"The completed ESUN colony will be launching its opening today. Dignitaries from all of the colonies and the moon will attend to witness and celebrate its opening. This colony will be where the ESUN government will be located and will serve as an economic zone. This place will also function as a port to those who will visit earth, as well as, catch transportation to the moon or to designated colonies…."
Lady Une turned off the television and focused her attention to the mirror in front of her. She fixes her hair and applied the final touches of her make-up. She leaned closer in the mirror and inspected her face once again when a knock sounded in her door.
"Who is it?" She asked.
"Agent Noin ma'am." A voice answered behind the door.
"Come in." She ordered. The door opened and Noin walked into her room.
Lady Une observed her thru the mirror and noticed that she also changed her clothes for the occasion. "Yes Noin? What can I do for you?" She inquired.
"I am interested to know commander if the current ESUN Minister will be arriving alone in her shuttle." She inquired. "We may have to secure her arrival."
"No need." Lady Une replied. "She informed me just this moment that she just arrived." She turned from the mirror and went towards the bed to retrieve her bag. "She is already at the designated place."
"She always surprises me." Noin remarked with a shake of her head. "She has disregarded every security personnel we have recommended." She looked at Une. "I've always wondered time and time again if she has her own bodyguards." She approached a chair and sat down, carefully arranging her dress to lessen the creases. She settled comfortably and folded her hands in her lap.
"I believe, I left you with that assignment lieutenant." Lady Une remarked dryly. She lifted the remote from the dresser and completely turned the television off. "Why are you still surprised? Even the pilots were left hanging as to how she manages to appear at places without any help." She smiled ruefully and shook her head while she arranged her shawl around her shoulders. "I cannot forget that day when they all first met her face to face. Their first impression of her, were-----quite colorful. I bet, Duo told you what happened."
Noin laughed heartily at the reminder. "I was so shocked by the time Duo was finished. Even the other pilots were not all that reserved with their bold descriptions." She stopped to catch her breath and smiled. "It was the first time that a certain individual can solicit emotions from the stoic trio."
"It was the beginning of a budding friendship." Lady Une remarked. She looked at Noin and both of them laughed.
"OR not!" They laughed even louder.
"We will be late," Lady Une reminded her companion, "If we don't get out of here." She moved towards the door and opened it. Lieutenant Noin stood and followed her.
The two walked towards the elevator and waited. When it reached their floor, the doors flew open and revealed its occupants. Lady Une just inclined her head and stepped inside followed by Noin. When the doors closed, the elevator started to move down to the lobby.
"Everything set for this occasion?" Lady Une inquired to no one particular, her demeanor told the occupants otherwise.
"Yes ma'am." Trowa replied. "All are in place and secured."
"Good." Their superior replied. She noticed, in the corner of her eyes, her braided subordinate kept on tugging the sleeves of his tuxedo. "Are you looking forward to this banquet Mister Maxwell?"
"I'm looking forward to be out of it!" He grudgingly replied. "Aside from that, tuxedo's are for penguins! Not for me!"
"Duo!" A platinum blond figure scolded his braided companion. "I'm sorry for his outburst ma'am."
"Don't apologize Mister Winner." Lady Une replied with a smile in her voice. "Besides, we share the same sentiments." She stood up straighter and squared her shoulders when the indicator told her that they are near the lobby. It stopped when it reached the floor, but before the doors opened she turned around and regarded them with a motherly look. "Have fun! This is a party after all." She turned when the doors opened and walked out. The sound of voices from the crowd greeted them. The others were rooted at their spot for a few seconds when they heard Noin cleared her throat.
"Let's get going gentlemen." The lieutenant told them and held out her hand towards Quatre. Quatre took it and led her out of the elevator. The others followed suit.
"Gentlemen! You all look dashing! I must say!" A voice from their left commented. They all stopped and turned their heads and saw Dorothy Catalonia wearing a gold colored gown.
"And it just gotten worse!" Duo muttered harshly. An elbow hit him in the side and he turned towards the man who gave him the nudge. He found it was Trowa and glared. "What did you do that for!"
"Blend in Duo." His friend advised him. He looked towards Dorothy without any expression and just inclined his head. He turned and walked away. Duo followed him without even looking.
The lieutenant and Quatre were left behind with the girl. "What did I do?" She asked the two mockingly.
Quatre noticed the tone behind the question but did not take the bait. "They were just not used to suits." He stated with nonchalance. "How is your flight Miss Catalonia?" He politely asked.
Taking the cue she demurely replied. "It was fine." She started to walk. "The flight was marvelous!" Which caused the two to look at each other with slight annoyance at her forced bravado.
"That's nice!" Noin replied, swallowing bile that might threaten to choke her.
"No problems in checking flights and baggage handling?" Quatre continued with the pretense.
"No problem at all." She waved a hand and arranged her shawl. She noticed someone and changed direction. "See you!" She addressed once again the duo without even looking.
"Not if I can help it!" Noin muttered fiercely. She looked at Quatre. "Hope we don't run into her soon!" She literally dragged Quatre along with her while she kept a look out for Miss Dorothy Catalonia. The two of them didn't notice the figure that just stepped in and they collided. Surprisingly, the figure even in high heels was not thrown hard from the impact. "Ooopppsss! I'm so sorry!" Noin apologized, but stood frozen when she noticed the person she is apologizing.
Quatre, who also noticed her, cannot hold his expression of disdain. "Good evening Minister." He muttered in a low voice.
The Minister just stared at both of them, coolly, without any expression. Even her eyes did not reveal any emotions. She scanned the crowd and noticed no one paid any attention to the little encounter. She just inclined her head to Quatre's greeting and just walked away. She waded in and out of the crowd until she disappeared from sight.
"I cannot believe it!" Noin exclaimed. "Of all people, we have to run into the ice princess!"
"I just don't know, what's in her." Quatre commented. "She sets my teeth to grinding." He looked at Noin and noticed her surprised expression. He smiled apologetically and shrugged. "I was supposed to be a businessman, but with her I have no idea why I react in such a manner." He looked up when he heard the Minister is called to give her speech.
The audience clapped politely and waited when she reached the podium. A hush fell over the crowd when she is standing behind the microphone. The minister took her time looking at her audience as if looking for someone. When she spotted the person, she smiled.
"Representatives from the moon and colonies, presidents from the nations of Earth, guests, ladies and gentlemen good evening!" She paused for a second and continued. "Our struggles to maintain peace is hopefully addressed by building this colony and moving the ESUN government from earth to space. I hope that the action will make the inhabitants of the colonies and the moon realize the sincerity of our efforts to unite the human race. There should be no distinction between us. Whether we are born in earth, the moon, or the colonies. We are all humans. We must forget the reasons why there are those who wished to live in the moon or leave earth to build colonies and live in it. We have to remember that we have the potentials to do what we do best. That is, to discover new things and improve the conditions of our fellow human beings. We also should not alienate each other; instead we have to help each other for the betterment of our future." She stopped to raise her right hand to stop the applause from her audience. "What we have built; this colony, is a testament to the goals we want. Peace, prosperity and a future to all of us. The colony is now officially open! Welcome everyone!" Her speech finished, she turned her attention from going down the stairs. She expertly moved away from the crowd gathering to congratulate her and focused her attention to the person coming towards her. The man who approached her signaled the orchestra and the waltz started playing. He expertly guided her to the dance floor and they danced. Other couples joined them and the party is back to normal.
"She has good taste." A lady clad in an all white gown stated. "Who is he I wonder?" She looked at her lady companion with a sly smile. "Do you still have any connections? She paused with a smile. "You can find out." She leaned closer to whisper. "Maybe you might find out that she's the one who instigated the whole accident so that she can be the next minister of ESUN. A month after being a temporary vice-foreign minister, six months later she is sworn in as the interim ESUN minister. Bold move."
Her companion, who is covered in a gold colored gown, raised her eyebrows in mused expression. "I still have connections." She replied. "So far, information I've gathered, regarding her are either false or there's none at all."
"Dorothy!" The woman in white exclaimed. "Have you lost your touch?" She looked at her with a surprised expression.
"Louise, I just hit an obstacle." She assured her friend. "Do not worry, you will know every teeny detail from me." She smiled smugly and continued to stare at the Minister dancing with her partner.
The Minister with her partner kept on dancing, knowing that the crowd is watching their every move. Her partner noticed her change of mood danced her away from the crowded dance floor. He guided her to a corner near a window.
"It's been two years." Her partner stated. He noticed a waiter coming their way and motioned him to come closer. He took two glasses of punch and offered the other one to the minister. "Well, how are you holding up?" He asked.
"Fine." She replied. "There are ups and downs, but, still manageable." She took a sip and swallowed her drink. "I'm going to be really happy when the new minister will be elected." She looked at the window and stared at the vision of earth. "I miss everyone." She said wistfully. "How are they?"
"Always asking when you will be back." He replied. "After here, there's more work for you out there." He stated in a joking manner.
"At least, probing eyes will not follow me everywhere." She stated. "It's fun doing the work I really want. Not this. I feel like an old woman."
Her partner chuckled. "Yeah! I noticed." He eyed her evening gown and grinned. "Too prim. But, your taste is still exceptional. Your coiffeur is not arranged in your age. You look older, I'm sorry to say."
"Peter!" She playfully slapped him in the arm and laughed. "That's not the right thing to say."
"Hey!" He acted hurt. "I'm just being honest."
"I know." She laughingly replied.
"Have you talked to him yet?" He asked quietly. "Awww! Come on Raje. You promised." He folded his arms across his chest looking at her with an annoyed expression when she did not answer him.
"Soon as I'm able." She replied that annoyed her friend further. "I'm still busy." She explained.
"I know you can get in touch with him even when you are busy." He argued. "The two of you must reconcile. He is your best friend for god sake!" He whispered fiercely. "You cannot replace a true friend." He finished.
"I know what I'm doing." Raje replied with venom. Her expression changed to that of an unemotional mask that her friend knows it well.
"Liza says hello." Peter replied. "My flight leaves two hours from now." He looked at his watch and stared at her. "I implore you Raje, please talk to him. He no longer talks to us. He no longer visits."
"Soon." She gave him a hard stare and took a sip of her punch. It at once softened and she moved closer to give him a kiss in the cheek. She took his hand and grasped it tightly. "Travel safely."
Peter just pursed his lips in a thin line and gave a deep sigh. "Soon. Okay." He waved a finger at her face. "I hold you to that. See you soon."
"Regards to Liza and the children for me." She told him.
"I will." He took her elbow and guided her towards a circle of people talking. "Take care." He walked away.
The circle of people where she headed broke out and Lady Une stepped out. She approached her with stone set features. "Commander, my office at seven a.m. sharp tomorrow. Enjoy your evening." She inclined her head towards Lady Une's companions and walked away.
"The thermometer is back to normal." Sally commented. "I thought we will skate on ice if she stayed much longer."
"Sally!" Relena softly admonished.
"I'm not going to take back what I just said." Sally replied. "I just aptly described the situation."
"She is an enigma." Milliardo Peacecraft stated. The others looked at him strangely. "Have you noticed how she conversed with her dance partner?"
"And how did you noticed that?" Noin looked at him with a distasteful reaction. His sister Relena looked at him the same way.
"If you wish to know more of your opponent you must observe." He calmly instructed. "I noticed that she treats him differently than those of her associates. It tells you something. Don't you think so?" He looked at Heero Yuy.
"I have to look into something." Heero turned and walked away.
"Me too." Wufei told them. He followed Heero.
"We have to go." Quatre hurriedly followed his two comrades. Trowa and Duo followed suit.
Milliardo Peacecraft, Lady Une, Relena Peacecraft, Sally Po, and Lucrezia Noin were all left behind.
"I hope they find some answers." Relena said.