Scene 1: Another Shooting Star

See how the buildings burn

Light up the night

Such a pretty sight

Gavin Rossdale "Adrenaline"

In war there is no prize for the runner-up
--General Omar Bradley

Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.

--Paulo Freire

Dorothy Catalonia prided herself on being intelligent and able to spot those who commanded respect. The former was easy to come by while the latter was more challenging. Of course there were two she could think of who easily fit into the last category, her cousin Treize Khushrenada and Zechs Merquise when he was in his right mind. There were also the Gundam Pilots of course, all of whom had earned her respect and also Miss Relena Darlian Peacecraft by whose side she was currently standing. Miss Relena needed her so Dorothy stayed faithfully by guarding her against attackers as well as she was able to.

The slender blond woman watched impassively while four armed policemen approached them. She watched with a calm that belied the fact she wanted to run while there was still time. Instinctively Dorothy knew the police were there to arrest her. She had been waiting for something like this to happen over the past year, always looking over her shoulder. It seemed she would not have to worry about looking much longer. She had not expected it so soon though considering that the main Dekim Barton uprising had only been quelled fourteen hours ago. Her enemies must have been ready for the next time she showed her face.

All things must change. She knew that better than most people. That little phrase ran in her blood, it was why people in her family died young. To bring change.

Everyone needed someone to blame for that change. Naturally the politicians finally realized that they could not turn Treize into the scapegoat they desired. The people respected Treize too much to hate him so vehemently. Even in death Treize Khushrenada was an entity unto himself. The politicians could not tarnish or distort someone so grand as he. They only had to look in his family tree to find the next best target, someone who was not so grand, herself.

She knew this even though she could not understand their need for a target, a scapegoat. It was partly this desire to know that kept her from running. Also the instinctual knowledge that the reasons behind her arrest might harm Relena Peacecraft. Dorothy knew she had to protect Relena at all costs.

She did not protect the Vice-Foreign Minister because she was a nice or even a good person. She knew the she was neither of those things. Dorothy protected Relena because Treize had given the peace and the future into her capable hands and Dorothy would defend her cousin's wishes, carry out his will. She was his family, the truest one left of their bloodline and she would see his dream to fruition.

At times it was true, she cosseted Relena and held her too close to keep her innocent. She also forced her to see the ugly truth, not just the black and white but also all the shades of gray so that she understood. She would continue to protect Relena too. There was something in the young woman that had touched Dorothy, giving her a feeling that was almost reverent and spiritual in nature when Dorothy had thought herself beyond such movement. She defended Relena because the girl was too kind and trusting. Yet those were the very reasons that Treize had chosen her, reasons why she would protect Relena. Despite having just saved Relena's life again and having done so during the first war numerous times it did not make her a good person. No, it made her a person who saw things as her cousin had.

She turned and looked at Relena, her catalyst, who stood now slightly confused. She smiled but chose not to ridicule or make fun of her as she normally would have. That would have been callous of her considering all that Relena had been through in the past twenty-four hours. Perhaps she really was getting soft. It was not anything she could not fix in herself later though. She was bound to have plenty of time to contemplate such things after she was arrested.

Dorothy Catalonia could certainly not admit that she too was confused like Relena, although she was confused for different reasons. Only fourteen hours had passed since the uprising had been put down. She did not understand how the authorities had found her so quickly or how they had gotten a warrant for her arrest so soon. Maybe it really was just coincidence, only she was not someone who believed in such things. She only believed in probabilities, chance and possible outcomes. Situations and decisions were weighed and then a course of action was chosen and implemented. This situation tasted of something dark and repugnant, something that had been long planned out. That told her to be cautious and remain unreadable.

Her light blue-gray eyes narrowed into hard slits, their gray undertone making them appear to be hard stones set firmly in place. She knew if she were arrested that the politicians would have known about Dekim's plan beforehand. Or they had to have been close on her trail, waiting for her to surface.

Dorothy discounted the last possibility right away. Her tracks had been hidden too well. And with all the warnings she had attached to everything, she would have known if a dog had been following her. If some of the politicians had known about Dekim Barton's plans there was someone hidden in the shadow helping them carry out their plans or giving them orders.

The warrant required four signatures which in turn required some planning in the amount of time it had taken them to come for her. What better time to arrest her than amidst all the chaos and upheaval when there would be few people to voice a complaint?

'Yes,' she thought to herself. 'What better time indeed?'

"If you tell me to run Relena-sama," Dorothy spoke gravely to the disheveled girl by her side. "I will."

"No Dorothy," Relena's tone was casual but strong as she smoothed her wrinkled and blood spattered skirt. "Let us see what they want first. It probably has nothing to do with you. Not this soon."

"As you wish Miss Relena," Dorothy bowed her head in acceptance of her fate, knowing that Relena was not as sure as she sounded and appeared to be.

'How little you know of the world Miss Relena,' Dorothy shifted her stance into a slightly more protective one. 'Can you not see the beats of lies in the way they cautiously approach us? How unsure they are of themselves and the reasons they are here? It is in their eyes and soon you will see.'

She would dearly miss serving under Relena. After the first wars end she had served from afar but Relena had known she was there. Dorothy would miss that servitude more than her freedom. She knew that nothing could ever replace Relena, watching her quite power at work, her inner strength being used in conjunction with carefully crafted smiles. Dorothy would miss helping to mold her into the role Treize has left to her. She could not understand how she could give that up as she was ready to right that very moment. But Relena had given her a direct order, however she had voiced and worded it, and she was not going to disobey.

Her leaving would keep the politicians preoccupied on someone other than Relena. She could be useful even in her imprisonment, giving Relena the chance to consolidate her power and position. Yes, she was ready to leave her catalyst to serve a far greater cause.

"Dorothy Catalonia," The leader of the four spoke up a bit hesitantly, glancing over at Relena Peacecraft as he spoke but never looking Dorothy in the eye. "I am here to serve a warrant and place you under arrest."

"Please Relena-sama," Dorothy held up a slender elegant hand to halt the protest that Relena was about to issue. "I wish to go quietly. It is not dignified or elegant to make a scene. Please Miss Relena, let me go."

"Dorothy?" Relena turned to the blond girl more confused than ever. Her light blue eyes were wide with shock as she took in Dorothy's stance.

'This is for your own good Relena-sama,' Dorothy said to herself with a raised brow in the girl's direction. 'You have to let me go so I can help you and save you as Heero never would.'

She knew what had to be running through the pacifists mind. After all she had just told Relena less than four hours ago that she had no desire to go quietly when her time came. She had even said she wished to make a grand address to the reporters for everyone to see and read about in the headlines. She certainly never gave advice on not causing a scene, it was what the Catalonia-Khushrenada line had done for centuries. She stood perfectly poised and still waiting for Relena to understand what Dorothy wanted her to do.

"Please," Relena politely requested, every inch the diplomat despite her blood spattered and tattered clothing. Her voice was subdued yet commanding at the same time. "May I say goodbye to my friend before you take her with you?"

"I don't have a problem with that your Majesty," The leader said using Relena's old title of Queen of the World as he turned to the other policemen with him. "Do any of you have objections to the Queen saying goodbye?"

The three police officers quickly voiced that they had no objections and even went so far as to compliment Relena on her bravery during her kidnapping. Dorothy merely rolled her eyes at their blatant flattery. She knew that they were partially sincere but they were hoping for some recognition from Relena as well, she was not about to give it so readily.

"We'll wait over here to give you a little privacy your Majesty," The leader gave a half bow, eyes downcast in respect.

'How kind of you,' Dorothy said to herself. 'I wonder if you realize Relena-sama won't be rewarding you for this service.'

"I am no longer Queen of the World," Relena bestowed one of her spectacular smiles on the leader. "But I thank you for granting my request." She turned to Dorothy once again after the police had moved off and were out of earshot. "What are you doing Dorothy? How did you know they were here for you?"

"In the way they were looking at me," Dorothy gave a slightly mocking smile to Relena but quickly slammed her neutral mask back on. "That gave it away Relena-sama. But I don't know what's going on any more than you do. I only know something about all of this," She waved a hand for emphasis. "Isn't right. Stay out of this Miss Relena. I cannot ensure your safety and I cannot be sure that things will not become," She paused briefly. "Difficult. Have Nils, my lawyer, look into politicians who have the most to gain from my imprisonment. Don't become involved in this, there are other more important things you must do Relena-sama."

"I can promise you nothing Dorothy," Relena shook her head, honey colored hair knotting even further. Her light blue eyes held tears that she did not shed and Dorothy was proud of her for her control. "I will fight for you if you will not. And others will join me and help me. You've done so much for this peace and for me. I can't just let you go quietly even if that's what you say you want now."

"Do not risk your position for one as unimportant as me in this game Relena-sama," Dorothy hissed angrily at her. "There are many others who have a greater role in the game. Some players must be sacrificed in order to achieve an end to the cycle. Do not make my sacrifice be in vain."

Relena looked at Dorothy carefully but chose not to respond to her message. For the first time Dorothy could not read what Relena was thinking or feeling in her eyes. Those light blue eyes were closed off to her and it left her feeling shut out from Relena's world. It was a world she had always been welcome in and now she was not.

Part of Dorothy was pleased to note that Relena was finally able to hide her thoughts and emotions, even from her. There was another part of her that was annoyed because it was now that she needed to know what Relena truly intended to do. Dorothy supposed that it was her own fault for teaching Relena how to mask her thoughts and emotions in the first place. Just as it was her fault for not realizing how far Relena had progressed in her lessons. She had not been in close proximity to her in almost a year and Dorothy had discovered Relena had grown beyond her reach. The former Queen of the World was an entity of her own, as Treize had been, as he had intended for Relena to be. She was obviously the person Treize had seen in her, the person Dorothy had been trying to help her become, and her potential that had finally come to fruition.

"You are at last beyond me," Dorothy whispered taking a step back from the girl she had believed she had known so well. "I can see it in you."

As suddenly as those light blue eyes had been closed off to her they were opened, leaving Dorothy with the girl she had always known and remembered. Relena was not totally into her new role but shortly enough she would be ready for it. The beginnings of it were evident in her and one day Relena Peacecraft would be completely out of Dorothy's reach. At that time no one would be able to mold her or corrupt her in her beliefs and ideals. When that day came Dorothy would finally be able to rest. Her tight vigil over the Queen of the World could be put aside for other pleasures, although she doubted that she would completely stop keeping her silent watch over Relena.

"I can promise you nothing," Relena whispered the words yet again, her eyes pleading with Dorothy not to argue about it now. "I can only tell you that not all sacrifices we try to make should be made."

"Your Majesty?" The leader called out as the four heavily armed officers approached them yet again, instantly shattering the connection between the two women. "We have to take her now. We've got to do our jobs."

"I understand," Relena said moving aside a few feet.

Dorothy allowed herself to be cuffed behind her back without protest, the metal digging into her skin. She was led away from Relena. She looked back over her shoulder at the former Queen of the World who was watching her in return. Relena's eyes were once more masked from her perusal, the younger woman's tears held fiercely in place.

She was beginning to realize that Relena might always need her help from time to time. She imagined that it was hard to be perfect all the time with the world always watching, never being able to make a mistake out in the open. Where one always had to keep their thoughts and feelings hidden away. That was how Relena was able to keep up the appearance as the perfect symbol for peace. Ultimately that was how Relena was the most effective, as a symbol and figurehead. So long as that appearance was maintained her position was secured which meant there would be lasting stability. Relena only had to keep up the illusion and reality of who and what she was expected and supposed to be. Then the hope for true peace would always exist.

Her arms were roughly jerked from behind, pulling her back from her thoughts to her present situation. The cuffs were extraordinarily tight about her wrists but that was something she had expected. It was not as though she had not felt worse pain before in her life, she was a soldier.

Dorothy knew that whoever decided to fight for her freedom would have to be strong both individually and with a group and these would be people she could call friends.

Friends were not an item or frivolity that she had allowed herself. A friendship took time to build and maintain and they usually involved emotion. During the wars emotions, like friends, could be used against you. Dorothy was far too important to allow such weakness in herself. She had followed her grandfather, Duke Dermail's, advice on friends but perhaps someday she liked to think she could have some.

'Didn't these infidels claim to have a warrant?' She asked herself.

She grew curious despite the slight misgivings that she felt as they approached the squad car. The warrant should have four signatures from members of the Earth Sphere United Council due to her social position. She knew her rights, or what little ones she still had remaining to her. She would begin her information gathering sooner than she had thought. But it was probably best to wait until she was within the squad car.

Dorothy was unceremoniously shoved into the back of the car.

"What am I being charged with?" Dorothy asked directly after the car was in motion.

"War crimes," The leader answered her from the front passenger seat.

'War crimes,' Dorothy silently repeated to herself, tactfully holding back the laughter she wished to release. 'Punishable by death if I'm convicted. How predictable, it sorely lacks imagination. Obviously whoever this is wants me dead, not merely out of the way if I were held in prison as I originally thought. I wonder who it is that wants me dead so badly?'

"Who signed the warrant?" Dorothy asked knowing that it was within her rights to know whose signatures were on it.

"Henry Rochambeau and William Dodd," The leader shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he answered her, a reaction she noted and filed away for later use. "Also Carl de La Salle and George Bucher. Dodd and Rochambeau were adamant about having your arrested as soon as possible."

She recognized both Dodd and Rochambeau's names. Both of them were power hungry and envious of Relena. She had been watching them both for nearly a year in case they tried to overthrow Relena. It was clear that she was only a pawn in a much larger game that had even larger stakes involved, a situation that she did not enjoy being in. Now she only needed to discover what they were hoping to gain, but she knew that eventually her sharp mind would piece it all together. Her grandfather had taught her well.

Life was just one big chess game. Only the strong willed and intelligent people with power were allowed to play in the game. There were only two objectives. The first was to win and the second was to protect the king and her king was Relena. It would be a challenging and interesting game to play.

Dorothy quickly processed the fact that if her king, Relena, were to be taken out of the public eye there were few who were competent enough to fill her shoes. There were only three people she could think of who could carry the same success and publicity as Relena. The first was Heero Yuy followed by Zechs Merquise and lastly by Quatre Raberba Winner.

Zechs, Relena's older brother, had no interest to be in the public eye. He was not a leader of men either, soldiers yes, men no. To Zechs there was a large difference between soldiers and men. In the future he might change but for Dorothy's purposes now he did not fit the proper criteria. Zechs was adaptable and might be able to act the part but not indefinitely. Nor could she ask that of him.

Then there was Heero Yuy, the two-time savior of the world. Heero could lead the people and blindly they would follow believing he would protect them and save them over and over. He was a born leader. There was a problem though. One cannot lead men if one does not understand them. Someday Heero would be able to lead but he had a journey to undertake first. Most likely Heero would not make this journey unless he went off on his own or unless another Pilot helped him. If he remained by Relena's side to protect her he would never learn. And of course there was the possibility that Heero would remain a mission oriented soldier who would become broken. Dorothy could not picture Heero Yuy breaking which meant he had to begin to understand humanity.

Lastly there was Quatre Winner. The people all looked up to him but he was from the Colonies and for the next few years at least he would not be totally accepted without prejudice. It was a shameful society they existed in but for now those were the rules that had to be followed.

None of the best candidates were ready to step into the fray. It was too early. Therefore Relena Peacecraft had to be preserved at all costs until another could take control and achieve the same kind of results.

'Everything and everyone to its place,' Dorothy thought to herself as the car drove through the cracked streets. 'And Relena gets the broken crown.'

The back of the car had the smell of stale air and dust. The most overpowering smell was by far that of vomit and urine. If the police had expected her to become bothered by the smell and complain they would be sorely mistaken. She might have been born into a position of power and social status and have quite a bit of money to her name but she had certainly smelled worse than this. She was a soldier and a Zero survivor.

During her fist sessions using the Zero System she had spent much of her time throwing up. Just as during battle many men and women under her command often urinated themselves out of fear. They had never frozen up though but it was a common occurrence in soldiers who saw such battles.

'Fear does things like that to people,' Dorothy told herself. 'The good ones work through it.'

No, these smells were nothing new to Dorothy Catalonia, granddaughter and cousin to Duke Dermail and Treize Khushrenada. They were familiar and somewhat comforting. They were smells that strongly reminded her of her days in White Fang under Zechs Merquise, another great man who was still counted among the living.

'For how much longer thought I can't say,' she smiled softly to herself. 'Zechs takes foolish but necessary risks.'

Strange smells to bring back memories of her command to her. Dorothy was in command of nothing now, locked as she was in the back of a squad car. She had been foolish herself back then, believing that Treize had been unable to follow through with his great plan. Even more foolish to feel that she somehow had to eclipse her grandfather and Treize's shadows to achieve her own glory and greatness. She had been nothing more than a child with something to prove.

It mattered not that she had thought she would change the world in this way. As Mistress of the Mobile Dolls she had forced change to occur and had brought both fear and respect to her name, Dorothy Elizabeth Catalonia. She had given a label of greatness to herself. After being defeated she realized how wrong she had been, how utterly foolish. Realizing that Treize had truly succeeded by dying the death he had and becoming a martyr for his vision. She had really done nothing to help her cousin for she had not seen as far as he had.

Now it was different. She could see the big picture and see that she had been slipping in her role as Mistress. She needed to regain the respect and fear and greatness that went with her title. Only then would she be unshakable in her future resolve. Mistress of the Mobile Dolls was a role she had played to its fullest and she would do so again. She would show the people, as Treize had done, what it meant to have both Catalonia and Khushrenada blood flowing through her veins.

This time she would play the same role as Treize. There would be only one chance to get it right, no second chances even for her. To be a martyr one had to die. That was her fate and she would embrace it, her final role in life.

To follow Treize she had to keep her martyrdom a secret until near the very end. She would die for her cousin's vision. Perhaps then there would be enough Catalonia and Khushrenada blood spilled for there to be peace. Then the world might just remember that one of the greatest visionaries of their time had sacrificed so much for them. And that Dorothy Catalonia had forced them to see the truth, once she discovered what that truth was.

Dorothy had entered the squad car a killer and a sinner in every extreme of the words. She would come out as close to a saint as was possible for a person like her to be.

Dorothy chuckled softly to herself over the irony of her being a saint. The next thing she knew she was yanked roughly from the back of the car. No, if anything she decided she was resigned to the fate she had given herself. Knowing that in death greatness would come to her, not through her actions as she had once thought.

She saw that she was at her own private prison. Complete with her own special guards and facilities. It almost made her laugh at the thought of all the trouble that had been undertaken to arrange all of this. They had probably thought she was too dangerous to have around other prisoners. She was not the same war hungry woman though.

She looked up at the sky.

"A shooting star," Dorothy whispered to herself as she was shoved from behind towards her private prison. "I'm just another shooting star."

"What was that?" A faceless guard demanded.

"I don't recall addressing you," Dorothy smirked cruelly as the guard backed away from her nervously. "If I address you in the future you'll know it. Are you here to take me to my cell or are we just taking in the scenery?"

At her question the guard collected himself and took her by the upper arm, leading her towards the building.

'It appears the power, respect and fear I commanded as Mistress of the Mobile Dolls has not completely abandoned me after all,' Dorothy thought to herself as she noted how the guards responded to her presence as she was taken down the hallway. 'I may not have my Dolls or an actual command position but my presence still inspires fear and awe. I'll most definitely explore all my possibilities with this later.'

There was no point in never using the things that had made her great as Mistress of the Dolls. If she used them no one could say she was the same as every other Catalonia and Khushrenada. Her ancestors had always faced death with grace, greatness, respect and a special elegance only they seemed to possess. She would do the same and more, like Treize. No one would be able to say otherwise. She would go out as the strong and fiery person she was, the image of what a Catalonia and Khushrenada should be. She would go in a blaze of glory, full of grace and elegance, with fear and respect, all the things her title as Mistress of the Mobile Dolls, Catalonia and Khushrenada inspired and implied.

Just like a shooting star.