December 9, 2000
Sequel to 'Have You Ever...'
"Noin, it's a pleasure to hear from you," Quatre answered automatically when the view screen flared to life.
"Hello, Quatre," the dark haired young woman replied. "How are things with you and the others?"
Quatre continued to smile, more out of habit than because he was really happy. "Things could be better," he said, sitting back in his desk chair. "And you?"
"Same." Noin sighed. She looked more tired than he remembered from the last time they spoke. "Things are... getting a little busy up here, Quatre," Noin said softly.
"I know." This time Quatre sighed. "I was talking to Duo last night and he mentioned the heavy activity. Trowa left last night. I know Wufei's still on Earth, but I haven't a clue where Heero's hiding."
"They're not all with you?" Noin asked, surprised.
Quatre's smile turned bittersweet. "No, as much as I wish it were otherwise. The truth of the matter is, Noin," he sighed again. "We're just not used to working as a group, yet. We're still getting used to each other, and, well, some are having a harder time of it then others."
Noin was quiet for a moment. "I understand," she said softly, finally. "Quatre... when do you think you'll be returning to space?"
"I don't know, Noin," the blonde boy admitted. "I've been thinking about coming up sooner rather than later. There's really nothing left for me to do here, and, as you said, all the action's in space."
"Yes. You and the rest of the Gundams are needed here, Quatre."
The blonde head bowed. "I know..." he sighed. "Earth is just so beautiful... I could happily live here without ever returning to space, I think."
"Quatre," Noin warned. "If things keep going the way they are, there won't *be* an Earth to live on!"
"I know, I know... that's why I have to fight." He looked at her, smiling a smile he really didn't feel. "I will be returning to Peacemillion soon, Noin. Don't worry."
She looked grim, but nodded. "Be safe, Quatre. Until I see you again."
"You too, Miss Noin," Quatre responded, bobbing his head before flicking the screen off. He sighed into his chair, looking around his office. "There really *is* nothing keeping me here..."
Clickity-clickity-clamp-clickity-click-click-clickity-clamp.
His fingers fired over the keyboard, racing cyber walls that were meant to keep him and others like him *out*. But that didn't stop him.
Once he had the information he needed, it was only a matter of hours before the rest began to pour in. It took him another day and a half to sneak through the wall. One more day and he had located the files he was searching for.
ESCORX196 and ZAQUAR96.
Now he was racing out of the database before the defenses could find him. If he could just get in and get out without getting caught.
They knew he was in there, but they still didn't know what he was after. That gave him the element of surprise if whatever was on these files was actually worth all the trouble he'd gone through to get them.
"They better damn well be," he mumbled under his breath.
"YESSS!" He was out. "Good defense systems." He smirked. "Just not good enough."
He downloaded the files, made two backup copies just in case, and then opened them.
"Shit," he hissed as the words and diagrams began to play over his screen.
It didn't take a fucking genius to know what was going on, but still, there was a naïve innocence that surrounded them, sort of like a pact of silence. They all knew, but no one said anything--because there was nothing they could say. Nothing they could do.
Well, almost everyone knew. The youngest, Carina, didn't know the truth. She really was innocent, and it was an innocence that her sisters protected at all costs. Even at fifteen, the girl was more innocent than any of them had been at the age of ten.
"Jack, you look terrible! What happened?" the girl in question cried when she saw her sister in the hallway.
Jack forced her split lips to curve in a smile. "Oh, I was just playing a little too rough in the simulator room, nothing to worry about, Rini," the seventeen-year old replied.
Carina frowned, her pink-shelled lips puckering into a pout. "You shouldn't work so much, Jack. You might get really hurt."
"Auh, I'm alright, Rini. Don't you worry ‘bout me," Jack smiled, leaning back against the wall. "Why don't you run ahead and tell Dev I'm on my way, alright?"
The girl held a moment, but then rushed forward, enveloping her sister in a hug before dashing off down the corridor. She didn't look back, and thus didn't see the other girl biting her lip to keep from crying out.
End of Part 11: Connection
Andrea Readwolf
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