Interlude 09: The heartfelt Girl

( April 6th, year unknown; Colony L3; 179XE22100):

An 11-year-old Relena Darlain sat beside her farther, the vice foreign Minster aboard the private shuttle (meant for only government officials) to the soon to be condemned colony 179XE22100. Mr. Darlain had scheduled a meeting with the top officials of the colony and the alliance to find out the purpose of the new technology they were developing currently and the future of the colony itself if he could stop them from comdemning it, Relena never paid her father's business much attention but the look on his face before they got the shuttle caused a great sense of worry inside of her, but she ignored it, her feeling. Relena tugged at her frills of her orange jumper and embroidered pink blouse and then reached up to touch straw hat topped off with a red ribbon. Despite her mother's desperate plead to get the girl to wear something more decent in terms of space ravel by the alliance's private shuttle, she would not change her clothes.

Relena opted to wear the spring time attire she picked that morning and carried with her other items needed for the changeable weather of the ancient colony just in case. So in truth Relena did abide to her mother's wishes she just wasn't wearing the outfit her mother picked out for her, Relena liked to call it doing something without really doing it. However, Relena's dress was the last thing on her mind.

Just a little while ago she had finished arguing with her father over why he had not taken her kite flying the other day; Relena's father simply responded that he would take her out kite flying when he could but at that particular time he was busy wrapping an important meeting with another one of his clients in southeast Asia where the alliance was currently stationed. Relena wanted nothing more but to run away from her father for being such a jerk, but she knew there was not a place on the shuttle she could run to where he wouldn't follow her so she remained silent not speaking to him when he tried to apologize to her for his insensitive behavior.

Relena would show him that she could be buttered up so easily, she stared out into space counting the stars that laid before her blue eyes, she noted that they were getting closer and closer to the colony reminding herself that she would have to get up and follow her father. Of all the times to get angry at Father, I had to do it when he was going on another one of his trips! Relena thought grudgingly placing her hair behind her ears. She glanced at her father who was busy reading another one of his pocket-sized poetry books, he appeared to be absorbed in the book in such a way that he did not notice her staring at him until he turned the page; their eyes met for a brief moment before Relena shifted her gaze back to the space outside their shuttle.

Mr. Darlain smiled briefly before closing his book, he placed it inside the inside pocket of his suit jacket upon the announcement from the shuttle's pilot informing everyone aboard that they were docking now. Relena's face fell even more when the stars vanished from sight and were replaced by metallic inside of the colony, she frowned pulling at the ribbon on her straw hat. "Relena don't do that, you'll ruin the hat your mother gave you," Mr. Darlain chided softly removing her hand away from the ribbon.

"I don't care," Relena tore her hand from her father's grasp crossing her arms across her chest pouting her lip, Mr. Darlain sighed hopelessly unbuckling himself as the shuttle landed in the docking area. The 11-year-old began to scowl upon seeing a short haired red haired woman staring straight at her, scar traveling down her jaw. The woman's eyes were brown and took on the appearance of bobcat to match her bob-hair cut; Relena closed her eyes and turned her nose up at her. Without a doubt the young European girl knew this trip would be the worse one yet!

Relena followed Mr. Darlain across the space port taking notice there was not as many reporters around like there were in the well known colonies, there was a sort of tension in the air as she passed the very many people in the port, everyone seemed to be running from this very colony as if it were going to fall apart underneath their very feet or something. If that was case then Relena thought of everyone inside the space port were cowards for running and not doing anything to save their home from being destroyed by the money grubbing corporate scum of the alliance, they cared for nothing except for money the SOB's. Swallowing roughly the 11-year-old continued to follow her father sticking close to him as they neared the exit that was surrounded by three sets of reporters on the right and left-hand sides of the door, Relena wished to leave the port unnoticed but they would make it difficult. Behind the door Relena spotted three alliance soldiers and a woman standing in front of them, she frowned; more escorts. The two of them came into the area of reporters and were bombarded by questions.

"Vice foreign minister Darlain, what is the purpose of this visit?"

"Why did you pick this colony when you know it is going to be destroyed?"

"What can you possibly hope to do for this colony?"

"How is your relationship with your family?" And questions of this nature. Relena and her father kept a straight face never saying a word through it all as they exited the space port leaving the reporters behind, she felt relieved when they stepped over the threshold of the space port and onto the concrete of the outside, Relena spotted another man behind three men and one woman, he was leaning up against a shimmering black limo with a cigarette in his mouth. He must be the driver she thought absentmindedly blowing her hair out of her face, the woman who had been standing front of the alliance soldiers came up toward them extending her hand in a friendly way.

Relena thought her entire outfit was strange; donning a tight fit blue strapless shirt underneath a lab jacket, a blue tinted Quartz srone around her neck, two chunky stone bracelets on her wrists and a sparkling Emerald earrings paired with a black pleated skirt and thick black heels "Welcome to our home, Vice minister," She said, Relena noted her shake was firm. Mr. Darlain shared with her a smile that he always gave people he met as the two shook hands. "Good to see your well Mrs. Toshino," He said formerly. "I hear you've got a child." Rei Toshino nodded her head in a most hesitant way as if she didn't want to speak of the child Relena's father mentioned but decided to say something in order to not to be rude to the well known minister.

"He's not so much as baby really, he was born a good while ago. He turned 7 a while back. He's home right now," She said quickly throwing her hair behind her. Relana eyed the woman suspiciously but said nothing as she followed her father towards the limo. "Well, if he's home, who's watching them if you don't mind me asking?" Mr. Darlain asked once they were safely inside the limo and driving towards the military facility she worked at. Rei looked down at her manicured nails swallowing roughly. "Uh, he's with a friend of mine," She stated almost too quickly. "Anyway you wanted to speak to us about our involvement with the Alliance am I right?" Mr. Darlain nodded his lower lip stiffening.

Relena played with the ends of her hair examining the man sitting beside her, his chestnut brown hair flowing down his neck his bangs the most unruly thing she had ever seen, he didn't seem to be a nice person in Relena's opinion; how could he? He was just sitting there beside her frowning still as a statue. Inching away from Taku Relena pressed the button upon the arm rest beside her opening the window, she sighed in relief when the simulated air hit her in the face lifting her spirits tremendously, she turned to meet her father's gaze but decided against it, she remembered that she was still angry with him.

(Military Base):

"Now Relena, I want you to enjoy yourself while I'm gone. Mr. Taku will look after you," Mr. Darrlain said straightening his daughter's straw hat. Relena nodded hesitantly standing up on her tip toes to give her father a kiss on the cheek for the sake of it, Mr. Darlain leaned over a bit so Relena could reach him she gave him a quick kiss on the non-hairy part of his cheek before stepping away from him, she gave a slight bow to Rei before heading away from the gates of the military facility. "This way please, our officials are waiting inside," Came Rei's voice. The 11-year-old watched her father follow the tall woman and the alliance soldiers towards the towering building, she sighed in dismay turning to meet Taku's stony expression.

Relena studied him with cautious eye wondering what could possibly be bothering this man, at one point she thought it was the presence of her father: being someone from earth she knew there were plenty on the colonies who didn't approve of her father, but now she wasn't so sure it was that. Putting on a pleasant expression Relena extended her hand to the adult in front of her. "I'm honored to have you as my chaperone Mr. Taku, I'm sure we'll get to know each other very well," Relena then smiled. Taku brushed his bangs out of his eyes peering at the girl's small hand then compared it to his normally sized hand, it seemed so fragile he was almost afraid to grasp it. "I'm sure we'll have a great time, Miss Relena," He said shaking her hand lightly.

Relena appeared disgruntled by the use for formality but she smothered the feeling and followed Taku towards the limo. The two of them sat in the front and drove for hours, Taku showing the well known tourist destinations and other places that the colony was or was currently known for, Relena listened most of the time, her attention was more focused on the nearly empty streets of a once busy downtown area, most of the inhabitants on the sidewalks were no older than she was, begging for food owners. Perhaps her father came here to stop the problems and poverty she was seeing now, if so Relena was feeling foolish for acting the way she had did on the way here.

Their problems obviously outweighed hers no contest, sighing the young girl turned away from the window proceeding to stare down at her hands folded upon her lap. "Unn Miss Relena, how would you like to go to a garden?" Taku's voice startled Relena who had become used to the silence. Relena eyed the older man in question straightening out her crooked straw hat. "I wouldn't mind, why?" She asked absentmindedly. Taku shrugged as he made left turn, Relena was left in silence as Taku drove down the road until there was nothing to see but trees, Relena became suspicious. She felt the limo pull up to the curve and the engine stop, Taku grinned as he stepped out of the limo shutting the door behind him.

Relena watched him go around the car towards her door expecting him to leave her there but instead was surprised when he opened the door for her, Relena unbuckled herself then stepped out of the car. "Thank you," Relena said quietly. "My pleasure, Miss Relena," Taku replied smoothly shutting the door behind him. Relena walked ahead of him with a sort of curiosity she was known for in her household. Pegan would call her a kitten experiencing string for the first time because she was so curious (at times).

As the 11-year-old traveled across the dirt path surrounded by shrubbery Relena picked up on a floral scent--- a smell that was quiet familiar to her, picking up her feet the girl began to jog across the beaten path until finally when she came out into the open she paused in her footsteps at the marvelous scene in front of her. Behind her Taku smiled shoving his hands into his pockets watched the girl's blue eyes sparkle with such an excited vigore it was hard to keep from laughing at her, he watched her rush from off the path into the short grass garden as his mind began to drift to how his wife was fairing with the meeting between Mr. Darlain and the other governement officials.

Relena kneeled down in front of a Jasmine flower patch marveled by the lavender beauty of the plant, the smell of the was mesmerizing to the young girl as she ran her fingers across the small pedals before taking notice of the presence behind her, She turned to meet Taku's amused expression. "Do you like this place Miss Relena?" He asked almost hesitantly. Relena nodded enthusiastically rising to her feet walking through the garden. "Its very beautiful," Relena said dreamily. "This is a sacred place for this Colony; it was created for the sole purpose of pleasing children of your age and younger. I take my son here most of the time, but the Alliance wants to get rid of it so they build another base in fear of rebel attack in this area," Taku sighed running his hand through his hair. "Why would they do such a thing?" Relena asked. Taku shrugged mindlessly, stating that no one knew for sure why the alliance would want to destroy a safe haven for children, only that they wanted to get rid of it for so-called purposes of the colonies safety.

Relena felt a pang of pity, not for Taku but the entire colony, from the way the man behind her spoke this garden was a prized possession for everyone that lived here, Relena hoped her father could do something about it before they alliance finalized their plans. This garden, full of multicolored flowers of all kinds and types, trimmed grass, a sun dial, several fountains, and three green houses, was far too beautiful to be replaced for something ugly like a military base. Sighing the girl turned to meet Taku's tall lanky frame standing in front of her, Relena almost yelped as she wondered how the older man had come up behind so silently. Taking her hand he said, "Come on, I'm sure your father's about done with his meeting," Relena nodded in agreement and let Taku lead her by the hand back to the limo.

Several days later Relena found herself seating herself by the shuttle window, her father was looking worn out as usual which meant he was going to be sleep a good four or five hours when they got home. She stared out into the void of stars as the colony became farther and father away from view, Relena sighed the thoughts of the garden and Taku's sad expression still fresh in her memory.

"What's the matter Relena, aren't you glad to be going home to earth?" Mr. Darlain said, concern evident in his voice. Relena blinked shifting her head toward her father. "Father, if there was one thing you could save, one thing, it wouldn't even have to be human, what would it be?" She asked disregarding her father's question. Mr. Darlain stared at his daughter long and hard, he knew he had made her angry, but the strange mellow behavior she had developed over the period time they were visitng the colony worried him but he knew if he voiced his concern she was brush it off with a smile much like her mother always did. Shifting in his seat he leaned over closer to his daguther. "What brought this on Relena?" Mr. Darlain said quietly. Turning her head back to the window she shrugged brushing her hair out of her face. "Nothing father, nothing at all,"

(FIN): Interlude 09.