Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Don't own anything except the fic. Enjoy.
On top of a large mahogany desk perched a bundle of yellow daisies protected within a clear blue vase. A woman, no older than twenty, sat hunched over a stack of papers, willing them to disappear. As each signature was written and the paper tucked away, another one would appear to take its place.
"Miss Relena?" came Madeline's timid voice, "you have a phone call on line one. It appears to be Mr. Marquis."
"Oh, wonderful! Put him through to the office phone," came Relena's cheery reply.
For two years Milliardo Peacecraft had forsaken the earth and colonies to find his home upon the planet Mars. He did have Lucrezia Noin with him, but he felt a strange emptiness, which he knew was his sister's absence.
"Relena, how have you been?" came Milliardo's gruff voice.
"Wonderful, and yourself?"
"The usual. The board of directors decided that an extra five years would not be much of a delay for the vegetation on the planet. If they keep it up, I'll be gray and old when they finally plant a tree." Relena smiled into the receiver.
"I'm sure they will get things moving. If you'd like, I would be more than happy to assist you in moving the project along. The budget has been very restricted this year, but with the new developments going on, I'm sure a little nudging in the direction of the committee would be no problem."
"No, don't worry about it. I'm actually planning on taking a small trip up to see you. Would you care if Noin and I stayed with you for a bit?" Relena could hear Milliardo's apprehension and laughed inwardly.
"That would be wonderful! There would be no greater pleasure than having you and Miss Noin visit me after so long a time. Your presence is sorely missed."
Milliardo sighed, knowing that he missed her dearly as well. "Very well. Make a tentative arrangement for March 27. We should be arriving then, but in case, be prepared. The sandstorms on the planet can create serious traveling difficulties."
"Will do. I look forward to seeing you."
"Us as well. See you soon. Bye."
Relena hung up the phone with an audible click and looked up toward the sky. Getting up from her seat, she faced the view from her large bay window. The city, never sleeping, greeted her gaze. Peace was fragile and it always would be, but Relena and the Preventers would make sure that it remained.
A soft knock on her door alerted Relena to the fact that Madeline was asking for permission to enter. "Come in."
"Miss Relena, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you have a guest."
Relena turned around only to set eyes on Quatre Winner. The young man, dressed in a dark gray suit, looked at her through joyful eyes. Noting that Madeline had left, Relena smiled brightly and walked over to give Quatre a hug. After breaking their embrace, the young politician noticed the dark glint under Quatre's normally happy face.
"Quatre, this is such a surprise. What brings you to earth? I thought Winner Corporation had a big trade deal going on with L1."
"Miss Relena, I'm here on business as well. I feel that pleasantries will not make this easier, so I will tell you straight forward. You see, a young man by the name of Jacob Valentine is requesting a sort of monopolizing of our businesses. You do remember him, right?"
"Yes, a respected politician. He came under heavy criticism for supporting White Fang during the war, but he came out relatively unscathed. Ever since he has been vying for that top spot as an economic leader. Personally, and this never leaves the room, I have little patience for the man and find him crude and unfriendly."
Quatre stifled a smile, then walked slowly toward the large window to peer out over the city that Relena loved. "You know, this peace, its more fragile than any civilian could possibly understand. The hours, the sweat, the tears, and blood can never be forgotten nor hidden. The people are trying to though, as hard as they can; they are struggling to forget the past. We cannot allow this to occur."
Relena nodded her head solemnly, thinking off to the days when life had not been painted in hues of gray. "Perhaps it is time to start our own revolution, Quatre. A war of words, not weapons. This is the time, the time when everyone is settled down in ignorance. We will fight for our beliefs."
"You are right, Miss Relena. A committee of the Earth Sphere should be gathering at the summit meeting in Geneva. If we play our cards correctly, then we may very well wake the people up and remind them that the past will always haunt the world."
Together Relena and Quatre worked through speeches, records, and files of the war and those who suffered in it. If they could, they would bring the world back together, form alliances that would not break in a hundred years, and create a peace that would at least last their lifetime. If only childish notions were correct.
Once a very little girl spoke that humanity would continue with its waltz of war, peace, and revolution. If only everyone had seen the sincere truth behind those words. The world was changing, moving on, and everyone was going to be swept up in its path.
