Chapter 4- Play with the Kitten
Location- NEA Space Centre BetaPrime, Section D. Present Day.
Jinto Hiwatari made his way down the corridor, flicking his blue-grey bangs out of his eyes. The soldiers who were milling around quickly removed themselves and looked busy. Not that Jinto cared. He was only here because his grandfather told him to come along. An organisation as shifty and twisted as the NEA needed a couple of bright young faces to persuade the population to sympathise with them. His grandfather had picked up the idea from a joke he'd heard about the Gundam pilots, or that's what he said anyway, before breaking out into his wheezy old laugh. Jinto didn't resent being here. It was a tad boring, and perpetually lonely, but he had his cousin to talk to, and some of the female soldiers weren't too bad to look at. That new general, for example. She was a bit too bony for his tastes, but she had a dark strength he'd not seen in anyone before. And there was no argument against her looks. That was probably why his grandfather had agreed so quickly to her demands. It certainly wasn't because she about to slit poor Nathaniel's throat. Jinto sunk into his memories as he continued aimlessly on his way. His father was a Japanese businessman. He'd been killed in an explosion just a year or so ago at an inter colony meeting. He wasn't supposed to be going, but he said he had to speak with the Winner Corporation's leader about something important. Of course, he never did get to speak to the brat. Jinto grimaced. That little blonde pipsqueak was the cause of all this. He could have stayed on earth if it hadn't been for him and his silly little company. Jinto's mother had been distraught. The Russian woman couldn't speak a word of Japanese, and she was left with an entire metal refining company on her hands, based in Japan. She'd just lost her husband, and she'd never been that confident anyway. She hung herself about two months after his death, leaving only the brief note "no more". Jinto had been shipped off to live with his grandfather, and organise the metal refinery remotely. Of course, he was just a pawn now. His grandfather had taken control immediately, and used the materials to build mobile suits and such. Jinto was rather satisfied by this. At least they weren't supplying the Winner's anymore. Just let them try and find a better refining company. He prayed that their shoddy colonies fell apart! Jinto stopped briefly to collect a drink from a vending machine. A pretty young soldier paid. Why should he make the effort to get out his wallet?
"Jin!" A voice called out from a doorway up ahead. Jinto looked up to see his cousin smiling at him. The gash on his face was butterfly stitched… as was the one on his throat. The young man, seventeen years old, just like Jinto, came over. The young soldier obediently paid for her superior's drink without being asked.
"How are you feeling?" Jinto asked as the pair walked on. Nathaniel took a swig of this drink, before swirling the contents of the can and smiling.
"Could be worse, I suppose. Hurt like hell when she did it, though. It's fine now. Just ugly to look at."
"Nothing new then?"
Nathaniel laughed at his cousin's cruel wit. "Did you get the company reports? I had them forwarded to your desk."
"Yeah. Not bad, considering were only supplying earth based companies. I'll have a proper flick through when I have a bit of time. Coming to check on the general?"
"I was planning to go earlier," Nathaniel was nodding, "but I wasn't going to go get gutted on my own now, was I? That would just be selfish!"
Jinto snorted. The pair walked on in silence for a time. Jinto looked over at his cousin. Nathaniel and he weren't that much alike. They both wore their hair longer than the soldiers because of their grandfather, but other than that they were quite different. Nathaniel was pale, extremely pale, with pale lilac eyes and platinum hair which went to the nape of his neck, the front slightly shorter, but he usually slicked it back. His mother was Jinto's aunt, but the sisters didn't really look a like. They were both dark haired, but Jinto's mother had dark eyes and olive skin, and Nathaniel's sickly mother was pale and feeble, with watery blue eyes in her blanched face. His father had just been a player, a weedy man, equally pale and watery, flaxen haired which was always greasy and roughly tied back. Natalya, Nathaniel's mother, had become blind due to her illness quite early in her twenties. She had no idea what a wimp she'd married, and she certainly had no idea what a creep he was. When Natalya died, aged 32, and Nathaniel was four, the father had taken his share of the will and fled, abandoning his little son. Nathaniel had been delivered up to his Grandfather, hence Jinto and Nathaniel meeting in the first place. They had met for the first time at ten years, and every year after that, until '96, when Jinto had been taken into his Grandfather's custody permanently. Even now, Nathaniel's breeding showed. He was short for his family, and poorly built. Jinto was relatively lean, but muscular, and tall (six foot 1). Nathaniel's head bobbed along at Jinto's shoulder, him being only five feet and five, and he didn't look much older than fourteen. He was very formal also, never dressing in anything less showy than uniform. Of course, his looked more like a school uniform, since he was so petite, and the uniform Yamue had laid on for his grandsons might as well have been a school uniform. It had a high collar, reminiscent of a priest's robes or a military outfit, on a single fronted jacket, with the NEA emblem on the breast pocket and left shoulder. There was a black belt, followed by straight leg pressed trousers, with a gold stripe gown the side. There was this golden military weave along all the edges. The only other factors of the midnight blue ensemble which gave away its military usage were the name badge above the emblem and the military rank stripes on the top of the shoulder. Jinto refused point blank to wear the uniform, unless it was some terribly formal occasion, and instead wore a white work shirt and faded blue jeans. Nathaniel drew out his diary and light pen from his front pocket.
"Have the docking bays been organised?"
"I suppose so. I told my secretary to arrange it."
"Good. Uniform?"
"It was forwarded this morning, along with documentation of all other requirements. Why are you so worried, Nathe?"
Nathaniel frowned. "Because she's remorseless."
Jinto stopped his cousin. "So?"
"There is something wrong there, Jin! I can tell! Something… dark… unnatural. She has the knowledge of murder. She knows crime and sin. But she has no remorse, no trace of anything in her eyes… as if she's been programmed not to feel. She only cares about self-preservation…"
"Last time I checked, all humans are selfish, Nathe…"
"That's not it! I'm not lying, Jin! This is different. She's… wrong… and I don't want to get on her bad side." Jinto laughed coarsely and cuffed his cousin round the shoulders.
"You are such a pussy, Nathe."
"And you've got oil on your face, but I'm not complaining."
Location- Commanding General Kittenne's Quarters, Section D, NEA Space centre BetaPrime. Present Day.
"Target was acquired without difficulty. I left the cameras and tapes intact, as you asked.
"Good boy. What's that?"
"A newspaper report on the abduction of Lady Winner. I brought it as further proof, Miss Kittenne."
"My my, aren't we efficient? Where did you leave her?"
"At the drop off point, out of sight. The third alley to the left of the super market in colony…"
"Excellent. You do have a good memory. I will call on your services again, T. Be prepared."
"As your will commands, Miss Kittenne."
"Now make yourself scarce. I have company." The boy left the room quickly, limping slightly. The door eased shut. Maria spun her chair around to face the main screen. She picked up the papers off her desk and flicked through them, before replacing them back on the polished black surface. The door slid open behind her, and two people entered.
"Guests at this hour?" she said calmly.
"Jinto Hiwatari and Commander Nathaniel Abarov, General. We are Yamue's grandsons."
"I know who you are. How is your neck?" Nathaniel swallowed hard.
"It's been better."
Maria smiled and turned the chair. She was now in full military formal uniform, a short skirt, red, with a red jacket, white shirt and red peaked hat with her ragged short hair tucked up inside.
"What brings you here? All my paperwork has arrived as requested."
"I'm glad our secretaries are efficient," Jinto smiled. The girl looked good in uniform.
"We came to see if all was well."
"These facilities are sufficient, my ships are docking now. I only need my staff now…"
"Some can be arranged if you'd…"
"I am not an infant, Mister Hiwatari!" Maria was on her feet, glaring down the steps at Jinto. "I will choose my own staff when I see fit and who I see fit. You!" She pointed at Nathaniel. "You are in control of affairs?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Go and forward me a report of all cargo operations. Now!"
Nathaniel swiftly left, nursing his neck. Maria's steely black gaze fell on Jinto once more. He could have sworn he saw a flicker of red behind those eyes.
"Have you assessed me yet? Decided whether or not my location is satisfactory? Or were you just checking out my legs?" Jinto left immediately.
Location- Classified. Present Day.
His hands were shaking violently, the paper rattling as he shivered.
"I came as fast as I could. I got a tip off from…"
"Shut up…"
"Yes sir…" Jonathan took a few steps backwards and sat down on the bench. "If I may sir, I'm glad at least your back. Perhaps your presence will help her ladyship…"
"Shut up…" Jonathan frowned. Kitty going missing hadn't bothered him that much, but Master Quatre was distraught. Quatre slammed the paper down on his desk and hissed through his teeth. There was a pregnant silence. Jonathan, coughing slightly, got to his feet and poured himself a cup of tea. Quatre had his head in his hands.
"Everything was so much simpler, Jonathan," he whispered, "before all this. I knew where Kitty was. I knew she was well. And now… I'm afraid I've inspired her to misbehave."
"It's not your fault she changed, Master Quatre." Jonathan slid a cup of tea in front of the young executive.
"No… I suppose it isn't. But her being kidnapped… surely I could have done something…" Quatre stood up and walked over to the window looking out on the docking bay. Duo was loading up Heavyarms' cannons and machine guns with Trowa. "Do you have the security camera recording?" Jonathan reached inside his briefcase and pulled out the card. Quatre inserted it into the system and scanned through. Kitty walked across the screen in her dressing gown, glancing around nervously. Suddenly she turned sharply, obviously startled, and a young man ran at her, pressing a chloroform towel over her face. She fell limp in the man's hand and he hoisted her over his shoulder. He looked up at the camera, grinned and hurried off, limping slightly. Quatre frowned.
"I think…" he began, before shaking his head. "That's impossible. It can't be him!" Jonathan looked up from his tea.
"Who, sir?" he asked.
Quatre pushed his hands through his hair. "Can you fetch Wu-fei for me?" he asked narrowing his eyes at the screen. Jonathan left quickly. Quatre paused the footage again and focused the screen on the kidnapper.
"It can't be him…" Quatre hissed.
Wu-fei walked around the table, wiping his hands on a cloth. He froze up as he looked at the screen. "It's… T…" he hissed.
Quatre frowned. "I thought so. I didn't think he could have gotten out of the conference building alive, but it seems he's up for hire now."
"At least he's limping," said Wu-fei with a smirk. "he deserves it."
Quatre ignored Wu-fei. "This means that whoever kidnapped Kitty is the same force that blew up the conference hall."
Wu-fei smiled. "I'd bet Nataku it was the NEA. I mean, their new general looks pretty shifty. Maybe she ordered the abduction of your sister to draw you out of hiding."
Quatre groaned, head in his hands. "I can't believe I let this happen though. I've been nothing but trouble to her ever since the start of this blasted war."
Wu-fei shrugged. "Not your fault. You had to help." He sighed. "I have to go finish loading Nataku. I'm setting off for earth in a few hours."
Quatre nodded. "Have a good one." Wu-fei left quietly and left Quatre alone again. He brought up the data on General Kittenne and frowned. "I know it was you. And trust me, you'll get your come-uppance."
Location- NEA Space Centre BetaPrime, Section D. Present Day.
Jinto Hiwatari made his way down the corridor, flicking his blue-grey bangs out of his eyes. The soldiers who were milling around quickly removed themselves and looked busy. Not that Jinto cared. He was only here because his grandfather told him to come along. An organisation as shifty and twisted as the NEA needed a couple of bright young faces to persuade the population to sympathise with them. His grandfather had picked up the idea from a joke he'd heard about the Gundam pilots, or that's what he said anyway, before breaking out into his wheezy old laugh. Jinto didn't resent being here. It was a tad boring, and perpetually lonely, but he had his cousin to talk to, and some of the female soldiers weren't too bad to look at. That new general, for example. She was a bit too bony for his tastes, but she had a dark strength he'd not seen in anyone before. And there was no argument against her looks. That was probably why his grandfather had agreed so quickly to her demands. It certainly wasn't because she about to slit poor Nathaniel's throat. Jinto sunk into his memories as he continued aimlessly on his way. His father was a Japanese businessman. He'd been killed in an explosion just a year or so ago at an inter colony meeting. He wasn't supposed to be going, but he said he had to speak with the Winner Corporation's leader about something important. Of course, he never did get to speak to the brat. Jinto grimaced. That little blonde pipsqueak was the cause of all this. He could have stayed on earth if it hadn't been for him and his silly little company. Jinto's mother had been distraught. The Russian woman couldn't speak a word of Japanese, and she was left with an entire metal refining company on her hands, based in Japan. She'd just lost her husband, and she'd never been that confident anyway. She hung herself about two months after his death, leaving only the brief note "no more". Jinto had been shipped off to live with his grandfather, and organise the metal refinery remotely. Of course, he was just a pawn now. His grandfather had taken control immediately, and used the materials to build mobile suits and such. Jinto was rather satisfied by this. At least they weren't supplying the Winner's anymore. Just let them try and find a better refining company. He prayed that their shoddy colonies fell apart! Jinto stopped briefly to collect a drink from a vending machine. A pretty young soldier paid. Why should he make the effort to get out his wallet?
"Jin!" A voice called out from a doorway up ahead. Jinto looked up to see his cousin smiling at him. The gash on his face was butterfly stitched… as was the one on his throat. The young man, seventeen years old, just like Jinto, came over. The young soldier obediently paid for her superior's drink without being asked.
"How are you feeling?" Jinto asked as the pair walked on. Nathaniel took a swig of this drink, before swirling the contents of the can and smiling.
"Could be worse, I suppose. Hurt like hell when she did it, though. It's fine now. Just ugly to look at."
"Nothing new then?"
Nathaniel laughed at his cousin's cruel wit. "Did you get the company reports? I had them forwarded to your desk."
"Yeah. Not bad, considering were only supplying earth based companies. I'll have a proper flick through when I have a bit of time. Coming to check on the general?"
"I was planning to go earlier," Nathaniel was nodding, "but I wasn't going to go get gutted on my own now, was I? That would just be selfish!"
Jinto snorted. The pair walked on in silence for a time. Jinto looked over at his cousin. Nathaniel and he weren't that much alike. They both wore their hair longer than the soldiers because of their grandfather, but other than that they were quite different. Nathaniel was pale, extremely pale, with pale lilac eyes and platinum hair which went to the nape of his neck, the front slightly shorter, but he usually slicked it back. His mother was Jinto's aunt, but the sisters didn't really look a like. They were both dark haired, but Jinto's mother had dark eyes and olive skin, and Nathaniel's sickly mother was pale and feeble, with watery blue eyes in her blanched face. His father had just been a player, a weedy man, equally pale and watery, flaxen haired which was always greasy and roughly tied back. Natalya, Nathaniel's mother, had become blind due to her illness quite early in her twenties. She had no idea what a wimp she'd married, and she certainly had no idea what a creep he was. When Natalya died, aged 32, and Nathaniel was four, the father had taken his share of the will and fled, abandoning his little son. Nathaniel had been delivered up to his Grandfather, hence Jinto and Nathaniel meeting in the first place. They had met for the first time at ten years, and every year after that, until '96, when Jinto had been taken into his Grandfather's custody permanently. Even now, Nathaniel's breeding showed. He was short for his family, and poorly built. Jinto was relatively lean, but muscular, and tall (six foot 1). Nathaniel's head bobbed along at Jinto's shoulder, him being only five feet and five, and he didn't look much older than fourteen. He was very formal also, never dressing in anything less showy than uniform. Of course, his looked more like a school uniform, since he was so petite, and the uniform Yamue had laid on for his grandsons might as well have been a school uniform. It had a high collar, reminiscent of a priest's robes or a military outfit, on a single fronted jacket, with the NEA emblem on the breast pocket and left shoulder. There was a black belt, followed by straight leg pressed trousers, with a gold stripe gown the side. There was this golden military weave along all the edges. The only other factors of the midnight blue ensemble which gave away its military usage were the name badge above the emblem and the military rank stripes on the top of the shoulder. Jinto refused point blank to wear the uniform, unless it was some terribly formal occasion, and instead wore a white work shirt and faded blue jeans. Nathaniel drew out his diary and light pen from his front pocket.
"Have the docking bays been organised?"
"I suppose so. I told my secretary to arrange it."
"Good. Uniform?"
"It was forwarded this morning, along with documentation of all other requirements. Why are you so worried, Nathe?"
Nathaniel frowned. "Because she's remorseless."
Jinto stopped his cousin. "So?"
"There is something wrong there, Jin! I can tell! Something… dark… unnatural. She has the knowledge of murder. She knows crime and sin. But she has no remorse, no trace of anything in her eyes… as if she's been programmed not to feel. She only cares about self-preservation…"
"Last time I checked, all humans are selfish, Nathe…"
"That's not it! I'm not lying, Jin! This is different. She's… wrong… and I don't want to get on her bad side." Jinto laughed coarsely and cuffed his cousin round the shoulders.
"You are such a pussy, Nathe."
"And you've got oil on your face, but I'm not complaining."
Location- Commanding General Kittenne's Quarters, Section D, NEA Space centre BetaPrime. Present Day.
"Target was acquired without difficulty. I left the cameras and tapes intact, as you asked.
"Good boy. What's that?"
"A newspaper report on the abduction of Lady Winner. I brought it as further proof, Miss Kittenne."
"My my, aren't we efficient? Where did you leave her?"
"At the drop off point, out of sight. The third alley to the left of the super market in colony…"
"Excellent. You do have a good memory. I will call on your services again, T. Be prepared."
"As your will commands, Miss Kittenne."
"Now make yourself scarce. I have company." The boy left the room quickly, limping slightly. The door eased shut. Maria spun her chair around to face the main screen. She picked up the papers off her desk and flicked through them, before replacing them back on the polished black surface. The door slid open behind her, and two people entered.
"Guests at this hour?" she said calmly.
"Jinto Hiwatari and Commander Nathaniel Abarov, General. We are Yamue's grandsons."
"I know who you are. How is your neck?" Nathaniel swallowed hard.
"It's been better."
Maria smiled and turned the chair. She was now in full military formal uniform, a short skirt, red, with a red jacket, white shirt and red peaked hat with her ragged short hair tucked up inside.
"What brings you here? All my paperwork has arrived as requested."
"I'm glad our secretaries are efficient," Jinto smiled. The girl looked good in uniform.
"We came to see if all was well."
"These facilities are sufficient, my ships are docking now. I only need my staff now…"
"Some can be arranged if you'd…"
"I am not an infant, Mister Hiwatari!" Maria was on her feet, glaring down the steps at Jinto. "I will choose my own staff when I see fit and who I see fit. You!" She pointed at Nathaniel. "You are in control of affairs?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Go and forward me a report of all cargo operations. Now!"
Nathaniel swiftly left, nursing his neck. Maria's steely black gaze fell on Jinto once more. He could have sworn he saw a flicker of red behind those eyes.
"Have you assessed me yet? Decided whether or not my location is satisfactory? Or were you just checking out my legs?" Jinto left immediately.
Location- Classified. Present Day.
His hands were shaking violently, the paper rattling as he shivered.
"I came as fast as I could. I got a tip off from…"
"Shut up…"
"Yes sir…" Jonathan took a few steps backwards and sat down on the bench. "If I may sir, I'm glad at least your back. Perhaps your presence will help her ladyship…"
"Shut up…" Jonathan frowned. Kitty going missing hadn't bothered him that much, but Master Quatre was distraught. Quatre slammed the paper down on his desk and hissed through his teeth. There was a pregnant silence. Jonathan, coughing slightly, got to his feet and poured himself a cup of tea. Quatre had his head in his hands.
"Everything was so much simpler, Jonathan," he whispered, "before all this. I knew where Kitty was. I knew she was well. And now… I'm afraid I've inspired her to misbehave."
"It's not your fault she changed, Master Quatre." Jonathan slid a cup of tea in front of the young executive.
"No… I suppose it isn't. But her being kidnapped… surely I could have done something…" Quatre stood up and walked over to the window looking out on the docking bay. Duo was loading up Heavyarms' cannons and machine guns with Trowa. "Do you have the security camera recording?" Jonathan reached inside his briefcase and pulled out the card. Quatre inserted it into the system and scanned through. Kitty walked across the screen in her dressing gown, glancing around nervously. Suddenly she turned sharply, obviously startled, and a young man ran at her, pressing a chloroform towel over her face. She fell limp in the man's hand and he hoisted her over his shoulder. He looked up at the camera, grinned and hurried off, limping slightly. Quatre frowned.
"I think…" he began, before shaking his head. "That's impossible. It can't be him!" Jonathan looked up from his tea.
"Who, sir?" he asked.
Quatre pushed his hands through his hair. "Can you fetch Wu-fei for me?" he asked narrowing his eyes at the screen. Jonathan left quickly. Quatre paused the footage again and focused the screen on the kidnapper.
"It can't be him…" Quatre hissed.
Wu-fei walked around the table, wiping his hands on a cloth. He froze up as he looked at the screen. "It's… T…" he hissed.
Quatre frowned. "I thought so. I didn't think he could have gotten out of the conference building alive, but it seems he's up for hire now."
"At least he's limping," said Wu-fei with a smirk. "he deserves it."
Quatre ignored Wu-fei. "This means that whoever kidnapped Kitty is the same force that blew up the conference hall."
Wu-fei smiled. "I'd bet Nataku it was the NEA. I mean, their new general looks pretty shifty. Maybe she ordered the abduction of your sister to draw you out of hiding."
Quatre groaned, head in his hands. "I can't believe I let this happen though. I've been nothing but trouble to her ever since the start of this blasted war."
Wu-fei shrugged. "Not your fault. You had to help." He sighed. "I have to go finish loading Nataku. I'm setting off for earth in a few hours."
Quatre nodded. "Have a good one." Wu-fei left quietly and left Quatre alone again. He brought up the data on General Kittenne and frowned. "I know it was you. And trust me, you'll get your come-uppance."