Chapter Eighteen
On the Horizon
Two years later....
"This just isn't working...I just don't know how to get it to work..." Quatre was telling Zechs in the control room. "We need a better system, but I just can't..."
"We could use that demo of Zero, add onto it a bit," Zechs suggested.
"And who could possibly pilot it, eh? Only three people in the history of mankind have been able to use it and one is now a civilian, one has to be elsewhere that day, and one is the commander with another role. We can't use that! It's unethical..."
"Well if you are worrying about ethics now, we are in trouble."
"I'm serious Zechs."
Trowa sat quietly in the back watching the two pick apart the problem, which he personally could only see one solution too. "Hey you guys..."
Both men jumped, having forgotten Trowa was even there. "What?" Zechs asked.
"May I make a suggestion?"
"Anything!" Quatre said despairingly.
"Heero. We should call him."
"He would never do it..."
"He's happy and enjoying his little civilian life..."
"He's probably too busy...." But Trowa interrupted their excuses.
"He would be perfectly safe, hidden away. No one would know of his existence. He could write us a program and send it by way of email, or we could figure something out. He already knows we are up to something—he and Duo keep in close contact and you know Duo will have let some hints slip. And Heero is smart, he knows we aren't going to just let Relena keep battling it out verbally, he knows some action must be taken against these guys. He knows more of what is needed from a program and more about writing them than anyone else."
Zechs looked thoughtful. "I'll have to think about that...."
Just then Wufei stormed in. "I can't take it any more! That kid is going!" he yelled to all of them.
Zechs was beginning to feel his brilliant plan fall to pieces before his eyes. The situation had done just as he predicted—one group lost, adopted to leaders from the first, grew, changed, and was quickly advancing towards a Mafia type stage in power and development specializing in intrigue and usurping of power. While Relena still insisted on peace and disarmament, Zechs planned an all out surprise attack.
First, they were developing new shuttles. The Gundams were gone and would stay gone, but Zechs thought to improve upon the idea of Operation Meteor and build fighter shuttles faster and better than anything before. Quatre designed them. Duo got the parts. Trowa built them. And Wufei was piloting one and training others to pilot the others. There would be eight of them, two for each major base of the New Mafia, as Zechs liked to call them. No one was even sure what they were called; they kept even that a secret. In fact, very little was known about the organization itself, except you had to know the sign and the code to enter the meetings. They were buying up materials to make weapons, and they were probably buying out local politicians, at least that's what Noin and Sally thought from watching the news from those areas.
When the shuttles were finished, Zechs would make sure Relena was safely at a far away meeting. Because the attack sites all faced Mars, he and Noin would then go to Mars and instruct the shuttles from there and command the rest of the "cavalry." They would attack simultaneously from each side of each of four major points, catching them totally off guard and annihilate them before they could do anything. At least, that was the plan. But the shuttle designing and building proved more difficult than expected, the pickings for pilots were abysmal and the programs for the shuttles were still non-existent. If Zechs could cry, he would.
"What are the upstarts doing to you now, Wufei?" Trowa asked, falsely worried.
"Ha-ha. They are idiots! How they became Specials, may I ask? ARG!"
"Wufei, what if you take a break," Zechs suggested.
"I am taking a break! Why do you think I'm in here screaming?"
"No. I mean from the project."
The other three men gaped at Zechs. "What! We need him Zechs!" Quatre said sharply.
"Yes, but we need pilots. Why don't you, Wufei, take a break from the project and train a few newbies, heh? Give you a fresh perspective?"
"But if I leave here, these idiots will never get better and then you want me to deal with obnoxious little boys who...oh..." Wufei's eyes grew large. "I understand."
"I'll set it up with Lady Une," Zechs told him. Wufei nodded and sat down quietly.
"Okay then. I think I'll leave you gentlemen to your projects. I have some things to arrange." And Zechs left.
The other three looked at each other. "You know, sometimes I really wish he'd explain what he's up too. I never know what the heck's going on around here," Wufei whined.
"I think that's the way he wants it," Trowa observed quietly. "It's safer that way."
"You think he doesn't trust us?" Wufei asked, scandalized.
"Well, not exactly that. I just think he doesn't want to have to trust us, to put us at that risk. He could be court-martialed for this. And do you have any idea what Relena would do if she found out?"
Quatre slapped his forehead. "Simatta! I forgot! I was supposed to call!" And he sprinted away. Trowa and Wufei just looked at each other and shrugged.
Zechs leaned back in his chair in his office just when Relena's face blipped into view. "Milliardo! I've been trying to get a hold of you all day!"
"Sorry. I was out."
"So I gathered. I wanted to ask if you have my security set up for my next trip. I want to see if I can talk some sense into these colonists before things get sticky."
"Yes, Relena. Everything is taken care of."
She nodded. "Good. Well, I have to run now. I'm getting a call from Quatre—I've been expecting him to call with his colony's reports for a while now...I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Zechs smiled at her innocent face. "Okay."
And he leaned back again and sighed. "Things are already sticky, Relena," he muttered to himself as he dialed a number. Trowa was right about Heero. He was the best man for the job; maybe even the only man...and luckily he had connections. His roommate was a Preventor. Zechs just hoped that he'd agree.
Zechs decided it would be safer to use a regular phone—he didn't want to risk anyone seeing his face. The phone rang several times before a girl answered. "Hello?"
"Is Tai there?"
"Uh-huh..." Zechs heard her snap her gum as she handed to phone to Heero and said "Fer you".
"Hello." He was stern sounding as usual.
"Hello Heero. How are you doing?"
Zechs did not sense any surprise in Heero but then again, Heero was very good at that sort of thing.
"Fine, and you?" Zechs heard footsteps on the other end. Heero would be going someplace to be alone.
"Fine. I was wondering if you could meet me somewhere. I have a job for you, if you will agree..."
"Sure. Donny forgot his lunch; I'll bring it to work for him. I assume you know about him."
"Naturally."
"I'll see you in a few."
"Bye."
All the way to the Preventor headquaters, Tai cursed himself. He cursed himself for caring, he cursed himself for his confidence that he could help. He cursed everything. At the desk the receptionist raised an eyebrow at him, holding the paper bag in his had, but she didn't object.
"I'll call him down here for you."
Shortly there after Duo walked in, ran over to Tai and gave him a huge hug. "How's my pal!"
"Fine," Tai grunted.
Duo grinned, put an arm firmly around his shoulders, and guided him through the outside door before he could object. "How's Med school going?"
"Hard. I start clinical rotations soon."
"Oh...that's great...and how about the girls..." Tai got the distinct impression that Duo was not listening to him as he lead him to his car.
"None to talk about."
"Good, good..." Tai raised and eyebrow as he got in and Duo began to drive.
"Don't turn around, either of you. Keep talking." The unseen voice of Zechs came from the back seat.
Tai almost jumped, but he controlled himself. The idea of Zechs Marquis hiding in the back seat of a car—it was costing him dearly to refrain from howling like a hyena.
"What's going on Zechs?" he finally managed to ask, after regaining control of his metal faculties.
Zechs sighed and began. "These guys are out of hand."
Tai nodded. "Those pseudo Mafia rumors are flying around about? I figured as much. What do you know about them?"
"They have so many codes and words to get into their meetings; we haven't been able to get anyone inside—not even Trowa. But we do know that they are paying off local leaders..."
Duo snorted and inserted a "Well-duh!" But Zechs ignored him.
"They are importing all kinds of materials, scary serious stuff so we know they are planning something big. They're stationed everywhere and are watching the Preventors very carefully, and they have four major locations on opposite ends of space, all on colonies, all facing Mars. It seems odd that they are so coordinated so we are pretty sure they are either planning on blowing all space facilities into oblivion or they have some new technology and a massive trick up their sleeve."
"So what's the plan? Blow them up as soon as possible before Relena finds out?" Tai asked.
"Sort of. It's more complicated than that though. We want to duplicate Operation Meteor in a way. Eight shuttles, designed by Quatre, built by Trowa, six pilots trained by Wufei long with himself and Trowa. Two shuttles for each point attacking simultaneously. They won't know what hit them and Relena won't know about it at all. She'll be safe on the other side of earth so she can stay happy and keep her little pacifist ideals."
"Sounds thorough."
Zechs caught the implication—it was extermination. "It's all we can do. They won't listen, heck; we can't even talk to them. We have to get them before they get us. They are so carefully hidden—they've got to have some experts working for them, and that scares me. We have to make a move before they move on us."
"So why am I needed?"
Zechs sighed from the back, and Tai was tempted to look back and try to read his expression. Duo was strangely quiet. Tai suddenly wondered if Hilde knew about any this.
"We can't get a good OS going. I though of using Zero System, but now I realize that's out of the question."
"And you want me to write it?"
"Yes. You could send files by email or your roommate. You are a medical student and civilian. You would be safe and hidden and no one should have any files on you unless you get yourself arrested. We do not need your presence. They are watching us way too carefully for comfort, hence this ridiculous situation," Zechs said, indicating his preposterous position in the back seat.
"We don't want them to notice any connection between you and us. The quieter they are, the better we can beat them at the game. Just help us by writing that system. You will be well paid too—but discretely. Gundam pilot's identities are military secrets not kept on file anywhere, but still we have to be careful. We don't think they suspect us of actually working on anything, yet, but we don't want them to pick up on anything now. What do you say? If we don't do anything, it will get out of hand and Relena will keep holding on to her principles, but they just aren't practical right now."
Tai was quiet for a while, but then said, "Need you ask?"
When Tai got off the bus from his trip to Preventor headquarters, his study group was still sprawled out in the living room. "Sorry about that guys," he said by way of greeting.
"Eh, don't worry 'bout it babe," Emily told him. Tai inwardly flinched at being called babe. She called everyone that, but it still bugged him a little.
"I just don't get how this system works anymore! I understood it in year one but now I've forgotten it. Does the interleukin one hit the same time as the MHC 1 complex, or just after it?" Siduri asked. Tai was sure she wouldn't have much hair left by the end of the night, but it grew so fast that it'd probably be back by morning, curls going wild as always. But it was difficult for him to care about anything, after talking to Zechs. His stomach was in knots.
"Maybe I still have those notes somewhere..." Vince muttered to himself. Emi was asleep on the floor.
"Glad I vacuumed the other day," Tai muttered. Emily giggled.
"Did you pull out your feather duster and wood polish too?" she teased.
Donny came home around seven and Emily waved to him like she always did. She thought it was "so cool" that Tai's roommate was a "real-live Preventor." Sometimes Tai wondered how she got into medical school, but she was really smart, just a free spirit. Usually Donny waved back and flirted a little with her, but tonight he just nodded and went to his room without even stopping by the kitchen for a snack.
"What's wrong with him?" Emily asked, chewing on her eraser.
"Heck if I know. Hey Emi," Tai said, swatting the sleeping boy with a pillow. "Get up. Time to study."
He blinked groggily. "Huh? Oh, Vas I sleeping again?"
Siduri rolled her eyes. "Let's get back to the cascade system. Which enzymes do we have to know?"
"All of them naturally," Tai told her.
"I heard a really great joke," Emi said. "Emily, vat state is above Utah in America?"
"Idaho?" she half asked, still trying to decide if her knowledge of world geography was correct.
Vince started giggling. "Oh grow up, will you?" Siduri was getting herself worked up into a state again.
"I don't get it," Emily said, confused.
"Let's just get studying," Tai tried to stop an argument from studying. Whenever big exams came up, Siduri got impossible to live with and Emi impossibly perverted. This was the last round before they began clinical rotations and practicum.
"I-da-ho? Get it?" Emi asked.
"Uh-uh...."
"Oh for crying out loud!"
"Okay, okay. We'll study like good little boys and girls now," Vince said. "But Emily, I didn't know you were like that."
"Like what?"
"ARG! Tai, where do you keep your soap! Someone needs it for their mouth."
"In the kitchen," Tai told her. This ought to be good, he couldn't help but thinking. Siduri was angry enough that she actually got the dish soap from its home by the kitchen sink and came over to Emi with it.
Emi just looked at her and didn't move. Siduri called his bluff and pounced.
"EeeeeeeAAARggggg!" Emi yelled and jumped up. Siduri went tearing after him. Emi managed to get on the other side of the couch from her and they played ring around the rosies for a little bit before Siduri took a flying leap over the couch and landed on Emi's head.
It wasn't long before she had him in a head lock and aimed the soap down at him. Tai decided since this was his house, that Donny obviously wasn't in a very good mood and needed peace, and his duty as a friend of Emi's, that he would step in...eventually. He wondered if dish soap lathered very well with saliva.
It was eleven before they left and Tai knocked quietly on Donny's door. It was really strange for him to stay quiet and in his room all night. He opened it carefully, not to be noisy in case Donny was asleep. But he wasn't. He was sitting on his bed, eyes open, and listening to music quietly.
'You okay?"
"Some random guy talked to me today on my way home."
"Oh." Tai was tempted to say, so what, but he knew Donny would get to that. He was the storytelling type, but only when he was in a good mood--and this was not a good mood.
"He wanted me to give you something." Donny sat up and picked up his uniform's coat and pulled an envelope out and handed it to Tai. Tai took it from him and felt the contents through the paper. It felt like a disk.
"Did he say anything else about it?"
"No. But I can guess what it's about." Donny looked at Tai significantly, but Tai was sure he had the wrong idea.
"I'm not into any drugs, Donny. I swear."
"Oooookay...I just wanted to make sure you weren't being stupid or something. Too much studying can make you a little crazy in the head, ya know?"
"I know. Is this why you've been acting so weird?"
"No. Maybe a little part of it, but no where near all of it. I'm just...it's just...work. Things have gotten hectic at work. That's all."
But Tai knew exactly what that meant because very little could cause Donny get into such a state—the same thing that made him so upset. The word was out at headquaters that war was on the way and they were supposed to prepare. But Zechs had known for a while and had been working on this project for a long time. It had to work—and he had to do his part.
"Just tell me if you need to get out of the apartment, do something fun, ya know?"
Donny nodded slowly and lay back down on his bed, staring at the ceiling again.
He left Donny and went to his room, booted his computer and ripped open the package. A minidisk fell into his hand and he inserted it into his computer and a message popped up onto his computer screen.
"This is a copy of the old Zero system. I thought it might be useful," it read. Then the message disappeared. Tai sighed.
"Let's get started..." he muttered to himself and cracked his knuckles.
Tai came into the kitchen that morning to find Donny running around the room. "What's the rush?"
"I'wm wate fwor work," Donny said through a mouthful of bagel.
Tai watched his roommate run into the bathroom and heard the water running. Then he lunged for Donny's sack lunch sitting on the table and put a white envelope into the very bottom, under a napkin.
He sat back and got over to the cupboard for cereal just as Donny came running back into the room, grabbed his lunch and a couple files on the table, then sprinted out the door. "Later!" he yelled on his way out.
Donny flicked on the radio and stomped down on the gas pedal. He had three minutes to go eight miles, through traffic lights and parking.
The first light turned red just as Donny turned the corner. He swore loudly and tapped his fingers nervously on the steering wheel—he'd already been late for work once this year and they did not look kindly on tardiness. And since the alert had been raised for war preparation. Of course the public didn't know about it. They were the preventors, after all. They had to stop it. It was almost as bad as joining the war effort once it's begun—almost. They weren't fighting yet and hopefully they'd be able to get out of any fighting. But searches were on and the pressure was high.
The secrets were the worst, in Donny's opinion he thought as the light turned green and he finally got to move again. But with the secrets, you could talk to anyone. And you knew that the guy in the next office was plotting something that would kill thousands and save millions. What a trade off. You didn't know if there were traitors or if you would be framed—it had happened before. This was serious stuff.
The guard at the door nodded to him, recognizing him. Donny struggled to make his face form a smile. He went to the screening process—a metal detector and two guards stood there, inspecting things. He handed them his files and lunch, and they put them in a plastic container to go through the X-ray. As one man had him walk through, Donny noticed the other going through his lunch.
"Hey! What's in their that's so questionable?" Not that he had anything to hide, but it was the principle of the thing. He worked here and it had already gone through the X-ray. Did he mention that he worked here?
"Just a funny shape...oh...it was a spoon..." the guard said. Donny glared at the Chinese man. He didn't like his attitude.
"Right, he said angrily." And stalked off.
At twelve Wufei's replacement at the entrance came. They nodded to each other and Wufei picked up his coat and walked down the hall. He got to the elevator and picked his floor, getting off at Zechs' office. He knocked briskly and got a curt command to enter.
Wufei carefully shut the door behind him. "Heero sent us a present," he said, pulling a white envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Zechs.
Zechs took it and opened it carefully. "Disk," he said. "And a note...'thanks for the jumpstart. Tell me what you think of this thus far.'"
"He wrote a note?" Wufei asked incredulously. Heero was really falling out of it if he was getting slopping and uncreative enough to let his writing get around.
"Typed it—looks like a typewriter." Zechs popped the disk into his computer and clicked open a few files. "Oh, I got you a promising group of people to supervise and help train with the specials. All of them have gone through basic training and were accepted into the Specials. Every one of them is intelligent and trained as a pilot. See if any of them will be good and impressionable enough to be of help, eh?" he said, looking up from his computer.
Wufei decided to ignore Zechs' comments for the moment—he didn't think he could face going to those newbies just yet. "What did Heero send you?"
"It looks like the beginnings of the OS—but it's very simple still. Just the very basics. I suppose he wants to know if we like his layout and the response time because...." Zechs trailed off for a moment and Wufei just stood there quietly. Zechs would pick up on his sentence in a moment. "Because it seems that's all it is made of. There are very basic outlines of attachments to various instruments—infrared and the like. But mostly it's a shoot, aim, react type of program. It's fast too. We'll have to plug it in and see if it's too fast—we can't have everyone blacking out in their cockpits."
"Too many g's?"
"Yah.... But I think that's part of those crazy scientists genius, the ones who worked on Operation Meteor."
"I don't understand."
Zechs set back and sighed. "In battle the greatest advantages are strong armor, keeping the brain inside safe, powerful weapons, and reaction time. To build a superior machine, it is limited not by materials but by human capacity. If it is too strong, too fast, the pilot inside is killed. That's why mobile dolls were used for a while, why they could be so fast, besides the fact that computers can process information quicker than humans. Yet, even that didn't matter too much because there was a master mind controlling the dolls from a safer place. Thus, the scientists used children—fifteen year olds to pilot the gundams."
"I still don't see why that's an advantage Zechs," Wufei persisted. It still seemed silly too him—obviously they were all the best pilots. Wufei didn't know what Zechs was going on about, but he wasn't complaining. The longer Zechs took, the later he could be for working with the greenies. "Boys are short."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"If someone is short, their center of gravity is lowered. If that is the case, their body can tolerate more g's, thus they can handle a faster machine. So the scientists had boys pilot the Gundams. What's more, they chose Heero, who'd been trained to fight since he was in diapers, and Trowa, who grew up on the battle fields. Then there was Duo, a case of ADD if I ever saw one, and you and Quatre, brains and quick learners and very motivated. It worked out perfectly."
"Are you saying I need to recruit the shortest people out there to help pilot these crazy things you're building?"
Zechs smirked. "No. I'm saying don't overlook someone because they look childish and innocent. Get down there Wufei."
Wufei sighed and nodded. He might as well go and meet his fate. And he could chew a little bit on what Zechs had just said. That was so odd. He turned to go but Zechs stopped him with a quick comment.
"You know Wufei, women are short too."
Wufei groaned and Zechs chuckled.
The Specials' training ground was on the opposite side of the compound and it would take about ten minutes to get there, at least when it was Wufei walking—he always took the scenic route. He didn't have to answer to anyone so he could be a little late—just so long as he did show up, eventually.
Sally had gotten married about a year ago and since then Wufei had been through three partners. But all three just were not up to his standards—silly, ignorant, or just plain stupid. He'd managed to find ways to drive all three of them away and then Zechs just gave up on pairing Wufei with anyone again. That was a day to remember, Chang Wufei, the man who got the best of Zechs Marquis.
Sometimes he felt a little remorse for how he treated those three poor unfortunate souls, but then he decided they didn't matter and his literal two seconds worth of humanity disappeared. The first man had attempted to kill Wufei after a mission, so maybe Wufei had gone a bit far. But it had worked and that's all he cared about. And the man's eyebrows would grow back.....
Wufei stopped in front of a building, a chain-linked fence surrounded it. He was here already? He didn't take long enough.
He swiped his ID card and the gate opened for him. Voices echoed through the compound as drill sergeants yelled. But he needed to go inside the building.
On the ground floor was the gym he was looking for. There he found a room full of were children, at least that's what Wufei predicted. He supposed it wasn't fair to assume they were immature and naive before even talking to them, but every other group had been full of dunderheads.
Two very harried looking officers stood at the front demonstrating what looked to be like worst case scenario training on small, half built practice jets mounted to the floor—for if you were caught by the enemy. Wufei went over to them and they nodded in acknowledgement.
"Okay, I want you all to practice preparing for take off in your jets, then ejecting. GO!" one of the officers yelled and all the people below scattered. Then he turned to Wufei. "'Bout time you got your lazy butt here Chang. You get the end group." The way he smirked made Wufei nervous but he wasn't about to let it show.
So he sauntered over to his group to see how they were doing. One boy had gotten tangled in his seatbelt and another couldn't get the ID keypad to recognize his hand indention. This would be a long day....
After several rounds Wufei called his group back. There were ten trainees for him to care for. He just couldn't contain his excitement.
But there were only eight here.
Wufei instructed to group to stay there and he went over to the machines. Behind a jet he saw two figures. One jumped very quickly away from the other, which stood up very slowly, but the jet's wing shadowed them so he couldn't see clearly.
"HEY! Didn't you hear me?" he yelled over at them.
"YES SIR!" a boy's voice answered back.
"Well, get your worthless carcass over there! MOVE!"
Both figures started running. Wufei let them pass him then he followed. The two people found a place in line and Wufei went to join them. But then he realized one of the two was a girl. No, he cursed his luck. Not one of these.... He'd talk to her later and beat it out of her.
He yelled at his group for several hours driving them as hard as he could. Wufei supposed that it was good he didn't have too much authority, he was to maniacal to handle it righteously. Especially when dealing with cocky, snot-nosed brats.
He watched the girl get into one of the cockpits—now was as good of time as any to yell at her.
She was very quick with her fingers and seemed to remember most everything he had told her—or at least she was doing them. Who knew if she actually understood everything. She was quick and small—Wufei thought she looked Asian from his perspective.
He came and stood at the cockpit door until she looked up at him.
"Sir?" Definitely Asian—but darker skinned than most. Indonesian? No...didn't look quite right. Definitely not Japanese or Chinese or Korean.
"Why are you here, soldier?"
She looked startled but recovered quickly. "To protect my family's way of life, sir."
Wufei snorted. Right. That's what they all said. He kept his poker face up. He was good at it. "What's your name?"
"Juliano. Kiki Juliano, sir."
"Well, Kiki Juliano, if you are so serious about this then what are you doing screwing around with your fellow trainees?"
She turned red and griped the controls harder, Wufei was pleased too see. But she didn't answer. Maybe she had a few brains, she new a trap when she smelled one and she wasn't about to answer. He smirked and walked away, having made his point.
It wasn't until later that it occurred to him that she looked angry, not embarrassed.
Relena put the last few files away and turned around back to her desk. She had finally cleared out her inbox and it was only twelve thirty. Now she could go to sleep.
She picked up her jacket and purse, glanced around her familiar office to make sure all was in order, then she turned to leave. She shut the door but remembered her keys were buried in her purse.
Bending over it, she dug around until she found them and locked the door. Then she turned to leave and almost walked right on top of someone. She jumped and gave a tiny shriek.
"Hey, calm down. It's just me," a familiar smooth voice told her.
She glared at her co-worked. "Marcus. Please, do NOT sneak up on my like that. Especially this time of night. Are you TRYING to kill me?"
He gave her that infuriatingly coy grin that had one captivated her...about four years ago. "Of course not. I was just wondering what one earth YOU were doing here so late, Princess."
"I thought I told you not to call me that."
"Sorry. It's just so easy to say as its so fitting."
"Marcus, I'm tired. And it's late. What do you want? Just tell me so I can get home and get some sleep—please."
Marcus grinned and stepped a few paces back away from her and out of her face. She thanked God for that one; she despised having him that close to her. He just made her so mad, madder than any one else ever had been able to in her life.
"I was contacted by your brother today. He told me to tell you he was sorry but he couldn't get a hold of you today. And your transport to Los Angeles Base is secure."
"Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going home. Goodnight Marcus."
"'Night."
Relena walked briskly down the corridor to the elevator—parking was underground. But driving made her nervous. Actually, Zechs had been trying for weeks to convince her to get a chauffer and she hadn't bother with it yet—she didn't see the need. But lately, things had been getting scary in the office. Zechs had warned her two years ago that it was getting rough, but she didn't realize it was this rough. And she was scared. Rumors of corruption, buy-outs of politicians, weapons on the black-market. She'd even heard a ludicrous rumor about someone finding the lost Gundams and preparing them for battle. At least that one she knew was false.
And despite how annoying Marcus was, he was a great help. As her first assistant, he went everywhere with her and knew all that she was doing. He was perceptive and intelligent, and sometimes she wondered if he should be the minister and she the assistant. He had picked up on several things that she had missed—people contradicting themselves and so on. But why did he have to be so annoying?
He had never been such a pain before. It wasn't until that car wreck she'd gotten in and met Tai that he'd gotten like this.
She pulled out onto the road as and realized it had been two whole years, over two years, since that accident. It seemed like forever ago. Instinctively she reached up and touched her hair. She still had the flowers—they were pressed in an old book in her bedroom. The Witch of Blackbird Pond, she sometimes felt like Kit. But she wouldn't have a handsome sailor come and save her. She'd cut off her only hope of that.
Sometimes she'd wake up stop and think about everything she'd done in her life. And that was one thing she still could not believe she'd been able to do.
Pulling up into the driveway, she felt a tear fall. She parked and wiped it away. What's wrong with me?!? It had been forever since she'd cried about this.
The lights were off in the house so Relena supposed her mother was asleep now. Since she'd come back, she'd moved in with her mother in her old house. So many memories. When she really thought about this she felt like she was in a cheap thriller novel—family burned to death, her father's best friend cares for the daughter but tragically dies. Her warped brother protects her from afar but becomes the enemy. Then she falls for her brother's enemy. Blah, blah blah. It sounded so paltry.
She opened the door as quietly as she could. Her mother had the most amazing ears. It seemed a bit strange to be twenty-four and living with her mother, but it was a comfort. And it wasn't as if she had time for a social life anyway.
But she decided to get to bed as quickly as she could. She did have a flight tomorrow to LA. More talks with people who wouldn't care. Then after LA there was Rome—Zechs was there though. She could see her brother then.
Tai rubbed his eyes after walking out of the silent classroom—it had only taken five hours to finish that test. He looked at the library and deliberated for about three seconds whether or not to go home or study all night.
He turned and walked away from the library. His brain was fried.
"Tai!" Siduri called after him.
He stopped and waited for her to catch up with him. "Did you just finish?"
"Yah. That was a killer, wasn't it?"
Tai nodded.
"Hey, you want to go get something to eat?" she asked. Tai's brain wasn't working too well so he had to stop and think about what she had just asked, but it was long enough to notice something very disturbing. Siduri looked nervous and bit her lip. "If you are busy, you know, going out or something, that's fine...." She trailed off.
Tai cocked his head and looked curiously at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Because I thought for a second you looked nervous. It's me, remember." She fidgeted a little more. What was with her...she suddenly looked like she was preparing for war with a very determined look.
"Tai...listen, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"I'm listening. What's up?"
"I like you. I've liked you since we first met. I think you are smart and nice and an overall decent person. And I'm sure you have girls all over you and are sick of it, but I like you and was wondering if maybe you might like me even in the least."
Tai felt like a brick had been dropped on him. Is this what all her strange body-behavior had meant? Is this what girls acted like if they liked you? And what the crap was he supposed to do? She was his friend and in his study group—he saw her almost every day, and he certainly didn't think of her like that. But what came out of his mouth came so quickly, he didn't even realized what he was saying until it came out.
"Siduri, I do like you a lot as a friend and a person, but I'm just not interested in any kind of relationship with anyone. I'm sorry to be blunt there it is." There it is? What was he, a fruitcake? Great move, Tai. Great things to say to a girl so she doesn't feel stupid or hurt. Tai continued to mentally berate himself while she nodded and looked like she had swallowed something rather large and hard.
"That's fine. I just...had to know. I guess I'll be going then..." she started to turn away and Tai felt like he'd just killed a puppy or something. O wait, he'd done something like that before....now was not the time to think about that.
"Tai, what's her name?" she asked him suddenly.
"What?"
"Quit playing innocent. I've known you two years and you've never mentioned anyone. I've never known you to go get stoned and shagged. I've never seen you with a girl, not even once. Do you have a girl at home or something?"
"Why are you so insistent that I have a girl at all?" Tai was feeling annoyed.
"I guess I just can't imagine you not having one. What's the big deal? It's like you're hiding her or something. Besides, why else do you get that dreamy look whenever Vince talks about his girlfriend?"
"I don't have a girl and I don't EVER get a dreamy look on my face!" Tai felt totally disgusted—there was no way anyone should ever be able to describe his expressions as 'dreamy.' That was ridiculous!
"Geesh. Chill. Don't jump down my case. I just wondered what the big secret is."
"Siduri, have a good weekend. I'll see you on Monday." Tai was bristling. Dreamy? How absurd could you get?
He stormed down the sidewalk. What was with that girl—practically confessing her love then accusing him of having a girl? What kind of girl did that make her? ARG!
A cat ran across the sidewalk and Tai jumped so he didn't step on its tail. Then he saw a few daisies lining someone's sidewalk. They were short and yellow centers—some with red petals, others the traditional white. Relena loved those flowers. She thought they were happy.
Tai stood and looked at them for a few minutes and a smile spread across his face. He wondered if she ever remembered him or thought about that day. It was a nice day.
Then his eyes widened. Crap...what was he DOING?
A/N Guess what guys? I'm actually home again! I love my bedroom--it's all mine. I have to share a room with two others and an apartment with five others--and now my room is aaaall mine. And I have internet access! Yea! Okay, I'm going to start trying to pump these suckers out and hopefully have this story finished by the end of the summer. I hope you enjoy and thanks soooooooooooooo much for the review! Toodles! Tygerlilee =;=
Two years later....
"This just isn't working...I just don't know how to get it to work..." Quatre was telling Zechs in the control room. "We need a better system, but I just can't..."
"We could use that demo of Zero, add onto it a bit," Zechs suggested.
"And who could possibly pilot it, eh? Only three people in the history of mankind have been able to use it and one is now a civilian, one has to be elsewhere that day, and one is the commander with another role. We can't use that! It's unethical..."
"Well if you are worrying about ethics now, we are in trouble."
"I'm serious Zechs."
Trowa sat quietly in the back watching the two pick apart the problem, which he personally could only see one solution too. "Hey you guys..."
Both men jumped, having forgotten Trowa was even there. "What?" Zechs asked.
"May I make a suggestion?"
"Anything!" Quatre said despairingly.
"Heero. We should call him."
"He would never do it..."
"He's happy and enjoying his little civilian life..."
"He's probably too busy...." But Trowa interrupted their excuses.
"He would be perfectly safe, hidden away. No one would know of his existence. He could write us a program and send it by way of email, or we could figure something out. He already knows we are up to something—he and Duo keep in close contact and you know Duo will have let some hints slip. And Heero is smart, he knows we aren't going to just let Relena keep battling it out verbally, he knows some action must be taken against these guys. He knows more of what is needed from a program and more about writing them than anyone else."
Zechs looked thoughtful. "I'll have to think about that...."
Just then Wufei stormed in. "I can't take it any more! That kid is going!" he yelled to all of them.
Zechs was beginning to feel his brilliant plan fall to pieces before his eyes. The situation had done just as he predicted—one group lost, adopted to leaders from the first, grew, changed, and was quickly advancing towards a Mafia type stage in power and development specializing in intrigue and usurping of power. While Relena still insisted on peace and disarmament, Zechs planned an all out surprise attack.
First, they were developing new shuttles. The Gundams were gone and would stay gone, but Zechs thought to improve upon the idea of Operation Meteor and build fighter shuttles faster and better than anything before. Quatre designed them. Duo got the parts. Trowa built them. And Wufei was piloting one and training others to pilot the others. There would be eight of them, two for each major base of the New Mafia, as Zechs liked to call them. No one was even sure what they were called; they kept even that a secret. In fact, very little was known about the organization itself, except you had to know the sign and the code to enter the meetings. They were buying up materials to make weapons, and they were probably buying out local politicians, at least that's what Noin and Sally thought from watching the news from those areas.
When the shuttles were finished, Zechs would make sure Relena was safely at a far away meeting. Because the attack sites all faced Mars, he and Noin would then go to Mars and instruct the shuttles from there and command the rest of the "cavalry." They would attack simultaneously from each side of each of four major points, catching them totally off guard and annihilate them before they could do anything. At least, that was the plan. But the shuttle designing and building proved more difficult than expected, the pickings for pilots were abysmal and the programs for the shuttles were still non-existent. If Zechs could cry, he would.
"What are the upstarts doing to you now, Wufei?" Trowa asked, falsely worried.
"Ha-ha. They are idiots! How they became Specials, may I ask? ARG!"
"Wufei, what if you take a break," Zechs suggested.
"I am taking a break! Why do you think I'm in here screaming?"
"No. I mean from the project."
The other three men gaped at Zechs. "What! We need him Zechs!" Quatre said sharply.
"Yes, but we need pilots. Why don't you, Wufei, take a break from the project and train a few newbies, heh? Give you a fresh perspective?"
"But if I leave here, these idiots will never get better and then you want me to deal with obnoxious little boys who...oh..." Wufei's eyes grew large. "I understand."
"I'll set it up with Lady Une," Zechs told him. Wufei nodded and sat down quietly.
"Okay then. I think I'll leave you gentlemen to your projects. I have some things to arrange." And Zechs left.
The other three looked at each other. "You know, sometimes I really wish he'd explain what he's up too. I never know what the heck's going on around here," Wufei whined.
"I think that's the way he wants it," Trowa observed quietly. "It's safer that way."
"You think he doesn't trust us?" Wufei asked, scandalized.
"Well, not exactly that. I just think he doesn't want to have to trust us, to put us at that risk. He could be court-martialed for this. And do you have any idea what Relena would do if she found out?"
Quatre slapped his forehead. "Simatta! I forgot! I was supposed to call!" And he sprinted away. Trowa and Wufei just looked at each other and shrugged.
Zechs leaned back in his chair in his office just when Relena's face blipped into view. "Milliardo! I've been trying to get a hold of you all day!"
"Sorry. I was out."
"So I gathered. I wanted to ask if you have my security set up for my next trip. I want to see if I can talk some sense into these colonists before things get sticky."
"Yes, Relena. Everything is taken care of."
She nodded. "Good. Well, I have to run now. I'm getting a call from Quatre—I've been expecting him to call with his colony's reports for a while now...I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Zechs smiled at her innocent face. "Okay."
And he leaned back again and sighed. "Things are already sticky, Relena," he muttered to himself as he dialed a number. Trowa was right about Heero. He was the best man for the job; maybe even the only man...and luckily he had connections. His roommate was a Preventor. Zechs just hoped that he'd agree.
Zechs decided it would be safer to use a regular phone—he didn't want to risk anyone seeing his face. The phone rang several times before a girl answered. "Hello?"
"Is Tai there?"
"Uh-huh..." Zechs heard her snap her gum as she handed to phone to Heero and said "Fer you".
"Hello." He was stern sounding as usual.
"Hello Heero. How are you doing?"
Zechs did not sense any surprise in Heero but then again, Heero was very good at that sort of thing.
"Fine, and you?" Zechs heard footsteps on the other end. Heero would be going someplace to be alone.
"Fine. I was wondering if you could meet me somewhere. I have a job for you, if you will agree..."
"Sure. Donny forgot his lunch; I'll bring it to work for him. I assume you know about him."
"Naturally."
"I'll see you in a few."
"Bye."
All the way to the Preventor headquaters, Tai cursed himself. He cursed himself for caring, he cursed himself for his confidence that he could help. He cursed everything. At the desk the receptionist raised an eyebrow at him, holding the paper bag in his had, but she didn't object.
"I'll call him down here for you."
Shortly there after Duo walked in, ran over to Tai and gave him a huge hug. "How's my pal!"
"Fine," Tai grunted.
Duo grinned, put an arm firmly around his shoulders, and guided him through the outside door before he could object. "How's Med school going?"
"Hard. I start clinical rotations soon."
"Oh...that's great...and how about the girls..." Tai got the distinct impression that Duo was not listening to him as he lead him to his car.
"None to talk about."
"Good, good..." Tai raised and eyebrow as he got in and Duo began to drive.
"Don't turn around, either of you. Keep talking." The unseen voice of Zechs came from the back seat.
Tai almost jumped, but he controlled himself. The idea of Zechs Marquis hiding in the back seat of a car—it was costing him dearly to refrain from howling like a hyena.
"What's going on Zechs?" he finally managed to ask, after regaining control of his metal faculties.
Zechs sighed and began. "These guys are out of hand."
Tai nodded. "Those pseudo Mafia rumors are flying around about? I figured as much. What do you know about them?"
"They have so many codes and words to get into their meetings; we haven't been able to get anyone inside—not even Trowa. But we do know that they are paying off local leaders..."
Duo snorted and inserted a "Well-duh!" But Zechs ignored him.
"They are importing all kinds of materials, scary serious stuff so we know they are planning something big. They're stationed everywhere and are watching the Preventors very carefully, and they have four major locations on opposite ends of space, all on colonies, all facing Mars. It seems odd that they are so coordinated so we are pretty sure they are either planning on blowing all space facilities into oblivion or they have some new technology and a massive trick up their sleeve."
"So what's the plan? Blow them up as soon as possible before Relena finds out?" Tai asked.
"Sort of. It's more complicated than that though. We want to duplicate Operation Meteor in a way. Eight shuttles, designed by Quatre, built by Trowa, six pilots trained by Wufei long with himself and Trowa. Two shuttles for each point attacking simultaneously. They won't know what hit them and Relena won't know about it at all. She'll be safe on the other side of earth so she can stay happy and keep her little pacifist ideals."
"Sounds thorough."
Zechs caught the implication—it was extermination. "It's all we can do. They won't listen, heck; we can't even talk to them. We have to get them before they get us. They are so carefully hidden—they've got to have some experts working for them, and that scares me. We have to make a move before they move on us."
"So why am I needed?"
Zechs sighed from the back, and Tai was tempted to look back and try to read his expression. Duo was strangely quiet. Tai suddenly wondered if Hilde knew about any this.
"We can't get a good OS going. I though of using Zero System, but now I realize that's out of the question."
"And you want me to write it?"
"Yes. You could send files by email or your roommate. You are a medical student and civilian. You would be safe and hidden and no one should have any files on you unless you get yourself arrested. We do not need your presence. They are watching us way too carefully for comfort, hence this ridiculous situation," Zechs said, indicating his preposterous position in the back seat.
"We don't want them to notice any connection between you and us. The quieter they are, the better we can beat them at the game. Just help us by writing that system. You will be well paid too—but discretely. Gundam pilot's identities are military secrets not kept on file anywhere, but still we have to be careful. We don't think they suspect us of actually working on anything, yet, but we don't want them to pick up on anything now. What do you say? If we don't do anything, it will get out of hand and Relena will keep holding on to her principles, but they just aren't practical right now."
Tai was quiet for a while, but then said, "Need you ask?"
When Tai got off the bus from his trip to Preventor headquarters, his study group was still sprawled out in the living room. "Sorry about that guys," he said by way of greeting.
"Eh, don't worry 'bout it babe," Emily told him. Tai inwardly flinched at being called babe. She called everyone that, but it still bugged him a little.
"I just don't get how this system works anymore! I understood it in year one but now I've forgotten it. Does the interleukin one hit the same time as the MHC 1 complex, or just after it?" Siduri asked. Tai was sure she wouldn't have much hair left by the end of the night, but it grew so fast that it'd probably be back by morning, curls going wild as always. But it was difficult for him to care about anything, after talking to Zechs. His stomach was in knots.
"Maybe I still have those notes somewhere..." Vince muttered to himself. Emi was asleep on the floor.
"Glad I vacuumed the other day," Tai muttered. Emily giggled.
"Did you pull out your feather duster and wood polish too?" she teased.
Donny came home around seven and Emily waved to him like she always did. She thought it was "so cool" that Tai's roommate was a "real-live Preventor." Sometimes Tai wondered how she got into medical school, but she was really smart, just a free spirit. Usually Donny waved back and flirted a little with her, but tonight he just nodded and went to his room without even stopping by the kitchen for a snack.
"What's wrong with him?" Emily asked, chewing on her eraser.
"Heck if I know. Hey Emi," Tai said, swatting the sleeping boy with a pillow. "Get up. Time to study."
He blinked groggily. "Huh? Oh, Vas I sleeping again?"
Siduri rolled her eyes. "Let's get back to the cascade system. Which enzymes do we have to know?"
"All of them naturally," Tai told her.
"I heard a really great joke," Emi said. "Emily, vat state is above Utah in America?"
"Idaho?" she half asked, still trying to decide if her knowledge of world geography was correct.
Vince started giggling. "Oh grow up, will you?" Siduri was getting herself worked up into a state again.
"I don't get it," Emily said, confused.
"Let's just get studying," Tai tried to stop an argument from studying. Whenever big exams came up, Siduri got impossible to live with and Emi impossibly perverted. This was the last round before they began clinical rotations and practicum.
"I-da-ho? Get it?" Emi asked.
"Uh-uh...."
"Oh for crying out loud!"
"Okay, okay. We'll study like good little boys and girls now," Vince said. "But Emily, I didn't know you were like that."
"Like what?"
"ARG! Tai, where do you keep your soap! Someone needs it for their mouth."
"In the kitchen," Tai told her. This ought to be good, he couldn't help but thinking. Siduri was angry enough that she actually got the dish soap from its home by the kitchen sink and came over to Emi with it.
Emi just looked at her and didn't move. Siduri called his bluff and pounced.
"EeeeeeeAAARggggg!" Emi yelled and jumped up. Siduri went tearing after him. Emi managed to get on the other side of the couch from her and they played ring around the rosies for a little bit before Siduri took a flying leap over the couch and landed on Emi's head.
It wasn't long before she had him in a head lock and aimed the soap down at him. Tai decided since this was his house, that Donny obviously wasn't in a very good mood and needed peace, and his duty as a friend of Emi's, that he would step in...eventually. He wondered if dish soap lathered very well with saliva.
It was eleven before they left and Tai knocked quietly on Donny's door. It was really strange for him to stay quiet and in his room all night. He opened it carefully, not to be noisy in case Donny was asleep. But he wasn't. He was sitting on his bed, eyes open, and listening to music quietly.
'You okay?"
"Some random guy talked to me today on my way home."
"Oh." Tai was tempted to say, so what, but he knew Donny would get to that. He was the storytelling type, but only when he was in a good mood--and this was not a good mood.
"He wanted me to give you something." Donny sat up and picked up his uniform's coat and pulled an envelope out and handed it to Tai. Tai took it from him and felt the contents through the paper. It felt like a disk.
"Did he say anything else about it?"
"No. But I can guess what it's about." Donny looked at Tai significantly, but Tai was sure he had the wrong idea.
"I'm not into any drugs, Donny. I swear."
"Oooookay...I just wanted to make sure you weren't being stupid or something. Too much studying can make you a little crazy in the head, ya know?"
"I know. Is this why you've been acting so weird?"
"No. Maybe a little part of it, but no where near all of it. I'm just...it's just...work. Things have gotten hectic at work. That's all."
But Tai knew exactly what that meant because very little could cause Donny get into such a state—the same thing that made him so upset. The word was out at headquaters that war was on the way and they were supposed to prepare. But Zechs had known for a while and had been working on this project for a long time. It had to work—and he had to do his part.
"Just tell me if you need to get out of the apartment, do something fun, ya know?"
Donny nodded slowly and lay back down on his bed, staring at the ceiling again.
He left Donny and went to his room, booted his computer and ripped open the package. A minidisk fell into his hand and he inserted it into his computer and a message popped up onto his computer screen.
"This is a copy of the old Zero system. I thought it might be useful," it read. Then the message disappeared. Tai sighed.
"Let's get started..." he muttered to himself and cracked his knuckles.
Tai came into the kitchen that morning to find Donny running around the room. "What's the rush?"
"I'wm wate fwor work," Donny said through a mouthful of bagel.
Tai watched his roommate run into the bathroom and heard the water running. Then he lunged for Donny's sack lunch sitting on the table and put a white envelope into the very bottom, under a napkin.
He sat back and got over to the cupboard for cereal just as Donny came running back into the room, grabbed his lunch and a couple files on the table, then sprinted out the door. "Later!" he yelled on his way out.
Donny flicked on the radio and stomped down on the gas pedal. He had three minutes to go eight miles, through traffic lights and parking.
The first light turned red just as Donny turned the corner. He swore loudly and tapped his fingers nervously on the steering wheel—he'd already been late for work once this year and they did not look kindly on tardiness. And since the alert had been raised for war preparation. Of course the public didn't know about it. They were the preventors, after all. They had to stop it. It was almost as bad as joining the war effort once it's begun—almost. They weren't fighting yet and hopefully they'd be able to get out of any fighting. But searches were on and the pressure was high.
The secrets were the worst, in Donny's opinion he thought as the light turned green and he finally got to move again. But with the secrets, you could talk to anyone. And you knew that the guy in the next office was plotting something that would kill thousands and save millions. What a trade off. You didn't know if there were traitors or if you would be framed—it had happened before. This was serious stuff.
The guard at the door nodded to him, recognizing him. Donny struggled to make his face form a smile. He went to the screening process—a metal detector and two guards stood there, inspecting things. He handed them his files and lunch, and they put them in a plastic container to go through the X-ray. As one man had him walk through, Donny noticed the other going through his lunch.
"Hey! What's in their that's so questionable?" Not that he had anything to hide, but it was the principle of the thing. He worked here and it had already gone through the X-ray. Did he mention that he worked here?
"Just a funny shape...oh...it was a spoon..." the guard said. Donny glared at the Chinese man. He didn't like his attitude.
"Right, he said angrily." And stalked off.
At twelve Wufei's replacement at the entrance came. They nodded to each other and Wufei picked up his coat and walked down the hall. He got to the elevator and picked his floor, getting off at Zechs' office. He knocked briskly and got a curt command to enter.
Wufei carefully shut the door behind him. "Heero sent us a present," he said, pulling a white envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Zechs.
Zechs took it and opened it carefully. "Disk," he said. "And a note...'thanks for the jumpstart. Tell me what you think of this thus far.'"
"He wrote a note?" Wufei asked incredulously. Heero was really falling out of it if he was getting slopping and uncreative enough to let his writing get around.
"Typed it—looks like a typewriter." Zechs popped the disk into his computer and clicked open a few files. "Oh, I got you a promising group of people to supervise and help train with the specials. All of them have gone through basic training and were accepted into the Specials. Every one of them is intelligent and trained as a pilot. See if any of them will be good and impressionable enough to be of help, eh?" he said, looking up from his computer.
Wufei decided to ignore Zechs' comments for the moment—he didn't think he could face going to those newbies just yet. "What did Heero send you?"
"It looks like the beginnings of the OS—but it's very simple still. Just the very basics. I suppose he wants to know if we like his layout and the response time because...." Zechs trailed off for a moment and Wufei just stood there quietly. Zechs would pick up on his sentence in a moment. "Because it seems that's all it is made of. There are very basic outlines of attachments to various instruments—infrared and the like. But mostly it's a shoot, aim, react type of program. It's fast too. We'll have to plug it in and see if it's too fast—we can't have everyone blacking out in their cockpits."
"Too many g's?"
"Yah.... But I think that's part of those crazy scientists genius, the ones who worked on Operation Meteor."
"I don't understand."
Zechs set back and sighed. "In battle the greatest advantages are strong armor, keeping the brain inside safe, powerful weapons, and reaction time. To build a superior machine, it is limited not by materials but by human capacity. If it is too strong, too fast, the pilot inside is killed. That's why mobile dolls were used for a while, why they could be so fast, besides the fact that computers can process information quicker than humans. Yet, even that didn't matter too much because there was a master mind controlling the dolls from a safer place. Thus, the scientists used children—fifteen year olds to pilot the gundams."
"I still don't see why that's an advantage Zechs," Wufei persisted. It still seemed silly too him—obviously they were all the best pilots. Wufei didn't know what Zechs was going on about, but he wasn't complaining. The longer Zechs took, the later he could be for working with the greenies. "Boys are short."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"If someone is short, their center of gravity is lowered. If that is the case, their body can tolerate more g's, thus they can handle a faster machine. So the scientists had boys pilot the Gundams. What's more, they chose Heero, who'd been trained to fight since he was in diapers, and Trowa, who grew up on the battle fields. Then there was Duo, a case of ADD if I ever saw one, and you and Quatre, brains and quick learners and very motivated. It worked out perfectly."
"Are you saying I need to recruit the shortest people out there to help pilot these crazy things you're building?"
Zechs smirked. "No. I'm saying don't overlook someone because they look childish and innocent. Get down there Wufei."
Wufei sighed and nodded. He might as well go and meet his fate. And he could chew a little bit on what Zechs had just said. That was so odd. He turned to go but Zechs stopped him with a quick comment.
"You know Wufei, women are short too."
Wufei groaned and Zechs chuckled.
The Specials' training ground was on the opposite side of the compound and it would take about ten minutes to get there, at least when it was Wufei walking—he always took the scenic route. He didn't have to answer to anyone so he could be a little late—just so long as he did show up, eventually.
Sally had gotten married about a year ago and since then Wufei had been through three partners. But all three just were not up to his standards—silly, ignorant, or just plain stupid. He'd managed to find ways to drive all three of them away and then Zechs just gave up on pairing Wufei with anyone again. That was a day to remember, Chang Wufei, the man who got the best of Zechs Marquis.
Sometimes he felt a little remorse for how he treated those three poor unfortunate souls, but then he decided they didn't matter and his literal two seconds worth of humanity disappeared. The first man had attempted to kill Wufei after a mission, so maybe Wufei had gone a bit far. But it had worked and that's all he cared about. And the man's eyebrows would grow back.....
Wufei stopped in front of a building, a chain-linked fence surrounded it. He was here already? He didn't take long enough.
He swiped his ID card and the gate opened for him. Voices echoed through the compound as drill sergeants yelled. But he needed to go inside the building.
On the ground floor was the gym he was looking for. There he found a room full of were children, at least that's what Wufei predicted. He supposed it wasn't fair to assume they were immature and naive before even talking to them, but every other group had been full of dunderheads.
Two very harried looking officers stood at the front demonstrating what looked to be like worst case scenario training on small, half built practice jets mounted to the floor—for if you were caught by the enemy. Wufei went over to them and they nodded in acknowledgement.
"Okay, I want you all to practice preparing for take off in your jets, then ejecting. GO!" one of the officers yelled and all the people below scattered. Then he turned to Wufei. "'Bout time you got your lazy butt here Chang. You get the end group." The way he smirked made Wufei nervous but he wasn't about to let it show.
So he sauntered over to his group to see how they were doing. One boy had gotten tangled in his seatbelt and another couldn't get the ID keypad to recognize his hand indention. This would be a long day....
After several rounds Wufei called his group back. There were ten trainees for him to care for. He just couldn't contain his excitement.
But there were only eight here.
Wufei instructed to group to stay there and he went over to the machines. Behind a jet he saw two figures. One jumped very quickly away from the other, which stood up very slowly, but the jet's wing shadowed them so he couldn't see clearly.
"HEY! Didn't you hear me?" he yelled over at them.
"YES SIR!" a boy's voice answered back.
"Well, get your worthless carcass over there! MOVE!"
Both figures started running. Wufei let them pass him then he followed. The two people found a place in line and Wufei went to join them. But then he realized one of the two was a girl. No, he cursed his luck. Not one of these.... He'd talk to her later and beat it out of her.
He yelled at his group for several hours driving them as hard as he could. Wufei supposed that it was good he didn't have too much authority, he was to maniacal to handle it righteously. Especially when dealing with cocky, snot-nosed brats.
He watched the girl get into one of the cockpits—now was as good of time as any to yell at her.
She was very quick with her fingers and seemed to remember most everything he had told her—or at least she was doing them. Who knew if she actually understood everything. She was quick and small—Wufei thought she looked Asian from his perspective.
He came and stood at the cockpit door until she looked up at him.
"Sir?" Definitely Asian—but darker skinned than most. Indonesian? No...didn't look quite right. Definitely not Japanese or Chinese or Korean.
"Why are you here, soldier?"
She looked startled but recovered quickly. "To protect my family's way of life, sir."
Wufei snorted. Right. That's what they all said. He kept his poker face up. He was good at it. "What's your name?"
"Juliano. Kiki Juliano, sir."
"Well, Kiki Juliano, if you are so serious about this then what are you doing screwing around with your fellow trainees?"
She turned red and griped the controls harder, Wufei was pleased too see. But she didn't answer. Maybe she had a few brains, she new a trap when she smelled one and she wasn't about to answer. He smirked and walked away, having made his point.
It wasn't until later that it occurred to him that she looked angry, not embarrassed.
Relena put the last few files away and turned around back to her desk. She had finally cleared out her inbox and it was only twelve thirty. Now she could go to sleep.
She picked up her jacket and purse, glanced around her familiar office to make sure all was in order, then she turned to leave. She shut the door but remembered her keys were buried in her purse.
Bending over it, she dug around until she found them and locked the door. Then she turned to leave and almost walked right on top of someone. She jumped and gave a tiny shriek.
"Hey, calm down. It's just me," a familiar smooth voice told her.
She glared at her co-worked. "Marcus. Please, do NOT sneak up on my like that. Especially this time of night. Are you TRYING to kill me?"
He gave her that infuriatingly coy grin that had one captivated her...about four years ago. "Of course not. I was just wondering what one earth YOU were doing here so late, Princess."
"I thought I told you not to call me that."
"Sorry. It's just so easy to say as its so fitting."
"Marcus, I'm tired. And it's late. What do you want? Just tell me so I can get home and get some sleep—please."
Marcus grinned and stepped a few paces back away from her and out of her face. She thanked God for that one; she despised having him that close to her. He just made her so mad, madder than any one else ever had been able to in her life.
"I was contacted by your brother today. He told me to tell you he was sorry but he couldn't get a hold of you today. And your transport to Los Angeles Base is secure."
"Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going home. Goodnight Marcus."
"'Night."
Relena walked briskly down the corridor to the elevator—parking was underground. But driving made her nervous. Actually, Zechs had been trying for weeks to convince her to get a chauffer and she hadn't bother with it yet—she didn't see the need. But lately, things had been getting scary in the office. Zechs had warned her two years ago that it was getting rough, but she didn't realize it was this rough. And she was scared. Rumors of corruption, buy-outs of politicians, weapons on the black-market. She'd even heard a ludicrous rumor about someone finding the lost Gundams and preparing them for battle. At least that one she knew was false.
And despite how annoying Marcus was, he was a great help. As her first assistant, he went everywhere with her and knew all that she was doing. He was perceptive and intelligent, and sometimes she wondered if he should be the minister and she the assistant. He had picked up on several things that she had missed—people contradicting themselves and so on. But why did he have to be so annoying?
He had never been such a pain before. It wasn't until that car wreck she'd gotten in and met Tai that he'd gotten like this.
She pulled out onto the road as and realized it had been two whole years, over two years, since that accident. It seemed like forever ago. Instinctively she reached up and touched her hair. She still had the flowers—they were pressed in an old book in her bedroom. The Witch of Blackbird Pond, she sometimes felt like Kit. But she wouldn't have a handsome sailor come and save her. She'd cut off her only hope of that.
Sometimes she'd wake up stop and think about everything she'd done in her life. And that was one thing she still could not believe she'd been able to do.
Pulling up into the driveway, she felt a tear fall. She parked and wiped it away. What's wrong with me?!? It had been forever since she'd cried about this.
The lights were off in the house so Relena supposed her mother was asleep now. Since she'd come back, she'd moved in with her mother in her old house. So many memories. When she really thought about this she felt like she was in a cheap thriller novel—family burned to death, her father's best friend cares for the daughter but tragically dies. Her warped brother protects her from afar but becomes the enemy. Then she falls for her brother's enemy. Blah, blah blah. It sounded so paltry.
She opened the door as quietly as she could. Her mother had the most amazing ears. It seemed a bit strange to be twenty-four and living with her mother, but it was a comfort. And it wasn't as if she had time for a social life anyway.
But she decided to get to bed as quickly as she could. She did have a flight tomorrow to LA. More talks with people who wouldn't care. Then after LA there was Rome—Zechs was there though. She could see her brother then.
Tai rubbed his eyes after walking out of the silent classroom—it had only taken five hours to finish that test. He looked at the library and deliberated for about three seconds whether or not to go home or study all night.
He turned and walked away from the library. His brain was fried.
"Tai!" Siduri called after him.
He stopped and waited for her to catch up with him. "Did you just finish?"
"Yah. That was a killer, wasn't it?"
Tai nodded.
"Hey, you want to go get something to eat?" she asked. Tai's brain wasn't working too well so he had to stop and think about what she had just asked, but it was long enough to notice something very disturbing. Siduri looked nervous and bit her lip. "If you are busy, you know, going out or something, that's fine...." She trailed off.
Tai cocked his head and looked curiously at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Because I thought for a second you looked nervous. It's me, remember." She fidgeted a little more. What was with her...she suddenly looked like she was preparing for war with a very determined look.
"Tai...listen, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"I'm listening. What's up?"
"I like you. I've liked you since we first met. I think you are smart and nice and an overall decent person. And I'm sure you have girls all over you and are sick of it, but I like you and was wondering if maybe you might like me even in the least."
Tai felt like a brick had been dropped on him. Is this what all her strange body-behavior had meant? Is this what girls acted like if they liked you? And what the crap was he supposed to do? She was his friend and in his study group—he saw her almost every day, and he certainly didn't think of her like that. But what came out of his mouth came so quickly, he didn't even realized what he was saying until it came out.
"Siduri, I do like you a lot as a friend and a person, but I'm just not interested in any kind of relationship with anyone. I'm sorry to be blunt there it is." There it is? What was he, a fruitcake? Great move, Tai. Great things to say to a girl so she doesn't feel stupid or hurt. Tai continued to mentally berate himself while she nodded and looked like she had swallowed something rather large and hard.
"That's fine. I just...had to know. I guess I'll be going then..." she started to turn away and Tai felt like he'd just killed a puppy or something. O wait, he'd done something like that before....now was not the time to think about that.
"Tai, what's her name?" she asked him suddenly.
"What?"
"Quit playing innocent. I've known you two years and you've never mentioned anyone. I've never known you to go get stoned and shagged. I've never seen you with a girl, not even once. Do you have a girl at home or something?"
"Why are you so insistent that I have a girl at all?" Tai was feeling annoyed.
"I guess I just can't imagine you not having one. What's the big deal? It's like you're hiding her or something. Besides, why else do you get that dreamy look whenever Vince talks about his girlfriend?"
"I don't have a girl and I don't EVER get a dreamy look on my face!" Tai felt totally disgusted—there was no way anyone should ever be able to describe his expressions as 'dreamy.' That was ridiculous!
"Geesh. Chill. Don't jump down my case. I just wondered what the big secret is."
"Siduri, have a good weekend. I'll see you on Monday." Tai was bristling. Dreamy? How absurd could you get?
He stormed down the sidewalk. What was with that girl—practically confessing her love then accusing him of having a girl? What kind of girl did that make her? ARG!
A cat ran across the sidewalk and Tai jumped so he didn't step on its tail. Then he saw a few daisies lining someone's sidewalk. They were short and yellow centers—some with red petals, others the traditional white. Relena loved those flowers. She thought they were happy.
Tai stood and looked at them for a few minutes and a smile spread across his face. He wondered if she ever remembered him or thought about that day. It was a nice day.
Then his eyes widened. Crap...what was he DOING?
A/N Guess what guys? I'm actually home again! I love my bedroom--it's all mine. I have to share a room with two others and an apartment with five others--and now my room is aaaall mine. And I have internet access! Yea! Okay, I'm going to start trying to pump these suckers out and hopefully have this story finished by the end of the summer. I hope you enjoy and thanks soooooooooooooo much for the review! Toodles! Tygerlilee =;=