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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"
Sanc New Port City Date: 1st March AC 198 Time: 22:40 Sally Po Peace. She should have known better. It had been her most fervent desire that she not see a return to what she termed the 'dark days' when the whole world seemed to take a step over the brink into insanity. She should have known better. Never having been one to indulge in wild flights of fantasy, she had prided herself on being something of a realist. Certainly she tried to look deeper into the events that shaped the world and the lives of people around her than the initial surface appearances would suggest. She tried to look beyond the surface into the deeper meanings that most people considered after the events had passed them by. She did however, after the fact, give even deeper consideration into the events surrounding the One Year War and it had been that long study of circumstance that led to her conviction that the events of the One Year War had been meticulously planned. There had been so much more to the One Year War than most people suspected. Just how much information she had managed to acquire had surprised her. It was not readily available, but it was there for anyone who really wanted to dissect events and get to the core. The whole world and the people of the colonies of the Earth Sphere knew the names of Kushrenada and Peacecraft. How many people had bothered to seek that information that was waiting to be found? It would be another few years at least before the war was analyzed by the historians and what would happen then would be interesting indeed. Would they sit on the information she had found? Would they tell all or would they determine that the Earth Sphere was not ready to learn the truth of the conflict? Kushrenada had been revered by the men and women who worked under his command. He had founded Oz and set it apart from the Alliance. He had worked for the most part quietly and steadily toward his goals, only in the last two to three years had he come forward into the general public view. He had been called His Excellency from very early days, the first references beginning in the founding of Oz and in the last days of the war he had, in effect been the King of the World. People tended to forget that. During those last days Kushrenada had taken over from Relena Peacecraft, the recognized Queen of the World. It would have been a farce to even think of Relena at the helm of a defensive force against the White Fang Rebels. The confrontation between White Fang and the Earth was not one that could have been solved by diplomatic means. It had been one fight that had had to be staged for all to witness. Staged. Yes, she had no doubt that it had all been staged. All of it meticulously planned from the start. No one in their right mind would have believed that Treize Kushrenada would turn to the colonies and champion their cause. He had been the shining star of the Earth Military. He had commanded the armies of Earth and he had championed the movement against the atrocities called Mobile Dolls. Had he known the dolls would be brought into the war? He must have at least suspected that their use would become wide-spread as his actions in reacting to them had been cool and decisive. He had openly opposed Romefeller on the use of the soulless killing machines and been imprisoned for his views. By those actions his name had been cleared of any lingering tarnish from the abuses perpetrated in the past. He had become a symbol. So many symbols had arisen in that time of conflict. The world had fought war after war in a succession of dictatorships and rebellions that saw an Alliance that in itself had rotted and corrupted from within. That was much the way of things for more than a hundred years. Very little in the way of peace had existed for more than a few months at a time for much of the world. You had the little pockets of peaceful nations, much like Sanc, which had been too small to be bothered with by the larger countries seeking control. Yet those little countries over time had steadily gained influence, until the Sanc kingdom had been made an example by the Alliance. Peace under suppression by the Alliance had been no peace at all and one conflict after another had hounded the earth and eventually moved into the colonies. At first in small, seemingly isolated incidents and then in bolder moves until those of strong and independent will would take no more. //So many generations have not known what true peace was. My family has been fighting for four generations. Martyr after martyr had come and gone in recurring waves of violence and death. It seemed to be never ending.// It had been never ending, until the One Year War. //Just one war amongst many, I thought, but it created a new world order where there was actually a hope of lasting peace.// In the one battle countries and factions that had been divided for the last two hundred years had joined together in a united effort to establish a unifying result. For one battle more than eighty percent of the Earth Spheres entire compliment of mobile suits and the most advanced weaponry been gathered. And been quite neatly wiped out. Between Kushrenada's forces and those assembled by the White Fang Rebels, the military factions had effectively been gathered together and their weapons had been decimated. How many people had really looked at the casualty figures and realized that the death toll had been negligible for the size of the battle that had taken place? Had anyone really understood what Mobile dolls were capable of doing in the hands of a master programmer? She knew the man's military record by heart. She knew the subjects he had studied during his education. She had the advantage of having taken the time to speak at length with Dorothy Catalonia and knew who had designed the computer system that had enable Dorothy to become Mistress of the Dolls. They had been played. The entire world had been played, but not to its detriment. No. The entire war had been meticulously planned and executed and now there was the chance that the peace could survive. Kushrenada and Peacecraft between them had engineered this opportunity for the Earth and her colonies to experience a lasting peace. They had already had this peace last longer that any peaceful period within the last two centuries. Not just local pockets of peace, but a world spanning period of quiet. Yes, there were incidents, but small incidents. Minor skirmishes which the Preventers had put down quickly, and quietly. There had been no global threats, other than that presented by the Barton Incursion and that had taken a few weeks and only a couple of minor battles. Only the one major battle had needed to be fought, and was it not amazing that Merquise had appeared again to put down the rebellion? Had he been alive she did not doubt that Kushrenada would have been there too. Kushrenada. Treize Kushrenada had been an amazingly charismatic man with an unprecedented sense of timing and political savvy. The perfect King of the World, should a warrior King be needed. There was the important point, she knew. Kushrenada had taken over from Relena only when it was clear that it would be a farce to keep the girl in power during a war. He had obviously had the means by which to take over before Relena had been declared Queen of the World and yet he had not done so. He had been biding his time. If she was right in her musings and the entire battle had been carefully set up, then she had to wonder if he had known about the red-haired child? Had he known that he was a father when he had planned to rip the world apart and reshape it? //Most likely not.// she mused. It was very likely that Treize Kushrenada had not known about his daughter. //I still have sources to speak to and data to sift through, but I think I have enough to surmise that they planned it together. Both willing to die to see that there was finally a peace. Something went wrong with the plan though. Zechs survived. I honestly do not think that he intended to.// It was a quiet night. Rain had begun to fall more heavily and the temperature had dropped somewhat, so that now sleet made the roads treacherous. It was a night she would have preferred to see from the comfort of her home and the proximity of a roaring fire. She knew this road so well, but even so she must exercise care. Necessity required she be out and about tonight and she would not chance her own safety or the safety of others. It was imminently pleasing to see just how many people were not on the roads at this hour, especially when she would have in her custody the Vice Foreign Minister and the red-haired child who had grown so much since she had been introduced to the Earth Sphere in a blaze of glory and domination. That Mariemaia was His Excellency's daughter was not in doubt. At the insistence of Lady Une and a veritable army of lawyers, she personally, had taken DNA samples of the child Dekim Barton had claimed to be a Kushrenada. She had followed the DNA testing from the first to the final stages, ensuring that there were no mistakes made. There could be no errors with this child's identity. It was just too important to be allowed to be questioned at a later time. Mariemaia was Treize Kushrenada's daughter. Paternity positively proven. A pawn. A tool raised to be used by men whose scruples were questionable to say the very least. A pawn in the power games of the rich and famous. A pawn to be used. That had been Mariemaia's future should the coup have worked. Just as two tiny babies on Mars now faced a very similar future. //First Barton getting his hands on Marie, now basically the same thing happening again, with the Peacecraft heirs. God. I don't know. I fought the war to improve this world. To bring peace to everyone, and when I sit down and really look around me I have to ask myself 'what has changed'? What has really changed if they try this again?// She was careful to keep an eye open for suspicious activity. She would trust very few people until this mess was sorted out to her satisfaction. Factions in politics had always been the instigators of disaster and she wanted this peace to last. Ideally she would like to find a man, get a neat house, not too big, but in the country would be nice, and settle down and raise a family. She liked kids. None of it would happen until the peace was secure. The streets in this residential district of New Port City were well lighted and in this poor weather understandably deserted. No car headlights reflected in her rear vision mirrors and she saw no suspicious movements in the yards of the houses she passed or on the streets. Maybe they had moved fast enough to throw any potential tail off her track? Or were they late? Had the faction driving this entire situation already moved to gather in Mariemaia and use her against Lady Une? She was expecting to have acquired a tail at the latest by the time they left Lady Une's residence. Just who of the people who lived in this same area were ESUN plants, placed here to watch the activities of the Chief of Preventers? Who was set here to maybe take custody of the child she sheltered at the whim of some politician with dynastic dreams dancing in his head? If it happened on Mars, it could so easily happen on Earth. //Children should not be dragged into politics.// Sally shook her head in disgust. //No one is safe really. No one.// She pulled the car into the drive way, careful not to rev the engine and draw attention from surrounding residences as she negotiated the narrow turn, gliding to a stop before the security post. Preventers security guarded the residence hidden by a thick planting of trees. Lady Une liked her privacy and security here was tight. “Ma'am.” he stood in the doorway of the security house, ignoring the biting chill of the air and reached for her offered identification. “Evening, George. All quiet?” She passed over her identity codes, making a point of studying his face carefully. They knew each other quite well, but there was always protocol to be observed and she was feeling somewhat paranoid just now. “Yes, Ma'am. Rounds were done only ten minutes ago. The dogs are quiet. No alerts. I saw the news, Ma'am.” That all was quiet boded well for her attempt to spirit Mariemaia away unseen, but she was not pleased that the Mars incident was already being covered. She would have thought they might need a little longer to gather background data. Still, it was true that bad news traveled quickly. Only good news passed slowly. “Just be warned, George. The press are likely to be out here in droves within the hour, chasing what ever they can. I believe that Earth will be staying at headquarters tonight. I'm here to take Mariemaia to a safe house until this all blows over.” “I will notify the house staff to wake the young Miss.” “I expect lady Une will attempt to keep the attention centered on Preventer Headquarters, but we have decided not to take chances. Have two decoy cars readied. As much as you can keep an eye on the news, George. It's going to be an interesting night.” “Ma'am. I'll be watching the news.' he nodded, one hand activating the gate controls the other running through graying dark hair, blue eyes shadowed in the shelter of his small sanctuary from the growing chill. The car accelerated smoothly away from the security station. Anyone who thought the security check was easy to pass would be in for a surprise, she mused. That man was not alone at his station, and she knew her warning to him would quickly be circulated amongst the staff of the grounds. By the time the press arrived to camp out there would be adequate precautions taken to ensure that none got further than the front gate. The kennels would be emptied of dogs and the grounds thoroughly patrolled at level four security. She glimpsed the house through the trees, a Georgian style manor that was graced with a perfect setting. Surrounded by a small forest that thinned to manicured lawns and a wide lake to the east it seemed an idyllic place. Une had needed the quiet of the house and grounds after dealing with the day to day crisis that was part and parcel of being Preventer Earth. It was also the perfect place for Marie to convalesce after the Barton Incursion. The life of the child had hung in the balance while for days after the fighting had stopped, the world rejoiced that the invasion had failed and that their precious peace had prevailed. She had returned with Noin to Earth soon after the fighting had started in earnest. Noin had gone to fight beside Zechs and try to hold the Barton forces and she had worked with Preventers and had been privileged to witness the turning point in the little war. Some few people had stood up for their rights. Some few people had responded to Chang Wu Fei's call and added their voices to the invasion. For her that had been the most wonderful revelation. Mankind had seemed to be making progress. Then the world had moved on, once again, with everyone going on with their happy little dreams. Such was life. It was, after all, the duty of the Preventers to see that the world's population had their little dreams of peace. So many people had no idea how hard it was to ensure that the balance was maintained. Harder lately, than it had been after the One Year War. It was true that lately there seemed to be a great deal of restlessness amid the world's people and she knew where to cast her eye for the reason. A lot of the rumblings of discontent were caused by Relena's absurd dream of National Identity. National unity. Stupid, foolish girl, to think for an instant that people would accept national unity if it meant that their little corner of the world must throw away all that had identified it for centuries. People had fought for, bled for and died for those lines on maps for thousands of years. Everyone needed a national identity, yes, and if everyone thought of the whole world as their country, well, that was well enough, but it just was not the case. It was a wonderful dream. If things could be held together for two generation then yes, people would begin to look at the Earth as one nation and believe it. At least two generations were required for that type of attitude to become seated in the psyche of the people. Nothing could be accomplished overnight, though, and it was just a few short years. //Not now, Sally. More important things to do than consider if your neighbor over the road is putting his nose over your fence and objecting to the daffodil you planted next to your mutual drive way. Its so bloody stupid.// Stupid, yes, but it was human nature. The house was dark as she drove around the side, toward the garages, but stopped close to the back door. Security was there, waiting for her, checking her identity and then passing her into the house. The kitchen was well lit and the housekeeper waiting for her with freshly brewed coffee in hand. Above all the house was blessedly warm. “I have woken the young Miss and asked her to dress and I have also taken the liberty of throwing a few clothes into an overnight bag.” “Thank you, Grace. That saves precious time.” She was only too happy to wrap her hands around the hot mug. “It was on the news, Ma'am. The death threats to the ESUN council. The threats against the Preventers.” //Death threats? What death threats? Anne. Ah, what are you up to, Anne? What have you cooked up?// “Has Marie seen the news?” “No, Ma'am. Not as yet.” “Good. We need to keep it that way. Have a few blankets placed in the car. The heater just does not seem to be warming it up enough to be comfortable and I don't want her to freeze.” The ticking of the grandfather clock was the only sound to greet her as she entered the main foyer of the house, taking the stairs two at the time. Steady, quiet, rhythmic tick tock breaking the silence, normally soothing but now a disturbing reminder that she had been given a strict time limit. She knew her way intimately around this house and had no trouble finding her way in the dark. They had kept the lights in the front of the house off, all activity consigned to the rear and that kept down as much as possible to the usual levels one associated with the home of Preventer Earth. When Une had purchased the house as somewhere for Mariemaia and herself to live she had invited Sally to become resident here. She had stayed in the house while Mariemaia still required medical assistance on a daily basis, following her release from hospital. In the early days the security surrounding Treize Kushrenada's daughter had been intense of necessity. Everyone wanted to know more of the redhead who had threatened to take over the planet in her father's name. With time the attention had been eased and people had come to accept that she was just a child, like any other child, who had become an unfortunate pawn for her grandfather to use. The biggest controversy now was the continuing saga of the inheritance of the child. The Barton foundation had fought to gain sole custody of her and the Kushrenada family had joined in the squabble, at the request of Lady Une, though the latter was a little known fact. Few families had the wealth and position to hold the Barton Foundation at bay, but the Kushrenadas had both position and wealth. The lawyers were still arguing over whether she was entitled to inherit the extensive estates of her father and her grandfather. While the lawyers fought over the child's inheritance and family connections Lady Une had applied for and won the right to act as a neutral guardian. Une expected the legal battle to continue for at least another year or two before some mutually acceptable settlement was reached. “Bring the cars around the back and have the engines running. You have found suitable decoy personal?” Sally murmured to the security guard following at her heels. Une had only the most trusted of Preventer agents guarding the girl and her home. Every member of the household was a Preventer, no private security or household staff were permitted on the grounds. The Preventer Chief had to be assured of safety at home and at the office and Sally had no hesitation in trusting the night staff at this time. “Yes, Agent Water. We have the decoys ready.” “Brian, I want the first of the decoys to leave three minutes from now from the side entrance, and the second five minutes after that from the rear entrance. See that no one standing five feet away from the cars can see who gets into them.” Instructions given Sally hurried up the remaining stairs and to the girl's room, the house keeper at her side. She did not knock as she slipped into the room, knowing that Mariemaia was expecting someone. Eyes scanned the darkened room quickly to ensure everything was as she expected it to be. The bed was empty, the girl no where in sight, but she heard the door to the bathroom open. “Dr. Po?” a whisper in the night. “Good girl.” Sally chuckled, turning to where Mariemaia emerged from the bathroom. “What's happening?” She had dressed sensibly, Sally was pleased to note, in dark coloured slacks and sweater, her bright red hair hidden under a knitted cap. At eleven years of age Mariemaia was beginning to show the lines of beauty that were unmistakably associated with the Kushrenada family. There was a striking resemblance to her father developing, and while she still had a great deal of growing and developing to do, she was already taller than average height and beginning to show the shapely curves of a young lady. In future years she would be a beauty. “We are taking a drive, Marie. No, don't worry. There is no specific threat against you, but Anne wants you taken to a safe house.” “Oh. She will not be there?” curious she moved closer to the Preventer she had come to trust. The housekeeper took a large overnight bag from beside the bed and hurried from the room, leaving Sally and Mariemaia alone. “No. Not at this time. Anne is at Preventers, dealing with a little crisis that has developed in the last few hours. Explanations will have to come later, pet. We need to move. Just pop your shoes on for now and grab a coat. It's cold out and looks like it will deteriorate into a blizzard. We have quite a long drive ahead of us before we reach our destination.” Mariemaia settled on the chair near her bed, slipping into mid length boots quickly, aware that time was important. Lady Une had drilled her relentlessly with the need to be quick should she ever need to be evacuated from her home. “Where are we going?” “For now, we are going to the palace to pick up Relena. After that, I can not tell you.”
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