|
"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"
2nd March New Port City Sanc Time: 00:45 Lady Une Had there been another solution to present itself to her at the hour of need she would not have taken the drastic step of creating so much destruction within the borders of Sanc. These people had seen enough destruction over the last score of years without a return to the violence that had twice devastated their beautiful if tiny country. Sanc was not what most people thought of when you called a place a paradise. Most thought of golden tropical beaches, exotic and vivid coloured tropical flowers and basking in the heat of those oh so perfect beaches. Sanc had none of that tropical beauty. There were wide beaches, but there was only one with a sandy beach, the others being lined with stones washed smooth by the eons of moving water. In these northern climes there once had been vast forests of conifer, Ash, Oak and Beech trees which had been clear felled in the twentieth century of the old calendar. A Peacecraft King with vision had replanted his kingdom so that now the tiny country could boast some of the most beautiful forests in the world and under a blanket of winter snow there was almost a surreal beauty to the country. It was not just the countryside that was enchanting, however. The people of Sanc who had returned after the latest destruction of the city at the hands of the Romefeller-controlled Oz faction, had settled themselves back in their homeland with dignity and begun the process of rebuilding. With quiet determination they had taken apart the military base, disposed of its parts and recreated the old city of New Port, constructing their homes and businesses in the picturesque style of medieval Europe. Sanc could so easily give the impression of a picture post card isolated from the world where time seemed to roll back to simpler days, defying the bloodshed and destruction that had twice forced the people from their land in recent times. The people of Sanc were once again taking a deep breath and facing violence with quiet dignity and grace. The Council in particular were taking the destruction of her home and the Palace remarkably well, certainly far better than she had expected them to considering the renewed assault on their city. It appeared that the Councilors of Sanc were not as prone to panic as she had expected to find them considering the cause for the extraordinary meeting they now attended. Using other politicians from the Council of Representatives for the World Nation whom she was more accustomed to dealing with as examples of the reactions she might expect, she was pleasantly surprised to discover that Sanc appeared to breed a far more genteel and even-tempered politician. These men and women whom she now studied were far less excitable and concerned with their own safety than that general mass of politicians she had all too often dealt with. The security concerns for most of the politicians in the Council of Representatives were logistical nightmares she had to juggle too often as politicians panicked at even the smallest hint that there may be a threat to their personal safety. It appeared that it took more that two explosions to make these men and women who ruled Sanc lose their cool. //I wish that some of them would be more active in the Council of Representatives. They would have such an influence there by their very presence, but they seem largely to shun the Council, keeping their attention focused on the rebuilding of Sanc. There is a lesson for Relena in that single-minded focus, but has she learned it yet, and will she do anything about it when she does realize what they are doing? Her single nation policy is causing no end of difficulties, even here it is obvious. These people have been deprived of their nation for so long and now that they have it back, even their Princess is not being heeded when she calls for an end to national identity beyond that of a world nation. One world, one nation. A great catch cry, but not so easy to bring into reality. The people of Sanc, pacifists as they are and wanting peace do not want to lose their national identity under the umbrella of the Earth nation that Relena has called into being. How do we deal with this quiet dignity? It is harder to control than the countries who are resorting to violence and trickery to delay being swallowed by the mass that is the World Nation. We have to deal with this World Nation crisis and we need to deal with it soon. There are too many countries becoming vocal about the effects that they see as detrimental to the identity of their people. While it helps some countries, generally the poorer third world countries, there are those who were richer and more developed who are screaming about what they lose in everyone being given the same credit system and an equal footing. They profess to want peace above all, but they bring up obstacle after obstacle to the projects designed to further develop that peace. One problem just follows another.// She was seated slightly to the side of the conference table, close to the President of the Sanc Council who was making a speech to his councilors concerning the destruction of her home and the damages done to the Palace in the terrorist attack. To the question that the Princess had been spared in the violence she nodded and assured him and his council that Relena had been safely away from the palace by the time the terrorist had attacked and that yes, the girl was now in safe custody and would remain so until they were assured that the threat to her was voided. He inclined his head graciously, a white-haired and lightly bearded old gentleman whose eyes were still marked with the sparkle of a rapier sharp intelligence that had seen him survive both bombardments and occupations of Sanc and rise to power in the aftermath they loosely termed peace. Une had known the man in her days as a Colonel of Oz when he had been a member of the Romefeller Organization, though he had not seemed to be an active member in the rise of Oz itself. He had always seemed to ooze the deportment and sophistication of an old world gentleman from days long gone to dust. She almost felt ashamed of her actions in ordering the attacks on the house and palace, especially as the very first thing that the President and Councilors had done on convening the special session was to offer her a new home and compensation for the loss of her old one. Sometimes she simply forgot that these people were so different to the politicians she had circulated around since her childhood. It had been a tragedy that she had never appreciated, the massacre of Sanc, until she had come to live here and gotten to know the people who had lived here for generations. They seemed a people apart and Sanc itself seemed to be from another world or time when people had a greater concern for life and equality of spirit. Even the military occupation of the country had not killed off the fundamental kindness that was so much a part of the nature of the people. // This is the world that birthed Milliardo Peacecraft. It is the world Zechs knew as a child and I never appreciated how different it was. How helpless it makes these people in this modern world where everyone is out for as much power as they can get. I never realized before how different it must have been and how easily it was destroyed.// Yet it had reemerged, struggling like a Phoenix from the ashes of its own destruction. They were resilient, these people, patiently rebuilding all that had been destroyed, yet they were parochial. They were concerned with their own little piece of Earth and she must look beyond that to the larger picture. For Peace to truly come even Sanc must become a part of the larger whole and her people must accept that truth. The soft beep of her personal communicator drew her attention and she scowled at the tiny screen on her watch, glancing quickly at the Council to see who might have noticed. She had given instructions that she not be disturbed whilst with the Council unless the entire world came tumbling down around the ears of her secretary and it was an instruction she knew the woman understood to mean exactly that. Her secretary's face wore a worried frown at breaking into Une's conference with the Council, no doubt concerned that she would be in for trouble for this breach, but there was a gravity to the woman's manner that Une recognized only too well. Somewhere out there the world had caved in. “I am sorry for the interruption, Preventer Earth, but this really is important. I suggest you have the Representatives turn on the television immediately. Any channel will do.” Startled at that suggestion that all channels would be covering whatever was happening Une motioned to her assistant who slipped from her side and hurried to the television controls set to one side of the President at the head of the conference table. Lady Une rose to her feet, interrupting the conversation now underway, well aware that it was considered to be exceedingly bad form to interrupt the speaker, especially when he was the President of the country you currently lived in and worked for, but there was no help for it. She understood her staff and the fact that only for dire emergencies would she have been interrupted in a meeting of this magnitude. “My apologies, Mr. President, Councilors. I have received urgent word that there is something of interest that we must see. I presume it may pertain to the terrorist threats made.” //And that worries me because I have nothing to do with whatever is going on now. Chang has not returned to headquarters to my knowledge and I have given him no further instructions.// The screen mounted on the wall behind the President's seat dominated the wall and now began to lighten and cleared to reveal a news announcer from the local station that had carried the footage of the two bombings and the Mars story Lady Une wanted off the air waves. The woman now sat before a backdrop of a screen displaying a blue field and stylized space station surmounted by three stars. Her voice was neutral and professional but Une could detect the well hidden amazement in her at the events of this night. Personally Lady Une would be glad when the sun rose. Perhaps there would then be time to settle things down and take a breather. Could this night become even more confusing and eventful? “… have no location for the transmission now coming over the airwaves, but we understand that attempts are being made to trace the transmission source. The signal has now been active for five minutes with no further …” the announcer fell silent as the background changed, the blue screen flickering off and then on again. Against a backdrop made up of the crest formed of the space station and stars there sat a group of ten, six men and four women, arrayed in an arc. Une was aware of the council room falling into a hush as each focused on the screen and she herself leaned forward as the camera pickup swept across each face, clearly showing the group. There was no attempt to hide identities in this sweep of the participants, just the opposite in fact. It was blatantly obvious that these people wanted their faces to be known and clearly recognizable to the agencies that would be examining this footage in minute detail. They wore shades of blue and white and were divided into groups of three as designated by the shade of blue, with the notable exception of the male in the center. He sat slightly forward of the arc yet was still apart of the formation, merely the focal point and he too wore blue, a rich royal blue robe bordered with silver over a stylish suit. It was this center male, a handsome dark-haired man with intense dark eyes unusually laced with golden highlights who spoke, the camera focusing in on him and showing clearly every detail of his face. There would be no difficulty in tracing that face Une was certain. It was distinctive, regal. Something in his baring even reminded her of His Excellency when he presented a speech to the Romefeller council and he knew that those who listened must be convinced that what he demanded of them they wanted to give willingly. He had a strong rich voice, a tenor with an accent Une could not quite place and he spoke quietly, unhurried in the tones of a master orator. He generated an impression of power and the will and knowledge to use it. Yes, he reminded her of Treize Kushrenada in that confidence. This man could be trouble for the peace. “People of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation, we of the Independent Station Alliance greet you. We are an Alliance of Space Stations independent of the ESUN and resident within the Asteroid Belt who offer to you our hand in friendship. This day we invite your leaders to attend a conference in mutually neutral territory on the 15th day of July of this year, After Colony 198. To service these negotiations I have garnered the cooperation of the Sweepers to act as neutral hosts to our conference and negotiations. They shall provide both a host vessel for the talks and security acceptable to both parties. The Vice Foreign Minister for the Station Alliance and representatives from each of the Stations in the Alliance Trading Delegation will be attending these negotiations. We take it on trust that those who attend the conference will be empowered on behalf of the ESUN to negotiate treaties and trade agreements with this Alliance. We request that the Sweepers be notified of the numbers they will be required to provide services for with all speed.” Une glared at the screen, uncertain if she wanted to cheer or shriek in frustration at the speech that spilled over the airwaves. He exuded confidence, those unusual eyes seemed to focus on her, pinning her to the chair and she was aware that you could have heard a pin drop in the conference room. All eyes were on the screen and more than one jaw had dropped on hearing the opening segment. In the brief pause those all knowing eyes did not so much as blink, though they seemed to grow a chill glint, wiping out the warmth that had been there moments before. // Well, if nothing else this should serve to confuse matters even more. //she reflected. It was certainly news more worthy than the Martian problem and for that she should cheer while screaming in frustration that she was going to have to track down yet another hot spot of dissention. “Get this transmission traced.” Her assistant was nodding, her fingers flying on her personal electronic note pad, relaying instructions to Preventer headquarters. They needed to know who these people were and what potential they might have to back their claims. “… to be an altercation between Raiders and citizens of the ESUN taking place on Mars. The Station Alliance has ships within the vicinity of Mars and which we have instructed to offer assistance to those in need. The closest of our vessels is still some twenty six hours from the planet and they will attempt to locate and assist any survivors. It is with regret that we have no ships closer to Mars to offer more immediate succor to your people. Be assured that your people on Mars will be offered every assistance possible and that our investigators will seek evidence to ascertain the identities of those responsible for the attack on your terra forming base. We assure the government and the people of the ESUN that we shall forward the results of our investigations to the appropriate authorities and if it is in our power we shall hunt down those responsible for the assault on the planet Mars. We shall continue the hunt for as long as necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice, where ever they should be hiding. We believe that it is imperative that the space lanes common to our survival should be made as safe as possible and our Patrol ships will be given instructions to capture any vessel suspected of being a Raider within the borders of the ESUN that adjoin the prescribed borders of our two spheres of influence. I assure you that any ships crew who are proven to be Raiders will see a judicial invitation extended to the ESUN to send representatives for the trial and judgment of these persons. We are interested in forming a strong tie with the Earth Sphere and I assure you of our peaceful intentions.” Une's scowl deepened and she realized that she was standing, leaning forward slightly as she concentrated on his every word. Nor was she the only one standing now, but she must appear to be cool and controlled and with that in mind she returned herself to her seat, composing herself. //Peaceful intentions? You talk about crossing borders that do not as yet exist... Shit. Do not exist now, you canny bastard. You have the ear of the Sweepers, do you? Well, so do I and it is about time I had a word with Howard.// In the brief pause the President had taken a step closer to the screen, head tilted slightly as though he recognized the man and Une noted his expression and the potential for information there and determined to ask questions of him as soon as possible. If these people had the ships to carry out his threat of encroaching into the space lanes that serviced the ESUN then all hell could break loose in space. She needed to get a grip on this situation with all speed. On the screen the chill in those unusual eyes hardened into a glacial deposit. “My name is Kristian Richard Alexander Edward Kushrenada. I and those gathered with me this day that you see before you, were once citizens of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. For many and varied reasons we have chosen to renounce our ties to the ESUN and have founded the Independent Station Alliance. We whom you see before you are the Council for the Station Alliance and I am the duly elected President of our nation. On behalf of my nation I assure you that we look forward to meeting with the representatives of the ESUN across the negotiating table. It is my understanding that the Sweepers will forward the coordinates of the meeting place to your security office within the next forty eight hour period. I bid you good day and the hope for a prosperous future together.” Kushrenada. The world seemed to fade out of her perceptions with the utterance of that name. Kushrenada. The name reared in her mind, echoing and reechoing down hallways that she had tried so desperately to keep dark and silent since the day of his death. She could not stop it now though, there was no holding back the surge within her and she was furious with this man who claimed that name. That name. His name. His Excellency, who had meant the very world to her, who made her blood sing with the very thought of him. His Excellency who had been her light in the darkness and for whom she would so gladly have died, yet she was alive and He was dead. She had failed Him. //Who is this upstart who dares use the name Kushrenada!// the thought exploded in her mind. A surge of rage threatened to send her at the screen, fingers hooked into claws in an effort to gouge those golden eyes out. How dare he claim the name that meant the world to her. How dare that upstart claim kinship with the one and only Treize Kushrenada! Some dim part of her kept her standing there, at the end of the table, glaring at the screen. Her fingers were curled into fists at her sides and she was aware of the stunned silence in the room in some remote fashion. She had to work her way past that affront and get to work immediately on learning who this man was and squash his claim to that name with all speed. No one would smear His name. No one would be permitted to darken that name that shone as a symbol to her of what he wanted to bring to the world by his death. Peace. He had wanted peace for the world and he had deliberately sacrificed his life to bring about that peace. In turn, in memory of him she had dedicated her life to ensuring that that very peace was protected, nurtured and nourished. His death must not be wasted by the return to violence and bloodshed that had given rise to the need for such sacrifices to be made as had been made in AC 195. The news announcer was once more on screen hurrying through a run down of the broadcast and reporting that the source of the signal had, as yet, been undetermined. The President himself shut off the transmission, pausing for a moment with his back to his silent council before turning to her for an explanation. She had no idea what she looked like but the old gentleman seemed to hesitate an instant and instead of questioning her he moved to gently press her into her seat and place a glass of water into nerveless fingers. “My dear Lady Une, you must be devastated. I know that you were close to His Excellency, Treize Kushrenada. Take a few moments to gather yourself, dear lady, while I adjourn this meeting.” “Adjourn? Impossible. This requires discussion and debate. How could this be permitted to happen, that an upstart should claim the name of the Defender of Earth. It is one of the deepest insults to the people of the Earth that anyone could possibly have thought of.” one of the politicians was pacing the room with long, sweeping strides, his hands clenched into fists and he paused to gesture toward the darkened screen. “Do they not think that the people of the Earth Sphere will see through this blatant misuse of that name?” The President uttered a soft sigh and straightened to his still impressive height, calling on his years of experience to gather about him that unseen but sensed mantle of power that drew all eyes to him. “Be seated, Frederick. We have no time for theatrics.” the President waved the man back to his seat and took a half step away from Une, drawing eyes away from her and to himself as he delayed further, taking the time to sip water and using that time, a mere few seconds to steady himself. “Be seated? Is that all that you have to say to this affront to the Earth? It was because of His Excellency and his Oz forces that the occupation of Sanc was finally lifted in AC 195. Without him we would still be under the yolk of the Alliance. It was His Excellency who saw the need to take decisive action and gathered the necessary forces together to stop the White Fang from destroying the Earth.” “Yes, it was. Are you now like so many others in the world who can not see beyond the force of arms to attain peace?” he studied the man, brows drawn down with disapproval. “You used to advocate pacifism, Frederick.” “Do not misunderstand me, Mr. President. I am a man of peace now, as before, but I have come to see the benefits of a standing army though I would never agree to stand such a force within Sanc. In the instance against the White Fang, Treize Kushrenada was far more suited to deal with the crisis than the Princess would have been and he was not afraid of taking the necessary steps to defend the planet. The man was a hero, he died a martyr's death and he should not have his name dragged through the mud.” “No one is asking us to stand a force within Sanc. Has someone suggested that we have soldiers within our borders? What do you know that I do not?” a Councilor queried, her face now wearing a worried frown. “Don't be a fool, we must do away with all armies. Force of arms will solve nothing.” Councilor Raymond Flemming flicked his fingers in symbolic dismissal. “Is it not obvious that these are people who have decided that they have little trust in the peace that is now a part of the Earth Sphere? I can foresee conflict arising from this, but it need not mean that conflict is inevitable. We must negotiate a peace and learn more of these people.” Another Councilor was on his feet, glaring down at Frederick Sven from his greater height. “Upstarts.” “No doubt they think the same of us or would if they could hear us now.” Camilla Lawson pertly commented. The President sighed, turning his head to meet the dark eyes of the Lady who seemed to have regained her control and watched him with a patient expression, listening to the Councilors and watching and noting who it was who reacted the most and who might need observing at a later time. The old man shrugged slightly, sipping again from the glass. He would give them a few more minutes to vent their emotions, but only a few. It was late and he had matters to attend to and a bed awaiting him. “Yes, we finally have peace. Perhaps the nearest thing we have ever had to the chance to gain a lasting peace. Do we allow this peace to be disrupted?” “Who says these newcomers mean to disrupt our peace? Did you actually listen to what was said, Frederick?” Camilla shook her head, smiling in a predatory fashion. “Did you hear or did your abused sensibilities make you miss the important pieces of that speech?” “Don't be catty, Camilla. Yes, we have peace and I do not dispute that these people may initially have no intention of inciting war, but do you honestly think that the entire world will take this quietly? And what about the Colonies and how those people will view this threat to their trade routes? They claim to be from deep in the Solar System, from the Asteroid Belt no less. Have you any concept of just how much is involved?” “Enough. We know so little about these people and their intentions. It is easy to say that we mean peace and to offer the hand of friendship, but have any of you thought that there rises now a new faction who wish to be beyond the one set of laws that keep the peace for all of us? If these people prove not to be as benevolent as they profess to be then who this time will stand in the way of conflict and protect the Earth?” The President shook his head slightly, standing tall once more though he stepped closer to Lady Une and motioned for her to hold her peace, not wishing her to mention Preventers at this time. He drew his hands together in a sharp clap, bringing instant silence to the room and gaining him the eye of every man and woman. “Gentlemen, Ladies, please. Enough useless speculation. I believe that it is past time to call a recess. It is late and we have gained what information is currently available concerning the terrorists who have attacked Sanc this night. I suggest that we adjourn until the Preventers can provide us with more details concerning the terrorists and this new point of interest. Remember that at this time our primary concern must be the terrorists and the immediate threat they pose to Sanc. When we have more information we can reconvene and after due discussion we may determine the best course of action to be taken. This matter of the terrorists who have attacked our Princess and the Preventer Chief are our prime concern for the moment, not a group of unknowns who may be a mining colony with delusions of grandeur. There is little that we may do concerning this new Alliance as it needs investigation and we must wait for those investigations to be completed and reported in the Council of Representatives. The Colonies as well as the Earth must be informed of every possible detail available if an informed and not perhaps lethally hasty decision is to be made. If it should prove to be a legitimate and viable Alliance then a delegation must be chosen to negotiate with them. It does not do to discount potential allies and turn them into potential enemies and I think it obvious that as Vice Foreign Minister our Princess must be one of those persons to represent the Earth Sphere at the suggested negotiations. Now, please. We all are tired and it has been a most interesting evening. It is time to withdraw and rest and when rested we can better consider the implications of the appearance of a potential new power in the scheme of things. These people may indeed want to extend the hand of friendship to the Earth Sphere and be interested in peaceful trade negotiations with us. We must maintain the peace of the ESUN and if that means that Sanc should back this Space Alliance then we will do so. It would be far better for all concerned to absorb them than to fight them. Now I bid you good evening. Lady Une, I would like a private word with you, if you would be so kind?” Une accepted the offer of his hand extended to her, falling automatically back on her old training in accepting the courtly gesture. It had been a very long time since she had received that type of attention and it served to calm her as they swept from the conference room, her assistant trailing behind her. The President led her to his private study where he motioned to the assistant whom Lady Une requested contact headquarters for an update and to wait in the lounge whilst she and the President entered his study for discussions. “Please, my dear, have a seat. I think that we need to talk.” He was a canny old man and he no doubt had thoughts on what had happened, but she had to check with headquarters and begin the search for this nest of dissention that would threaten the ESUN. “Forgive me, Sir, but I need to begin the investigation of these people and that upstart who professes to be a Kushrenada.” The President sighed and settled in the chair across from her, thankful for the warmth of the fire that was blazing in the hearth beside him. He was an old gentleman, who had been a young man at the birth of the last of the Kings of Sanc. He might be old, he reflected, but he had not lost his facilities and he was very tired of being deceived and discounted by the younger generation and of having to deceive others in his turn. There came a time in everyone's life when they needed to make certain decisions, and this was such a time. This woman needed to know a few things and he had the information that she sought. Well, at least a part of that information and it would hold her here until he decided that he had told her sufficient. He need not tell all of the secrets that he knew, not at this time, at least. It was, however, time to prove to this young woman that she did not know everything and that she should not discount him. He had a part to play and he needed to keep her attentive to him. “My dear Lady Une, I am sorry to be the barer of this news, but I feel that it is best if you learn this from me. I know that you were close to His Excellency the Duke and that you know the family, but you should know that there is, or was, a Kristian Richard Alexander Edward Kushrenada.” he was aware of the glare directed at him, but he chose to keep his attention focused on the dancing flames. He had wanted her undivided attention and he now had it. “He was a very young boy when last I saw him, and I must say that he appears to have aged remarkably well if this is that same child I saw so many years ago. He certainly does not look his years, but for various reasons I am convinced that the man you saw a few minutes ago is the same Kristian Kushrenada who visited Sanc with his parents ten years before your young man was even born. He was a child of perhaps four who accompanied his parents on a diplomatic mission to Sanc to further relations between the Peacefcraft's and the then Allied Germanic Nation. While he was only a child there was something rather remarkable about that one that is not easily forgotten.” “I know the Kushrenadas.” a mild protest, but she was listening very closely to the elderly gentleman. “I know them well. None are called Kristian and none have ever mentioned a Kristian in my hearing before. I would have remembered it.” “I do not doubt that you do know the family nor do I doubt that they would not have mentioned him. You knew, did you not, that Heinrich, Treize's father had inherited the title when his brother died of a heart attack? Alexander Kushrenada was some fifteen years older than his brother when he married and settled down. They had one child, a son, Kristian and he was a very bright and rather unusual young man. There was a certain something about the child that made him entirely unforgettable, an innocence, but more. Most unusual, but I digress. Soon after the Duke and Duchess departed from Sanc to return to Kiev there was an abduction and Kristian disappeared. I assure you that it was a most news-worthy story, and I have no doubt that you will find the reports in the media records easily enough. It was rather tragic as the boy was never found and it was assumed that he was dead. The Duke had paid the demanded ransom but no word was ever received of the fate of the child. Within a year of the abduction the Duke died of a massive coronary that many believed was caused by stress over the loss of his much loved child. The Duchess died a few years later in an accident, but she was never the same person after the incident, and the Duke's death only worsened her withdrawal from the public eye. It is all a matter of public record. I think that it is a fairly safe assumption that each member of the Alliance Council that we saw would have had a very public profile at some time on Earth or in the Colonies that will be found with a little investigation. They made no attempt to disguise who they are, which clearly indicates that they want their pasts to be known.” “Kristian Kushrenada.” Lady Une scowled at the fire, slowly shaking her head. She had no memory of Treize ever mentioning his uncle having a son and there was the matter of Treize's daughter to be considered. “To claim the estates of the Kushrenada family he would have to provide proof positive that he is who he claims to be.” The president shook his head slightly, leaning back to rest his head on the chair back, staring at the ceiling overhead. “My dear, it is not like you to miss the obvious. Do you not recall what it was that he said? He and the other members of the Alliance Council you saw represented have renounced all ties that bound them to the ESUN. Had this young man who professes to be a Kushrenada intended to lay a claim to the inheritance of his bloodline he would not have renounced those ties, which include Terran citizenship. My dear Lady Une, these people have not asked the people of the Earth Sphere to allow them to form an independent colony. They have not asked the Earth for permission. They have already formed an independent society. It is done. They have renounced all personal ties with the Earth and the Earth Sphere and they are not seeking our permission at all. They are merely informing us that they exist and that they wish to trade with us as equals.” Lady Une closed her eyes, absently running a finger along the bridge of her nose, seeking the comforting weight of glasses and not finding it. To function efficiently she needed to begin to look at this matter as the Chief of the Preventers, not as the would-be lover of a man who was dead-who had laid down his life for peace to become a reality. She had lost Treize to his plan for peace, and she had known that his plans did not include a life for them together after the peace was brought. She owed that man who had died and she would pay that debt by maintaining her objectivity and pass beyond the shock. Later she would have time to mourn for what was never to be, but now she must not take this unknown man's claims to an ancient bloodline so personally. She must regain her objectivity and function as a professional once more. She could only thank this old gentleman for allowing her the privacy and the time to regain her equilibrium and for offering her what information he could to assist her in accepting that there might well be someone with a better claim to the Kushrenada inheritance than the daughter of His Excellency. The President had offered her sound advice, information and most importantly he had enabled her to see past her initial shock. “Thank you, Mr. President.” the fire was fascinating but she had had her fill of trying to seek answers within its dancing depths. It was the living breathing man seated across from her who had given her what she needed and now it was time. She could not linger here with this charming old gentleman while there was so much to do. “I have matters that demand my attention and I should not take anymore of your valuable time.” “Oh, nonsense, my dear. When you leave me I will be taking these sorry old bones back to my bed and I will allow myself to sleep until this storm runs itself down. I leave running around in such foul weather to you young people. I believe that you will eventually learn that this young man is the cousin of your Duke and that he is not interested in claiming the birthright of the child you protect in his name. It is an often forgotten truth that more than just the lust for power and greed motivate the people of the world, my dear. I have lived long enough to have witnessed a fair representation of the good and the bad that life can offer and there is more than tragedy to life's parade. I will look forward to your briefing when you have had the time to investigate this new play that life brings to the stage.” “I am sure you have seen enough tragedy.” a whisper. “You were here, I believe, when Sanc was attacked the first time.” “So long ago. Indeed, yes, I was in New Port City that first time when the Alliance came with their bombs and their mobile suits.” he nodded slightly, staring deeply into the flames, witnessing in their dance the long ago day when other flames had decimated a city and claimed the lives of so many. It would be many generations before Sanc could claim the native population that once had thrived under the Peacecraft banner. “I was here when Sanc fell and few know that I was also here on the day that she was liberated. Ah, yes, lady Une, I was in New Port City on that day. No, I am not going to tell you what I was doing as it bares no significance at this time, but you should know that I saw the Prince return to the palace and I heard what he had to say to his fathers portrait. Such a tragedy. He was wrong, of course. He would make a quite remarkable King, but all things considered I can understand why he chose to give it all to his sister. I was also there in Brussels and I witnessed that shameful moment when his sister rejected him yet again, the penultimate misinformed pacifist who has no understanding of what could drive a pacifist to war. I doubt that Relena will ever truly understand that boy and what drives him. I had hoped that knowing of his aid against Barton's forces would soften her heart toward him, but it appeared not, at least at that time.” Une sat frozen in her seat, staring at the old man in something of the manner of a doe caught in the headlights of a speeding car. “I … don't …” “Please, my dear, do not underestimate me. There are not many things that can be hidden from these old eyes. I have fingers in many pies and I have eyes and ears in many walls. I have learned a great many things over the years that I should never have learned, but I assure you that I know when not to speak. Milliardo's survival shall not be spread beyond these four walls. I only hope that he can find a life for himself that he is content with. Sanc is in their blood, you know. The Peacecrafts have always been drawn back to these shores, even the rare one who wandered, but that particular son of the bloodline will never return here again. It is a pity. He had the heart to give his people what they needed, despite the costs incurred to himself. That is something that his sister has yet to learn about him. Tell me, does she still hate him?” “I … no. No, I do not believe that she hates him. I do not think that she ever really hated him. She was confused about who she was and hurting over the death of the man she thought to be her father. I believe that discovering Milliardo was working for Oz was something she could not understand.” “And she was very young. Too young. You all were too young for taking on such responsibility to the world. Even your Treize, my dear. Much too young. Ah, but the Princess was a spoiled willful child and she was shamelessly indulged by the Darlian's. Yes, I know what it is to be young, I am not that old that I have forgotten all of my younger years. I know what it is to be young and to see everything as a personal insult and it is a failing amid some of the Peacecrafts that certain events might be taken as personal affronts. She is a Peacecraft through and through, though she tries to deny her bloodline. In all honesty I can not see her ever understanding what it is that makes our people request of her the honor to be returned to the monarchy that we wish for. She sees the nobility as an outdated concept that has no place in this modern day. That is her foster father speaking, of course. I never did like him. He was an outsider and he never understood what tied the people of Sanc to the monarchy nor did he really try to fit in. Ah, well. Look, I display my age. I am rambling on, yes? Perhaps she is right, but I do wish that she would try to understand the people and why it is they wish to return to the security they see in the existence of the monarchy. She is her true father's daughter, our Relena. For better or worse. She sees the bigger picture, the picture that is the world and its needs, but he had Katerina to remind him that Sanc was his role model for peace in the world and that he needed to attend to his home. Who shall our Princess have who will remind her that the people look to her, Lady Une? Who will it be who can show her that sometimes the large things just naturally follow small things and be an example of what others could have? Yes, I know, not in her lifetime, but it would come. In time. So impatient, the young.” Lady Une watched the old man, reading his exhaustion in the lines creasing his brow and the tightening of the lines at his eyes. He was staring at his hands which shook with a faint palsy, but his voice was still strong and while he was old his eyes were still bright with intelligence. Age had not diminished his mind, merely slowed his body. “Relena is young and she is somewhat overextended. She needs time to rest and I will do what I can to keep her safe. I am certain that she understands that the people of Sanc are …” “Do not mind an old man's ramblings, my dear.” he smiled, aware that he could not keep her here much longer, but he had one more thing to say. She must understand and begin to wonder just how he learned what were supposedly well kept secrets. “I tend to do that more often lately. Now, I understand that you must go and attend to the crisis with the terrorists and with this new Alliance and I thank you for humoring me. I just wanted you to know that I knew that the Prince was alive and that he has not been forgotten by everyone. The Princess needs to understand the motivations that drove him to act as he did and she needs to take a leaf out of his book. Yes, he made mistakes,” he forestalled the Lady's objection with a raised hand. “but not so many as are attributed to him. Do you give him much hope of surviving the trap laid for him on Mars?” //My God. How much does he know? How did he learn it? Why has he said nothing before now?// Une took a moment before answering, using the distraction of standing and smoothing her skirt to give herself just a few seconds to gather her thoughts. // The raid on Mars is all over the news, but not for much longer with what is now going on. Terrorist attacks and an unknown alliance of space stations will knock the Mars story off the air fast enough, but it will not answer the question of how this old man knows that Zechs is on Mars.// “I have done what I could. The rest is up to him and those with him.” “I see. Well, I will say a prayer for those on Mars tonight. Every little bit helps, yes? I will not keep you longer, Lady Une.” // I have said enough for now. // “Good evening, Mr. President. I look forward to our next meeting.” // And I will know all that I can about you before that meeting. //
|
