Gundam Wing: After War: Retaliation

by Shadow Chaser

Sequel to Price of Peace: The children of the Gundam pilots thought they were done with war and killing...but now they will have to kill again, to survive a government that has betrayed them. [Alternate Universe] [STATUS: ABANDONED]

3. Sorrowful Partings

New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Retaliation

By: Shadow Chaser and Sephy

Chapter 3 - Sorrowful Partings

Paris, France

The flames were intense as wave after wave of blue-tinged white licked outward, streaking the blackness as Sweeper Headquarters was consumed. The fire burned fast and furious, threatening to jump from the confines of the base into the outer city, a threat made all too real by the nightmarish proximity of natural parkland not more than five feet from the wire walls surrounding the compound. The unnatural heat and the way the fire refused to be calmed despite the best efforts of the fire department and the storm that had crept upon them silent and even now bore down on them told him more than he needed to know. Chemical fire, Val thought. The explosive used to destroy Sweeper headquarters most likely had carried some chemical component to ensure that anything not destroyed by the blast was caught in the ensuing inferno. Efficient, he was forced to admit. It was something he might have thought of which lead him to the conclusion that this was no simple case of arson. No amateur set this up… The knowledge of chemicals and explosives necessary for a job like this, combined with the planning and know how needed bespoke a tactical mind to be reckoned with. No, someone had planned this, probably months in advance.

Evidently, he wasn't the only one to reach that conclusion. Duo Maxwell prowled the edge of the crowd, his movements tight and compact as if he were readying himself to spring forward which, given the nearness of the fire, wouldn't be the brightest idea. Anyone who thought the American the lesser of the Gundam pilots, the least dangerous, had never met Shinigami in his full fury. Val himself often forgot that, taken in by Maxwell's mask, the good humor and grace he carried himself with most of the time. His father had always been more intimidating, more up front with his prowess and ruthlessness. Now… now Val found himself reassessing the self-proclaimed God of Death, tensing at the dark glint in those violet-blue eyes. His lean face was blank, curiously so for a man whose life had just gone up in a fiery blaze but there was something about the set of his body, something that screamed and promised murder without words. He didn't waste time with the words that came so naturally to him. Instead, he stalked, his eyes raked over the crowd cold and dissecting, searching before returning to the burning base. He watched as Hilde attempted to touch her his shoulder, only to be stopped by a look, but it was enough to make her back up, her hand clutched to her chest. His father caught her shoulder, catching her eye and shaking his head before edging past her to stand beside Duo. Heero Yuy didn't attempt to reach out to his friend. Instead, he stood beside him, both men straight and tall, warriors still, fighting still after all these years and searching for an opponent, only to find one they could not fight. One they could not vanquish with weapons or Gundams. The image of them standing there, staring into the flickering red-white flames seemed to burn onto his retina, the afterimage flickering there even as he turned away.

Reyna, unlike her father, was anything but silent. Right now, she was at the edge of the crowd, hissing and spitting profanities like a scalded cat. She sounded pissed, highly dangerous, but he noted the way she kept her face from turning around. Anyone else might have missed the sheen of tears bathing her face as she continued throwing out curse after curse. Anyone else but not him, not one who knew her so well. There was nothing he could do to help Duo Maxwell and indeed, he would have felt awkward making the attempt. Reyna… Reyna however was another matter.

He slipped around Hilde, giving her a tentative smile and felt relieved when she nodded towards Reyna in understanding. He turned towards her then paused, pivoting around towards Hilde again. He assessed her, once again realizing that Reyna's strength wasn't solely Duo's contribution. Even now she was standing tall, silent and bearing up under another loss though her eyes were wet and her face was drawn. Val was used to strong women, he'd been around them all his life but this… No one should have to be strong all the time, he thought and for one of the few times in his life gave into impulse, reaching down and sweeping Reyna's mother into a hug. He felt her stiffen with the initial surprise of the moment, then soften, her hands rising to pat his back and he wondered who was comforting who here. Then she pulled back, touching his cheek and shoulder with that strong gentle touch.

"Reyna needs you," she jogged her head again in the direction of her daughter. "I'll be all right."

"Are you sure?"

"You heard the lady, kid." A familiar smoke clogged voice rasped. He glanced over to see Duo standing just behind him, still wearing that lethal expression but somehow it was altered. There was some hint of relief there. Perhaps in relief that they had not been home when the base had blown? Val could only hazard a guess. "Give us some room, okay?"

Val stepped back, making eye contact with his father before turning his back on the three adults and heading towards Reyna. She saw him coming, glancing out of the corner of her eye before jerking her face away, one hand rising to scrub at her cheeks.

"Hey." He stopped just short of her, unsure of what to do or what to say? How could you make something like this better? Words just weren't going to cut it.

Fortunately for both of them, Reyna knew exactly what she needed as she wheeled, eyes blind with tears, and threw herself at him. He caught her, feeling her pain as if it were his own as she burrowed her head into his chest. Her hands were curled in fists, fingernails digging into the vulnerable flesh there. Taking her by one hand then the other, he uncurled her fingers letting his thumb graze the injured half-moons she had dug into her own flesh.

"Why?" She asked her voice no longer angry but bewildered. "God, Val, why? Why now? Why this? What did we do?"

Such childish questions, questions that demanded answers that had no simplicity to them, and yet he felt her anguish in each one and it cut him to the core. Standing there in the rain, feeling the both of them being slowly drenched yet faced with the nightmarish flames before them, flames that not even the precipitation could douse, Val felt helpless. Completely and utterly so. It wasn't feeling he liked. He had been trained to fight, to handle any situation that came to him. But how could he stand here and tell Reyna that it was going to be all right when he didn't know that? He couldn't lie to her. He didn't have any answers. At least not yet, he thought grimly.

The screech of sirens in the distance told him that the fire department was on the way but what, if anything, they could do, he was uncertain. Chemical blazes like this tended to burn out rather than being put out.

"… Everything we had was in there," Reyna said, her voice muffled against the layers of his service coat. "All our pictures, all our things…"

He heard what she left unsaid. All of Tarrant's things, all those pictures of family outings and times together that could never be replaced, times of a family that would never be whole again--all of it was lost in those blue-tinged flames, almost the same blue of Reyna's shattered eyes and burning with equal intensity. In away, the person had done more than just destroyed Reyna's home, he'd killed her brother again. Val shut his eyes at the image of the Maxwell's family portrait curling and burning, Tarrant's face turning to cinders.

He was unsure of how long they stood there, clutching each other, Reyna's soft sobs desperate as they fell upon his ear and the rain pelting down on them. Part of him felt frozen, helpless to do anything but stand thus while the rest of him wanted to hunt down and kill whoever had caused Reyna so much anguish.

There was no time to dwell, not when the scene began to pick up more life than ever as the various assorted government agencies showed up, beginning with the fire department and moving on from there. The fire fighters made a show of unfurling their hose but Val noticed how they hovered at the edge of the flames, faces resigned. There was nothing they could do and they knew it. They would try, they would try for hours most likely but the truth of the matter was if the rain hadn't put a dint in those flames, then pointing a rubber hose and spewing out more water wasn't like to much better. The police were already talking to his father who was a good deal calmer than Duo was at the moment. Duo had moved over to the fire fighters and was gesturing wildly at the flames as if he expected them to perform some sort of miracle. Shinigami's face was darkening as he talked to the head fighter, a sure sign that he did not like what he was hearing. The other fire fighters seemed a trifle nervous, either by being in the presence of the Duo Maxwell or by the fact he looked ready to rip the hose from their hands and go to work himself. The crowd getting restless had started to form a semi-circle watching Duo and the firemen with some interest. One show not even over yet, Val thought bitterly, and still they want more.

The surrealness of the scene was completed by the appearance a small convoy of black military jeeps and trucks. Val tensed, sensing without words that something was very, very wrong as he watched the soldiers hop down off the truck. For one, they weren't in traditional military garb; instead they were dressed from head to toe in black. Black sweaters, combat pants, and glossy black boots. All decked out to intimidate and no where to go… Val didn't finish the thought, his arms tightening around Reyna. She seemed to pick up on his discomfort, her tear streaked face lifting first towards him then to where he was gazing. Her hold slackened as she turned and he kept a grip on her forearm. The last thing he needed was Reyna Maxwell rushing headlong into something that would get them both killed.

His unease intensified as the soldiers fanned out around the area, forming a tight circle and shoving the crowd away. The police were protested but there was only so much you could do when someone shoved an assault rifle in your face.

Another jeep drove up, screeching to a halt not more than a few feet from them, a man in a suit hopping out of the side, his expensive gray suit Italian and immaculate despite the rain plinking off the umbrella he held. The man's dark blond hair was slick with gel, designer wire frames hiding those cold green eyes. He wore a smile but it was all teeth, the smile of a shark that had sighted prey. Val felt himself thrusting Reyna behind him, ignoring her indignant yelp.

"Severn Cawley…" Val growled then shot out and arm to prevent Reyna from stepping in front of him, "Reyna, stay back."

"Val, if you don't let me go--" She hissed but he squeezed her arm, hard enough to give her pause.

"Well, well, if it isn't my old friend Vailo Yuy. I've got to tell you, Val, those entire months and not one letter… Well, I was hurt, quite frankly. And Reyna, too. Now, this is quite a reunion, isn't it?" Severn tilted his head.

Reyna finally succeed in yanking her hand from his death grip, glaring at him as she rubbed her injured wrist. He kept one eye on her and the other on Severn, not understanding what was going on here but knowing that he'd only have a fraction of a second if Reyna charged Severn. She held her ground though, standing next to him, her jaw working and unworking but remaining silent.

"I'm impressed, Yuy. You've actually managed to tame her a bit. The last time I saw her she was spitting and snarling like a wild animal. You know, not big on conversation but great in the sack?" Severn winked as if they were sharing some sort of joke between them.

"That's it," Reyna muttered, hands curving into dangerous hooks. Val stepped in front of her, his blue eyes narrowing with the promise of death.

"All right, Severn. Last time I checked there were warrants out for your arrest. So why the hell are you here?"

"Times have changed, Yuy. You really should try to keep up," Severn circuit around, taking in the flames with a surprised grin. "Oh, my how pretty. Any one have any marshmallows?"

"Severn…"

"Oh, very well. That's always been your problem, Yuy. No sense of humor," Severn sniffed. There was a blur of motion and the sound of a gunshot. Heero was already dropping his half-drawn gun, hand stained crimson from Severn's shot. "No, no. I wouldn't Commander Yuy." Severn glanced at Val had his hand on the butt of his pistol. "You either, Val. Not unless you want me to put another breathing hole in 'Daddy dearest' here."

Val hesitated, eyes locked with his father's, weighing just how much of a chance he'd have to take Severn out before he could shoot Heero. The decision was taken from him by an audible click as one of the men in black cocked and rested the nozzle of his gun against Reyna's temple. He heard Hilde's sharp rush of breath and felt his own heart still. At this range, there was no way they'd miss. He let the gun drop from limp fingers, Reyna's eyes begging his forgiveness even as he did so.

"You want to know why I'm here? Fine. I've a warrant to arrest all of you."

"You're lying," Reyna spat.

"I assure you, Reyna dear, I never lie when the odds are in my favor. These warrants come directly from the Senate. All of you are charged with sedition and treason, planning to overthrow the current government with your Gundams."

"This is such bullshit," Duo spat at him. "There's no truth to any of those charges. For all we know, you forged those papers!"

"Maybe, Maxwell, maybe but do all these guns appear forged? Go ahead and test them if you think so," Severn smirked. "The fact of the matter is, gentlemen and ladies, times are changing and you no longer have a place with the regime. I am here to bring you in. We can do this peacefully or…resist all you like, it will save the Senate the trouble of executing you."

Val backed up a bit as four more soldiers approached, and realized he couldn't go very far, not holding onto Reyna's clammy hand and not with that soldier holding his gun against her head. If he wanted to move, he'd have to let her go. He wasn't sure he could make himself go that far. Moreover, that would be more than a signal to Severn of his intent and the man would waste no time in shooting him or Reyna or both of them.

How had it come to this? Why was this happening? The Senate had declared them traitors? Surely not…not with his mother and President Kushrenada there. What the hell was going on in Geneva? All very important questions and maybe later when he had time he'd dwell on it some but not now. Not with Reyna's life, not with all their lives hanging in the balance. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes, noting how Duo and Heero were standing next to each other, Hilde behind them, protecting her to the end. He met Duo's gaze and nodded, drawing closer to Reyna, determined to stand with her until the end, whatever that end might be. The man holding the gun against her temple stared at him, his eyes cool and calculating. If we get out of this, Val thought, he's the first one I'm going to kill and then Severn. And it's going to be a long and painful death, he nearly growled.

The glint of handcuffs caught his eye and he felt his stomach tighten in dread at the solid sight of them, making this nightmare more real than he wanted it to be. They were really going to arrest them. This wasn't some sick practical joke. This was happening and he was damned if he could see a way of them all getting out of this alive.

"Vailo Yuy," the soldier holding the gun on Reyna intoned, his eyes now fixed on the men approaching them. "Get ready."

Startled, Val felt Reyna's grip on his hand tightening, her eyes closing as if her fate had been sealed. No, he wouldn't let this happen. He had lost his brother and his teammate but he was not going to lose Reyna. He tensed to rush the man when the soldier swung wide, the gun now off Reyna and cutting through the approaching men in a noisy barrage of sparks and bullets. He heard Severn shout accompanied by the sound of several bodies hitting the concrete.

"Go," shouted the soldier. "Get the hell out of here. Now."

Val nodded, but Reyna lingered. "What about you?"

"I'll follow… Just go. I can't hold them off forever."

No more words were needed as Val shot forward, Reyna only a second behind him, her hand nearly cutting off his circulation. His legs tingled and ached from the sudden jolts of adrenaline pumping through his system, forcing his legs to run faster and harder than they'd ever had to before. He'd been shot once and it wasn't an experience he cared to repeat. They had to get across this courtyard and into the safety of the intricate Parisian alleyways. That was the only hope they had of making it though this alive. If they could lure the snipers in, they'd have a chance of seeing them and losing them. God, this would be so simple if he still had his gun but there was no help for that now. Reyna's boots echoed loudly behind him, nearly as loud as the firefight going on behind them. The sound was comforting; if she could still run, then she was uninjured. If she could still run, they could escape.

He glanced back, his father and the Maxwells lost in the crush of soldiers surrounding them. Severn and his goons were firing outward and not in so hopefully they were all right. If Severn didn't decide to take out his anger on them, that was it. The only hope they had was to submit, submit long enough for Severn to take them in. Submit until this could be taken before the Senate and cleared up. He hated this; he wanted nothing more than to turn back and fight his way back to his father's side. But if they were to stay alive, if he was going to do anything at all to save his father then he had to run and hide. It galled and it grated and there was nothing he could do. A dead soldier was of no use. He could only help his father and the Maxwells by surviving, by getting help.

The dark coolness of the alleys loomed just ahead and he pushed forward, nearly yanking Reyna ahead of him in the rush to reach safety. Behind him the sounds of guns firing died away in an ominous silence that chilled him. With the sounds of gunfire, there had been hope and with the loss of them, he understood now that the hunt was on and they were the prey.

* * *

The Senate

Geneva, Switzerland

Earth

The world had gone crazy, Relena Peacecraft-Yuy decided, twisting and re-twisting the worn band of her wedding ring. She shifted in her seat, the stone bench uncomfortable despite the heavy cushions placed there for comfort. It was cold too, but that might have had less to do with the high arching ceilings and antiquated heating system and more to do with the tableau being played out before her. A play in which she found herself a helpless participant, watching everything she had ever dreamed and worked for crumbling before her eyes.

Lifting her eyes, she gazed up towards one of the flower-shaped stain glass windows, their magnificent shades dulled with darkness. She checked her watch. Dawn wouldn't be for several more hours but the way things were deadlocked at the moment, she might just be here to witness the flow of colors from the rising sun. Her eyes drifted to the fresco paneling circling the length of the room, eyes caressing and tracing the worn, kind features of the Madonna cradling her child. She felt tears prick her eyes as she studied the painting and its line of saints and martyrs, each with a resign beatific expression on their face. We have suffered, their faces seemed to say, and we will always suffer, so long as man remains, so long as there is war and hatred. Their suffering was mankind's suffering, a plight eternal that she had spent most of her adult life battling. Never once, not during the long dark hours of the war with Romefeller, not during the battle with Locke, had she ever faltered or felt her faith might have been misplaced. It was a faith purchased in blood and at the cost of so many lives, her faith that humanity could be better, that war could be left behind and that humankind could live together without one more life being lost needlessly. And maybe one day that dream would be a reality but she was beginning to doubt that she would ever see it.

Not like this place, she thought almost fondly. Built during the Renaissance, the building had survived countless wars and had served at one time or another as the administrative center for the city, then for the country. The place had been burned by the French, shelled by the Germans, and used as headquarters by Romefeller during the war. And now it the seat of the world democracy, the home of the Unified Earth and the seat of the Senate. While the military was situated just outside of Paris, Geneva had been picked because of its long history of neutrality and peace. In particular, this place, the seat of royalty and the first world government, had seemed a perfect location, an auspicious omen for the new era. With its sloping stonewalls and high ceilings had always impressed up on her a sense of permanence, a legacy that had been handed down to her, a wish and a promise that she had strove to keep. And now accusations, loud and bitter, echoed across the ancient walls of this Senate house, shattering that promise of peace.

"Order! You will come to order!" Mariemaia Khushrenada, President of the Unified Earth and Colonies, barked, banging her gavel on the podium. Mariemaia had changed so much from the little girl who had served Dekim Barton as little more than a puppet. She had grown, her natural confidence softened into a strength that reminded Relena more and more of Treize every time she saw the girl. And it was Treize's strength and will that was carrying her now, her beautiful face tired and drawn, red-haired rumbled as if she had been suddenly pulled from bed. Which, Relena reflected was the truth. She had been pulled from her bed; they all had, by the news that had sent shock waves rippling through the Congress and indeed, the Earth itself. The news that without cause or provocation, Sweeper headquarters had been destroyed by a terrorist act mere hours before.

Theories were varied but there seemed to be a coterie intent on placing the blame solely on Winner Corporation. Relena was hardly surprised to find Senator Daemon Hallsfield at the center of it. Hallsfield, the representative from L1, was a consummate businessman and it was well known that he resented the Winner family's monopoly on space mining and the distribution of the valuable minerals needed for space flight. Without those minerals, inner space travel would have been limited to those wealthy enough to afford it. It was only due to the philanthropy of the Winner family and their intent on sharing their wealth with the rest of the quadrant that those minerals were mined and priced fairly at all. Certainly had Hallsfield and his cronies had their say, those prices would have been stiffer, tariffs imposed on certain items to benefit their ambitions, ambitions thwarted by Quatre Winner's stubborn refusal to sell any part of his family's business to outsiders. Hallsfield had tried every trick he knew to insinuate himself into Winner Corp and had been met with sharp resistance at every step of the way. As a result, he hated Quatre and all the Winners and wasted little time trying to find new ways to put the Corporation under stress. And the explosion of Sweeper Headquarters had provided him with new ammo to fire at his old foe.

Apparently, according to invoices produced by the good senator and his office, yesterday morning, hours before the explosion had taken place, the Sweepers had been forced to take in a convoy carrying cargo for Winner Corporation. There had been some sort of breakdown in the trunks, the details of which were sketchy at best and the Sweepers had hauled in a valuable shipment of iridium alloy for safe keeping while the trucks in question were being repaired. The point was the trucks had stopped and the base had exploded. The facts clearly pointed to sabotage by Winner Corporation or so Hallsfield wanted them all to believe. What he failed to demonstrate in her eyes was motive. There was no reason whatsoever for Winner Corp. already under investigation by the Senate finance committee to commit such an act.

"Senator Hallsfield," President Kushrenada snapped. "These accusations of yours are groundless. I cannot allow you to slander Winner Corp. without--"

"Groundless? And how much more evidence will you need to satisfy you, Madam President. Will we all have to be in chains, puppets for an invading army funded by the Winner family?" Hallsfield's field voice rose and fell dramatically, pulling them all in and weaving a paranoid spell that threatened to sweep the entire Senate away in its wake.

"Senator Hallsfield," Relena rose, placing her hands on her desk. "All you have given us is idle speculation and circumstantial evidence. You cannot expect this prestigious body to accept anything less than cold hard evidence."

Hallsfield smiled at her, a chill smile that did not extend to his eyes. He was a good-looking man, rugged and boyish even in his early fifties. Conservative and sharp, he was to the core ambitious and that troubled her, knowing that he would do anything, say anything to gain and keep power. His rise through the Senate had been nothing less than meteoric and there had been talk of his running against Mariemaia in the next election. And with his dangerous ability to appeal to the masses with smooth speeches and soft words, it was not unlikely that he might win. God help the Earth and Colonies if that ever happens, she thought.

"Then please explain to me why did Winner Corporation send an envoy to the Space Academy to negotiate with them?" Hallsfield crossed his arms, face smug and eyes daring her to challenge him.

The Senate fell quiet, loud voices replaced by rapid whispers. Relena felt a chill snake down her spine and her eyes sought out those of Ione Winner, was one of the guest representatives from L4. The blond woman's face was blank; eyes devoid of anything she could read. It couldn't be true… Surely, Ione would have said something to her, would have warned her… No, there had been no time. No time for her to take Relena aside and explain things. There was a reasonable explanation, there had to be.

"It's a conspiracy I tell you all! Winner, Preventer, even the Space Academy are all into taking over the world!" Shouted Iyllich Davidovich, head of the Russian Consortium and one of Hallsfield's chief allies. Between the two of them, they could stir up more trouble than Relena could handle.

"Senator Davidovich, the Chair does not recognize you right now. Please refrain from speaking at the moment," Mariemaia said evenly, but Relena could see that she was a bit distressed and angry.

"It's true! Maybe the Colonies are plotting another takeover!" another senator shouted out.

"I concur!"

"Yes. We must stop this!"

"-must stop this!"

Relena closed her eyes against the onslaught of accusations cascading around her. No, they are wrong…they… She couldn't let this go on. In the wake of Locke Dabnerba's defeat, they were all falling apart. Out of the ashes a new paranoia, a new Romefeller was rising before her eyes and if she let them, these stupid rash men would lead them all into destruction, into that endless waltz Mariemaia had spoken of so long ago. She couldn't let the three-beat of rebellion, war, and peace happen again.

"Stop it. All of you," Relena slammed her hand against the surface of her desk, her voice freezing cold and hard.

Opening her eyes, she looked at all of the senators that were around her, the racket dying away as they paid attention to her. Relena forced her breath to come in evenly. "Just look at all of you. Look at us. Look how low we've fallen. We've been reduced to squabbling among ourselves. When we should be drawing together, we're pulling apart throwing blame onto those people we've wanted to hurt. Without proof, without evidence and for what? Ambition? Wounded ego? Or is it sheer paranoia?"

"Where is the peaceful intent, where is the justice that this body has always thrived on? Where is the compromise and impartiality? You blame Winner Corporation for bombing Sweepers but I know this as to be false," she took a deep breath and steeled herself, "Winner Corporation has been funding all the necessary supplies to keep our Colonies running, to help everyone live a better life. Can't you see that? They don't want to harm people, they want to help them and this is how you pay them back?! Sweepers Group has been scavenging materials for the Colonies, trying also to repair the damage done by Locke's forces. Essentially, both of them are working together for a common goal. Can't you see that? Are you so blind to your ambitions to not see the peace that they're trying to create?"

"That peace, that you are talking about, Vice Foreign Minister…that peace is an illusion!" Hallsfield suddenly interrupted Relena, standing from his side of the senate room, his face a mask of righteous anger.

"All your talk about peace is nothing! Just look at you! You're married to a Gundam pilot! You talk of peace while your husband destroys it, with Preventer as his ally! And look at Winner Corporation and Sweepers Group! Both their leaders are Gundam pilots! Both have a history of bloodshed and war! In war, nothing can overcome the human nature to eradicate what is evil! They've deemed this peace evil! And now they want to take it over!" Hallsfield shouted, and Relena flinched with each of his word.

"Its true," Relena started, trying to hold up her composure, but she could see that Hallsfield was winning, not by a long stretch, but winning with his words. It was true…Heero worked for the military, always the soldier that he was. He was always achieving peace through force rather negotiation, and Preventer had a few scuffles of its own. It was one of the sticking points in their relationship, it always had been. It had cost her the life of one son and very nearly the life of another. But whatever quarrel lay between them didn't mean Hallsfield could place all the blame squarely on her. "Its true that my husband is a Gundam pilot, but you don't need to involve my family in this matter."

"Oh but it does matter, Relena Peacecraft-Yuy, it does. Your brother, Zechs Merquise…he worked for White Fang, didn't he? He turned traitor and supported the rebel factions of the Colonies, revolting against Earth. The Gundam pilots…Heero Yuy and Quatre Winner were both the leaders of the Gundam pilots, instrumental in their Operation Meteor-"

"That's enough Senator!" Ione Winner stood, tears brimming on her eyes, but not falling. "Operation Meteor was not executed by the Gundam pilots. Only Dekim Barton conceived of the plan, but they did not follow it. The Gundam pilots only wanted to defeat OZ who was oppressing the weak and innocent-"

"How would you know, a Maganac soldier like yourself! Your devotion to your husband makes you blind! Your words can't be trusted. Just look at the past history. Even our beloved President is touched by this taint," Hallsfield accused pointing a finger at Mariemaia, "Just decades ago, she was hell bent on conquering the world-"

"She was manipulated… " Relena interrupted.

Hallsfield waved that comment off, "and two of her soldiers were Trowa Barton and Wufei Chaing…Preventer and Space Force officers, both top ranked and both Gundam pilots! I tell you, the President and all associated with her are trying for another coup to overthrow us!"

"I move for a vote of no-confidence in Mariemaia Kushrenada's leadership. And I would advise to place all those parties involved under immediate arrest until this situation can be dealt with."

The deafening sound of agreement resounded in Relena's ears, the sound of the peace that she had fought so long and hard to create shattering. She stumbled, scarce unable to believe her ears at the next words, directed so carefully and pointedly towards her. "If the Senate will indulge me, I've already taken steps to have Duo Maxwell and his family as well as the rest of the Peacecraft-Yuy household into custody."

"You have overstepped your bounds," Mariemaia shouted.

"No, Miss Kushrenada, you have overstepped yours," Davidovich snarled. "You will step down from the Chair or you will be removed and found in contempt of this body."

Mariemaia opened her mouth as if to object, then closed it, stepping down off the dais, her head held high as she marched towards Relena's section. Her blue eyes were angry and sorrowful but all Relena could think about was her husband and son, in custody, most likely arrested. They were all caught now, flies in an intricate web, helpless to move and at the mercy of one who would show no mercy. Oh God, Relena found herself falling back into her seat. What's happened to us? What are we to do now?

* * *

Daemon, you bastard, she thought, peeking around the heavy velvet draperies of the alcove at the proceedings below. From this vantage, the Senators seemed nothing more than faceless shapes, almost ants in a bed that had been kicked up, seething with activity and newfound energy as they turned upon themselves.

Her eyes drifted and alighted upon the hunched, slight figure of Relena Peacecraft-Yuy, slumped over her desk, Mariemaia Kushrenada at her side, very near supporting the limp woman. Relena's face was fixed on the podium, at the spot where Daemon and his cronies were now holding court, but she very much doubted that Relena was seeing much of anything with that blank stare of hers. Shock, she surmised lowering her head in remorse and shame. Oh, Relena, I would have spared you this if I'd known sooner, if I had moved faster. It is my hesitation that's brought this about. My hesitation and my husband's lust for power.

"Madam Hallsfield?" The voice was tentative, deferential as most of the voices in her world had become since her marriage. She hated those voices, hated the way they automatically placed her one rung above everyone else on the ladder. Daemon ate up the attention and respect he was paid but only because he didn't care that it was false. "This just came for you."

Curious, she glanced over at him, to the paper he held in his hand and reached for it, her eyes swallowing the words then re-reading just to be sure. She closed her eyes, crumbling the paper in her fist, squeezing it tightly. "Has his family been notified, Miletus?"

"No, ma'am. There wasn't time."

"I see. I'll see to it personally this evening. And Vailo Yuy and Reyna Maxwell managed to escape, did they?"

"So it would appear. Our sources say that they're still at large but the city is being closed as we speak. I have men working on it, of course but it's a question of who will find them first, Severn's men or our own," Miletus replied.

She studied him, this small bronzed man with dark eyes and curling blond hair. He was a Greek through and through, the blood of the Mediterranean coursing through his veins and marking him. Men such as this had created civilization beginning with the first Polis and moving from there, across the ocean and into Asia and Africa. Miletus had been with her a long time, almost from the beginning of her marriage to Daemon. He had always taken care to protect and serve her. She trusted him, enough not to chastise him for making decisions on his own, as Daemon would have. No, she valued his capacity for thought independent of her. It was the most valuable gift he could give her.

"Have I done wrong, Mistress?" Even now, he wasn't afraid of her, not, as a 'proper servant' should. In her entire world, he was the most genuine, most real person she had contact with and she appreciated that too much to let it be taken away by the brunt of a whip or the discipline of an 'iron hand.'

"Not at all. I was just wondering what I'd done to deserve such a good friend," she smiled, a real smile, not the cool, distant ones she gave to Daemon and his friends.

"I serve you," Miletus replied. "I would be a poor servant if I did not think of your best interests."

"Friend, Miletus," she chided. "Not a servant."

"Servant," he responded, just as stubbornly. "There's no shame in that, Mistress. The truth is better unvarnished."

She sighed. "Does that mean you aren't my friend, Miletus?"

"I am in all but name. To take the name would be presumptuous for one in my position. The master would kill me if he heard such words fall from your lips and if I am dead, then I cannot serve you."

"We may all die by the 'master's' hand before this is over with. Are you sure you want to go through with this, Miletus? You don't have to, you know."

"My place is at your side," his voice was stern, like a father's voice scolding his child. In many ways, Miletus treated her as a daughter, cared for her, bandaged her when she was hurt and watched over her always even though it was but a few brief years that separated them in age. She had gained him with her marriage to Daemon, perhaps the one bright spot in that whole sordid mess.

"'Theirs not reason why, theirs but to do and die,' " she quoted, voice soft and eyes stinging at the thought. "We shall try to do better, hmm?"

"Mistress."

"Miletus, I want someone watching Relena, I don't care who, but I want one of our people keeping an eye on her at all times. And I want your people to find Chang Wufei and Trowa Barton. I don't care how you do it, but do it. If I'm right, those two have already gone to ground and we may need their help before this is all over with."

"And Master Daemon?" Miletus asked.

She paused, turning to stare down again at the proceedings on the Senate floor. "If we're lucky someone will take care of him for us. Leave him for the time being. We know where he is and we can deal with him later should it come to that."

It was hard and cruel to speak so of one's husband and part of her ached with each word, each sentence pronounced. Her hand lifted to the side of her face, closing her eyes against the pain of memory and feeling struggling to capsize her reason. She didn't love her husband, she hadn't for a long, long time but the feeling that had once been between them… The memory of that was strong, almost enough to make her want to cringe back into the shadows and not act. The shadows were safe, they hide and disguised what was true, and in the shadows she could pretend, pretend that Daemon loved her, pretend that love was returned, and pretend that what he was doing was right. It was only she didn't think that she could live with herself if she gave one more inch of ground. There wasn't much left to give, not of herself. Everything of value, everything of worth, had been taken, stripped from her. She had no pride, no illusions, or dreams. All she had left was hope, hope in the form of Relena Peacecraft, in the dream of the only person who had ever wanted to be her friend. She might not believe in that dream, but by God, she would damn well try to see it protected.

For the woman who had once been Dorothy Catalonia, it was the best and only atonement she could hope to offer.

* * *

Nairobi Preventer Base

Nairobi, Africa

Cavan Merquise frowned as he tucked his flight suit's helmet under his right arm and glanced up at the holo-vision screen in one of the corridor hallways on the Nairobi Preventer Base. "What's going on?"

"News broadcast, says that there's something big going on in the wake of the Sweeper's Headquarters bombing," a fellow officer who was standing next to him replied, looking up at the holo-vision that hung off the ceiling of the corridor. Many other officers and technicians also stopped to look at the broadcast. He had a feeling that the broadcast was going to cost some trouble…

"…during the Senate today, Senator Daemon Hallsfield of Colony 01 asked for a no-confidence vote against President Kushrenada's leadership and they are right now in the process of voting…As you know, Kushrenada has not had a lot of support since the war with Locke Dabnerba was over, and it seems that her power support is waning," the holo-reporter said, then looked off screen at some unseen person.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," a female Preventer officer commented softly as people crowded around Cavan to look at the holo-news.

"Oh wait! We've got urgent news! Arrests have been made out to all Preventer and Space Force personnel by the order of the now acting-President Hallsfield. Also, Kushrenada and supporters have been arrested on the charges of sedition and planning a rebellion-"

"What the hell?"

"Who do they think they are?"

"-arresting us?"

"What did we do?"

Cavan angrily shut off the holo-vision and made his way past the various officers and technicians that had crowded around. What had gone wrong during the senate meeting? Had the stupid senators been so foolish to believe such words from Hallsfield?

"Attention all personnel," a voice suddenly blared from the intercom system wired throughout the base. "This is an order to evacuate the premises. Repeat, do not engage in any hostile forces and evacuate immediately. Over and out."

Cavan smiled grimly as he made his way against crowds of personnel converging to the shuttles; he had to get to his Gundam, that was the important thing. The new government, or whatever was controlling the Unified Earth and Colonies would want the Gundams and he had a feeling that they would use it to evil purposes. The same thing must be happening to the others, he thought as he entered a secret hanger bay below the base. Only he and a few other people knew about this place…it was where his Gundam, the Scorpion, and his cousin's Falcon Zero were stored.

"Hnn…Val might be escaping to space, and since this place will be…might as well take the damn thing with me," Cavan murmured quietly to himself as he ran up the ladder to the open cockpit of his Gundam and jumped in.

Glancing at the controls, he brought up a schematic database for slaving Val's Gundam to his and typed in a few commands. He knew that his cousin would be furious at him for slaving Falcon Zero to his, but why did he care? It was a matter of life and death at the moment and he didn't want a Zero-system Gundam to fall into the new government's hands.

Cavan sat back as he finished slaving Falcon Zero to the Scorpion then glanced at the vast expanse of the hanger bay he was in. It will be a war zone soon…we'll have to regroup, he thought grimly as he closed the cockpit and sealed it airtight. Placing his helmet over his head, Cavan pressed a small button that filtered oxygen through. Time to-

A sudden explosion ripped through the hanger bay and Cavan grunted loudly as he was thrown to the ground. Hitting a few switches he activated his Gundam and righted himself…only to see three old type mobile suits standing in front of him, their guns drawn and ready.

"Surrender at once Cavan Merquise!" one of the three Tauruses spoke up, lifting his gun barrel up a little higher in a gesture of warning.

"I don't have time to deal with you guys," Cavan replied, gunning the throttle and whipping out his heat whip, and shot forward. He set his jaw and sliced through all three Tauruses, then hit a few buttons to start up Falcon Zero. He brought up his beam rifle and shot a large hole through the ceiling and flew up and out, Falcon Zero on his tail.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed as he shot away from Nairobi base, his mind not believing what his eyes were seeing. The whole base and surrounding areas were crawling with different types of mobile suits, including some new ones he had never seen. "Scorpion, stealth mode," he commanded his mobile suit as they rose higher, passing through many clouds…finally the darkness of space filled his cockpit window and Cavan breathed a sigh of relief.

Shutting off his thrusters, he brought up a map of the LaGrange points and the Colonies situated throughout Earth's orbit. He remembered a certain spot where no one really went to, it was within Colony 05's wreckage, where his Master Wufei was originally from. I'll have to hide there until I can contact the others, Cavan decided as he set course for the distant Colony 05's wreckage.

* * *

Streets of Paris

Paris, France

Heart thudding in her ears, Reyna flattened herself and wriggled through cramped crawlspace, Val's lean form just visible in the dimness. The ancient aluminum shaft creaked, as though uncertain it could withstand the weight of two Gundam pilots. Well, that's just great, Reyna rolled her eyes, pushing a tendril of hair out of her eyes. As if people with guns pointed at them weren't enough, she now had to worry about this tin can collapsing in on them before they reached the exit. Some birthday this is turning out to be, she griped.

It was easier to complain, to concentrate on the slippery cold metal tunnel around them than to let herself think about what was happening here. If she stopped, if she let herself dwell on the loss of not only her home but abandoning her parents and Heero Yuy back there, she was pretty sure she was going to break down and either kill something or bawl. And there simply was not time for either.

At least I'm not alone, she thought, scuttling forward, fingers scraping and clawing at the smooth plain of metal before her. On occasion she found herself rushing forward and grabbing Val's shoe, slowing them down and no doubt annoying the hell out of him (although he never spoke a word). Just to reassure herself that he was here, that he was with her. There was a hell of a lot of comfort in having Vailo Yuy at your back, she decided, doubly so if he was your boyfriend. There was even more comfort in still having her gun on her, even if it was currently digging into the small of her back. She'd almost left it at home but some small voice, scrap of soldier's survival instinct, warned her to carry it. That voice was one of the few things in her life she'd always heeded and damned if she wasn't glad she'd done so tonight. Val was unarmed, thanks to Severn and with this city crawling with troops, all of who were out for their blood, she was grateful to have this ace up her sleeve.

There was darkness and then just as suddenly there was light again, thin wisps peeking around Val's body. Not the light of day, no this one was orangish, probably that of a streetlight. Besides, her internal clock told her, it was a good four hours before sunrise. Four hours and then the shit really would hit the fan. Right now, they had the cover of darkness to aid them but once the sun rose… We're sitting ducks, she thought. If they weren't out of the city by then, Reyna didn't want to think about what could happen.

There was a faint whuff as Val slid forward, his body appearing and then disappearing from her line of sight, the entrance to the crawlspace coloring the aluminum pale orange-pink with light. She followed, her movements swift and silent, hanging on to the lip of the shaft before letting go, a pair of arms reaching out to catch and muffle her descent. Val held onto her before darting around the corner, a sharp rank scent hitting her nose with the impact of a freight trunk. Although it was dark again, she could make out the rectangular trash bins without sight. The smell alone is bad enough, she gagged. And it was just her luck that Val was headed straight for them, not satisfied until he had wedged their bodies behind one of them.

"I think we'll be all right over here. For now," Val whispered in her ear, holding her close.

"I should think so," she wrinkled her nose. "Anyone with a sense of smell would stay away. Is that dead cat I smell?"

"Sorry, there wasn't time to book a room at the Sheridan," Val replied in sarcasm nearly as thick as the smell.

She felt herself tense, ready to deliver a blistering response, then stopped herself. Val was doing the best he could. He didn't deserve to have her cut loose on him right now.

"I'm sorry," he said after a moment. There was no need for him to say why, she knew, and knew it went beyond his sharp words.

She nodded. "So what are we going to do?"

He let his head come to rest against the wall behind them, eyes staring upward. "We have to get out of the city. I think… I think… We have to get to space. The Earth is just too hot right now."

"But our parents-"

"Will be fine." God, how she hated that cold chip in his voice, the sound of the soldier rising and taking charge. She hated how emotionless each word was, almost seeming to leech the warmth away from her body.

"If they not already dead," she muttered.

"Stop," he snapped. "They're not dead."

"Why? Because the great Val Yuy says so?" she snapped in return.

She was angry, so angry and all of it seemed directed at him. She lifted her hand, to punch or slap or maybe even claw him when his hand, so much larger than her own closed over hers, holding her in place.

"What was I supposed to do, Reyna? Let them take us? Let them kill us without a word? Not try to escape?" Each word was abrupt, nearly torn out of him. "Was I supposed to have let you die? Would that have made things all right? Would that have made things better?"

No, no it wouldn't have. Nothing could make this better… except maybe Severn Cawley's head on a silver platter and she'd have that if she ever had five minutes alone with him. Getting angry with Val was stupid. It wasn't his fault. He had saved both of their lives by acting and she could not blame him for that. "I-"

"I don't want to see you dead."

She blinked, the words quiet, still withdrawn from all emotion but holding in themselves all the feelings she couldn't hear in his voice. "I just… I don't want you to die, Reyna. Not if I can do something about it."

"Val." What could she say? How she reassure him of a future she wasn't even sure of in the first place? She sought his hand and intertwined their fingers. "All right. So we go to space? How? They'll have guards posted at all the space ports."

He started to answer when the sounds of voices, loud in the quietude of the passage. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise as her ears strained. Footsteps, several sets unless she missed her guess, approached, each one louder than the one before it to her ears.

"Soldiers," he whispered, then pressed a finger against her lips to silence her. She nodded, biting her lip as they waited. Lights bounced up and down the alley walls, flashlights picking over the refuse. It would take little time for them to scan the alley. The only question was just how thoroughly they'd scan it.

Heart pounding, Reyna felt her body begin to shiver, tension tightening every muscle until even her hair felt stretched and tight with fear. Somehow she had always imagined her death would be in battle, with the dark comforting shell of Hellfire serving as her pyre or perhaps even in some ground fight, gun in hand with others at her side. She'd even gone so far to prepare herself for that eventuality, as much as anyone could do that. This was not how she wanted to die, not in the back of some stinking Paris alley, without ever knowing if her parents were alive or not. Not without knowing who and why had seen fit to destroy her life for a second time. And certainly not before she'd worked up the courage to tell Vailo Yuy just how much she really cared about him.

The arms holding her squeezed her, then let go, hands sliding up her arms and over her shoulders to touch her face, such a light gentle touch from those warm, weapon-calloused fingers. She couldn't see much, just a faint gleam that she thought might be his eyes as her chin was lifted, Val's mouth swift as it took hers. She twitched, the fear translating into something else, equally raw and pervading, as he kissed her, mouth coaxing mouth until she relented, lips parting just a fraction. Her eyelids fluttered shut, the wire tightness of her body slackening, curving into his, taking the support he offered and giving him herself in return.

Those footsteps seemed to pound into the macadam, closer and closer but she let go, let go of the fear and concentrated on Val, on his touch as it threaded through her hair, on the intensity that he'd always possessed, an intensity that seemed to flare higher now than it had at any other moment. They could die, they might well die in the next few minutes but here, for this one instant, everything stilled in her mind, crystallizing into one moment, a moment she could hold to if the worst came, a moment worth going to her death for. Val. Her eyes pricked with tears that she refused to shed. No tears. Not for them. Never for them. Her breath seemed to stutter, tripping out of her mouth as his lips moved, over her eyes, cheeks, and chin, as if sought to memories the lines and planes of her face. She burrowed deeper, nearly burying herself in his overcoat as she struggled to get closer. There was no fear anymore, only the very real regret of things left unsaid and done, emotions felt that she tried to convey with each touch, each press of her mouth against his.

Something skittered in the darkness, brushing up against her foot and almost sending her out of Val's arms and up the brick wall behind them. What the hell, her mind shrieked before a low yowl cut the darkness. From the edge of the trash bind, she watched a flashlight sweep up once then down again, illuminating an orange tabby cat. Brilliant gold eyes flashed then slitted, hissing at the men and diving away from the light.

"Oh for God's sake, Juddson, it's just a stupid alley cat. That's probably what you heard in the first place," replied a disgusted voice.

"But sir- "

"But nothing. We've wasted enough time here. Move out!"

There was nothing then the sound of footsteps shuffling away feel sweet and clear on her ears. Oh God, she breathed, her head in Val's shoulder as they held each other. She could feel Val's heart beating, rapid despite appearances. So he was worried too? That made her feel a bit better and a bit worse. What did it say about their odds if Val was worried?

They stood there, unmoving and wary for how long…? It seemed an eternity to her. Then Val moved, each movement stealth itself as he wriggled around her and to the corner of the trash receptacle, poking his head out for a better look. His shoulders slumped in relief as he motioned her forward.

"We need to get to a space port and quickly. Sooner or later, someone is going to backtrack and realize their mistake. I'm not too familiar with Paris and I'm not exactly sure where we are-"

"We're near the Seine," she interrupted.

He paused, brows knitting. "And just how the hell do you figure that?"

"The air for one," she inhaled deeply. "Can't you smell the water nearby? And for another…"

A low blast sounded in the distance and Reyna smiled at the familiar sound. "Foghorn. To warn ships."

"I know what they are," he clipped.

"Just checking. Anyway, the river can't be more than a mile a way… I'd wager less than that. There's a space dock over the river in the other half of the city. We'll have to cross a bridge to get to it," she replied, following him as they crept along the dark passageway.

He didn't reply to that but then she hadn't expected one. Crossing a bridge meant exposure. They'd have to cover a lot of ground quickly and hope to God, they were lucky enough to make it through before they were spotted.

It was odd, this silent run through the darkness, always sticking to the shadows and hiding from every human voice. It was like running in a dream, someone dogging their steps, always trying to run faster and always their pursuer seemed just a step behind. Part of her began to wonder if this wasn't some nightmare, a wayward dream that she could banish. The only bit of reality was Val, strong and noiseless as he ran at her heels.

It was only through her knowledge of the city that they managed to evade the troops, taking side routes and climbing fences when needed. The closest they'd come to being caught in a one way, Val had solved by cold-cocking the soldier. She'd thought about shooting him, protecting them both but decided against it. They were in enough trouble without having to add 'murder' to the list of charges against them.

Sooner than she'd expected the Seine with its intricate network of stone bridges loomed before them, the bright lights across the Ponts beckoning them forward. We're going to make it, she squeezed Val's hand as they started up the nearest bridge. They had only to cross this and she knew she could get them through the rest of the city to the space dock. And once they got to space, they'd be home free. We're getting out of here, she thought, giddy and light-headed. We're-

"Hey, you two. Stop." A rough voice barked.

Her heart sank but they kept on walking as though they hadn't heard. Just a bit further, she thought.

"Stop or I will shoot!"

They stopped. This is it, Reyna thought bleakly, beginning the slow move for the gun at the base of her spine when Val caught her hand. And pulled her towards him as he pivoted, towards the soldiers and closer to the railing of the bridge. He held her hands and his own up, as if to show they were weapon-less. "Val," she hissed. "What are you--?"

He embraced her, pulling against him, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered. "Get to space, Reyna. Whatever you do, get to space. We'll meet there."

She felt his hands on her back, dipping lower and removing her gun but she had little time to register it as he swept her in his arms and tossed her. She shrieked, arms waving as she fell away from the bridge, the dark waters of the Seine swirling. Val, you sonofabitch, she thought as she hit the water, her gaze fixed on the bridge as the sound of gunfire died away in frothy dark current rushing overhead.

Authors' Notes:

The end of Chapter 3…looks like things are going to get pretty interesting! Anyways, Sephy and I collaborated on this chapter and it turned out really cool to write about! So, thank you to all those who have been patient for this chapter to come out and we'll be working on the next one, which will be due (hopefully) by the end of September 2001. Email us at either persephone@gw.zzn.com or shadow_chaser41@hotmail.com.