I Own Nothing.  LIME WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!! The usual brief summary will be provided at the beginning of the next chapter should you choose to skip this one.

Segment 3:

Dark Clouds

Summary:

            The five ex-Gundam pilots, now volunteer Preventors, met in Budapest to discuss the murder of the murdered intern Lita Kino.  Expecting to meet with the Head Administrator of the Preventors, Lady Une, they were surprised to come across Setsuna Meioh, an agent from Earth Sphere Intelligence.  She explained to them about how Kino's death had not been an accident, or even a random murder, that it had been planned by a mysterious group of aliens known as the Leute.  Then she went on to explain that Duo's attacker had been a Leute assassin, but neglected to elaborate on the assassin's motive.  With the knowledge that the Leute plan to take over the Earth Sphere by killing the ancient rulers of Crystal Tokyo, the Preventors decide to split up and locate the remaining rulers.

           

            Trowa Barton sat on the bed in his small hotel room, staring out at the glowing streets of the city.  A man rational and serious by nature, he found it difficult to believe all the things Setsuna Meioh had told him.  And yet, why shouldn't they be true?  It wouldn't be the most extraordinary thing to happen to him in his life.  There was some controversial archaeological evidence that Crystal Tokyo had indeed existed.  The drawing of Lita, or rather, Makoto, Kino had matched the autopsy photo almost exactly.  And the possibility of the Leute…

            He had seen tyranny during the Eve Wars.  And yet, those tyrants were still human.  They had emotion, faults, ideals that could be compromised through greed and pride and lust for power.  He was used to humans.  But another species was a different thing.  Meioh had given them a clear physical description of the Leute, and had even offered to send along photographs once she had them.  However, she had not mentioned anything about their personalities, their fighting styles, their motives, nothing.  For the first time ever, he would have to face his enemy blindly.

            That was not going to work.

            He would have to research, study, spy, do whatever it took to learn the nature of the Leute.  But to figure out his methods, he would definitely need to speak with Lady Une.  Though the spying skills of Trowa Barton were renowned amongst the Preventors, former pilots, and other veterans of the Eve Wars, even he had to admit it would be difficult to blend into a society made up of preteen neuters.

            Silently, he picked up the phone on the nightstand and dialed the colony code for L3.  A few moments later, a woman's voice answered on the other end of the line.

            "Catherine Wood speaking," she greeted.

            "It's me," Trowa answered shortly.

            He heard a poorly masked sigh of relief from his sister.  "Hey.  Still in Hungary?"

            "Yeah, the Preventors need some help.  I'm going to be a little busy for a while, so don't expect me back for some time."

            "You know I hate it when you do this."

            "…I'm sorry," he apologized softly.  In truth, he did hate to leave Catherine.  There were very few people in the world he trusted completely, and she was one of them.  She could be counted on to keep a lantern lit for him while remaining discreet.  Her protests had lessened through the years as he'd carried out minor missions for the Preventors, particularly after her marriage to Adam Wood, a good-natured, sensible man who had worked some financial aspects of the circus.  They had two children together, seven-year-old Anna, and five-year-old Samuel.  Trowa felt welcome in the family, but also somewhat guilty, as though he were interrupting their happiness, particularly Catherine's.  He still worked in the circus, but was prone to longer periods of absence quite frequently.

            "Well…just be careful," Catherine sighed.  "Oh wait!  Before you go…Lady Une was here today looking for you."

            Trowa blinked.  "She was?"

            "Yes.  She said she was only passing by the colony.  I told her you'd gone to Earth, and she wants to meet you in Paris at the Colonial Embassy.  She'll be there until Sunday," she explained.

            He frowned.  France?  Why would she go there?

            "I see.  Thanks Catherine.  Say hello to Adam and the kids for me," he said.

            "I will.  Be careful Trowa."

            "Of course."

            "We love you."

            "I love you too."

            With that, he hung up, and immediately went to the lobby to make arrangements for a flight to Paris.

            It was past midnight when Haruka softly knocked on Quatre's door.  "Still awake?"

            He looked up from the legal pad and removed the pen from his mouth.  "Yes, Haruka.  Come in."

            Her face was red and her hands were chapped from the cold wind outside.  Blowing on her palms, she looked at him.  "Well?  Une ever show?"

            "Actually, no.  An agent from the ESIA came instead."

            "Really?  Huh.  Dressed in sunglasses and a black business suit?" Haruka smiled slightly.

            "Auntie..."

            "Damn it boy, I told you that you were too old to call me that when you were twelve years old."

            "I'm sorry Auntie," Quatre smiled.

            "Yeah yeah…so tell me more about this guy from the ESIA," she said, throwing her black wool coat over a chair and leaning against the wall.

            "It was a woman, actually.  Setsuna Meioh, her name was," Quatre replied.

            He blinked as he saw the color drain from Haruka's face. The fingers of her left hand started to twitch ever so slightly.  "Meioh?"

            "Yes…" he frowned, studying her closely.  He'd never seen her react this way before.  "Why?  Do you know the name?"

            Haruka opened her mouth to say something, then shut it.  In an instant, her face was expressionless and blank, the signature poker face she'd assumed every time Quatre had tried to ask her about her past.  The face that warned him to stop talking if he didn't want to get hurt.

            "Anyways…" Quatre shuddered, then shot a glance at the clock.  "It's getting late.  Maybe I should just tell you the story in the morning?"

            "Yeah, probably not a bad idea," Haruka agreed flatly, picking up her jacket and turning to leave.  "I may not see you in the morning though, Quatre.  More business to take care of."

            "Still?  Auntie, if you're not careful, you'll become as much of a workaholic as I am," he joked weakly.

            But Haruka did not smile as she walked out the door without a second glance back.

            Lady Une sat at the desk of the office drinking coffee.  The Embassy had provided her with ample work and living space, despite the fact she would be there for less than three days.  Even now, the sun was setting slowly over the Paris skyline.  She knew she should be working, but this was the first break she'd taken in what felt like years.  Ever since the murder of Lita Kino, she'd been rushing around the colonies and planet trying to straighten out what happened.  And so far, she'd gotten nowhere.

            Taking another drink of coffee, she looked out the window again.  The city outside looked so peaceful, so quiet, so calm.  Had it truly only been a decade since the world had been ravaged by war?

            "I never thought you'd come back here," a low voice said from behind her.

            Lady Une tensed and slowly set the coffee mug down, then relaxed as she felt hands lightly rest on her shoulders and slide down her arms to her wrists.  They held her eagle spread, like a crucified martyr before the blood red sun setting in front of her.

            "I was wondering if you'd pay me a visit, Trowa.  I'm sorry I missed you on L3," she replied, twisting her arms free from his grasp and turning to face him.

            "Catherine gave me the message," he replied.

            Lady Une nodded.  "She was kind to me, as always.  I still don't think she like me much though."

            "I had planned to come anyways.  Setsuna Meioh asked me to," he explained, ignoring the remark.

            She was silent.  "So she told you the story as well?"

            "Yes."

            "Do you believe it?"

            He remained silent.

            After ten years, Lady Une had grown accustomed to this response.  So, she dealt with it the way she usually did, by moving on.  "I'm not sure if I do.  But I don't want to take a chance."

            "That's understandable," Trowa answered, moving forwards to stand next to her.  "The last thing we want on our hands is another war."

            "I agree," she said softly, twisting her fingers with his.  "You and I, we know the horrors of war more than anyone else, I think.  We have witnessed them, lived them, and committed them."

            Again, he said nothing.

            She let go of his hand and turned to look at his face.  "So is that the only reason you came?"

            "No.  I want to start watching the Leute, but I need your help and advice," Trowa answered.

            "What makes you think I'd know?" she asked.

            "You know which of the world leaders have children ages nine to thirteen.  You also have the funding for any equipment that may be necessary," he replied.

            "I see.  Well then, I may be able to help you.  But I can't access the Preventors database anymore; it's been shut off for the evening.  As for equipment, we'll have to go back to the colonies to get access to the best of it.  There's not much I can do for you right now.  If business is finished," she rose and headed for the door.  "You should find a hotel room for the night."

            "Mignonette."

            His voice was low, soft, chilling.  The single word sent shivers up her spine.  Less than ten people had ever known her real name.  Her father and brothers, dead years and years ago.  Treize Khushrenada, likewise.  Mariemaia Khushrenada, whom she hadn't heard from for years.  And Trowa.

            She did not breathe as moved behind her and rested his hands on her hips, then slowly began caressing her sides in slow, sensual circles.  He buried his face in her hair, once carefree blond waves; now straight and sober chestnut locks. 

"It's been a few months," he whispered in her ear.  "I've missed you."  His hands moved over her breasts as he began to unbutton her blouse.  Even now, it amazed her that a stoic man three years her junior had such amazing skills in seduction.  Not even the charismatic Treize, who'd been her common law husband, had been able to make her want him so badly.  Now she felt Trowa's lips on the fast heating flesh of her neck that she let his name escape her lips.

            "Nanashi…"

            When had she realized that the pilot of Gundam Heavyarms was the boy she'd fallen in love with when she was fourteen?  From the moment she saw him among the OZ recruits when he was working as a spy.  It had puzzled her that he'd used the name Trowa Barton, but after watching his cold, emotionless fighting style, there was no doubt in her mind that this was the solemn young mercenary who had saved her life countless times.  And how did she repay him?  By abandoning him, by fleeing into the arms of Treize, by becoming his enemy.  She never expected Trowa to forgive her, and yet…he was changed.  It occurred to her that it was Nanashi she truly loved, and he was gone forever.  But it had not been difficult for her to learn to love this new man, this Trowa Barton.

            "Middie," she felt his hot breath somewhere near her temple.

            Again, the difficulty of naming.  Where had the name Middie come from?  She remembered her youngest brother, Raoul, always seemed to be sick with a cold.  Her father and other brothers usually called her Minnie as a shortened form of Mignonette.  But Raoul, eternally congested, never could say it clearly, so it came out as "Middie."  She wondered why they had found it so amusing as to all call her Middie, but she had only been nine or ten at the time.  The name stuck.

            But now, as they stumbled through the door to Lady Une's bedroom, they shed their names along with their clothing and collapsed on the bed.  Now, they were only two spirits, a pair of nameless ghosts that longed to remove themselves from the troubles of the world, a pair of unfettered phantoms that tried furiously to escape the gathering storm clouds on the horizon.  Yet even as their primitive ritual continued, the rationalities that both of them possessed watched piteously, knowing neither lover would be able to escape the tempest.

            Finally, as they lay staring at he ceiling while the ecstasy slowly released them, Trowa gathered Une in his arms and held her close, absentmindedly brushing stray strands of hair from her face.

            "Why did you come back to France?" he murmured.

            Her mahogany brown eyes met his emerald gaze.  "I had to."

            He nodded.  To that day, they had honored the pact they'd made the night they first became lovers.  The promise they'd made to each other and to the world that they would atone for their sins.  Each and every one of them, even if it took a hundred thousand years.

            But they had time.

            And they had each other.

            "I am hereby proud to dedicate this memorial marking ten year anniversary of the Arms Eradication!" Relena Dorlian cried out to the crowd as the sheet fell away from the new monument.

            The people of L1 cheered as light glinted off the glittering white pyramid, covered with engravings of swords to represent each weapon that was destroyed during the Eradication.  For a decade now, the Earth Sphere had been devoid of any military weapons.  Of course, police forces and the Preventors were still allowed to use firearms and civilians who liked to hunt could still have their hunting artillery, but there were no longer any military weapons.  Nor were there any factories to build such weapons nor were there any facilities to develop them.  Finally, it seemed to the citizens that there would be global peace.

            Relena smiled proudly, stepped down from the podium, and proceeded back to the tent where food would be served to the speakers and sponsors.  Unfortunately, she would have to battle it out with the crowd of politicians, the press, and enthusiastic supporters.  The going was slow and difficult, but eventually she made it.  Sighing, she reached into her pocket for her watch.  She was surprised when her fingers ran across the edge of a folded piece of paper.

            Frowning, she pulled it out and unfolded it.

            I have something to discuss with you.  Meet me in the grove of cherry trees behind the Eve Memorial.  Come alone.  Destroy this note when you're finished with it.

            -A Knight

She read the note twice more, her hands shaking with excitement.  There was no doubt in her mind who had written it.  Immediately, she tore the note up into little pieces, dropped half of them in one garbage can, and half in another.  After telling her secretary she needed to go to the ladies' room, she half sprinted to the grove behind the memorial, nearly a mile away across the park.  When she finally reached it, she winced in pain.  High heels had been a very poor choice in footwear indeed.

Her eyes scanned the area.  She could still hear the dull sounds of the crowd near the new memorial, but other than that, it appeared she was alone.  She leaned against one of the trees and sighed.

"Why do you always do this to me Heero?" Relena murmured.

"I don't want to be seen," he answered, stepping out from behind a tree.

She looked up and gasped in happiness.  "Heero!" she cried, throwing her arms around him.  "I was starting to think it wasn't you who wrote the note."

He pulled out of her embrace slowly.  "You're lucky I was.  If it had been anyone else, you'd probably be dead by now."

Relena narrowed her eyes.  "I'm not a teenager anymore, Heero.  You can't scare me with threats of assassination."

In truth, Relena had grown.  She was no longer an idealistic girl who automatically had the political support of thousands, but a hardworking woman who held her title of Earth Sphere Vice President with a firm grip.  Her popularity had fallen a bit since she'd negotiated her original ideals in order to better serve all people, but she did have the respect of almost every person in the world.  Not only that, but she had preserved her vision of peace for the world, and it had been a reality for a while now.

"So what did you want to speak with me about?" Relena asked.  "It would be wishful thinking to believe you came just to pay me a nice visit."

Heero was quiet for a moment, planning his explanation.  Relena was rational, and everything Setsuna Meioh had told him was not.

"You heard about the murder of Lita Kino, I assume?" he asked.

She nodded sadly.  "Yes, that's horrible.  I feel so bad for the Preventors.  I heard she had a lot of promise."

"It's not the Preventors you should be worried about," Heero said.  "It's the people of Earth."

Relena cocked her head.  "What?  What do you mean?"

"Kino's murder was not just some random occurrence.  She was killed for a reason.  You know the story of Crystal Tokyo?" he asked.

"Yes.  It was a great civilization on Earth in the thirtieth century," she answered.

"What else do you know?" Heero pressed.

She closed her eyes and tried to remember.  "It was ruled by a queen who had a very strong power source.  Supposedly, it brought peace and immortality to all the people of the planet.  She had guardians too, didn't she?  Guardians that also had great powers?"

He nodded.  "Yes.  Do you know how Crystal Tokyo fell?"

"A people invaded from space.  Aliens, I guess we'd call them.  They started a revolution amongst the people of Earth, and the queen and her guardians disappeared," she finished.  "But what does this have to do with anything?"

Heero looked in her eyes.  "What if the queen and the guardians didn't disappear?  Or the aliens that invaded?  What if they were alive this entire time, living off of that great power source the queen had?"

Relena cocked her head again.  "Heero, are you feeling all right?"

"I'm fine," he said shortly.

"But you're talking crazy.  You don't honestly think…"

"I'm not sure.  But there is a possibility that Lita Kino was one of those guardians, and she was murdered by the aliens; the Leute, they're called," Heero answered.

"That's impossible.  She'd have to be over four hundred years old," Relena replied.

"Like I said, I'm not sure if any of this is true," he paused.  "Then again, no one was sure when Mariemaia Khushrenada declared war on Earth."

"Where's that connection?"

"She wanted control of Earth, just like the Leute do.  All these years, it was those guardians and the queen that were standing in the way.  But one of them is dead now.  If any more die, taking control will be easy," he answered, then slowly laid a hand on her shoulder.  "Are you willing to risk that?"

Relena bit her lip.  The story was outrageous.  There was no way it could be true.  And yet…he had a point.  If, through some strange, cruel irony, it were true, she was risking the lives of every citizen of the Earth Sphere by ignoring it.

"What is it that you want me to do, Heero?" she asked softly.

He released her shoulder and turned to leave.  "Keep your eyes open and be careful.  And consider starting development for weapons again."

"What?!?!?!"

Heero turned back to face her.  "There may be peace amongst ourselves, but Earth is vulnerable to anyone else wishing to attack us.  We won't be able to fight off anything with a few handguns and hunting rifles."

"But…but…"

He pressed a finger to her lips.  "I said consider it.  Just ask yourself, what's more important, a vision of total pacifism, or the lives of your people?"

With that, he was gone.