A Girl Named Xero
Chapter 2
Looking at the world passing by below her, Xero let the day's events flow through her mind. Quatre and Xero were flying on his personal transport to visit the Cinq Kingdom. They were over the ocean now and in her mind's eye, the sea and sky melded together. How did you know the real Trowa Barton? Quatre's words stuck with her. What would she do now? Quatre knew that she was somehow involved with the Gundam operation being run on L3, but how much did he know? He had let her hold her answer until they reached Heero and the Cinq Kingdom.
"I understand your loyalties to Trowa." He had said, "I understand you feel that you have to protect yourself, but at some point you are going to have to trust us. Until we find him, we're all you have."
He was right of course, and she appreciated that he had said until we find him. Quatre still hoped that Trowa would be found. Xero hoped so too of course, but she was less sure that he would be found after a whole month of him missing.
The plane began to slow and Rashid announced that they would be landing soon. Xero turned to Quatre who was sitting in the seat next to her. "Quatre, what are we going to tell these people? You have a reason to be here, your family members have been diplomats for centuries. All of these kids are the children of big players in the war, who am I supposed to be?"
"Well," Quatre chuckled, "I've decided to borrow Trowa's idea. You will be posing as my lovely fiancé Miss Victoria O'Brien. You are the daughter of the O'Brien family made famous for their involvement in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and reuniting it with Ireland creating one united nation. You are in the Cinq Kingdom by Miss Relena's request as her honored guest and I am here merely as your escort."
"Very clever Mr. Winner." Xero smiled. "Now I understand why you had me let my hair return to its natural color. It's nice to be a redhead again. However, I see one flaw in your plan."
"I'm way ahead of you," Quatre laughed as he pulled a small blue velvet ring box from his pocket. He opened it to display a beautiful white gold ring with a marquee cut diamond. Quatre took Xero's hand and with a light chuckle he made his mock proposal. "Victoria O'Brien, will you fake marry me?"
"I will, but I'll warn you to watch out for when my fake husband returns. He would not be very happy." She laughed for the first time since Trowa's disappearance as Quatre slipped the beautiful ring onto her finger. "Where did you get this ring?" Xero asked.
"It was my mother's ring from when she was engaged to my father. I was saving it for the woman that I chose to marry. It fits you perfectly." Quatre said. Color began to fill his cheeks. With perfect timing Rashid announced they were now landing in the Cinq Kingdom. As the plane touched down Xero turned once more to Quatre and gave him a winning smile, her bright blue eyes sparkling.
"I guess I'm doomed to marry you all at one point." She joked " I wonder who's next?"
"I'm sure Duo can't wait for his turn," Quatre laughed the blush dissolving with the changed subject. The plane touched down and soon they were walking down the aisle to exit the craft. Quatre offered Xero his arm and she took it acknowledging she would have to be more physically affectionate with Quatre while they were here.. As they descended the stairs arm in arm a cheerful call echoed across the tarmac.
"Quatre! Miss Victoria!" Relena cried out as she approached to meet them. " I'm so glad that you both are here!" She offered a quick hug to both of them and whispered in Xero's ear. "It's so good to finally meet you Xero. I am really going to enjoy play acting that we are best friends seeing as we have never seen each other before." The two women laughed at the secret, but were interrupted by a loud clearing of someone's throat. Relena and Xero turned to see Heero arms crossed and a scowl on his face. He eyed Xero intently sending her a silent message that he would be getting her story as soon as possible. Quatre greeted Heero and made the pretend introductions. "Let me show you the school where the other diplomat's children are staying Miss Victoria." Relena said placing a hand on Xero's shoulder. Quatre and Heero followed the two women as they entered the school grounds.
The building was beautiful and filled with the sounds of young adults debating, chatting, and enjoying themselves. Relena and Xero entered a classroom to make a quick introduction. "Good afternoon everyone," greeted Relena. "We have a new guest who has come to stay with us. This is Miss Victoria O'Brien. Or should I say the future Mrs. Quatre Rababa Winner?" Congratulations filled the room making Xero blush.
"Thank you, I am very happy to be joining you all today." Xero said politely. They exited the room and Relena showed Xero to her suite, giving her a moment to breathe and get situated.
"If you need anything let me know. Quatre said to meet him in the parlor once you are done settling in." Relena stood at the door of the large lavish room. "I just wanted to say I'm so sorry about Trowa and I want you to know that I am praying for his safe return. I don't know the whole story, but I was told you two were very close." Sadness seemed to cloud her eyes as she gave Xero a quick smile and left her by herself.
I wonder what will happen now, she thought to herself. Oh Trowa, I wish you were here. I don't know how I will get through this war without you. It seems I have no choice but to tell the others about a past that is as much yours as it is mine. I hope you can forgive me. Xero took a deep breath and looked around the room. She saw on the bed that a uniform had been laid out for her. It was a maroon dress that reminded her of the Amish. It showed no sign of skin or body shape at all. Xero was not impressed and chose to ware a dress of her own. It was a crystal blue that matched the shade of her eyes and was much more flattering than the dark maroon that clashed with her red hair. Thin straps held up the crisply modest bust line and a black sash cinched up the waist of the knee length garment. It showed off her pale slender figure. She finished off the outfit with black satin ballet flats and the crescent shaped necklace that Trowa had given her on her eighteenth birthday.
She exited the room and proceeded to meet with Quatre and Heero in the parlor, graciously accepting congratulations from the girls she passed in the hall. She could hear Quatre playing a beautiful, but sad melody on a piano even before she entered the room. The image before her made her want to weep. Quatre was sitting at the piano, so engrossed in his playing that he didn't notice her. She could see the pain in his face that must have matched her own. She tentatively took steps to sit next to him on the seat. As she did, she rested her head on his shoulder. His pain was her pain. Quatre finished playing and lifted his arm to wrap it around her shoulders. "I miss him too," Xero whispered.
"Now, that's no way for a newly engaged couple to act. So sad." A female voice mocked them from the doorway. A young blonde girl with devilish features and bad intentions stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dorothy Catalonia, granddaughter of Duke Dermail, the head of the Romefeller Foundation." She walked forward to get a better look at the couple at the piano. She moved like a hawk on the hunt. "You must be Victoria O'Brien. You know I have never heard very much about you, in all the time my grandfather has known the O'Briens. Why is that do you think?"
Quatre and Xero stood gazing curiously at the strange creature. "Victoria is under strict protection at this time. Her family tries not to draw attention to their youngest daughter. That is most likely why you haven't heard much about her as of late. I'm sure Miss Relena would be happy to give you the full details, they are very close friends." His arm still around Xero's shoulders squeezed protectively drawing her closer.
"I see," Dorothy answered suspiciously. "If she is under such strict protection than where is her bodyguard?" A smug smile spread across her face.
"Right behind you," Heero appeared in the doorway. Dorothy jumped in surprise as Heero stepped around her and took his place by Xero's side.
"Don't think you fool me Victoria I know that something is not right about you. I'll be watching for you to slip up my dear. Until then, enjoy your engagement." Dorothy furiously stormed out of the room.
"She's going to be a problem," Heero said. He crossed the room and shut the doors to let others know that they wanted some privacy. "You have a lot of explaining to do." His metallic voice sent a chill up her spine. "Who are you? It seems Trowa was the only one to know how important you really are to the ending of this war."
"I have decided that I will tell you what I can. You have to understand that everything I tell you is something that can never leave our circle. None of it. Do you understand?" Xero's expression was stern, but pleading at the same time. "Please Heero," she begged. Heero nodded his answer. Quatre motioned for her to take a seat.
" I guess the best place to start, is with the place I grew up." Xero wrung her hands from nervousness and the effort it took to remember every detail of her childhood. "It was an underground facility where I was the prime subject in an experiment by the Soldier Engineering segment of OZ."
"Soldier Engineering?" Quatre looked very confused.
"The project I was involved in was called SSE" She looked for some kind of recognition to the abbreviation that made many diplomats even deny its existence. Both pilots looked confused still.
"What does SSE stand for?" Quatre asked.
"Heero should know, Dr. J tried to involve him in the study, even tried to duplicate the process on his own." Xero gazed heatedly at Heero trying to force him to remember. Suddenly, recognition lit up Heero's face. "SSE stands for…"
"Super Soldier Evolutions…" Heero and Xero said this in unison. For the first time in his life, Heero silently screamed to himself, fear clearly showing in his eyes at the recognition of the project that had almost taken his life. An understanding passed between the two and what happened next was even more shocking. Heero sat down next to Xero, pulled her into his arms, and whispered over and over, "I'm so sorry."
A/N: As you can tell I enjoy a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. I feel it helps me keep your interest in this ambitious project of mine. Please don't forget to review I would love to hear what you think.