When It Rains It Pours
Quatre Winner took a deep breath to steady his shaky hands. He did not understand why he was so nervous all of a sudden, he had faced her during the war and now he felt as though he could not face her while she was trapped in a cell. He could make no sense of it, of his nervousness and that irked him more than it should have. He was used to being in control and rarely was he nervous but she could make him feel that way with a single glance.
He looked out the tinted windows of the limousine that he rode in. They were getting close to the outskirts of New Capitol where Dorothy was being held. He was surprised to see that there were no round the clock protestors outside the grounds until he remembered that they still did not know where she was being held. If only the politicians had cared this much about the identities of the Gundam Pilots, the only reason his face was not plastered across the tabloids in conjunction with his war exploits was because of Lady Une. She alone held the files on them and would guard them with her life.
Even when Une had been at her most sadistic she could not send the slight shivers down his spine that Dorothy Catalonia was capable of with a single glance. Quatre did not understand the blond haired woman and yet he understood her all too well. Perhaps that was the problem.
"Master Quatre," Abdul spoke from the driver's seat, breaking into his young Masters thoughts. "We are almost there."
Quatre nodded self-consciously tugging at his dress slacks. He had attempted to dress casually and then decided that Dorothy would not appreciate such a gesture so he had worn one of his office suits, a dark blue affair that was a startling contrast with his sandy blond hair and deep blue eyes.
He saw the grounds of the private prison come within view and swallowed anxiously to get rid of the constricting sensation in his throat. But he was determined to make this visit and was not about to turn back around when he was so close. Abdul expertly pulled the car up close to the guard station outside the gate. He handed the man a slip of paper and without any words the gate was opened for him and Abdul pulled the limousine inside the grounds.
The blond Arabian turned to watch as the large gate clanged shut behind them, effectively trapping them within the confines of Dorothy's prison. Seeking reassurance he put a hand inside his jacket and felt the Colt automatic pistol that rested in its holster. He wondered if the guards would allow him to keep it on his person.
Abdul put the car in neutral outside the main entrance of the facility and came around to open Quatre's door for him. Even though the Winner heir appeared to have a life of luxury Quatre disliked maintaining the same façade in his private life but here it was a necessity. The guards at the entrance watched with interest as one of the most influential Colonists stepped out of the back of the limousine. Quatre took the time to straighten his jacket before walking up the stairs careful not to look around him in an obvious gesture to see exactly what their fortifications were. Here he was merely a business man who controlled the most well known business in the Colonies and who aided Relena on various councils and represent L4 in a number of political alliances.
The guards exchanged glances with one another not sure of what to make of the Winner heir who was approaching their position. Quatre noted the security cameras but that there were not very many of them, it would be easy to find blind spots throughout the complex. The alarm system they had was child's play, even for him.
"Can we help you Mister Winner sir?" One of them asked.
"Yes, you can take me to see Miss Catalonia," Quatre smiled politely. "We have an appointment."
The guards exchanged another look and one of them got on his radio to the main control center that Quatre was certain lay within the building somewhere. After a few minutes the guard moved to the door.
"We should pat him down," The other hissed to the one who had been on the radio.
The second guard looked uncertain before shaking his head and giving a little smile, "Who him? He's a pacifist. He isn't gonna have anything on him, he's like his dad."
'If they frisk me they'll know I'm not like my dad,' Quatre kept his polite smile in place as he thought rapidly. 'Just keep it cool.'
"Frisking me is not necessary I assure you," Quatre implored. "I'm on a rather limited time schedule gentlemen. I need to get to my offices to go over the new weapons treaty."
He was not lying exactly. He did need to go over the new weapons treaty information but not for anything he himself was involved in. It was a favor for Une as his status as a consultant for the Preventers. The two guards did not need to know that though and he did not plan on telling them anything more.
Quatre had learned how to stretch the truth quite well to suit his purposes thanks to Duo. It had been a useful lesson, though at the time he had not been so sure. Now he found himself using half truths and perceptions of the truth as it suited him with various people like the two guards. He was not a master tactician or influential business man because of his politeness although that was yet another common misconception that the masses believed and he planned to keep it that way.
"Don't mind Mathews here," The second guard gestured to the one who had suggested to the frisk as he opened the door. "He's a by the book kinda guy but you're not likely to carry something dangerous Mister Winner. I know."
"That's true," Quatre quietly demurred remembering a time when he had been just as the guard described.
Quatre stepped into the building after the friendly and stupid guard. The man was smiling at him, excited to have such a celebrity in their midst.
"I'm Keystone by the way," The guard introduced himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Matthews aren't you glad to meet Mister Winner too? He's a big player in the Colonies."
"Course I am," Mathews said unenthusiastically.
"Don't pay him any mind," Keystone blabbered on as he led Quatre toward Dorothy while the blond Arabian memorized the layout. "He's always been a stick. You really do a lot of good work Mister Winner. But why do you want to visit Catalonia?"
"I'm supporting the Vice-Foreign Minister," Quatre kindly explained although he was sure that the man knew his position already.
He fell silent not wanting to say anymore on the issue. The two guards stopped and knocked on the closed doors in front of them. The doors swung open and he walked through alone.
"We'll leave you here Mister Winner," Keystone said. "We have to get back to our post now."
Quatre nodded and continued forward. He saw Andre Domini but gave the man no sign of recognition. Instead he walked up to him with another polite smile.
"Excuse me," He said. "But can you escort me the rest of the way to see Miss Catalonia?"
"Yeah sure," Domini said with a shrug.
He turned down another hallway and Quatre followed after him.
"You know this is a risk," Domini spoke without using his lips. "What if they connect us?"
"Please," Quatre whispered back. "They appear to be all former Alliance or OZ personnel. They aren't that smart no matter what you think."
Domini fell silent. Quatre was led right to Dorothy's cell and inside it. Domini shut the door behind the blond Arabian with a loud clang. Quatre was glad that he did not jump.
"Ah, the illustrious Quatre Raberba Winner has come to visit me," Dorothy stressed each syllable in his name. "Should I be pleased? Or does this visit have a reason behind it?"
"You know me Dorothy," Quatre said. "What do you think it is?"
"I think its two things Quatre Winner," Dorothy smiled briefly. "I think that you're here because there is a reason and because you want to visit me because you're kind."
Quatre tilted his head acknowledging that she was right. Dorothy laughed lightly.
"It is delightful to find you unchanged," Dorothy told him. "I thought for sure that you would have learned the lessons I tried to teach you."
"Maybe I did learn them," Quatre said knowing that if he had not he had certainly learned others. "Or maybe I just don't care to learn them."
"My, my," She sat up on her bed. "You've grown. You never did need anyone to support you though I should have known the moment you walked in that door. Relena isn't like you though, a pity and at the same time a good thing."
"Relena isn't weak," Quatre told the Duchess.
"I didn't say she was," Dorothy replied. "If anything she is strong willed but unlike you Quatre Winner she cannot function solely on her own. Now, why are you here?"
"I'm here for several reasons Miss Catalonia," Quatre leaned against the wall. "First I'm here to let you know that Relena and I are doing our best to get you out of here. I'm glad that you didn't object to Yaminah, my sister, serving on your legal staff. She's very good."
"I liked her," Dorothy said simply.
"I'm also here because you're supposed to give me a message for Shinigami," Quatre reminded her.
"I didn't think you would join him, with the Underworld," Dorothy commented.
"Actually Shinigami has done what he has done at my request so that he can watch the peace," Quatre told her. "Who better to use than the very people who know what is being done on the black market and in other places that organizations like the Preventers can't penetrate?"
"Yes who indeed," Dorothy mused. "So Shinigami works for you?"
"He aides me but I certainly don't give him orders," Quatre answered. "He works for himself."
"What does he control?" Dorothy asked interest making her gray eyes seem alive.
"L2," Quatre said. "And most of the Colony Underworlds and of course he has a following here on Earth. Mostly people just believe that his extension is L2 alone, including the Shadows which is a big enough sphere of control as it is."
"Indeed," Dorothy said. "It is a large sphere of control. Your friend Shinigami is very interesting. I never would have believe his true identity if he hadn't signed the note himself."
"Yes his masks are sometimes too good," Quatre shook his head.
Quatre studied the young woman before him who was seated on her cot. Even though she was not surrounded by affluence or military paraphernalia she was still every inch in control of her surroundings and not someone who was weak. She radiated confidence and according to Domini she had been more alive, more like the Dorothy Catalonia that he had faced off against on Libra.
He could see it in her, the fire that she inherently possessed. It seemed to electrify their surroundings. Quatre could not fathom how she could remain so unchanged and yet so very different from the cold woman he had fought against. Two irreconcilable personalities that had somehow formed a truce and he felt that Dorothy was the stronger and better for it.
"I'm prepared to give you my answer," Dorothy said firmly.
"Go on then," Quatre fell silent.
"Tell Shinigami I accept his terms," She said. "But I want you to know that it's not because I want to get out of here. I believe in what he wrote to me in that note of his at the trial. And I know that he'll need someone like me sooner rather than later so if I don't get off then get me out. And tell him that I look forward to getting to know him."
Quatre nodded. He would make sure that Shinigami got the message.
"I think you should go now Quatre Winner," Dorothy suggested. "I'm not much in the mood for conversations at the moment. But if you could slip in an analysis from Shinigami on the political front through Nils and Yaminah I'd appreciate it."
"I'll see what I can do," Quatre promised.
He turned to knock on the door and then thought the better of it. He looked at Dorothy and saw that even though she did not wish to talk she was still lonely.
"Dorothy," Quatre turned to her. "Will you do me the honor of a dance?"
She looked perplexed, "A dance?"
"There doesn't need to be music," Quatre added. "Or if you prefer I can hum the Blue Danube if that will make it easier."
Dorothy rose from the cot and took Quatre's outstretched hand. She smiled softly for a brief moment and Quatre was touched by how beautiful a person she really was.
"I would be honored to accept this dance Quatre Winner," Dorothy said to him.
He led her in a waltz of three-four time before switching over to a ballroom style of footwork and spinning. It seemed that no matter what he did he could not escape being entangled with Dorothy Catalonia, could not stop from being drawn to the trouble she attracted.
Almost regretfully he stopped the dancing. Dorothy smiled and gave him a nod. He turned back to the door and knocked on it. Domini opened it and Quatre stepped out looking back at Dorothy one last time before the metal door shut. She had had tears in her eyes but they did not spill. He doubted they would, she was a proud and strong woman.
Domini escorted Quatre all the way out to his car. The two said nothing to each other and Quatre allowed Abdul to open the back door for him. He slid across the seat, relieved and disappointed when the door shut and the car was in motion again.
"How did it go Master Quatre?" Abdul asked as they cleared the outer gate.
"It went well Abdul," Quatre gave a smile. "It went very well."
He leaned back in the leather seat. He could not help but he pleased with his visit to Dorothy. Quatre knew that Shinigami would be pleased as well. He glanced at his wristwatch noting that on L2 it would be the early morning hours but he doubted that Shinigami would care if he called this late, not with the news that he had for him.
Quatre rolled up the partician so that the back of the limousine was secured fully. The lining in the back and the windows were sound proofed and kept out most listening devices from being able to hear what was going on in the car. He opened his leather briefcase and pulled out a portable vid-phone that he knew to be a secure line since Shinigami had checked it over the last time he had snuck on to Winner properties.
He dialed the number from memory. Any number that he could memorize he did and made sure not to have it written down anywhere.
The connection was established and it rang for nearly half a minute before a sleepy Shinigami answered it allowing video feed as well.
"What is it Q?" Shinigami asked yawning but instantly awake and aware.
"I just came from my visit with Dorothy," Quatre informed the Shadows leader. "I thought you might like to know the outcome now rather than later despite the early hour up there."
"Hell yeah," Shinigami grinned, wisps of hair in his face from his loosened braid. "Lay it on me Quatre. How'd it go?"
"Well, she's doing much better," Quatre truthfully said. "Whatever you put in your letter to her gave her back the spark to fight. Dorothy also agreed that if the trial went poorly that she would be willing to join with you only we would have to break her out. I'm willing to go in with you when you get her?"
"Are you sure about that Q?" Shinigami asked dubiously. "I mean if we do get caught it really won't look good for you. I can always slip away again and go on the run, live the life of a fugitive. But if you really want you can join me in the rescue."
That was one of the things he liked about Shinigami. Shinigami figured that he was capable of making his own choices, which he was. Quatre hardly ever thought of Shinigami as being Duo Maxwell, mostly because the two were so different. The Duo he had known had been a joker, serious too but always with a witty response and an ever present smile. Shinigami was serious and ruthless when it came to his self-appointed task of watching the peace. Quatre was glad that he knew both of them.
"I'll go in with you," Quatre stated again. "I want to."
"Very well," Shinigami said. "Send me the plans of the prison and mark the areas you went in, where you saw security guards and cameras and what type of systems you noticed and send them through Lt. Danzig to me."
Quatre nodded. Normally he did not take orders but this was different. He knew that Shinigami would need detailed plans of the layout and other factors so that he could prepare the proper tools they would need.
"I'll let you go," Quatre bade Shinigami goodbye. "I just wanted you to know the good news. Get some more sleep, if you can."
Shinigami stifled another yawn, "Will do."
Quatre disconnected the call.
It was done, for better or worse. Dorothy Catalonia might very well become a partner in their secret plan. At times he could hardly believe the things he knew and never spoke of, the deaths and deceits.
Occasionally Quatre wondered if his part was really necessary or worth it. Then he reminded himself that he was necessary in this because without him there would be no influential person of power that Shinigami could pass on the proper information to or receive the inside information. At times he felt guilty for passing along things that Relena told him in confidence but it was all for a higher cause and in the end he could still sleep at night.
Rain began hitting the roof of his car. It always seemed to be raining lately non-stop in New Capitol and when it was not raining there was no sun out and no warmth. It gave him a sense of unease as though the very weather were trying to communicate something important to him.
He dialed another number on his secured vid-phone.
"Lady Une," Quatre nodded to the leader of the Preventers. "I'm calling about the proposed weapons reduction bill that was given to you."
'Please don't let me be wrong about this,' Quatre worried but only to himself.
"What are your thoughts on it Winner?" Lady Une asked, trusting his opinion.
"It seems that it will be passed," Quatre ran a hand through his hair. "However I think that you should take some of your trusted Preventers and move some of your weapons into secret caches."
"What's the point?" Une tiredly asked.
"I don't think that we're totally safe yet Lady," He told her. "I can't say anything definite yet but I can tell you that something is not right. I'll leave this final decision to you but I would definitely take as many of the weapons on that reduction bill as you can into hidden caches. If you want I would be happy to lend the Maguanac force to you and move them to a few of our old bases and also a few of the satellites that are owned by me."
"It almost sounds as though you're getting ready for another war," Lady Une remarked suspiciously.
"No, not another war," Quatre disagreed. "I just want to be prepared for anything that might happen. I don't want another Dekim Barton to surprise us when we no longer have the Gundams."
"You have a valid point," Lady Une conceded. "And I agree with it. I'll take you up on the offer of your Maguanac Corps help. And storing these weapons at Winner property will be acceptable for now."
"Rashid will be by to see you tomorrow afternoon if that is acceptable to you," Quatre offered.
"I'll have the time," Une promised. "Une out."
Quatre sat in the back of the limousine trying to reconcile with the pacifist he had been, the killer he had become, the pacifist roots he had tried to return to and now the fighter waiting for the other side to react. Even without Shinigami's updates he could feel something coming, feel the unease in the people. It would take a lot for him to keep on but he owed it to the innocents and he owed it to an old friend that he may very well have destroyed.