Title: The Last Call

Rating: M

Pairings/Characters: Dorothy, Trowa, Cathy,Lady Une, hints of Treize+Zechs and Zechs+Otto, past Treize/Leia (this chapter)

Summary: An AU war themed fic. War has raged for over four years, the two fronts are divided between Romefeller and the Alliance of the Five Kingdoms, however as the war escalates and grows bloodier, the rebellion only grows stronger in it's attempts to end the war.

Warnings: dark themes

Notes: It has elements from WW1 and WW2 and I may throw elements from other wars, becuase... AU! This started out as a completely different fic, and then mutated. The characters, I think, are esstientially the same, but under different circumstances. Any pairings, will be slow to develop. Shall I pull it off? Let's wait and see!

"Have you seen the Queen yet, Dorothy?" Trowa murmurs, leaning on the frame of a window.

"No. I plan to. I have seen her at a distance however. She's quite pretty, no? I think you would like her, if she wasn't who was. She has kind eyes, and that has always appealed to you."

"I saw her, when she arrived with Lt. Merquise, Noin and Otto." Trowa's lips thin and he steps back and turns to face Dorothy, "She's a rebel, she should be executed at once as an example to the rest of those scum! The Alliance at least has some honour... however tarnished and worn thin."

"Treize won't execute her. She's..." Dorothy frowns, "Too potent a force to kill so publically. If I was Treize I would have simply poisoned her, something slow and that can be attributed to natural forces, or a long term disease."

"As cold as ever, Dorothy." Trowa shakes his head, "I still can't imagine why the General allows to call him by his first name." Trowa's tone seems to reek with disapproval. "You should address his respectfully, Dorothy."

Dorothy laughs, "I am not going to call Treize, by anything other than that! He's my cousin, and," she stares at Trowa, "He's your adopted uncle in law? Or something like that," Dorothy snaps her fingers, "That makes up adopted cousins in law!"

"I wonder how your mind works sometimes. Other times, I refrain from even entering that chain of thoughts. It could lead one to madness."

She shrugs carelessly. "How is Zechs? Does he... still blame Noin for Otto's death?" She smiles, her crueller light entering his eyes, "He is a fool to think that would ever happen. Noin is far to loyal to that man."

"To the Lt. Merquise it makes perfect sense. She is the only one who could have done it. Noin is the only one capable and having the right power to do what Lt. Merquise suspects her of."

"The man can have his own opinions, but I suspect that he is wrong. Noin, no, she's isn't a rebel."

"Noin does spend her days with a rebel."

"Only because she was ordered by Zechs. He knows how to hurt her, even if he hasn't learnt how to love her." Dorothy shakes her head, "Can't be helped. Zechs, was awfully close to Otto."

"You can't be suggesting... that? Lt. Merquise! He's the last person - "

"Don't be a fool Trowa," Dorothy snapped, "What do you think his relationship with Treize is?"

"The General is a married man! With a young daughter!"

"Leia has been dead since the war began, Trowa, you know that as well as I. He wouldn't be the first man to think of sex without marriage. I take that as a normal fact of every day life. You cannot think he has not lain with someone since Leia's death? It's been four years Trowa!"

"And... I regret her passing each and every day, Dorothy. I know Treize loved her, I saw it in his eyes." Trowa says firmly, arms crossing his chest.

"There is more than one type of love, Trowa," her voice straining, "Sometimes, you can't show every emotion, even if you want."

"I - I know that - "

"Did you know I was engaged, Trowa? Before the war, that is?" She suddenly says, quieter. She runs a hand up and down the pale sleeve of her dress.

Trowa seems unable to speak for a few moments. He shakes his head and murmurs, "No. I didn't. Were you in love? I know you haven't been... active in a romantic social life. But... No, I wasn't aware."

"It seems like such a long time ago. I ended it when the war began. He was an Alliance citizen, I thought it would be for the best. Maybe I was wrong, I don't know. But Trowa, understand that love, can't be defined in the dictionary."

"I'm not stupid, Dorothy."

"Perhaps, but you've never been in love, now have you?"

He blushes and turns away from her laughter. "So what if I haven't? I just haven't met the right person."

"No, the right person just has to meet you. You're not going any where Trowa."

"I certainly am not going to abandon my post, Dorothy, I am not a deserter." Trowa replies angrily. "I will not leave, I wouldn't abandon anyone!"

Dorothy sighs, "You don't even realise, do you?"

"What?"

"Well, I'm certainly not going to tell you if you don't know. Come to me when you have. I don't think I want to speak to you any longer, Trowa. You're so very obstinate. And I only love that in myself."

Cathy ran. She felt the skin on the back of her legs burn, feel it blister and redden. Stumbling she cried out as she fell onto the ground. She lay there, gasping for a moment, before struggling to her feet.

Soldiers rushed around, but it was the shocking uniforms of Romefeller that caused her to cry out. How could they be here? She wondered, her thoughts running frantically in her mind.

Seeing a young man, one arm incased in a cast, fall in the ground, blood spurting out of his belly, spurred Cathy on to flee. It wasn't safe here, she realised belatedly, she had to find a place to hide.

Her breath sped up as she dodged soldiers, she stayed close to the tents, trying to remain as small and inconspicuous as possible.

As she got further away, she realised that it was getting quieter. More and more soldiers were wearing Romefeller uniform. Cathy's breath caught and in an instant she was hidden between two tents, making the best of the make shift hiding spot.

Letting her breath ago, Cathy sat on the ground, in between two boxes that hid her from either entry. Taking a calming breath, she almost choked when she heard some voices behind her.

"It's been quite successful, I'm sure the General will be very pleased." A woman voice's said, her tone harsh yet delighted at what she had said.

Covering her mouth, Cathy tried to restrain any noises that would escape. The General? Who were they talking about?

"Yes, Lady Une," said a man, his words respectful and humble. "The General will be very pleased with you. Yours plans were executed perfectly."

Lady Une! Cathy's eyes widened in horror. The bloodthirsty hound of Romefeller. Mothers warned their children about her, telling them if they did not behave Lady Une would devour them at night. She was responsible for hundreds, thousands of deaths. Cathy shook, right down to her trembling fingers. Then that must mean, the General, must be Treize Kushrandra!

"The fools, can they not see that their cause is weak and worthless?" Lady Une laughed, bitterly. "I will crush them, make them regret opposing the General."

"The rebellion is thought to have a base here," a younger male mentioned, his tone far more casual. "We should crush them too."

"No, not yet. Reenforcements will already have been deployed, we must leave soon, I don't intend to die now." Lady Une murmured, "That rebellion will soon fall as well."

"How, Lady Une?"

"We have their Queen... and they know what that means. They will not sacrifice her, she is far too precious. And the General will not so easily give her up, he has his own plans for their pretty Queen."

"I don't understand..."

"The rebellion is failing," Une declared, "We will soon crush their little support and deprive them of any supplies. The City of Lights will be abandoned, and we shall kill those meddlesome rebels." Lady Une laughs again, this time with much greater glee. "Come, we leave now. But first..." The voice deepens, growing harder to hear.

"We must take care of our little listener."

Cathy freezes, her heart beat pounding in her head.