Mars Colony
"I am so grateful for all that you have done for us!"
Trynity kept the smile pasted on her face as the father of the twins delivered in her home in her bed shook her hand without cease. She and Stryfe had just helped them return to their home in the village after five days recuperating in her own home, five days and five exhausting nights.
"I am glad I was able to help you." Although everyone had lost a great deal of sleep during the time they remained in her home because of the incessant crying of the newborns, Trynity thought it was fortunate that events unfolded as they had. The mother, Meggie, had no other children and was overwhelmed with her new motherhood. Trynity certainly knew how she felt. The father, Hank, was kind-hearted but simple-minded. He was of no use to his wife. When Trynity could get time away from the clinic, she returned to her home to help the two with the babies.
She discovered that while she was working at the clinic, Duo had tutored Hank in the caring of his newborn children. Duo had more patience with a crying infant than most men, and by the end of the week, he had counseled Hank and taught him the skills a father should know. His help should have delighted Trynity, but instead she was dismayed to realize just how horribly she had erred in judging Duo Maxwell seventeen years ago. He had been a father waiting to happen and she had taken the chance away from him.
"Now don't forget to tell Lord Duo to stop by for a good home-cooked meal," Hank said as he finally released her hand. "My Meggie is the best damned cook on this planet."
"You are included in the invitation," said Meggie from behind him. "If it weren't for you, Dr. Nelson, I don't know how we would have survived."
Trynity smiled at her. "I would be happy to accept your invitation and I am sure Lord Duo will be also."
"Tomorrow night." Hank was grinning like a fool.
When she finally escaped their small cottage, Trynity sent Stryfe back to the clinic to take care of what patients he thought he could handle so he could ease some of the pressure from Shamara who was dealing with the many mild complaints. Shamara had agreed to use her powers only when necessary, so she had learned to make a bandage and suture cuts although she thought the method rather primitive.
After Stryfe had gone, Trynity made a trip to the drugstore where she purchased supplies. When the owner finished ringing up her items, she said, "I'm sorry, Fred, but I'll have to pay you later." Completely out of money, Trynity knew that she would have to return to L12 for a few weeks to work at the infirmary to pay for these supplies.
"No need to put it on her account, Fred. I will pay."
She didn't need to turn around. Trynity recognized the voice. "I would rather pay for them myself."
Quatre leaned on the counter and looked at her. "I wouldn't want you to have to leave Mars Colony." He reached up to touch her hair. "I miss you when you are gone."
She slapped his hand away. "Fred, put it on my account. You know I am good for it."
The flustered druggist looked from her to Quatre then quickly bagged the supplies for her. Before she could take the bag, Quatre grabbed it. "Why don't I walk you back to the clinic? There are all sorts of unsavory characters in the village nowadays."
"I'm looking at one right now," she muttered, and he chuckled.
She spun and walked out without responding. He was still chuckling when he caught up to her and slipped an arm around her waist. "Get your filthy hands off me," she said through gritted teeth.
"Just smile and pretend you like me," he murmured in her ear. "The villagers like to see us together."
"You like to see us together," she snapped. "You are hoping some of my respectability rubs off on you."
"What respectability?" Quatre laughed. "I think you have dropped a few percentage points in the opinion poll since taking those murdering aliens into your home."
She looked at him. "I doubt the good citizens of the colony respect you any more than they ever did."
"Do you think I care about their opinion of me? I have provided them with housing and jobs. They should be grateful."
"Grateful for what?" She stopped to look at him, wresting away from his arm around her waist. "Grateful that you haul off the men to work in your mines? And why don't these men ever return?"
"My dear, work in the mines is dangerous. Their widows are well-compensated."
Trynity wanted to retort that she knew exactly how those widows were compensated and it wasn't with a monetary stipend for their loss. But she held her tongue. She would accomplish nothing by arguing with Quatre on the street. Anywhere she looked, she could see his men, standing in an alley, in the doorway of a store, watching from the top of a roof. Trynity wondered if he were expecting trouble, then again, they could not afford to take the Calabrians lightly.
"Why don't we catch a bite to eat at the cafe?" he suggested, then grabbed her arm to haul her in the direction of the establishment without waiting for her to refuse.
"I have a clinic with patients," she reminded him although she didn't bother struggling. Quatre would get his way. He always did.
"And I know for a fact that the lovely princess from Calabria is doing an admirable job taking care of their insignificant complaints."
One of his men opened the door to the cafe, and at least two couples fled their meals when they entered.
Knowing she wasn't going to escape, she slid into a booth, and Quatre infuriated her by sliding onto the same bench. There was no room to avoid his body touching hers, and if she didn't think it was far too undignified, she would climb over the table. As if he thought she might, Quatre slipped an arm around her shoulders.
He leaned close and nuzzled the hair away from her ear. "Relax," he whispered, "I'm not going to bite you." And yet she was afraid he might when she felt his teeth graze her neck.
The waitress arrived to pour her a cup of coffee and leave behind tea, and Quatre ordered food for both of them. She wondered how she was going to make it through the meal without losing her cool.
"You have no complaint about my order?" he asked as he twirled one of her curls around his finger. "I happen to know what you like. I've studied you quite extensively."
"Really?" she asked over her cup of coffee. "I'm sure I have a few secrets."
"What woman doesn't?" His fingers brushed her neck and she shuddered with revulsion. "I want to learn yours." He leaned forward to kiss her, and she tried to jerk back, but his fingers caught her hair and held her to him. He kissed her hard, forcing open her mouth and thrusting his tongue inside. Just before she thought she would be sick, he released her, then sat back to calmly take a sip from his cup of tea. "Delightful," he commented.
Trynity's hand was shaking as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "You disgust me!"
"Are you sure you weren't just a little bit excited?" He was grinning at her, and she felt his hand slide over her thigh. "I know for a fact that you haven't been getting any action over there at the clinic. You must be eager for some."
Trynity was outraged, and she shoved his hand away. "You have been spying on me!"
Quatre smiled coolly at her. "I have always spied on you, Trynity. Watching you and Maxwell on the beach was more entertaining than those flicks Trowa rented."
"You … you creep!" Trynity felt dirty and looked away.
"I told you I have studied you and I know exactly what you like. There really isn't too much that you don't."
She picked up her now empty cup of coffee, ready to smash his skull, but the waitress hurried forward to fill it while Quatre smirked. "I don't know what I am doing here." She stood, but someone shoved her back down, and she realized that one of his men had taken the booth behind them.
"Let's just enjoy a nice lunch. Afterwards, if you wish, you can come up to the mansion and we can enjoy the afternoon together. I'll prove how well I have studied you."
"You are insane!"
"You just might find the afternoon with a madman quite exciting. In fact, I think I can guarantee that you will be back for more."
Trynity would have exploded had the waitress not set her sandwich and salad before her. Instead of dignifying what he said with a response, she turned her attention to her food, but she didn't fail to see Quatre squeeze the young waitress' backside when she left his steak behind.
Quatre noticed her disgusted look. "I have to leave my options open, you understand."
"You can leave them wide open."
Suddenly the men behind her grunted and shifted, and Trynity turned to see Duo enter the cafe. Seeing her with Quatre, he raised an eyebrow, then walked to their table, sidestepping neatly the men who tried to detain him.
"Is this a private party?" he inquired.
"Not at all." Quatre gestured to the empty bench opposite them and Duo sat. Before Quatre could react, Duo grabbed his plate and fork and pulled out his dagger.
Quatre's men were quicker. One grabbed Duo's wrist while the other pulled a gun to aim at his head. "Hey! You're spoiling my lunch."
"Boss?"
Quatre looked at the scene as if he would enjoy watching his men put a bullet in Duo's brain, but he waved his hand. "I'm sure he was merely cutting the steak." Reluctantly, his men returned to their guard position, and Duo turned his attention to his food. Trynity had been so afraid for him that she couldn't breathe, and now she wanted to kick him as he attacked the meat with gusto.
"You are mighty handy with that blade," commented Quatre as he draped a possessive arm around Trynity's shoulders. He signaled to the waitress and she disappeared into the kitchen. "Do you use it only on dead meat?"
Duo chuckled. "Eventually." He didn't seem to notice that Quatre was now stroking her upper arm. She felt ashamed that Quatre was touching her as if they were lovers, but she didn't move because she was afraid of what he might do or say.
"Interesting. I suppose you have had to learn many skills to survive on Calabria."
"Life there is difficult," Duo responded between bites of steak.
The waitress arrived with another plate of food for Quatre, and when she walked away, Duo glanced at her. Trynity tried to tell herself once again that Duo was nothing to her, that what had been between them was over, and yet she couldn't help the jealous creature that was threatening to cut loose form deep inside. Quatre relaxed and moved his arm as if he no longer felt he had to stake his claim on her.
"If you are interested, she is available," commented Quatre as he meticulously cut his meat into tiny portions. "I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed, since I know we have the same taste in women."
Trynity pushed her plate away. "I have lost my appetite."
Duo picked up a napkin and wiped the blade of his dagger, carefully examining the edge before tucking it back in his belt. "I really wasn't interested in Dorothy Catalonia."
Quatre smirked. "But I hear the bitch that whelped that butchering cur you call your son is of the same mold: controlling and ambitious."
Trynity looked at Duo and saw by the narrowing of his eyes that he was affected by Quatre's insult. Duo must care for Larya more than he let her know. But beyond the dangerous look in his eyes, he did not react.
"Larya is far different than Dorothy," he said after a moment. Now he looked at Trynity. "There is a patient at the clinic who needs your expertise. If you are finished, I will escort you back."
Trynity was glad for the excuse to escape. She couldn't sit another moment with Quatre. He moved off the bench to stand by Duo who also rose to his feet. For a moment it looked as if they were challenging each other, but Quatre stepped aside so that Trynity could get off the bench. He took her bag of supplies and shoved it in Duo's hands while he pulled Trynity up against him. "My invitation is always open," he said softly. His eyes met hers, and she tried to look away, but she felt powerless. Slowly and deliberately, he lowered his head and kissed her gently before releasing her. "Maybe later."
Duo didn't say anything as they left the cafe, and he remained silently brooding for most of the walk home. The sky had become cloudy, and Trynity feared the rains would come before they could reach the clinic. Duo didn't seem to care as he stared straight ahead.
Finally, unnerved by the his silence, she said, "What is the emergency at the clinic that Shamara cannot handle?"
"A miner was brought to the clinic. He was hysterical and incoherent until Stryfe gave him a sedative. Shamara put her hands on him and whatever she saw upset her greatly."
Trynity was surprised. "I have never treated Winner's miners. He has his own physician to treat them."
"This man seemed to have escaped. He looks as though he has been in the forest for many days." He paused, then said, "He is missing an arm, and he reeks of the boreworm."
Trynity shuddered. "That poor man. I had hoped that Winner was keeping his miners away from the known boreworm habitats."
"I wouldn't be so certain that is the case." A flash of lightening streaked across the sky. "Winner reeks of the boreworm also."
She sighed. "He doesn't have to 'reek of the boreworm' for you to know he is up to no good."
Thunder boomed as rain began to fall. Duo stepped off the path, and Trynity followed him to a heavily foliated tree that blocked most of the rain as they stood under its drooping branches. They waited in silence listening to the rain pattering against the wide leave before Duo finally said, "Is he your lover?"
"How can you ask such a thing?" Her fingers curled into fists and she felt tears burning her eyes.
He looked at her. "Because I want to know."
Trynity had no idea what he was thinking. Duo had become very good at hiding his feelings. "I really don't think my personal life is any of your business anymore. And if I have to answer your question, then I am very disappointed in your judgment of people."
"I had no intention of judging you." He wiped a raindrop from her cheek with his thumb. His eyes instantly mesmerized her as they met hers, but in a way far different from the sinister hypnosis that Quatre used. "I want to know who I have to kill to have you to myself."
She didn't move as he slipped his arms her and drew her up against him. He lightly kissed her lips before moving to her neck. Trynity felt as if she were floating on air, then realized he had gently lifted her and they were both descending to the wet grass.
"Am I dreaming?" she wondered aloud.
Duo laughed softly as his fingers worked the buttons to her shirt. "I don't know about you, but my dreams included a lot of sand."
She pushed her fingers into his hair and brought his head back to hers. Trynity wanted his kisses more than anything now, and he didn't disappoint her. She didn't notice when the rain stopped or when their clothing began slipping away. Unfortunately, she did hear Stryfe calling their names.
Duo didn't, so she almost had to hit him with a closed fist before he realized they were about to be intruded upon. They scrambled for the bits of clothing that had been discarded, and her hands were shaking with panic as Stryfe's calls were getting closer. Trynity felt intense frustration that they had been interrupted.
Duo pushed her fingers out of the way and finished buttoning her shirt. "Just as well," he mumbled. "I think we have finally come up with a sure-fire method of birth control. Next time we better be a little more prepared. We wouldn't want another accident."
Trynity was so shocked by his comment that she couldn't respond even as Stryfe ducked under the canopy of the tree.
"Here you are! Good place to ride out the storm." Stryfe was grinning at them. How could Duo think of Stryfe and Quynn as an 'accident?' "I went back to the village to get you, but I heard you had already left."
Trynity snatched her bag of supplies and pushed past Stryfe. "I've wasted enough time. I want to get back."
She heard Stryfe ask Duo why she was in such a bad mood, and Duo responded with a flippant, "Who can know what a woman is thinking?"
Trynity felt like crying, and a few tears actually escaped as she made her way back to the clinic with Duo and Stryfe following. Because her clothes were wet and dirty from rolling around in the grass, she went to her house first. Her father was snoring in a chair, one of the scrolls on his chest, but he jerked awake when she walked in.
"What have you been up to? Are you crying?" He followed her to her bedroom, but she slammed the door in his face. A few moments elapsed before she heard him bark, "What have you done now, Maxwell?"
Trynity ignored the knock at her door and went into her bathroom to take a shower. When she finished, she threw on a bathrobe and came out toweling her hair and was surprised to find Duo sitting on the end of her bed. "What are you doing in here?" She moved into her closet to throw around clothing. Trynity just couldn't concentrate with him in her bedroom after their earlier intimacy. After what he had said, she just couldn't look at him. What he termed an accident was the greatest joy in her life. He hadn't changed one bit except that he had become a smooth talker.
She pulled on jeans and a tee shirt, then left her closet. "I have work to do, Duo," she said without looking at him. Grabbing a lab coat that was hanging on a hook on the back of the door, she tried to leave, but Duo's voice stopped her.
"I think we should talk."
Trynity forced herself to smile and looked at him. "There's nothing to talk about. We got carried away. No harm done, right?" She pushed the door open and left him behind. Dr. Stryfe was standing in her way. "Father, will you please let me pass."
"I want some answers."
She shoved him aside and walked out, rolling her eyes. At least now she could have some peace. Her father would nag Duo so Duo couldn't pester her. Just as well. The work needed on the unconscious man at the clinic took up the remainder of the afternoon and most of the evening. Duo didn't drop by the clinic at all, so she wondered what kind of discussion he had with her father. Trynity hoped he wasn't lying knocked out somewhere in the house or that her father hadn't already buried him in the backyard.
After she had done as much as she could for the man, Trynity noticed that Shamara appeared to be deeply troubled. She sat next to the young woman. "Can you tell me about it?"
Shamara looked at her. "That poor man was almost consumed by that creature. He would never know another moment of peace in his life. Now I have his memories, and they are terrifying." She suddenly grabbed Trynity's hands, and the world around her went black for a moment before she realized she was standing in a cave.
"Get in there!"
She peered through the darkness and moved forward. Trynity knew that what she was seeing wasn't real, but she felt all that man must have felt.
"Set the charges at the far end."
Trynity looked at the equipment in her hands, and then she heard the rumbling of an animal's growl. The man ordering her began to laugh as she stumbled further into the tunnel. There were traces of boreworm residue on the walls. She was trembling as he must have, and when she saw the shadow of the beast on the wall, she realized what was happening.
As suddenly as the vision began, it ended. Trynity looked at Shamara. "Did you see?" asked Shamara. "Did you feel what he felt? This is what I feel when I use my powers."
"He was sent in to feed the worm." The reality was incomprehensible to Trynity.
Shamara pressed her hands to her face. "I cannot believe this! How could Dagan do such a thing?"
Trynity remembered the wizard who had been brought to her clinic, the young man they now knew was Prince Dagan of Bayman. Clearly he did not want to be associated with Quatre Winner. "He must have his reasons, Shamara."
But Shamara ran from the clinic in tears, Taeron following.
Trynity was about to leave when she noticed an incoming call from L12. Thinking it was Quynn, she flipped on the viewer.
Relena's face appeared. "Trynity! Surprise, surprise, you answered!"
Although Relena tended to get on her nerves, Trynity had never had a closer friend in her life beside Duo and Lars. Without wanting to, she burst into tears before Relena could say another word. This was what Trynity missed most, having someone to pour her heart out to. Lars had always been there for her, to cheer her when she was most deeply depressed about her failures, to share in her happiness at her success. Trynity realized now that she had no one, and she ached to talk about her feelings.
When she finished, Trynity felt better although she preferred to have a hug. She wondered when she had gotten so emotional? The answer came to her like a bolt of lightening. That jerk Duo Maxwell had weaseled his way through her armor, and now she allowed everything to affect her! How could she have let him do it again?
"Seems I called at an opportune time," said Relena when she had finished.
Trynity smiled as she wiped her tears. "I'm sorry I unburdened myself on you."
"I think Duo Maxwell needs the snot kicked out of him. I think I know a few guys who might be able to get the job done."
Imagining Relena arranging a hit on Duo with underworld thugs made Trynity laugh. "I wouldn't want you to get your hands dirty. Besides, I think my father has already railed him."
"Poor ignoramus." Relena sighed, then she straightened. "I almost forgot to tell you. Heero has been given official permission to re-open the investigation into Lars' death. When my brother heard what Quynn had to say about Malik, he met with officials from the World and Space Federation. They agreed that there is suspicious activity on Mars Colony. I even heard Heero discussing the suspected harvest of an organic drug on the planet."
"I wouldn't put anything past Quatre Winner." Trynity's mind started to race as she wondered what plants were being harvested for the drug. She had already catalogued every species in the area, so the information was in her database. All she needed to do was…
"I can see you are back to work," laughed Relena. "I'll let you go to it. Quynn sends her love. She'll be disappointed to hear that progress with Lord Duo isn't going well. Do you think he has turned her head with all his wealth and power?"
Trynity shook her head. "Not Quynn. Keep me posted, Relena. If I find out anything on my end, I will inform you."
Even before the communication ended, Trynity started to pull up files from her computer. She intended to get to the bottom of this. The penalties for the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs were severe. If she could prove that Quatre was involved, he would no longer be able to terrorize Mars Colony.
Duo wasn't hungry, and neither, it seemed, was anyone else who sat around the table. Pouting, Shamara stared at her food, and Taeron seemed to have lost his appetite because he did no more than push around his meal. Stryfe wasn't pleased with the meal he had prepared, and when he saw that no one was eating, he became disheartened, especially when his mother didn't show up. He called the clinic and she informed him that she was too busy to come back to the house to eat. Dr. Stryfe announced that he wouldn't sit at a table with Duo, so he sat in the living room with the scrolls that occupied his attention. Stryfe eventually abandoned the table, leaving the Calabrians alone.
"I am tired," said Shamara. She grabbed Taeron's arm. "Let's get some sleep."
Duo raised an eyebrow as they went to the bedroom. If he didn't know better, he'd wonder if some relationship had developed between them. But Shamara's announcement had absolutely no hint of romance and she was far too naïve to pull it off anyway. And Taeron dragged his feet after her as if he'd rather be thousands of miles away. Duo wondered how Trey would feel if Taeron and Shamara suddenly discovered they had feelings for each other. He snorted in laughter at the image. Shamara and Taeron were like brother and sister. The two had grown up together along with Amyr, so it was highly unlikely Duo was going to uncover any immoral activity.
The telecom buzzed and Stryfe hurried to take the call. "Oh, it's you. I thought my mom was calling. I have supper made and she doesn't want to eat."
"I've heard about your cooking." Duo recognized Relena's voice. "She's safer at the clinic. I didn't think anyone could cook worse than her, but you have far exceeded her particular culinary talents."
"Gee, Relena, thank you for the boost to my ego." Duo caught himself smiling at Stryfe's response. "Should I transfer your call to the clinic?"
"Is Duo Maxwell there?" she asked.
Stryfe glanced at him and Duo shook his head. "Well…" He scratched his head.
"He's here!" called out Dr. Stryfe. "Trying to hide like a disobedient dog, although for the life of me I can't figure out what the lousy excuse for a man has done now to upset my daughter."
Ouch! Duo winced, but having been found out, he rose to cross the room to the telecom. "What can I do for you, Relena?"
"For starters, you can transfer this call to a more private place so I can talk to you without old man Stryfe butting in."
"Old man! Who are you calling old man, you meddling busybody?"
Stryfe pointed to the master bedroom, and as Duo left the room, he could still hear Relena and Dr. Stryfe arguing. He went to the telecom and pressed the button, but Relena waited until Stryfe had cut the communication to the other room.
Before he had a chance to speak, she exploded. "You insensitive moron! What are you doing there anyway? Why haven't you collected that foolish prince and taken him back to Calabria? Must you stay there to torture Trynity?"
Duo raised his brows. "I can't leave until I have secured the prince. Winner claims that his wizard was killed in an explosion." Then he added, "I didn't think I was torturing Trynity."
"He's lying! So what are you doing about it?" Relena glared at him. "Your very presence is enough, you jerk!"
"I can't do anything until I can determine where he is. I'm beginning to think that Quatre doesn't know." Duo frowned. "I was hoping she wanted me to return."
"I didn't call to talk about your petty Calabrian problems."
Petty? The honor of the Calabrian imperial household was at stake! Duo didn't consider that petty.
"I talked to Trynity today." Duo couldn't imagine what Trynity told her. How personal were their discussions? "How could you refer to her children as an 'accident?" Well his question was answered. She must have told her everything.
"What was I supposed to say?" he defended himself. "I just wanted to point out that in the heat of the moment…"
"You didn't seem to care seventeen years ago!"
Duo wanted to cut the communication, yet at the same time he realized Relena knew Trynity's mind better than anyone at this moment. "I was thinking of her."
"Why did you really come back?" demanded Relena.
"I came back for her! As usual, Shamara is underfoot. I love that girl, but I wish she would get herself married with children of her own so that I can have a life."
Relena's angry expression faded. "You came back for Trynity?"
"How could she think otherwise?" But Duo knew the answer. His own fear that she might reject him in favor of staying on Mars kept him from committing to her. How was Trynity supposed to guess his intentions? Duo was accustomed to Guerani women who knew his every thought. But he couldn't completely commit to Trynity either when he knew that could not give up the life he had made on Calabria. Trey depended on him, and Duo couldn't imagine leaving the moon and his people behind. Without wanting to, he explained this to Relena, and he was surprised that she listened with a sympathetic ear.
"All right," she said when he had concluded. "I will concede that you have a point. Trynity doesn't want to give up that useless clinic on Mars Colony. With the problems that exist there and the lack of order, no physician will even consider going there, so she feels responsible for the health and well being of the people. Lord knows they don't deserve her, but she seems to be oblivious to their selfishness."
"That is not a problem we are going to solve," commented Duo as Relena drummed her fingers as if trying to think of a solution.
"The easiest method would be for you to do to Quatre Winner what your son did to his son." Relena laughed. "I can see by the look on your face that you wouldn't want to do that."
"I'm not a cold-blooded killer, and neither is my son. I doubt I could bring myself to kill him unless he provokes me. We went through too much together when we were young."
"That is ancient history," said Relena. "Very ancient. Do you think he cares? He would cut your throat at the drop of a hat! He's probably planning how to do it as we speak. I hope you are prepared to defend yourself. He's a ruthless bastard that ordered his son to kill Lars and I have every reason to believe he arranged Dorothy's death."
"I have dealt with such people on Calabria."
"Probably not like him. Anyway, you owe Trynity an apology, but you can't apologize to her without her knowing I called you. She would be furious with me if she knew I was speaking to you now. You don't seem to realize how lonely she is and how confused you have made her. In addition, you dolt, Trynity loves children."
"Then why doesn't she have more?" Duo thought that because Trynity didn't have more children than Stryfe and Quynn that she didn't care to go through the experience again. If that weren't true… "Lars didn't want more kids?" Duo remembered the pictures of Lars with Stryfe and Quynn and couldn't believe that. In fact, seeing those pictures made Duo draw what he had considered a logical conclusion about Trynity.
"Don't be obtuse! They tried to have more children, but it never happened, probably because of the blast he took from the Shadowhawk. And Trynity wouldn't consider any other alternative. Now you come along and…"
"Hey, I get the picture!" Duo didn't want to get the picture. Once again he had been overly insensitive to Trynity's feelings. He was getting pretty good at it. "I guess I had better have a talk with the good doctor."
"Don't mention me!" Relena closed the communication after her sharply delivered warning.
Duo left the room and stopped by the bedroom he shared with Shamara and Taeron. They appeared to be arguing, but stopped immediately when he poked his head in. "Don't wait up for me."
Shamara smiled. "I hope the gods visit great happiness upon you this evening."
Duo returned her smile. "Thank you for your blessing."
"My lord!" blurted Taeron as he came to him. "I must speak to you."
Duo feared that his son still harbored hopes that his parents would marry and he felt threatened by Trynity. He didn't care to discuss the improbability of such a match now with Taeron.
Shamara hurried forward to grab his arm. "Taeron, let him go!" They exchanged glances and Taeron looked down at his own feet.
"We can talk in the morning," Duo suggested, and when Taeron didn't respond, he shrugged and walked out. Whatever was going on between the two, he intended to find out, but it would have to be in the morning. Trynity was his main concern now.
The outer office of the clinic was dark, and the lab had only a few lights. The miner was resting comfortably, probably doped up for his pain. Shamara admitted to stealing his memories, but Duo's concern was for her. He doubted the man would regret the loss of that episode in his mind.
Trynity was at her computer, but as Duo approached, he saw that she was dozing, her chin on her hands, her head resting against the screen. Duo looked at the screen and was mildly amused to see a familiar green-clad elf standing around, shifting from one foot another, scratching his head, and swiping his sword.
Duo slipped an arm around her waist, and she became groggily awake. "Babe, if you don't do something with Link, he's going to pass out and get eaten by a monster."
She blinked her eyes, then looked at the screen. Duo smiled to see her embarrassed blush. "I…I must have bumped some keys. I don't know how that got on the screen." But she quickly saved the game and closed out the screen.
Trynity didn't seem to realize how close he was to her or that she was actually cuddled in his arms. Duo liked it this way because it seemed so natural. "I received some interesting news from Relena today," she commented.
"So did I." To hell with Relena.
The blush that hadn't quite faded from her cheeks became deeper. "She…she didn't…"
"Hey, she can't keep anything secret. Correction, she can keep some things secret, but I guess your mistake has taught her to be a blabbermouth." He brushed back her wild orange curls and caressed her cheek.
There were tears in Trynity's eyes. "She should have kept her big mouth shut."
"I'm sorry, Trynity, for all the stupid things I've said and done." He framed her face in his hands. "I didn't come back here for Shamara's sake. That sweet little imp thinks she is defying her father to come here with me, but I had already planned to return and Trey told me to let her tag along."
"You didn't come here for her?" asked Trynity. He could see that she was vulnerable, as vulnerable as the first time he had kissed her under the moon at the conservatory before the Stardust Ball. She was afraid to expose her feelings.
"I won't spend the rest of my life without you, Trynity. I thank the gods for giving me another chance."
A tear rolled down her cheek. "I don't think your mythical Calabrian gods caused the wormhole to open."
He lowered his head to kiss away her salty tear. "I believe," he murmured as he kissed a trail to her lips, "in the fairness of the gods. After talking with Relena, I am even more a believer. When Lars saved my life, they took from him, and they gave back what they had taken when I was trapped on Calabria." He kissed her quivering bottom lip and buried his fingers in her hair.
"Coincidence," she said, but there was a catch to her voice. Trynity was crying, and he had to control his own emotions.
"You have to believe, Trynity."
She shook her head.
He laughed softly and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. "Tell me why the wormhole opened near L12 and Mars Colony and not back at L10."
"I don't know, but I know it wasn't for me!" She sobbed and threw her arms around him as she buried her face in his shoulder. "They have never given me a break! I keep wondering what bad thing will happen to me next!"
Duo held her close and let her cry. When she was finally reduced to hiccups, he took a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped her face. "You aren't alone, Trynity. I'll always be with you."
"I wish I could believe you."
He tried not to be hurt because he knew she had no reason to trust him. "You are tired. Link must have been giving you a hard time."
She straightened and stiffened. "I wasn't playing! Well, not most of the time. I gave up on my original project."
"What might that project have been?" Duo looked at her screen and saw that it was filled with chemical equations. "I hope you understand that language."
She laughed and swung away to look at it. "I have analyzed much of the plant life on this colony, mostly for medicinal purposes. Although I have found a few plants that might give a guy a slight buzz, but I found nothing that would get Quatre Winner arrested and locked away for the rest of his life."
"What are you talking about?" Duo pulled up a stool to sit beside her. "Is Quatre dealing drugs from Mars?" He chuckled as he imagined it. "The guy is a jerk, but dealing drugs? He drinks tea!"
"Relena heard Heero mention it." Trynity pushed back her hair and looked down at her hands in her lap. "Relena has a big mouth."
He took her hands and entwined his fingers with hers. "She cares about you, Trynity. I appreciate the big kick in the ass she gave me."
Trynity smiled and looked at his face. "I hope you don't think I'm like Larya, but…but I'd like to have more children."
"My palace is big enough to accommodate as many as you want."
The smile faded from her face. "I couldn't leave my patients."
Relena was right, but Duo already knew about this obstacle so he could laugh it off. "Well, you could visit our children from time to time."
She frowned. "I'm serious!"
He pulled her resisting onto his lap. "You always are, babe. That's something we need to change." She didn't avoid his kiss, but instead returned it with enthusiasm. A groan from the other side of the room made her break away, and he followed her to the patient. After checking his pulse, she injected him with more sedative, then went about changing the bandage on the stump that was his arm.
"Fortunately there are prosthetics that are so highly advanced that he may have more strength with a new arm," she commented, then sighed. "I imagine it wouldn't be the same." Trynity shuddered. "Thanks to Shamara I have an idea of the terror he felt to be sent to his death in the jaws of that grotesque beast."
Duo frowned. "Shamara touched you?"
"I think she was trying to help me understand the poor man. I don't know what was happening in the mine because I don't think he knew. But he was under the impression he was being fed to the worm." Trynity made a sound of disgust. "I pray it is not customary behavior in the mines."
"That may explain why the miners do not return to their homes," suggested Duo.
Trynity looked at him. "You can't be serious, Duo. What kind of man would do such a thing?"
"Oh, I don't know. The kind of man whose son was a blood-drinking bastard?"
"Why would Quatre do such a thing?"
Duo had his suspicions. "Where do these boreworms live?"
"I believe various underground habitats scattered throughout the livable areas of the colony. They usually consume small animals, but from time to time I have heard of children and the occasional adult killed by one. But those instances are rare and only occur when humans stumble into their territory."
Duo raised a brow. "What, exactly, is Winner mining on this colony?"
She shrugged. "Various minerals. I have never concerned myself with his activities except as how they affect my patients."
"You said yourself that Winner has his own physician to care for the miners, and yet Relena told me that you are the only one on the colony."
"What are you implying?"
Duo didn't like her tone. Was she trying to defend Quatre Winner? After seeing him paw her at the cafe, Duo was wondering what their exact relationship was. Although it disgusted him, there was the possibility that she had turned to Quatre after her husband's death. Perhaps she had ended their relationship and Quatre didn't want to let go. Was that why she seemed to not want to recognize the truth about him?
She walked away from the patient who had fallen back into an untroubled slumber. Duo followed her out of the clinic, but she stopped at the door. "I can't leave him alone, but I think you should return to the house. Tell Stryfe to relieve me in a few hours."
Before he could question her sudden change of attitude, she disappeared into the clinic. Duo knew she was going to be stubborn, so he returned to the house where Stryfe and his grandfather were studying the scrolls.
"That was a short trip," grunted the older man. "Maybe my daughter has developed some sense concerning you after all."
Stryfe smiled. "Mom chased you off? She gets rather testy about her more serious patients."
Duo sat near them. "She wants you to relieve her in a few hours."
"I suppose I should get a little sleep. Can I trust you two alone?"
"Don't worry. She's too busy for me to give her another patient tonight," grunted Dr. Stryfe. "Besides, I'd just be playing right into their hands."
Duo smiled and Stryfe laughed as he walked out.
Dr. Stryfe set aside the scrolls and leaned toward Duo who crushed the urge to throw up protective hands. "So, what progress have you made?"
Duo's eyes widened. "Just how do you expect me to answer that question?"
"You're going to have to give her a damn good reason to give up this worthless clinic," pointed out the other man.
"I love her. Isn't that reason enough."
"Wasn't reason enough to stay by her side, was it?"
"I didn't intend…"
Dr. Stryfe waved him quiet. "We all know what you didn't intend. I want that girl to be happy. If you aren't going to bring that about, then get the hell out of her life."
"All I have ever wanted is to make her happy. Maybe I haven't gone about it the right way, but this time around I have every intention of succeeding. Maybe I'd like to grab a little bit of that happiness myself."
Dr. Stryfe chuckled and slapped him on the back. "At least you're honest. So what is your plan?"
"I have no plan. The gods will provide a way…" Duo was affronted when the older man gave him a look of disgust. "You and your daughter have a lot to learn about respecting the gods."
"Please don't start with that religious hogwash. Don't rely on things you can't see."
"I'm sorry, Dr. Stryfe, if you cannot believe in a higher order, but I do. I have seen it with my own eyes. The gods brought me here with Shamara so that we could both meet our destiny, whatever that may be."
He stared at Duo silently for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, your gods might be helped out in fulfilling your destiny by you drugging Trynity and carrying her off to Calabria."
"She would not like that." Duo might, but Trynity would be furious.
"Oh, she'd kick and scream for a few days…"
"Try weeks if not months," Duo interrupted him. "She's more stubborn than you think."
"You're right. Such a plan could only end in disaster. Is there any chance of you staying here?"
"I govern thousands of people. When a faction of discontented imperials learned of my departure and Prince Amyr's installment as my replacement, they began rioting in the provinces. They accept me because I am not Calabrian and because I have proven myself strong enough to control them."
Dr. Stryfe frowned. "This is the place you would take my daughter?"
"I think they would readily accept her as my wife."
"Your people have a say in this?" Dr. Stryfe slapped his forehead. "I guess we will have to rely on the gods because I think only a supernatural being could get you out of this mess."
"Don't get me wrong, sir. I don't give a damn what my people say about her, but it would smooth out the wrinkles a bit if they liked her." Duo decided to change the subject. He didn't think planning to abduct Trynity was a proper conversation to have with her father. "Have you and Stryfe made any more progress on deciphering the texts?"
"We are quite decided on the text in the cave. It is a curse on the sacred shield. I imagine that Calabrian scholar was superstitious about his gods and what that message meant for the princess. Stryfe and I have gone on to more interesting legends, one in particular interests him."
"I suppose it's the legend of Camridaeus. We heard the legend from Master Nazzar, Prince Dagan's teacher."
"But Master Nazzar left out some details and most importantly, what appears to be a cliff-hanging end to the tale. Dagmaeus apparently killed both Camrin and Ulfyna, then fled the palace. There is some record of pursuit and a reference to a beam of light taking him to the heavens. That business about Dagmaeus becoming god of the beasts and the underworld was not mentioned once."
"Do you think Nazzar was lying?"
Dr. Stryfe shrugged. "The tale is very ancient. It is possible that it has been changed many times. I have been able to determine that the Guerani people truly believe that their bodies are hosts to the spirits or essences of the gods, though only a select few seem to have been so honored."
"You believe Dagan is one of those people?"
The older man snorted derisively. "You actually believe this, don't you?"
"Do you think I could have lived all these years away from the woman I love without finding solace in something?" Duo doubted Dr. Stryfe could understand. "What is the business about the sacred shield?"
"There is a prophecy that the sacred shield exists to protect the people of the binary system from some great cataclysm, some great evil. Perhaps the princess can shed some light on that subject."
"Are you suggesting that Shamara is the key to this riddle of the gods?"
Dr. Stryfe snorted. "If you believe in that sort of thing, I suppose that is exactly what I mean."
Duo's thoughts were troubled as he left Dr. Stryfe and walked to his own room. Tomorrow he would talk to Shamara about what he had learned so see if she knew anything. He suspected there were events unfolding in her trances that she wasn't talking about and he hoped she wasn't getting in over her head.
He quietly pushed open the door to their room and he instantly realized that Taeron was gone or he would have challenged him. Then Duo noticed the bed was empty and hadn't been slept in.
"Shamara, what are you up to?" he muttered out loud.
