Scene Seventeen: A New Vision
The price of greatness is responsibility Winston Churchill
The Vice Foreign Minister stared out the tinted windows of her Mercedes in the back seat. She was frowning to herself. Dorothy's trial was getting underway and the pressure she felt was enormous. It was hard to keep going, knowing that the people were so far against her.
Relena picked up the latest set of news papers Aimee had provided her with before she had enclosed herself in the back seat of the Mercedes. There were various articles about her support for Dorothy. While none of the paper actually said anything derogatory about her they came close. Some things needed to change. Perhaps another press conference was in order.
"Miss Peacecraft," David said from the front passenger seat. "We've almost reached Quatre Winner's estate."
"Thank you David," Relena responded.
She folded up the newspapers and set them aside. Carefully she picked at her skirt, straightening and smoothing the minute wrinkles she found in the cream fabric. She must always look her best because she was always on display. There was no down time for the Vice Foreign Minister. And there was always the possibility that Quatre had invited a few members of the press for the luncheon.
Relena pulled down the mirror and checked her simple make-up. She pulled out a tube of peach colored lip gloss and carefully dusted it over her lips. With a quiet sigh she donned her politician's mask that of a carefully cultured smile and poker face. She would be the first to admit that her poker face paled in comparison to Quatre Winner's.
The car slowed as it reached the guard house. The driver rolled down the window.
"Hello Vice Foreign Minister Peacecraft," Abdul said. "Is it all right if I catch a ride with you up to the house?"
It was a reasonable request. Quatre's driveway was long, meant to impress and it certainly did just that.
"Of course," Relena smiled from the back seat. "You can sit next to me."
Abdul nodded and got in on the other side of the car.
"Are there any press up there?" Relena asked as soon as the car was rolling again.
"Only a few," Abdul replied. "Most of them are associates of Master Quatre's so there is no worry with having to impress them."
"The press always needs to have an impression made on them," Relena said.
She waited until the car was brought to a stop near the stairs leading up to Quatre's front door. Abdul got out of the car first, shutting his door and going around to the other side to open Relena's door.
"I'll accompany you Miss Peacecraft," David said.
David got out of the car and walked around to escort Relena up the stairway to Quatre's mansion. Relena took his arm and allowed him to lead her. She did not feel like leading herself inside. Her nerves were on fire. Everything felt so distant and removed from her sphere of reach.
The big door was opened by Rashid, another of Quatre's personal guards who knew Relena. He smiled at her and abandoned his post to Abdul.
"Vice-Foreign Minister," Rashid inclined his head. "It's good to see you looking so well."
"And you as well Rashid," Relena gave a polite smile. "Please call me Relena."
"This way Miss Relena," Rashid said gesturing down the hallway as he led the two. "Master Quatre has a few friends from the press over. He's speaking to them about Miss Dorothy. He would like you to wait in the small dining room. Master Quatre will be joining you in another ten minutes."
"He doesn't require my help in speaking to the press?" Relena asked with a slight frown.
"They are ending their conversation," Rashid explained. "Master Quatre wishes to speak to you about a new idea that he has. He will join you and then a brunch will be served."
Relena merely nodded. There was little she could do at the moment. She followed Rashid into the small dining room that was big enough to accommodate forty people. For someone of her and Quatre's standing this was a small dining room, although it would be needed for a family of Quatre's size. The room was tastefully decorated. The table was made of a dark walnut as were the chairs. She was not surprised to see that they were made of real wood.
The Vice-Foreign Minister sat down on one of the cushioned walnut chairs near the end of the long table. She was curious to see what Quatre's proposition would be. Together they did make a formidable team, it had been proven time and again.
The phone in her purse gave a shrill ring. She glanced at David briefly before pulling it out and flipping it open.
"Hello, Vice-Foreign Minister Peacecraft," Relena said into the phone.
"Vice-Foreign Minister," The caller said. "This is Nils Sorensen, Miss Catalonia's attorney."
"Hello Mr. Sorensen," Relena replied. "Please, call me Miss Peacecraft. What can I do for you?"
"I'm calling with some information," Nils Sorensen's voice was very pleasant. "First off Miss Catalonia wants me to remind you yet again that this is a dangerous undertaking. For you to help her could ruin your political standing. However she understands your need to help her and requests that you join forces with Quatre Winner over this. It will make things much easier.
"Miss Catalonia also said that the two of you are a formidable team when you work together. A high compliment from her as I'm sure you're aware of. She also said that you should gather other supporters to your cause, people who are trustworthy. She is worried about you as well Miss Peacecraft. She wants to know if you are doing well."
"Tell Dorothy that I'm fine," Relena did not smile. "And that a little stress will not cause me to falter."
"She will be pleased to hear that," Nils said. "I'll let you go Miss Peacecraft. If I get any other news I'll pass it along to you straight away."
"Thank you very much Mr. Sorensen," Relena said. "Have a pleasant day."
She hung up on him before he had a chance to respond likewise.
"Who was that?" David asked; his tone let her know he was frowning.
"Dorothy's attorney," Relena sounded tired but she quickly collected her thoughts. "He was giving me an update. He visited Dorothy a few days ago."
David said nothing. He did not have to. He may not have understood Relena's friendship with Dorothy Catalonia but he knew that it was important to her. That was the only thing that mattered. He served the former Queen of the World because he believed in her dream of peace, because he no longer wanted to be just another soldier who had killed.
"Thank you for being here with me David," Relena turned to him with a smile that even reached her eyes. "It helps."
"Anytime Miss Relena," David gave her a gentle half smile, the only thing he was capable of.
Relena had first hired David at Une and Quatre's insistence. He had been a good choice, choosing to stay under her employment even after the Dekim Barton coup. It had not been any oversight on David's part that had gotten her kidnapped. It had been her own rash decision to rush off to that colony. She had sworn to never do that again both to herself and David.
"Relena," Quatre said walking through the door. "It's good to see you. I'm glad you could come."
Relena stood and embraced Quatre in a hug. She pulled back and gave him a bright smile. She was happy to see Quatre even if the visit was not a purely social one.
"Sit, sit," Quatre said with a kind smile as he walked around the table and took the chair opposite to her. "Is there anything new that's going on?"
"Nils Sorensen, Dorothy's attorney called me today," Relena sat back down in her chair. "Dorothy told him to pass along a few compliments to us. She said that we make a formidable team together."
Quatre nodded in approval. He knew how Dorothy's mind worked and Relena knew that if he was pleased it was probably a good thing. Sometimes Dorothy confused her utterly. Still she found Dorothy's humor and smart mind to be useful and helpful.
"I've been thinking," Quatre said slowly. "And perhaps it might be better to go about this more aggressively than we have been. I think its time we tried to get other people on our side and involved in this."
"Dorothy suggested that as well," Relena tucked some of her honey colored hair behind an ear. "Who were you considering contacting?"
"Trowa Barton and Sylvia Noventa for starters," Quatre fell silent as two trays loaded with food were brought in.
The two servants placed one of the trays in front of Quatre and the other in front of Relena. A third servant came carrying two glasses and a pitcher of juice. After pouring some juice in the two glasses the servants left the two young political allies and David alone.
"Trowa would be good to have just because he's another Pilot," Quatre said. "Sylvia has the proper social standing we might need. She has several connections we could exploit to our advantage."
Relena nodded while picking at some of the food before her. She could see where Quatre was going. It was a good idea although it was risky. But life was meant to be lived, not studied. Relena decided it was time to live.
"Let's get Zechs and Wufei in on this as well," Relena suggested after a few moments. "Another Gundam Pilot and Dorothy's former commander who are now both top Preventer agents can't be a bad thing. It would at least get the people thinking and perhaps push the issue to the forefront."
"A good suggestion Rel," Quatre beamed happily as he took a bite of fruit. "You can take the Preventers and I'll get Trowa and Sylvia."
Relena smiled. She knew just how to get in touch with Zechs. She had hated the name after the first war but she had understood his desire to hold onto it. Even though she felt that her brother should be called Milliardo she respected his wishes.
She looked up to Zechs. He was her older brother and even though she did not understand him she loved him. Relena might have once been the Queen of the World but Zechs was someone she knew to be strong, someone who she could look to when she felt like she was going to fall. There were times when she wished that they could do something together, just the two of them but there never seemed to be any time and Zechs never seemed to want to see her.
"I should get going Quatre," Relena folded her napkin over and set it on the table. "I need to get back to work and finish writing my speech for next weeks summit meeting."
Quatre nodded and stood. He walked around the table and pulled her chair out for her and offered her his arm.
"Take care of yourself Relena," Quatre said escorting her to the front door with David trailing behind them. "Call me if you need anything. Do you promise?"
"I promise," Relena gave a tiny smile. "The same goes for you Quatre. We're in this together."
Quatre gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek before letting David take her down the stairs. Relena slipped into the back of the Mercedes. She directed the driver to take her back to her house. There was much to be done.
Her private line was ringing when she stepped into her study. With a frown marring her face she picked it up answering with a cautious greeting.
"Miss Relena," Aimee said in relief. "I've been trying to ring you for a few hours now."
"What is it Aimee?" Relena asked seating herself behind the elegant brass-legged and glass desk. "Did something happen?"
"Herr Redner was killed but his private papers are missing," Aimee reported. "The safe he kept them in was one of the best on the market and it was totally fire proof and still intact but its empty."
"It would have to be a very good thief to break open into it then," Relena commented although she had an idea of who it might be but there was no proof.
"And Senator Rochambeau called your office today and wishes to make an appointment with you for two weeks from now," Aimee told the blond girl.
"Schedule him in for an hour," Relena said chewing on her bottom lip, a bad habit she had taken too recently. "And Aimee I was wondering if you could contact Commander Une of the Preventers and try to get me in for a meeting with her at the earliest convenience. If you can speak to her tell her it involves Dorothy Catalonia but if you have to go through secretaries give them some excuse about an upcoming budget meeting."
"Very well Miss Relena," Aimee said. "I'll do that first thing in the morning."
"Thank you Aimee," Relena gave a tiny smile. "Oh, have you heard anything more from that Mr. Jenkins?"
"Not recently," Aimee spoke calmly. "But he's been busy. I've only spoken with him a few times Miss Relena."
"Oh that's too bad," She was a bit disappointed. "I'm eager to speak with him. Tell him so if you ever hear from him again."
"I'll be sure to Miss Relena," Aimee promised.
"I'll see you in a few days Aimee," Relena said goodbye and hung up the call.
She sat back, her thoughts racing in all directions. She wondered about Duo Maxwell but there was no time to speculate about his involvement in Redner's death. There was no proof and she had no time to attempt to find any, besides which it would have been mostly destroyed in the explosions and fires. Relena had other things to worry about such as Rochambeau's request for a meeting. They were certainly not on many of the same committee's and they did not see eye to eye on most issues. It troubled her that he wanted to see her after the summit meeting and not before.
Relena sat at her desk and scrawled off a quick letter to her brother. It was a short note telling him that she was doing well and that she wished to see him to speak about Dorothy. She knew that if nothing else her request about Dorothy would get a response out of her stand-offish older brother. She only hoped that it would come soon. Perhaps she might even get to know him or that hope might fall away. Even if nothing came of it she would at least gain another ally in her campaign to free Dorothy and that counted for something.
Slowly she rose from the stiff backed chair and put her letter into a cream envelope. She wrote her brother's address on the front in an elegant script and handed it off to one of her butlers. They would deliver it for her; all her closest employees were faithful to her.
She moved off and began looking up old quotes and other references to her planned speech about freedom and moving forward into building a strong bond between the Earth and Colonies for the future.