Chapter 4
Heaven floats in a sea of clouds; the air is sweet here as a light breeze dances in the trees with towering white buildings which seemed to glow in the sun. Towering buildings that served as home to the rich and powerful. Compared to life that lurks below, this is indeed a heaven on earth. However, if you peel away the beauty in the architecture, the smiles of the people, and strip away the lies that hold together the very foundations of Heaven, it is then that you will find the truth; the agonizing truth that turns the air bitter and causes the light breeze to change into a harsh frigid wind. The shadows grow darker and smiles crack. Heaven is indeed a long way from this place; a place where greed and corruption dwell together.
"Tell me Milliardo, what news do you bring for me today?" Treize stands ready with rifle in hand; his sharp eyes scan the small hunting ground for any sign of his prey. A small audience stands behind Treize, like puppets they wait for their master to pull their strings and send them into action.
"I bring you news indeed your Excellency, however; it will not be pleasing to your ears." Milliardo Peacecraft, the eldest of the remaining Peacecraft blood line is nothing more than a messenger boy. While his little sister plays princes to his people and Treize plays King of the world, Milliardo is left to monitor the troops and report any sign of trouble. Anger festers in his eyes and a growing hatred in his heart spreads throughout him, cleverly masked by his loyalty and honor to his family name.
"Then let us have it." Trieze responded coolly, never turning away from his watch.
"There is no sign of the five missing scientists." Milliardo waits for His Excellency to respond to this not so shocking news. A month ago, five of Heaven's top scientists disappeared. It was believed that they were still on Heaven because who would want to leave to Slaughter Pen? Or even Pearl City, an ideal place to hide with all its pipes running all over the place and the murky darkness. But even if you wanted to hide, why would you leave? It was mind blowing to many, but not to Milliardo. He wasn't all too surprised about the breakout at all.
"Hmm. I already knew that." Trieze replied. "Did we ever find out if they took anything with them?"
"Nothing at all. But I do know this; they are not on Heaven, and they haven't been for quite some time." Trieze looks toward the white haired man, an odd shine in his eyes.
"I could have told you that." A sound in a nearby bush takes Treize's attention away from Milliardo. "They must have had some one to help them escape." Treize raises his weapon as his eyes hone in on the sound.
"Two in fact."
*Bang*
The sound echoes through the great halls of the royal palace. No one stirs till the ringing sound ceases. All eyes lay on Treize as he lowers his weapon. Giving a quick nod of approval, the audience claps and speak words of praise. A servant boy runs over to retrieve the dead quail. All the time Treize collects his thoughts.
"And where did this bit of information come from?"
"Heero Yuy. He called about two days after their disappearance to say he was on the trail of two men who might have helped smuggled the scientists into Pearl."
"Heero Yuy? I am unfamiliar of the name." Treize hands his weapon to another servant boy. "Milliardo, are you telling me you have known that the scientists where in Pearl all the while your men have been looking up here?" Treize closes the space between them and a hush comes over the spectators as they look on.
"Yes. I have known for some time. My men here have been instructed to search for the ones responsible since they could not have acted alone." Milliardo answered calmly.
"So you believe there are those who would wish to conspire against me?"
Milliardo had wished not to address his concerns of a group organization plotting within the walls of Heaven to Treize. It could cause suspicion to his own actions. He debates wheatear or not he should but a sing song voice beats him before any decision is made.
"Milliardo here believes there is an underground resistance on both Heaven and Pearl." Dorothy, one of the spectators, emerges from the crowd. A sly smile crosses her lips as she puts herself between the men.
"Ah Lady Dorothy, my little sparrow. I can always count on you to keep me in the 'know'." Dorothy does a slow curtsey as she glances over her shoulder to Milliardo.
"Thank you, your Excellency. I live to serve you, and the princes Relena." Milliardo clenched his fists. The idea of his sister in the care of this witch makes his blood boil. Treize nods his approval of Dorothy's response and turns his gaze toward the shadow behind Milliardo.
"My dear Lady Une, please come here." All eyes turn to the figure that had been one with the shadows the entire time. The woman in question steps out from her place. She is dressed in the latest military uniform fashion, hair pulled back by two tight buns; a small representation of the woman herself, wire rim glasses emit a sense of coldness and her thin lips make a perfect line of obedience. "Milliardo, seeing how I can't rely on you to do a simple task of keeping me updated I must ask Lady Une to take over as Secretary of Defense. You will now be a foot solider under her command. I hope this will serve as a suitable lesion for you. Now everyone leave; Lady, Dorothy, and I have much to discuss."
Milliardo, knowing when he is beaten, bows to Trieze and sends a threatening glare toward Dorothy before he retreats. A disgrace has indeed been placed upon him, but Milliardo is not one to act prematurely. No, this disgrace will only act as fuel for his already growing hatred; willing his plans further into action. Once Milliardo is gone and the audience disbanded, Treize turns toward Une.
"Lady, will you do me this task?" As he speaks the true heavens seem to open up and bath her Excellency in their glorious light. How could she ever deny him his wishes?
"I will do it to the best of my abilities, your Excellency." The words are spoken for a lover. Dorothy's nose scrunches up in disgust at the sight of deep admiration and love that shines in Une's eyes. Does such a light also shine in the eyes of Treize? Before it could be answered Une briskly walks away and now Treize's attention is on her. Looking into his eyes she only see the same light that seems to always be a presence there. A trait that makes so many loyal to this man.
"Come Lady Dorothy. Walk with me in my rose garden." He offers his arm to her which she takes without hesitation. Time seems to be held at bay by the sweet scent of the roses as they slowly walk through the rose garden. It is so peaceful here that one could so easily forget the horrors that lay only a few miles below them.
"Tell me how Relena is doing?"
"Your Excellency, I'm surprised. I thought your questions would be on the conspirators? Not on the well being of someone you control so well."
"I knew about the conspirators Lady Dorothy. I had just wished it had been Milliardo who had told me."
"Why your Excellency!" A light laugh escapes her perfectly dressed lips. "Playing as a fool all the while knowing more than your Secretary, I'm sorry let me rephrase; your former Secretary of Defense. A true leader of war!" Treize pulls away from Dorothy, a light smile on his perfect face. He looks to her as if looking to a small child.
"There are no leaders of war Dorothy. War is something you can not control, it moves with the people. A true leader understands this and knows the people are the hart of everything they do." Dorothy believes she must be seeing what Lady Une sees all the time. Treize seems to glow and a sense of calm covers her like a warm blanket.
"So Lady Dorothy, tell me about Relena." His voice is gentle and woos the very words from her mouth.
"Relena . . . "
Relena sits under a willow tree in her green house, a book in hand but the words are not what occupies her. They are the words of her former lover, secret lover, which she was ashamed to admit to. No. She couldn't let it be known. She did the right thing.
"Why can't I protect you? I love you Relena! I want to be the one here for you! Don't push me away."
The words still hunt her dreams. A man pleading to the women he loves, the woman that turned him away, afraid of her own heart. Yet, she does not feel a pain in her heart, a pain that is associated with hurting someone you love. Instead there is only guilt.
"Duo, I wonder. Did I ever love you?" Or was it the fact that he was alive and she dead? She was a vampire, feeding off his passion and spirit. Yes, she had to get away from him before she turned him into her. It was for his own good. Relena was meant to be alone.
A horrified group of people surround a bloody body. The source of the fear is not with the body itself, but with the bloody words that tell of the gruesome demise of this lost soul.
"Heero Yuy strikes again!" Shouts one man. Few flee while the brave take a closer look. "Looks like it's Ed. Dumb son of a bitch. He owned me money." Upon the remembrance, the man moves for the pockets. A heavy boot slams down on the man's hand. He yells in pain as others back away from this new arrival.
"Back off." Few words that carry far. Releasing the man from under his boot the new man sends a death glare to all who stayed. They scatter like rats into the inky darkness. All but one.
"You an Angel?" The man turns to the one who stayed. "I asked, you an Angel?" The one in question comes closer and what resolve this man had quickly disappears. "I-I got info for a Heero Yuy! I know something he may be wanting." This seems to catch the man's attention. "Yeah, but I will only tell Heero. Unless you got more than he can give me?" The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a shiny new badge. "Oh! So you are Heero!"
"Yes. Now tell me what you know."
"What you give me?"
"Your life."
"G-good enough. I seen the whole thing. Yes I did! I saw Ed and some lady he had by the throat. But then when I got closer I saw that the lady was a guy with girl hair."
"In a braid?"
"Yeah! He killed Ed and then some lady came up to him. They talked for sometime."
"What did they say." The bum didn't know if it was safe to finish the tail. What if Heero killed him when he was done?
"I've got five little ones Mr. Yuy."
"Your point?" No change in his attitude. Cold as the legend says.
"N-nothing. I was . . . just . . ."
"You are wasting my time here."
"Right. Sorry Mr. Yuy. What happened was:
"H-hey?" A young girl emerges from the shadows, her arms protectively around her as she walks closer to the man with the braid. He looks over his shoulder at her. His eyes dark but upon seeing her they lighten up and he grins at her.
"Hey babe. Stay there for a sec." He orders as he returns to whatever he was doing. Babe, staying where she is, looks over his shoulder as best as she can. But what she saw she didn't like for she made a small gasp. The guy with the braid writes out the name Heero Yuy in the Ed's blood. Once done, he gets up and dusts himself off. Turning around he smiles to her like nothing was wrong.
"What? If I going to use Heero's name I need to act like him."
"Don't make it a common thing ok?" The guy drapes an arm over her shoulder as he leads her away from the unpleasant site.
"Nah, seem like a tight ass to me."
"And that's the truth! Please don't kill me."
"Then run before I do." And with that the man runs with this tail tucked between his legs. Much to do, much to do. Heero scolds himself for not making sure the idiot Duo was dead. Now he has to pay the price. But it won't be too long. Soon Heero will catch up with Duo and soon he will reintroduce Maxwell to the world of pain.
"Enjoy my name while you can Maxwell. I will kill you."
Heaven floats in a sea of clouds; the air is sweet here as a light breeze dances in the trees with towering white buildings which seemed to glow in the sun. Towering buildings that served as home to the rich and powerful. Compared to life that lurks below, this is indeed a heaven on earth. However, if you peel away the beauty in the architecture, the smiles of the people, and strip away the lies that hold together the very foundations of Heaven, it is then that you will find the truth; the agonizing truth that turns the air bitter and causes the light breeze to change into a harsh frigid wind. The shadows grow darker and smiles crack. Heaven is indeed a long way from this place; a place where greed and corruption dwell together.
"Tell me Milliardo, what news do you bring for me today?" Treize stands ready with rifle in hand; his sharp eyes scan the small hunting ground for any sign of his prey. A small audience stands behind Treize, like puppets they wait for their master to pull their strings and send them into action.
"I bring you news indeed your Excellency, however; it will not be pleasing to your ears." Milliardo Peacecraft, the eldest of the remaining Peacecraft blood line is nothing more than a messenger boy. While his little sister plays princes to his people and Treize plays King of the world, Milliardo is left to monitor the troops and report any sign of trouble. Anger festers in his eyes and a growing hatred in his heart spreads throughout him, cleverly masked by his loyalty and honor to his family name.
"Then let us have it." Trieze responded coolly, never turning away from his watch.
"There is no sign of the five missing scientists." Milliardo waits for His Excellency to respond to this not so shocking news. A month ago, five of Heaven's top scientists disappeared. It was believed that they were still on Heaven because who would want to leave to Slaughter Pen? Or even Pearl City, an ideal place to hide with all its pipes running all over the place and the murky darkness. But even if you wanted to hide, why would you leave? It was mind blowing to many, but not to Milliardo. He wasn't all too surprised about the breakout at all.
"Hmm. I already knew that." Trieze replied. "Did we ever find out if they took anything with them?"
"Nothing at all. But I do know this; they are not on Heaven, and they haven't been for quite some time." Trieze looks toward the white haired man, an odd shine in his eyes.
"I could have told you that." A sound in a nearby bush takes Treize's attention away from Milliardo. "They must have had some one to help them escape." Treize raises his weapon as his eyes hone in on the sound.
"Two in fact."
*Bang*
The sound echoes through the great halls of the royal palace. No one stirs till the ringing sound ceases. All eyes lay on Treize as he lowers his weapon. Giving a quick nod of approval, the audience claps and speak words of praise. A servant boy runs over to retrieve the dead quail. All the time Treize collects his thoughts.
"And where did this bit of information come from?"
"Heero Yuy. He called about two days after their disappearance to say he was on the trail of two men who might have helped smuggled the scientists into Pearl."
"Heero Yuy? I am unfamiliar of the name." Treize hands his weapon to another servant boy. "Milliardo, are you telling me you have known that the scientists where in Pearl all the while your men have been looking up here?" Treize closes the space between them and a hush comes over the spectators as they look on.
"Yes. I have known for some time. My men here have been instructed to search for the ones responsible since they could not have acted alone." Milliardo answered calmly.
"So you believe there are those who would wish to conspire against me?"
Milliardo had wished not to address his concerns of a group organization plotting within the walls of Heaven to Treize. It could cause suspicion to his own actions. He debates wheatear or not he should but a sing song voice beats him before any decision is made.
"Milliardo here believes there is an underground resistance on both Heaven and Pearl." Dorothy, one of the spectators, emerges from the crowd. A sly smile crosses her lips as she puts herself between the men.
"Ah Lady Dorothy, my little sparrow. I can always count on you to keep me in the 'know'." Dorothy does a slow curtsey as she glances over her shoulder to Milliardo.
"Thank you, your Excellency. I live to serve you, and the princes Relena." Milliardo clenched his fists. The idea of his sister in the care of this witch makes his blood boil. Treize nods his approval of Dorothy's response and turns his gaze toward the shadow behind Milliardo.
"My dear Lady Une, please come here." All eyes turn to the figure that had been one with the shadows the entire time. The woman in question steps out from her place. She is dressed in the latest military uniform fashion, hair pulled back by two tight buns; a small representation of the woman herself, wire rim glasses emit a sense of coldness and her thin lips make a perfect line of obedience. "Milliardo, seeing how I can't rely on you to do a simple task of keeping me updated I must ask Lady Une to take over as Secretary of Defense. You will now be a foot solider under her command. I hope this will serve as a suitable lesion for you. Now everyone leave; Lady, Dorothy, and I have much to discuss."
Milliardo, knowing when he is beaten, bows to Trieze and sends a threatening glare toward Dorothy before he retreats. A disgrace has indeed been placed upon him, but Milliardo is not one to act prematurely. No, this disgrace will only act as fuel for his already growing hatred; willing his plans further into action. Once Milliardo is gone and the audience disbanded, Treize turns toward Une.
"Lady, will you do me this task?" As he speaks the true heavens seem to open up and bath her Excellency in their glorious light. How could she ever deny him his wishes?
"I will do it to the best of my abilities, your Excellency." The words are spoken for a lover. Dorothy's nose scrunches up in disgust at the sight of deep admiration and love that shines in Une's eyes. Does such a light also shine in the eyes of Treize? Before it could be answered Une briskly walks away and now Treize's attention is on her. Looking into his eyes she only see the same light that seems to always be a presence there. A trait that makes so many loyal to this man.
"Come Lady Dorothy. Walk with me in my rose garden." He offers his arm to her which she takes without hesitation. Time seems to be held at bay by the sweet scent of the roses as they slowly walk through the rose garden. It is so peaceful here that one could so easily forget the horrors that lay only a few miles below them.
"Tell me how Relena is doing?"
"Your Excellency, I'm surprised. I thought your questions would be on the conspirators? Not on the well being of someone you control so well."
"I knew about the conspirators Lady Dorothy. I had just wished it had been Milliardo who had told me."
"Why your Excellency!" A light laugh escapes her perfectly dressed lips. "Playing as a fool all the while knowing more than your Secretary, I'm sorry let me rephrase; your former Secretary of Defense. A true leader of war!" Treize pulls away from Dorothy, a light smile on his perfect face. He looks to her as if looking to a small child.
"There are no leaders of war Dorothy. War is something you can not control, it moves with the people. A true leader understands this and knows the people are the hart of everything they do." Dorothy believes she must be seeing what Lady Une sees all the time. Treize seems to glow and a sense of calm covers her like a warm blanket.
"So Lady Dorothy, tell me about Relena." His voice is gentle and woos the very words from her mouth.
"Relena . . . "
Relena sits under a willow tree in her green house, a book in hand but the words are not what occupies her. They are the words of her former lover, secret lover, which she was ashamed to admit to. No. She couldn't let it be known. She did the right thing.
"Why can't I protect you? I love you Relena! I want to be the one here for you! Don't push me away."
The words still hunt her dreams. A man pleading to the women he loves, the woman that turned him away, afraid of her own heart. Yet, she does not feel a pain in her heart, a pain that is associated with hurting someone you love. Instead there is only guilt.
"Duo, I wonder. Did I ever love you?" Or was it the fact that he was alive and she dead? She was a vampire, feeding off his passion and spirit. Yes, she had to get away from him before she turned him into her. It was for his own good. Relena was meant to be alone.
A horrified group of people surround a bloody body. The source of the fear is not with the body itself, but with the bloody words that tell of the gruesome demise of this lost soul.
"Heero Yuy strikes again!" Shouts one man. Few flee while the brave take a closer look. "Looks like it's Ed. Dumb son of a bitch. He owned me money." Upon the remembrance, the man moves for the pockets. A heavy boot slams down on the man's hand. He yells in pain as others back away from this new arrival.
"Back off." Few words that carry far. Releasing the man from under his boot the new man sends a death glare to all who stayed. They scatter like rats into the inky darkness. All but one.
"You an Angel?" The man turns to the one who stayed. "I asked, you an Angel?" The one in question comes closer and what resolve this man had quickly disappears. "I-I got info for a Heero Yuy! I know something he may be wanting." This seems to catch the man's attention. "Yeah, but I will only tell Heero. Unless you got more than he can give me?" The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a shiny new badge. "Oh! So you are Heero!"
"Yes. Now tell me what you know."
"What you give me?"
"Your life."
"G-good enough. I seen the whole thing. Yes I did! I saw Ed and some lady he had by the throat. But then when I got closer I saw that the lady was a guy with girl hair."
"In a braid?"
"Yeah! He killed Ed and then some lady came up to him. They talked for sometime."
"What did they say." The bum didn't know if it was safe to finish the tail. What if Heero killed him when he was done?
"I've got five little ones Mr. Yuy."
"Your point?" No change in his attitude. Cold as the legend says.
"N-nothing. I was . . . just . . ."
"You are wasting my time here."
"Right. Sorry Mr. Yuy. What happened was:
"H-hey?" A young girl emerges from the shadows, her arms protectively around her as she walks closer to the man with the braid. He looks over his shoulder at her. His eyes dark but upon seeing her they lighten up and he grins at her.
"Hey babe. Stay there for a sec." He orders as he returns to whatever he was doing. Babe, staying where she is, looks over his shoulder as best as she can. But what she saw she didn't like for she made a small gasp. The guy with the braid writes out the name Heero Yuy in the Ed's blood. Once done, he gets up and dusts himself off. Turning around he smiles to her like nothing was wrong.
"What? If I going to use Heero's name I need to act like him."
"Don't make it a common thing ok?" The guy drapes an arm over her shoulder as he leads her away from the unpleasant site.
"Nah, seem like a tight ass to me."
"And that's the truth! Please don't kill me."
"Then run before I do." And with that the man runs with this tail tucked between his legs. Much to do, much to do. Heero scolds himself for not making sure the idiot Duo was dead. Now he has to pay the price. But it won't be too long. Soon Heero will catch up with Duo and soon he will reintroduce Maxwell to the world of pain.
"Enjoy my name while you can Maxwell. I will kill you."