Chapter 11
25 NOVEMBER 293 - TUESDAY12:29 PM
He was certainly not afraid to go in to see Tavera, but Heero was apprehensive. The man called Midas was dead - very, certainly dead - and Tavera and Roberts would definitely have something to say to that. Midas had been one of their best men - if not the best, before Heero came around - and now he was dead. True, because of his own stupidity, but still…
Heero entered the now-familiar office for his scheduled debriefing, more than a little on guard. As usual, it was dim, cool, and slightly foreboding.
Tavera was seated behind the desk, as usual, with Roberts standing behind him, studying a plaque on the wall. The latter did not move as Heero entered the room, but Tavera immediately burst into a bright smile.
"Jacks! Good to see you!"
Despite being entirely out of character altogether for a mob leader, the greeting was nothing like what Heero had in mind. Since he couldn't think of anything to say to that, he sat in the usual chair, keeping his face blank. As he expected, Tavera easily filled the silence.
"Such a relief to hear that you escaped the disaster out at the docking bay. Many of the boys tell me that you were the one who warned them against the danger - they have you to thank for their lives!"
The leader of the strongest criminal organization in the Colonies and Earth was beaming. Heero was, to say the least, a little confused.
"Sir," he began, "about Midas - "
But Tavera immediately cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it," he say, almost jovially. "Not a problem. Fool couldn't take orders, he deserved what he got."
Heero, of course, remained still, but inwardly this jarred him a bit. Whoa…thought Midas was the favorite? Seems a little cold…
"Convenient."
The low hiss came from the dark corner of the room where Roberts was standing. Heero's gaze flickered to the other man, and Tavera asked, "What was that?"
"I said, convenient," Roberts said coldly, turning around, glaring at Heero with eyes full of loathing. Heero felt his back stiffen. "Immensely convenient. Your only rival in this organization has been eliminated. Roadblock number one has been felled."
"Stop it," Tavera scoffed, "Jacks saved the lives of three squadrons."
"Mmm," Roberts murmured, a ghost of a smirk flitted across his face, "just like last time, I'm sure."
Resisting the overwhelming urge to pummel the man, Heero let his face show a complete calm as Tavera muttered, "Sorry, Jackson. You're dismissed, there isn't much to debrief as the mission didn't exactly go to plan. Thank you for your help."
Heero left, grateful to be out of the presence of the two men. Tavera oozed friendliness and sick camaraderie, while Roberts… For a brief moment, Heero let his hands tighten into fists. Something about that man…Heero never left that office without wanting to slice the other commander in two. He didn't know what it was, but he suspected that Roberts was up to something, and he wasn't about to let it go.
If only he could talk to Relena about it…
1 DECEMBER 293 - MONDAY05:44 AM
The bedroom was dim; the curtains on the windows prohibited the early morning rays of sunlight from streaming into the room. The snowstorm of last night had stilled, and the sun had finally decided to show itself. But the room felt just as chilly as it had outside the previous night, and Relena, curled up tightly in the big, empty bed, felt very cold and very alone.
Amy hadn't woken up yet; the minute she did, Relena would feel a bit of warm happiness touching her heart, and then Brad would come over to join them for breakfast, and she could laugh a little, play games as she helped Amy get ready for the day. But until then…
Until then, the only emotion in her heart would be the thick, choking worry she had been feeling for more than a week now. She had talked to Heero all of two times since that terrible call Saturday before last, and each had been ten times worse than the previous. She had no idea what had gone so terribly, irreparably wrong, but the last call had been so blunt, so indifferent, so - so rude, that Relena honestly wished he wouldn't call again…at least until he had finished whatever he was doing up there. Lately the public had been attacking her family with more ferocity that usual; speculations were abounding, people were suspecting things, public appearances were becoming more and more necessary to quell the rumors…Relena's world, everything she knew and held dear, was changing…and she wasn't sure she could keep up.
A very slow tear slid down her cheek onto a pillow - Heero's pillow. She breathed deep, smelling, sensing him, and wished more than anything that he was there with her. She was feeling so anxious lately, but she had no idea what to do about it. Her husband was her only strength, her only guidance…and he, for some reason, was gone, and Relena didn't know if she could last until he came back to her.
1 DECEMBER 293 - MONDAY08:00 AM
"Well, at least it's a change from that accursed alloy, doesn't have anything to do with delivery trucks or helicopters, and at least I'm in your squadron."
Heero, glancing sideways at Brian, had to agree. The mission scheduled for today looked to be loads better than the previous expeditions, including the brief mission last Friday. It had gone well, but Brian's qualm was that he was placed in another squadron for once, under a clearly incompetent leader. Today's operation seemed a lot better than anything so far: Heero was pretty sure they'd be in the same squadron, and it was simple reconnaissance again. Heero was especially looking forward to this mission; it wasn't related to an alloy for once, and he was eager to see what else the leaders could connive to fool their minions into thinking they were doing something important. Bottom line was, Tavera and Roberts wanted them out of the way. Heero didn't know why, but today he was determined to try and find out.
It was hard to concentrate on anything other than Relena the past few days. Something was wrong, but Heero couldn't decide if it was serious enough for him to leave and return to Earth. He had been trying to call her every day, but each time she was either not at home and he got the absent message, or she was terse and hurried and busy with something else.
But…it was understandable. She was pregnant, she was living without her husband, she was alone with the press explaining Amy's kidnapping and covering up the absence of that husband…it was…understandable.
At least that's what Heero kept telling himself.
Brian was chattering aimlessly about something or the other, and Heero was half-paying attention as they began to exit the tunnels, when suddenly an arm was thrust in front of him, and Heero came to a dead stop.
"Sorry," said a now-familiar voice: it was Tavera. He looked a little tired, but gave Heero the usual empty smile and said, "Jacks, could you come with me, please?"
Heero nodded once and stepped to the side slightly with Tavera.
Tavera got right to the point. "We don't need you on the mission today."
Heero was stunned, but of course didn't show it. "What?" he said.
"It's just that you've been on the past three, and we didn't find it necessary - "
He was a little lost, and suspicious. Heero was aware of the fact that among all of the elite members in the gang, he was the best. Why was Tavera keeping him back?
"All right," Heero nodded once, appearing totally calm and collected. "Sounds good."
"Good," said Tavera, smiling briefly. "Enjoy your day off," he said, and he left.
Heero stared at his retreating back and muttered, "Yeah, sure." What the heck had been the reasoning behind that?
4 DECEMBER 293 - THURSDAY11:03 AM
Pots and pans crashed in the sink as Kylie Chang insisted on helping Hilde, Amy, and Callie with the dishes. Sally's daughter, five and a half and as stubborn as her father and boisterous as her mother, was doing more to soak Hilde and the other girls than clean the dishes.
"Mo-om," Callie said, irritated, "Kylie's getting the water all over!"
The little Sally lookalike responded by sticking her tongue out at the offending tattle-teller - immediately setting Callie, and now Amy, off again.
Sally, from an armchair in the living room, heaved a sigh. She glared at Wufei, who was sitting on the couch near her, and cleared her throat meaningfully. Wufei, absorbed in a conversation with Duo and Trowa, didn't move.
Relena watched in mild amusement as Sally, one arm draped lazily over her very large stomach, suddenly snapped angrily, "Well I hate to interrupt you, my lovely caring husband, but your offspring is causing hell in the kitchen and your adoring, pregnant wife is bursting at the seams!"
Wufei snarled a bit, but stood and went to the kitchen.
Sally gave Relena a look. "Good to have a husband who cares."
"Stop complaining, woman," called Wufei, where he was restoring order with Hilde.
Rebecca, holding Hilde's six-month-old Nathan in her arms as she sat on the floor, gave Sally one of her sweet smiles. "Thank you so much for breakfast, Sally. It was absolutely delicious, and for you to do it so close to your due date - "
"Ha!" came Wufei's derisive shout. "I cooked it all!"
By default, they ignored him. Trowa halted his conversation with Duo to say to Relena, "How is everything, Relena? Any word from Heero?"
Relena glanced around the room. They had all gathered at the Changs' house for breakfast about two hours ago, with the exception of the Winners. All her best friends were there, looking after the six various children in the house. Their lives were going just fine, and, it seemed to them, so was hers. After all, she had Amy back, and Heero was simply on another one of his missions. It was the holidays. Overzealous carolers were already blasting their wares down the streets at night. She had no reason to be unhappy.
She smiled brightly and said, "Just the usual. He says to keep on top of things here, he'll be in touch and hopefully home for Christmas."
Didn't know you were such a good liar, Relena.
"That'd be a nice gift," Rebecca said, smiling. "To have him come home on Christmas morning."
Relena nodded assent.
But I need him now.
"So, what do we have so far?" Sally asked. "Anything that can help?"
Duo volunteered, "I'm still working with the Maclemury guy, seeing if I can find anything else suspicious. It'll take some time, though, there's lots of documents and it's all pretty heavily guarded. I still think we should just nab the guy off the street."
Trowa ignored the last comment and murmured, "What about the mysterious Katja Schbeiker?"
Duo grimaced.
"I take it you haven't mentioned anything to Hilde."
"I did," he returned defiantly. "I got a salad bowl over my head and she didn't speak to me the rest of the day."
They glanced uneasily at each other.
Suddenly, there was a loud beeping from the vidcam next to the television. They jumped, and a giggling Lira Barton eagerly hit the receive button on her way to the playroom.
Quatre's face burst on to the screen and he cried, "Everyone, we're leaving to the hospital!"
There was an instant flurry of outbursts and action as the whole group began talking at once. It was eventually figured out that they would meet at the hospital as soon as all the kids could be gathered up, and the call was disconnected after Quatre's nervous, grinning face bid them all a slightly breathless goodbye.
5 DECEMBER 293 - FRIDAY12:58 AM
"Need any help with her, Re?"
Relena shook her head, thanking Quatre's offer with a weary smile. "Nope, I got it. You go back to your little girl and give her a kiss for me."
He nodded, and went back to see Dorothy and his brand-new daughter, christened Olivia. Relena watched him go, and then exited the hospital, carrying a sleeping Amy in her arms.
The four-year-old was big, and Relena was exhausted, not to mention pregnant, but her mind was on other, more troublesome things. Quatre and Dorothy's little girl had been born about an hour ago, just before midnight. She was beautiful, with a thick head of hair and Quatre's sparkling green eyes. Relena and Amy had been the last to leave, mainly because Amy had been busy peppering Dorothy with questions about babies since she was so excited to have another in her family, and because Relena had sat in the waiting room and realized something.
Something was very wrong. She had been telling herself that this whole problem with Heero was because they were both stressed out, separated, and he was in an extremely dangerous situation. She had thought it was something that would pass…but seeing the looks of love on the new parent's faces as they held their daughter made Relena realize - or rather, remember - that Heero would never, ever just turn on her…and here the small doubting shadow in her heart whispered, Never turn on you…without explaining why first.
In any case, something was going on, up there on that Colony. They were bribing or blackmailing him to act this way, or something… Maybe they were on his trail, and he really couldn't be on the vidcam with her. Relena was sure - well, she told herself she was sure - that one of these days she would come home to find him playing with Amy, with a good explanation on why he had been forced to hurt her…and how sorry he was.
But what to do about it now? Settling Amy into the car and helping the drowsy little girl fasten her seat belt, Relena then turned the keys in the ignition and pulled out of the driveway, her mind absorbed in the problem. There wasn't much she could do, except…except tell the other pilots. They, out of all people, would be able to give her sound advice.
She would, Relena vowed to herself. Tomorrow, when they met for dinner at Zechs and Lucrezia's mansion. Even if Amy had to hear it…it was better to prepare her now than have something terrible happen later.
5 DECEMBER 293 - FRIDAY22:59 PM
A soft padding of footsteps sounded from down the hall. Zechs looked up to the doorway to meet the dark gray gaze of his wife.
"Hey," he murmured, "why aren't you asleep? You spent all day getting ready for dinner. Go get some rest."
Lucrezia leaned against the threshold. She looked exhausted, but also extremely anxious. "Zechs…I'm just so worried about Relena. About Heero…and whatever is going on up there with him."
Zechs nodded seriously. "I know, Lu. I don't know what's wrong…I wish Relena had told us before, then maybe I…I don't know." He heaved a sigh, then stood up and crossed over to his wife, pulling her into his arms.
"What are we going to do?" Lucrezia whispered, laying her head back against his shoulder. "You don't think Heero's…well…"
He sighed again, kissing her lightly on the top of the head before replying, "I don't know what to think. Something's just wrong, Lu, and I don't know if it's Heero or - or something else entirely. Whatever it is," he continued, voice dropping to a whisper, "it's hurting my little sister, and it's giving me a feeling in my stomach that I don't like. I'm going to find out what's going on."
23:34 PM
"Glad you finally came around to my way of thinking, Q-man."
Quatre sighed. "It's not that I approve, I just think…"
Wufei nodded. "It's the only way."
Gleefully, Duo rubbed his hands together. "Hehheh, Maclemury is in for the ride of his life."
They were in the middle of a four-way vidcam conversation, each hold up in their houses staging a secret conference.
Quatre attempted another remark. "Maybe kidnapping one of the most prestigious members of Senate isn't the best idea."
"You heard Relena today," Trowa murmured. "Something is wrong with Heero. We've checked the records, and we all have the same hunch: that something is somehow tied in with Maclemury."
"Therefore, we attack!" Duo said, beaming.
"Your plans are disastrously simple, Maxwell," Wufei muttered.
"But you agree!"
"All right then," Trowa interrupted. "We'll strike within the next week. Don't let the women know - they won't particularly enjoy this plan. Deal?"
Quatre and Wufei nodded.
Duo, however, merely grinned. "Hoo boy, I'm gonna love getting my hands on that stuck-up goody-goody. Can we lock him up in a cellar with killer rats?"
Quatre sighed.
Groaning, Wufei hung up. The rest followed suit, leaving Duo staring at an empty screen.
"What? What'd I say?"