Story Four: Uneasy Alliances
Chapter Two
by Heartfire
***
"Blaksher!" The only redhead in the group moved forward.
"YES SIR!" PJ rushed forward in a half jog, half march.
"Have you reported our current situation to Colonel Une?" Wufei pulled the last strap around his pack then pulled it on his shoulders.
"YES SIR!"
"Good." He faced his men. The whole camp was finally cleared. "Alright men! Move out!"
Everyone started marching forward in a perfect line, even the two significant people who were made to squat, their sore legs aching with each step.
Rene looked at his friends and they all gave him their serious faces. They had all agreed, last night, to behave… else suffer the consequences.
…
Ping woke up early that morning and was given the surprise of her life when she saw all her troop members up and kicking! And then, when she walked out of her tent, everyone had snapped in attention… That does not usually happen when it's just them…
"At ease."
The girls relaxed.
"I am not sure if Sam already announced my message to you but I will repeat it again. I do not want any of you to go near, to touch, or to talk to these men, understood?"
Sam and the other girls grinned. "YES MA'AM!" Oh they understood all right… what Ping didn't say was they can't look… and a certain look accompanied by a certain tilt of the head was as good as a touch…
A petite auburn ran to the middle, stopped in front of Ping, and then saluted. "Ma'am. They're on the move." Hushed excitement rushed through the air.
Ping nodded, her heart fluttering hard against her chest. It had been far too long since the IA and the Preventers had worked together. Both have grudges against each other for reasons unknown to her. All right, so maybe she's a bit prejudiced because of what she had heard about them… "Dawn." Her friend stepped forward. "I'll be at the clearing. Call me when they reach the premises."
Dawn nodded. "Yes, Colonel Rossi."
Ping's eyes nearly bulged in surprise. Dawn rarely spoke like that… Only when they're in the IA compound… "Fine."
Ping left and Sam faced the group after she made sure their commander was out of hearing range. "All right girls… Let's see what they've got and…" The mischievous sparkle in her eyes rivaled the sun's rays. "Show them what we have. Everyone will meet at Hannah's tent later on tonight."
The troop gave their sign of compliance before they dispersed and… made sure they were ready.
…
A sigh left Ping's lips as she leaned against a tree and looked at the clear river, rushing down their path… Why does she have such a bad feeling about this? Why is it that… she wants to go and talk to Stephen? She closed her eyes and willed for her mind to stop worrying. 'I can do this… I can do this…'
A sudden gentle breeze fluttered her golden curls and she smiled as she faced the morning sun. She forced herself to imagine the ocean with gentle waves lapping on light brown, fine sanded shores… the sound of seagulls overhead-
"Ping!!! Ping!!!" Dawn came crashing out of the thin strip of trees and onto the clearing. She turned around and her sparkling eyes fell on her superior. "Come on!!! They're here!!!"
Ping bit her lower lip. "Alright. I'm right behind you. Go on ahead." Good thing that she had her tent moved closer to the clearing last night and had another tent set up in place of it. Dawn was a couple of steps in front of her and the queasy ambiance she could feel made her start to talk about nothing. "You know, I just wish that those boys out there wouldn't think that we're a group of helpless women. If they come barging in here like some egotistical, arrogant bastar-" She nearly plowed against Dawn who suddenly stopped in place.
"Dawn!" She walked around her friend but was suddenly stopped when Dawn caught her arm in a death grip. Ping glared at Dawn, saw her friend's wide, panicked eyes, but thought nothing of it as she shook the hand off her arm. "I want to get ready so let go."
Dawn shook her head but it was too late. Ping walked into her tent's back flaps and saw… a Chinese looking man glaring at her. No doubt that the man heard every word she had… said. Ping quickly turned and glared at Dawn. Her hands fluttered in the air in their own sign language- 'Why the hell didn't you tell me?!'
Wufei frowned… That's her? She's the leader of this whole sorry bunch of girls? They were not in uniform, and were going around the premises as if this was some leisure camp out. She's nothing more but a child! And a blonde to boot! Damn! Wufei shook his head in regret. He will have to work with this child.
Dawn answered with her own gestures. 'He said your tent and when he learned that this was your tent, he walked in here. We couldn't stop him!'
Wufei frowned. Obviously, they do not want him to hear what they're talking about. His lips turned in a silent snarl.
Slowly, Ping turned around once again. So long peaceful talk… hello explosive ones… There's nothing more to do but to lead the lion by the mouth. Her chin rose into the air and she met Wufei's eyes. 'Think of something bad… think of something bad…' She tried hard until- 'Oh yeah…' Her eyes flared. 'He forced himself into my tent.'
Wufei saw her green eyes slant and it irritated him some more. They're the ones who was insulted by her and she had the decency to look at him like that?! "Bastards, Lieutenant Colonel Rossi?"
Ping forced herself to meet his stare and at the same time, stop the blush rushing onto her face. "Yes, bastards. If you are talking about the last word to my sentence, then you are correct."
Wufei's eyebrow shot up. Instead of having the desired reaction from her- that of surprise and embarrassment- the girl had actually thrown the ball effortlessly and with grace back at him.
"I'm afraid that I'm at a disadvantage, sir. Obviously, you're a Preventer, the team we were supposed to wait for. You know my name yet you have not introduced yourself to me." Ping inclined her face and hoped that she was giving him the look she intended- that of haughty annoyance. They'd already gone off the wrong foot, so, why not make it worse?
Wufei didn't move from the middle of the tent, still standing and still glaring at her as though it was she who invaded his space. "My name is Chang, Wufei."
Ping's eyes almost widened but she caught herself. They sent her one of the Gundam Pilots and she had insulted him?! How long had she wanted to meet one of them and now… Oh what a damn hole she'd dug herself into… She kept her face schooled and tried to show indifference. By the way Mr. Wufei- or was it Mr. Chang? What great timing! Its just like her not to remember something important when she needs to!- had pronounced his name, he knew he had a reputation.
Wufei nearly frowned when he didn't see even the slightest recognition of his name… then again, she still has milk on her lips. He shouldn't expect much from this little girl.
"Mr. Wufei-" Ping stopped when she saw a slight grimace on his face. "What?" Oh, he is infuriating her by the minute.
"If you want to call me by my last name, it is Chang. If you want to include my rank, it is Commander Chang."
Ping placed her hands behind her and gripped each other- hard. She smiled sweetly and nodded. "Of course, Commander Chang. You did say Chang Wufei before so, as any other reasonable normal human being, I thought that you said your first name first."
Wufei smirked. She's a joke. "You are not normal, Lieutenant Colonel Rossi. You are an Intelligence Alliance Commando. I expect you not to think like just any reasonable normal human being."
Did he just insulted her?! Well! Two can play on that game! "And being a Preventer, I do not expect you to think normally."
There it was again- the grace in which she had returned the ball onto his court. Interesting… Then, the impact of what she meant hit him in full force. She had insulted him! He's getting that itchy feeling of wanting to pull her onto his lap and slap her buttocks to teach her about manners. He was about to answer with a very scathing comment when Rene suddenly came inside.
"Sir! Permission to speak, sir!"
Ping crossed her arms over her chest, shifted her weight on one foot then started tapping the other foot. These Preventers came into her camp and was going into her tent as if they owned the place!
Wufei turned to Rene and nodded. "Granted."
"We received transmission from Colonel Une to contact her immediately, sir."
Oh, he's going to contact her alright… and hell if he won't scream at her face. "Tell Blaksher to come in."
Ping's green eyes flared once again. He didn't even ask her permission!!! This was her tent, dammit!
"Colonel Une requested a visual, sir!"
Wufei glanced at Ping. The thought that he should have asked for permission and that they had invaded her tent completely slipped from his mind. "Where are your equipments?"
Ping's eyebrow shot up. "You mean you wish to use our communications devices, Commander Chang?"
Rene winced at the woman's tone of voice while Wufei's hands turned to fists.
"Yes, I was planning to use them."
Ping slowly smiled… a smile that made Wufei raise his guard. "Dawn."
Her assistant walked inside and gracefully nodded at Ping. "Yes ma'am?"
Ping's eyes didn't leave Wufei's. "Dawn, Commander Chang was just asking me for a favor."
Wufei's eyes turned to steel. 'Favor my ass!'
"Yes ma'am." Silently, Dawn wondered why Ping was acting in such a… different way.
"He would like to gain use of our communication device. Would you please lead the way?"
Dawn gave a quick, meaningful look at Ping. Her superior was using a tone of voice she'd never heard her use before and by the looks of Commander Chang, he doesn't like it. "Yes ma'am."
"Commander Chang, just follow my assistant, Dawn, and she will take care of everything."
He was passed to a second in command… to the others, it doesn't mean a thing but between them, he knew it meant something…
"Follow me, please." Dawn walked out of Ping's tent with Rene right behind, then, after Wufei gave Ping another withering glare, he walked out of the tent. Ping gave a sigh of relief before she went after them.
His men were situated in the middle of the camp in three straight lines. They were all surprisingly serious, with their eyes aimed straight ahead. She wasn't impressed. She grew up in a military compound and had seen so many of those things, thanks to her uncle. What impressed her, though, was that her girls were giving the men seductive glances and not one of the men seemed fazed! Were her girls loosing their touch or… were the men so very afraid of the Commander that they would not dare venture a look?
She walked inside the tent just in time to see Christine give the man who reported to Wufei a look that would have sizzled any other man. He only stood in front of her then placed his hands behind his back, unfrazzled.
"Ma'am, May I have permission to use your equipment?"
Christine glanced at Ping and she nodded. With a shy look directed only for Rene, she pushed herself away from the table and motioned for the man to take over.
"Is the frequency secure?" Wufei asked without looking at her.
"Of course." Ping's voice was sweet as honey.
Wufei gave a brief glance behind him and saw her smiling at him- a dangerous smile that just widened when she caught his eyes. He truly does not like this girl. He snapped his attention back at Rene.
"Colonel Une is online, sir!"
Wufei walked behind Rene and gave Une a glare.
Une smiled slightly. So… Poor Wufei finally reached IA's camp… and by the looks of things, he also noticed that the camp consists of women… "Before you speak, someone has been trying to get a hold of you since two weeks ago."
Whatever he was about to say left him as he tried to think of anyone who would be looking for him.
"I'll just connect you."
The screen went black, blinked, and then Relena's face appeared. His eyes widened. He didn't expect her.
"Wufei! How are you?"
"Relena?"
Ping frowned as she heard the woman's voice.
"I've been worried sick about you."
'She had been worried sick about him?' The mutual thought sprang up in everyone's mind.
Wufei nearly choked in embarrassment. One of his men could hear, among with three other women. "Hackett, go back to the others."
"YES SIR!" Rene quickly left the tent, still confused as to why the former peace delegate Relena Dorlian would contact their commander and actually be worried for him!
"Oh, I'm sorry… there are people around, aren't there?" Relena's soft voice asked while her blue green eyes tried to look behind Wufei.
'Whom is he talking to?' The women asked themselves.
Before Wufei could answer, Relena spoke. She knew that Wufei would never talk to her like a friend if there were people around. "Excuse me. May I ask whoever is in the tent to please leave for a moment?"
He felt his jaw almost fall once again while Ping felt her anger pulled for the last time. She walked forward as she spoke, "Whoever you are, this is a military operation. We do not allow personal calls. If you had wanted to say something to Commander Chang, you should have said it- Oh! Ms. Dorlian!" Ping's eyes bulged as she laid eyes on the woman on the screen.
Relena sweetly smiled at the young blonde who had walked closer to Wufei. "Hello. What is your name?"
Wufei couldn't speak. They're talking as if he wasn't in the room!
Ping gulped. This arrogant 'bastard' actually knows Ms. Dorlian?! Er… "Ping Galeana Rossi."
"Ms. Rossi." Relena nodded. "Pleasure. I was wondering if I would be able to speak to Commander Chang for a few minutes. I wasn't able to say my good bye to him before he left and well…" Relena smiled a knowing smile… a smile that could only be understood by women.
"Of course." What else could she have said? The former Queen of the World was talking to her and what could she say? "Dawn, Christine. Let's go."
"Thank you, Ms. Rossi." Relena called out before the three left.
They gave each other a look of disbelief once they were outside, confusion so obvious on their faces.
"That was Ms. Dorlian…!" Dawn whispered.
Ping shook her head. "Don't ask… I don't know anything." She looked around her… at the ground… trying to make sense of it, but she couldn't. "Dawn, make sure that everyone is in one place… I want to speak to the girls."
"Of course, Ping."
Dawn and Christine left and Ping was about to go back to her tent when the conversation inside caught her ears… curiosity won against ethics. She neared and… listened.
…
"Relena! Why did you have to call?" Wufei couldn't stop the complaint as he sat down on the chair in front of the monitor.
"I just wanted to see how you were… Duo told me that Heero punched you and well…" She noticed Wufei's quick grimace and knew that her friend was correct. "Oh! He did?! I'm sorry…"
"Why are you sorry? He was the one who punched me." Wufei grumbled as he crossed his hands over his chest, trying not to feel pleased that someone out there was actually worried for him.
Relena shook her head, not sure whether to be pleased that Heero showed such… a reaction, or feel guilty that she was happy Wufei got punched by Heero which could probably mean that maybe he did care for her. "Are you all right?"
Wufei couldn't stop the small ghost of a smile on his face. This was the first time they were separated in nearly ten years… he kind of… missed her… He nodded then looked past her. "So, where is he?"
"Heero?" Relena looked around then charmingly shrugged a shoulder. "I don't know."
A deep line appeared between Wufei's brows. "What do you mean you don't know? Don't tell me that you and he haven't…" The way Relena looked down at her hands spoke for itself. "Relena, I'm going to do something stupid but don't you dare laugh." Wufei warned before he grabbed the sides of the monitor then started to shake it as if it was a person. "Why the heck aren't you doing anything?! The whole Preventer office practically broke their necks trying to find him so that you two could finally get together and this is how you repay us?!"
Relena's jaw fell. "What…?!"
"Do you want him?" Oh the Gods! He couldn't believe he's doing this but for the sake of everything that is sane! End this lunacy!
Relena swallowed. "You know that I do."
"No. I want a yes or no. Do you want him?" He couldn't care less that he was acting out of his usual placid self. No one was there to see it, and Relena have seen him in a far less pleasing position than this!
Relena met his eyes. "Yes."
"Then why the heck won't you do something?! Catch his damn attention!"
Relena couldn't believe she was hearing this! This person in front of her… it must be just someone who looks like Wufei! "I'm sorry but… who are you? Where's my friend Wufei?"
"I am here, on the verge of insanity." Wufei answered as he let go of the monitor and then sat down once again, finally able to garner back his control. "This damn place is full of weak onnas."
A slow grin appeared on Relena's lips. "Ah… there's the Wufei I know." Her eyes sparkled with uncontrollable laughter. Surprisingly, she and Wufei had become good friends after all those death-harrowing experiences. "I guess that I was able to reform at least a small part of you."
Wufei shook his head, remembering all those nights when they would just drink tea in front of her fireplace in comfortable silence. "No. Just a moment's insanity." It must be because he couldn't believe he did that!
"Wufei? Actually lost control?" Relena teased in an awed whisper.
"Shut up." Wufei growled out which prompted a laugh from the woman on the monitor. Actually, he doesn't really want her to stop. He could still remember those nights when they first started working with each other… how… silent she was.
"Now I'm sure that you're alright. I'll take your advice to heart and you take care. I think I can hear Duo about to come inside."
Wufei's eyes flared, covering the fact that he was happy he heard her laugh. "DUO?!"
"Now don't start anything. You're on the other side of the world, in case you've forgotten."
Wufei's lips turned into a straight white line. "Just he wait until I finish this mission… he's going to have a lot to pay for."
Relena chuckled. She was in an unusually light mood, especially with two of her best friends in the house. Hilde was already making up her disguise so she could go out this afternoon. "I guess you're still mad at that last prank of his…" Duo had dropped a gallon of ice cream on Wufei while she was in their colony. It was hilarious!
"Don't remind me." Wufei cracked his knuckles, unable to wait for a chance to kill that laughing hyena.
"Well, I think Une wants to talk to you now." She looked at him to show her sincerity and then touched the monitor as if to touch his face. "Please take care of yourself."
Wufei grunted, feeling pleased, and nodded before Une replaced Relena's face. "How is the Red Patrol holding up?"
"They're a bunch of egotistical weaklings."
Une nearly coughed at the coffee she was drinking. 'Hmm… sounds like someone I know.' She placed the drink back on the desk. "They aren't living up to your standards?"
"Not by any chance." Wufei placed his hands together because if he doesn't, he might just punch the monitor. "And what the hell were you thinking when you placed me with this sorry bunch of weak onnas?!"
From outside the tent, Ping bristled. For a moment there, she thought he had a humane side! Now… she'd just completely closed the door on that thought. Bolted and chained! How he became Relena Dorlian's friend was beyond her comprehension!
"Wufei, that team is the best in tactics, search, and destroy." Une replied.
"Humph! Why haven't they found what they're looking for, then? They had been out here for nearly six months!"
Ping saw red. Steam was going up from her head. She was so mad that she could just… just… scream! They've done all they could! They have searched the northern part of India and found nothing. There was not a single damn thing - but it's out there and she's going to find it with or without the Preventer's help! She didn't even ask for their help! Besides, they weren't the ones transferred from one continent to another in search of God knows what!
"I'm sure they've done all they could. Southern India is the last on the list." Une gave a steely gaze at Wufei. "I do not want you to degrade these women. If you give them a chance, they will prove to you that they are just as good."
Wufei just grunted.
Une shook her head. "Alright. I will contact William later on."
The monitor turned black and Wufei stood up. Ping took that chance to storm inside the tent and corner him.
"Chang!" Ping stopped in front of him and nearly punched him. Instead, she just jabbed her finger on his chest while she talked. "I do not appreciate how you people think that you could just barge in here as if you own this place. This was my mission from the very beginning and I will not tolerate any insufferable actions by you or your men."
"This is our mission now." Wufei muttered through gritted teeth. How dare this girl demand such a thing!
"Well I'm not happy with that!"
"Neither am I!"
The two stared at each other, their faces red with anger.
Wufei leaned forward and nearly touched his nose with hers. "Let's get something straightened out. You mind your way, we'll mind ours."
"Fine." They turned away from each other and promptly exited the tent in opposite directions.
'We're weaklings, huh?' Ping jutted her jaw as she entered Dawn's tent and found everyone. 'Let's see who the weakling is, Wufei Chang.'
"Girls…"
Everyone looked at her expectantly.
"Take your pick… I want you to make their lives miserable." The meaning was there… and everyone received it. Smiles erupted on their serious faces as they started haggling with who's going to get who.
"One more thing."
They stopped.
"Leave Commander Chang alone." Oh she's going to make him pay. "I've got a score to settle with him."
The girls hooted. Ping was actually going to play the field? This they gotta see…
…
Wufei angrily walked to his men. He could already tell who had looked at one of the women, or maybe all of them. He stopped in the middle. "You all know the consequence of disobeying my orders!" Wufei walked to Kevin then glared at him. "You have just volunteered the whole troop for an exercise."
Everyone turned their head to a pale faced Kevin. "I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself!"
"Kevin! You're dead!"
"You wait until tonight!!!"
"I'm gonna kill you, Rogers!"
Wufei hid a grin and let the comments die down then- "Now!"
"Yes sir!"
The whole platoon dropped down on the ground and started.
…
"Girls!!! They're doing push ups- with one hand!!!" Carrida exclaimed as she peeked outside Dawn's tent. "Oh, they look so fine!"
Ping shook her head while her whole troop ran to the tent's entrance and stared at the men.
"My, my! Look at those muscles…"
"I could almost feel them."
"I wouldn't mind if I was under that bod. Mmmm! Mmm!"
The girls laughed gaily and cheered. Ping walked out of the tent to go back to her own when she gave a cursory glance and saw the men on the ground except for one- Wufei Chang… Ping scowled. 'I wonder if he could do half of what he forces his men to do.'
{Take care everyone. I hope you enjoyed it so far.}