Cinq Kingdom Territory space

"We are going to arrive late. The captain has stopped the shuttle."

Trynity looked up from her laptop computer as Stryfe settled in the seat beside her. "What is the problem?"

"There is a disturbance of unknown origin in the space ahead only a few sectors from L12."

She raised a brow. "Would that be near the Mars colony?"

"Yes, in the same sector."

Trynity looked at her screen for a few moments longer, but she couldn't concentrate on the reports blurring before her eyes. Although she had made the choice to become a medical doctor, she couldn't resist a scientific puzzle. "I'm going to speak to the captain." She shut her computer and stood.

"Don't bother him. He has his hands full. Apparently the disturbance has a dangerous gravitational pull even this far away."

Trynity ignored her son who grumbled with exasperation as she moved past him. She walked down the aisle, and when the flight attendant tried to stop her, she pushed the flustered young woman out of her way and entered the cockpit of the shuttle that ran between L11 and L12.

"What seems to be the problem, Captain?"

The older man turned to look at her, annoyed at the interruption until he recognized her. "Dr. Nelson, I was unaware that you were on the shuttle."

She turned her attention to his scanners, and he moved aside so that she could operate them. "Is it a meteor field?" she asked as her fingers flew over the keys.

"No, it is something very different. If I hadn't been running this shuttle for several years and know this space like the back of my hand, I'd say a star collapsed and is creating the gravitational pull."

"There could be a number of reasons for the shift in gravity. We still don't fully understand space yet, despite our best efforts to conquer it." She checked the routine barrage of scans he had run, then ran a few of her own. When she ran the last she could think of, she was amazed and almost struck speechless by her finding.

The shuttle captain looked over her shoulder. "Looks like you hit the nail on the head, doctor."

"I don't believe it! A wormhole?" But Trynity recognized the same readings she had taken many years ago in what seemed like another lifetime, and in comparison, they matched the current readings.

The captain had gone to another screen, and he now commented, "I am receiving a report of a wormhole opening yesterday between L12 and Mars. It has opened and closed twice since then."

Trynity didn't dare hope the wormhole opened to the Calabrian system. The odds were very much against such a coincidence. Did she want that to happen? Her heart was hammering so quickly that she felt faint. "Is there any other news regarding the wormhole?"

"Not anything reported to the public, but I can see there is more information that requires a security clearance that I do not have."

Trynity went to his computer. "I think I can take care of that."

The captain chuckled and put his hand on her shoulder. "I can't let you do that, Dr. Nelson. Lars was a good friend of mine. I wouldn't want to be an accessory to his widow being arrested for hacking the civil defense computer."

Trynity looked regretfully at his computer. "Where is your adventurous spirit, Frank?"

"Waiting for me two years from now at my retirement party, Dr. Nelson. By the way, could you spare a few moments to check my back?"

"Very clever, Frank. Just turn your back while I..."

The captain laughed. "I think you had better return to your seat. I don't believe you can be trusted."

Trynity was frowning when she left the cockpit and returned to sit beside Stryfe who had put his seat back and was listening to music. The flight attendant glared at Trynity and walked past when she was offering other passengers some refreshment.

Stryfe turned his head to look at her. "Thanks, mom. I could have used something cool to drink."

"Why don't you go charm her?"

"Now why didn't I think of that?" He tossed aside the headphones and left her. She watched her tall young son approach the flight attendant, then turn on the charm. She couldn't help but smile. Lars had taught him how to manipulate women; there was no doubt about that. She wondered if they had structured lessons on the subject including assignments and tests.

There were many women who had envied Trynity, and Trynity had warranted every covetous glare. She hadn't been sure at first about Lars' capacity for fidelity, but once the ring went on his finger, he seemed to have become blind to the other women who never ceased trying to lead him astray. He had been a devoted husband and father, and she didn't realize until it was almost too late just how much he had meant to her.

Thinking about the report the pilot didn't have access to made Trynity realize she might have received something from Heero. Flipping open her computer, she accessed her mail, and seeing several messages from Relena, no doubt concerning her gala, she passed on them, looking from something from Heero. When she saw one without a return address and a security lock, she was certain she had found it.

Several minutes passed before she finally cracked the code, and by the time she did she was planning how many ways she could chew out her friend for the excessive security. But instead of the report she expected, she read this message:

Knew you couldn't resist.

The mountains would be a lot warmer if you were here.

Hope you enjoy the ball. I'm sure you will be lovely.

She sat frozen, staring at the screen as the message faded into an ornate Arabic symbol for the number four.

When Stryfe returned and settled in the seat, a glass of juice in his hand, she quickly shut her computer. "I have a date for Relena's gala."

Shaking her head, and trying to ignore Quatre Winner's message, she asked, "Do you know her name?"

Stryfe looked over his shoulder at the pretty blonde who smiled at him. "Not a clue."

"Do you think you could pick her out of crowd?" asked Trynity with a half-smile.

He shrugged. "On a good day."

Trynity opened up her computer again. "We aren't going to get back in time for her celebration." She could take her mind off the Winner bastard by turning her attention to her work

"You didn't want to go anyway," commented Stryfe. "If I thought you could move the stars, I'd say you are responsible for our delay."

Trynity couldn't move the stars, couldn't map the stars, and she couldn't understand anything about space. Perhaps that is why she chose not to pursue a career in that field. After spending too much time studying space, she realized how pointless it was. At least in caring for the sick she could see results. In some small way she could make a difference in somebody's life.

"I doubt if Quynn will meet us at the shuttle bay," remarked Stryfe.

"She probably has several dates for the ball. You're right. She wouldn't have made plans to meet us anyway." Trynity's daughter was a flirt; there was no other way to describe her. Capricious and carefree, she flitted from man to man of which she had plenty to choose. Fortunately she didn't get too serious so Trynity didn't worry about her behavior. Quynn could certainly take care of herself. Lars had taught her more moves to counter wandering hands than Trynity had ever known. Then again he was the expert.

The shuttle finally continued on the journey to L12, and after docking, they discovered Stryfe's prediction had come true. Quynn was not waiting, but there was an escort from the governor's residence who informed them that the ball had already begun.

"We should have come back with Heero," commented Stryfe as they took the lift at the back of the residence up to the penthouse Yuy residence.

"Look at it this way; now you can make a grand entrance."

"I would rather not be making that grand entrance with my own mother."

When they arrived, they found the residence deserted, and Trynity was glad. She wasn't up to a conversation with Relena who could really wear on her nerves even if she was a dear friend. So when she turned on the telecom in the guestroom that Trynity used when staying there and she saw Relena's face flash on the screen, Trynity switched to the next message before Relena could even speak.

Quynn's face appeared. "Sorry, mom, but I had escort duty tonight." She winked. "And is he ever hot! See you later."

The screen went blank for a few moments before Relena appeared. "Let me know the minute you get back. I mean it, Trynity! I have to talk to you immediately!"

Trynity shrugged and went to the closet to find something to wear and she found an emerald green evening gown that Quynn must have purchased for her. The clinging silk was so fine that Trynity wondered how her daughter was paying for it, then remembered that Quynn was young and single with high rank pilot's pay. Although Trynity hadn't been fitted for it, she found that it fit perfectly, and she liked how it felt on her, even if it was a little risque.

Trynity didn't feel like attending the ball or meeting any supposed "old friends." What old friends did she have anyway that she couldn't see on a regular basis? She had even visited briefly with Sally and Wufei when they met her at the shuttle port on L11 when the shuttle stopped to refuel. So who was the old friend? She couldn't guess.

After showering and dressing, she met Stryfe in the salon. He was wearing his Cinq Kingdom uniform, and he whistled when she met him in the salon. "Mom, I don't want to spend the night protecting you. Don't you have a shawl or something to put on over that?"

"I am perfectly able to take care of myself, and I don't plan on staying long anyway. I'm tired from the trip, and these things bore me." She felt ridiculous in the gown Quynn had left for her. She had to remind herself that although she wasn't a young woman like her daughter, she certainly was not old either. So, it was a little revealing, but Trynity didn't have anything to hide. Maybe she should just try to enjoy herself. Lord knew she hadn't had much chance to have a good time. There just might be someone interesting at the ball. Her father was right, that she should get on with her life. The time had come to make a change.

As they rode down the lift to the ground level ballroom, Trynity clipped some of her hair up with a golden barrette Lars had given her for an anniversary present, their fifth. He had always been thoughtful in that way. For every occasion he considered special, he had sent her a bouquet of roses. Trynity thought it was silly at first, but then she would get a little thrill when a bouquet would arrive. He wasted a lot of money that way, but she didn't scold him because it wouldn't have done much good. Lars did as he wished, even if they didn't have much money.

The lift came to a stop and did a turn so that the doors were facing the ballroom. Stryfe held out his arm and she hooked her own around it, then he pushed the button to open the doors. Their arrival went almost unnoticed, except that Trynity saw Relena waving to her from across the crowded ballroom. The noise was almost deafening from the music and the hundreds of conversations. Trynity looked over the many men and women searching for her daughter, but she didn't see Quynn anywhere. She did see Quatre's son, Malik, dancing – rather attempting to dance – with a young woman Trynity didn't recognize and she wondered what Quynn thought of that. Then she noticed Quynn having the same bad luck in dance partners with a rather good-looking tall young man, another Trynity didn't recognize.

Relena was pushing her way toward Trynity, and because she didn't want to listen to her nagging, she quickly pulled Stryfe onto the dance floor. He glanced over his shoulder to see what precipitated her sudden move, then chuckled.

"She looks insistent," he remarked. "I think she is going to cut in."

"Get me to the other side of the ballroom. I have a headache and I don't want to hear her tonight. I came to this ridiculous event – not the first of its kind – but I won't let her show me around like a prize poodle to the eligible men she has lined up."

"It can't hurt, mom. And if she has picked them out, they have been sent through a very fine screening process." Trynity could see that Stryfe was laughing at her by the twinkle in his eyes.

"Don't tell me she has got you on her side."

"Trynity!" she heard Relena call out.

"Exit stage left," she ordered her dance partner.

Stryfe spun her away, once, twice, and Trynity found herself stumbling. "My God, Stryfe, where did you learn how to dance? I thought they gave lessons at the academy!"

He laughed. "They did, and I will have you know I received a very respectable passing score, although I did think I was going to fail when I stepped on the dance master's toes."

"I hope you didn't break them."

"Mr. Cassat wasn't any worse for wear. He hobbled around a few days." Stryfe grinned down at her. "I think he passed me because I was entitled to a re-take on the test."

"A very smart move on his part."

"Here she comes again."

"Trynity! Stop! I have to talk to you." Relena was weaving around the dancing partners cramming the dance floor.

"This could be dangerous for me," remarked Trynity as Stryfe spun her away. She took a glance down to make sure she hadn't fallen out of her gown, then concentrated on regaining her balance. "Maybe one of your young friends is a better dancer than you."

"Don't go there, mom. You don't want any one of my friends to get their hands on you. There isn't much to that gown."

"Trynity!" Relena was angry and getting closer.

"Here we go again!" Stryfe spun her around and around, away from Relena. Although he wasn't very graceful, Stryfe did manage to get people to move with his size. He was taller than the average man was, like Lars had been, strangely enough, and he did have a commanding presence. In his Cinq Kingdom dress uniform, he was quite a handsome young man, and Trynity realized she should let him go his own way. There were plenty of hearts for him to win and break before the night was over.

He spun her out one last time, but when she reached the limit of his arm length, his hands slipped from hers and she stumbled away. She fell into several people before she seemed to come against a human wall, and she bounced back and fell on the floor.

She quickly checked her gown - still in one piece and covering what it should- then she pushed the hair from her eyes and looked up at the man, into whom she had run into, ready to apologize for her clumsiness. But the words were stuck in her throat as she raised her head, taking in the strange dress and fabric, the rich dark blue hue trimmed with gold of a tunic belted at the waist with a golden sash. Trynity wondered if she were in some strange dream until she looked at the face of the stranger, and suddenly she was caught up in a nightmare.

"I am beginning to think there is something about me that makes women fall at my feet."

Duo Maxwell! This couldn't be! No, this wasn't happening! This man wasn't Duo! It just was not possible! This man was a giant! And yet she recognized the hair that still hung well below his waist, although he no longer wore it braided, caught loosely in the back with a golden band. The face wasn't his either! It was too mature, too lean, too dark, and too handsome. But she realized it was him as he continued to look down at her with his dark blue eyes. Trynity would never forget those eyes. They were Quynn's eyes.

She realized now that the strange dress was Calabrian. Trynity could not move, could only stare up at him, and he looked down at her, his brows raised as he held out a hand to help her up.

"Mom, are you all right?" Stryfe appeared, and reached down for her, ignoring the hand that Duo now dropped to his side.

She smoothed out her dress and forced a smile to her lips when he had helped her to her feet. "Yes, I am quite fine."

Relena appeared on the scene like an avenging angel. "What have you done now?" she demanded of Duo.

Duo sneered at her with disgust, then turned on his heel and walked away.

"Trynity, what were you thinking?" Relena was laying into her already although all Trynity could do is watch Duo's retreating back.

"This isn't really happening," said Trynity.

Relena pinched her hard enough to make Trynity jump and almost screech. "There, are you convinced! I sent you dozens of messages to warn you. Didn't you read any of them?"

They moved away from the dance floor toward the refreshments. Trynity could use a drink. She looked around the room and easily spotted Duo. He was with the young woman Malik Winner had been dancing with. Now Quynn joined them, and Trynity felt a tug at her heart to see them standing together. Duo wasn't paying much attention to Quynn as he spoke to the young woman, and Trynity wondered who she was.

"When did he arrive?" she heard herself ask.

"The wormhole opened a few days ago and vomited that bastard back into our system."

"A very nice choice of words, Relena."

"It's true. His ship came hurling from nowhere. They might have crashed into the colony had Quynn not been able to stop him with Deathscythe. He claims he was on a mission for Trey. Now he is stuck here until that wreck of a ship is patched up and we can send him and his odd menagerie back to where they came from."

"Who is that with him?" asked Trynity as she noted that the dark-haired young woman was holding Duo's arm rather possessively. "She is quite pretty."

"She said she was his concubine at first."

Trynity didn't know where that stab of jealousy came from. Duo Maxwell was a stranger to her. He had likely made a life for himself just as she had. He had been the one to leave her, she reminded herself, when she felt sudden guilt at spending her life with Lars. She didn't put him in that escape pod.

"Well, anyway, she changed her story and claims to be Trey's daughter, Shamara."

"Shamara!" Trynity had held Shamara in her arms when she was just an infant. "What are they doing together?"

"I am not sure, and I don't think Duo trusts us enough to tell us the truth. He says he was escorting Shamara to Bayman and that the young man is her imperial guard. Apparently she was on her way to marry their prince when the wormhole opened."

Trynity looked at the glass of wine in her hand. "It looks as though he is well." A man couldn't have changed more.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you, that the imperial guard is Duo's son."

She spilled the wine on the front of her gown. "His son! Duo has a son?" Trynity quickly looked across the room to see Quynn hanging on the young Calabrian man. "Quynn hasn't…"

"Don't be silly! Do you think I'd let her hit on him? Besides, that boy is obsessed with his duty, and Quynn is just trying to make Malik and Chaz jealous. Taeron – that is his name – spends his time watching Shamara like a hawk as well as Duo. He calls him "lord". Imagine that! Duo Maxwell is lord of nothing but utter stupidity."

Trynity dabbed at the stain on her gown with a napkin. "I can't stay here. I'm going back to my room. Wake me up when this nightmare is over."

"I don't blame you."

Trynity made her way to the elevator, and as she was standing before the door waiting, she saw Quynn approaching leading Duo and his small Calabrian group.

"Mom, you aren't escaping already!" exclaimed her daughter when she reached her. "I haven't shown you my surprise." She saw the stain. "Mother! You ruined that dress!" Then she frowned. "Did you buy that on Earth? Where did you get the money for a gown like that?"

"Didn't you…" Trynity felt her stomach lurch as she remembered Quatre's message.

Hope you enjoy the ball. I'm sure you will be lovely.

Trynity avoided looking at Duo, but she did notice that he wasn't looking at her either. "I'm going to bed, Quynn. The flight was delayed and I am exhausted." She wanted to get out of the gown as soon as possible.

The door opened and Trynity stepped inside the elevator. She was trying to think of some polite way to excuse herself to Duo, when Quynn shoved him inside. "Good, you can take him back. He's not feeling well."

Trynity saw the young woman Relena pointed out as Shamara try to get past Quynn, but Quynn was quicker and closed the door. This was the last thing she wanted, to be stuck in an elevator with Duo! She didn't know what to say! Her head was aching, and her throat was tight, and gut was twisting with revulsion from wearing something Quatre Winner had given her that had probably cost ten times what she imagined Quynn had spent.

"Are you staying with Relena?" she finally asked.

"To my misfortune, yes." He reached out to press the buttons to take them upwards. "The last three days have seemed like an eternity."

Trynity dared to glance at him and noted that he was staring straight ahead. He didn't really look like the Duo of her memories. She had a difficult time believing he could change so much, but then she was a medical doctor, and she did know that stages of development were achieved at different...God, what was she thinking?! Here she was alone in an elevator with Duo Maxwell and she was recalling paragraphs from her biology textbook. She certainly understood now where Stryfe had gotten his height.

The lift seemed to be taking longer than usual to reach the governor's residence. The silence between them was uncomfortable and Trynity felt responsible. Duo obviously had nothing to say to her. Then again, she didn't really have anything to say to him either. What she wanted to say, she had wanted to say seventeen years ago and he didn't give her the chance. So why bother now?

She looked at him again. His jaw was tight and she recognized lines of pain. There was a thin line of perspiration on his pale face. "Are...are you all right?"

He didn't turn his head. "What do you think, Dr. Nelson?" He stressed the last word enough to make the hair rise at the back of her neck.

Trynity didn't have anything to be ashamed of! In fact, she felt herself growing cold with anger, but she managed to control it. "I imagine you are eager to return to Calabria."

"Damn right! There's nothing here for me."

Although it hurt her to hear him say it, she knew she was silly to think he might feel anything for her anymore. Trynity couldn't help her own wayward feelings. "Relena told me that Shamara is with you."

"I have to get Shamara back to Calabria." He closed his eyes and rubbed them between his fingers.

Trynity's instinct was to reach out to him, but she dared not touch Duo. He was wound tight and she didn't want to see him snap. She didn't know what this man might do and she already sensed hostility. "Is...is there anything I can do to help?"

"I don't need anything from you." The lift came to a stop and he went through the door immediately when it slid open.

Trynity hesitated, then followed. Duo headed straight for the suite where she guessed he was staying, but before he entered, he leaned against the door as if he didn't have the strength to open it. Trynity watched him fumble with the code lock on the door before he disappeared inside.

She didn't know what she should do. Duo was obviously ill, and yet he was quite clear in his rejection of her. But Trynity was still a doctor and she had an obligation to the sick and suffering of others, even if it was Duo Maxwell.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she walked straight to the suite into which he had gone, and she raised her hand to knock on the door but decided against it. In his mood, he would tell her to go away or worse. Trynity noticed the door was ajar, so she was about to push it open, but she paused when she heard the elevator door open.

"Lord Duo, where are you?" Trynity realized it must be the young man pointed out to her as Taeron, Shamara's guard, and Duo's son. He came into the hall where she was standing, and his eyes went from her to her hand on the door. He had spoken Calabrian, but Trynity remembered the language from her stay in that part of space. "What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously.

She released the latch. "He seemed very ill. I was going to help him."

"He doesn't need the help of a human female," snarled the young man as he came toward her.

The door opened revealing Duo. He had removed the tunic and was wearing a loose, half-open shirt. "Where is Shamara?"

"I am here."

Shamara came forward now with Quynn behind her.

"See, I told you guys everything was all right. Now, let's get back to the ball." She glanced at Trynity who was still standing at the door. She was so close to Duo that she could feel the heat of his body. One look at him convinced Trynity that he had a fever. "Mom, what are you up to?"

She sighed in exasperation. "He's sick. I wanted to check on him."

"And I already told you I don't need anything from you, Dr. Nelson."

He used that same tone. Trynity was sure now that he was furious about her marriage to Lars. What right did he have to condemn her? Trynity had been left alone and pregnant! She did what she thought was right and she did not regret her decision.

Before Trynity could explode with the anger that was building inside, Shamara pushed past Taeron and Trynity, and she took Duo's arm to drape around her shoulder. "You must rest, my lord."

They ducked into the suite and Taeron followed, but Trynity wasn't about to let them get away so easily. "I am a doctor," she said as she pushed into the room. "I insist on examining him, if not for him, then for the sake of the colonists. If he has brought some type of disease..."

"I don't have a disease!" snapped Duo as he lay back on the bed.

"You have never been this ill before," Trynity heard Shamara whisper to him. "Let me help you."

"No, Shamara. Just let me rest."

He wasn't going to like it, but Trynity had dealt with cantankerous patients before. Duo never could take an illness very bravely. Now he lay with his arm across his eyes, pale and feverish.

Trynity sat on the edge of the bed. "I know you don't want my help, but from what I gather listening to Shamara, you have had this illness before. Have you been treated on Calabria for something?"

Shamara looked at her. "By my uncle, Apolo, and from time to time I am able to ease his pain."

"I don't need your help, Dr..."

"Shut up!" Trynity wanted to slap him.

"Do not speak to my lord in such a manner!" From out of nowhere, Taeron produced a long, sharp dagger. Trynity should have remembered that Imperial Guards always seemed to have some secret place to hide their weapons. Taeron was ready to defend his father's honor with the blade, and being a Calabrian, he would think nothing of gutting her.

"Put away your weapon," Duo ordered Taeron. "We are guests here."

Taeron turned to Duo. "But my lord, she cannot be allowed to speak to you in such a manner!"

"I told you to put the dagger away."

He was reluctant, but he tucked the weapon away amongst his clothing in a place Trynity couldn't find if she tried. She looked back to Duo once the danger had passed. "Where is your pain?"

His eyes came to hers. Trynity felt moved by the deep sadness in them. "My heart, Miss Stryfe." Then his lashes fluttered and his eyes rolled back as he drifted out of consciousness.