Chapter 6

"I've arranged for the conference to start in two hours in the Commons. The camera crews that have been following us through the satellite this week will be broadcasting to both Earth and the Colonies. I'll start by addressing the room, then I'll introduce you and give you time to speak more on terraformation and the Mars Project. We'll touch on Alet, then we'll let Lossen step in to describe the work we're doing here on Coranis. We can make some closing statements to marry the importance of the projects to each other, flesh out long-term goals, and we'll end with the final vision for Coranis and Mars. Questions to follow, of course."

"That sounds wonderful, Cecil. You have an impressive talent for technology and innovation. I'm so pleased by everything you've managed to accomplish here in such a short time. It is easy to see why your people hold you in such high regard," Relena admitted, thinking of the way faces on Coranis lit at the very mention of the older engineer.

They walked together through the narrow hallways of the resource satellite, the red globe of Mars looming through the occasional window in the structure. Six days had passed since Relena's arrival, leaving her both exhilarated by all the progress she had seen and disappointed that she would be leaving the next day. The engineers worked with a passion, eager to show her their expertise. The week had been filled with knowledge and hours of information spread out before her like a puzzle, each man or woman excited to show her how their individual pieces could fit into the whole of the Mars Project. Cecil had only added to the fever of that atmosphere, his presence a further catalyst to the already impressive determination and drive of the technicians. The respect for the businessman was palpable.

"Oh no, mine is nothing compared to the talent of your Preventer friend," Litz said, chuckling softly. He walked beside her, tall but lean in a way that still spoke of raw physicality. He was older than her by a couple of decades, but his eyes were sharp and his face looked young despite well-groomed salt-and-pepper hair.

"Who, Heero?" She felt her eyebrows climb toward her hairline, surprised he had noticed the stoic man's involvement. Heero had been a silent wraith the entire time they were on the satellite, coming and going at all hours of the day. More than once she had found him stripped down to a tank top and trousers, forearms-deep in grease or mechanical parts as word got around that he could repair most anything and wrench rusted bolts from their sockets with his fingers. It had started with one of the mining shafts collapsing unexpectedly and had spread from there, with people actively seeking him out now. At first, he had been hesitant to leave her side, but she had eventually persuaded him that there were only so many shafts she could fall down and that she would much rather he utilize his gifts to help further the project than babysit her. She had not realized Cecil had even met Heero at this point. The two men never seemed to be present in the same room together.

Heero had been stolen again this morning by a mousey little engineer with large brown eyes and a quick smile, whose supervisor was ill and left behind a broken gasket that no one seemed to be capable of replacing. The way the engineer looked at the dark-haired pilot, Relena wondered if the girl had not broken the gasket herself.

"He's become quite popular in conversation, but I can't say I've had the privilege of meeting him face-to-face yet. My technicians can't stop talking about his mechanical prowess—among other things." He smiled knowingly at Relena, a handsome expression that lit an otherwise imposing face. "You'll have to introduce us after the conference."

Relena laughed, thinking of her own infatuation with his 'other things' as a girl. Any woman with two eyes could see Heero was handsome, you just had to appreciate his silent-but-deadly aspects as well. "Yes, he certainly has a knack for anything technical. I'm lucky to have someone of his talents on loan from Preventer." She wondered how much longer that loan would last after this trip.

"You seem to have a close relationship with him," Cecil observed.

"He's worked with me here and there over the years. We're both familiar with how the other person operates. Commander Une understands how important that quality is when she assigns agents to my detail. He is exceptional, as your technicians have already noticed, and I appreciate those abilities when I'm working." It was not quite a lie, and she had become accustomed to offering it as an explanation when people decided to take notice of the former pilot. Heero seemed content to let her use it on the various occasions he had heard it. "But, as technical achievements go, I would have to say yours are more impressive, given the situation. I'm still amazed you were able to persuade the cameras to come all the way out to Coranis," she admitted.

"Surely it is not such a difficult feat to get the attention of the media—I trust you know this, Minister," he said, still wearing that good-natured grin. The change in subject seemed to work, drawing his attention away from Heero's presence on Coranis. Relena smiled wryly back at him.

"Their attention, no, but entire camera crews? Reporters, journalists, videographers? There is a documentarian on board! They are covering Coranis with the intention of recording it like the history it will one day become, Cecil. I would certainly call that amazing, considering what the Press like to say about the Mars Project these days." She shook her head, still in disbelief over the considerable influence he had already exerted over the situation.

Cecil was an impressive force, she had come to realize. They had met before on several occasions at ESUN functions, but it was not until the past week that she had truly been witness to the effect of his influence. Cecil Litz filled a room with his presence, and everyone within that room went quiet in order to listen for his words. Attractive, with a square jaw, aquiline nose, and high cheekbones, he appeared cultured and strong. He carried himself confidently, wore crisp charcoal suits that spoke of power and refinement, and looked upon his employees with a mixture of encouragement and expectation. He was the epitome of civility: well-spoken, clever, chivalrous, and polite.

He was also unashamedly intelligent.

Cecil's involvement was a dream-come-true to the entire project. If he showed belief in an endeavor, others soon flocked after him. He was a magnet that other intellectuals were drawn to, most likely because of his own undeniable brilliance. He would be an invaluable ally throughout the terraformation process. They had spent much of the week together, he to supervise the projects and she to learn the process, and the time had been enlightening. She was even more grateful for his aid now that she had seen what he brought to the project.

"The Press enjoy a story, Relena," the older man explained as they walked. The hallways were beginning to empty as the inhabitants of the resource satellite prepared for the press conference, leaving them to walk alone. Even the camera crews that had been stalking her every step throughout the week had finally left her to prepare. "They'll go anywhere if they might see great success or great failure; they don't care which. In our case they expect failure, so it is up to us to manipulate that expectation to our own purposes. I simply explained that if they were willing to make the journey, the reward would be considerable." His mouth turned down into a brief scowl. "Unfortunately, we've already provided some of that reward." Relena sighed at the reminder.

The day of Litz's arrival brought a gas pocket collapse just outside the safe sectors of the satellite. A mining technician, part of a group that had been exploring the unstable sectors, had been joking with the other technicians and ventured foolishly into unmapped terrain. He had become the first human casualty of the sinkholes. One of the camera crews had captured the collapse. That night even Relena's ears had burned after the dressing down issued by Litz to the remaining crew, but the damage had already been done as the story of the miner's death was broadcast across the stretches of Earth and space. Days later, Naturalists were using the death as evidence that the entire project was doomed to fail, and some private sectors were questioning their future involvement in the Mars Project. It was a brutal setback, but one that Relena was determined to overcome starting with the press conference.

"The Press have already forgotten that they are talking about a man's life and not a piece of entertainment," she said in quiet outrage, remembering a bright man with a robust smile and dark eyes. She had met him briefly before the accident, and she mourned the loss. "I spoke to Alet's family after his passing, his wife told me that the attention has been relentless even from the Colonies. I asked Commander Une to use Preventer to help alleviate some of the pressure from them. I'm ashamed that a family cannot grieve in peace because reporters would rather slander my name than respect their loss. However, as tragic as Alet's death may be, I won't let it obscure the goals of the Mars Project." Steel lined her voice. "Let them think of it as a 'reward,' as you say; I'll change their minds soon enough." The words issued from her mouth like a vow, and Relena instantly knew it was one she was making to herself. They were at the beginning of a very long and arduous road, one that would be lined with other deaths and misfortunes. She would be naïve to think that the terraformation of an entire planet would happen without sacrifice and tragedy. Relena tried her hardest not to be naïve anymore.

Anger burned through her chest as she thought of the reports that had been flooding the airwaves the past several nights. Although the days saw her preoccupied with Coranis, the evenings left her frustrated as news accounts taunted her, calling the Mars Project 'hopeless', 'reckless', and even 'irresponsible' toward the lives involved for 'the unreachable goal' she was apparently promising to people. Several times already, David had forced her to turn off the screen so she would no longer hear what was being said. It made her want to listen even more.

"If our opponents want to use a man's death as a weapon," she declared, "then I'll honor his life and his intentions. He worked on Coranis because he believed in the future we intend to build, Cecil. I'll make them see that nothing about this project is 'reckless'; That every soul who is willing to contribute to its reality is someone incredible, who is working toward the future of the human race. Give me time, and they'll realize that Mars is the future we need so that our children have a home to thrive upon. I'll make them see humanity in every corner of this satellite if I have to, so they'll know that you can't use death to sully what a person did in his life." It was her vow to herself, and to every person that would follow in the wake of that first, miserable loss; one that she knew she would honor no matter what it might cost her.

Was this how Heero felt when he fought all those wars?

The force of that thought sent a tremor through her body and she stopped, exhaling all the tension she had not realized was building inside her as she spoke. Calm settled over her in the quiet of the hall, galvanizing her resolve.

A low, eerie chuckle issued from beside her.

"You are quite the masterpiece, Ms. Darlian."

She looked to the man beside her with surprise. Litz was studying her intently, his mouth curved in an expression that was not quite a smile, not quite approval, but shrewdly contemplative. He was focused on her completely, and although his face remained open and relaxed, it was an expression that turned her cold.

All at once she was very aware that they were alone together in the deserted hallway.

"I appreciate the flattery, Cecil, but I'm hardly that," she heard herself say, laughing in a way that sounded hollow to her own ears. She hesitated, but the laugh seemed to be enough for the older man to break from his scrutiny of her and begin to walk again, Relena trailing after him.

He waved a casual hand through the air, pausing to let her catch up. "You're far too modest, Relena. You are a force of nature, I see that now. This is why you're capable of such a massive undertaking, don't you see? You are like the moon: forcing gravity upon the world so that the wind will blow and waves will crash and life will thrive on an otherwise dead rock. You light up space itself, my dear. I would hate for you not to realize that."

They entered the common room as he spoke, greeted by the sight of the news crews and various Coranis personnel as they prepared for the conference. The tables had been removed from the large area and a small podium was being erected at one end of the space amidst the scaffolding, the cameras surrounding the podium so that any crowd or person not speaking directly was forced to stand at least a dozen yards back. Their arrival into the room sparked a flurry of activity, several of the workers running forward to ask questions or request Cecil's attention into a matter.

Litz sighed and turned to her. "My job is never done, it appears. Why don't you take the time to prepare yourself? I'll see you when the conference begins." He bid her farewell before allowing himself to be pulled away by the attentions of his employees, melting into the crowd that had already begun to form. Relena stared after him a moment longer before taking his suggestion and turning back towards her dorm.

Had she imagined the way he looked at her in the hallway?

She entered her room as their conversation played back through her mind. His entire demeanor had changed in that moment. Had she misunderstood?

"Ah, there you are!" David was a whirlwind of clothing and wet hair, leaning forward to kiss her as he pulled on a fresh shirt. Droplets of water still clung to his body from the shower, a damp towel slung across his shoulders. Although the interaction with Litz lingered in her mind, Relena took the opportunity to admire her husband's athletic body as he tracked across the small room to finish dressing. Litz dressed in a similar fashion as David: business suits that made him seem just a little smaller, just a little more approachable than he would if his physique was on display. There was physicality beneath those suits, she knew it from the way both men moved. But Litz carried himself differently than David, and it had nothing to do with a difference in age. "I know we still have a few hours, but some of the journalists asked me for an interview about Earlhelm Industries and our contributions to the Mars Project. I decided it would be worthwhile to talk to them, if only to give them something else to report about besides the accident."

He slung on his coat jacket, short hair already drying as he ran a comb through the sandy strands. He paused before her where she still stood just inside the doorway, brow furrowing as he really stopped to look at her.

"Is everything alright, 'Lena?"

She looked into the green of his eyes, saw genuine concern linger openly in his expression. He studied her, but it was a different sort of intensity. There was kindness there, affection, worry. She sometimes caught the echoes of those emotions in Heero's eyes when he thought she wasn't looking. Cecil's expression had been…

"Relena? Love, are you ok?" His hand on her face startled her out of her thoughts. He was looking at her with a hard scrutiny now, worry plain on his face. "It's just one more day. We'll go home tomorrow. There are so many people who believe in what you're doing here, me included."

She felt her chest swell with appreciation for the man she had married. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she allowed herself to sink into the feel of him and buried her face in his neck. "I know, David. It's not that. I'm glad we came, I wish I could stay longer. It's just been a long week, that's all." His arms slid around her tightly, his cheek covering the top of her head as he held her.

"Would you rather I wait for you? I don't have to do this interview today."

"No." She forced herself to pull away and reached up to kiss him again. "No, I'm going to take a shower and get ready. You go, I'll be along before they need me at the press conference."

David hesitated, physically wavering between the door and where she stood. She offered a small smile and was rewarded by the subtle release of tension in his shoulders. He reached for her again, kissed her forehead, and turned toward the door.

"I'll see you soon, then. Enjoy your shower."

She watched him leave and abruptly sat down on the bed. David was right, she only had one more day on the satellite. Beside the single accident, the rest of the week had been uneventful and informative. All she needed to do was get through the press conference, then she could return to Earth and concentrate on furthering the Mars Project beyond Coranis. She could take time to consider Cecil's odd behavior after today.

Relena rose, escaping into the refuge of the shower for the better part of an hour and forcing herself to think of all that would be waiting for her back on Earth, instead of the dark-eyed businessman with his sinister laugh and chilling expression. When she finally convinced herself to turn off the water and step out, she took her time drying her hair and tying it back into a simple horsetail, dressing with more leisure than she should have afforded herself. With minutes to spare before the press conference, she emerged from her dorm wearing a crisp pantsuit with a flowing blouse and comfortable camisole beneath, and her own version of a politician's poker face.

Prussian blue waited for her.

Heero leaned against the wall directly across from her room, arms crossed over a chest clad in dark Preventer fatigues. His dark hair was as unkempt as ever, even as an adult. His eyes were piercing, but patient. It was impossible to know how long he had been waiting for her. Knowing Heero, it was probably longer than appropriate to anyone who may have walked down the hallway more than once.

As the door slid shut behind her, she gave him a very direct once-over. One thick brown eyebrow quirked at her in return. She fought a smile.

"Heero."

"Relena."

"Waiting long?" she dared ask. If she blinked, she would have missed the barest upturn of his mouth.

"No." Liar.

She rolled her eyes and allowed the persistent smile to bleed through onto her lips. He watched her intently, undaunted by her scrutiny. She turned down the hallway and felt him seamlessly fall into step beside her, close enough to feel the warmth of him seep into her side but far enough to maintain professional courtesy. All at once, she felt safety drape over her shoulders like a blanket.

Heero walked a perfect distance from her, she realized a long time ago: far enough to remain a separate target but close enough to cover her should they come under attack, the true amount of space varying depending on the setting. It did her no good to maneuver closer or further, for he would always adjust himself to maintain that perfect distance from her. When they were younger, not so long after the end of the war, he had run bodyguard duty on her in a public setting for three days. By the final day she was so aggravated by his shadowing act that she had purposely started sprinting and stopping, weaving around corners and jumping over obstacles in a purely childish manner as an attempt to lose him or grab him. For twenty minutes he had followed and dodged around her, never faltering, never losing his breath or his concentration even when she jumped into a fountain and barrel-rolled under a bench. Winded, wet, and angry, Relena had finally collapsed in a heap on the lawn of an aristocrat's estate in broad daylight. Heero's concession had been to let her punch him rather solidly on the arm when he carried her back to the manor. Never one for exercise, she had been sore for days after.

Ever since then she had acquiesced that there was an acceptable distance in Heero's mind he would not let her breach when he felt she was at risk. The problem was, Heero always felt she was at risk.

"I've missed you this week," she found herself admitting to him. She felt his glance like a brand across her shoulders and knew she had just given something away to him.

"What happened?"

Not 'did something happen'.

"…Nothing. Nothing happened."

A hand reached out, catching her fingers in a rough palm. She half-turned to regard him, feeling her expression slip. Those blue eyes looked down at her, waiting, patient. Knowing. Her heart constricted in her chest.

"Litz is dangerous, Relena."

"So you've told me." She pulled her hand from his grasp and moved on down the hall, suddenly irritated that she was allowing his paranoia to taint her own perception of a man that had been nothing but an exemplary human since she had known him. One slip of his tone, one unusual glance, and she had immediately defaulted to every bad thought Heero had planted in her head about him.

"I mean it. Relena—" His hand reached out to stop her once more, gentle fingers lifting her chin to meet his eyes again. "Be careful when you're around him."

She swallowed thickly. Her heart sped up, skin tingling where he touched her. She trusted him implicitly, trusted his word when he told her to be cautious. She knew he gave no false warnings, and yet… "Why are you so convinced that he is determined to hurt me? I've spent an entire week with him; he's had a hundred chances to harm me, Heero, but he has only shown me courtesy. His employees can say nothing ill about him, and every positive note is echoed by dozens of others. What is it? You can tell me." She looked up at him pleadingly, needing to know.

Cecil Litz had him on edge from the moment she had first mentioned the name months ago, for reasons he would not fully explain to her, and it was serious enough that he would not let the subject slide. The Coranis engineer was a couple decades older and, though often serious and imposing to the casual passerby, he was good-natured in his intentions. He lobbied hard for the preservation of the Earth, and when he had contacted her regarding his interest in Coranis it was with unwavering support for her own efforts.

And yet…

"Tell me, Heero."

His fingers trailed up her jaw and feathered through her bangs before dropping back to his side. She found her eyes following that hand, longing for the contact as soon as it was gone. She truly had missed him this week.

"The year you announced the Mars Project was the same year the Litz Corporation was formed, although it took almost eight months before the business was incorporated. Before that time, Cecil Litz worked only in the private sector. His family is well-known on Earth—a long line of engineers that made their fortune solely by word-of-mouth. Before Litz, and for most of his life, there was never any need to become anything larger than a family business. But then the Eve Wars happened. Zechs happened. Libra happened."

She could see the direction he was leading.

"The damage to the Earth happened, you mean."

"Hn. And months later, when Earth started to show the first signs of permanent decay, you happened."

Relena remembered those days well. Scientists were just starting to emerge with the data showing the Earth's slow decline. Terraformation was both an old and a new idea at that time—a fantasy that no one had truly dared to attempt but always talked about. She had realized early on that the foundation for terraformation already existed within the Colonies, it simply required the right people and resources to be able to apply it to a celestial body. The Mars Project had begun as a 'plan B' idea in her head, but when it became clear that the Earth would not recover from the damage her brother had inflicted, Relena found herself consumed by the cause.

"So what does this have to do with Cecil's company?" She asked, starting to walk again when she realized they had been standing in the middle of the hall for several minutes. The press conference would be starting any moment and she needed to be there. This time, Heero walked closer to her side.

"In the decade since its inception, the Litz Corporation has worked solely toward the repair of the Earth and the preservation of its failing systems. None of the technology they have designed is intended for space or the Colonies. Coranis is the first direct link Litz has ever had with space. He contacted you personally for that relationship, Relena. Litz did not attempt to work through any third parties, he did not begin with a low-risk project before putting forth a significant amount of resources to retain Coranis. He wanted you here, like this, dependent on his generosity and his example. None of this is coincidence, Relena."

She let her feet carry her several more steps as she digested his words. "What else aren't you telling me?" she asked softly. A hole lingered in the pregnancy of his words. He wanted her to understand his thoughts without telling her something vital.

"Litz is capable of terrible things."

She scowled, frustrated with his refusal to tell her the whole truth. She wanted him to tell her without asking it of him. Her irritation made her want to argue with him. "Just because a person is capable of terrible deeds does not mean he would actually carry it out. What incentive does he have to hurt me? He's put millions into this project already, he's carved out a home for these people in Coranis and he has long-term plans for space and Mars. There are years of investments that he's already made for the future, Heero! It is ridiculous to think that just because he has the means to hurt me that he will. If I went by your logic, you would be the most dangerous person to me on this satellite."

"I've tried to tell you that for years."

She stopped completely, stunned. When she finally turned to address the quiet man beside her, she made sure she was facing him full-on so she could look him directly in the eye. Something flitted through those eyes as he looked down at her, too quick for her to catch. She caught his hand in hers, using it to pull herself closer to him while feeling the dry warmth of his palm as she squeezed it.

"I am always safe with you, Heero. I will never doubt that fact."

He said nothing, studying her with a shuttered expression. His fingers tightened around hers briefly before relaxing. She waited, unwilling to release his gaze and silently urging him to respond. When the silence stretched and became uncomfortable, she sighed and let his fingers slide away, resuming their trek. He fell in beside her without hesitation and without looking at her.

One day, Relena told herself, one day she would convince him. Maybe then he'd stay.

They walked in silence for several more moments before her mind caught on to something he had said. She glanced over at Heero, taking the opportunity to study him. He blatantly ignored her stare, and Relena swore his steps grew just a little faster. She felt her own eyes narrow in suspicion.

"Heero, how did you even know that Cecil contacted me directly about Coranis?"

She could hear the distant sounds of the press conference, people speaking to each other and equipment whirring. As she listened, the sounds of other humans started to dim, replaced with one voice over a speaker system. The conference was beginning. Beside her, Heero remained conspicuously silent. Oh, you ass. She could draw her own conclusions.

"That conversation happened before Une ever put you on my service. No one was in my office when I spoke to him. I'm sure you just conveniently happened to hear my conversation with Cecil in passing. From space. Five months ago," she said, sarcasm coloring every word. She glanced over at him again and was rewarded by the sight of his lips quirking for the briefest of seconds. Instantly, she felt both the insane urge to punch him and the unmistakable need to bang her head against a wall repeatedly in frustration.

For all his stony uncaring veneer, Heero Yuy was proud of his own cunning more often than he would ever admit out loud. It was not vanity. Heero didn't brag. He did not care if anyone else knew the extent of his abilities, but he cared that he was capable. He cared that he could protect her, even when she wanted to scream at him for it. He cared that, if he could accomplish it, someone else with bad intentions could, too. Never mind that most people could never match his abilities. Pride, illogical and inappropriate given the fact that he was once again proving his invasion of her privacy, swelled in her chest for this man who had somehow decided she was worth protecting.

"You are impossible, Heero Yuy," she announced. "One day we'll have a conversation about your views on what words like 'appropriate,' 'privacy,' and 'danger' really mean."

"We won't agree on that conversation," he replied flatly.

His words had the immediate effect of forcing a short, hard laugh from her throat, knowing he was right, and sending her eyes up to his face for a third time. He turned at the same time to regard her and she saw his unbridled expression: intense focus laced with subtle amusement that teased the corners of his mouth, gentle warmth simmering in eyes so deep that it stopped her mid-step and punched her in the gut. For one catastrophic moment, he looked at her with unguarded affection. She wanted to double over from the force of that expression, concentrated solely on her as though the gravity of the Earth laid upon her shoulders. It was overwhelming; it was exhilarating.

It terrified her.

"Minister Darlian, there you are!"

Witness to that monumental slip as she was, Relena saw the moment he recognized his mistake. Internal shutters slammed closed behind his eyes, cutting off any emotion until his face was that flawless mask of neutrality. Shock pulsed through her, followed by a horrifying realization.

"Heero—"

"Minister! Please, ma'am, this way. Mr. Litz is almost done with his introduction." It registered slowly that someone else was trying to talk to her. She felt as though her body were stuck in mud, sucking her down into the cold and dark. Heero was looking at her now, but that mask covered all of him. When had he started wearing that mask for her? "Minister Darlian, please."

She found herself at the small podium in the common room without knowing how she had gotten there. She distantly realized that Cecil had moved off beyond the cameras to watch her, the crowd kept back by the filming equipment that was broadcasting the conference to all of space and the Earth Sphere. Applause sounded loudly around her. David was off to one side, watching her with a mixture of pride and concern as he clapped too.

She had to make a speech. About the Mars Project. Right now.

"Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. It has been such an honor to be here this week…"

The words flowed out of her without need for thought, letting her heart glide over her experience on the resource satellite that week and form sentences without her ears hearing what emerged. She was hyperaware of Heero at her back, the only one inside the ring of cameras, watching her, protecting her. Lying to her. It felt as though the ground beneath her was moving with her revelation, ready to swallow her up.

"…further the dream for our children to provide a permanent home for the future—"

Wait, the ground really was moving!

It was the only thought she could acknowledge before the floor buckled and yawned open beneath her, cold air rushing up, leaving her staring at vast darkness for one, weightless second.

Then she fell.