Disclaimer: Aren't you happy I got this going again., By the way if you didn't bother to read the author's note (and I don't blame you if you didn't) Mark Hildreth has an album out *Yes the same man who voices Heero Yuy in the dubbed version* and he has his own myspace music page so go and look him up….now on with the chapter/
28 Minutes
Take One: Equipment and Hangovers
"I feel like hell." Howard said as he awoke that morning, well 'awoke' wasn't correct. Trowa literally shook himself into consciousness. He couldn't remember what happened the night before although he recalled……."DAMN THAT YUY!"
"I see you guys are awake." Duo said as he came through the front door. "Hilde says hello." He was carrying two large boxes with much difficulty. "Got some of our equipment in today." he dropped the load down onto the carpet and sighed in relief. "So where's Heero?"
Howard shook his head, more out of nausea then answering.
"I believe I heard him earlier this morning, his incessant typing woke me up." Trowa said with annoyance, he rummaged through the refrigerator to find some food but was disgusted by the contents.
"What have you got in there?" Howard said groggily, pointing to the boxes.
"Stuff…" Duo said. "I'll show it all to you guys when Wufei gets here."
"Cause I'm as free as a bird now, And this bird you'll never change"
"What the hell?" Duo said as the song repeated itself three more times. Howard fished his phone out of his pocket with difficulty. The source of the sound became louder as he pulled it out.
"Got a hangover, so speak slowly." Howard said. "oh, its you." Trowa and Duo looked at him in expectance. "You've got some nerve YUY."
Howard rubbed his eye in remembrance, "Where the hell are you?" Duo called out toward the phone.
"Sure, but you owe me." Howard said as he hung up. "What did he say?" Trowa asked.
"He said that Quatre had gotten a call from Dorothy….."
Both men went rigid, any sentence that involved the name Dorothy never bodes well in any situation.
"Free bird? Honestly man, get a better ringtone."
Take Two: Ultimatum
Quatre walked through the doors of the Khushrenada Company building, the doorman graciously holding the door ajar. The white marbled floor reflected his figure as he walked toward the front desk. The young woman who held the position was rather stern looking, her no-nonsense attitude radiated around her. It nearly intimidated him, but he mustered up as much kindness as he could in addressing himself.
"Hello, I'm Quatre Winner. I have a meeting with Dorothy Catalonia on the top floor." What Quatre was oblivious to was the mere mentioning of his last name got her attention. The mere whisper of the Winner family demanded immediate obedience. The young woman nodded and told him the room number he was to be at.
The elevator took him toward the top floor, stopping every now and then to let people on and off. Every floor higher made Quatre more and more nervous. As far as Dorothy was concerned, she only knew of his association with Heero Yuy, and presumed that his interest in this company may pertain to Heeroo's release. It wouldn't take much to convince her that his means were for his family alone, accusing him of participating in the Peacecraft case three years ago was too much of a leap even for her.
But how would he go about this? They needed those schematics and the sooner the better. Finally the doors opened to the highest floor. He looked around to find the room number, but it didn't seem necessary since he spotted the figure of Dorothy Catalonia walking down the hall to greet him.
"Why good morning, Mr. Winner." She smiled sweetly, "I'm glad you could make it."
Quatre narrowed his eyes, "Can we speak somewhere privately."
Dorothy feigned embarrassment, "I didn't know you were so forward, Mr. Winner."
She laughed at her insinuation and guided him toward a conference room, closing the door behind them.
" I've no idea why you arranged this, Miss Dorothy." he said as he took a seat in one of the chairs. Dorothy took her place atop the table and crossed her legs for comfort. "I think you do." She opened up her briefcase and took out several papers, handing them to Quatre.
"These are all the deposit transactions that you made three years ago right before the Peacecraft incident. What is strange is that the total amount that you deposited every two days after the robbery of the Peacecraft vault adds up to 1/6 the amount that was stolen. And it is interesting to know that the suspects aside from Heero Yuy were five other men. It is a strange coincidence is it not?"
Quatre took a long look at his own bank account history, that this woman decided it was her liberty to look up.
"You searched my financial records?" He asked. She smirked in return, "You don't think we let just anyone associate themselves with Khushrenada's company-- even the great Winner family needs some investigating every now and then."
He was terrified, but more for the others then himself. Heero had just gotten out, Duo had a family to support… His family name and history would keep 'Him" out of jail but not the others.
"What is it you want?" He asked hopelessly.
"The major question here is what do 'You" want, and I'll tell you what I want." She said and leaned against her elbows.
"I need the schematics to the Casino and Resort that Peacecraft and Khushrenada are opening in less then two weeks." He said bluntly.
"Well, if that's the case then I'll be glad to oblige. Although you must do something for me and don't worry I'm not after money…."
Take Three: Screw Germany
After a good hour after the german man dropped him off, Wufei was positively convinced that no country on the eastern side of the hemisphere was in his favor. He walked around the block several times looking for some sense of direction. The airfield down the road added to his annoyance as the passing planes flew by.
"SCREW GERMANY" He yelled out.
"It's a good thing most Germans don't speak English." a feminine voice called out. Wufei whipped his head back and was greeted by a woman in her early twenties, brown hair in braids.
"What took you so long?" She asked as she reached him. One could almost see the vein burst in his head.
"Excuse me? What took me so long? WHY YOU….." But he stopped himself short, no need to get his temper involved.
"You know what? Never mind. Did you arrange the transportation?" He asked. She fished through her bag and pulled out the tickets, plane tickets.
"Our flight leaves in three hours."
Take Four: Cordial Greetings on the Crowded streets
"I'll tell you more about it when I get there," Heero told Howard over the phone. He received news from Quatre about an hour ago that Dorothy Catalonia had contacted him last night. They couldn't take any initiative until they got more information on the situation. He had an address in his hands and his laptop stored in the bag over his shoulders.
"Just wait till I get there." He said as he hung up. People walked by him oblivious of his presence or nature, a fact he enjoyed. The morning was rather busy with pedestrians making their way to work or lunch, the normalcy he wished he could experience at least once in his life.
Looking back down at the address in his hands, he analyzed that he had about ten blocks to go to destination. Unwitting to him, he passed the great looming Sanc Bank, it's white columns pristine in the morning light. What he also wasn't aware of was the person directly in his path of walking, and déjà vu began to take place as he bumped directly into them, making them drop the papers they were carrying.
"Oh, perfect." A feminine voice snarled. The clear melody instantly struck a chord of familiarity to him.
"Relena?" It spilled out of him. Of course she would be here, she always goes to the bank at this time of day, it was like he subconsciously was wanting to see her. She didn't appear to hear him for she was too busy picking up the papers she dropped. Her hair was half loose and she adorned a white blouse and black skirt. He bent down and decided to help her, this forced her attention toward him when their hands touched and she raised her head for the first time to see his face.
"Wha….?" the shock was evident, along with a mixture of other feelings that Heero wasn't sure he wanted to know. She stared for a bit longer before standing up straight. He followed suit with his hands holding the rest of her papers.
"You need to watch your step." He said, hoping it would come out as much the jest as he intended.
It didn't. Her shock turned into a scowl.
"You've got some nerve, Heero Yuy." She seethed, "What, standing here to scoping out your next victim?" She meant for it to be a low blow, her aim wasn't off.
"That's not… its good to see you again." He tried. He failed.
"Oh, it's 'good to see you again." is that the standard line for people like you to say to those you've used?" She pushed past him, but he wouldn't allow it and grabbed her wrist.
"You know how I really feel." He tried to maintain his hold but she fought him.
"What? Victorious? You got what you wanted three years ago, so leave me alone." He knew that if she really had to, she would make a scene. Her struggles against him were meager by his standards but he knew she was truly trying to get away from him.
"I've found a man who knows what I'm worth by moral standards, not financial." She spat at him. It was his turn to scowl. "Treize Khushrenada isn't the type of man you think he is."
"And I suppose you've done all your homework on him, don't pretend to know things you don't." She walked away a bit before he called out with as much emotion as he could,
"I made a mistake. Please try to forgive me."
But she kept walking.
Take Five: Speeding up the process
"I am sorry about last night, perhaps another chance will come along." Treize said as he recalled the night before. Milliardo had faltered in his proposal plans to his girlfriend, and was feeling more sullen the normal.
"Its just as well, she got a call from her cousin this morning and will be flying out for the week, a family member of hers is getting married." Milliardo grumbled.
"I'm glad you could meet me today, Milliardo." Treize said as he took a sip of his coffee and got down to business. .
"It's always a pleasure, Treize. Although I was surprised at how impromptu this was." Milliardo responded. He sat opposite to his business associate.
"We should get this merger done with today, the sooner the better for both our financial situations." Treize explained and pulled out a manilla folder from his briefcase along with a pen.
"I agree, my sister is currently making her bank run and should be back with the hour." Milliardo said, checking his watch for confirmation.
"I was hoping to do this now, we could surprise her." Treize said as he signed his signature on the appropriate lines of the documents.
End of chapter7