Author's Note: I'm not messing up Relena's last name. She is going by Dorlain currently, but not everyone is going by her own designations, used to her being known as Peacecraft.
Not for anything. Dorothy lied in her bed, taking her medicine. She'd been sucking on cold bars and jello, trying to get through it all. Not much longer and it should be over. She heard her phone ring and answered it, barely, with her usual charm. Trying to. "Ah, Miss Relena. How may I help you today?"
"I'm sorry, Dorothy. I didn't think about your surgery when I asked to meet you, and then I just walked off," she apologized. "I wasn't feeling well, but it was no excuse. I am afraid I might have the same problem you did."
"Uh. How unfortunate, Miss Relena." That's why she was calling. "It's quite a simple surgery."
"I find it strange," Relena admitted. "Strange that we both have this problem."
"Perhaps there is something around the Earth that is changing our health?" Dorothy reasoned. Oh, she should not be talking, but it wasn't like her to just ignore those whose presence she enjoyed. Relena did not come by every day. Dermail was gone. There wasn't . . . "I'd give anything to watch a good fight right now." Oops? Her medicine got to her, that had been out loud. "I apologize." Normally she would say something longer, but she was hitting her extent. She needed to heal before being anymore social.
"You aren't feeling yourself. I understand," Relena apologized. "Let me know when you are feeling better, Dorothy."
Dorothy gave a light mutter of a yes before hanging up. She sucked on another ice cold bar, but now her head was turning too. It was rather strange they both had this problem at about the same time. Was it becoming more prevalent of a problem? Or was there something changing on Earth that was changing mankind more as a species? Her humidifier was still running, but the air was so dry. It still felt so dry. That was the thing about Earth, the temperature always fluctuated. In the colonies, it remained the same most times. Then her phone rang again, but this time, just a text.
My surgery will be in the colonies. I think it's easier to breathe out there to heal and my current business issues are colony related. I didn't know you were still feeling so terrible. If you can get through one grueling day, I invite you to come.
To the colonies? Dorothy hadn't been out there in ages. It was so beautiful out there. Relena was always so brilliant and charming, no doubt she knew which colony to go to. Not all colonies were made equal. There was one in particular that held extra humidity. Smaller, more intimate. It was like walking around in a humidifier. It was good for those who needed one. Extra services were performed in it since it often attracted the more sickly to it's beautiful self. Highly expensive, but . . .
One grueling trip out to the colonies. Even when she steps out, it should feel her with relief like a humidifier. She texted her back with a tease of bringing extra ice cream and ice chips. One day. The damage she still felt on her was grueling, even after the surgery. She should have been healed by now. Proper healing. Better surveillance and doctors. In the past, she may have been able to get out there with her grandfather. Not much anymore, but Relena still traveled back and forth.
The invite was probably just to share in the misery. Maybe. Or maybe Relena Peacecraft was becoming a little like her. Wanting to find a real friend out in the real world, it was so hard to come by.
Or more likely she wanted some kind of information on someone or some group she once knew. That was always more likely. Either way, she didn't care.
She got the reply back and smiled. Relena had ordered the tickets. She would go a day later, but she ordered Dorothy her virtual tickets for tomorrow, first thing in the morning.
To the beauty of the colonies. Already, she was starting to feel better.
Relena's Home
Relena knew how Dorothy felt about holding a conversation. She was certainly coming down with another fever. She needed to go to bed. She felt around herself, but couldn't find her phone. "No, not this now." Oh, she sounded so terrible. She looked around the area, thinking she set it down somewhere. Maybe she dropped it? She went backwards some, but her fever made it so hard. She eventually found it, lying on the floor where she had a conversation with Dorothy. She picked it up. There, now it was time to go relax. Thank goodness that surgery was scheduled soon.
Heero's Colony
It only took one ring of his phone now. "Wufei."
"This isn't what they specialize in."
Neither of them were going to go into the details. Both of them had been tracking down the rebels in Revenge of The Lost. The crimes they committed were never to a particular calibre, but this whole thing didn't make sense at all.
"They didn't just decide on a whim, to do this, randomly," Wufei continued to speak. "Heero."
"I know." This wasn't supposed to be some shock or surprise. This whole father ordeal was part of something bigger. They used small advantages, tactics, and then came after their targets in an almost ruthless manner. "Hilde Schbeiker was confirmed, but can we believe that now?" Trickery was that group's style. He believed that Duo wouldn't lie. This woman that lived with Duo, most likely wouldn't go through all this for a lie. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility though.
"The one involving me," Wufei continued. "She is supposed to be pregnant. For all I know, she could be a part of RTL."
"Hm." That was possible. Whether it was real or not, RTL wanted them to do something. They were their target now. "Has anyone contacted the doctors?" They would be the only ones to make something like this happen, although even that was a long shot. "If they expect me to barge in on Relena Dorlain with this, they don't know me." This group? Chances of a lie were high. Yes, it could be true. Yes, Duo's friend could be pregnant, but it could also just be a ruse. They'd only been on Earth for a week. Even if it was real, it would take time to get any of the others confirmed.
"Duo doesn't want the doctors knowing. He thinks they are behind it. I hate RTL."
Their methods to win were never good. "What are they planning?"
"To irritate us. To distract us? Maybe we are getting closer than we thought to finding the leader."
"Yeah." Maybe they should involve the other pilots to track them down faster. As for the letter? It was most likely a complete plant. "The technology exists for what they've done, but it's not out for the general public. I've been looking into it closer. Unless RTL is a part of that technology group, this couldn't have been done."
"I am hoping you don't find a connection," Wufei said to him.
"Yeah. Me too." This wasn't a casual thing Heero could brush off if it had been. The pregnancy wouldn't be the trump card, it would be just a hard card used in their overall game. Most people who became targets of the group had their life changed disastrously by them. Many often survived, RTL didn't just kill off an enemy. They made them suffer. Over forty percent ended up taking their own lives with the brutal tactics they used. "Do you know Mei-Lin Wang, Wufei?"
"No," Wufei said. "However." He paused. "This will be a disaster between the Long and Zhang Colony if it were true."
"How disastrous?"
"War disastrous. I have to find out if this is true before I proceed with anything, Heero."
"Agreed." War. Yeah, that was something RTL would like. Simple cause and effects the victims did to themselves. "Any word on the other unknown women?"
"No. Trowa nor Quatre have called or checked back in. Duo did say this Middie Une was a spy that killed Trowa's allies once. We should inform them of RTL better before they fall into its trap."
"Good idea." Knowing someone like Quatre, he would go straight to the source with the intent of sharing the truth. He was too good. He better call him first. It was late on Earth, but hearing this, Quatre would be wide awake.
Maguanac Area
Quatre studied his clothes carefully for his trip tomorrow before he tried to get some rest. From where he was with the Maguanacs, it would be days before he could reach Dorothy Catalonia. Hmm There wasn't really anything for this kind of thing. He would go with his usual pressed shirt and vest. Showing up in a tuxedo wouldn't give the right impression, although he wanted to show how serious the situation had been. "Hello, Dorothy Catalonia," he practiced to himself. "Just by chance? I don't suppose you had surgery not too long ago? No, that would never work," he criticized himself. Records easily showed she had a tonsillectomy not more than two weeks ago.
Two weeks. She wouldn't feel any different. She couldn't confirm anything. "She probably drinks alcohol." Socially at least, it was reasonable. No, he couldn't put it off. If he had suspicions, she should be warned. He heard his phone go off and welcomed the interruption. "Quatre here."
"Quatre." Heero's voice. "Don't run off to tell Catalonia anything."
"Why, was it discovered to be a trick?" Hopeful.
"No, but the writer of the letter, code-named 'Jewel', is a part of Revenge of The Lost," Heero said. "RTL. A mysterious rebel group I've been tracking with Wufei. Don't go to Catalonia."
"So it could be fake?" His heart started to beat. "Why fake this?"
"The group isn't your typical fare. It doesn't often take POW's or kill. It is willing too, but it prefers other forms of torture to ending someone's life."
"A pacifist terrorist group?" Huh.
"Wufei and I will send you what we have on them," Heero said. "They are expecting you to make contact, Quatre. Don't. There is no proof of anything. Even if you told her-"
"She wouldn't know. She just had the surgery," Quatre finished. "I've studied it, Heero. It can take years to get a positive in artificial, but there is new tech." He probably already knew that. "What do you personally believe? Do you think they are or aren't?"
"Throwing this at us isn't their style, and it does nothing to make them feel satisfied," Heero said. "Wufei said if it were true, it could start a war between his colony and this Mei-Lin Wang's."
"Creating war ourselves." Quatre could start to see the truth. "I get it. I'll wait." It seemed like there was a good chance it was just a ruse, a ruse to get to them. A ruse to get them out.
He had to wait until he knew for sure.
Duo's Apartment
"It's two o' clock in the morning here," Duo complained as he left his bedroom for the small couch of his and Hilde's. "You wanted to wake me up to tell me that you think, that my friend, my best friend? Is lying to me for this RTL group?" No. No, he wasn't happy and Wufei better be getting the hint. "She wouldn't lie. I guarantee that, Wufei."
"Did you see anything that said she had been?" Wufei pushed. "Don't go out of your way to do anything for the woman."
"Hilde didn't lie." Ouch. "Take the news like a man, Wufei, and stop trying to find a crack. Figure it out yourself whether that Mei-Lin's is a lie, but Hilde's isn't. She isn't cruising around lying to me for a free trip to Earth." He'd known Hilde for years. The nerve!
"Heero and I are sending you information on the RTL group. Believe it or not, don't let the woman see it." He hung up.
Man. Wufei. Duo bet he and Heero told the others not to say a thing either. Not even suspicion? You know, maybe you shouldn't do this or that 'cause something might have happened to you? Geez.
"Duo." Hilde came out of her room. "You okay? You're yelling."
Ah. Well, the guys could do what they want. "Nothing, just previous pilots, being the previous idiots they are and were." He wouldn't turn his back on Hilde no matter what Wufei said. She wasn't a part of anything. Wufei was the one that should be doing something. "I'm heading back to bed, don't worry. I know, work tomorrow, first thing."
"First thing." She smiled giving him that glowing look he loved on her before she headed back to her room.
Knowing he should keep his promise, he headed back to bed.
Circus
Trowa was already in the middle of doing his own research now. While he should be sleeping, this wasn't a matter he could take lightly. Contacting Middie Une, of all people, was not something he relished in doing. He could ignore it, but that didn't feel right either. He never had anyone growing up. No one he remembered. Until Cathy, he had felt like no one cared for him at all. He was no-name. No one cared. He was worth nothing.
He didn't want anyone else feeling that way. His own blood? Causing pain for his own blood. He heard the phone next to him and answered it. "Trowa."
"I had a feeling you'd still be up too," Heero said. "I have some information on RTL. Revenge of The Lost. Wufei and I had been tracking them down when this all occurred."
"I am trying to find something about them," Trowa admitted. "I would appreciate any information."
"Sure, but don't go running after this woman," Heero warned him. "This group is based on trickery. There is no way to know if any of this is real yet. Even if Hilde Schbeiker is pregnant, it could be a smoke screen."
Oh. Trowa breathed a little relief. "I didn't plan on running right away, but I'm glad you said that."
"Yeah. RTL isn't the typical group. They do kill, but they don't do it often. Quatre said the phrase pacifist terrorist. While it's not exactly true, it's close. They try to find ways to punish the wicked in their mind, without killing them. Or? They have a tendency to commit suicide themselves."
Whoah. "Psychological warfare." That wasn't good news at all.
"Yeah. Don't mess around with them," Heero repeated.
"What about Relena Peacecraft?" Trowa asked. "I can't find anything on her medicals. Has she had surgery yet?"
"Her records tend to be more confidential, thanks to Zechs Merquise." Some resentment. "I'll find out, but that's as far as I'll go. For now, I'm more interested in bringing RTL down."
"I am right there with you," Trowa agreed. Maybe together all of the pilots could gather enough information to take down this radical group. Maybe this all was just a trick. The pinging sound of the small game Middie Une used to play echoed in his head. Transmitter to the enemy, always around her neck.
/"To thank you for your help. Now God will watch over you."/
Then the cross she gave to him. A transmitter to the enemy as well. And now? It had to be a trick. It had to be. To press onward, he would believe it to be.
Just like Heero. Just like Wufei. He would press into the RTL, until he could find the truth first.
8:00 AM and Feeling Refreshed
Suitcase lovingly packed. Her best big hat to hide her face if she got into too much pain. Some sunglasses to look chic, but also to hide any tears that may occur. Anyone else. Anywhere else and it would be no. To the beauty of the colonies, and the one that could make her feel better? It was worth it. Plus, Relena would be there tomorrow. She got on the shuttle and buckled up. A trip to the colonies was not as common as buying a plane ticket. Most people couldn't get authorization to visit, and no one could ever really stay long unless they planned on moving there. Once again, there were a thousand restrictions to that sort of thing too. If it wasn't for Relena, she probably would have gone through the restrictions and stayed up there for good. Stayed among the beauty of the stars. Earth's beauty was gorgeous but so were the stars. It would be a nice place to have a new beginning.
She was done with schooling for now, and she would be going on to higher education soon. Perhaps somewhere different in the colonies for higher education? What a nice thought. Maybe a more relaxed identity too. A relaxed past. The relaxation of knowing where she was going, it made her feel better. Oh, whatever information Relena was trying to bother to get out of her, she could more than have it.
She would decide once she was up there. If she wanted it? This might be her best chance.
