Last Resistance to Peace

Chapter 22

by Scarlet Eve

A.C. 205

April 3

Dorothy followed Colonel Une down the hall at a distance, trying to keep her stalking less obvious. She assumed that Une was heading to the largest conference room, where high-ranking members of the Romefeller Foundation typically gathered. Dorothy had seen those members arrived, though she hadn't heard about any formal meeting. In a small way, Dorothy was hurt that she wasn't invited to whatever gathering was scheduled, but as usual, she would nose her way in anyway.

Besides, she still couldn't shake the feeling that Une was up to something - something that was behind Treize's back.

Une reached the conference room and reached out with her hand to grasp the door handle. Dorothy sidled up to her. "I didn't know there was a members' meeting today," Dorothy said. Une's head snapped to Dorothy, the light from above glinting off the metal rims of Une's glasses.

"It's a supplementary meeting," Une said. "Your presence will not be necessary."

"It seems like it's not necessary for my cousin to be there either," Dorothy said.

"It's not. This is beneath him," Une said. "Excuse me."

Une pulled the door open and slipped inside, hastily closed the door, and locked it before Dorothy could wedge her foot in. Dorothy swore under her breath and turned away. What would need to be discussed by the Romefeller members that wouldn't include both herself and Treize. They were Romefeller, not that conniving woman who called herself Treize's right-hand-woman.

"Hmm…" Dorothy said outloud, walking away from the conference room to her own office. The situation warranted further investigation.

AC 205

April 3

Relena was watching the latest footage of an attack on an OZ military complex by the maroon gundam when her brother entered her office. She gave him a dark look, to which he simply smiled.

"Where have you been?" she demanded, rising up from her chair and stepping around her desk. Milliardo shrugged his shoulders.

"Doing my princely duties, dear sister," he replied, to which Relena rolled her eyes.

"I know that's you," she said, pointing to her computer screen. Milliardo shrugged his shoulders.

"When you have proof, you may justly accuse me," he said.

"That symbol -"

"Has no known associations with anything in the past," Milliardo finished for her. He crossed the room and pulled Relena into a brief hug. "Just don't worry about it."

"How can you say that? OZ attacked the us because they assumed that gundam came from here," she said. "I have already received a note from the Romefeller foundation about having hidden mobile suits, which is apparently against their charter."

"Of course it is," Milliardo mumbled.

"Please take this seriously, Milliardo. We have to protect the Sanc Kingdom. I know I was forced to join Romefeller, but I can still preach peace. That at least, has not been taken away from me. Yet."

"As I said, just don't worry about it. I'll take care of it," he said. Relena narrowed her eyes at him, but he smiled once more. "The Lightning Count wouldn't want the queen of the Sanc Kingdom to worry."

"Who is the Lightning Count?" she asked, but Milliardo had already turned away and was striding towards the door. He waved a hand over his shoulder.

"Don't worry, dear sister. He's on your side."

Relena glared at his back as he exited the office.

She only had a brief moment alone before someone else knocked at her door. She signed and called out, "Come in."

The door opened and the two Gundam pilots entered the office, apparently escorted by no one. How they found her office was a wonder, but not quite a surprise.

Duo Maxwell, the pilot of the Deathscythe gundam, was grinning while his long braid bounced with his steps, while his partner, Heero Yuy, pilot of Wing, scowled beside him.

Relena repressed a long sigh and stood up to greet them.

"I hope you are you finding your accommodations to your satisfaction," Relena said. Heero continued to scowl while Duo answered for the both of them.

"Ah, they're perfect, your highness," Duo said, waving a dismissive hand. "We're here on OZ business." Relena sank back into her chair and motioned for the two to sit across from her. They obliged.

"What else could OZ possibly want from me?" she asked.

"I'm sure you know about the attacks from last night by the Epyon gundam," Duo said. Relena nodded her head. "We have to investigate."

"Then shouldn't you be at the bases that Epyon attacked?" Relena asked, unable to hide the snarkiness in her voice. Heero scowled further, which was apparently possible, and Duo laughed out loud.

"We're leaving that to our other OZ comrades," Duo said. "We have to know where you and your brother were that night."

"I was right here," she said, and waved a hand to the corner of the room, near the ceiling. "The security cameras will tell you anything you want to know. My head of security would be more than happy to show you."

"What about your brother?" Heero said, his voice low and gravely.

"I cannot account for his whereabouts. You'll have to ask him yourself," she said.

"We intend to," Heero replied. Duo rolled his eyes.

"You guys are so formal," he complained.

Relena blinked at him. "Excuse me?"

"You guys sound like you're talking about a business memo or something. Lighten up," Duo said, stretching his arms up over his head. Heero and Relena both stared at him.

"This isn't a locker room," Heero said to Duo, while at the same time, Relena said,

"That's how it's done with royalty." Duo shook his head.

"Whatever floats your both. I think you both would be less stressed out if you lightened up a bit."

For just a moment, one fleeting moment, Relena and Heero's gazes met, both sharing a look of confusion and annoyance to Duo's words. Relena found her lips curling into a slight smile, while Heero simply gazed at her with less steel in his eyes than normal. It was only when a buzz crawled up her shoulders and down her back, did Relena look away.

"I think that's quite enough of an interrogation," Relena said, standing up from her desk. "You're dismissed."

Duo shrugged and popped up out of the chair, while Heero followed suit. Before they left, however, Duo had a parting comment.

"I hope we're getting invited to this birthday party that I hear the other soldiers talking about," he said, giving Relena a wink, which she resented, just a little bit. She swallowed hard and said,

"I'll see to it that you receive an invitation."

A/N: I won't be here for Sunday Funday, so I'm posting early. VACATIOONNN

-SE