed.
There was a long-suffering sigh over the comm, "I suppose. Now all I have to do is find out how to recognize what is a joke and what isn't." he said.
"Well, I wish you good luck. Can we dock?" she said.
There was a pause, "Well.. Quatre probably won't like it.. But.. If I don't let you dock, then you're just going out unprotected in space, aren't you?" he asked.
"Probably." Relena said.
"All right, permission to dock."
"Thanks, Trowa!" Relena said, and closed the comm.
Zechs sighed, "Which one was that?" he asked.
"The one with the bang, who hardly said a word." Relena said.
Zechs shook his head, indicating that he didn't know what she was talking about.
Noin sighed, "He used bullets." She said.
"Oh, that Trowa!" he said, "Ok…" he nodded at Noin.
"Docking Procedures initiated." Noin said.
Relena walked to the door, "Going for my bags." She said briskly. She walked out into the hall, and smiled.
It's nice to know that Trowa is doing so well. He was always so polite. I remember that story Heero told me.. When he talked Quatre out of an insane rampage.. Even though it nearly cost him his life. I remember how surprised I was, that Quatre went on an insane rampage. She laughed aloud. I told Heero that I didn't believe him. Then.. Then he told me about the Zero system.. And the one that was in the Epyon. I wonder if Milliardo remembers anything about that system. It would be incredibly rude to ask, so I won't. Maybe someday he'll tell me.. She growled, See what I'm missing out on, being the Queen! She walked into 'her' room, and picked up her suitcase, hurriedly stuffing the things she had unpacked from it back in. She grabbed her scarf, and threw her sweater on. She opened the door, and…
"OH!" she shouted, nearly walking into her brother, "Milliardo, you scared me." she said, putting a hand to her heaving chest.
He pursed his lips together, "Sorry.. But that Trowa kid called back, and said that you should come incognito. Or at least a little disguised. Because there are some people that they think are the pirate's operatives, and we're not sure what they'd do with you." He said.
"Oh.. All right." She said, caught a little off guard by the remark. Well, she knew she'd be in danger when she started this.. mission.
"Trowa had a little light to shed on why they want you. His, Quatre and Duo's theory is that they want to use you as a bargaining chip to get more supplies and ammo for their colony. They come from colony L9, I think he said. As well you know, because of natural dangers, there is no way that all weapons can be removed, just the hard core war weapons, and they have a whole colony's defenses to back them up, along with an irrationally souped-up spacefaring ship. I'm sure if you go incognito, and even under a falsified name, they won't bother you. All right, I'll go, and find the outfit that you wouldn't most likely wear, and do your hair different." He said, walking out.
Relena grinned, "Different, huh?" she said, with a smile.
When Relena emerged from her room, Zechs almost called a full security alert, he was so sure another girl had somehow gotten on the ship. Her hair was in odangoes, and she was wearing a cute little fuku.
"Ah….." Zechs said, "Where.. did.. you.. get that.." he asked, trying not to look at it.
"Oh.. Somewhere." She said cryptically.
He sighed, and knocked on the cockpit door., "Noin, I'm taking Usagi here to colony, I hope you've docked?" he asked.
The door opened, "Usagi?" Noin said, just before she burst into laughter.
Relena struck a pose.
"All right.. I'm coming with you.." Noin said, grabbing her jacket, "I wanna see this." She finished. They walked out of the lock, and nonchalantly made their way into the station.
At the end of the entrance lock, someone stopped them.
"Zechs Merquise?" the man asked.
Zechs blinked, "Yes?" he said. The man smiled.
"Private Dix, Lieutenant," He saluted, "It's nice to see you again!" he said, shaking Zechs' hand.
He nodded to Noin, "Private." She said.
Then he looked at Relena, "Uh.. That a relative of yours?" he asked Zechs.
Zechs nodded, "That's my cousin."
"Yukiko Masque." Relena said, bowing. She smiled.
The older Private grinned, "Did anyone ever tell you that you look just like Foreign Minister Relena Darlian?" he said.
Relena nodded, "I get that all the time." She said with a grin.
TO BE CONTINUED
