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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options"
New Port City Sanc Palace Date 27th February AC 198 Time: 20:05 Duo “Coffee, Master Duo?” Duo glanced up from the reports set before him on the desk, the refusal on his lips dying. The light spilling into the semi darkened control room revealed the old retainer looked haggard, ready to collapse and had a tray, mugs and coffee pot with sandwiches in hand. The old man clearly wanted company. “Don’t mind if I do. Care to join me?” “I was hoping to have a word with you in private, if possible, Master Duo.” Pagan settled into the seat across from the desk and proceeded to pour coffee. Pagan, Duo reflected with a smile as he watched the process, had learned of his deep aversion to fine delicate cups that looked as though they would break at the slightest touch. Large mugs now made up Pagan’s offerings of coffee for the Preventer Agent and there were no delicate little sandwiches that were gone in one bite and a brief chew. Duo liked to know he was eating something and Pagan had ensured the menu was very much to Duo’s liking, including a liberal sprinkling of Hamburgers in the diet. Of course, to salve Pagan’s sensibilities, Duo had had to accept the odd exotic ingredient in said hamburgers and sandwiches. The ex Gundam pilot admitted he’d had the pleasure of tasting some really exceptional hamburgers since Pagan had spoken to the chef. The mutual compromises made between Pagan and the agent further cemented a growing friendship between the two and Duo worked hard to nurture the relationship. He liked the old man and thought he worked harder than he should at his age, though Pagan assured him that his function all too often lately, was as an adviser and supervisor to the younger and newer staff. “Don’t have to be anywhere for a while, so I’m all yours. What can I do you for?” The old man smiled at the turn of phrase and poured himself a mug of coffee. “Just company, mainly.” He returned as there came a light tap on the door. “Yeah?” Duo called. Agent Jacynth popped her head around the door. “Oh . Sorry. Did I interrupt?” “ ‘S okay. What’s up?” “The delegates are settled for the dinner and I was wondering if I couldn’t take this opportunity to go fetch something to eat?” “Take an hour off. I’ll log you as off duty but keep your ear piece on receive, just incase there is a need for you.” “Excuse me, Miss. If you go to the first kitchen you will find a buffet set out for the agents this evening. If you do not mind eating something of the menu the delegates are enjoying, that is.” The last was said with a smirk big enough to escape the moustache and quick glance at Duo. Jacynth chuckled, well aware of what Duo thought of gourmet meals. “Thanks, Pagan. You do look after us.” “My pleasure, Miss.” The door closed behind Jacynth and Duo lifted the club sandwich and took a huge bite. “So wa’cn’d’fo’u?” At the arch of one bushy eyebrow Duo choked on the sandwich, chewed quickly and choked down the food, following it with coffee and grinned sheepishly at the retainer’s disapproval. “Sorry, Pagan.” “One enjoys the food more if one eats at a more leisurely pace, young man. I believe it is also better for one’s digestion if the food is taken in smaller and well chewed portions.” “Man, you’ll end up civilizing me, Pagan.” “That would please me to no end, Master Duo.” Carefully blank faced, but sparkling eyes gave him away. “Yeesh. Okay, I’ll behave. What did you need me for?” The old man seemed to consider his words with a gravity that sparked alarm bells ringing in the agents mind. Over the days that he had been resident in the palace Duo had come to have a deep respect for the retainer. He never raised his voice nor expressed obvious disapproval. Usually a look was enough. He ruled the service staff with a gentle authority that no one questioned and he seemed to be respected by all. “Master Duo, I just do not know what to do. I have served the Peacecraft household for my entire life. I saw the funeral of Miss Relena’s grandsire, and the coronation of her father. I saw the fall of Sanc and I took her from the fire and to Mr. Darlian, the King’s friend. I returned to Sanc to try to find evidence of Master Milliardo’s death-or survival. It took me nine months to find him and then I had to find a place where he might be safe. I returned to the Darlian’s with the Prince and it was made very plain that he was not wanted. No one wanted to take on the heir to Sanc’s fallen crown. He was only six. A very impressionable boy who sincerely loved his little sister and mourned that he was not loved enough by anyone to take him in. Everyone offered to take the Princess, but no one wanted the Prince, and they said so, all too often, in his hearing. The most I could garner for Sanc’s heir was anonymity in a boarding school.” Duo watched the old man in silence, offering no comment as Pagan paused to wet his throat with the coffee and for a time stare at his hands, wrinkled and worn, wrapping the mug. The old man had the air of someone who had come to a decision, and it pained him greatly to have made it. Duo waited, deciding that patience was needed here. Patience and silence to let the old man consider his thoughts when needed. “I placed Master Milliardo in the school and promised him it was only temporary; that I would find another place for him, one more to his liking and station. The hardest thing I have ever had to do was leave that child in that school, after all that had happened to him. I traveled Europe and the continent, going to friends and then acquaintances of the King, searching for a family to take the boy in. I feared leaving him in the school for any appreciable length of time.” The old man sighed. “Many are the friends of a King if they expect to gain something by the association, Master Duo. Many indeed. Few are willing to admit to friendship with a murdered King. Fewer still are willing to put their lives in danger for the King’s heir.” Still Duo remained silent, watching Pagan and wondering why the old man chose now to speak of this to him. He had the feeling that something had happened that the retainer could no longer ignore. He had given Duo the impression that he was extremely loyal to Relena. He could not see where this was going, but he had the impression he was about to learn something really interesting. “I was desperate. Those I felt I could trust and that King Stephan would have approved of had no inclination to assist. I had begun to investigate those I would ordinarily not consider, but I felt I had no choice. One of these families had close ties to the Alliance, but also blood kinship and various ties through marriage to the Peacecraft family. They had a young son, though he was five years older than Master Milliardo. I almost never went to see them. For a year they had been touring the colonies, a gift to their son who would be entering a military academy in the New Year. The two boys had gotten on well at their last meeting, almost a year before Sanc fell, despite the age difference. I did not know if I could trust them not to hand the child over to the Alliance. Duke Heinrich was a part of the Alliance Military, after all.” “What happened?” Duo prompted when Pagan fell silent and stared into his empty coffee mug for a time. “It is strange that quite often it is the people you least expect to help, who are the ones who assist you when you need it the most. Duke Heinrich and Duchess Anna insisted that Master Milliardo be brought to their Kiev estate immediately I considered it safe. They would not hear of him going anywhere else. I was assured any number of times that he would be protected, and that the Alliance would not learn of his continued survival. He was wholeheartedly welcomed into the Kushrenada family, a tired, broken hearted little boy who had had his world destroyed on what should have been a happy day. He had lost his sister and been told to his face so many times that he was not wanted. Is it any wonder he gave his loyalty to those who proved he could trust them? Was it so unreasonable that he would trust those who showed him love and simple honest caring again?” Duo watched, uncomfortable at the sight of tears in the old man’s eyes. Pagan saw this as fresh, not old hurt. Duo could only wonder and wait patiently to learn what had happened to stir up this old pain that surely had been dealt with years before. It had all happened a long time ago. “No. Not at all.” Duo whispered. “Treize Kushrenada was the son?” “Yes. He took Master Milliardo under his wing at every opportunity. I left him with the family as it was considered safer that way, but I communicated regularly with Master Treize over the years and with Master Milliardo weekly. The Kushrenada’s were not told of the princess’s survival. I deemed it safer and Master Milliardo promised not to tell. In his letters I saw him gradually come alive again. I told him of his sister as she grew. He always wanted to hear about Miss Relena.” A tired, shaky sigh. “He would write to her, but Mr. Darlian would not allow me to read the letters to her and had them destroyed. I was forbidden to associate with her when I disobeyed his instructions to destroy the letters and they were found. You see, I had decided to keep his letters to his sister and give them to her when she was older. After I was discovered my mail was vetted and any letters to Relena from her brother were destroyed. I was threatened with dismissal if I did not put a stop to the letters.” Duo poured more coffee, silent and watched the old man. He ran an experienced eye over the bank of monitors on the east wall and looked back to Pagan. He had not, before, wondered about the early life of the heirs to Sanc. He had had other things on his mind, like his attempts to crawl out of the slums of L2 and carve a future for himself. It was far from a boring conversation, however and, indeed it put a new perspective on the relationship between Zechs and Treize Kushrenada. There was, too, the fact that Pagan had not broached the actual reason for his presence here this evening. That gem had still to work its way into the conversation. “I wrote to the Duke and explained to him about Relena and the need for secrecy. I knew it would hurt Master Milliardo, but I could not foresee any other action. Duke Heinrich understood and after that, while I received mail from Master Milliardo, the letters for Miss Relena stopped.” “What happened today, Pagan?” Duo set aside his coffee mug. It was time to get to the bones of this discussion. “It appears that I overstepped my place, Master Duo.” For a long moment he was silent, then sighed heavily. “I defended Master Milliardo to Miss Relena.” “Oh.” Duo was uncertain exactly what to say. Uncertain what Pagan wanted him to say, or do. Milliardo Peacecraft was a taboo subject in the palace. What could possibly have made Pagan breach that rule? “Miss Relena was spoiled outrageously by the Darlian’s, who failed to have children of their own. I have waited patiently for her to show maturity. She seems to be showing that maturity in every regard, except where it comes to her family. It appears that the peace of mind of every politician on Earth is more important to her, than for her to accept that she has a brother who has a will of his own.” “Exactly what is Miss Relena’s problem when it comes to Zechs?” Duo was hesitant to ask, but he felt he owed it to Pagan to try to understand. Besides, if he was lucky it could lead to information he desperately sought to make sense of Romefeller’s hunt. “Everything.” Pagan breathed, wincing. Duo hesitated a moment, uncertain, then replied. “Could we be, maybe, a little more explicit here?” “She has known only what a spoiled child from an exceedingly rich family knows of life. I do not believe that she has any true concept of what life is like, for the less privileged than those of her station. She has not lived with the children of the streets in a country ravaged by massacre. She has not found every door shut in her face. She has not lived as one of lower class. She has been the princess in the ivory tower all of her life. Master Milliardo has lived a much varied life. He has lived as a prince; trained as a soldier, not just as an elite soldier, Master Duo, but as a common soldier. He had to earn his place in OZ, as did Colonel Kushrenada. Neither were handed their positions because of their birth. They were just one of many in the academy who had to earn their ranks. They were brilliant and suited to lead. Both served time amid the rank and file and as special agents under the Alliance and both had ample opportunity to gain an understanding of life beyond gilded halls.” Pagan stood and moved to the bank of monitors and watched the screens depicting the dinner party in progress in one of the dining rooms of the palace. This evening it was a party of thirty delegates from Earth’s European area and from the L3 colony. Trade discussions, Duo knew. Relena was resplendent in a gown of pale blue satin with white and blue flowers in her hair. She was the gracious hostess, polite, soft spoken. Perfect. “This is what Miss Relena knows. The Darlian’s raised her as a princess, with all the privileges and very little of the responsibility. She feels that she must attain King Stephan’s ideal of the Perfect Peace Principle, yet she is struggling with it, because she misunderstands it.” Pagan sighed, hanging his head. “King Stephan advocated forgiveness and tolerance above all. That is the basis of his vision of perfect peace, not just the wholesale abolition of weapons. Forgiveness and tolerance of others views are integral to peace being a viable way of life.” Duo watched the old man as he turned from the monitors and resumed his seat. Pagan shook his head slowly and hunched in his seat, for the first time looking his life, Duo decided. Pagan had been around a long time, and seen much tragedy in his years. Duo could see it all too clearly showing on his face this night. Pagan actually looked like a tired old man. That just was not the man Duo had come to know. “Master Milliardo may have been wrong in going about his ideas the way he did, but his heart was in the right place. Yes, people died. People would have died had the wars continued. May still die, as the future will reveal, but I can not believe that he intended the destruction of the Earth. He wanted humanity to see the ugliness and the tragedy that is war. The colonists know how fragile their worlds of metal are, but those of the Earth did not give thought to how fragile this planet is. What could threaten the lives they lived here? In a colony a war would destroy everyone. The colony itself would become so much rubble floating in space. On Earth, it is different. Yes, there have been wars. No sooner does one end than another would begin. A cycle that had to be broken. But how? It was drastic. I do not say that I agree with his methods. I do not, as a matter of fact, but I believe I can understand his reasoning, knowing him as I have. The people of Earth had to look at their planet just once, as a colonist has been forced to look at their fragile metal shell for all of their lives. They are panicked, just now. Working together. What happens when the fear that woke them up to the vulnerability of the planet fades? A generation. Two. By three generations at most, who will be alive to remember? Has he frightened mankind enough to make them pacifists forever? No. I do not believe that was even his intention.” Duo arched an eyebrow. “No?” “No, Mr. Maxwell, I do not think so. I do not claim to understand all of his reasoning, but I do know him well enough to know that he was never a cruel or heartless young man. Exactly the opposite, in truth. There was a lot of love in that little boy whom no one wanted. It scarred him in many ways. He would never forget. Never. He would never forget King Stephan, but he is his mother’s son and Queen Katerina was not half the pacifist many presumed her to be.” “What has Relena done, Pagan? What made you defend Zechs to her when you know she’s banned all mention of him?” “A sense of fair play, Mr. Maxwell. I know that you have duties and that I can not keep you much longer, but I have a request to make of you. You were a Gundam Pilot. You are now a Preventer. I find you to be a very intelligent young man and quite capable. I was wondering if you might not do an old man a favor.” Duo rubbed absently at the tip of his braid, threading his fingers repeatedly through the loose hairs. “What might that be?” “Could you find Master Milliardo? Before Miss Relena makes a very serious mistake.” “The mistake being?” Duo tensed. Here it was. The reason for all of this old man’s pain. Pagan lowered his head and heaved a heavy, tired sigh. “I am too old to stand between the two, nor is it my place to do so. Where ever Master Milliardo is, he will not remain there despite what ever precautions Miss Relena and the Earth Sphere Unified Nation Government have taken; should Miss Relena carry out her threat.” Pagan met Duo’s eyes, his own intense. “Taking custody of his children from him and bringing them to Earth where they can be properly educated, away from his influence, will serve only to shatter whatever love he may still hold for her and Earth. Family should stick together, Mr. Maxwell. Master Milliardo has lost too much in life, to allow any child of his to be taken from him. The breach between the two would be irreversible and bitter indeed. I am very much afraid that war between the Peacecraft siblings could drag in the entire Earth Sphere.” “Children? Wha-? When?” Duo stared in disbelief at Pagan. “I do not know. I chanced upon Miss Relena and a woman I believe to be an agent of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. The Agent reported that it has been confirmed Master Milliardo has two children. Twins, born recently, I believe. The agent has delivered to Miss Relena the information, and also has given her a week to make her recommendations concerning the children. I waited for the agent to leave before I approached Miss Relena. Perhaps I should have waited for her to recover her composure. We argued and Miss Relena would not tell me more, nor is she under any obligation to do so, I admit. I just think it is wrong to confine her brother as he has been bound, and an horrendous thing to threaten to separate him from his children.” Duo was aware that he was gaping at the old man and hastily closed his mouth. Of all the possible things he had been expecting, this was surely the least likely. One he had never given thought to considering. “Ahm, who’s the mother?” Duo dared to ask. “Miss Noin?” “I do not know, Master Duo.” “Relena better hope it’s not Miss Noin if she tries taking those kids. Somehow I can’t see Noin taking that quietly.” “Yes, Mr. Maxwell. My thoughts exactly.” t.b.c
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