"Manifestations"
By Isis cw
Chapter 9

"Evening, Beautiful!"

Relena giggled at the vid-screen as she sat down at the small desk in her bedroom. "Good evening, Mr. Maxwell. I figured you'd be calling sometime."

"That's right, I'm mad at you! I almost forgot," he grumbled.

She chuckled at his pout. "What did I do this time, as if I didn't know?"

"How did you not tell me that Heero was back?" he asked, incredulous.

She shook her head, "I guess you didn't ask."

"Didn't ask? How exactly does 'what's new' not cover that?" he cried.

She shrugged, "I guess I thought you'd figure it out."

"Yeah, I figured it out. Right about the time I had soda come out my nose when I saw his little display on TV! Do you know how bad that burns?"

She clamped a hand over her mouth to cover the giggles, trying to recomposed herself. "I'm sorry, I guess I should have said something."

"Darn right you should have! I mean, why do I go through all the bother of hacking your phone system to talk to you if you don't give me the juicy stuff?"

She sighed. "It's a private line, Duo. You could just try remembering my number."

He waved her off. "That's too easy."

She smiled back at him with a shake of her head.

"Anyway, so give me the scoop, all I get from the Preventers reports is that he's stationed, where else," he eyed her, "but with your security."

"What else is there?"

His expression dropped. "Don't make me test out that security and come torture you for information, Princess."

She chuckled at him. "He's commanding my away-mission team. The rest of the time he's general staff, I guess. That's why he ended up at the President's rally."

He eyed her, bored, crossing his arms in front of him. "You know that's not the scoop I'm talking about."

She blinked innocently. "Whatever do you mean?"

"I'm talking tickle torture here, Princess," he commented, flipping his braid over his back for emphasis.

She laughed at the threat and leaned into the monitor further. "Careful, I have a very good watch dog these days."

He sighed, "Fine, fine, don't tell me anything. But when they announce your wedding, could you at least make sure that I'm not drinking something at the time?"

She smiled. "You know, I have yet to figure out why I am the official liaison between Heero and the rest of you. I'm sure you can hack his phone system too, can't you?"

He gave her a comic look, dropping his arms back to his sides. "You've obviously never had a phone conversation with the guy. 'Hey, Heero!'" he mimed. "'Hn,'" he mumbled to the other side of the screen. "'How's it going?' 'Hn.' 'Taken out any interesting people lately?' 'Hn.' 'How's that idea of opening up a pastry shop coming?' 'Hn.'" Duo stopped to sigh. "Do you honestly have to ask why I call you instead?"

She shook her head at him as she laughed.

"Now in the future I want you to report all major happenings to me directly when I call, got it?" he asked, sternly pointing a finger at her.

She nodded as solemnly as she could. "I will do my best."

"So, dating yet?" his facade broke.

"Duo!"

"Ok, ok," he shrugged. "I'll give that a couple months."

She sighed, "And you wonder why I didn't say anything."

"That is totally not fair!"

She smirked to herself, an evil idea popping into mind. "Alright, I have some gossip for you."

He perked up, closing in to the screen. "I knew it!"

She leaned back, the smirk staying in place. "How often do you hack Quatre's phone system?"

He blinked, "Once in a while. He's a little easier to pop over and see."

"So you know about the colony building project."

"'Course, I helped wire part of the systems," he added proudly.

"You didn't happen to meet Dorothy Catalonia during that time, did you?"

He balked, his eyes bugging at her. "No way. Wicked-brows? What's she got to do with it?"

Relena almost felt ashamed of laughing at the reference. "It seems they're business partners."

He gaped, "Voluntarily?"

She shrugged, "From what I could tell."

Duo leaned back and laughed evilly, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, this is going to be fun…."

"Just remember to leave me out of it," she warned.

"Deal, deal," he nodded, not paying attention to her anymore.

She smiled at him. "Good to see you well, Duo."

He nodded, "You too, Beautiful. Take care of the stoic pain-in-the butt for me."

She chuckled, "I'll try."

"Oh! And Hilde says hi. I'll connect her in when she gets back from visiting her cousins."

"That sounds nice," she smiled.

With a mock solute he disconnected, leaving her to giggle to herself.

"Quatre! Ol' buddy, ol' pal!"

"Well hello, Duo. What can I do for you?"

"I heard an interesting rumor…."

"Dawna, could you send these please?" Relena handed over a stack of disks.

"Absolutely. These got handed down for you too," she added, the phone on her desk ringing as she passed her back a larger stack than Relena just got rid of.

"Lovely."

The aid giggled at her and then answered her phone. "Vice Foreign Minister Darlian's office." Relena waited, and Dawna nodded to her. "Yes, one moment please." She placed the phone on hold, "Ambassador Jonavick."

She smiled, "Progress report. Could you pull the Mars file for me in case I need it?"

"I'll have it right in."

Relena quickly paced back to her office, taking a seat and connecting the vid-line. "Good morning, Ambassador."

"Morning, Ma'am," he replied. Relena blinked at the image that came up. The green eyes of the Ambassador were hooded, and seemed sleep deprived. His mouth was set in a firm line and the man swallowed tightly as he continued. "I am afraid that I have to report bad news to you this morning."

She folded her hands together in her lap and forced herself to stay calm. "What is it?"

He looked down, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "Miss Relena, I'm afraid that there has been an accident with the Mars project. We lost an entire crew carrier last night."

Relena swallowed, forcing down the panic churning her stomach.

"There was a massive explosion that breached the hull of the blue team's command ship. We lost a good portion of the crew as well as the majority of the supplies needed to finish the quarter section on the colony."

"Are there injured?"

He nodded. "Some. They are being looked after on the other ships. The medical facilities on the colony section are still without life support."

Dawna quietly slipped into the room with the folder in her hand. Giving herself the excuse Relena turned back to the phone. "Ambassador, could you give me a moment, I need to contact someone."

He nodded, "Of course."

She shakily placed the call on hold and looked up at her aid, who gave her a worried look. "Dawna, please call Agent Yuy and ask him to come here as soon as possible."

"Miss Relena?" she asked, her look turning to concern.

"I'm going to need a meeting with him."

Dawna quickly left the room without question. There was something wrong, and if Relena needed her security force, Dawna would get it for her. Pacing quickly back to her desk she punched the speed dial for the Preventers switchboard. "Yes, Agent Heero Yuy, please." It was three rings before she heard the mild click, telling her she was being transferred to his mobile line. Please be close by, she prayed.

The phone on Heero's belt beeped at him as he leaned against the wall in Wufei's office, the three of them sorting out records on the front of the desk. "Yuy," he answered.

"Agent Yuy, this is Dawna Willims from Miss Relena's office."

The speed of the aid's voice instantly made him step away from the wall and Wufei and Sally's conversation. "Yes."

"Sir, Miss Relena has asked me to contact you. She would like to see you in her office as soon as possible."

He tensed, "Is something wrong?"

"Sir… I don't know what it is, but something is definitely wrong," she confided quietly.

The comment already had him striding for the door, casting a glance over his shoulder at the other two who stared after him. "I'm on my way."

He strode through the hallway as he clipped the phone back to his side. Hitting the stairway door he picked up his pace, descending the twelve levels as fast as possible. He never bothered to slow down once he hit the first floor, and was through the front door and racing for the connecting tubes. Quickly stepping through the few people between the buildings, he ripped off his ID badge as he opened the front doors of the government building.

Dismissing the pleasantries with the centurions on duty, he swiped his own badge and nearly ran over the officer that hastily opened the blast doors for him. Without a word he hurried up the stairs, taking two at a time until he came out in the third floor lobby.

Dawna stood in her desk area, gazing down the hall toward Relena's office, mindlessly twisting her hands together. Spotting him she sighed to herself as he came up to her. "Thank you, Sir," she stated. "She just got off the line with Ambassador Jonavick," she explained swiping his badge through and punching in his makeshift code. "He's the director of the Mars Terra-forming Project. He calls every other week or so to give her progress updates."

Heero nodded and left her standing at the consol. He tried to force down his breathing, but he knew it wasn't escalated due to the physical activity. Stepping through the open doorway to her office he found her at her desk, her hands folded in front of her. He tossed the door shut behind him and stepped up to the desk, fighting not to let his mind guess at what was wrong.

Relena didn't look up as he stood in front of her and he noticed the knuckles of her laced fingers were white. Not knowing whether to shake her out of her thoughts or not, he stood silent, watching her closely. Slowly she blinked, and looked up, perhaps not realizing he'd been there.

She breathed out sharply, swallowing before she fought back from her own thoughts. She lowered her eyes back to her lightly shaking hands. "Ambassador Jonavick called this morning to say that there was an accident with the Mars project."

He nodded, not moving from his position.

She closed her eyes a moment. "One of the four crew ships was lost."

Heero stiffened, never taking his eyes off of her as she slowly related the conversation.

"They are in desperate need of supplies and a facility to house the remaining crews." She blinked her eyes open and consciously un-knitted her fingers. Looking up at him he knew she was holding back. Prepared for the worst, he waited. "The list of missing crew members will not be in for some time," she whispered.

Zechs and Noin.

She stood up, placing both hands firmly on her desk, and refocused on him. "Heero, I need to get to Jonavick's command center as soon as possible."

The look in her eyes was one he knew very well by this point in their relationship, there was no room for debate, and asking if she was all right was a waste of time. "Understood," he said sharply. Turning he gave her one last look. "Be ready in a few minutes."

Her eyes hardened against her own emotions and she nodded shortly. He strode from the room, not giving Dawna an explanation as he set a quick pace to exit the building. He punched in the extension in his phone as he descended the stairway.

"Officer Ather," it answered.

"Ather, are the other two with you?"

The other paused, probably sorting out the voice. "Yes, Sir. We're in training this morning."

"The three of you are to get Relena to the spaceport immediately."

"Sir?"

"Immediately, Ather," he ordered, pointedly quiet as he passed the front checkpoint.

Delano hung up his phone and stuffed it back in his bag. "Time to go," he yelled across the firing range to the other two who were still loading their weapons. "We have to get Miss Relena to the spaceport, now."

"Now?" Ry questioned.

Grabbing the bag he raced for the locker rooms. "Now!"

The Mars command center was a non-orbital satellite, placed in direct line of sight with the red planet. Due to the distance, the only communication between Earth and Mars passed through this point. It also served to coordinate the workers on the project with needed supplies and equipment.

The Mars project was set for two main phases: the colony phase and the actual terra-forming phase. Crews first needed to be able to have a habitable place to live and rest before attempting to change the planet's temperamental balance of atmosphere. Therefore, a small colony, only a few thousand people maximum, was to be built to facilitate the work force. Until this colony was operational, the workers were housed in crowded crew ships.

Only three months into the project, the outer walls of Colony M001 were complete, but power and support systems were undeveloped. Construction was progressing to have a single section of the colony fully enclosed from the rest with its own temporary heat and power systems. This area was to provide the workers a haven with air and supplies while the remainder of the colony was finished and the gravity systems could be turned on. It was arranged to be a zero-g medical bay and quarters.

Without it completed there was nowhere but the other, already stuffed, crew carriers to hold the survivors of the destroyed ship.

A fact that faced everyone standing in the communications room of the satellite as the estimated numbers of lost lives poured through the projection analysis computers. Five hundred, eighty-seven people were housed on the, now destroyed, crew ship. At any time, due to shift changes, approximately three hundred fourteen people could have been onboard….

Heero stood against the back wall of the circular room, his eyes glued on a single spot in the middle. Relena stood beside the ambassador as they both worked through the lists of needed replacement equipment and waited tensely for news to come in.

Her determined expression had never faltered during this mad four-hour rush. As her pet project before the political councils, she felt obligated to be there, and to be the one to break the news to the media once they had all the information. She was also trying to relieve the ambassador of less necessary tasks so that he could focus on rounding out a rescue mission to the planet.

No, a relief mission, he corrected himself.

"Yuy, what do we have?"

He finally blinked, turning to find Sally Po sauntering up beside him. "Nothing new," he answered, waiting for her to explain her appearance.

She nodded, looking over the crowd of people at the communication banks that lined the arc in front of them. "Apparently Commander Une got the call just after Relena did. She wants a team on the first ship out to investigate the matter. Guess who has medical training?" she smiled.

He nodded, understanding the desire to send her on the mission. "Who else?"

"A team of officers, and a few stripes with psychology backgrounds."

"Like him?" he nodded towards the Major that was approaching Relena. She stood stiffly; idle for once, watching the display screens that lined the far wall. Her white pleated skirt and yellow sweater standing out against the sea of gray uniforms and dark suits.

"Yeah," Sally confirmed. "How's she holding up?"

He watched Relena shake hands with the officer as he obviously introduced himself. "Same as always," he stated.

Sally sighed, raising a hand to her hip. "Any news on the two lost sheep?"

He shook his head. "They were listed among the crew onboard. Nothing's come down on injury or missing reports."

"Where there's fire, those two will find it," she shook her head.

Heero watched as Relena continued a small conversation with the Major until the man slowly turned and walked away, a bit befuddled looking. Heero closed his eyes a moment, reasoning to himself. "When do you leave?"

"As soon as they get a ship together."

He looked up, refocusing on Relena's back as she gazed up at the display screens. "She's going to be on it."

Sally snapped back to stare at him. "What? To Mars?"

He calmly gave her a look. "She'll need to go."

She shook her head, "It'll never be allowed. Most of the crews up there are ex-cons on early parole for taking the assignment."

He fixed his gaze back on Relena, listlessly standing in the middle of the room, her shoulders straight and her arms held in front of her.

"It'll never be allowed," Sally repeated, a little louder this time.

"Contact Une and let her know that we're going with you."

"What? Heero, you aren't seriously going to take her."

He turned back to her as the Major walked up to them. "Agent Yuy, Miss Darlian asked me to find you for her. She would like to speak with you."

Not acknowledging the other man he stood away from the wall. "She'll find a way with or without us. I have no intention of leaving her on her own." He stepped away towards the center area. "Make the call."

"Unbelievable."

No, he thought to himself, normal.

He strode through the workers and slipped up behind her, coming to stand just behind her right shoulder, close enough to not be overhead.

Relena blinked slowly and turned to look back at him. With a swallow she lowered her eyes to the side. "You're not going to like what I'm about to ask," she began quietly. Rubbing a hand against her arm she took a deep breath. "I need to be on the supply ship." Turning forward again she watched the screens for any new reports. "I have training in search and rescue and medical certification. There's no reason that I couldn't be of use."

Heero felt a pang of regret for her as she talked herself into this; but he slowly brought himself to state the obvious. "Mars is a quarter of its orbit away. We're probably two days away at top speeds for a ship that size."

She turned back to look at him, her eyes searching his.

"There will be nothing left to rescue."

Her eyes snapped shut as she turned away, her breathing accelerating as she understood the words.

"Communications will be unstable during the trip. …You'll be out of contact," he reasoned.

Her jaw tightened noticeably before she opened her eyes again, controlling her breathing. "Heero."

He didn't move from his place. Her words from only a few days ago coming to mind again. If she honestly felt he was a strength to her, he wouldn't debate it now. And if she felt better with him beside her… he'd stay.

"I have to take the chance. If there is a panic with the rest of the crews, the whole project would end." She turned her shoulder to brush against him. "This isn't just for me."

He nodded slowly, "Understood."

Looking up, she met his eyes. "I know you do."

Heero held her gaze a moment then stepped back, quickly walked away from her. If Sally didn't get them on the ship, he'd do it himself.

"She wants to what?"

"I know how it sounds, but Heero's right. If we don't let her go with us, she'll find a way without us."

"Has Yuy lost his mind? He should be the one talking her out of this." Commander Une stood in front of her desk, gazing down at Po's image. This whole situation didn't feel right, and she was certainly not going to allow Relena Darlian to get mixed up in the middle of it… again.

Sally chuckled. "Ma'am, I seriously doubt even he could talk that girl out of anything."

The Lady sighed, closing her eyes against the truth she didn't want to hear. "You're right," she finally consented. She gave her agent a fixed gaze, "I will not bury a politician for this mess. Make sure she's safe."

"Yes, Ma'am."

She shook her head. "And tell Yuy to use some discretion for once."

Quatre sat at his desk, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had a headache that had slowly gotten worse as the day dragged on. Of course, Duo "dropping by" probably had nothing to do with it. The other young man paced back and forth in front of the desk, babbling on with his "talk" about women in general… and one in particular.

How Duo had come by that tiny bit of information he wasn't sure, but he figured it would have leaked eventually.

The phone on his desk beeped for attention and at this moment Quatre wanted any distraction he could get. "Hello."

"Hello Quatre."

"Miss Relena," he smiled.

Duo finally noted that he was on the phone and almost skipped around to lean over behind him. "Hey, Beautiful! Long time no see."

The woman on the phone brightened at seeing him pop on screen, but Quatre had already picked up her expression. "Is something wrong, Miss Relena?"

She nodded solemnly to the two of them. "I have a very large favor to ask you."

He nodded, noting her solid line of thought. "Of course."

"The Mars colony project had a massive accident last night. They lost a crew carrier and a good portion of the supplies needed to finish the first colony section. Manufacturers for some of the key equipment items are already backlogged due to the project's requirements. You're the only one that I know that might happen to have a few extra pieces lying around."

"Mars?" Duo leaned in over his chair. "Relena…."

She shook her head slowly, closing her eyes a moment. "We don't know any specifics at this point."

The two exchanged a look and turned back to her. "We will be happy to help. If you have a list I will find or borrow anything I can. And I have a crew that's pretty good at reworking anything by now."

She sighed, visually happier with the help. "I dearly appreciate this. I'll get the person working on equipment here to contact you with the specifics."

Quatre nodded, eying her closely. "Do you have a good negotiator?"

"Negotiator?" she blinked.

He smiled tightly, "The manufacturers sometimes need a little extra incentive to bump you up on the priority list."

She shook her head, "I don't know, I don't think so."

He nodded, "I'll get someone on it."

"Thank you," she stated, her eyes saying it again.

"Take care of yourself," he added.

"Yeah, don't do anything I wouldn't," Duo piped in.

She gave them a quick smile and nodded as the connection dropped.

Quatre leaned back and looked up at his friend. "Are you up for getting your hands dirty?"

Duo stood straight and shrugged. "Well, you know, I did waste half the day just to come by here and pick on you about a girl. I'm going to have to check with my scheduling assistant—Of course I'll help," he sighed.

Quatre chuckled and then brought up his phone system, selecting a new number.

"Who you calling?"

"My negotiator."

"Huh?" Duo stepped out of the way as the connection blinked on.

"Hello."

"Morning, Dorothy."

"Evening, Master Winner. What can I do for you?"

He smiled tightly. "I'm going to have a list of necessary equipment that has to be collected… immediately."

"Oh, goody," she mused. "Do I dare ask what blew up this time?"

"Not quite yet," he answered, chuckling nervously.

"Very well, what is it you need?"

"I should have a list for you as soon as possible. But there is going to be some large items… and they aren't willing to share."

"Just the way I like it," she purred.

"I know," he muttered. "I'll email you as soon as I can."

"Ciao."

Quatre hung up and scooted his chair back. Duo lounged on the edge of his desk giving him a curious look and he shrugged to him. "Now do you see why I have her for a partner?"

"Yeah," the other replied, slowly standing up and following after him. "You're nuts."

"When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it." - Edward W. Howe

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