DISCLAIMER: See previous chapters…

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for lack of updates, here's the sixth chapter – finally. It follows numerous requests for me to continue. I wasn't sure I was going to bother but I don't like leaving loose ends. Anyway, I was so determined to finish this chapter that I wrote it while I was at work, during a 43 hour week. Apparently that's part-time hours… I know I took a long time updating – yet again, but I've been busy sorting out problems with my university application. There was a mix-up with it so I wasn't allocated a place at first. Anyway, I'm also leaving employment as of today, so I'll have a little more time on my hands for writing. Happy reading!

Chapter 6

Quatre rubbed his hands together for warmth as he searched with Heero and Trowa for any signs of unnatural activity. The climate control available to them had caused him to forget the bitter cold outside and as such he had neglected to bring gloves. He blew on his hands gently, his clearly visible breathe rising upward and dissipating slowly.

The blond looked over at where Heero was standing, his left hand pressed against his hip, the other shielding his eyes from the glare of the sunlight reflected on the crisp white snow. He appeared to be lost in thought, but surprised Quatre by turning towards him suddenly and looking in his direction. He had an indecipherable expression on his face.

"Heero?" Quatre asked hesitantly, "Is something wrong?"

Heero shook his head and turned away. Trowa moved over to where the other two pilots were standing.

"I don't believe we will find anything of importance here," he said softly. "If there was something we missed, it would have been completely buried by now," he continued, gesturing meaningfully at the newly fallen snow. "Besides Heero, if there was anything here, you would have already found it."

Heero looked at the green-eyed boy and graced him with a smile. "You have too much faith in me." He held out a small object in the palm of his hand. Quatre and Trowa looked at it curiously. It was a thin tube, made of what appeared to be white plastic. There was a small button-like tip on one end. A thin red strip encircled the tube; a white logo next to it.

Quatre glanced at Trowa smilingly. "You were saying?" Trowa merely raised an eyebrow in reply.

Trunks held his sword in both hands, grasping it at the hilt and halfway up the length of the blade. Carefully, he checked the blade for any nicks or blemishes it may have picked up from his earlier duel. Not that he expected to find any; it was a habit more than anything. Finding nothing to warrant further attention, he slid the sword back into its scabbard with practised ease. His sensitive ears picking up footsteps coming down the hall outside, Trunks looked up.

The door handle was turned the door swung gently open; Wufei strode into the room. Inclining his head, the Chinese boy closed the door behind him and sat down. Crossing his legs, he closed his eyes in meditation. Trunks felt a sense of calm wash over him as he watched the other boy silently.

Heero slipped his key card into the slot attached to the main gate, waited for the signal of recognition, then waited as the gate slid across. Quatre and Trowa both followed him as he entered the grounds. Trowa keyed in the combination to lock the gate on the other side.

Trowa was conversing quietly with Quatre, and that suited Heero just fine. Quatre was sometimes a little too perceptive for his liking. Not to mention his fixation with getting Heero to open up. Okay, the dark-haired pilot reasoned. Quatre had had some success in that department; he was after all, even in a relationship with Relena. Without Quatre's constant pep talks about not keeping feelings bottled up, Heero doubted he would've even remained on the Earth. Most likely, he'd be back in the L1 Colony Cluster, taking more orders from Doctor J. Away from his friends; away from the one place he'd ever had the chance to call his home. A scientist's laboratory was no place for a child to grow up.

He had to admit, Quatre's badgering had paid off. Not that it was really badgering – more friendly concern. He blinked, then sighed mentally as he realised how far off track his thoughts were. He was supposed to be figuring out what was going on, not worrying about what could have been. He glanced again at the plastic tube he'd found earlier, buried in the snow. It was almost completely white, save for a thin line of red emblazoned on its side. The red colour was what had caught his eye originally; the white colour explained why he hadn't noticed it before now.

Heero stopped then, realising that they'd reached the front door of the building. The three pilots entered, using their key cards, and Heero excused himself as they went inside. He headed for the stairs. He found Duo sitting on the topmost step expectantly. "Well? What did you find?"

"How do you know I found anything?"

"I don't. But since you're you…" Duo trailed off, grinning.

Heero walked past Duo onto the landing. He seemed to hesitate for a moment but sat down next to the braided boy. He held out his hand, the white object balanced on his palm.

"What's that?" Duo asked.

"Something I found in the snow," Heero replied. "I have no idea what it does."

"Hm," Duo murmured. "Bet I know how we can find out," he said.

Heero looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"We'll just ask Trunks," Duo replied matter-of-factly. He noticed Heero's dumbfounded expression and decided to elaborate. "He has that same logo on his jacket."

Relena sat quietly on the stone bench. Its cool surface was inviting against the warm air in the garden. Quatre was standing close by, admiring the roses which were now in full bloom. Relishing the warmth, Quatre smiled at his companion. "Standing here, you'd never guess that it's the middle of winter."

Returning the smile, Relena replied, "I do like the snow; watching it fall. It makes the world seem a little more peaceful somehow." She shifted a little on the bench, making room for Quatre to sit down. He accepted the seat gratefully. His legs were still feeling a little numb due to the cold outside. Relena looked over at the flowers. "But even so, I am thankful for the climate control system. The flowers really are beautiful."

Relena was quiet for a few moments, her steady gaze taking in the surrounding greenery. Quatre meanwhile turned his thoughts away from flowers, back to the impending conversation he knew he must have with their unusual guest. Better sooner rather than later. He stood, smiling at Relena. "Would you excuse me Relena? I remembered that there is something I must attend to."

"Of course," she replied.

Quatre left the girl sitting quietly by herself, leaving the garden and entering the main area of the building. He moved with purposeful speed, and didn't notice someone coming the other way until he bumped into them. "Hilde!" Quatre reached out reflexively to catch the dark-haired girl before she fell. "I'm sorry," he said contritely as he steadied her.

Hilde, seemingly always in good humour, laughed at his expression. "It's okay Quatre, I'm fine." She cocked her head to the side and leant forward slightly in a mock conspiratorial manner. "So where's the fire?" She grinned widely. "Or do you have a hot date lined up?"

"I, um," Quatre said, quite at a loss for words.

"I'm kidding Quatre," Hilde told him, straightening up. "You just seemed like you were in a hurry. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's fine."

"Good. Anyway, have you seen Relena anywhere? I need her help with something." She hefted the as yet unnoticed bolts of silk in her arms.

"She was in the garden, just now," Quatre said.

"Great!" she enthused. "See you later." She turned and headed toward the garden, leaving Quatre to resume his own journey. However, before Quatre could continue, he saw Heero and Duo coming down the stairs.

"Hey Quatre, guess what?"

"What is it Duo?"

"Check this out." Duo pressed something into Quatre's palm. Quatre held the object out, holding it between his forefinger and his thumb.

"It's that plastic tube Heero found." A pause. "What about it?" Quatre asked, puzzled.

"Ever seen that logo before?"

"Well now that you mention it, it does look a little familiar," Quatre concluded. "But I couldn't say where I've seen it."

"It's the same logo Trunks has on his jacket," Duo informed him.

"Is it?" Quatre asked in surprise. His eyes narrowed a little in concentration. "I guess we'd better have a talk with our guest." He was all business now.

"Who's going?" Duo asked. "We can't all go and talk to him about it. If there is something going on with him, it could be dangerous. And if there isn't anything, we'd only make ourselves look suspicious."

"You're right," Heero said. "And we can't take chances, not with the Gundams being kept underneath this facility. We don't want to attract unnecessary attention."

"I'll go," Quatre said decisively. "Alone." He pointedly ignored their stares. "To tell you the truth," he said, "I was already on my way to ask him a few questions in the first place."

"About what?" Heero asked.

"I can't say," Quatre said, apologetically. "It's a little personal."

"Oh I get it," Duo said. "You're trying to figure out why he seems so miserable, underneath his façade."

"Façade?" Heero said, looking at Duo with mild surprise.

"Yeah. Come on, you can't tell me you never noticed. There's definitely something bothering that guy."

"It's none of our business." Heero pointed out.

"It very well may become our business," Quatre said.

"Well," Duo said, "In any case, I don't think you should go alone. I think one of us should go with you." Heero glanced up, hearing the uneasiness in Duo's voice. "I mean, he did manage to beat Wufei when they duelled earlier. And by the looks of things, he wasn't trying all that hard in the first place."

Heero nodded. "I agree," he said. "It seems strange that he beat Wufei so easily. Wufei's no novice."

"I'm sure there'll be nothing to worry about Duo."

"Listen Quatre," Duo said sincerely. "We don't even really know the guy. Okay, he seems nice enough, but if he's hiding something he could get nasty."

"Don't you think you're overreacting a little?" Quatre asked. He remembered the sad feelings that he'd felt emanating from Trunks. He hadn't felt anything that could be described as something to be afraid of. He'd felt anger, yes, but not in a malicious sense. It was the kind of anger that arises from being in a terrible situation that you'd give anything to get out of, but can't manage it.

"Quatre, you're always trying to look for the best in people," Heero said. "But you've got to be prepared for the possibility that perhaps Trunks is hiding something; that he can't be trusted." Duo nodded fervently. "And you Duo," Heero continued, "You shouldn't worry so much about Quatre. He's a fully trained Gundam pilot, just like you and me."

"Can't help it," Duo muttered sourly, realising that Quatre was going to do this his way, like it or not. "Neither of you ever listen to reason."