The Legacy of the Rose
By: Ammendiana
Chapter Four
Alex was gone for about five minutes, and Mariemaia continued her study of the room. It felt nice after the oppression of the training room, with all of its large windows and sunlit car parts.
Milan was watching the booth as if a snake were inside, ready to spring. Alex knocked at the door gingerly and whispered, "Hey, are you in there, parents?"
There was a slight scuffling inside the booth as Duo and Hilde Maxwell tried to fix their mussed hair and clothes. Alex tried to keep his face from contorting in childish disgust. After all, no one likes to think about their parents making out.
Hilde emerged first, with her shirt on backwards. Alex quickly pointed that out to her and she fled back into the booth, blushing bright red.
Duo laughed heartily as he emerged, tucking some of his loose, long hairs behind one ear. Alex kept his face stoic, though he looked as if he was trying very hard to keep from laughing out loud.
Mariemaia turned to see Alex and his father standing side by side in front of the booth to give Hilde time to put her shirt on right.
How alike they are. She thought wonderingly. Alex might have Hilde's hair color, but his face was all Duo. Mariemaia began to appreciate Milan's resemblance to her mother.
Mariemaia felt a surge of regret as a thought passed through her mind.
I don't look like either of my parents, she sighed as she thought of her brown haired mother and her chocolate haired father...I don't even have their eyes.
Tears quickly formed in her eyes, but she blinked them away ruthlessly. Her reverie ended as quickly as it had begun, and she saw Duo and Hilde coming toward Milan and herself.
Milan shouted, "Hi, mommy and daddy!"
Duo smiled fatherly and leaned down to embrace his daughter as he reached her. She returned his embrace and yanked his braid playfully.
Hilde then leaned down to give her daughter a peck on the cheek, running her eyes over her to make sure everything was still in place.
Milan was practically bouncing with childish mischief as she introduced Mariemaia.
"Mom, dad, this is my new friend and roomie, Marie Une," Her voice was strangely neutral, as if she was trying to hide her own amusement.
Hilde and Duo paled slightly, but then their faces brightened as they both said, "Hello!"
It's not like I did something so awful they need to go pale over it. Mariemaia was a little tense as she returned the greeting of her new friends parents, but the stiffness of her muscles soon melted away as she watched Alex and Duo tease each other and Hilde mother Milan (over Milan's protests that she was fine and she really wouldn't die because she was away from them for a night or two). Hilde did not look convinced at all. Mariemaia smiled as she remembered seeing that very same doubting look on her own mother's face as she left to get on her plane.
You're sure you won't need anything?
No, mom, I double-checked. Stop worrying about me. I'm a big girl.
No, you're not, you're my little girl.
Mom, don't be so corny.
I'll be corny if I want to, I'm your mother. Now, go on, you'll miss your plane.
I'll write you soon, mom. Love you!
Love you too, sweetie!
Mariemaia remembered waving good bye while she headed toward the gate. She hadn't thought that she'd miss her mother so much.
"Marie! Earth to Marie! Hello!" Milan was tugged Mariemaia's shirt hard. Mariemaia blushed slightly as she realized that she had zoned.
"Huh?"
"Class is starting. Let's go find a place for you to sit," Milan said as she started to wheel away. Alex, fortunately, had saved Mariemaia a seat next to him. She sat gratefully, and she couldn't keep herself from wondering what would happen in this class.
"Okay, let's get started!" Duo clapped his calloused hands together with a loud smack and rubbed them together vigorously to take away to sting. Mariemaia heard Milan and Alex stifle their giggles and saw a ghost of a grin sail over Hilde's lips.
Well, this promises to be interesting. She thought as she checked her watch.
"Ok, people, shut up. I'm Duo Maxwell, your esteemed professor and waster of your lives. This is my lovely assistant," Duo spoke in a self-deprecating tone as he gestured to Hilde, who had a tired look on her face, "Hilde Maxwell. In this class we will do three things: get dirty, take apart cars, and take apart the most modern in space faring equipment. Every day before class starts I will have to empty your pockets of all lighters and matches, because we have an obviously unhealthy amount of oil and gasoline in here.
"Because you are training to be Preventers, you have to have at least basic knowledge of the inner working of all kinds of motors, batteries, weapons, et cetera. Here in this class you will learn how to fix these things without killing yourselves. For those who do die, think of it as culling the herd." Duo smiled demonically.
Hmmm, that was interesting. Mariemaia looked at her watch as she, Alex, and Milan left the large classroom for their respective third periods.
"What's next, Marie?" Milan asked her as she ran her fingers through her long hair.
"Hmmm...computer science," with a giggle she added dryly, "That's a delicate way to say it. Heero teaches this course. Do all the Gundam pilots teach here?" She asked as she tucked the wrinkled schedule back into her pocket.
"Yeah, how many times do I have to tell you? They wanted to make sure that the students who came out of here were the best that they could be, at the risk of sounding corny. After they all retired they were offered teaching positions here, and they all accepted. Sally Po also teaches here."
"Yeah, I met her. What does she teach?"
"Basic medical. She is a very good doctor. People who take that class rave about her."
Mariemaia looked at Alex, who seemed to be somewhere very far away. She yanked his braid and he jumped with a startled shout.
"Sleepwalking isn't a good habit, Alex," She teased as he stuck his tongue out at her. "Shut up, Marie. I know where you sleep."
"Is that a threat?" She asked him lightly.
"No, it's a promise."
"I'm shaking in my boots," She exclaimed playfully as Alex took a mock-swing at her.
Milan was giving them a strange look as she said in a stern tone, "Now, children, if you're going to play rough, do it outside. I won't have you ruining the furniture."
Her comment was met by a joint raspberry.
The computer lab which they entered was lit well by a series of large, inset ceiling lamps. There were four two-sided rows with about twenty people on each row. Marie sat down in a free seat after moving a chair to give Milan a 'parking space'. Alex had left them for his third period. The high-toned bell rang resoundingly as two red-haired twins burst urgently into the classroom.
Heero emerged from his office just as the girls entered. His face had that same stony mask that Mariemaia found so familiar as he told the girls, "Don't be late again. Now sit down."
With some teachers the students might have just scoffed condescendingly at the short, prompt statement, but the red-haired girls went immediately to two free seats with nearly terrified looks on their faces.
Heero didn't even watch them sit, but, then again, he didn't need to. His orders had been enough and he knew it.
Heero Yuy was, to put it simply, an imposing man. He had a way about him that made people stare at him, to pay attention to every word that he said. The staring could have been due to the fact that he was absolutely gorgeous, and the listening due to the fact that he said so little, but anyone who saw or met him would instantly know that that wasn't the reason people listened and stared. And it wasn't because he was famous, either. No one could name the quality he had that made him so interesting.
Mariemaia felt her mind go back to the moment she had first seen Heero Yuy in person.
"I'll relieve you of your pain," the voice was toneless. She heard the hammer of a gun be pulled back. The arms around her were warm, and Relena stood near.
"I thank you." It was all she could say, all she had strength for.
She heard the empty gun click, and she blacked out from the pain of the gunshot she had taken for Relena.
"Marie! Marie, wake up." Milan was shaking her arm, pulling her out of her memories.
"Milan, why are you shaking me? I wasn't asleep."
"No, you were just a million miles away," she hissed. "Anyway, pay attention, he's calling the roll."
"Hnn."
Heero looked at the roll sheet as he checked off another name. "Maxwell, Milan."
"Heeeeeeerrrrrrrre!" Milan answered in a sing-song tone. Heero looked at her and checked her name off the list. Then he continued to call names. Mariemaia thought she saw the corners of his mouth turn up into a smile, but then decided it must have been a trick of the light. Milan was examining her computer excitedly. "Ooooh, Marie, this is a great computer. Ooooh..." Her voice bordered on the line between pleasure and pure ecstasy.
"Should I leave you alone with your new computer for a while?" Mariemaia mocked.
Milan stuck her tongue out at Marie, then answered as she looked at the computer, "Maybe you should."
Mariemaia couldn't help but laugh at Milan as she started to stroke the keyboard and blow soft puffs of air over the tower to clear away the worst of the dust.
"Une, Marie." Heero looked at her as she answered, "Here!" Just then a curly lock of her hair fell into her face and she swore under her breath.
"Damn, damn, and double damn!"
"What is it?" Milan asked as she continued, involuntarily, to stroke the keys of the keyboard.
"Stupid hair! If you're not good, I'll shave you off!" Mariemaia threatened as Milan made odd noises, trying to restrain her laughter.
"You do realize that you're talking to your hair? Don't you?" Milan asked in a giggly tone.
"Shut up! You're just about ready to disabuse that computer of its innocence, so don't lecture me about talking to my hair! It's more alive than that computer," Mariemaia gave the offending lock a dirty look and then tried to pin it back up, but only succeeded in letting more curls loose from their bobby-pin prisons.
Milan stuck her tongue out at Mariemaia and was practically bouncing for the anticipation of the first booting-up of the computer.
Mariemaia gave up on the futility of fastening her hair and started pulling the bobby-pins out, letting it fall until it was at its full length, about a foot from the ground.
Heero cleared his throat and the class fell silent. All faces were trained to him as he began to speak in a voice that was slightly less monotone than usual, "Welcome to computer science. The first assignment we have today is to turn on the computer. Do so now."
Then sound of about eighty computers booting at once filled the air and Milan sighed in delight as the computer screen's black facade turned slightly less black, then transitioned to the logo of the Preventer's, a star inside a circle. Then a window that asked for a user name and password.
"The second assignment of the day is to type your last name in, then a password of your choosing. Don't forget the password, and if you're stupid enough to forget your own name, get the hell out of my classroom."
Mariemaia snorted her amusement as she began to type her last name into the window.
Just in time did she realize that she had typed in K-h-u-s-h-r instead of Une. She smiled ruefully as she backspaced.
Password. What should her password be? She smiled as she typed.
Khushrenada wouldn't be a good name to use, but as a password it was great.
"The third assignment is to log off your user name and shut down the computer. Properly. I want no explosions. Then sit and talk amongst yourselves. Tomorrow, the real work begins."
Mariemaia smiled as she thought, A man of few words and little explanations.
Milan would have been skipping as she rolled down the hall next to Mariemaia. "It's lunch time! Whoo-hoo! I'm starving."
"I hear that. To the cafeteria!" Mariemaia threw her fist up in the air as she heard Alex sneaking up behind and saw his tell-tale braided shadow.
As soon as he pounced with a mock-lion roar, she spun, grabbed him by his shirt, and gently slammed him into the floor. Milan roared with laughter, clutching her painful sides. Alex was taking shallow breaths because Mariemaia had knocked the wind out of him. Mariemaia stood above and astride his body and leaned down, her hair almost brushing his face.
"I told you that was a bad habit," she said smugly as Alex tried to grab her arm. She jumped backward, and his grab missed, but then she tripped over his big feet. She shouted, startled, as she fell backwards, and shouted again as a pair of strong arms grabbed her and she felt herself being deftly hauled upward. Alex had gotten up and was spinning slowly and brushing his butt, trying to see if there was any more dirt. But Milan exclaimed, "Richard! What are you doing here? I thought you were in America!"
Mariemaia turned around to face the man. He was tall and sveltely muscular, like a swimmer. His face held a steely gentleness like that of Catherine Bloom's, and his soulful gray eyes were highlighted by reddish-blonde hair.
The man answered in a gentle baritone voice, "I'm here because I'm on leave for two months. Since I've assured the Preventer headquarters that I'm not going to fail my classes, they've allowed me to intern here as a sort of student slave. But enough about me, tell me," He shifted his intense gaze to Mariemaia, "Who this lovely young lady is."
Mariemaia was mortified as she felt her cheeks grow hot, "I'm Marie Une." She managed to reach out her hand. Richard took it and kissed it gentlemanly. She blushed more. He looked up at her and smiled.
This bastard is enjoying this! Mariemaia felt her ears redden from outrage. But she also felt a magnetic attraction to this man.
"I'm Richard Winner-Bloom, but you can call me Rick."
No one present noticed Alex's face contorting with jealousy.
Milan broke in, "You had better go and see my mom and dad before she finds out you're here, or there'll be hell to pay."
Rick smiled. "I was just on my way there. I just popped in on Heero, and we exchanged a few 'hn's'. And my dad, mom and uncle. Wufei is next after your parents. Then Sally."
"You have fun now. Maybe Wufei will fight with you."
"Yes, well, I'll see you all later. Goodbye, Marie." He inclined his head to kiss her hand once more, but she pulled it away and inclined her head. "Good bye." Rick's eyes hardened to steely gray as he straightened and walked down the hall the opposite way.
"And good riddens," Alex said under his breath, but was heard by Mariemaia.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Alex and Rick don't get along," Milan said as she started to roll down the hallway again. "I'm glad lunch is so long, because this little altercation took up valuable eating time. Come on!"
"Why don't you get along? I thought all you kids basically grew up together."
"That's the problem," Alex said stonily as they took a right turn.
"That's your problem. I like Rick just fine. And so does everyone else in the family. You're the only one who has a problem with him."
"I don't want to have this argument with you again. Let's just drop it."
"Fine by me. Only two more periods today, then five tomorrow. Now, if we don't get to the cafeteria soon, I'm going to have to resort to cannibalism."
Alex and Mariemaia both laughed as they walked behind the quickly rolling Milan.
The cafeteria wasn't as crowded as one would think it would be as Mariemaia, Milan, and Alex entered. There was only a short line for the self-serve, not-quite-all-you-can-eat buffet. They all grabbed trays at the end of the line and looked at the food.
"Food here is surprisingly edible, so don't worry about e-coli or anything like that. Stay away from the tuna-broccoli surprise, though. It's a bit too surprising, if you get my drift," Alex said drolly as he grabbed a turkey and American sub. Mariemaia grabbed a salami and mozzarella, and Milan a ham and cheddar.
"He's right for once. And the yogurt parfaits are delicious. And, of course, no one can screw Jello up except for Alex, who could burn water while boiling it," Milan said in a cheerful tone. Alex put his thumbs in his ears, fanned his fingers out, crossed his eyes, and stuck his tongue out at her. She returned the gesture in kind.
"God, am I glad I'm an only child," Mariemaia said as she picked up some strawberry Jello and a little soup thingy that was already heated, you just had to pull the lid off. The last thing she chose was a chilled water bottle.
They all looked around for a table. The only one with enough seats was one with a person already sitting in it. She looked vaguely familiar, like someone she had seen in a picture once. It dawned on her slowly, just as Milan shouted, "Antonia! What are you doing here?"
The platinum blonde, dark-blue eyed woman looked up and smiled, then gave a come here gesture. Alex and Milan went more then willingly, and Mariemaia followed dubiously.
They all sat, Mariemaia in-between Alex and Milan. The woman was still smiling as she said, "Hello, you two. Haven't seen you forever. Who's this?" She gestured to Mariemaia.
"I'm Marie Une, Miss--?"
"Antonia Noin. Welcome to the Preventer academy. I hope you all enjoy it."
"Why are you here?" Milan asked again as she unwrapped her sandwich.
"Whole family came down from Terra One. Me, Treize, Aleonore. Mom and Dad. Staying with Aunt Relena and 'Unca' Heero." She smiled again.
"'Unca' Heero?" Alex asked mildly as he twisted the top off his bottle of soda, which made a hissing sound.
"Hmmm. That's what Aleonore calls him. It's absolutely the funniest thing. Ally has taken quite a liking to Peace, too."
"This is just the day for family reunions. We saw Rick today, too."
"Rick?" Antonia's smiling face was marred by a disgusted look.
"See? I'm not the only one with a problem with that jerk," Alex said triumphantly as Milan stuck her tongue out at him.
Mariemaia was slightly zoned as she pulled open her soup. The hot liquid spilled over her hand and she was forced to bite her lip to keep from screaming. The only thing that escaped was a whimper of pain.
"What happened?" Antonia, Alex, and Milan all asked at the same time, but it was Antonia who reacted first. She got up out of her chair and took Mariemaia's arm just below the wrist.
"It's only a minor burn, but I'll take you to the bathroom so we can wash it."
Mariemaia nodded and followed Antonia to the bathroom.
They entered the bathroom through a pull open door. Antonia took Mariemaia's arm and held it up to the light. A long scar ran down her arm from shoulder to wrist, a thin, pale pink line that was straight in some places and zigzagged in others.
Antonia noticed Mariemaia's curious look and stated simply, "Occupational hazard."
Mariemaia gave a small giggle and smiled. Antonia returned the gesture warmly.
The blonde woman turned on the water and tested it with the fingers of her hand. Then she gently guided the damaged hand under the spray, rubbing the deadened skin away. It really wasn't that bad, but it had still killed some of the skin.
"You know, Marie, my dad would like to meet you."
Mariemaia's head shot up, the hand all but forgotten except for the stings of pain that Antonia's touch caused the streak up and down her arm.
I didn't realize she recognized me.
"Really?" Mariemaia asked quietly.
"Yes. Relena's and Heero's anniversary is coming up. Want to come?"
"Yes. It would be nice to see them again. Are you sure it's okay?"
"Hnn. You'll be my, Alex's, and Milan's guest. Can't leave you alone here, can we?"
"Guess not. Will it be okay?" Mariemaia inquired, indicating the red burn.
"Yeah, but you should go to the infirmary after you're done eating. You'll need some ointment and bandages for that." Antonia gently removed it and let go. Mariemaia looked at the reddened skin ruefully.
"I'm so clumsy sometimes. Do you think my professor will let me go?"
"What's you're next class?" Antonia asked as she leaned against the sink.
"Diplomacy."
"Oh, yeah. Quatre teaches that class."
"Oh, yeah? Now I get to see the other half of Richard 'Winner-Bloom'."
Antonia let out a snort of laughter.
"Guess so."
