Politicians And Men

Kenneth Blanchard: The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.

Anonymous: The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back.

Quatre Raberba Winner walked sedately through his home on L4. His three suitcases were packed and ready for his trip back to Earth. He was only waiting for Rashid and Abdul to make sure that the shuttle was prepared. Nervous, he glanced at his watch to check the time. He had to leave in the next two hours if he wanted to make it back to Sanc in time.

He checked his reflection in a hall mirror pleased to see that his blond hair was cooperating today. Self consciously he readjusted his tie for the tenth time, sighing in satisfaction when he got it just right. Quatre had an image to keep up, much in the same way that Relena did. Her image was for Earth, his for the Colonies and he could not afford to look anything other than his best going in to this meeting. There would be no weakness on his part. Lady Emily would see right through him if there were and she would exploit him ruthlessly for it.

His private comm began chirping irritably at him and with a steady hand he answered it.

"Quatre Winner," He said with a smile.

"Quatre," Trowa's face appeared on the tiny screen. "Are you well?"

"Yes," Quatre's face lit up. "I'm returning to Earth for a week or so. I'm going to meet with Lady Emily tonight to discuss Dorothy with her."

"Good luck," Trowa wished. "Is this a secure line?"

"Of course," Quatre frowned, slightly puzzled.

"Duo wants to make sure you're well," Trowa said. "He says hi."

"When did you see him?" Quatre asked carefully, not sure just how much Trowa really knew.

"At the circus a few days ago," Trowa shrugged off handedly. "It was after his last mission to neutralize Herr Redner. He hid out with the circus until one of Howard's people came for him."

"So he told you?" Quatre saw Trowa nod in confirmation. "That's good. It was getting lonely not being able to talk to anyone about it."

"He thought of that," Trowa shook his head. "He seems to think of everything these days."

Quatre said nothing. He knew that Duo Maxwell was not the same any longer, knew that it was because of him. Quatre threw a smile back on his face.

"I'll let you go," Trowa said. "I have to get back to practice soon. Have a safe trip to Earth."

"I will," Quatre replied. "Stay safe Trowa."

They disconnected and Quatre slipped his comm-unit back into his pocket. He studied himself closely in the mirror. The faint signs of fatigue were still visible but just barely thanks to his older sister Jaffa. She had taken over his schedule to make sure that he did not overwork himself which he was sure to if someone did not monitor him. He smiled fondly at the sight of her hand embroidered handkerchief tucked neatly into his breast pocket.

"Master Quatre?" Abdul entered into the main hallway. "We will be leaving in fifteen minutes. Is there anything else you need before then?"

"There is one thing I wish to ask of you Abdul," Quatre turned to the slim Arab man. "But only if you are willing to put your faith in me for it may very well cost you your life. I cannot order you to do this for me so decide."

"I will serve you as I have always served," Abdul bowed his head. "I will put my faith in you."

"I want you to be my connection to Duo Maxwell," Quatre explained in a soft voice. "Every month he will deliver a package to you at the closest pay phone to whatever Winner property we are staying at. You are to bring it directly to me no matter what time it is or what I am doing. If anything happens to me you are to take all the documents I have saved from those deliveries and give them to Trowa Barton."

"What if something should happen to me?" Abdul asked.

"Then I will find another to take your place," Quatre said but not unkindly.

Abdul nodded. Quatre was hopeful that his mission would not cost lives but he was pragmatic and Abdul was as well, the reason he had spoken to him first above all others. Abdul knew when to argue and when to listen and bow his head. Quatre was pleased with his decision and he hefted one of his suitcases, the one with his computer and a few other documents in it. Abdul grabbed the other two that were stuffed with clothing and the two made their way out to the waiting limousine.

The ride to the shuttle port was uneventful and Quatre with his small army of retainers boarded one of the private Winner shuttles bound for Earth. He both dreaded and looked forward to meeting with Lady Emily, Dorothy's mother. She had been gracious enough to receive him an hour before the other guests would begin to arrive and he wondered what it would cost him, what she might try to extract from him.

Quatre carefully set up his computer and checked his messages. He had one from Wufei, a brief message letting him know that there was no new information on either Duo or Heero's whereabouts. Quatre sent a brief response saying he had also heard nothing and letting Wufei know that he was doing as well as could be considered. He leaned back in the padded shuttle seat wishing that there did not have to be all these secrets between them but it was necessary, it was the conditions that had been set down for him.

He fell asleep after putting the computer away. He woke to a gentle shaking on his shoulder. Rashid stood nearby with a slight smile on his face.

"We're about to land in Sanc Master Quatre," Rashid's deep voice brought him awake. "We should be at Lady Emily's after you have had time to change at the house."

Quatre nodded absently and watched as the head of the Maguanacs walked back to the cockpit of the shuttle. He stood and stretched his legs briefly before landing and then strapped himself in. It was an easy landing and in minutes he was being ushered into another limousine that took him to the house that he had purchased only a few months before.

He willed those thoughts away. They were from another time, a time when things still made sense and he had all his friends around him.

Quatre bounded up the stairs and threw off his clothes, scattering them around the room. He did not care where they landed or if they wrinkled while they lay on the floor. But he reached down and removed the embroidered handkerchief that his sister had made for him. Somehow he could not bring himself to allow it to be carelessly lying on the floor, even if only while he was showering. He folded it and set it on his dresser before stepping into the bathroom.

He washed off quickly and dried himself quickly as well. His nerves were jumpy and he did not want to waste any time since Lady Emily lived on the other side of Cannes, the capitol city of Sanc.

Quatre heard the knocking on his door and he securely wrapped the towel around his waist and moved to open it.

"Sally?" Quatre's deep blue eyes widened in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"You might want to put some clothes on before we talk," Sally pointed out the obvious state of his undress.

Quatre merely shrugged. He was used to the Maguanacs bursting in while he was dressing and Sally had seen him without clothes on plenty of times during the war when he was sick or injured. If he had been a little more innocent it might have bothered him that he wore only a towel.

"Come in," He held the door open to the Preventer. "I'll change in the bathroom and we can talk through the door."

He gathered up his outfit and walked into the bathroom. He shut the door behind him and began dressing.

"I stopped by to see if you were going to Lady Noventa's party tonight," Sally's voice came through the door. "But apparently you are."

"Was there something you wanted?" Quatre asked.

"I'm going as well," Sally told him. "Lady Noventa invited Une as well but Une's too busy to attend so here I am. I was wondering if I could possibly convince you to be my escort for the evening."

Quatre smiled. He really should not have been surprised by her being here; Une would have done the same thing he wagered.

"I'm going early to meet with Lady Noventa," Quatre spoke louder than normal to make sure that Sally could hear him. "I'll have to call ahead to ask if you could accompany me on my visit."

"Why are you going early?" Sally asked him.

"To talk about Dorothy," Quatre answered.

A few minutes later he emerged from the bathroom, dressed for the night. He wore black cashmere slacks and matching socks. A dark blue silk shirt was buttoned up to his collarbone and he slipped his arms into a dark gray lamb's wool jacket as he slid his feet into real black leather shoes.

"Very nice," Sally approved.

"I pick out my own clothes now," Quatre smiled. "With a little help from my sister Jaffa."

"Is she the oldest one?" Sally asked with a smile.

"No," Quatre shook his head. "She's the third oldest, the one who keeps track of everyone else in my family. How have you been Sally?"

"Well enough," The honey-haired Chinese woman laughed. "Busy though. Une's been bombarded by a few of the Senators. They seem to think that she could have prevented Dekim if she had been running the Preventers properly."

Quatre shook his head sadly, "They'll never learn. When you see Une tell her not to worry. Relena and I will try our best to get some of the political pressure off of her back."

Sally nodded and stood from the only chair in the room. Quatre grabbed his handkerchief and slid it into his jacket pocket. He led her from the room and downstairs to the living room. Once there he placed a call to Lady Emily.

"Hello Mr. Winner," Lady Emily gave a polite smile which Quatre returned.

"I was wondering if my escort Sally Po might accompany me to our meeting prior to the party Lady Noventa," Quatre asked serenely.

"That won't be a problem," Lady Emily said. "Sally Po, the name sounds familiar."

"She's one of the Preventers commanding officers," Quatre reminded her although he had a feeling she already was aware of who Sally Po was.

"Yes, that will do," Lady Emily smiled again. "Bring her along Mr. Winner. I'll see you within the hour correct?"

"Of course Lady Noventa," Quatre gave a polite nod of his head.

He disconnected the call first. When dealing with Lady Emily it was paramount to maintain as much of the upper hand as was possible. She kept her cards close so no one knew what she held in her hand. He admired that about her but her daughter was much the same way.

"Ready to leave Miss Po?" Quatre offered his arm.

"Call me Sally," She responded taking his arm.

Quatre merely smiled at her. Rashid opened the door for them and escorted them down the front stairs to where Abdul was waiting with the car. The traffic in Cannes was rather heavy but it did not take too long to get across to Lady Emily's mansion.

Abdul opened the door to the limousine for them. Quatre got out first and helped Sally out of the car. He was secretly impressed with her gown. It was a simple light blue shade and elegantly cut. The door was opened by a silver haired servant who bowed them into the house.

Quatre looked around the entrance hall. He could see much of Lady Emily's personal touch in some of the art pieces hanging on the walls but their placement was calculated, designed to draw attention and praise. Still Quatre admitted that the house, from what he could see, was tastefully decorated and he could see that Dorothy had inherited the same sense of flair and personal style as her mother.

He watched, almost detached, as Lady Emily appeared to be gliding down the stairs to greet her two guests. Her dress was beautiful, a soft blue to match her eyes with silver and gold thread forming intricate patterns over her bodice. Quatre knew that Lady Emily was beautiful, even at thirty eight. She had only been seventeen when she had married Edmund Catalonia and barely nineteen when Dorothy was born. He knew that she had left Dorothy in the care of Duke Dermail when her husband had passed away, stopping by for occasional visits. Lady Emily was a cold woman; her eyes alone told him that. They were calculating and revealed nothing of what she might be thinking.

"Hello Mr. Winner," She smiled charmingly at Quatre and Sally. "And you must be Miss Po. I'm pleased that you could make it here tonight."

"Good evening Lady Noventa," Quatre gave an innocent smile. "You look lovely this evening. It is most gracious of you to allow myself and Miss Po here tonight to discuss your daughter Dorothy. But please, I insist you call me Quatre."

"I assure you it is no trouble," Lady Emily was gracious. "And please call me Lady Emily. Come with me, I'd prefer to talk in the study."

Quatre politely moved away from Sally and took Lady Emily's arm. She gave him an approving smile and once again Quatre felt a bit of uneasiness flow into him but he could play these high societal games as well as she.

Lady Emily took them into a spacious and well lit room. There were several books on the shelves and tasteful furniture in front of an actual working fireplace inlaid with marble. Quatre was impressed, he had not picture this as the study that someone like Lady Emily would have but somehow it suited her. She took a seat and gestured for them to seat themselves as well.

"My Dorothy has really gotten into a mess this time hasn't she?" Lady Emily shook her head, not misplacing one elegant curl from her coiffure. "I tried to warn her that something like this would happen to her."

"What has happened is wrong," Sally spoke for the first time. "What the politicians are attempting to do to Dorothy is disgraceful."

"If it does not stop here it will only be a matter of time until the Gundam Pilots are subjected to such inquiries," Quatre added. "Dorothy is more than an excellent fighter Lady Emily. She challenged me on the Libra and if not for her things would have turned out differently. If not for her it is very likely that I may not have survived the first war."

"You sound so certain of this," Lady Emily said after several tense moments.

"I am," Quatre met her cool gaze with ease. "As a fighter the Gundam Pilots respect Dorothy as we do Treize. We also trust her. Our group is very selective and we don't give out trust or respect easily but she had earned it."

"Even though I did not approve of her actions," Sally spoke firmly. "Or even understand her and her motivations I did respect her. She has a pure will and a strong spirit."

"Both of you respect my daughter?" Lady Emily studied them both carefully. "Then how do you plan to get her out of this mess? Some of these Senators have gone too far with this campaign. If they want someone to blame it should be the Alliance leaders who started this mess and the people who let them get away with it."

"I know that the Gundam Pilots who can be found will testify on your daughters behalf," Quatre answered her. "The Vice-Foreign Minister and I have already given a press conference in Dorothy's name and we plan to make a few more statements."

The three spent the rest of the hour discussing Dorothy and other actions that could be taken to help gain her release. Even though Lady Emily did not have any real great affection for her daughter she could not abide having her flesh and blood treated in such a manner. Too soon it seemed their conversation was interrupted by a butler who had come in to inform Lady Emily that her guests were beginning to arrive for her party. She excused herself and went to play the hostess.

"What do you think?" Quatre asked Sally as they moved into the large ballroom.

"She wants to help Dorothy I think," Sally looked at a few of the neat uniforms of the servants bustling about. "But I don't think it's out of love."

Quatre said nothing. He understood high society a little more than Sally. He knew that while Lady Emily might not love her daughter she still wanted her to have a good life, to marry and have children someday. All parents in high society wanted such things for their children.

Quatre mingled with the guests while Sally went and spoke with Zechs who was also in attendance. Unfortunately the one man he most wanted to confront did not appear until shortly before dinner was to be served. He noticed that Lady Emily had seated Mr. Rochambeau on the far side of the table and he understood why. Lady Emily could not risk having a scene made during her important dinner and he could not blame her for the precautions that she had made.

He could understand her actions though so he was not offended by her presumptions. If a business associate or partner had done the same thing to him he would have been offended but Lady Emily had no way of knowing just how smooth Quatre Winner could be because she had never seen him in action. But tonight she would have the chance to. He wondered what Lady Emily would say if she found that he wrote most of his own speeches or at least edited them. That was an almost unheard of thing for someone of his position and power to not have a team of speech writers at his disposal.

He watched Mr. Rochambeau out of the corner of his eye without drawing unneeded attention upon himself. His observations revealed a few important things about Rochambeau that he would be very careful of when dealing with the man. He noted casually how Rochambeau was slippery on certain issues in conversation and how the man might become loud if confronted in the wrong way. Quatre did not desire having any attention drawn to himself as a blackmailer, although Rochambeau would still come out worse than he ever would from the publicity. But business men all took risks to get things done and he was a Winner and also a veteran of the wars, he was not about to leave a fellow fighter trapped in jail wrongfully.

Quatre waited until they went back into the ballroom where there was some dancing on one side while the other had been converted into a parlor-like atmosphere. Rochambeau stood off by himself with a glass of brandy. Quatre as a rule did not like alcohol even if it had not been against his religion as a Muslim, but his personal code of ethics did not agree with the non-drinking policy. Personally he did like some wines when he ate his meals and he kept a store of other types of alcohol for those who did enjoy them. He just never allowed himself to become tipsy or drunk.

"Hello Mr. Rochambeau," Quatre said coming up on the man rather suddenly, startling him briefly by his appearance.

"Hello Mr. Winner," Rochambeau smiled and once again Quatre was reminded of a snake. "It's nice to see you here this evening."

"I'm sure it is," Quatre said off handedly. "Perhaps you would care to move over to that corner table so we can chat."

Quatre gave him a shy smile. He really was too good at playing the shy kid from next door and it made everyone think they could walk all over him, until he walked all over them and out maneuvered them. It was one of his best business tactics along with his poker face. He could mask his feelings but he could not generate them.

'Sometimes I almost feel guilty,' Quatre thought to himself as he led Rochambeau over to an almost empty corner. 'But if they think they can take advantage of me then they'll all be mistaken. Pity it has to work this way, for them at least.'

"What is it you wanted to speak of?" Rochambeau said seating himself in a chair.

"I know of several things," He gave the man another of his disarming smiles before going on. "For one thing there was that company you owned during the first war, the one no one knows about because you buried it so deeply, but not deep enough. The company you owned that produced weapons for both OZ and the Alliance.

"Then there is the matter of the loan you owe my family. I believe that with the interest on it from all those years ago it now totals to just under 2.3 million credits. Would you like me to continue? I assure you that I have a much longer list."

"What do you want?" Rochambeau hissed licking his lips in nervousness.

"Why did you sign Dorothy Catalonia's arrest warrant?" Quatre demanded coldly.

"Because she is a war criminal," Rochambeau insisted.

"Try again," His tone was light but clearly not one to go against.

"I'm telling the truth!" He insisted once again.

"You don't honestly expect me to believe that do you?" Quatre glared at the man. "I know how you work Rochambeau. I don't approve. What do you gain from this? There has to be something and don't even bother lying to me because I will call in that loan among other things."

"You think you can blackmail me?" Rochambeau laughed tensely but it was full of bravado the man no longer had.

"No," Quatre said honestly and for a brief moment Rochambeau thought he was in the clear. "I know I can. There's a difference between thinking and knowing. Now, what do you gain?"

"Dodd promised me the money for the loan I owe you," Rochambeau's shoulders slumped in defeat knowing there was no escape when he had been so clearly boxed in by the most powerful man in the Colonies. "And he promised to help gain more support and get me a higher position in the Council. I can't undo what I've done Mr. Winner. Dodd knows about my war-time company as well."

"Dodd will be going down soon enough," Quatre smiled, his blue eyes glittered coldly like two hard gems and Rochambeau shrank a little in his seat. "But for right now you are to stall him as much as you can. For helping me I will cancel your loan and I shall try to help you with my assets as the Winner head."

"Why does it matter to you?" Rochambeau asked. "Why does Dorothy Catalonia matter?

"Dorothy Catalonia helped us," Quatre said as though speaking to an ignorant youth. "She helped the Gundam Pilots. If it hadn't been for her during the first war we would have done things much differently. And if not for her involvement during this recent crisis there would have been no support from the people and Relena Peacecraft would probably be dead."

Rochambeau nodded, "I can understand that. You're attempting to repay her."

"No," Quatre shook his head. "The Gundam Pilots all believe that if you wish to charge Dorothy with war crimes you might as well charge all of us as well."

"But you're heroes," Rochambeau protested.

"And Dorothy Catalonia is one of ours," Quatre bit out harshly. "For now you are to report to me what Dodd hopes to gain with this trail and persecution of Dorothy. You know my office number correct?"

"Yes I have it," He said.

"Good," Quatre said. "My secretary Aisha will patch you through directly to me and it will be untraceable. But the call you made to my office won't be. That can easily be explained away though can't it?"

"Of course," Rochambeau nodded in agreement.

"Glad we understand one another," Quatre said offering up a smile. "I'll see you around."

The rest of the party passed slowly and Quatre made their excuses an hour later. Lady Emily saw Sally and Quatre out to the entrance hall and slipped Quatre a piece of paper. She walked away with an obscure smile on her face after patting Quatre fondly on the shoulder.

'Lady Emily is certainly a strange woman,' He thought to himself as he and Sally walked outside. 'But she is wise. And one who knows how to play the game better than just about anyone else.'

Quatre escorted Sally back down to the waiting limousine. Abdul opened the door for them. Quatre insisted on dropping Sally back off at the Preventers base so she would not have to take a cab back. He arrived home later than he had expected but Rashid had a cup of tea waiting for him in his private den. Carefully he removed the paper from his pocket and read it.

Quatre Winner,

You are much wiser than most give you credit for. I know that if anyone can help my daughter it is you. Be careful when dealing with Rochambeau, the man is a snake and completely disregards normal protocol. He has no appreciation for the proper way the game must be played but if you can back him into a corner then you stand a chance of making him go through the proper motions.

Also expect attacks on your person for siding with Dorothy. They will be sure to come especially after any future press conferences you do. You play the game marvelously well. I was rather impressed although I suppose I should not have been.

Lady Emily

He really did not understand Lady Emily, but he did not need to. She had given him some sound advice.

He locked the note in a drawer of the desk and sat for a long period of time in his den with only the desk lamp on trying to decide the best course of action. Finally in frustration he went up to his room and disrobed, slipping into a pair of sweats and a shirt that had the logo "Do not disturb: I am disturbed enough already" on it. The shirt was of course a gift from Duo during the first war but he had hardly worn it. It fit with his current mood though.

Quatre lay down on his bed and eventually drifted off to sleep dreaming of his friend and of those like Treize and Dorothy.