Part 29
Heero Yuy was looking at him with a little ironic smile, his Prussian blue eyes piercing the ice-blue ones without wavering. In spite of the heat, he was wearing black. Black boots, black leather pants, black turtleneck, long black leather coat hiding two shoulder holsters.
"What's wrong, Agent Wind ? Not happy to see me ?"
"You are Wing ?"
"Looks like it. You got the files ?"
Zechs did not answer, just glaring at the young man. Heero glared right back, then broke eye contact and let out a small sigh.
"You don't like me", he stated matter-of-factly.
"And what if I don't ?", Zechs hissed.
"I am still wondering what exactly you don't like in me", Heero kept on, ignoring the interruption. "Or what scares you."
"I am not scared", Zechs protested.
"You are scared. Maybe not of me, but of something you see in me. What is it, Agent Wind ? Could it be because of what I used to do for a living, or is it just because I am too much like you in a way ?"
"I am not like you. You are a killer …"
"I was a killer, in the sense that I accepted money to kill people. Everyone has to eat, Agent Wind, and I like my meals to come in on a regular basis. I did not have the chance to have a family. One man was good enough to take me with him, and he taught me to take care of myself in the only way he could. That's more than any of your kind ever did for me. So don't go all righteous on me, okay ? If I remember correctly, having food on your plate was not exactly a problem for you."
"This is not the point. I was supposed to arrest you !"
"And you won't. And it hurts your pride that a common assassin like myself can walk free. But just tell me one thing, Agent Wind. Would it really make you feel that good to know I am behind bars ? I don't think so."
"I … We are enemies", Zechs said low. "Or we are supposed to be."
Heero sighed, and all of a sudden, his blue eyes seemed much older, ageless pools of wisdom that went far beyond his age.
"The world is not black and white, Agent Wind. Everybody goes in shades of gray. I am not the evil bastard you wanted me to be. You are not the self-righteous noble prick I expected you to be. And, right now, we're on the same side, so I am not sure this conversation has a point. Unless of course you don't trust me."
"I don't know if I should trust you. I hunted you for months before letting go because I didn't have anything solid to base my case upon. What would you have me do ? It is my job to arrest criminals !"
"Ah. That's the real question, isn't it ? Am I a criminal ?"
Zechs couldn't find anything to answer to that.
"I suppose if you take the law, I am. I killed more people than I can remember. I didn't exactly decide who should die, but once the target was clear I would go and destroy it, regardless of who it was. And yet … something changed me. Someone. Do you know what it's like to be a hired killer ? What it means ?"
Zechs shook his head.
"Being a hired killer basically equates putting a price on human life. Whether high or not. I had no problem with it for a while. Until I met Katoru."
Zechs frowned. It took him a while to identify the foreign sonority with a name he knew.
"How does Mr Winner come into the equation ?", he asked.
"He made me understand how unbelievably arrogant it is for any kind of human being to put a price on life. Life is priceless because it's the most precious thing you can have. And who am I to decide who should have it or not ?"
Heero smiled a bit when he saw the look on Zechs' face.
"It's hard to admit, isn't it ? That someone like me could change like that. Is that what scares you ? The fact that you can't just put a label that says 'bad' on me and put me into jail ?"
"Maybe", Zechs admitted wearily. "Maybe you're right, and you're too much like me for my liking. You are … You are what I could become, maybe that's what scares me."
"We are alike you know. We both fight to protect the ones we love. We just don't do it the same way and my way may be a bit more hasty than yours. And less legal. But it works."
"We fight to protect the ones we love ?"
"I just found a family, Agent Wind. A family who was hurt by Une in a way you cannot even begin to imagine. My lover had his father killed, one of my friends saw his wife bleed to death in his arms, and another watched as his home was reduced to cinders. I won't let that carry on any longer. If there's a way to stop it, I'm taking it. In your way, you're doing the same. You're protecting Relena."
"Yes. Or at least I hope I am."
Zechs almost jumped when Heero's hand fell on his shoulder.
"You are. And you are right to do it, because she deserves it. I only want to protect Katoru, and Duo and Wufei and Trowa. You see, Agent Wind, our goal is the same. So maybe we should start working together."
"Together."
Zechs looked again into the deep eyes in front of him. Yes, Heero Yuy was right. He had been scared. Scared to watch that young man who could have been him. Scared because the world was not as he believed it to be. Now that he thought of it, Treize was not that bad a guy. As a man, he was truly charming and delectable company. He had a lot of culture, he was funny, and to top it all he was gorgeous. It was his methods that were unsavory, to say the least. Heero Yuy was right, and he, Zechs Merquise, or Milliardo Peacecraft, was being lectured about right and wrong in a dark alley of L4. It could have been comical, except for the fact that the young man was painfully right. As much as he would like it, being a GSA agent didn't make him a good guy. In fact, thinking that was hypocritical, because being undercover as he was was nothing more than a big lie, pretending to be a bad guy. He was gray all over too.
"Alright, I think we can start again from the beginning", Zechs finally said. "How about you explain me how you ended here ?"
"Ask Fire", Heero answered. "I must return those files soon."
"Sure. Here they are. Those are the originals, you can tell Water everything is here. Oh and …"
Zechs explained the situation with Une as rapidly as possible. The look on Heero's face did not change, except that his eyes grew colder and colder with each word.
"So, that's what she's playing at, uh ?", Heero said once Zechs was done, his voice dangerously low. "She wants it rough. Fine. She'll have it."
"Fire will want her alive", Zechs tried to step in.
"I don't give a damn, Agent Wind. Your priority is to arrest a criminal. My priority is to make sure she doesn't hurt anyone anymore. If it means killing her, it's fine by me."
Zechs shivered at the words. Talking like that with Yuy, he had almost forgotten that this young man had been trained to kill since he was able to walk. And that Une had made the mistake to threaten him directly, and his 'family'.
"By the way, Agent Wind, I do hope that your inquiry is finished."
"Why ?"
"Because if it's not, I have no doubt that you will favor your cover and not Katoru's security. Which is exactly what I would do in your place, and I wouldn't blame you for doing it. But then, you have to understand one thing. If that's what happens, and Katoru gets hurt because of it, it won't matter anymore that we're on the same side, Agent Wind. If you endanger him just to finish your inquiry, I'll kill you."
The words were uttered without any passion, and Zechs had no doubt Heero meant each and every one of them. He gulped. Suddenly he could see why Yuy was feared in his world. The young man didn't need to yell to be threatening. His glare was enough to promise you a most painful death if you stepped in his way. And that included everybody. Should he or Noin or Sally Po become a liability to Quatre Winner's security, Heero Yuy would kill them, and he would probably live with it quite comfortably. Not because he liked killing, but because he felt that was necessary to protect his loved ones.
By the time Zechs had come to his conclusion, Heero had silently disappeared, and he was left alone in the dark alley, with a lot to think about.
O.O.O.O.O
AC 198, August 26th, L4 Colony Cluster, WEI Building, Board Room, 2:00 PM
Piers Johansson moved uneasily in his seat, watching his colleagues around the board room. The head of WEI Buildings, he had always been loyal to the Winners, but now the situation had changed drastically. His boss was dead, assassinated, and his son was barely eighteen and would be here in a few minutes for his first board reunion. Everyone had been asked to come, and they were all here. Laura Kingston, head of WEI Investments ; Michael Weiss, head of WEI Banks ; Aziz al-Kurama, head of WEI Labs ; Daniel Liebermann, head of WEI Transports. The only ones missing were Laylah Winner, who was head of WEI RD, and Khadija Winner, head of WEI Environment. They would probably arrive with their brother.
All of the Directors had actually met Quatre Raberba Winner before, when he was a boy and his father would take him here with him. Piers Johansson remembered a quiet child with very light blond hair and strange eyes, whose looks made him very uneasy. He had not seen him since, and did not know what to expect. With any luck, the boy would be easy to control and everything could go on as before. From the look on his co-workers' faces, Piers could feel at least two of them, Aziz and Laura, were thinking along the same lines. Maybe the Winner sisters would agree too, and deem their brother too young to actually manage the whole group.
O.O.O.O.O
Quatre should have been nervous, but he wasn't. Heero was the first surprised, but the only thing that radiated from Quatre was quiet confidence and anticipation. The blond young man was ready to go into the arena with the lions, but he wasn't the sacrifice. He was the tamer. Heero smiled a bit, and was surprised to see his smile reflected on Trowa's face. Apparently, the young clown saw things the same way.
They had all come with Quatre to the building. Any time Quatre went out of the Mansion, they acted as his security service. Duo had insisted for them to be all dressed alike, under the pretense that it would impress the people in front. So they had all put on tight black pants, tight black turtlenecks and long leather coats, even Wufei. Duo had been amazed to see the Chinese didn't protest, and had teased him about five minutes before Wufei had kicked him; Duo was still complaining because the only thing Trowa had done was glare at Wufei and help Duo get up.
Quatre looked up at Iria. He had chosen one of his usual business suits, a light gray with a white shirt and blue tie that made his eyes stand out. His sister had chosen a white lady suit, and so had Khadija and Laylah. Laylah smiled to him and winked.
"Come on, Quatre, let's go kick ass", she said.
"I'm sure they won't be that bad", Quatre protested.
"They will probably not show it", Khadija admitted, "but they are Directors of one of the most powerful groups in the colonies. They had to fight to gain those positions, and they thought they were well assured to keep them for the rest of their lives. Technically, you can fire them all today if you want to, and no one can say anything against it. I know you don't want to and that's not the point", she added quickly when Quatre started protesting again. "They're human, Quatre. They have power and they love it. They have money, and they don't want to lose it. The only thing they don't understand right now is that their future is in your hands. That's what you must show them."
"I'm sure you will do fine, Quatre", Iria said. "Look at you, you just look like you want nothing more than go in there and tell them all what you've decided to do."
"That's exactly what I intend to do", Quatre said. "In fact, that's strange, but I've never felt so eager in my life."
"Adrenaline junkie", Laylah joked, ruffling through the light blond hair. "How come you went from 'Father can go to hell', to 'This is all mine and they will do what I want' ?"
"A friend made me understand how much I wanted this", Quatre answered with a radiant smile. "I was wondering why and she put just the right words on it. She was so right. I've never seen a greatest challenge in my life, and it's thrilling."
"And who is that so precious friend ?", Khadija asked.
"Relena Peacecraft."
"Yes, that Relena Peacecraft", Iria answered to the unspoken question in her sister's eyes. "And no, there's still nothing between them."
"Which makes me think", Quatre interrupted before someone said something that would make Heero angry, "Djibril!"
The young assistant seemed to appear out of thin air. He had been Mr Winner's personal assistant, and Iria had advised Quatre to keep him. She had been right. That man was a jewel.
"You will remind me to contact Relena Peacecraft once this reunion is over", Quatre said, unconsciously shifting to what Duo called his 'businessman voice'. "I need to go over some details of our future partnership with the Peacecraft Foundation, and I would like everything to be ready to announce it during the press conference tomorrow."
"Yes, Master Quatre."
Duo smiled when he heard the name. Almost everyone in the Mansion had begun to call Quatre that way, stealing the affectionate name from Rashid, since it was clear Quatre winced every time someone called him Mr Winner.
"Are we stayin' in the room, Cat ?", the young American asked.
One look to Heero was enough for Quatre to understand that the Japanese would not let him out of his sight for even a second, a thought that warmed his insides.
"Yes, you're all staying with me, Duo. That board room is exposed. It's very nice, with big windows, just perfect for a sniper to shoot through. And you can even scare the staff if you really want to."
"You know me too well, Cat", Duo guffawed.
"As long as you don't utter a word during the reunion."
"Shit, two hours without speaking, but how am I gonna survive this ?", Duo said dramatically.
He turned to Trowa who just raised his visible eyebrow, which made Duo laugh hysterically.
"Yeah, yeah, getcha, I'll be good, I promise ! But you gotta promise me some extra-nookies to make it up to me !"
Trowa nodded imperceptibly, and silenced Duo with a quick kiss. Quatre looked at his 'troops', satisfied by what he saw. His sisters were dignity impersonated, and his bodyguards were impressing. He felt elated. Today was the day he would finally take his place as WEI's CEO. It was almost intoxicating to know he would have all that power. But the reason why he had to do it now was still in the back of his mind. And that thought was enough to keep his feet on the ground. He had witnessed what people with too much power could do. And he knew for sure he would not become one of them. But that didn't mean he would just hand WEI to anyone, and some people were going to be thoroughly disappointed by that.
O.O.O.O.O
Quatre opened the door to the boardroom and stopped for a moment. One thing his father had taught him was that a first entrance had to be impressive. This one was, undoubtedly, since all the Directors were gaping at their young CEO. Quatre knew he made quite a picture, framed by his sisters all in white, and his friends all in black. He shot a worried look at Iria. She had insisted not to come with the wheelchair, and her face was a bit strained.
Laylah and Khadijah went to take their places at the gigantic round table, nodding at their colleagues as they did so. Quatre nodded to Heero, and his friends deployed around the room, taking strategic positions. The blond young man had to bite back a laugh at the look on his Directors' faces. Putting on his most professional expression, he led Iria to a chair next to his own and took his place. Djibril once again demonstrated his ability to appear out of thin air and put some documents in front of his young boss, before giving some others around to all the people around the table.
"Good, let's get to work", Quatre said. "The document Djibril just gave you contains the structural changes that will be applied to WEI in the next weeks. Nothing too radical, as you will see, but slight changes will be made in the decision process. I also intend to continue my father's efforts to keep this company as ethical as possible. As you probably know, both he and I had started to review what kind of companies WEI was partnered with and made some changes …"
"Excuse me, Mr Winner", Piers Johansson interrupted, "but do you really intend to direct the company ?"
Quatre turned a suddenly very cold glare to the head of WEI Buildings.
"What did you expect, Mr Johansson ? That I would be a gentle boy and watch you earn money in my name and be grateful for it ?"
"Well, I just thought that maybe you would appoint someone competent to do the hard job and …"
"Are you insinuating my brother is not competent, Mr Johansson ?", Iria said with a smile that was less than friendly.
"Of course not, Mrs Winner, but …"
"If my methods of management are not to your taste, Mr Johansson", Quatre snapped, "you know where the door is. You are a good director and I do not intend to get rid of you, but I won't tolerate anyone dictating me what I should do."
Quatre looked around at his Directors.
"The same goes for all of you. My father appointed you, which means he thought you were the right persons for these positions. I trust his judgement. But if you do not agree with me, then you are free to leave. I will find someone to replace you."
Daniel Liebermann smiled.
"Well, I think that answers all your questions, Piers", he said ironically. "Please forgive my colleague, Mr Winner. He had reservations, like most of us, actually, maybe he is just less subtle at expressing them."
"How would you have expressed your reservations, Mr Liebermann ?", Quatre asked, smiling.
He was beginning to find this frankly amusing. To him it was obvious that at least three of the Directors were unsure of what to do. Piers Johansson, Laura Kingston and Aziz al-Kurama were all frowning and trying to anticipate was his next move was going to be. Michael Weiss was being prudently neutral, waiting to see what the little power struggle would bring out. Laylah and Khadija were silently supporting him. And Daniel Liebermann was enjoying himself a lot too.
"Well, I would have waited to see what your first moves were going to be, for one", he said. "Your father was a very good CEO, Mr Winner. You were raised to manage this company, even if none of us expected it to be this soon. This is your right to do so. As such, I will reserve my opinion until I have more data to work on. Then, if the need arises and I find myself disagreeing with you, I shall, as you put it so clearly, find the door and hope you will do well. But I must admit that I am quite impressed with what I already saw, so it is safe to say we will probably work together for a long time."
"Well, thank you for your sincerity, Mr Liebermann", Quatre said, now honestly smiling. "I will remember that. Does anyone else have something to add on the subject or can we get to work ?"
"We're ready, Quatre", Khadija said, effectively cutting any other kind of criticism.
Neither Aziz al-Kurama nor Laura Kingston added anything, not really eager to be subjected to the same treatment Piers Johansson had.
"Good", Quatre said, refocusing everyone on the subject. "I am currently in the process of apprehending the full scale of WEI's operations. As extensive as my training was, I have only been working in our charity programs yet. Iria and myself began to work on the rest too, but I expect a full report of activity from each of you by the end of the week. Nothing drastic will be decided before I get those reports and can work something out of them. As for the documents Djibril gave you …"
Quatre paused to look around the room. Everyone was suspended to his every words, and he was feeling a smug satisfaction.
"My father and myself were trying to severe ties with some companies that appear to be involved in dark, if not illegal activities. This had just started and will be continued. That is why your reports shall be as precise as possible. I will need very precise details about each company we're associated with, a status of current mergers. The same goes for shareholders. For now, you should know that WEI has decided to stop working with KI and Romefeller Ltd. If any of our companies are currently in a partnership with those two holdings, it shall be ended as soon as possible."
"I'm sorry, Mr Winner, but is there a reason we should stop working with KI ?", Laura Kingston asked. "They've always been our best allies in the financial world."
"Didn't you get Nami Akiba's report, Mrs Kingston ? KI Banks was investing Winner money in armament programs."
"We were earning money …"
"And this was not the kind of activity WEI wants to be associated with. This was not my father's politic, it will not be mine. WEI will not be used to finance weapons or military programs, no matter how much money we can earn on them", Quatre stated very firmly.
'She just needs to be convinced', he thought, watching the woman intently. 'Johansson and al-Kurama could be trouble, but if I can convince her, it won't matter, because they'll be in minority. Maybe she can even make them come around too. And if not, I can always fire them.'
"This operation is very important to me, Mrs Kingston. I cannot tell you everything about this, because WEI is currently involved in a GSA inquiry about which I can't give you any details. I know what I am doing, Mrs Kingston. This was my father's last operation, and I will see that it is carried out. But there is one thing I must be sure of. Do you trust me, Mrs Kingston ?"
Laura Kingston could do nothing but watch, mesmerized, as her young boss looked at her with such an intense look in his eyes. And suddenly she didn't understand anymore why Piers Johansson had had reservations. This young man was a natural leader, exuding charisma, and she found herself wanting to follow him. She shot a look to Aziz, who was watching just like her, and was apparently as impressed as she was.
"I trust you, Mr Winner", she finally said, feeling all the tension she had been experiencing go away. "I'll follow your orders and see that they are carried out in my branch."
Quatre looked at Iria. His older sister was smiling at him. 'Well done', she mouthed.
O.O.O.O.O
"Whoa, Cat, you rocked !", Duo exclaimed after the Directors had left the room.
"For once, I agree with Maxwell", Wufei said, smiling. "That was very impressive."
"Impressive ! He got them all wrapped around his finger ! Even that Piers guy ! Oh and by the way, Wu, I'll never say you got a stick up your ass again, I mean did you see that guy ?"
"I appreciate that, Maxwell, and shall thank the Gods for the favor they granted me", Wufei smirked. "And my name is still Wufei, by the way."
Neither Heero nor Trowa said a thing, but their eyes spoke for them.
"Thank you, guys", Quatre said. "It was … Allah, I think it's one of the most exciting thing I ever did in my life ! It was so … challenging !"
Quatre was positively glowing, almost fidgeting with unspent energy. His good mood seemed to be contagious, as even Heero was frankly smiling. The Japanese didn't remember seeing Quatre looking like that, but the change was more than welcome. Quatre was in his element, and he was very good at what he did.
They had intended to go back to the Mansion after the meeting. Khadija and Laylah had forced Iria to go back, arguing that Richard would skin them if they let her stand any longer. Quatre had insisted for them to go with her, leaving only him, his friends and Djibril. Djibril, who came back into the board room with a frown on his face.
"Master Quatre ? Excuse me, but there's someone here to see you."
"Who ?"
"Mr Dermail."
A deadly silence fell in the room as Quatre tensed. Heero's eyes hardened, and he moved to Quatre's side, putting his hand on the blond young man's shoulder.
"Is he alone ?", the Japanese asked harshly.
"No, sir. There is a young woman with him. He said she was his granddaughter."
"I'll see him here", Quatre said suddenly.
"Katoru, you shouldn't …"
"You're all staying", Quatre interrupted. "He wouldn't be stupid enough to try anything with you here, in my own building."
Quatre looked at Heero his face set. Everyone else in the room had the feeling a silent dialog was taking place as the two young men just looked in each other's eyes. Finally, Heero nodded tersely. Quatre went back to sit in his chair, and his four friends aligned behind it as a silent guard.
"Please let Mr Dermail in, Djibril."
The young assistant went to open the door, and an old man entered the room, followed by a girl with very long blond hair who was watching around with a lot of interest.
"Mr Winner, I am so glad you could find some time to see me. May I introduce my granddaughter Dorothy Catalonia ?"
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr Winner", Dorothy Catalonia said.
"Welcome on L4, Miss Catalonia", Quatre answered, intent on pointing what a pleasure it was not. "If you could go straight to the point, Mr Dermail, I am a busy man, and I had not included this meeting in my schedule."
The voice was cutting like a laser, Quatre's green-blue eyes very hard on the man he knew had paid for him to be killed, and who was at least partly responsible for his father's death.
"Of course", Dermail said, a bit unnerved. "Before his death, your father had started to remove his money from my company and severe ties with it. I was sure and am still convinced that there was some kind of misunderstanding, and I came to see if it would be possible for us to find some kind of agreement again, Mr Winner."
"This is absolutely out of question."
The answer was adamant, clear and ringing in the now almost empty boardroom.
"But, Mr Winner …"
"My father had reasons to act as he did. They still stand today. In fact, the separation between WEI and Romefeller Ltd will be effective by the end of the week and shall not be renewed as long as I am CEO."
"I … This is …"
Dermail was sputtering with indignation. How could this brat dare resist him ? He was about to say something when he noticed who was behind the young man. And he recognized one of those people only too well. Heero Yuy was glaring at him with something akin to cold hatred in his eyes.
"This is final, Mr Dermail", Quatre kept on, apparently ignoring Dermail's sudden paleness, and secretly so satisfied by the growing fear he felt emanating from the man. "You know perfectly why my father didn't want anything to do with your company."
He cocked his head to one side, and smiled, a cold sneer that sent shivers down Dermail's spine.
"And you know perfectly well why I won't have anything to do with your company, don't you ? I suggest you never try that kind of thing again, Mr Dermail, or I'll launch all my lawyers on you. That is, if you still have anything left after I'm done ruining you and sending you behind bars."
"Be … behind bars ?"
"If you want to confess anything, Agent Po and Agent Noin are staying at the Winner Mansion. Now, if you'll excuse me, I seem to develop some urgent need to be elsewhere. Miss Catalonia."
Controlling the cold fury he was feeling, Quatre got up. Heero went to open the door, and Quatre went out of the room without a look back, quickly followed by Duo, Trowa and Wufei.
Heero did not go out. He stayed there, framed by the door, glaring for a long moment at the man who had caused so much pain to his lover. Then, a very cruel sneer appeared on his lips, and he took out something from his pocket, letting it fall on the floor before going out.
Dermail watched, paralyzed, as the ace of spades fluttered to the carpeted floor, the black design on the white card looking at him like a death sentence. His trance was broken when Dorothy let out a crystalline laugh. The blond girl went to pick the card, then looked at the door.
"How can you laugh, Dorothy ? I am …"
"You are in the greatest trouble, Grandfather", Dorothy said, still smiling. "I don't know why you asked me to come along, but this was instructive. Did you expect that I would seduce Mr Winner or anything of the kind ?"
"Dorothy …"
"I think I will go see Relena, after all. She invited me to join the Peacecraft Foundation quite some time ago, and I begin to think it would be very interesting to watch things from here."
"Dorothy, how can you even think of joining the Peacecrafts when my company will most probably be ruined because of the charities they are establishing along with the Winners ?"
"Relena's business methods are … debatable, to say the least. As are Mr Winner's. But somehow, they seem to be more successful than yours, Grandfather. And you know me, I'll go where the wind takes me. I am an opportunist and I freely admit it. And right now, the greatest opportunity is on the other side."
The young woman turned around and waved the ace of spades.
"And if I read this well, it's not only your company that will be in trouble, Grandfather. I don't know what you did to deserve that, but I do not intend to be around when Mr Yuy decides to exact revenge on you. I am adventurous, but not suicidal. I wish you good luck, Grandfather. You are going to need it."
O.O.O.O.O
Just a quick note : the climate for that first board reunion has been borrowed from a french comic, Largo Winch, by Francq and Van Hamme. If you know it, check out the first board reunion in volume two. If you don't, I'll just say that this comic is about a young man who inherits the biggest financial group on earth called the W Group, when his adoptive father is assassinated. The least you can say is that he is not the conventional businessman, since he comes at the W Building in jeans and sneakers, plays with daggers on board reunion and puts his feet on his desk, to the horror of his secretary, the faithful Miss Pennywinkle.