A Prince's Secret

Do not trust all men, but trust men of worth; the former course is silly, the latter a mark of prudence. Democritus

Zechs Merquise stared across the Preventers gym. He could hardly believe that he was in here with Chang Wufei at five in the morning. The Chinese Preventer aimed a kick at his chest; Zechs threw up both arms to block it.

"So Merquise," Wufei said taking a few steps back. "Why the Preventers and why Earth?"

"I leave the politics to my sister," Zechs was on the attack and he threw a punch. "But I still want to be close enough just in case."

"Good," Wufei dodged the punch. "Sound reasons as well."

The two young men continued dancing around one another. Despite the early hour they were still managing to draw a crowd. The Chinese Preventer ignored the crowd totally while Zechs just accepted they were there and worked around the distraction. They kept up their volley of kicks and punches for several more minutes until Wufei signaled that their time was up.

"We need to report to Une in an hour," Wufei reminded the platinum blond. "Will you be ready?"

Zechs nodded and headed off for the showers. There were several more Preventers getting ready for an early morning workout before they had to be on the clock at work. Many of them moved out of his way as he stripped down and stepped into an empty stall.

He turned the taps on, adjusting the heat until hot water was coming out. He pumped some shampoo and conditioner into his hand and lathered it through his long hair. Most of the Preventers did not have such long hair but Zechs felt no need to cut his so he kept it at the same length as when he had been in OZ. Even Wufei kept his hair long enough to pull it back into the pony tail he favored. Quickly but thoroughly he washed himself down, getting rid of all the sweat that clung to his body.

He stepped out from under the harsh spray and turned off the taps. He reached out a hand and grabbed his towel, quickly drying off and wrapping it around his waist as he picked up his clothes and stuffed them into his empty gym bag along with his shampoo and conditioner. Zechs began heading out through the shower room and into the changing room.

Zechs could hear some of his fellow officers talking and he was not trying to listen in but when he caught his name he had to listen. They spoke of the war and some of his less then desirable actions that he had taken. Zechs decided to continue on walking as though he had not heard them; he felt no need to defend himself to these men.

"Well, well if it isn't the Lightning Count himself," A mocking voice followed him and Zechs ignored it.

The platinum blond pulled on a pair of boxers and then his Preventer pants. He was attaching his leather belt when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and was staring at a man who was a half head shorter than himself.

"Yes?" Zechs raised a brow.

"So tell us Lightning Count," The man said. "You still wished you'd destroyed Earth?"

"That was a mistake," Zechs replied, his neutral mask firmly in place. "And now if you'll excuse me I need to finish getting dressed. I have a meeting with Commander Une."

"Time for your weekly psychiatric evaluation Merquise," The man taunted and his buddies laughed.

"First of all that's Colonel Merquise," Zechs stated flatly. "And I'm not going to bother defending myself to you peons."

The man looked flustered now and angry at being brushed off.

"Zechs," Wufei Chang came out of the showers, his black hair loose and wet. "Quatre Winner called last night, I forgot to mention it. He wants to know if you're available for a guy's night tomorrow."

"Quatre Raberba Winner?" The man stuttered. "That kid from L4 who runs WEI?"

"Yes," Wufei smirked. "He's a friend of ours. And don't go around insulting Colonel Merquise. He's a better soldier than any of you."

"You're just another nobody," The man scowled darkly and his friends were slowly backing away from him.

"I am a Gundam Pilot," Wufei sneered. "And I am also the last of my Clan but I am not a nobody and neither is Zechs Merquise."

The man backed off sensing that defeat was near. He walked off with his friends muttering about how the Preventers were conscripting children to join. Wufei tightened his towel around his waist and went to his locker ignoring Zech's gaze which followed him.

"You have incredible timing you know," Zechs murmured putting on socks as Wufei put on boxers and his pants.

"Comes from years of practice," Wufei gave a half smile and he put on his shirt and tucked it neatly into his pants, standard regulation.

Zechs shook his head and straightened his tie before placing the metal clip on it to hold it in place. He knew that by the end of the day both he and Wufei would lose the ties and some of his top shirt buttons would be undone. Une did not care but for a meeting it was best to be in standard regulation uniform down to every last detail. It made a better impression and it certainly never hurt anything.

The two partners fixed their hair and then left the changing rooms. The main floor was just beginning to get into the flurry of activity that would soon be reaching its normal frenzied pace in another hour. The two rode the elevator up to the fourth floor where their offices and Une's office were located.

Zechs liked being a field agent and consultant for the Preventers. Although he and Wufei did not seem to go out very often, they mostly trained some of the other teams and looked over their reports, giving comments on what could have been executed better. It was an important job but Zechs was beginning to feel a bit stifled in the office. He would hold on a little longer though before asking Une to give them a field assignment.

He truly did like Une and thought that she was the best choice of leader for the Preventers. He was a bit wary about having command over an organization after White Fang but if he had to he would take over the Preventers for Une when the time came. While they had served together in OZ he had had a few problems with her and had certainly never trusted her or approved of many of the actions she had taken. But during the year after the first war had ended they had developed a friendly camaraderie.

Une was a strong and determined woman, she knew what she wanted for the Preventers and she was not going to let anyone or anything stop her if she could possibly fight against it. He admired that about her. Zechs enjoyed working under Lady Une's watchful eye most of the time.

Lt. Anders saw them coming and smiled warmly at the two Preventers.

"A little early," The Scandinavian said. "But being early never hurts, at least not much. Go on in, she's not on the phone."

Zechs nodded his thanks and opened the door with Wufei right behind him. The two went in and shut the door behind them. Zechs took a seat while Wufei stood leaning against the wall.

"Take a seat Chang," Une said to the Chinese man. "We both know that in about five minutes you'll be in a chair."

Wufei tried to look indignant but gave up and took a chair.

"So Lady Une what do you need us for?" Zechs asked leaning back in his chair.

"I'm here to inform you two that you will be accompanying me to Relena's ball this Friday," Une smiled. "There will be several speakers supporting our position on Dorothy Catalonia and Relena wants you both there. Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner will be attending as well. You may each bring a guest if you desire."

Both nodded resigned to having to go to a ball. They knew that Une would order them if they did not agree.

"Oh one other thing on that note," Une added. "You'll both need to wear either very nice suits or tuxedos."

"Is that really necessary?" Zechs asked. "Won't our uniforms do?"

"I'm afraid not Zechs," Une shook her head. "Not this time."

Zechs sighed but was willing to give in. He knew that Wufei would not have such problems, he would merely wear his traditional Chinese dress and that would be suitable. Zechs would have to wear his old suit that he had used for when he had traveled to outer space as a peace representative from Sanc Kingdom.

The meeting progressed on to other matters and Une told them that she would be sending both of them up to Colony L2-XP1 to run a more detailed search of Shinigami. Une wanted to know more specifically if he was a threat to the peace. Zechs was careful to keep only allow the faintest trace of curiosity show. He did not want anyone suspicious of his knowledge on the L2 Underworld boss who was really the missing Gundam Pilot 02, Duo Maxwell.

"Well I for one need to get back to work," Zechs stood after a few more minutes of idle chit chat.

He left the room before either Une or Wufei could protest or comment. He felt the overwhelming need to make sure that Shinigami knew about the proposed trip to L2.

'Since when did he become something more than Duo Maxwell, obnoxious Pilot 02?' Zechs wondered as he shook his head, platinum hair falling over his shoulder.

He was careful to not head back to his and Wufei's shared office. He would not take the chance that the Chinese Preventer might come back and overhear him having a conversation with a missing person. Trying to be as unobtrusive as possible he went to a stairwell and headed up to the next floor and into one of the many small sound proofed conference rooms that were always open for impromptu meetings.

Zechs pulled out the private comm. unit that had been anonymously sent to him and dialed the number he had been given.

"Hello?" The tiny screen flickered to life and showed a man he had never seen before.

"I need to speak with Shinigami," Zechs said.

"Is it important?" The man asked only half paying attention.

"Yes," Zechs stressed the word. "I'm his contact in the main Preventers building."

"Oh," The man's eyes widened momentarily. "In that case I'll do a direct connect to his personal comm. unit so you can tell him whatever it is you're calling about."

Zechs resisted the childish urge to roll his eyes. He waited several long heartbeats until his screen went blank and then flickered again. In place of the stranger was the familiar face of Duo Maxwell.

"Hey Zechs," Shinigami greeted him. "How's business?"

"Business is good," Zechs replied. "I've called with information, as promised."

"Ok," Shinigami nodded. "Lay it on me."

"Wufei and I will be taking a trip up to L2-XP1 in a few weeks," Zechs informed the major leader of most of the Underworld. "Our assignment is to gather information on you and assess if you are going to play a threat to the peace. Obviously I have to be very careful while on this assignment."

"I might be able to help out a bit," Shinigami mused. "Perhaps allow one of my people to be questioned? Not someone who knows a whole lot but they can be given some information. Just to warn you don't go too far into the Shadows, the local Preventers stationed up there should be able to explain it to you."

"Could you give me the run down now?" Zechs asked. "I'd rather not have to wait."

"If you go too far in you'll be killed," Shinigami said. "It's standard procedure. It ensures our total protection because the further in you go the more the people know. That knowledge has to be protected and I can't give you any special privileges while you're on assignment Zechs. I wouldn't even if I could and it has nothing to do with my trust for you and everything to do with ethics and rules."

"Understood," Zechs gave a crisp nod. "Thanks for the heads up."

"Anytime I can," Shinigami smiled. "That reminds me. There is a distinct possibility I might have to kill Senator Dodd. Not because I want to but because I have to. Relena's power and influence is in danger and I don't know the full story yet."

Zechs frowned, "Relena's not in any danger is she?"

"Don't worry," Shinigami looked very pale suddenly. "I have some people on her staff to watch over her. I'm trying to get a personal assistant in there as well. If I hear anything I'll let you know right away."

Zechs nodded in relief but he still felt like his stomach was in knots. His sister was in a precarious position. He would speak to her during the ball; pull her aside for a private chat.

"Thank you for looking after her," Zechs felt obliged to say.

"No need," Shinigami would not accept thanks. "She's important and even if she wasn't I'd have her being looked after. I knew her from the wars and that alone is enough of a reason for me."

"You're an honorable person," Zechs said. "I trust you."

"I'm not honorable Zechs," Shinigami shook his head. "I'm just occasionally nice. Look at what I do for a living now! I order people's deaths and sell drugs. I'm not a nice person, not really. I'm just doing what needs to be done because no one else can or will that's all it is."

"You have honorable intent," Zechs held up a hand where Shinigami could see it to stop his protests. "Even if you don't wish to call it that. Farewell."

Zechs cut the connection.

He tucked the unregistered comm. unit back into his pocket and made his way back to his shared office. Wufei was already at his desk and he did not glance up as Zechs entered.

"I thought you had work to do?" Wufei said with a frown.

"I did," Zechs said. "But I also needed to do some thinking for a bit, quite thinking."

He felt Wufei's careful study but did not meet the Chinese man's eyes. Finally Wufei seemed satisfied and they worked in tandem going through reports. Zechs had a feeling it was going to be a long day.