December 27, 2000
Sequel to 'Have You Ever...'
Standard Warnings and Disclaimers apply.
"Which means," Trowa's calm voice trapped everyone's attention. "There's a chance to stop it before it can become a problem."
"Ninmu Ryoukai."
"No, wait, Heero!" Quatre called out, reaching out for the Japanese boy before he could get away. "We need you here. We need you and Wing Zero to go against Zechs."
"I won't need Zero to destroy those suits," the stoic boy stated. "I'll leave it here."
"And who would fly it?" Duo snapped, hands on hips as he rocked backwards. "I sure as hell ain't getting in that thing again, that's for sure."
The Japanese boy frowned at the braided boy and then turned calmly to the blond Arabian. "You will."
Normally on the pale side, Quatre turned dead white. His throat tightened, making speech impossible, which was just as well since Duo was already replying for him.
"Ah, nice one there, but I don't think any of us wanna be around if blondie gets back in that thing. Right, Trowa? Back me up on this one."
Color flooded the blond's cheeks as baby blues darted to the uni-banged-young man's face. Wisely, green eyes were looking elsewhere and the normally quiet boy remained quiet.
"Heero, you're needed here," Quatre managed to say finally, turning back to face the Japanese boy. "Especially if Zechs decides to fight with Epyon."
Already frowning, Heero's frown deepened. "He'll fight," he admitted lowly, conceding his need to stay.
"Duo should go," Quatre continued, seeing Heero's acceptance. "With Trowa or Wufei. It's a simple 'get in, plant some explosives, get out, watch the place go boom!' operation."
"Sounds right up my alley!" the braided boy grinned.
"No."
All eyes turned and focused on the young Lieutenant.
"No," Noin repeated. "It's silly to send you guys away from the battle like that. All of you are needed most *here*."
"If you ask me," another voice cut in, "it sounds like you don't want those new mobile suits to be destroyed at all..." Jacqueline Behr leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, and glared at her. "Admit it. You would do anything for that blond jerk!"
<<SMACK!!!>>
Jack touched her raw cheek gingerly, eyes wide, and then dark eyes narrowed farther. The four other women in the room made noises sounding like a hybrid of growls and hisses which were silenced by one raised hand from the seventeen-year-old. "I dare you to do that again," Jack growled.
"You're not worth the energy," Noin spat back.
Jack was on her feet, her chair toppling over. Noin was right there to meet her. Before either woman could touch the other, two boys were pushing them back and away.
"Is he such a good fuck you would screw over the entire earth?!"
"Wouldn't you like to know?!"
"Ha! As if! I wouldn't want a piece of that whore-mongrel if he was the last man on Earth *or* the colonies!"
"Ha! Is that why you were fucking stalking him!"
"As if I had to *stalk* *any* man!"
"Oh? And what do you call crawling into someone's bed uninvited?"
"I *never*--"
"Fine! Whatever! *I* wasn't the one thrown out of the Academy!"
"*You* had me *kicked* out!!!"
"*Zechs* had you kicked out... for *sexual harassment* as I recall!"
"You were just scared of some competition!"
"Ha! As if! You dumb slut! You weren't even a rival! You must of have been the only one in our class who didn't get it! Zechs and Trieze were sleeping together! *You* never had a chance!"
If Noin managed to break free from Wufei's hold, it was more because of the Chinese boy's shock than of actually skill or strength. The other woman had stopped resisting and Trowa maneuvered her back into her chair where she stayed, staring at a panting Noin.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Run that by me one more time," Duo's voice snapped, breaking their glares. "Zechs... and *Trieze*? Sleeping together? As in, *lovers*???"
Noin sighed and dropped back into her own chair.
"Talk about a thin line between love and hate!"
"But, Miss Noin," Quatre began gently, his face puzzled. "I thought that..."
"Me and Zechs?" Noin smiled wanly. "Best friends, for over ten years."
"Zechs... and *Trieze*?" Duo repeated. "Fucking?" Feeling the weight of several glares, Duo looked up. "What? What did I say?"
Several sighs emitted throughout the room.
"As, um, fascinating as this new bit of information is," Quatre said, swallowing over his words. "I think we should try and get back to the matter of how to handle the Scorpios." He looked over to Noin. "I agree that the Gundams *are* needed here in the battlefield, but it can't be helped, Miss Noin. Those Scorpios *need* to be destroyed before that are fully functional."
"I can go," the young Lieutenant replied. "Sally and I can go in and--"
"It is too dangerous for a woman," Wufei snapped.
Noin turned in her seat. "It's a simple operation, Wufei!"
"I do not care." The Chinese boy crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, you, too, are needed here in battle."
"We can do it."
All eyes turned to the strawberry blonde leaning back against the wall, arms crossed, chin down to her chest, eyes closed, one knee bent, foot against the wall. Yellow-green eyes creased open, scanning the room, and then she pushed off the wall.
"I'm packing enough kick to blow this entire ship up," Blaire calmly informed them. "I don't think a few unmanned, immobile mobile suits should be a problem."
"She's right, you know," Kat said, turning towards Jack. "It would probably be real easy to sneak into wherever it is they're making these things without notice since most everyone's all caught up in this big old war."
Nita smirked. "And White Fang's security programs are laughable. I can tap into their system without them being any the wiser."
"It's an easy task," Dev added. "In, out, and a fire works show, too."
Jack frowned. "We *could*..." she admitted.
"So why don't we?" Kat shot back.
Jack turned back to face the others at the table. "One thousand credits--for supplies."
Quatre leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "Five hundred--for labor. We provide the supplies."
"Nine--we like our own."
"Seven-fifty--you take some of our people with you."
"How many?"
"At least three."
"Do you have that many to spare?"
Quatre grinned, leaning back in his chair. "I wouldn't offer if I didn't."
"Deal."
"Deal."
They shook on it across the table. Outside the room, Carina gasped and the high-tailed it back to the Shooting Star.
End of Part 19: Battle Plans
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com