Colony L12

Although it was quite late in the afternoon when she returned to the infirmary, Trynity went straight to the children's ward where she gathered the children together and read them several books. After she finished reading to the children, she ran into Kurt Duran, something she was doing quite a bit lately.

"I haven't seen you all day!" He was smiling at her. "How about a movie?"

She looked at him, ready to refuse, and then decided she would rather not be alone. "Give me a few minutes and I'll meet you out front."

He was obviously very delighted, and during the evening he was polite in the extreme. His red sportscar was somewhat pretentious, but then Kurt didn't have a wife or children, so he could afford to waste his money on playthings. Trynity was glad she went out with him because she discovered he wasn't an unpleasant date. They had a drink afterwards and he escorted her to the door of her apartment. When he seemed to expect an invitation inside, she used her father's presence as an excuse.

As if on cue, the door jerked open when he was leaning forward to kiss her. "There you are!" barked her father. "I've been worrying all night!" He grabbed her elbow and pulled her inside. "Young woman, you have some explaining to do." He barely glanced at Kurt before slamming the door shut.

Trynity sighed with relief. "Thank you, father."

He chucked her under the chin. "Glad to be of assistance, pumpkin."

She tossed aside her handbag, then went to the dress bag to unzip and take out the gown she had purchased. "What do you think?" She held it up to her.

Dr. Stryfe scratched his head. "I don't know what you are getting all decked out for, but I'm sure you'll have a reason to wear it on Calabria."

She frowned at him. "Don't start with that!" Trynity noticed another parcel from a jeweler. "Where did that come from?"

He looked. "My best guess would be Gordon and Sons Fine Jewelers."

"I didn't buy that!" She took a step back. "Please get rid of it for me, father."

He picked it up and opened the small box. "Off hand, I'd say this belonged to Lars. He must have had it repaired and forgot to pick it up."

Trynity took the pocket watch, recognizing it as one she had given him for their tenth anniversary. Inside he had put a picture of Trynity, Stryfe and Quynn. She felt very foolish for thinking it was another gift from Quatre. "I should give this to Stryfe."

Her father took the watch in his hand and sighed. "I never thought it would work between you two, but he was a lot more tenacious than I realized."

Trynity smiled. "He never did give up."

They remained silent for a moment, each thinking their own memories of Lars, then her father cleared his throat. "I think I will get to bed."

That night she thought she would dream of Lars instead of having her usual nightmare of Quatre Winner. Instead, she dreamed of Duo Maxwell, and when she awoke, she found tears on her pillow and she was feeling depressed. The following day she paid a visit to the psychiatrist who had tried to treat her over a month ago. Trynity told her about her suspicions and the woman explained that it was natural. She prescribed something to ease her panic attacks and told her to make an appointment to begin therapy.

When she went to her office, she checked the messages on the telecom. Quynn wanted to know how her shopping excursion had gone; Stryfe thanked her for sending the watch, and Relena demanded they get together for lunch tomorrow so she could talk about her evening with Kurt Duran.

Trynity was picking up the file of her first patient when the last message played. "Did you enjoy the show last night, sweetheart? I enjoyed watching you. You don't really think that guy can give you what I can, make you feel what I did? You are mine, now, Trynity Stryfe Nelson, and don't you forget it."

She looked at the telecom and found herself face to face with Quatre Winner. One corner of his lips curled into a smile, and then he blew her a kiss before the screen became blank except for the Arabic four. Trynity grabbed her telecom and checked the location of the call, then called Heero.

"He's at Quynn's apartment!" Trynity was beside herself with worry.

"Relax, Trynity. Quynn is on duty, and I'll send someone over to check it out. You do realize that these types of calls can be electronically altered so that they can't be traced?"

"I'm sure he is there!" she almost shouted. "He's just proving how easy it is to do as he damn well pleases and just how vulnerable we are!"

"Quatre is locked away, Trynity." Heero's frown was deep and she knew he was angry, but Trynity knew they were wrong.

"He is not on that ship! He is on L12, and if you can't do anything to help me, I'll help myself!" She pressed the button to end the communication, then told her nurse to cancel appointments. Trynity couldn't see any patients in the state she was in. Even two of the pills she had recently gotten didn't' help although they did keep her from dissolving into a puddle of nerves.

Trynity needed to be able to protect herself, but she had no access to a gun. Only military and security personnel were allowed firearms, and Heero's stranglehold on the colony was so complete that she wouldn't even be able to buy one on the black market if she tried. After what seemed like hours of thought, she remembered that Lars had kept his locker on L12 from the days he had been a security officer. He used it to store things later on.

She ran into Kurt on the way out and asked him to look in on her patients. His questions she was able to brush off and he reminded her when he was picking her up for their evening at the ballet. Trynity went to the central security area where she was greeted by people she knew and who had known Lars. She asked if she could pick up his personal affects and was shown immediately to his locker. Since she didn't bring anything with her, she was provided a box. Trynity keyed in his password - the date of their anniversary - and threw everything that was in the locker into a box. She was relieved to find his pistol, which she shoved, to the bottom of the box.

Her father was out of the apartment, so Trynity didn't have to listen to his questions. She cleaned the pistol, checked to be sure it was loaded, then stuffed it into the handbag she would be wearing with her gown that night. If Quatre showed up, she would be more than happy to show him just how she appreciated him.

Returning to the box, her attention was drawn to a photograph peeking out of one of his shirt pockets. She pulled it out and gasped when she recognized Hilde Schbeiker, stretched out on a bed wearing nothing more than a seductive smile. Trynity saw by the date in the corner that it had been taken only a month before Lars had been killed. She had just decided to dismiss it as another of Hilde's sad attempts to get Lars back, but she noticed something familiar on the table beside the bed in the picture. Trynity searched for a magnifying glass and held it to the picture. She couldn't believe her eyes. The object was Lars' watch! That meant he had taken the picture!

She dropped the magnifying glass and fell to her knees. Covering her face with her hands, she wept. All those years Lars had denied any involvement with Hilde. Trynity had trusted him, given him her love, and he paid her back by running to Hilde when her back was turned. He had presented himself as a model husband and father, and he was nothing more than everyone thought he was to begin with: a damned traitor!

Her father came home to find her still distraught. Although she didn't want to tell him the cause, he managed to weasel it out of her. He examined the picture, then remarked, "She's too skinny for a man like Lars."

Trynity itched to slap him. "Can't you be serious? My husband was cheating on me!"

He put his arm around her shoulders. "Lars wasn't cheating on you. He adored you and the children too much to do something like that. What has happened to your faith in people, Trynity?"

She wiped a tear away. "I don't know!"

"You need to get away from here."

"I am not going to Calabria!"

He chuckled. "I was thinking one of those lovely places on L11."

She managed to smile and hit his arm. "You are a liar."

"Well, Quynn seems to think the trip would do you wonders." His brows were raised as he looked at her, waiting for her response.

"Father, I can't be with Duo." She shuddered with self-disgust. "Not after…"

"I doubt he gives a damn. The boy loves you."

"Father, Duo Maxwell isn't a boy anymore, and I'm not a young woman."

He chuckled. "To me he will always be that boy who vowed to love you and take care of you forever."

"He did a damn good job, didn't he!" Trynity pushed herself away from him. "I have a date to get ready for."

Thankfully her father didn't make any more comments until she came out of her room dressed for the evening. He whistled. "You are every bit as beautiful as your mother was. But she had the prettiest blonde hair, like spun gold."

"Did I ever thank you for supplying the genetic material for this useless mop on my head?" Trynity had tried to put it up and failed, as usual, so she left it hanging loose.

He laughed and kissed her cheek. "Anyone who sees you looks twice."

The doorbell rang, and he wished a good evening as she grabbed her wrap and the handbag. Kurt gave her a half a dozen roses, which she almost tossed to her father as she did every morning with the ones left at her door. She took some time to arrange them in a vase while Dr. Stryfe handed her date a drink and they chatted about the ballet they were about to see. Trynity was feeling much better, especially after taking a couple of pills. The gun weighting down her handbag contributed to her good mood.

They had hors d'oeuvres and wine at the ballet before the performance, and then Kurt escorted her to his private box overlooking the stage. He told her about her patients before the performance began, then fell silent to watch when the lights went low and the stage was lit. Trynity tried to pay attention and enjoy the ballet, but she quickly grew bored. Before she knew it, she was snoozing and was awakened by applause. She was embarrassed to find herself in Kurt's arms, half off her chair and half on his lap.

She quickly straightened and fussed with her hair. "I'm sorry! I haven't been sleeping well lately."

He smiled. "Don't worry about it. Your snores added something to the performance."

Trynity laughed. "I guess I am not a fan of the ballet."

He held out his arm. "Why don't we get a drink before heading home?"

Although she would prefer to head straight home, she agreed to a drink at his club and ended up having enough to make her judgment a little fuzzy. She even heard herself giggling when Kurt kept her from falling flat on her face in the parking lot.

"Oh my! I haven't been this drunk since the time Lars tried to pin me on the Coalition base." What was she rambling about?

Kurt helped her in the car, then climbed in and they sped away from the club. "I enjoyed myself tonight, Trynity. I confess, I've always been attracted to you, but you never seemed to notice."

She watched the scenery passing by. "I didn't have a bad time."

He laughed. "You got a badly needed nap."

Trynity noticed headlights in the mirror. "Is that car a little close?"

"Not for long." He changed speeds and Trynity laughed as he lurched ahead, weaved through traffic, then finally slowed down. The car that had been behind him was no where to be seen.

"Damn good driving," she said. She looked out the window, then up at the simulated night sky. What would it be like to be under real stars again? At least on the Mars Colony the wind was real, the rain was real, the sunrise and sunset was real.

He pulled to a stop at a curb, then opened the car and got out.

Trynity had difficulty standing and hoped she wasn't going to be puking sick. "Where are we? This isn't my apartment building."

"No, this is my place. Your father is a nice enough guy, but I really don't want to be interrupted by him in the middle of the night." His arms slid around her waist and he drew her to him.

Trynity shoved ineffectively against his shoulder. "I want to go home, Kurt."

He tried to kiss her, but she moved her head and his lips brushed her neck. Trynity felt nauseous. "I'll make it good for you, Trynity."

She moved her head again when he tried to kiss her, then he grabbed her hair to hold her still to put her lips to hers. But she kept her teeth clamped together, and he finally lifted his head.

"Are you going to be stubborn about this? I spent a fortune on you tonight, Trynity and the least you can do is give a little of what you gave to that jerk Maxwell and that sick bastard Quatre Winner."

Starting to sober, Trynity slapped his face. "Take me home now!"

"I think not!" He grabbed her arm and started to drag her to the door of his apartment building. "If it makes you feel better, just close your eyes and pretend I'm Duo Maxwell. You must have plenty of practice from all those years being married to Lars."

She tried to kick him, but he held her tight as he pulled her to the building. Before they could make it to the door, a car pulled to stop with a screech, and Trynity turned to see the same car that had been behind them. Kurt paused to watch the door open, and a man stepped out.

Her gasp mingled with Kurt's. Quatre Winner straightened and walked around the car slowly, his narrowed eyes on Kurt as if he were a predator stalking prey. Kurt's grasp on Trynity loosened, and she stumbled away, back to Kurt's car where she had left her handbag.

"Dr. Duran," started Quatre, "is this how you treat your patients?"

"My God! You are him!" Kurt backed up until he was against the door. He reached back to fumble with the door, but it was locked against possible break-in with a security code.

Quatre grabbed his neck in one hand and slammed him back against the door. "I don't appreciate anyone mauling my woman."

Trynity managed to get the gun and she came up behind Quatre. "Let him go!"

He reacted so fast that she was helpless to resist when he reached back to grab the gun from her hand. "Thank you, my dear." He put the gun to Kurt's head and pulled the trigger.

She heard the shot, watched Kurt's lifeless body slide to the ground, and felt Quatre's arms around her. Trynity was so shocked and stunned that she couldn't move. Almost immediately sirens sounded and she knew colony security would be arriving in second.

But Quatre paused to wipe blood from her face with a silken handkerchief, blood that had splattered from Kurt's exploding head. "He had to die, Trynity. I won't let anyone have you." He seemed to realize the authorities would be arriving, so he gently laid her on the ground. "I love you, Trynity. Don't you ever forget it."

"I told you already!" Trynity didn't lift her head from the table. It was pounding and she felt as if she had been run over by a truck. She was hot, tired, filthy – there was still dried blood on her – and she had to go to the bathroom so bad she was sure her bladder was going to burst. But the officer in charge of investigating Kurt's murder wouldn't let her so much as stand.

"So, you are sticking to your story, that some crazed admirer of yours drove up, took your gun and shot your date?" He leaned down and said in her ear, "What really happened, Dr. Nelson? He wouldn't take no for an answer? You were jealous of his success at work? You found out he was seeing other women?"

The door opened and another security officer stepped in and dropped a heavy file on the table. Trynity peeked from under her hair to see him smiling in glee. "I had a hell of a time getting this information, but I have enough her to fry Dr. Nelson." He opened the file. "I see you are quite handy with a gun, doctor. You tried to kill Lucrezia Noin some years back."

She groaned and covered her head with her arms. "I have to go the restroom!"

"Hey, commander, should we let her…"

"Let's see what else we have here! Ah, some nasty business with the Coalition! You were one of those traitors who tried to overthrow Miliardo Peacecraft's peaceful regime." He was flipping through papers.

The other officer leaned close to her again. "Did Dr. Duran find out about your checkered past? Did you hope to seduce him into silence so that you wouldn't lose your job at the infirmary? When he refused, did you take out your gun, put it to his head and pull the trigger?"

Trynity turned her head to look at him. "I have to pee, and if you don't let me go, I will do it right here."

He looked at his superior. "Maybe we should let her go."

"I see you went to medical school at the Cinq King Science Academy. I believe Dr. Duran also went to the same school."

"Were you jealous of his success at school? Were you waiting all this time…"

"Bill, she graduated at the top of her class."

"Oh."

She sat up as best she could although her head felt like a lead weight and her stomach was cramping painfully. "Listen, I told you what happened. I went to the ballet with Dr. Duran, we went to his club for drinks, then he took me to his place."

"When did you decide you were going to kill him?" interrupted the superior officer. "You must have had the gun with you."

"I told you! I had the gun for protection!"

Officer Bill put his nose up to hers. "Why did you kill him? Was it just a cheap thrill?"

Trynity stood and started to lift her dress. "Sorry guys, but desperate circumstances call for desperate actions."

Bill didn't ask for permission, but hauled her out the door and around the corner to a small closet-like toilet. She was so relieved she almost cried, but once that dilemma was taken care, Bill dragged her back to the interrogation room. They nagged her for what seemed like hours, Bill's superior digging through her file with unnecessary diligence. Neither of them listened to her, although she did not change her story at all.

Finally, the door opened, and three heads turned to see Heero Yuy step into the room. The two men saluted him, and Trynity breathed a sigh of relief. "Bill, why don't you take a break," Heero suggested to the oaf who had come up with at least a hundred different reasons for her to kill Kurt Duran. When Bill stepped out, Heero looked at the other man and the spread of papers on the table. "Well, Vic, I see you've been busy digging up classified files. Do you have clearance to see those?"

Vic's face turned a dark shade of red. "I…I was trying to get to the bottom of this, sir."

He quickly shuffled the papers back into the thick folder.

Heero took the file from him. "You realize that you are going to be demoted for this? These are restricted military files."

Vic had nothing to say. Trynity was glad because he hadn't shut his mouth for hours. Heero dismissed him and turned to Trynity. She stumbled across the room and threw herself against him.

"You don't know how relieved I am to see you!" She tried not to notice how stiff he was.

Heero put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back to look down at her. "You're a stinking mess, Trynity."

"Bill and Vic wouldn't let me powder my nose," she laughed.

"What the hell is going on, Trynity? I've read the preliminary report, and it doesn't look good."

She saw the confused and angry look in his eyes and backed away from him. "You can't believe I killed him! It was him! I swear it was him!"

"How would you know? The toxicology report states your blood alcohol level was extremely high and that you had enough barbiturate in your system to knock out a horse."

"They are prescription!" she defended herself.

"Maybe you were just too doped up to know what was going on. And what were you doing with Lars' gun?"

"Defending myself!" she shouted angrily. "You won't do anything to help me! And now Kurt is dead and Quatre Winner is still out there!"

"What am I supposed to do, Trynity?" He grabbed her arm and dragged her from the room and through the office area to a private office where Vic was placing his things in a box. "Get out."

Vic scurried to the door, and Heero forced Trynity into a chair at the desk, then turned to the telecom. He punched in a code and they waited in unnerving silence until a face appeared on the screen.

"Captain Morel, do you have everything arranged?"

"I do, sir. He's right here."

Trynity gasped when Quatre's face appeared on the screen. Heero put his hand on her shoulder when she would have bolted for the door. "I went through a lot of trouble to do this, Trynity. I've used the communication array for what would be considered a frivolous purpose when it should be used only for defense. Now look at him! He is on the transport between L11 and L10."

She forced herself to look at the screen. "You bastard!"

Quatre smiled at her. "I'm happy to see you too, sweetheart. You look a wreck. If I were there, I would run you a nice, hot bath, light some scented candles and take my time washing your lovely body."

"Shut up!" Trynity was trembling with rage. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Why am I doing what, sweetheart? I have been in the company of these fine gentlemen. In a few weeks I will be on Earth, but I won't be gone long. I already have a team of lawyers getting my defense ready. And when I return, we can take that steaming bath together, my sweet. After, you may give me a massage with perfumed oils. You know what I like."

"That's enough!" Heero closed the communication, but Trynity heard Quatre's laugh. He looked at Trynity. "Have I proven anything to you?"

She burst into tears, and Heero gathered her in his arms. "I don't know what is happening to me! I was sure…"

He patted her back. "You are an emotional mess, Trynity. Now you are in serious legal trouble."

"I didn't kill him," she sobbed against his chest.

A knock at the door preceded Vic's entry into his former office. "Sir, I think you should come this way. One of my men arrested a man for trying to use Dr. Duran's credit card."

Trynity followed Heero to the desk where the man was sitting and she gasped. "Bert! What are you doing here?"

The father of the twins she had delivered on Mars Colony over a month earlier sat in the chair wringing his hat in his hands. When he saw her, he looked at his feet. "I am so sorry, Dr. Nelson."

"Do you know this man?" asked Heero.

"His wife was a patient of mine on Mars."

"Listen to his story, sir." Bill prodded Bert with his finger.

Bert couldn't even look up as he spoke. "Me and Meggie left the colony and we didn't have any money. I haven't been able to get a job here yet. I was walking last when I saw Dr. Nelson with that man. He was pushing her around and…and…I noticed her purse was in the car. So I took it out, hoping she might have some money. But all I found was a gun, and then I heard her scream. I didn't mean to shoot that man. I've never had gun in my hand before."

"He's lying!" cried Trynity. She met Bert's eyes and she saw that he was ashamed.

"We found several of Dr. Duran's personal items in his apartment," spoke up another officer.

"I took his money, his rings and his watch," admitted Bert. He looked at Trynity. "You don't know how sorry I am, Dr. Nelson, for all the trouble I have caused you."

Bill looked at Trynity. "I guess you are free to go."

"Bert, how are Meggie and the children?" she asked the distraught man. "How are they being taken care of?"

He continued to stare down at his hands. "I don't know."

Trynity knew and she told Heero her suspicions when he escorted her to the lobby where her father was waiting. "Quatre is paying him to lie!"

Dr. Stryfe put a coat around her shoulders. "We should get home. You look exhausted."

"Trynity, I can't find any other way to convince you that Quatre can't possibly be on this colony. He is at least two weeks away from here. What you need is some rest." After kissing the top of her head, he walked away.

Her father didn't say anything on the way home, and after she had changed and showered, he had a cup of coffee waiting for her. They sat across from each other in the small kitchen, neither speaking for several minutes before he said, "I think we should tell Quynn and Stryfe before this hits the news." He left the table and she heard him call Stryfe first, then Quynn. Both her children were horrified by what had happened and hurried to be with her. Trynity didn't care what they thought as she told them what had really happened.

Quynn and Stryfe stared at her speechlessly, as if she had lost her mind. Her father on the other hand walked over to the computer, cracked his knuckles and sat down at the desk.

"What are you doing, Gramps?" asked Stryfe, leaning over his shoulder as his bony fingers flew over the keys.

"A guy can't be two places at once, can he?" The keys were clacking as codes ran past him on the screen.

"Ah, hey, Gramps, you can get into a lot of trouble," said Quynn.

Trynity looked over his shoulder and saw that he was trying different passwords to break into the defense computer. "Father, what are you doing?"

He didn't look up from his work. "There's a reason I never put my work on one of these infernal machines: anyone with the right know how can find whatever they want."

"Ah, isn't that what you're doing?" pointed out Stryfe.

He ignored his grandson. "I think Quatre Winner probably has the know-how to manipulate the system."

"He has enough money, too," grumbled Trynity.

"But he is locked in a cell on a transport headed to Earth." Stryfe looked at Trynity. "You spoke to him; Heero spoke to him."

"Through the defense communication array that was set up to facilitate long range fast-speed communication between Earth and the outer colonies." Dr. Stryfe smiled as he pressed the enter button. "Now we shall see where the communication actually originated from."

"Are you saying Quatre Winner may not be on that ship?" demanded Quynn.

"Isn't that what your mother has been saying?" He looked at both Quynn and Stryfe sternly. "Don't doubt her! If she says Quatre Winner is here, then we must believe her."

Trynity put her arms around him and kissed his wrinkled cheek. "Thank you, father."

They turned their attention to the screen, which was running code. Dr. Stryfe seemed to like one because he stopped it and entered it. The screen went blank for a moment before the screen was went blank but for dozens of dots that chased each other around the screen before coming together to form the Arabic number four.

"That son of a bitch is smarter than I thought!"

"I don't believe it!" Stryfe leaned closer to the computer. "He has hacked into the array!"

"If he can do it, what is to become of our defenses?" They turned to look at Quynn who shrugged. "Well, someone has to think about Cinq Kingdom defense while gramps is hacking the system!"

"We need to tell Heero about this," said Stryfe as he crossed the room to the telecom.

Trynity hurried to stop him. "Heero hasn't helped me so far! He'll just say that my father is manufacturing evidence to support my claim! He'll probably arrest him for tampering with the array."

Stryfe seemed to be torn between duty and his family. The latter won. "I think we're making a mistake."

"I got the bastard this time!" The screen went blank and was replaced by a screen saver of daisies. He scratched his head. "I will find out where he sent that signal from if it takes me the rest of the night!"

Trynity sighed, wondering if his task was hopeless. Quatre obviously anticipated such a search. Although her father was not discouraged by several more failures, Trynity saw his mission as impossible, but she was glad that her father believed her. Even though he hadn't succeeded, he was certain that with time he would be able to expose Quatre Winner.

The following day she forced herself to go into work, and she was followed to her office by stares and whispers. Before she could sit down, the infirmary administrator stepped in and closed the door. Trynity knew what was coming before he started speaking.

"I'm surprised that you are back so soon after what happened," he began.

She looked at his face. "I find work therapeutic."

"Yes, well, the chairman of the board of directors sent me to tell you that a vacation might be beneficial at this time."

"A vacation?" she repeated.

"Don't worry about your patients! We have already spread around their case files so that no doctor will be unduly burdened." He was smiling as if he were doing her a favor.

"I'm glad you have managed everything so efficiently," she said sarcastically "Have my patients been notified?"

"A few of your patients called up already today to request a new doctor." He rubbed his neck nervously. "Actually, you have been placed on a six month leave of absence. When that is over, we'll see whether you are ready to return."

"You mean whether you want me back?" Trynity picked up the picture of her family that was on her desk, then marched to the door. "Screw this job, Dr. Harlow! I'm not coming back!"

Trynity decided to walk home, and on the way she stopped to sit on a park bench near a playground where children were running around, climbing, going down a slide. She had similar memories of her own childhood, but she had swung on electrical cords at heights that were far too dangerous and had slid down the smooth gundanium arms into the hand of the Shadowhawk. Now as she watched, she thought of the childhood of her children that she had missed because she had been busy studying for medical exams. Lars had taken Stryfe and Quynn to the park, to the zoo, to the museum, to school. She wondered if he had married her so that he could become a father.

She sighed as she thought of her dismal future. Where would she be able to practice medicine again? The clinic on Mars Colony was in ruins and she had just burned far too many bridges in the medical community by walking out on Dr. Harlow who was very influential. All Trynity had wanted was to help people, and now they did not want her help. Her life seemed so wasted.

Rising, she left the bench and walked back to the street, but when she came to a pay phone, it began to ring. She paused to look at it as did several other passers by. They continued on their way, but Trynity walked to the phone and picked it up.

"My dear, that was quite unpredictable." The voice belonged to Quatre.

She almost hung up the phone, but she decided to speak to him. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Doing what, my love? I am on a transport headed to Earth." He laughed. "Did you like my performance? Heero was quite taken in!"

Trynity wanted to hang up the phone, but she hoped she could learn something from talking to him, that he might slip up. "Are you watching me now?"

"I watched you at the park, and I pretended that you were there with our child."

"We don't have a child!" Trynity was starting to tremble, and she looked around frantically to see where he was. She fumbled in her purse for her medication and remembered that it had been confiscated at the security station.

"That is something we are going to have to work on, isn't it? Are you sure you're not expecting the Winner heir already?"

She slammed down the phone and walked quickly away, looking over her shoulder. He could be anywhere, in front of her, behind her, at her side. Trynity returned home to see her father working at the computer, and she moved quickly past him so that he would not see her agitation. She went to her room and laid down on her bed where she burst into tears.

"There is a solution to this problem, if you would only allow yourself to consider it."

Trynity wiped her eyes and looked at her father who was standing in the doorway. "There is more than one solution to every problem. I tried to kill him two nights ago and failed. My life is in ruins!"

He sighed. "I'm beginning to understand all that nonsense of fate and the will of the gods that Duo Maxwell was spouting."

"Please don't talk about him, father." Trynity muffled her sobs in her pillow.

He put his hand on her back and stroked her as he spoke in a soothing tone. "There, there, Trynity, there isn't anything that you and he can't overcome together."

She shook her head. "I can't do this to him." She turned around to look at him, tears blurring his face. "I…I think I'm pregnant."

He drew her into his arms and she cried again as he comforted her. When she was exhausted, he gently laid her back on the bed. "We've been here before, Trynity, and you were sure your life was going to come to an end then, too. I know what is going through your head, but you can't think the worst, Trynity. The baby is most likely Duo's, and you can't keep this from him."

"But I can't know for certain for a few more months! It isn't fair to him to tell him now when I don't know. What if the baby is Quatre Winner's? How would he feel?"

He laid his hand on her cheek. "How would you feel?"

She didn't know how she would feel. The remainder of the day she spent in bed sleeping off the residual hangover, and the following day she picked up the flowers outside her door and laid on the couch plucking away the petals. She didn't need to wonder if Duo loved her. He had been very clear about that before he left. Would he really wait an eternity as he had said? Or was he even now sleeping with Larya? Men couldn't be trusted.

By the time evening rolled around, she eagerly accepted her father's invitation to dine at the corner café. There were only a couple of booths, so she could see every nook and cranny of the place. Quatre wasn't there. Afterwards, they went for a walk on a path by the simulated lake, on which shimmered simulated moonlight.

"I hate this place," she murmured as she rested her head against her father's arm. "None of it is real."

His arm tightened around her waist. "Pumpkin, it is as real as you want it to be."

"Are you making any progress with the array?"

"None whatsoever." He chuckled. "I didn't think Quatre Winner had it in him! You remember I was responsible for his education back at Seaside Lab. I'm afraid I may have inadvertently taught him more about computer systems than he needed to know. At the time he acted as if he were humoring me. Now I know otherwise."

"I don't think any of us knew what we wanted or needed at that time."

"It's getting late. I have a few more ideas I would like to work on."

She went straight to bed although her father stayed up a little longer. She dreamed of Duo and the beach at Seaside, but instead of the pleasant conclusion she remembered, they were interrupted when Quatre stepped out of the darkness and into the moonlight. Trynity watched with horror as he put a gun to Duo's head.

"You are mine," he told her. "Remember that."

Her eyes snapped open as he pulled the trigger. Her heart was pounding, and she was finding it difficult to breathe. Trynity left her bed and went to the bathroom where she pressed a cool washcloth to her face. When she was sufficiently calm, she returned to her room, but she was suddenly grabbed and pushed against the wall, and her door was pushed shut. Trynity opened her mouth to scream, but she heard the click of a pistol being cocked.

"My sweet, I'll cap the first person to walk through that door. Do you understand?" He put his mouth to hers, and she fought gagging until he moved his lips to her neck. "I want you, Trynity. You don't know how much restraint I've had, but I can't take it any longer. I need you."

She struggled with him as he dragged her to the bed, but he was much stronger. He wrestled her down to the bed, and she would have screamed had he not covered her mouth with his again. Trynity was too weak to stop him, and he seemed to enjoy the power he had over her.

"You know you want me," he said hoarsely in her ear as his hands were tearing at her nightgown. "Remember how you wanted me that day? It's just you and me, Trynity. There's no need for lies between us."

Trynity whimpered and looked away from him. "Just get it over with!"

He dragged one of his hands slowly down her body. "I love you, Trynity."

A knock at the door froze him. "Mom, are you awake?" It was Stryfe.

Trynity realized he had set aside his gun, and she scrambled to the table by her bed at the same time he did. She reached it before him, but her hand was shaking as she aimed it at his heart. The room was still dark and she couldn't make out his face, but his mocking laughter was clear enough.

"You can't kill me, Trynity. You have already tried."

The opening door distracted her and Quatre lunged for the gun, but she fired. Now the door slammed open and Stryfe aimed his own gun at the shadowy figure slipping out the window. He took a couple shots, then dashed to the window to look down. Trynity joined him and they saw no sign of the man who had been in her room.

She was quivering like Jell-O as she sat weakly on the bed, the gun still in her hand while Stryfe turned on the light. Her father stood in the doorway pale as a ghost. Stryfe took the gun from her hand and holstered his own behind his back.

"Maybe we should show that to Heero Yuy!" snorted Dr. Stryfe.

Stryfe replaced the clip, then showed Trynity the handle. The gun was Quynn's service pistol. "Oh my God! How did he get his hands on that?"

"Quynn says it was stolen from her locker. The guard saw a woman he didn't recognize that day enter the lockerroom and leave shortly after."

"That woman wasn't, by any chance, about six foot four with long blond hair, was she?" her father grumbled.

"No. In fact, he thought she was rather petite, attractive, and perhaps a little too old to be considered a pilot." Stryfe looked at Trynity. "Do you know anybody fitting that description?"

"I know hundreds of people," she said weakly.

"Well, if we didn't suspect by now, we would know for certain. Winner is not acting on his own. Someone is helping him." Her father came to the bed and tucked Trynity beneath the covers. "I know you probably can't get much sleep, but you need it, pumpkin. I'll stay in here for the rest of the night."

"If you don't mind, I think I will sleep on the couch. I'm moving in here tomorrow."

"You can't do that!" protested Trynity lamely although she wanted him to watch over her.

"I'm calling Quynn too. We are going to beat this bastard together."

Two days later Trynity felt safer with her family living with her, and she hadn't received a phone call or had any contact with Quatre at all. She wondered if Stryfe had shot him and he was licking his wounds in some extravagant penthouse suite. But she clearly remembered hearing the bullets strike the metal of the fire escape, so she knew he had gotten away unscathed. Quynn arrived late in the afternoon carrying her mail, and she tossed the pile on the table, then bent over her grandfather's shoulder to give him unwanted advice.

Trynity picked up the mail and tossed aside several applications for credit cards, then opened up a letter from the dress shop, discovering a bill she couldn't pay - without a job. Her stipend from the Cinq Kingdom barely covered her necessary expenses, and after paying rent, it was gone. Her father was paying for food.

"Relena is pissed off that you haven't called her." Quynn hurdled the back of the couch and wriggled to get comfortable. "Chaz told me his father is sleeping in a guest room."

Trynity chuckled thinking of the shouting match that must have followed her detainment at security headquarters. She thought she should call Relena, but she wasn't sure she wanted to involve her.

"I think that son of a bitch has put every flower species known to man in the system," snarled Dr. Stryfe as another colorful flower appeared on the screen, but this time it was accompanied by a message. HAVING FUN YET?

Trynity picked up a large, plain envelope addressed to her. She hoped it was papers from the insurance company dealing with the loss of her house. Trynity was afraid she had let the policy lapse after Lars' death. He had taken care of the business details.

But she didn't pull insurance papers from the envelope. She found herself looking at large glossy photographs of a man and woman together in various intimate positions. Trynity stared at the pictures speechlessly, because there was no doubt in her mind that it was Lars and Hilde. She had already resigned herself to the truth that Lars had an affair with her, but seeing him with her, the loving look on his face when he touched her, shattered Trynity's already broken heart.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Before she could stop her – Trynity wondered whatever happened to her lightening reflexes – Quynn grabbed the pictures and stared at them, flipping one after another, faster and faster. "Who is that whore?" She tore them and threw them, then pulled Trynity into her arms. "Don't cry, mom! Please don't cry."

Dr. Stryfe picked up a photograph and pieced it together. "Not the kind of thing a young lady should be looking at." He turned the picture. "Isn't that interesting."

"Shut up, Gramps and stop looking at that disgusting porn."

"It's Hilde Schbeiker," Trynity told Quynn.

"Hilde Schbeiker?" Quynn straightened. "I've heard that name before."

"Your father dated her before me."

"Which one?"

Trynity started to say Lars, then sighed. "Both."

"You mean she dated Pops and Duo Maxwell at the same time? Lucky bitch!"

"No! She had just broken off her relationship with Duo when I met him. Later she tried to get him back, and failing she started seeing Lars. When it was obvious that Duo wasn't coming back, Lars broke it off with her." Trynity wiped a tear from her eyes. "I thought they had broken off their relationship."

"Those pictures don't look like a broken off relationship to me. I can't believe Pops would do such a thing to you, Mom."

"Oh, I don't know about that." Dr. Stryfe had picked up the pictures and was examining them closely.

"Father! What are you doing? Just throw them away!"

He motioned her forward, and she reluctantly went to him, but he held the pictures from Quynn's sight. "These aren't for your virgin eyes."

Quynn glared at him then walked away to stare out the window. Trynity knew how she felt. What they had believed about Lars might all be lies.

Her father tugged on her sleeve. "Take a look at this, pumpkin."

She looked where he was pointing. Trynity didn't really want to be looking at Hilde's naked body, so she averted her eyes quickly. "I don't see anything."

He left her and returned with the magnifying glass she had used several days earlier. "Look again, pumpkin. I think you need glasses."

She peered at the picture and saw a couple of faint scars on the back of the woman with Lars. "Oh my God!" She moved the magnifying glass to the woman's face, which was clearly Hilde, but as she examined further, she could see where the photographs had been altered. Unfortunately, whoever had done them, and Trynity had a good idea, they didn't realize Trynity had come back from Calabria with scars on her back from the whip imperial guard Dax had used on her in an attempt to break her spirit.

"What is it?" Quynn was coming toward her. Panicking, Trynity grabbed all the pictures and hurried to the kitchen where she stuffed them in to the garbage disposal. Before Quynn could grab one, she turned it on and the disposal made a horrendous grinding nose as it chewed the pictures to tiny bits. Quynn looked at the confetti being created then back to her mother. "Mother!"

Trynity ignored them and went back to the envelope. She held it upside down and a card floated out and fell on the floor. She picked it up and wasn't surprised to see the Arabic numeral. "Well, we know something for certain. That bitch is working with Quatre."

"She's a dangerous woman," remarked her father. "I wouldn't count on her actually working with Winner. Remember, she had a relationship with him too."

"I didn't steal Quatre form her, and I didn't steal Duo and I certainly didn't take Lars from her!"

"That may be true, mom, but from her perspective, you did."

"It's time to inform colony security," announced her father. "If she is helping Quatre, losing her will hamper whatever he has planned."

Trynity did not go to colony security, but decided to try Heero one more time. Instead of running into Relena at his home, she went to his office and had to wait for him to finish with regular business. He seemed annoyed to have her visit, and he all but rolled his eyes when she began. She told him about the phone call, about Quatre's break-in and the shots fired in her apartment and the gun stolen from Quynn.

Heero stared at her without comment, and when she finished, he sighed. "I hope you aren't losing your mind, Trynity. I'll have my men discover Hilde's whereabouts. As for Quatre, if what you say is true, that he has tapped into the defense communication array, the safety of the colonies may be at stake."

"What are you going to do?"

"Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to prove Quatre is or isn't on that ship without using the array. I'll put my own experts on the case. In the meantime, Relena will be royally pissed off if you don't come to dinner tomorrow night. Colonel Benton is arriving escorting Prince Zieben. Apparently Zieben wants to get a look at his possible brides before he commits himself to one."

"If they are all as beautiful and sweet as Shamara, he is going to have a difficult choice." Trynity left after agreeing to have dinner with them and to bring her family. When she stepped on the street, she realized she was being followed and felt relief when she saw that they were colony security officers.

She stopped at a grocery store to pick up some items her father requested for the evening meal. The security officers tried to look inconspicuous, but failed miserably. Perhaps the fact they didn't get a cart, wore sunglasses, dressed in suits and made no attempt to shop drew just a little attention. Trynity felt ridiculous with them trailing her, so she turned into the aisle with personal feminine products and they almost fell over each other escaping to an aisle over where they were obviously more comfortable with dog food and pet supplies.

"It's a shame, really."

She looked up from her list to see Quatre lounging against the shelf. He picked up a box and tossed it into her cart. "What are you talking about?" Now she wished the men were closer. Trynity tried to push past him, but he grabbed the edge of the cart.

"It's a shame that you need these things. I was looking forward to helping you raise our child."

She pushed past him, but he remained behind her. "All I have to do is call out and you will be caught."

"You know as well as I do that there isn't the cage made that can hold me." He was close behind her, and she could feel his breath on her neck. "Besides, I have my own gun today. If your watch dogs want to re-enact the fight at the O.K. Corral, a few innocent bystanders might be shot."

Trynity glanced around and saw women with children, people going about their daily shopping without any idea of the danger Quatre Winner was to them. "You would do it, wouldn't you!"

"The first person I would cap is that little boy over there. He has been annoying his mother with his incessant whining for popsicles. After him, that old man, then I might take out those buffoons who are supposed to be protecting you." Quatre moved close and slid his arm around her waist and lowered his head to kiss her neck. "I would do a much better job of protecting you. Why don't you just forget your meaningless life and return to Mars with me? You will never want for anything, my sweet Trynity."

She shoved him away and turned to look at him. "I would always want what you have taken from me: my self-respect and my dignity. You can't give those back to me!"

"But I can give you what no one else will: my unconditional love. Whatever you wish, it will be yours. Wherever you want to be, I will take you there. My life would revolve around you and you alone. Lars didn't give you that, Trynity. I think he grew to love the children more than he loved you. Forget Duo Maxwell! He's nothing more than a gutter rat. He'll always think about himself before anyone else." He looked as if he were about to say something else, but he suddenly ducked his head and walked away.

"Dr. Nelson, are you all right?"

She realized she was still standing in the same aisle. Knowing that Quatre could still follow through on his threat, she smiled and said, "There is so much to choose from! So many different sizes and shapes, levels of absorbency…"

"These look useful," commented the other man, holding a box. "Assorted sizes, light days, heavy days, bedtime, with wings…"

Trynity almost burst into laughter at the look on his partner's face. "What the hell are you doing?" he snapped.

"My girlfriend wanted me to pick some up."

Trynity did laugh as she took them from him and dropped them in her cart. "I'll buy them for you."

He was relieved. "Thanks, doc."

They escorted her to her door and told her one of them would be under the window and the other would be outside. Backup was only a call on their mobile phones away and there were a half-dozen men on call waiting for such a call. She felt a little safer with them around.

Her father cooked a delicious meal for the two of them because Quynn and Stryfe were on duty. After supper, Dr. Stryfe sat back down at the computer and Trynity was amused to note that he was playing his Zelda game. She joined him for an hour, and they played together, with her lending advice. Before slipping into bed, she glanced out the window to assure herself that the guard was still there.

She must have dozed for a couple of hours when she was awakened by the sharp wailing of the smoke detector. Trynity could smell thick smoke, and she jumped out of her bed. She ran out of her room, bumping into another person.

"Are you all right, doc?" She recognized the voice of one of the guards.

"What is going on?"

"I think something was left burning on the stove. We had better get out of here."

Trynity could hear her father complaining about leaving behind his computer. Thinking of all the work he had done, she hurried back into the smoky living room and felt her way around for the portable terminal. When she finally found it, she snapped it shut, unplugged it and turned around to leave, but she felt the barrel of a gun poking her in the chest.

"You are so damn stupid, Trynity Stryfe. I don't know what anyone sees in you!"

"Hilde!" The computer dropped from her hand to the floor.

Hilde coughed and rubbed her eyes, but she kept the gun pointed to her. "Yes, Hilde. Good old Hilde!"

Trynity's eyes stung from the smoke and she tried not to breathe in too deeply. "We have to get out of here."

"I'm going to get out of here, but you're not going anywhere." Hilde grabbed Trynity and jammed the gun to her head. "You see, you started the fire so that your father would get out, then you took your own life. You were just too distraught to go on living after learning that your husband cheated on you, your lover left you behind, and you couldn't deal with that nasty business on Mars Colony." She prodded her with the gun. "By the way, how did you enjoy it?"

"Where's Quatre? Is he hiding around here?" demanded Trynity. "Is this just the prelude before he comes in to take what he wants?"

"Quatre? You are crazy! Quatre is on his way to prison. Good riddance! I thought he was different, but he turned out to be like all the other men. He used me as a welcome mat, wiping his feet on me before entering your house."

Trynity's mind started to race. Hilde didn't know about Quatre? "Let me go, Hilde. You haven't harmed anyone yet."

Hilde slapped her face, then grabbed her hair and dragged her to the window. Pounding at the door assured Trynity that her disappearance had been discovered. "I think I like the idea of you plummeting to your death."

"Three stories up can hardly be considered plummeting," said Trynity nervously. "I might just break an arm or a leg, but…"

"Shut up!" Hilde slapped her again, and Trynity could taste blood in her mouth. "If you are so intent on a quick death, then so be it." She raised the gun and pointed it at Trynity's chest. "Good bye, Trynity. I hope you rot in hell with that bastard Lars Nelson."

Trynity looked past Hilde and saw the figure drop from above and crash through the window as if this were some strange nightmare. Hilde fell to the floor amidst broken glass, and the gun skittered across the room. Trynity didn't know if she should be relieved or terrified by Quatre's arrival.

Hilde looked up at him as he stood over her. She laughed bitterly. "I should have known! You've always wanted the slut, but she wouldn't be a flower in your damned garden."

Quatre grasped her chin in his hand. "Hilde, she is the purest flower in my garden. As for you, you're nothing but a weed."

Hilde laughed at him. "She's the weed, dear Quatre. She's Duo Maxwell's thistle girl. You might have her, but she'll always be his."

Quatre tightened his grip, then quickly twisted his wrist until Trynity heard a crack, and he left Hilde's lifeless body fall to the floor. Quatre started toward Trynity, but he stopped when the door burst open. He turned to escape through the broken window and was face to face with a gun in the hand of Heero Yuy.

Stryfe stood in the doorway with another gun. "Looks like we cornered a rat!" He reached out to grab Trynity and pull her behind him.

Quatre looked at him with contempt. "Did you think I would use her to escape? I would never endanger her."

Heero's security guards moved in past Stryfe and grabbed Quatre's arms, jerked them behind his back and put restraining cuffs on his wrists.

"Do you really think you can hold me?" Quatre asked Heero with a cool stare.

Heero stared back at him. "If I didn't, I'd put hot lead between your eyes right now."

Quatre laughed derisively. "You wouldn't do it, Yuy. You're a champion of justice now, and you want to see me before a judge and jury. Just remember that anyone can be bought with the right amount of money – anyone. Haven't I already proved it?"

Heero nodded to his men, who dragged him out, then went to put his ams around Trynity. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

She moved away from him and bent to check Hilde for a pulse then shook her head. "I…I can't believe this has happened. I keep thinking it's a nightmare and I will wake up to find myself back at Seaside Lab."

Stryfe took her arms and helped her to her feet. "We have to get out of here, mom. The smoke is getting thicker."

The fire Hilde had set in order to flush everyone out ruined her apartment. Trynity at least credited the demented woman for not wanting to cause innocent people any harm. Heero insisted that she stay with him and Relena, and this time Trynity accepted. The following day, Quatre was placed on a military prison barge under heavy guard. He didn't seem bothered by the excessive measures they used to keep him incarcerated. Trynity feared that Quatre already had a plan.

As she sat at the breakfast nook sipping coffee with Heero reading the paper and Relena chatting to no one in particular about her plans for the day, the butler stepped out onto the terrace carrying a vase of red roses.

"These arrived for Dr. Nelson a moment ago," he told them.

Trynity looked at the card hanging from a silken ribbon. None of the others had come with a card.

Heero peeked at the roses from over his paper. "Maybe you should go to Calabria just to tell him to stop sending you flowers."

"I think they are beautiful and very sweet. It shows just how much he loves you, Trynity." Relena stared at her, then nodded to the card.

Trynity stared at the card for a moment. She felt much calmer since Quatre had been taken into custody. Did she really want to lose her peace of mind by reading some heart lurching message from Duo Maxwell? But seeing that Heero and Relena were watching her, she felt she had no choice. She carefully opened the envelope and withdrew a paper. Unfolding it, she read, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MINE. It was signed by the Arabic four.

When she said nothing, Relena reached out to grab the note, but Heero snatched it from her hand before she could read it. He frowned, then walked out of the room. Relena tried to nag Trynity about the contents, but she could only stare speechlessly at the roses. All this time she thought they had been sent by Duo. Now she felt both relieved and disappointed to find that they were from Quatre.

Heero returned after a few moments, and he didn't say anything until he resumed his seat and reached out to take Trynity's hands. "I'm sorry. The transport was attacked by a gundam."

Trynity bit back tears. "Was it Quynn? Is she in trouble?"

"No. One of the newer recruits – not Stryfe – was piloting Sandrock. There were no survivors."

"Sandrock!" Trynity was shocked that Quatre would be killed by his own gundam. "Where is it now?"

"Shortly after the attack, it was sucked into the wormhole where it exploded. There are pieces of it on this side of the galaxy, and I imagine on the other side also."

Trynity looked at the roses. "He's not dead."

"Don't be ridiculous…" started Relena, but Heero cut her off.

"She may be right. I've learned my lesson. We will consider that Quatre is still on the colony, that he somehow staged his death on the transport."

"There were many innocent men and women on that transport," said Relena sadly. She pushed herself away from the table. "I will start contacting their loved ones."

Two days later, following the memorial service for those whose lives were lost, Prince Zieben Peacecraft arrived on L12 with Colonel Benton. He flirted with Quynn and Trynity, asked many questions about Calabria and Princess Shamara. While Trynity liked Zieben, she could not imagine him ruling the Cinq Kingdom with the same efficiency and tact that his father showed. Then again, he was still quite young and probably resenting having to take a wife. Trynity certainly couldn't imagine Stryfe with a wife. Colonel Benton certainly had his hands full. He always had.

After dinner that night, Benton caught up with Trynity on the terrace where she was sipping a watered down glass of wine. Relena had caught her pouring water into her drink, but she didn't comment although Trynity knew she had guessed her secret.

"It's a beautiful night," he commented as he came to stand beside her at the balcony overlooking a glistening pool.

"The weather is generated by a computer choosing random patterns. Tonight just happens to be pleasant." She drank from her wine.

"I have lived my entire life on Earth," he told her. "I find this amazing."

"I've never known you to make small talk." Trynity turned to face him. "What do you want?"

"I am quite anxious about going through the wormhole with Zieben. You have some experience doing so, and you have studied it extensively. Additionally, I think I would feel more at ease knowing there is a human doctor in my group."

"Are you asking me to join you?"

Before she could flat out refuse, he rushed on. "Heero has told me his concern for your safety. I think Quatre Winner would have a hell of a time getting through the wormhole, regardless of his wealth."

"I'm not going!" She started to go past him, but Benton grasped her arm.

"Hear me out, Dr. Nelson."

"I've already given you my answer."

"I hoped you wouldn't be difficult." He pulled an envelope from his inside his jacket and handed it to her.

Trynity saw the official seal of the Cinq Kingdom, so she was sure it wasn't some twisted communication from Quatre. She broke the seal and read the message from Lucrezia Noin, Zieben's mother: YOU OWE ME. She had signed and stamped it, and accompanying it was a bank draft for a considerable amount of money.

"Will I be including you in my group?" asked Benton.

"If I refuse, I suppose you have an order for my arrest."

"I'm hoping to not go that far."

Trynity sighed. "I guess I'm going to Calabria."