The 8th- The Cat in the Cradle & the Bird on the Moon
m m m m
Helena looked up with eyes shining, "I-I didn't know it was-Birdie."
He hugged her, "You didn't know, people make mistakes, you were acting on your emotions."
"Dad, Is she-dead?" She added darkly.
"No, lucky as hell may I add."
"Luck be the lady that's Katrina Nyle . . . ." Duo entered the conversation between father and child. They were sitting outside one of the numerous guest rooms in the Peacecraft-Yuy manor
"Speaking of which, she's following her mother down the same path. I ran a check and she's the one that's been hacking into our computer files as "Byrd's the Word."
"Damn! That's how she knew how to get to the disks."
"Something told me to destroy them but I figured they could be sometime of insurance."
"Oh yeah from who?"
"Angela."
"That bit-person again? Man, we don't even know her and she's causing the most hell!"
"She wants the new metals still."
Even the normally subdued girl was awed, "There are more?"
"Always have been-they say it's better than gundamium."
"Anglea wants them because she's has her butt to protect, Treize owes her big time."
Helena didn't want to be left out, she had some say-so, "Isn't Mr. Treize dead?"
"Yeah, but his past is coming back to haunt the living. As far as any of us know, Angela knows about it and she's invovled."
"The trouble with spies-" Duo remarked with a smile.
"I think we should go and see her." Helena commented, "That is-if you like dad, Mr. Maxwell."
"Hey lead the way princess, we're all curious."
"Hello Robyn. You don't remember me, do you?"
Robyn. No one ever called her Robyn. She was Protègè Blaque, the newest threat to national security, a spy under the training of The Truest Spy alive-Angela Livingstone.
Now some strange lady was calling her by her real name.
Robyn.
Only Angie ever said that name.
"Robyn-are you awake?"
A blonde-haired older woman leaned over her, concern and reassurance was written on her face. When she managed to open her eyes and scan the room she saw it was full of people.
People she knew.
Why did she know them?
The three men and the woman. Their faces, she remembered them.
But a sudden pain tore through her head.
"Stop calling me that, don't you dare you call me that!" She screamed to her lungs content
Trying to jump out of the bed but only managing to snap her precious strength even more, the girl sunk to the ground.
"Like mother, like daughter." Duo commented. Everyone had to agree on that one.
Relena helped her back up-there was no literal prison that she expected to be thrown in-but this room felt like one. She was an outsider-a criminal. It was the only life she ever could know.
Helena walked into the room first, sure that she had to right this wrong, followed by her father and her godfather. She saw her friend there in her mother's arm like she did ten years ago.
"Robyn . . ." The sky eyed girl touched the grey-green child on the shoulder.
She was greeted with a strange smile:
"Congratulations, you're the first person that ever shot me."
You could swear that someone made carbon copies of these girls being they were just so like their parents. One sharp in wit and one sharp in battle, the eyes of the fathers and the looks of their mothers. Strange how the past can repeat itself.
"Sorry. I didn't know it was you." Was the somber reply.
The girl wanted to curse them, to loathe them, but a raspy inquiry came out.
"How-how do you know me?"
"You don't remember the cemetery? Everybody was chasing after you? You don't remember your father's grave?"
"I never had a father or a mother or anybody to care about me."
"But you had me. You knew my mother, our friends, me."
Trowa added, "We know your mother Katrina Nyle."
"Sabrina Thorton was my mother's name-"
Duo cut her off, "That was just another alias, she had plenty of them-you're the daughter of the Great Pretender."
She couldn't stand having her hopes up then dashed to bits.
"You don't know shit, you know NOTHING about me."
"And you don't know yourself little girl." Heero answered.
Robyn tried to fight them, it was become too much to listen. But it amounted to the pain shooting through and she collapsed to the ground, heavily breathing.
"Don't try killing yourself girl, the suicide act it's passé." Wufei said disgustedly, he dreaded having to deal with another one.
"What do you want?" Robyn finally demanded after being placed back into bed.
Quatre stepped in, "We only want to know for who and why you came for the disks."
"I can't tell you that."
"Then we can't tell you your fate." Heero knew this game, "You can live or you can die."
"Is that a threat?" The girl challenged.
"It isn't idle."He reminded her cooly. "You have one bullet, don't add two."
A light flashed in Helena's eyes, but she tell herself that he knew what he was saying.
"You have one day to make a decision. We don't tolerate thieves. You can suffer a cold cell or find out who you really are little girl, you know nothing."
With this the group filed out leaving her alone.
Helena gave a quick glance back, Robyn caught it causing something to pass there:
She wanted to know, she wanted to find herself.
"Where the hell have you been Protègè?"
One item missed when they were checking Robyn-her hair.
The makeshift microphone was left intertwined and untouched by the unsuspecting guards who took her cellphone, her .357, the keys to her bike, and all her jewelry.
Angela was demanding an explanation for her tardiness.
It had to be said: "I-I got shot."
"What! By whom, they saw you? Dammit child-"
"A-a guard did it." Robyn had to know if their words held promise, so she lied.
"He saw me coming out with the disks and open fired."
"Ah hah, and I'm assuming you lost them?"
Quiet fell on Robyn, she could only admit to it.
"Yes."
"You little bitch." Angela cursed, "This qualifies as a fuck-up Birdie, a real fuck-up, understand?"
"Yes."
"And I have no room for them."
"Yes, I know, I can't make mistakes."
"You're mine when you get home-"
"Angela, please I can-"
"Save the bullshit. You will get me my disks and damn what you have to do to get them."
The line went dead.
"She'll kill me now, I know she will, I'll be the only Neo Blaque that ever got killed."
Robyn leaned back on the headboard and did something she haven't done for years: Cried.
She had her good cry for ten minutes before someone whispered in the dark.
"Helena Yuy, I will get you for this."
"Who's there?" The girl demanded, hoping to slam her water pitcher into the intruder's head.
"Hey, hey, go easy, Helena sent me." A boy with a purple braid walked in holding up his hands showing he had no weapons. "Besides, me thinks you can't fight."
"Try me."
"Sorry, you've been tried." Then he took something from his back pocket . . . A single red rose.
And Robyn couldn't help but flash her pretty smile.
"Who knew I liked-"
"Remember Helena sent me, she thought this would cheer you up."
"And she sends you?"
The boy was being suave, "That's right babe, I'm always Good Cheer."
"You still so smug Trio Maxwell."
Her mind asked her, 'How did I know that?"
"Hey! How did you know-"
"I still remember your name. Angela didn't suppress all my memories."
"Good ones?" The boy cocked an eyebrow.
"If you can call hating your guts a good one."
"Oh yeah, I was an evil brat-the devil child." This time Robyn allowed herself to do the chucking.
"The Robyn returned at last, everybody figured you and your mom just died."
"Whatever doesn't kills you, just makes you stronger."She shrugged.
For an hour they engaged in friendly conversation.
They were curious:
About each other's lives, about each other's behavior, about each other's eyes . . .
"What happened to you any ways?" He was asked.
"Haven't you heard, I'm Protègè Blaque-spy and a threat to national security."
"A mere girl?"
"Watch it."
"If you so much of a threat, then how did you end up with a bullet in your back."
She shrugged, "Fate. Bad luck"
"I don't believe in luck."
"I believe in Baset."
"Great, that cat charm crap again? My dad has one, I think your mom gave it to him."
Her annoyance falred up, "Why is everyone talking about a woman who doesn't even exist?"
"Because she did. Your mom was cool, kick-ass cool."
Trio decided to drop the subject-he saw she had enough pain.
"Ooh, you said a bad word."
"Yeah, well, I betta get back. I kinda left the house without asking . . ."
"You snuck out." Robyn understood, "Yeah, yeah, see you Braid Boy."
"Yeah" He flashed her his sweetest smile. "See ya."
Outside of the window, he wondered-"Trio Maxwell, were you just flirting?"
Angela in all her rage recalled the "garden chat."
"You know of this new metal?" Treize asked her ten years ago.
"What it is, where it is, and how to get it-but that damn girl has all of that on those disks.
They're full of surprises. It's similar to Gundamium, but has an extra touch."
"I want them."
"As do I." Angela continued, "We both would get what we want-you revenge and control, me security and piece of mind."
"You're Blaques only got half of the job done."
"I will admit, I didn't realize she would "180" on me so quickly, but no matter. She's in hiding."
"She helped take out one of my best bases and the Gundams are becoming pains."
He took in the genteel, painted-like scenery.
"I know what I must do: Use financial gain to entice the greedy and cold-hearted out."
'Why do you think I asked for my adopted nephew Dylan? For the heck of it. He'll charm the clothes off her back and the disks out her pocket."
He shot her a stare.
"Just remember, I hold all of your secrets Angie, the ones that can destroy you."
She felt her smile faded. An all-knowing smile played upon his lips.
"The stolen money, the deaths, the men . . ."
"We all have secrets, Mr. Treize, it's just a matter of who knows what of them."
"Prodigy, Midnight, Hunter: Bring your asses to me!"
A brunette with snow streaks going down her bangs, a skinny redhead with curls, and a blonde with a crop haircut looked up from their Spades card game in annoyance.
"What does she want now-" Deborah asked, checking out her hand.
"Don't make me find you three!"
Jacquelyn muttered, "Damn." She threw her hand down.
"Come on." Pamela told them grimly.
"Where is your sister? You do remember they are four Blaques, not just three."
"She-she never called back. You were the last person to talk to her."
"Then take your toys and find her."
"There's peace between the colonies and Earth, we can't go starting something . . ."
"You three will do whatever the hell I tell you. Blow up a place or two, I don't care!
Get me back my disks and bring back Birdie with you."
"What's so important 'bout them anyways?"
Angela slapped Midnight hard enough to send her through the coffee table.
"I need cash.
Not just pocket change but the King's Random.
Treize may be dead but he owes me. I gave him power, I gave him protection, now I need a favor."She continued to crew the trio out: "So when I say take your mobile suits and find Protègè, I mean do it!"
Pamlea felt goosebumps, "But isn't space protected by the former Gundams-?"
"I said move." Was the iced reply.
Swallowing any more rounds of protest and whines the girls straighten up and stood tall, facing their teacher. All they knew from Angela was orders and punishments, these peaceful times didn't mean everything was peachy for their lives. As with the Blaques before the were pulled from the gutters and back alleyways, trained that trust was bull and that life was on a thread.
"Got it boss." Deborah said.
"We move now." Pamela remarked. "We get the disk and the bird."
"That's our plan." Midnight finished, they were programmed to be each other.
They gave Angela a required bow and took off toward the hanger.
"Hell, it was so much easier with others. I miss my girls."
"I don't believe this!"
Trio came running down the path in the garden, Helena was reading a novel happy to avoid her "fan clubs" while Han Chang meditated quietly and Katie Barton practice the art of knife throwing. Their once quiet afternoon was interrupted-as usual-by the braid-wearing fellow.
"Was is it now Braid Boy?" She asked in annoyance.
"We're being attacked!"
"Please Trio, no jokes."
"You can this a joke-?" He played back a distress message given by colony L16.
The three stopped.
"Mobile suits attacking in peace time? Makes no sense-" Katie dismissed.
"Only the weak would do this." Han added, a follower of his father's philosophy.
The thing that scared even the Perfect's Soldier's daughter-someone destroying their peace.
Taking the lead and remaining cool, she told them, "Let's move."
m m m m
Helena looked up with eyes shining, "I-I didn't know it was-Birdie."
He hugged her, "You didn't know, people make mistakes, you were acting on your emotions."
"Dad, Is she-dead?" She added darkly.
"No, lucky as hell may I add."
"Luck be the lady that's Katrina Nyle . . . ." Duo entered the conversation between father and child. They were sitting outside one of the numerous guest rooms in the Peacecraft-Yuy manor
"Speaking of which, she's following her mother down the same path. I ran a check and she's the one that's been hacking into our computer files as "Byrd's the Word."
"Damn! That's how she knew how to get to the disks."
"Something told me to destroy them but I figured they could be sometime of insurance."
"Oh yeah from who?"
"Angela."
"That bit-person again? Man, we don't even know her and she's causing the most hell!"
"She wants the new metals still."
Even the normally subdued girl was awed, "There are more?"
"Always have been-they say it's better than gundamium."
"Anglea wants them because she's has her butt to protect, Treize owes her big time."
Helena didn't want to be left out, she had some say-so, "Isn't Mr. Treize dead?"
"Yeah, but his past is coming back to haunt the living. As far as any of us know, Angela knows about it and she's invovled."
"The trouble with spies-" Duo remarked with a smile.
"I think we should go and see her." Helena commented, "That is-if you like dad, Mr. Maxwell."
"Hey lead the way princess, we're all curious."
"Hello Robyn. You don't remember me, do you?"
Robyn. No one ever called her Robyn. She was Protègè Blaque, the newest threat to national security, a spy under the training of The Truest Spy alive-Angela Livingstone.
Now some strange lady was calling her by her real name.
Robyn.
Only Angie ever said that name.
"Robyn-are you awake?"
A blonde-haired older woman leaned over her, concern and reassurance was written on her face. When she managed to open her eyes and scan the room she saw it was full of people.
People she knew.
Why did she know them?
The three men and the woman. Their faces, she remembered them.
But a sudden pain tore through her head.
"Stop calling me that, don't you dare you call me that!" She screamed to her lungs content
Trying to jump out of the bed but only managing to snap her precious strength even more, the girl sunk to the ground.
"Like mother, like daughter." Duo commented. Everyone had to agree on that one.
Relena helped her back up-there was no literal prison that she expected to be thrown in-but this room felt like one. She was an outsider-a criminal. It was the only life she ever could know.
Helena walked into the room first, sure that she had to right this wrong, followed by her father and her godfather. She saw her friend there in her mother's arm like she did ten years ago.
"Robyn . . ." The sky eyed girl touched the grey-green child on the shoulder.
She was greeted with a strange smile:
"Congratulations, you're the first person that ever shot me."
You could swear that someone made carbon copies of these girls being they were just so like their parents. One sharp in wit and one sharp in battle, the eyes of the fathers and the looks of their mothers. Strange how the past can repeat itself.
"Sorry. I didn't know it was you." Was the somber reply.
The girl wanted to curse them, to loathe them, but a raspy inquiry came out.
"How-how do you know me?"
"You don't remember the cemetery? Everybody was chasing after you? You don't remember your father's grave?"
"I never had a father or a mother or anybody to care about me."
"But you had me. You knew my mother, our friends, me."
Trowa added, "We know your mother Katrina Nyle."
"Sabrina Thorton was my mother's name-"
Duo cut her off, "That was just another alias, she had plenty of them-you're the daughter of the Great Pretender."
She couldn't stand having her hopes up then dashed to bits.
"You don't know shit, you know NOTHING about me."
"And you don't know yourself little girl." Heero answered.
Robyn tried to fight them, it was become too much to listen. But it amounted to the pain shooting through and she collapsed to the ground, heavily breathing.
"Don't try killing yourself girl, the suicide act it's passé." Wufei said disgustedly, he dreaded having to deal with another one.
"What do you want?" Robyn finally demanded after being placed back into bed.
Quatre stepped in, "We only want to know for who and why you came for the disks."
"I can't tell you that."
"Then we can't tell you your fate." Heero knew this game, "You can live or you can die."
"Is that a threat?" The girl challenged.
"It isn't idle."He reminded her cooly. "You have one bullet, don't add two."
A light flashed in Helena's eyes, but she tell herself that he knew what he was saying.
"You have one day to make a decision. We don't tolerate thieves. You can suffer a cold cell or find out who you really are little girl, you know nothing."
With this the group filed out leaving her alone.
Helena gave a quick glance back, Robyn caught it causing something to pass there:
She wanted to know, she wanted to find herself.
"Where the hell have you been Protègè?"
One item missed when they were checking Robyn-her hair.
The makeshift microphone was left intertwined and untouched by the unsuspecting guards who took her cellphone, her .357, the keys to her bike, and all her jewelry.
Angela was demanding an explanation for her tardiness.
It had to be said: "I-I got shot."
"What! By whom, they saw you? Dammit child-"
"A-a guard did it." Robyn had to know if their words held promise, so she lied.
"He saw me coming out with the disks and open fired."
"Ah hah, and I'm assuming you lost them?"
Quiet fell on Robyn, she could only admit to it.
"Yes."
"You little bitch." Angela cursed, "This qualifies as a fuck-up Birdie, a real fuck-up, understand?"
"Yes."
"And I have no room for them."
"Yes, I know, I can't make mistakes."
"You're mine when you get home-"
"Angela, please I can-"
"Save the bullshit. You will get me my disks and damn what you have to do to get them."
The line went dead.
"She'll kill me now, I know she will, I'll be the only Neo Blaque that ever got killed."
Robyn leaned back on the headboard and did something she haven't done for years: Cried.
She had her good cry for ten minutes before someone whispered in the dark.
"Helena Yuy, I will get you for this."
"Who's there?" The girl demanded, hoping to slam her water pitcher into the intruder's head.
"Hey, hey, go easy, Helena sent me." A boy with a purple braid walked in holding up his hands showing he had no weapons. "Besides, me thinks you can't fight."
"Try me."
"Sorry, you've been tried." Then he took something from his back pocket . . . A single red rose.
And Robyn couldn't help but flash her pretty smile.
"Who knew I liked-"
"Remember Helena sent me, she thought this would cheer you up."
"And she sends you?"
The boy was being suave, "That's right babe, I'm always Good Cheer."
"You still so smug Trio Maxwell."
Her mind asked her, 'How did I know that?"
"Hey! How did you know-"
"I still remember your name. Angela didn't suppress all my memories."
"Good ones?" The boy cocked an eyebrow.
"If you can call hating your guts a good one."
"Oh yeah, I was an evil brat-the devil child." This time Robyn allowed herself to do the chucking.
"The Robyn returned at last, everybody figured you and your mom just died."
"Whatever doesn't kills you, just makes you stronger."She shrugged.
For an hour they engaged in friendly conversation.
They were curious:
About each other's lives, about each other's behavior, about each other's eyes . . .
"What happened to you any ways?" He was asked.
"Haven't you heard, I'm Protègè Blaque-spy and a threat to national security."
"A mere girl?"
"Watch it."
"If you so much of a threat, then how did you end up with a bullet in your back."
She shrugged, "Fate. Bad luck"
"I don't believe in luck."
"I believe in Baset."
"Great, that cat charm crap again? My dad has one, I think your mom gave it to him."
Her annoyance falred up, "Why is everyone talking about a woman who doesn't even exist?"
"Because she did. Your mom was cool, kick-ass cool."
Trio decided to drop the subject-he saw she had enough pain.
"Ooh, you said a bad word."
"Yeah, well, I betta get back. I kinda left the house without asking . . ."
"You snuck out." Robyn understood, "Yeah, yeah, see you Braid Boy."
"Yeah" He flashed her his sweetest smile. "See ya."
Outside of the window, he wondered-"Trio Maxwell, were you just flirting?"
Angela in all her rage recalled the "garden chat."
"You know of this new metal?" Treize asked her ten years ago.
"What it is, where it is, and how to get it-but that damn girl has all of that on those disks.
They're full of surprises. It's similar to Gundamium, but has an extra touch."
"I want them."
"As do I." Angela continued, "We both would get what we want-you revenge and control, me security and piece of mind."
"You're Blaques only got half of the job done."
"I will admit, I didn't realize she would "180" on me so quickly, but no matter. She's in hiding."
"She helped take out one of my best bases and the Gundams are becoming pains."
He took in the genteel, painted-like scenery.
"I know what I must do: Use financial gain to entice the greedy and cold-hearted out."
'Why do you think I asked for my adopted nephew Dylan? For the heck of it. He'll charm the clothes off her back and the disks out her pocket."
He shot her a stare.
"Just remember, I hold all of your secrets Angie, the ones that can destroy you."
She felt her smile faded. An all-knowing smile played upon his lips.
"The stolen money, the deaths, the men . . ."
"We all have secrets, Mr. Treize, it's just a matter of who knows what of them."
"Prodigy, Midnight, Hunter: Bring your asses to me!"
A brunette with snow streaks going down her bangs, a skinny redhead with curls, and a blonde with a crop haircut looked up from their Spades card game in annoyance.
"What does she want now-" Deborah asked, checking out her hand.
"Don't make me find you three!"
Jacquelyn muttered, "Damn." She threw her hand down.
"Come on." Pamela told them grimly.
"Where is your sister? You do remember they are four Blaques, not just three."
"She-she never called back. You were the last person to talk to her."
"Then take your toys and find her."
"There's peace between the colonies and Earth, we can't go starting something . . ."
"You three will do whatever the hell I tell you. Blow up a place or two, I don't care!
Get me back my disks and bring back Birdie with you."
"What's so important 'bout them anyways?"
Angela slapped Midnight hard enough to send her through the coffee table.
"I need cash.
Not just pocket change but the King's Random.
Treize may be dead but he owes me. I gave him power, I gave him protection, now I need a favor."She continued to crew the trio out: "So when I say take your mobile suits and find Protègè, I mean do it!"
Pamlea felt goosebumps, "But isn't space protected by the former Gundams-?"
"I said move." Was the iced reply.
Swallowing any more rounds of protest and whines the girls straighten up and stood tall, facing their teacher. All they knew from Angela was orders and punishments, these peaceful times didn't mean everything was peachy for their lives. As with the Blaques before the were pulled from the gutters and back alleyways, trained that trust was bull and that life was on a thread.
"Got it boss." Deborah said.
"We move now." Pamela remarked. "We get the disk and the bird."
"That's our plan." Midnight finished, they were programmed to be each other.
They gave Angela a required bow and took off toward the hanger.
"Hell, it was so much easier with others. I miss my girls."
"I don't believe this!"
Trio came running down the path in the garden, Helena was reading a novel happy to avoid her "fan clubs" while Han Chang meditated quietly and Katie Barton practice the art of knife throwing. Their once quiet afternoon was interrupted-as usual-by the braid-wearing fellow.
"Was is it now Braid Boy?" She asked in annoyance.
"We're being attacked!"
"Please Trio, no jokes."
"You can this a joke-?" He played back a distress message given by colony L16.
The three stopped.
"Mobile suits attacking in peace time? Makes no sense-" Katie dismissed.
"Only the weak would do this." Han added, a follower of his father's philosophy.
The thing that scared even the Perfect's Soldier's daughter-someone destroying their peace.
Taking the lead and remaining cool, she told them, "Let's move."