Zodiac, Full Circle
Aries

AN: For all relevant information about this fanfic, read the first bit of the prologue.

My sincere apologies to the precious few who still bother to read this 'fic for the lateness of this chapter. Now, I could give you a bunch of reasons why this is so - some of which are even valid - but that's beside the point now, right? After all, the chapter is here, now... :-)

St*r, Tiger Shinigami, Windrage Shinigami, Link Worshiper - thank you ever so much for reviewing. Nice to know someone out there is reading it - or at least skimming through it. I'm sure I'll disappoint you all yet. :-)


Against all caution, the room was but dimly lit, the glare of the computer screen contributing nearly as much light as the two pairs of glowing tubes in the ceiling. Evidently, the janitor had seen fit to implement the budget cutbacks on the quality of the lights throughout the entire building composing Preventer Headquarters. The two users of the computer, however, barely noticed - they were far more concerned with the screen. Well, at least Sally was. Seated before the computer, her fingers flew rapidly across the keyboard, setting down search parameters. Behind her, Wufei was pacing restlessly, sometimes staring over her shoulder at the screen, other times stretching or testing his reflexes with short exercises, but never halting. Both had changed out of their dusty clothing used during the Outback adventure, Wufei back in his standard white and blue attire, Sally in another variation of pieces from her leftover Alliance wardrobe. At last satisfied with the series of commands, she initiated the search, leaving the computer to dig for their treasure. She rolled her chair back a little, at the same time bumping into Wufei, causing him to lose his balance, though quick reactions kept him from falling. Sally's smile to smirk made it hard to determine if the push was intentional or not. Wufei muttered a few words to himself, which was probably for the better - undoubtedly, they would be unsuitable for the general public.

"How much longer until the search is complete?"

"Patience, Wufei - it all depends. We have to make a cross-search of all Preventer records on file to seek out the test pilot's records. We don't know much beyond his name, and since his employment spans across both Alliance, OZ and Romefeller records we're better off being thorough."

Wufei snorted, giving his nostrils a brief flare. "Maybe - I still hate being trapped here in the archives." He sneezed. "Don't they ever dust this place? It's badly in need of some oxygen, too."

She smiled. "And risk fire? There's a lot of dry paper down here, Wufei."

Another snort.

The computer gave off a shrill beep, letting them know it had found something.

"Is it done?"

Sally shook her head. "No, but it at least did find one record."

"Good."

Minutes went by in silence, Wufei returning to his exercises, Sally resting her chin in one hand, using the free fingers to tap in rapid rhythm on the computer desk, much to Wufei's irritation - though he refrained from mentioning it, and instead tried to block it out, and at the same time missing three further beeps. Finally, the ancient archival computer sounded a low, prolonged hum, signaling the end of the search. Sally sat up straight, and rolled her chair into position before the screen.

"The first record is from Romefeller - the test pilot's original work contract. One William Walker, hired September 19th, 173 AC. Job description classified, job location classified, salary classified... Doesn't look like this will get us anywhere."

"Okay, next file."

A few keyboard commands later, the first black-on-blue form vanished, replaced by a small color photograph with a short subtext. The picture contained a man in his early thirties, the woman he embraced looking roughly the same age, brown locks and stretched arms of a young child visible at the very bottom edge of the picture. "Looks like we got a family photo. 'William, Victoria and John Walker, Haroldsford Air Show, 178 AC.' "

"Hm - well, this won't help us much either. We need an address."

Sally shrugged. "If it isn't on file here, we'll just go to search the ESUN National Archives - they're bound to have addresses stored."

"I wouldn't count on it - if they hid his work contracts this well, why wouldn't they give him and his family a classified address too? Wouldn't be difficult for them."

"Maybe not." She brought up the next document, a very white screen replacing the color picture, but a few lines in black displayed at the top. Sally moved closer to read the fine print, only to lean back dejectedly. "Well, this isn't good. 'Alliance personnel file #159-A44: Walker, William; date of birth Mar. 29th 142 AC, hired as [classified] Sept. 19th 173 AC, transferred to mechanic duty Feb. 12th 175 AC, transferred to test pilot duty Aug. 5th 178 AC, discharged from service Oct. 21st 179 AC, deceased Jan. 17th 180.' "

Wufei threw his arms into the air in pure frustration. "Oh, great. We're chasing a dead guy."

She smirked. "Well, at least he won't be running away from us."

"What if he took the token to his grave? Do you want to order his remains exhumed?"

"Of course not." She tapped away at the keys again, showing the final hit. "Wufei, this might be what we're looking for - it's a moving notice handed to the accounting office, dated May 7th 174 AC. Looks like Mr. Walker brought his family closer to his place of work - It's an address somewhere in California."

"So, we're going to track down his family?"

Sally nodded. "That's our best option right now."

"For all we know, they could be dead too - the other record didn't state cause of death. He and his family might have been in a car crash."

"Possibly. We can stop by the National Archives on the way there, just to confirm Victoria Walker's address. It shouldn't be classified, as her late husband's ties with the mobile suit development program were severed even before his death."

With Wufei's consent, they were on their way.

-------

The ESUN National Archives were, as most bureaucratic systems, not easily navigated. Having two Preventer badges opened doors rather easily though, so within just two hours of entering the building, they had gotten the confirmation they needed. Victoria Walker was still living on a west coast address; Villand Drive 17B, Boron, California. After consulting a map, spending quite some time locating the place, they were on their way.

From the Los Angeles aerodrome, it would take the pair hours to find - in increasing order of difficulty - the right road out of town, the intersection where they were to go right, the town of Boron, Villand Drive, and the estate 17B. As luck would have it, after negotiating the first four obstacles, Villand Drive was anything but cooperative in providing a clear plaque with '17' on it, much less '17B'. Only on the fourth drive-through of the street did Wufei spot a dirt road sneaking around the garage of 16A, squeezed in between the building making up 16A and B, and 20A and B. Driving their rented beige sedan across the dirt road, they soon found 17A and B on the back of the building holding both them and both 16's. 17A looked completely abandoned; the windows were dusty and drape-less, the sparse lawn was growing wild, the driveway was full of potholes and there was a sizable hole in the rotten boards of the garage door.

17B was in better shape, but not by much. Wufei pulled over, stopping by the off-white picket fence framing the reasonably trimmed grass of 17B. The second floor seemed abandoned, sporting the same signs of desolation as its neighbor apartment. A few sparse flowers grew in the two terrace pots nearly threatening to fall off the wooden porch railing, contesting with the bench dangling from questionable chains from the small roof outcropping, along with a decorative contraption of small, odd tubes and shapes playing their metallic tunes as the wind grabbed them.

"After you." he offered Sally.

The change from the air-conditioned cool climate of the car to the air outside was abrupt, and the gentle, warm wind making the leaves of the potted plants flutter did nothing to improve things. Wufei could feel his throat dry up already, and he instinctively unbuttoned the top few buttons of his white coat.

Sally took a few deep breaths to adjust. "Okay, time to see if someone's home."

The steps up to the porch objected to being stepped on quite loud, and as there was no real doorbell by the outer netting door, perhaps the loose and half-rotten boards were meant to serve that purpose - in any case, they apparently did. Not before had they taken the three steps up to the porch did a woman with black hair tied in a bun, off-white plain dress, blue massage slippers and a weary, saddened face fractured with more wrinkles than should be there appear in the doorway.

Sally brought out her Preventer badge, showing it to the woman. "Victoria Walker?"

The woman nodded.

"My name is Sally Po, this is Wufei Chang. We're with the Preventers, and would like to ask you a few questions about your late husband. May we come in?"

Victoria moved her right hand towards her heart, hand lingering briefly before proceeding to her left shoulder, adjusting the dress. She nodded again, and opened the netting door for them.

"Thank you."

The interior of the house was in a state of slight disarray similar to the outside. The small living room Victoria led them to after Sally and Wufei left their shoes by the door, was cramped with antique furniture - the couch alone had to be a good two centuries old. An even older grandfather clock gave loud tocks - but remarkably few ticks - over in the corner by the far door. Victoria motioned them to sit. "May I get you something to drink?"

Sally stretched the pants legs of her uniform as she sat down. "No, thank you. We're fine." Wufei followed her lead.

Victoria made a strained smile, nodding. She hovered for a bit, then sat down in a wicker chair, dulled white paint work matching the fabric of the couch and her dress.

"Mrs. Walker - we're looking for an item last known to be in your late husband's possession. I'm sorry to inconvenience you like this, but we have few other options in order to find it."

Victoria didn't speak, again giving her curt, careful nod as her reply.

Wufei picked out a picture from his coat's inner pocket, placing it on the empty glass table, sliding it across. "This is what we are looking for. It's a small piece of jewelry. It's painted in gold, but has no real material value."

The lady in white studied the picture, again shaking her head in affirmative quickly a few times. "Yes, I remember this. William was very fond of this one. He never told me where he got it, but he always considered it his good-luck charm." She smiled, chuckled. "That's William for you - if he had something on at a time of good fortune, it just had to be some sort of magic amulet. First time he showed it to me was after he got a job as a test pilot again. He was so happy back then, and I didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't want him to go back to that job. He'd been working as a mechanic for a while, safe and sound on the ground, just where I wanted him to be. Sadly, he was the kind of stubborn man that always have their heads way up in the clouds." She chuckled again, more strained, reached for a paper napkin at one of the small side tables and wiped away a lonely tear. "William wore that thing ever since. Didn't even lose faith in it as a luck-bringer when he got cancer." More tears, soft sobbing.

Wufei and Sally shared a quick look. Sally retrieved the picture. "We're sorry, Mrs. Walker - we didn't mean to upset-"

Victoria reached out for two more napkins, discharging her nose in one, wiping away the last tears in the other, crumbling all three up and tossing them in the waste basket by the grandfather clock, making the slam dunk by bouncing off the antique time piece. "No - No, that's okay. I always get a bit shaky when I think of William. I still miss him, even after seventeen years. It reminds me of how lonely I really am, clinging to his memory." She sighed, weary smile returning. "Well, you're not here to listen to me talk about William - let's see, the good-luck charm... William kept it and a few other luck-bringers with him until the very end. He fought, but couldn't fight without his little superstitions. I preferred prayer, but he didn't agree. During one of our more difficult talks in the last year, I told him I'd never let him be buried with all of those charms. He laughed, saying that if he was dead, luck didn't matter anymore. I hated it when he joked about dying - he only did it to cheer me up, of course. William never could stand me being sad. Said he loved to see me smile." She sighed again, reaching out for a framed photograph set up on one of the small side table, letting her fingers trail the frame while studying the young man on the picture. She wiped away another tear, refocusing on the two Preventers. "He blurred in and out of consciousness at the end, and in one of the last moments he handed his favorite charm - the one the two of you are searching for - to our son, John. John wasn't even five at the time, but I think he knew what was happening anyway - Always so advanced for his age, bless him."

As Victoria stretched for yet another paper napkin, Wufei leaned in over the table, elbows on his knees, chin on knitted fingers. "Is your son still in possession of the amulet? We really need to-"

Her face grew stern in an instant. "My son is dead, agent Chang. As much as I fought against it, he chose to enlist, wanting to be a big-shot mobile suit pilot, just like his father - and he managed that, following his father's steps, becoming a pilot - and dying for something futile."

Wufei retreated, Sally taking over. "We apologize, Mrs. Walker. We didn't know that."

She sighed, again a quick series of curt nods. "Yes, yes, I see that. I still remember when the Alliance officer came to my door two years ago, giving me the fancy speech of how John had given his life in the struggle for peace, and all of that. They refused to give me any details on his death back then. I found out what had happened a year later. My son had led an assault against one of the Gundams. His entire unit was wiped out, him being the last one. They all died so that one of the Alliance commanders could retreat - from a position where John had warned him not to be before the battle commenced." Her face grew stern again, and more bitter. "So many young men and women died because one old bastard brass-bearer thought it'd be nice to go touring the middle of a battlefield. When I learned of this, I managed to get a meeting with the man they saved, asking if his life was worth theirs - after I had given him a solid slap across his face. He looked so sad, so regretful. Sent me a letter a bit later, full of apology and regret. I replied, saying that couldn't bring my son or his comrades back. As far as I know, this man now has a position within the ESUN government, overseeing grief work and support for all the shattered families out there." She sighed, a wicked grin flashing across her face. "Got another letter from him just last week, telling me all about it - sure, he couldn't bring my son back, but he wanted to do all he could for those left behind. His form of penance, I guess. I'm considering writing him back again, saying I forgive him - it's not his fault he was a fool that shouldn't be commanding in the first place."

Wufei gave a brief snort. "A leader should be on the front of battles, not hiding behind his soldiers."

Victoria's eyes hardened, staring at him. "If you're about to say dying in battle for something you believe in is some glorious thing, I might give you the same service I did the old commander. John's death was completely futile. His killer didn't leave me as much as a proper grave to visit - there were no identifiable remains from the near-disintegrated wreckage of his mobile suit. The military officer brought me an urn, but it probably doesn't contain any of his ashes, given the account I got last year."

An eerie silence fell upon the cramped living room, Victoria calming down, returning to her initial soft, sad state. Sally hesitated, but at last ventured a question. "Mrs. Walker - where did this battle take place?"

"Corsica - the Alliance had a military base there. My son wasn't stationed there at the time of the battle, but had trained there as a mechanic a few years earlier. Whenever he wrote, he described it as a beautiful place. It's not much of a comfort, but at least he died at a place he liked, doing what he dreamed of." She paused, all too clearly reading the questions the agents were reluctant to ask written across their faces. "John kept the amulet with him all through his childhood. He had it around his neck in a thin chain when he left for recruit training at the Lake Victoria base. That was the last time I saw it. I suspect he wore it right up until the day he died." Again, she halted, folding her hands in her lap. "I'm sorry - but that's all I know about it. I would tell you to seek out any friends John might have had at Lake Victoria or Corsica, but I fear they too might have become casualties in all the pointless fighting. The few he ever mentioned to me, also died in the battle at Corsica - I found that out when trying to uncover the truth of that battle."

Again, the unbearable silence returned, disturbed only by the soft breeze sounding through the gap of one of the living room windows, and the metallic tinkles of the porch ornament. Sally reached across the table, placing a hand across Victoria's folded ones. "Mrs. Walker, if there's anything we can do for you to-"

She waved it off, her exasperated hands going in a circle before again resting on her knees. "Don't bother, Agent Po. I've gotten enough sympathies and apologies from government officials - it doesn't help anymore. It only makes me think more about the past - and I've done enough of that for the last seventeen years. I want to move forward, but few wants to talk to me about that." She sighed. "I guess I'll write the old commander another letter. Maybe I'll be able to put the sorrow and anger behind me... I wish you luck on your search, though."

Victoria stood up, in no unclear way stating the interview was at an end, and she wanted her solitude back. The agents also got up, both shaking Victoria's hand, thanking her for her time, though neither gave another apology for the past, both knowing she wouldn't like it. The half-rotten porch step squeaked loudly as they passed it to the car, and though neither looked back, the click of the door lock was unmistakable.

Leaving behind Villand Drive and in turn Boron, the trip back to the aerodrome was done in silence, neither eager to talk. Sally had taken the wheel for the voyage home, but at the straight, open road she found her eyes drawn to the left every so often, surveying the vast fields of crops blooming in what had once been deserts, and before that-

"Wufei, do you know what this place used to be?"

"Huh?"

"This place - out left. Do you know what used to be here?"

He shrugged. "How should I know? I didn't grow up here, and the lessons I got on Earth history and geography didn't go into such trivial details. If you're talking about the irrigation programs of the late 120s-"

Sally chuckled. "No, that's not what I was thinking of. I was thinking of military history."

"Military?"

"Yes - before the limited nuclear exchange in 53 AC, there was a major airbase out there - Edwards Air Force Base."

"Edwards?"

She nodded. "They built the New Edwards base closer to San Francisco rather than here. The official reason was that it was cheaper. Other unofficial reasons would go along the lines how most soldiers don't like 'haunted names' - names associated with great fatalities in combat, plus worries the radioactivity hadn't dissipated enough. I'm inclined to believe a bit in the first of those. It's strange - place names are re-used all the time, despite the tragic history attached to some of them. Sometimes, you alter them a bit, putting a 'New' in front of the original name, like 'New Edwards'. However, you'll rarely see people give a ship the name of a ship that's gone down - especially warships. Aren't all that many Titanics, Mary Celestes, Santa Marias or The Worlds out there, either. Infamy or superstition, I don't know. We'll probably never see another Libra or Peacemillion."

He shrugged, snorted. In a far corner of his mind, the words 'haunted names' struck a cord - but Wufei was determined to keep that to himself. The name he gave the Shenlong and Altron was a far too personal matter. "What's this got to do with anything, anyway?"

Her time to shrug. "Just trying to make conversation. It's a long drive, and we don't have directions to argue about now."

Wufei frowned, glaring into the dashboard. "That doesn't mean the topic is worthwhile discussing. We'd be better off planning our next move."

Sally gave a faint smile. "All right - what do you think?"

"We basically have two choices. We can go to Corsica Base, and try to trace John Walker's moves backwards in time, or we can go to Lake Victoria Base, and follow the moves forward in time. From what the widow told us, we should probably head for Corsica. If he still had the locket then, someone there might remember. If he did wear it at the time of the battle, we can probably consider the token lost. It's a long-shot, but..."

She nodded again. "I agree with that. Corsica it is."

Silence took over the car again, hums from the tires, engine and air-conditioning all that complemented it. They came upon the first major turn on their return trip, heading left in the intersection. More silence.

"Wufei, Noin told me she first met you at Lake Victoria."

"So?"

"She told me what happened there..."

He shrugged. "My question remains the same."

"You have no problems with what you did at Lake Victoria? If Corsica is literally a dead end, we might have to return there, and I'd like to have advance warning if-"

Wufei glared at her. "Why should I have a problem? I killed a few soldiers, blew up a few military buildings, mobile suits and planes."

Sally pulled over, slowing the car to a halt on the road's shoulder before turning to glare back at Wufei. "You killed sleeping recruits, Wufei. Doesn't that bother you at all?"

"They were soldiers - and by their own choosing. If they joined the Alliance forces without considering it could mean their death as well as a chance to pilot mobile suits and get a fancy uniform, that's their grave mistake. A soldier must be willing to fight, and willing to die. Those that are too weak to deal with that, shouldn't become soldiers in the first place. Only those with the strength - mental and physical - to do what they must to win should take up arms."

She faced front again, crossed her arms and briefly closed her eyes. "They had no way of retaliating, Wufei."

Somewhat irritated, Wufei continued his defense. "So blame their poor security for letting me slip inside unnoticed in the first place. Noin could have killed me as I escaped, but she didn't. In return, I didn't kill her."

A chuckle. "She told me about the 'bleeding hearts or women'."

He smirked. "I'm still not sure which she is."

Sally offered half a smile, but punched Wufei none too gently in the shoulder nevertheless.

"What was that for?"

"Don't insult absent friends, Wufei. Especially not mine."

The smirk returned. "Who said I was insulting? I was merely-"

He dodged the next punch - though this was a much weaker one. "Next time you see Noin, offer her a duel. I think she could teach even you a thing or two, both about mobile suit and hand-to-hand combat."

"Not much use in learning about mobile suit battles anymore, Sally."

She sighed. "I'm not so sure. As long as there's people willing to set up the kind of operations we discontinued in Australia..."

Wufei's eyes flared with determination as he looked down the road ahead. "We'll win. The minds and hearts of the people are on our side. In time, we'll win."

Another sigh. "It's a hollow victory, though. After we've cleared away all would-be aggressors and disbanded ourselves as the last paramilitary group left, how are people going to know wars are best avoided? All through Earth's history, there has been nothing like a major war to keep things silent for decades."

Wufei closed his eyes for a second, and smirked. "War, peace and revolution..."

"What?"

"Nothing - just one of Mariemeia's mottos. History repeats itself after those three beats, as an 'endless waltz', she said."

Sally smiled. "The band has stopped playing, Wufei. We're coaxing the dancers to sit down now."

He chuckled. "Now all we have to do, is make them all sit together and play Scrabble for cheap points instead."

Her time to laugh a little.

"The people really want peace now, Sally. That's why I'm sure they'll have it, too. Each person can contribute to peace; it's all a matter of avoiding and preventing fights. Peace shouldn't just be handed to you by soldiers on a distant battlefield. That's why I joined Mariemeia's forces - I wanted to see if the general public cared enough about peace to risk their lives to keep it. The only way for me to find that out, was to become part of the threat. My actions couldn't break the cycle of history. That was - and continues to be - the job of the people."

She gave a curt nod. "You know, I studied a great deal of military history as a complementary subject to my medical training. I'm a bit concerned how history will judge us."

"You don't think we're doing the right thing, trying to keep the world at peace?"

"It's not that - I believe we're doing the right thing, Wufei. What I'm wondering is if the historians of a hundred years into the future will think. Maybe they'll conclude that by breaking the endless cycle of wars, we altered a part of humanity, for better or worse."

"That's the problem of the future. Our problem is to deal with the present."

Sally looked at him, and nodded in agreement. She turned the ignition and set the car back in motion. For the rest of their drive and later flight, they took on far lighter topics of conversation, such as battlefield tactics, shrapnel injuries, motorcycle maintenance and spirituality - all of which danced fairly close and occasionally inside the greater topic of warfare.

-------

For one of the early battlefields, Corsica Base was still relatively intact. Most of the hangars were still standing, but like the rest of the base; towers, airstrips, barracks and remaining buildings alike, they had been converted to civilian use. Only one hangar had been reserved for storing leftover military material, awaiting disposal or conversion to use in non-military projects. Once more, Wufei found himself in a dusty storage facility, digging through old records. The file cabinets had been moved from the main administration building to the hangar at the end of the war, and bore evidence of having been left utterly alone in the sixteen months since the move. The guard on duty hadn't been of much help - she had been transferred to Corsica only after the hangar had been converted into a warehouse, and knew nothing of what had happened to any of the Alliance or Oz personnel once stationed here. She had been able to lead them to these file cabinets, though. Wufei caught another whirl of dust as Sally unlocked another compartment, rifling through paper folders - all labeled - but most with only serial numbers, and thus very tricky to identify the contents of.

"Sally, this is pointless - why are we digging through this ancient paperwork? We should be searching out the soldiers that were stationed here right before the battle. These files can't possibly contain anything worthwhile, when we don't know what to look for in the first place!"

She smirked at him, and slammed the compartment shut, sending more dust into the air. "You're right, we should be searching for the old personnel, but Mrs. Walker said her son had been stationed here before the war. I'd like to take a look at those records too." She shrugged. "If nothing else, perhaps we'll find out if he still had the token after finishing his training at Lake Victoria."

Wufei frowned. "Don't tell me you seriously think the Alliance kept records of the personal effects of the mechanics?"

She chuckled, and opened another cabinet. "Probably not - but you never know. Maybe it was registered as stolen at some point, or put in a safe deposit box within the armory because he considered it too valuable to carry with him, or maybe it is mentioned as an identifier in a disciplinary report. The point is, we won't know if some clue is hidden here unless we search for it."

A snort.

Sally smiled. "Look, it won't take that long - there's only five cabinets here."

He leaned against the cabinet at the end. "Well, what about the records - those numbers have no meaning unless you know the key."

A smirk. "What makes you think I don't recognize the codes, Wufei?"

"Codes?"

"Yeah - at least some of these numerical combinations are old Alliance codes." She picked up a folder. "This one holds transfer papers. The number after the contents identifier is probably whatever registry number this person had here."

Wufei pushed away from the cabinet, and walked up next to Sally. "So, do you know Walker's registry number?"

"No, but these files have been put in a very strict order. I'm trying to find any that could be of interest, like those I mentioned earlier." She closed the compartment, and went for the one below it, crouching beside the metal drawer. Her hands sifted through another handful of manila folders, before picking one out. "Okay, this one's a disciplinary record." She opened it and skimmed the content before putting it back, and fishing out the next, repeating the procedure. "Wufei, could you start at the top drawer of the next cabinet? I think all the disciplinary records are gathered together, so that compartment should have more."

With a nod, Wufei did as he was told, and began reading about all the fights and assorted troubles mechanics, guards and pilots had gotten themselves into - and gotten caught for. Though few names were mentioned in the files, he remembered a picture of a young man he'd seen at the Walker residence. He wasn't sure if it was of William or John, but he figured it didn't matter much. Father and son, how different could they really look? After reading another dead-end file, he shook his head. "Sally, this is pointless. These records doesn't give clues to who they're about."

She sighed. "For starters, look for the mechanics. Walker wasn't stationed here as a pilot before his death. After that, you eliminate the senior mechanics, he was an apprentice here. They wouldn't give a youngster like him that much responsibility."

With a muffled growl, Wufei continued the search. Four manila folders later, he found something of interest, and smirked. "Sally, I think I have something here."

She stood up, and looked over his shoulder. "What did you find?"

"It's a reprimand given to a junior mechanic. Evidently, he went AWOL one night, and was spotted by the MP guards. It lists all items in the possession of the mechanic at the time of his arrest. I find this the most curious." He tapped at one line; 'golden-colored talisman'. "That sounds very much like what we're looking for."

Sally nodded. "So, we can probably skip going to Lake Victoria. Does it say what he was doing off base?"

"Yeah - The private states he left the grounds to visit his girlfriend, who resides in a nearby town. The private did not feel he was neglecting his duties, as the away period did not last more than a few hours, and while crucial to keep his relationship alive, meant nothing to keep the base operational."

She chuckled. "Sounds like young Mr. Walker was in love."

Wufei shrugged. "Or a delinquent. The record continues. The private believes he would not have been granted leave by his superior officer, whom he believes has an active interest in disrupting the relationship, as the lady in question is a relative of the officer. The private is scheduled for transfer to pilot duty on a mobile suit unit currently stationed at Newport City Spaceport by the end of the week, and believed he would not be allowed by his superior to ask his relative for her hand in marriage before then."

"Well, that's certainly interesting. Does it say what happened?"

Wufei skimmed the rest of the text. "It says no disciplinary action was taken, given his otherwise spotless record and his transfer."

A smile. "Does it say what happened?"

Wufei rolled his eyes. "What is with this extreme desire women have to know every little detail of any love life they hear about?"

That remark earned him a punch in the shoulder. "A proposal is not a 'little detail', Wufei."

Snort. "Well, it doesn't appear the lady's answer is in this file - but guessing from the answers 'the private' gave, it sounds like a positive one to me."

Smirk. "So, young Mr. Walker got engaged." Slight gasp. "Wait, Mrs. Walker didn't mention anything like this."

Wufei shrugged. "Maybe it fell through. Maybe the girl said no, maybe she didn't like the long-distance relationship. And maybe he didn't want to discuss his love life with his mother, especially if it was failing."

"Maybe..."

Silence.

Wufei put the file back in the cabinet, and closed the drawer. "So, what do we do next? Search after the fiancée, or head for Newport City?"

Sally pushed the other drawer shut with her foot, and instead went for the one she had searched through when they first got there, taking a second look at the brown folders there. "Both. I think we should seek out the young woman before heading to Newport City. If she lived here, and her affair with Walker was known among the base personnel, she might have been given his personal effects after his death."

"You don't think those would have been shipped to the mother?"

She shrugged. "Probably - but some things might have been overlooked until they decommissioned the base. It's worth looking into, Wufei - we need every lead we can get."

He sighed. "You're probably right."

Sally continued rifling through the folders.

"What are you looking for this time?"

She smirked. "Something I didn't think was relevant earlier - there was a folder here somewhere that-" She paused to snap up a folder from the very rear of the drawer. "Here it is. Marriage license applications."

Wufei frowned. "Why would those be stored here?"

With a short snicker, Sally opened the manila folder and skimmed the documents within. "These aren't the 'real' documents. It was part of Alliance protocol that any marriage a soldier entered, was to be registered at their place of service, partly because of next-of-kin protocols and regulations, partly because they were hesitant to send family men and women into the line of fire, and partly because the Alliance had a fondness for red tape. Anything they didn't approve of, got covered in it. They didn't like their troops to have spouses; soldiers with loved ones usually try to stay alive, so there's a tiny risk orders wouldn't be obeyed if they were virtually suicide missions. The Alliance preferred soldiers married to their career and to the armed forces."

As she spoke, Sally kept sifting through page after page of documents, searching for names. Unlike most of the records in the archive, these were civilian documents in nature, and signatures thus more practical than identification numbers. She was well over halfway through the minuscule stack of papers when she stopped.

"Looks like we have a winner - This is the paper for one John Walker and a Francesca Sabatini, both with signatures and all the right stamps."

Wufei folded his arms, yet again leaning against the file cabinets. "So they did marry?"

"Perhaps. They had filled in the paperwork to make it happen, but that doesn't mean they went through with it. Remember, Walker was transferred shortly after the proposal. For all we know, they had time to fill in a few forms before he left - but the date of approval on this piece of paper is after the date he was transferred, judging from the disciplinary record." She put the documents back into the folder, the folder in the drawer and the drawer in the cabinet. "I guess we have to ask Ms. Sabatini whether or not they got married."

Wufei smirked. "If they got married, she wouldn't be 'Ms. Sabatini' anymore."

Sally placed one elbow on the file cabinets, resting against it. "Oh, I don't know - not all women change their names in marriage, and sometimes, it's the groom that takes a new name."

Snort, but no real answer.

"Regardless, I'm sure the locals know her old name." She pushed away from the archives and began walking towards the door, looking over her shoulder at her partner. "Let's go, Wufei. We have another house call to make."

Wufei rolled his eyes, but followed nevertheless.

-------

The small town was stretching up a hillside, giving the impression the military base had pushed the town away from the scarce flat grounds. At least, they had had the courtesy of putting the runways on the far side of the administration center, sheltering the hamlet at least somewhat from the noise and pollution.

Finding Walker's fiancée was trickier; though Sally and Wufei had asked several people - including the clerk at the post office - the name wasn't familiar to them. Undeterred, they continued asking, and by a fountain in the center of town they had luck. A priest they found sitting on a bench next to the fountain remembered the name and gave them her address, but gave only a knowing smile when Wufei asked why nobody else knew her. "Ask her," the priest had answered. "She only used that name twice." Then, the elderly man had given a quick excuse before hurrying away.

The address was for a remote cottage nearly at the top of one of the hills surrounding the town. Wufei had asked for directions three times, and everyone referred to it as 'Francesca's place' - albeit nobody knew her as 'Sabatini' - or 'Walker', for that matter. To them, she was 'Francesca Celea'. Upon asking why, they just got a puzzled shrug and "Well, that's her name."

The dirt path in the grassy slope continued winding up through outcrops of rock and sparse oak trees, and after only a few minutes the last few buildings at the town's edge went out of sight. An aircraft roaring its engines back at the base could still be heard, but barely. The hill wasn't all that steep, but certainly enough to be a nightmare for mailmen or takeout services. The two agents slowed down, neither of them wanting to run out of breath nor desiring to take a break - because even asking for one would be an admittance of weakness. The sun, though falling closer and closer to the horizon, didn't help things. Sally wiped a few sweat droplets away from her forehead. "So... I guess they didn't marry after all."

Wufei gave a muffled grunt, kicking aside a sizable pebble that had lost its way from the small scree to the left onto the path. "Good for them."

Sally chuckled. "Have something against marriage, Wufei?"

He stopped. "How much have I told you about my past?"

She shrugged, folded her arms and rested against one of the boulders holding the scree back. "Not more than you've wanted to share - which isn't a lot."

"I was married once."

"Oh..."

Wufei smirked at seeing her mild surprise. "It was an arranged marriage. We hated each other."

Tentative smile. "Sorry to hear that, Wufei. Still, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."

Grunt. "I guess that makes me the strongest man alive." His smirk faded away, and he took to studying the path. "No, that's unfair to her. We argued a lot, and I don't think we ever agreed on anything, except for a field of flowers. There was a small open area on our colony where wildflowers grew - as wild as they can get on colonies, at least. She gave her life for those flowers..."

Sally put a hand on his shoulder, but didn't know what to say, and thus ended up saying precisely the right thing; nothing at all.

He met her eyes, face hardened. "You once asked me if 'Nataku' was the name of my Gundam. It was, at least to me. It was also her name, in the end. I always felt - I don't know, something - about that suit that kept reminding me of her, as if her spirit watched over it. A friend once suggested I was having trouble parting from her memory, since I named the one thing I would have trouble surviving the war without after her." The smirk returned, and he gave a short snort. "Maybe he was right."

She gently rubbed his shoulder. "It's always hard to lose your loved ones."

He frowned, grunted and pushed away her arm before resuming the hike up the path. "I already told you - we hated each other."

Sally smirked, sighed, and walked after him, deciding not to push the poor boy further - she had gained a little more insight into the enigma that was Wufei, and for today that was enough.

-------

The terrain flattened again - which was but natural, considering the hill top - and an ancient low fence made of stone was barely visible though weeds and moss, circling a small homestead in. There wasn't any gate; the path just went through a gap in the low wall. As the fence couldn't live up to be a barrier, there was no need for a gate. Within the fence, there were sheep, at least two dozen. They bleated at the intruders to their pasture, one tiny lamb staggered over on wobbly legs to greet them, only to return to its mother after getting two gentle pats on the head by Sally.

Right about then did the attack come.

One deep bleat of a war cry was all the warning they got before Wufei got hit on his lower lower back - blunt bump to butt sending him sprawling to the grassy ground, one hand landing in a tiny group of small, black nodules. He scowled at the perpetrator, a ram with a far messier fleece than any of the other animals. Wufei sat up, looked at his hand and glared even harder at the poor beast, before trying to wipe it off on the grass. Sally's laughter didn't help much, nor the triumphant bleating of the offending sheep, which trotted away along the lowered fence, mission accomplished. In the doorway of the tiny house on the hill, a young woman with short dark curls and a dark blue dress appeared. "Zander, you stop that!" She hurried over to them, and she offered her hand to help Wufei up. He shook his head and got up on his own. "I'm so terribly sorry. Zander is very territorial, you see. The gate is part of his domain. I've never seen such an aggressive sheep, other than the wild ones further inland."

Wufei snorted as he brushed himself off - with the unsoiled hand, of course. "A sheep for a sentinel - that's one step closer to having seen everything."

The woman giggled, and suddenly noticed Wufei's hand. "Oh, please come inside - you probably want to wash that off."

He rolled his eyes. Hearing the obvious is known to have that effect, among others.

-------

The interior of the building was as modest as the exterior; three rooms in all, a small stove and refrigerator next to the fireplace, a counter with an out-of-place bathroom sink - which Wufei quickly put to good use - a small wooden table with a bench on each side, each bench draped with fleece. The woman quickly explained the two doors at the back led to two small bedrooms. All there was of a bath, was the outhouse out behind the cottage. She replaced the water canister below the sink, and filled up a small kettle. She noticed their looks, and grinned. "Indoor plumbing hasn't reached all the way up here yet." She pointed at the lamp dangling from the ceiling. "We have electricity, but that's all this place really needs. I find it easier to buy the water barrels I need. Now, please sit down, I'll make us some tea." She put the kettle on the stove before joining them, the two agents on the bench along the wall, her on the edge of the other bench. "So, what can I help you with? This is a bit out of season for tourists..."

Sally smiled, reached inside one of her shirt pockets and pulled out the Preventer badge to show her. She nodded in response. "Are you Francesca Sabatini?"

Her right brow went skywards. "No... My name is Francesca Celea."

Sally put the badge away again. "My name is Sally Po, this is my colleague, Wufei Chang. We were wondering if you knew a young man named John Walker."

At first stunned, she answered. "Oh..." And silence descended for a few seconds, only to be shattered by a whistle. "Oh - the water is done." She leaped up and ran over to the stove to turn the heat off, then went after three cups, spoons and a small basket of assorted tea bags from the cupboard above the sink. She brought it the cups and tea bags over first, then the kettle and an insular pad for it. She smiled. "Sorry about the interruption. You were asking about John?"

"So, you know him?"

She nodded as she poured water in all three cups. "Yes, I knew him. We were engaged at one time - well, we were supposed to be."

Sally absentmindedly took one of the tea bags, not taking notice of the label before passing the basket to Wufei. "Supposed?"

Again, Francesca nodded. "I met him when he worked as a mechanic down at the military base." She sighed, put both elbows on the table, and let her chin rest against her palms. "Must be nearly five years ago now... We were young, foolish and headstrong. We were in love, and wanted to get married. I wanted to, at least. John was a bit reluctant, but when he was scheduled for transfer, I more or less demanded his commitment." She giggled briefly, before letting go another sigh. "I was so stupid to believe things would work out. You see, my older brother Alberto was John's boss down at the base - that's how I got to meet John in the first place. Alberto didn't approve of us dating, however - you know how protective brothers can be."

Wufei searched through the basket as Francesca spoke, trying to find something that was in accordance with his tastes. In the end, he settled for a mild herbal mix, and passed the basket back to its owner, who straightened up, picked out a yellow tea bag, and began dipping it in her cup of water.

"We didn't want Alberto to find out what we were planning, so we talked about it in secret with the town priest. He told us about all the papers we had to fill in, and since Alberto had friends both in the administration at city hall and at the personnel office down at the base, we couldn't be open about it. We couldn't forge the documents either - but the priest suggested I use my mother's maiden name in the documents instead."

Sally halted in dipping her tea bag, and rolled it up on a spoon before taking a sip of the brew. "Sabatini?"

Francesca smirked. "Correct. The papers would be valid, although I would have to sign my full name for the final documents, attesting John and I were wed. He handed in the paper he needed to at the base, and I filed the rest. We scheduled a very private ceremony with the priest - just him, John and me - for just a few days before John was to leave. With a different last name, Alberto's friends didn't take notice, so my brother didn't find out."

Wufei took a sip from his tea, the taste vaguely disagreeing with him - but not enough not to drink. "A report we found suggests your brother did find out."

She put her cup down. "Oh?"

"John was caught while sneaking back into the base, and-"

As he spoke, Francesca grew a knowing smile. "Oh, right - you see, the big day arrived, and I got cold feet, big time. It suddenly dawned on me what we were about to do, and John had already proven what I wanted; he'd given the sign of commitment I wanted. I told him as much, and we called the wedding off." She snickered. "The priest seemed a bit relieved by the whole affair. He's a friend of my parents, and had been a bit reluctant to perform the wedding without their knowing, but he trusted my judgement, the dear old fool. Two days later, though - or more correctly, one day and half a night later - John came to see me. He had gone AWOL to see me. I had barely managed to open my bedroom window before he went down on one knee and offered me the same ring we had picked out for the wedding. At first I thought he was kidding - then I realized he was dead serious. He said he wanted to marry me - for real, this time, and in the open. I was speechless - I don't know how long it took before I was able to stutter out a 'yes'." She sighed. "You should have seen how John lit up..."

Sally sipped at her tea, having had luck in her random selection, judging by her smile - or perhaps there was another reason for it. "Did you get married?"

Francesca sighed. "No. I announced the engagement to my parents. They gave their consent, though Alberto argued very much against it. He kept us apart until the day John left for Newport City, and we didn't have much time then." Another sigh, grin. "We didn't waste those few moments alone to fill in papers..."

Wufei accidentally got a bit of tea down his windpipe, coughing to regain normal breathing. The woman opposite had the nerve to laugh, so he shot her a ferocious glare.

"He left, of course. We stayed in touch, exchanging long letters and the occasional vid-phone call - those were rare, since this place doesn't have a phone line, and John was always busy with his piloting job. He was so proud of that..." She smiled. "Once in a while, he got a leave long enough to travel from wherever he was stationed to come visit. Those days always passed in a blur, and were much too short... We discussed finalizing our vows, but I kept insisting he at least finish his first tour of duty first. I didn't want to wed during a short two-day break." Her smile faded, another sigh. "Maybe it was for the better - if we had gotten married, I'd be a widow already..."

Sally reached out to place a comforting hand on Francesca's folded ones. "We're sorry for your loss."

Francesca shrugged. "Yeah... Well, don't be. It's been two years now, I've moved on - at least, I'm trying to. Alberto hasn't changed." She forced a grin.

Wufei had had just about enough. Sure, the tale was interesting enough, but it had no relevance whatsoever to why they were here. His patience was running dangerously low, and his sense of civility might even be endangered soon. He cleared his throat to gain the women's attention. "Ms. Celea, we are searching for an item that was in the possession of John Walker - it's a small amulet, probably tied to a string, with an-"

"With an image of a ram on it?" She nodded, straightening up again, withdrawing her arms to cross them over her bosom, sincere grin growing. "Yes, I've seen that one - many times. It was just about the only thing I could never lure off John..."

Sally chuckled, Wufei fought an oncoming blush - successfully so.

"I don't think he ever parted with that. He inherited it from his father, and it meant a lot to him. I sometimes wondered if he'd choose that trinket over me, if he was forced to make the choice. I certainly never dared ask. It was as if that thing was a part of him."

Wufei ended his struggles with his internal heating with a cough. "When was the last time you saw it?"

Francesca giggled, and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Why, when I last saw the rest of him, of course."

This time, Wufei lost the fight, and his cheeks gained just a hint of coloring.

She grinned at him, happy with the result, before her face grew grave. "The last time I saw John, was just hours before he died in combat down at the base. He arrived here the day before the rest of his unit, and spent the night up here. The poor man was so tense, I could barely make him relax - it was as if he knew he was going to die. When he left that morning, he was lost for words, and he wasn't even able to mutter his usual 'arrivederci' as he walked to the gate. I thought he was upset with me for something, and I was afraid I was losing him. I went back inside to get some tea to calm down on, and stem the tears. It wasn't until Alberto came by in the evening with the bad news I let them go." Her eyes glistened. "I'm sorry, but that's all I know - John never parted from that amulet, not even in death." A sole tear led the way for its siblings. Francesca wiped them all away.

Wufei had definitely heard enough now. He leant in towards Sally, and whispered in her ear. "You try to calm her down, I'll head back to the city and inform Lady Une the 'Aries' symbol is lost."

Sally gave him a faint frown, but nodded in agreement nevertheless. Wufei got up, quickly excused himself and went out the door. He could hear Sally say words of comfort, but didn't linger. Instead, he made way through the flock of sheep outside, careful with where he stepped. A few agitated bleats could be heard, one a bit deeper than the others.

-------

Within the cottage, Francesca had regained her composure, now upset at her behavior. "I'm sorry. I thought I'd be over it by now."

"Sometimes love lasts forever."

Francesca nodded. "The pain and sense of loss lingers a long time, too..."

From outside, they could hear the sheep growing restless, bleating and bells blending.

Amidst drying tears, Francesca dared a single, short chuckle. "I hope Zander won't bother Mr. Chang again. That ram attacks almost everyone that passes through. I'm allowed to pass, and the mailman. Zander let John pass through too, after he won their head-butting contest."

Sally flagged a questioning brow.

Francesca snickered, wiping away the last moist droplets. "It was when Zander was barely more than a lamb. He was showing his aggressive behavior already back then. John just wanted to play with him. I warned him not to anger Zander, but John didn't listen. Next thing I know I hear a cry in pain, and he comes in, clutching his head. He had gotten a few cuts, which I treated. He told me what happened, and I couldn't help but laugh. Through the window, I could see Zander was fine. It was very clear who the winner was. Still, Zander took to respecting John after that. That ram has never allowed anyone to touch him, much less wash or shear him, except for John. That's why his wool coat is so messy. I just let him serve as a gatekeeper and doorbell - Zander is a good intruder alarm." She smiled.

-------

Wufei could hear the hoofs approaching from behind him, and knew just what anything-but-docile sheep was gaining on him. He glanced over his shoulder, and was able to side-step Zander's first attack. The ram halted, and with nostrils flaring like a bull, the ragged beast turned to face its opponent yet again, starting another charge. Wufei prepared to face the beast, but as fate would have it managed to step in a tiny pile of round, black unmentionables, slipping just as Zander was upon him. He reached out while trying to avoid the ram's impact, ending up grasping the animal's neck and spinning to land on top of the sheep - something that was not appreciated. Zander set out at full gallop alongside the low stone fence, shaking all the while to get the unwelcome rider off. Pride prevented Wufei from shouting for help, but the wild movements of the rabid sheep, occasionally scraping him along the stone fence, pounded him enough to force out muffled cries of pain.

-------

Sally looked up. "Did you hear something?"

Francesca took another sip from her tea, and shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

"I'm sorry we had to put you through this, Ms. Celea."

She sighed. "No, that's okay. I'll get over him soon, I'm sure - I mean, that last day... He couldn't say goodbye to me, but he had time to pet Zander farewell." She chuckled. "What kind of husband would he make if he could associate with sheep more easily than with his wife?"

Sally smiled in response.

-------

Wufei had had enough; he was getting off this ride. Apparently, Zander had the same idea, as the ram suddenly stalled, causing Wufei to lose his grip, though he frantically grasped at the fleece as he fell over the sheep's head, and the stone fence beyond - the latter impacting with his lower back as he tumbled over it and down a fair bit of the grassy hill, at last coming to a halt against a boulder. Ignoring the pain, he sat up, trying to verify if he had any broken bones or serious injuries, happy to reach the conclusion he had none - though he could feel several scratches and bruises, and something that had gotten stuck in his hand...

-------

Sally stood up. "Now I'm sure I heard something." She went over to the window, but saw nothing circumspect. Francesca walked up beside her.

"Doesn't look like anything is wrong. Maybe it's the silence that's getting to you? I know several of the tourists that come here have trouble adjusting to the lack of city noises."

"Maybe..."

-------

His vision begun to clear, and he took the object in his hands in closer inspection. Small, triangular, with a snapped string dangling from one end. Wufei blinked a few times, scraped aside some of the dirt covering the little trinket. Sure enough, the head of a ram, in gold, glared back at him. Despite pain, he smirked, closed his fingers around the amulet, and staggered to his feet, seeking support on the boulder. His dazed mind began clearing, his sense of balance restored itself, and the exhilaration of triumph slowly gave way to the assignment. He had to get back to Sally to show her-

"Hello there, young man."

Wufei immediately spun towards the voice, taking a defensive stance, wincing as he did so. The new arrival was an elderly man, white hair and moustache, gray coat, walking cane in one hand, brown hat in the other, lifted off in greeting. The man put his hat back on, and took a few steps closer. "Stay back," Wufei warned. Compliance.

"I only wish to discuss something with you, sir - but not here."

Even Wufei's still blurred brain could make out the distinct British accent in the stranger's voice. "Identify yourself."

The man gave a short gasp, before smiling, free hand immediately going for the hat again. "Oh, forgive me." He minutely lifted the hat, and made a short nod. "Berthrand Chauser, at your service."

"I am-"

"Preventer Agent Wufei Chang - yes, I know. Now, young man, if you would come peacefully, I only wish to exchange a few words."

"I will go nowhere with you. The only place I'm going is back up the-" He suddenly heard the footsteps behind him, and in the fraction of a second it took to turn to see the second unknown, he cursed his still dulled senses for not watching his back, outraged with himself for making such a grievous tactical blunder. In that same second, he felt a sting in his neck, and swatted at it in pure reflex, finding a tiny dart there. Wufei immediately launched an assault on his attacker, only to stumble at the first step, his body going unresponsive, and his mind giving way to drowsiness, rapidly heading towards sleep. He turned to the old man again, staggered over to him. "You... I'll..." He collapsed, the old man's henchman catching him before he hit the ground.

"My apologies, young man, but it appears the scales do not tip in your favor today. Now, sleep. We'll talk later."

If the man said anything else, Wufei never registered, as oblivion engulfed him.


-end Aries-
-TBC?-

AN: Okay, this 'fic is already my lenghtiest work, and it's barely 1/4 done, judging from my original outline/plan. Of course, according to statistics, it is also my least popular one. Ah, well. :-)

I've lost track of how many hours I've spent typing on this thing as it is. Given the length of it, I'm sure you've spent some time reading through it too, in order to get this far. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could also take the few minutes - and inconvenience - to leave a line, even a single word worth, of review. Honesty appreciated, critique welcome. Heck, just an indication you want to read more of it would be a nice scribbling-boost. In the meantime, I'll work on the next chapter of both Escaping Solitude as well as this one - though probably a bit more on the former.