Heiress to the Stars
Episode 4: The Rising Storm: OZ
The ball ended abruptly as some of the nobles began to make a scene when they were too intoxicated. Here's how it went. The waltz continued. Duo was dancing with Melanie quietly. Relena and Heero were dancing close by.
"Can I have this dance?" a guy asked in a slurred voice.
Duo looked in disdain at the man that asked Melanie to dance.
"The lady is dancing with me," Duo bit back politely.
Duo turned away from him. The guy didn't take the hint and took a swing at Duo. He ducked quickly and before he could do any damage Melanie turned and punched him in the gut whispering in his ear;
"I am dancing with gentlemen so I suggest you leave me the hell alone."
She let him go and he collapsed on the floor. An unladylike snort escaped her as she continued to dance with Duo. When it happened to Relena she allowed Heero to deck the guy. After that one Mr. Peacecraft called it a night.
"Boys I need to speak with you alone," he called to the pilots.
They all nodded as the guests left. Relena and Melanie headed up to their rooms to change into their night op clothing. Relena hung around near where the guys were having their meeting while Melanie got Day Star ready. Relena listened intently.
"There is a faction rising up, and they call themselves OZ."
"What is our objective when we face them?"
"You're objective is to keep peace. OZ is planning something and what ever it is you can be assured that it isn't good."
Relena had heard of this OZ faction and it worried her. There were rumors of someone in there determined to protect her, but she didn't know if it was true or not. Turning away from the guy talk she headed for the hanger. As she reached the hanger a heavy sigh escaped her. With a grace that was required of her line of work she climbed up the scaffolding and lay down on Day Star's shoulder.
'What is it Relena?'
"I'm just really tired Day Star."
Melanie had heard this type of talk a lot so she ignored it. She stopped trying to figure it out along time ago. She continued to type stuff into the control panel. Her seat in the cockpit of Day Star was comfortable.
'Tell Melanie to back wire the controls so that I don't lean so much.'
"Mel Day Star wants you back wire the controls so he doesn't lean so much," Relena called out from her spot.
"That's what it was. Thanks Day."
She turned slightly and opened a small hatch in the side and worked with the wires for a moment until she had it right.
"Is that right Day?" she asked the gundam.
It never bothered her at all that the gundam could speak to its pilot. Nor did it bother her that when it happened Relena seemed to be talking to herself.
'This one is quiet taken with Deathscythe's pilot. She's being real chipper.'
"I noticed. Anyway did you hear OZ is ready to make their move?"
'Yes. We need to be careful Relena.'
"Yeah I know."
'Let Heero protect you for once and stay out of this Relena.'
"What are you saying?"
'Danger is going to be great when we fight OZ, and I don't want you to get hurt. Let the boys watch your back.'
"I was planning on it. I know I can't take them on alone."
'I still worry Relena.'
"Yes, mother," she growled at the gundam.
The pilot and gundam argued tirelessly. Melanie ignored it until she heard a faint tapping of shoes on the floor of the hanger. Relena bolted up from her laying down position.
"Rel..."
"So you're the successor," a childish male voice asked.
To both girls shock it was Duo.
"Duo, don't..."
"I understand Relena. Don't tell Heero."
Melanie slid down onto the cat walks behind Day Star's shoulder. A blush crept over her cheeks. Duo was everything she wanted but there was something holding her back, a dark secret called her past.