By Ai
Chapter 8Relena sighed and stared out the window of the plane. What a gloomy day. Her thoughts were interrupted as Quatre sat down beside her.
"Everything is taken care of. The flowers have arrived." He told her.
"I still feel so bad. We promised to be there." She replied, turning to look at him.
"I know, but at least we called them to send our condolences. It is an important meeting…about what, I'm not sure."
"I guess so. I heard that Minister Domoto is required to be there also afterwards. Poor man." Relena had to blink back a few tears.
"Quatre, Relena, be prepared for takeoff." Trowa said and took a seat across the aisle.
Both nodded while buckling their seat belts. Relena looked over to where Trowa sat himself down. Heero was sitting across from him, typing into his laptop as usual. She sighed yet again. Heero seemed to be himself again, always not saying anything unless it was absolutely necessary. It was a bit annoying but what could she do? Relena did not feel up to attending the meeting but again, she had no other choice. She frowned. Was this the fate of every politician?
"Relena, maybe you should try getting some shut-eye during the trip." Quatre looked over at her.
"I suppose I should...Quatre, you get some rest too, ok?" He nodded and she turned to the window once more before closing her eyes and letting sleep overtake her being.
* * * * *
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please." President Loire cleared his throat.
All the chatter quieted down. Relena raised her eyebrows a bit. It was such a somber environment today at this meeting. She looked over at the president and noticed the unusual weariness and seriousness on his face. This was not going to be good. Disaster was up ahead, she could tell. So, she prepared herself for the impact.
Heero glanced over at Trowa. They were both hidden in the shadows, watching the movement of the meeting. He could tell that many of the older and more powerful politicians were tense. He suspected that the higher-ranking diplomats already had a meeting about the issue they were to discuss today. Trowa seemed to suspect of the same thing too. Heero had to admit that he was curious as to what was coming up…it seemed to be so serious that it put the most composed politicians out of ease. What was in store for them? Could it be…he had his own suspicions but stopped himself from forming concrete conclusions until he heard the real truth. So he settled himself back against the wall he was leaning on and waited for President Loire to start talking again.
"Thank you all for coming on such a short notice," the president continued.
Quatre raised his eyebrows slightly. Mr. President was a nice man, but he was hardly ever so appreciative about such small things, especially at such a formal meeting. He was a very business-oriented man and straight-to-the-point. Something had definitely gone awry.
"We…received a quite disturbing message early evening yesterday. The council has already had an emergency meeting but we have come to no conclusions." He paused. "So, we share with you what little we have. Lady Une, would you please reveal the letter."
Heero raised an eyebrow. So Une knew about this all along? No wonder her expression was so grave this morning. He looked over to Trowa as he listened intently to his earpiece. Trowa seemed just as amused and surprised about that fact. Was there a threat to the security of the E.S.U.N. that involved the Preventers?
The lights dimmed slightly and Heero adjusted his vision so that he could keep everything in sharp focus lest something should go wrong.
When the letter was projected onto the screen, politicians all around gasped in shock. The Secretary of the E.S.U.N. proceeded to read the contents out:
To all the members of the E.S.U.N.:
There is a simple question that has been on my mind for a long time. Do you people think that you are saviors of the world? How much blood have you shed to achieve your selfish goals? I can tell you that millions have bled to give you the positions of power you all have today. I will not be ruled by a bunch of greedy, hypocrite hounds. Here, I demand that the E.S.U.N. send troops out to Antarctica to greet us and fulfill a challenge of war. We shall win and take over the E.S.U.N. However, there is one chance for you to avoid this battle and avoid more bloodshed. We are willing to give you a chance to prove yourselves capable of managing the E.S.U.N. We have prepared a, shall we say, puzzle, for the Preventers. If they are able to solve this within the allotted time, we will retreat. However, if they cannot…there will be no choice but to meet us on the battlefield.
"It was signed by a man called Lucifer Deimon. We believe that he is a colonist although we are not sure where he's from." The Secretary concluded.
Relena's hand clenched into a fist in her anger. How dare he say we made no sacrifices? The soldiers and politicians who paid their souls and lives to achieve this peace, this democratic and just government, this unity? She shook just thinking about how closed-minded and insane this man was.
"History is an endless waltz, so to speak. The triple
measure of war, peace, and revolution goes on and on."
Was young Mariemaia right about the cycle of history? Is revolution about to take place? Relena let out a tired sigh, her anger being
replaced by her frustration and shock.
After everyone's initial shock wore down, the meeting continued.
"You can be certain that the best agents of the Preventers will be sent out to complete the given task." Lady Une assured the crowd of politicians.
Everyone nodded in response, not sure if they should trust the Colonel. After all, they had no clue as to what the challenge was…they were still in the dark about many things.
So the meeting continued as plans were discussed and made to deal with the dilemma. It was going to be a long day.
* * * * *
The door opened in front of them.
"Hey Trowa, we were wondering if you and Heero would like to join us for a swim?" Quatre asked.
Both politicians agreed that they needed to relieve the stress that had accumulated throughout the day and going for a swim seemed to be a very appealing and good idea. Relena was already in a tank top, shorts and flip-flops with the handles of a small bag resting on her arm. Quatre was in a t-shirt, board shorts and carried his towel on his arm.
"Heero, what do you say?" Trowa asked the figure in front of the laptop. He waved them off, declining their offer. Trowa shook his head. Heero was such a workaholic.
"So how about you, Trowa?" Relena asked, a small smile gracing her lips although she seemed a little disappointed.
"Give me a minute." Trowa ran into his room to change into something appropriate. He agreed to go because it was his job to protect the duo on the trip and if Heero wasn't going, he'd have to tag along; not that Trowa minded spending some time with his friends. He knew Quatre could protect himself and Relena too, but he was there just as backup. Trowa reappeared also in a t-shirt and board shorts. The trio said short goodbyes to Heero and headed down to the pool.
When they got to the pool area, Relena and Quatre couldn't help but throw off the clothes over their bathing suits and catapult themselves into the crystal clear water like two little kids. As a result, Trowa was splashed from head to toe in a second. He decided he didn't want to get anymore wet than he already was and positioned himself on a lounge chair that offered an excellent view of the whole pool area.
Relena resurfaced, a rare laugh ringing throughout the area.
"I didn't know it would feel this great to just drop all the weights from your shoulders and go wild."
"I completely agree." Quatre said, resurfacing just beside her and startling her.
"Quatre! You scared me." Relena splashed some water in Quatre's face.
And a water fight erupted.
Trowa rolled his eyes, he just couldn't resist.
"Since when did both of you revert back to being children?" he asked them.
"I don't know, but it's so fun. Loosen up, Trowa!" Relena laughed.
Trowa barely dodged a splash of water intended for him.
"I'd rather stay dry." He tried to brush back the bangs that still flopped into his face from last time he got wet.
Quatre leaned back, letting himself float on his back.
"This is so great. Too bad it won't last…we're going to have to deal with the crisis sooner or later." He sighed.
"True…but even if I was only free for a second…it would be worth it." Relena started to swim laps.
"Have you ever thought of…you know…letting it all go?" Trowa asked.
Both of them stopped what they were doing.
"No…I haven't. This is my life…" Relena replied although she didn't seem too sure of herself.
"Yeah, we're needed here, it's what I need, want to do…" Quatre trailed off. "It'd be so nice to get a massage right now, I'm exhausted!" Quatre said, changing the subject.
"Whirlpool time!" Relena announced, clambering up the steps and proceeding to adjust the settings of the hot tub.
Quatre got out as well and they both sat their selves down into the warm water.
"This feels so good." Relena sighed.
Quatre leaned back, feeling the water jet against his back.
"Trowa, why don't you join us? It's really relaxing in here." Quatre commented.
Trowa shook his head and settled himself back into the lounge chair.
"I guess he's not in love with water like we are." He shrugged and let himself relaxed.
Relena smiled and closed her eyes, letting the warm water surround her tired body. She felt like all her worries and everything around her were starting to slowly fade away…
"Relena? Relena?" She felt someone gently shake her.
"Mmm?" she slowly sat up straighter and rubbed her eyes before opening them. A beautiful pair of concerned blue eyes looked right into hers.
"Are you okay? I thought you fainted from the heat or something…"
"Yeah…I guess I just doze off." She replied sheepishly and stretched. "Sorry."
"It's ok." Quatre let out a breath of relief. "I think it's about time we get out of the whirlpool anyway."
The pair got out just as the water jets were automatically shut off.
"Wow, it's so chilly after getting out of that pool." Relena shivered.
"Yeah, I think I'm just about done with swimming. I'm going to head to the sauna. Want to come along?" Quatre asked.
"More heat??" Relena asked bewildered.
"I guess I'm just a heat-loving guy." Quatre laughed, "Trowa, are you coming?"
"Sure," he replied getting up.
"I think I'm going to squeeze in a few more laps before I head back up."
"Alright, we'll meet you outside of the change rooms in about 20 minutes, okay?" Quatre asked.
"Sure. Enjoy yourselves." She smiled, waving them off.
"Be careful, Relena." Trowa reminded her.
"I will. It's safe here." The boys left her by the poolside.
Relena walked around the pool a few times to make sure her body had sufficient time to cool off. This would be one of the few moments of calmness left in her life for a while to come, and she was going to enjoy every last minute of it. Soon, she'd have to prepare for the crisis that lay ahead. She shook the negative thoughts from her head and focused on the shimmering water in front off her. With a smooth dive off the board, she let the cool water engulf her.
A.N.: I bet no one's reading this anymore! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in ages but I've been so caught up in work and writer's block. I'm still set on finishing this story! Anyway, if anyone does read this, what do you think of the chapter? I know it's kind of weird that they are having so much time after learning of a huge crisis but hey, sometimes people have just got to let it go. And both Relena and Quatre deserve it, they work so hard! Anyway please leave me a review, that'd be greatly appreciated. Alright, ja ne!
Disclaimer: I don't own GW. What else can I say?