22-Jul-2001
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters do not belong to me, they belong to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency. The original characters that appear in this and prior chapters of Bronze are of my own creation.
Rating: R
Parings: None this chapter
Warning: You may or may not like how some characters are portrayed. And as with the last chapter, Milliardo/Zechs will be referred to with both names. Milliardo for the narration/telling of the story and Zechs when Treize either calls him by name or thinks about him. And yes, the opening scene is similar to a scene in chapter two of Spanish Caravan but I am allowed to borrow from myself (the Spanish Caravan scene is borrowed from this one, not vice versa, SC just got finished and posted first).
"Oh! Please excuse me," Col. Pulaski sputtered, "I didn't hurt you did I?"
"But it is I who must beg your pardon, sir, for not watching where I was going," the man responded, "I . . ."
"Philo! We're already late, damn it!"
"Yes, your Excellency! I'm right behind you," the little man gave Pulaski an apologetic shrug as he scurried to resume his position behind Dermeil.
Pulaski whistled a little tune to himself as he watched the elevator doors close, leaving him alone in the hallway. Security in the hotel was better than he'd expected and he'd had to resort to picking the aide's pocket for his key card. It worked as well the second time as it had the first.
He slid the card in and out of the sensor, opening the door to the duke's room. He exited moments later and walked to the elevators, that same tune still on his lips.
"Baker Street – report in!" Col. Une yelled into the communicator, "are you under fire? Please verify!"
"Baker Street reporting in, Col. Une. That's an affirmative, there has been sporadic weapons fire from Romefeller, but no real damage to report. The captain thinks they're testing us, to see if we'll engage them. The 03 pilot did return fire ma'am, and he took a couple of their mobile suits out."
"I'm not happy about that exchange of fire, but it was bound to happen. Tell 03 nice shooting but stop wasting his ammo," Une said.
"Col. Une, 03 can hear you, he is on our frequency," the captain of Baker Street informed her, "you can give him that order direct."
"03 reporting, I don't think I was wasting ammo," Trowa answered, "and if they try that again, I will return fire."
"Please refrain unless it's absolutely necessary, 03, we're still waiting on the go ahead from Lord Khushrenada or Col. Pulaski," Une said, "O. S. S. Doyle out."
"We're going to have to figure out how to get that suit rearmed out there," she said to her lieutenant, "he's sure to run out of ammunition. Radio the Peacemillion, I'm sure someone there knows how to do it."
Milliardo led Treize to his nondescript brown vehicle which could be best described as a small family sedan. They quickly accessed L1's freeway system and began driving towards the colony's administration center. They rode in quiet for a few miles until Treize broke the silence.
"Where are we going?"
Milliardo said nothing.
"Zechs?"
Silence.
"Milliardo?"
"Your hotel," the answer was curt and to the point.
"Zechs . . .I . . ."
"I don't want to hear it, Treize," Milliardo gave him a quick glare, then turned his eyes back to the road.
"And what was I about to say?"
"You were about to utter another one of your hollow apologies," Milliardo said, "full of those flowery but meaningless words you love to use."
"And if I said that was not what I was about to do?"
"I'd say you were lying."
Treize chuckled, "I was going to ask if you were taking me to meet with your White Fang comrades. Although I admit there was going to be an apology thrown in at some point."
"That's not a good idea, most of them would love to be the one that puts a bullet in you. It wouldn't matter that right now Oz and White Fang have the same agenda."
"What about you, Zechs? Do you want to put a bullet in me?"
"After Antarctica, I hated you enough to kill you. But gradually I came to realize you were just being you and looking out for number one."
"So you do understand I had no choice?"
"Treize, you did have a choice and you chose what was in your own best interests, which was saving your reputation and career. I might have done the same if it were me in that position."
"Believe me, I have grieved over that decision ever since I made it. And no, I had no choice. Romefeller was going to hunt you down and kill you. Your name and your reputation would be forever disgraced. We'd known each other too long for me to let that happen, so I offered you what I thought was the only way out. I am relieved you found another way, even if it puts us on opposite sides."
"And I did lose my position, I've only recently regained it."
Milliardo pulled of the road, his brakes squealed as he stepped hard on the pedal, the small car coming to an abrupt stop. He turned towards Treize and punched him hard in the mouth.
"I promised myself I'd do that if you were ever stupid enough to mention that around me," he growled, "still, it does not even begin to make up for what you and Une did to my sister." (1)
Treize took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from his mouth, "Yes, I suppose I deserved that," Treize drawled, "and I see you're still not pulling your punches. That hurt like hell."
"Good, it was supposed to. And you're still the same manipulative bastard you've always been," Zechs's grin was cold and feral, "finding you in my bed proves that. (2) Believe me, I'm not done with you yet, Treize, unfortunately it will have to wait for another time."
Treize's smile was equally cold and equally feral, "I'll be looking forward to it once this affair is over."
"What time is Dermeil scheduled to make his speech?" Treize asked Col. Pulaski.
"In a couple of hours," Pulaski answered, "Treize, where were you?"
"I was in a meeting with Zechs. We seem to have picked up another ally, at least for the time being."
"Treize, are you sure its wise bringing White Fang into this? Are you sure you can trust Merquise?"
"About as far as I can throw him," the Oz leader grinned, "he feels the same way about me, so it should work to our mutual advantage."
"Order us some breakfast while I take a shower, will you Al?" Treize began to undress, "and contact Une, tell her to expect White Fang. They are now to go on full alert. The gundams are to begin transmitting the override programs as soon as Romefeller begins transmitting theirs."
"Go take your shower, it's as good as done," Pulaski said, picking up the phone while Treize entered the bathroom.
"Enter the coordinates for L3, we'll rendezvous with Baker Street and give HeavyArms some assistance," Howard said, "don't want that boy stuck out there like a sitting duck."
"Aye, aye Howie," the helmsman answered.
"What did you call me, Mr. Jones?" Howard frowned and the helmsman wished he'd kept his mouth shut. It was odd how a glowering Howard seemed larger than life.
The rest of the crew appeared busy at their posts, but quick sideways glances and the sounds of soft snickering gave them away. Each hoping he or she would be the winner of the sizable pot they'd collected. Bets had been taken on Howard's reaction.
The helmsman gulped then found his voice, "Sorry Captain, but Mr. Maxwell asked me to call you that . . . for luck. Ah . . . and he said you owe him a touché."
Howard's glare softened to a grin. He shook his head and laughed, "touché Duo, touché."
The faint sounds of snickers were replaced by louder grumbles, except for Mr. Jones, who was wearing a Cheshire cat grin. He was figuring out how he was going to spend all those credits he'd just won and stuck his tongue out at the losers.
"Trowa?"
"I'm here Quat, and I'm fine," Trowa assured him.
"I know, but I still wanted to hear it from you," relief filled Quatre's voice, "I think we should all keep our private channel open and our radios on. I've been listening to the communiqués, there's a change in the voices. I think Col. Une has heard from Lord Treize and is about to issue new orders."
"I don't wish to butt in, but I think you're right," Wufei spoke up. "The Baskerville is maneuvering into a new position and so are the Tauruses."
"My Oz escort is taking a defense stance as well," Duo broke in, "Heero, what's going on around you?"
"We've been ordered to come alongside the Doyle and Peacemillion is rendezvousing with Trowa. And yes, Une is getting ready to announce Treize's orders, so be ready."
"Heero, I've noticed no movement coming from the Romefeller ships, do you concur?" Quatre asked.
"They haven't moved," Heero said, "either they have to be in those exact coordinates or they don't think we can stop them."
"Attention all hands," Une's voice came through their earpieces, "we are now on alert, I repeat, we are now on alert. Gundam pilots, you are to begin transmitting the override programs as soon as Romefeller transmits theirs. Troop carriers, you and the Tauruses will provide a shield for them. Lord Treize informed me to expect assistance from White Fang as well. You and White Fang are to protect and defend only. Col. Une out."
//Treize, I hope you're right in trusting Peacecraft, because I don't//
"I'm issuing one more order, if White Fang so much as looks as if they're are going to fire on us, blow them to hell. I take full responsibility for that order."
Georgie picked up the controller to the TV, "let's see if the conference has started yet. Watching that movie is making me feel a little dizzy for some reason."
"You know, I don't feel too well either," Sasha said, "I've got a terrible headache and my stomach feels queasy."
Georgie clicked the remote, switching from the station that was showing the old movie about cloning dinosaurs, to the news channel.
Admiral Symonds looked at his watch. The computers installed on the Romefeller battleships were scheduled to start transmitting now, making contact with the colonies' system computers and to begin uploading the shut down commands. The captains from the four ships began reporting in. Each computer worked as it was supposed to. The mission was a success.
"You are to assist the Oz ships and mobile suits in protecting the gundams," Milliardo ordered, "I wish I could be with you but I have to be at the conference. It's important that White Fang's presence is seen and its involvement in saving the colonies is known. I hate playing politics but its necessary. Our public image sticks in peoples minds as much as our deeds or what we stand for."
"Take out as many Romefeller suits as you can, our destroyers will keep the battleships busy. I wish you luck and success. May you come back safe."
"Attention gundam pilots, start countermeasures immediately, they have begun transmitting, I repeat, they have begun transmitting," a chill ran through Col. Une as she issued her orders. She knew the bloodshed was about to start.
`This is Chandra Davies reporting for RNN at the Earth/Colony conference being held on L1. The conference is about to convene in a few minutes, a speech from the Romefeller Counsel head, Duke Dermeil, being the highlight of today's meeting.'
`The excitement level is high as everyone is anticipating that soon an announcement of new trade and peace treaties between the colonies and earth will be forthcoming. We break now to your local station for the weather.'
"Ok Chandra, that's a take," the cameraman lowered his equipment, "who's next on our list for interviews?"
"Let's see . . ." the newswoman began looking over her list.
"Miss Davies! Miss Davies!" her intern was excited and breathless and he blurted out his words between intakes of air, "I just overheard something, the colony reporter was talking to someone on her cell phone and I happened to overhear it, you can get a real scoop out of this!"
"Well? Spit it out, kid. I don't have much time before my next interview."
"She was asking someone to confirm rumors of ships converging outside the colonies and weapons being fired," the intern said.
"You sure of this?" she could feel the hairs stand on the back of her neck, if this were true, it could be her ticket to the anchor's desk.
"Yeah, I was standing behind her and heard the whole thing. Of course she clammed up when she turned around and saw me. Something's going on, something really big too, she was very excited and nervous."
"Hmmm, the Counsel would know what's going on. Let me look at that list again," she scanned her clipboard, "ah, here we are. I was supposed to interview the new member from Scandia later today. Let's go ahead and bump him up to the head of the list and do him next. That colony delegate I was supposed to interview next wasn't too keen on talking to me anyway. Too bad, I understand he's really good looking too," she sighed as she scratched the name Milliardo Peacecraft off her schedule.
"I got a communiqué from Col. Une. It's started," the look on Pulaski's face was grim.
"Dermeil's speech is scheduled in a half hour. Of course without his glasses someone else will have to deliver it. I hope the cameras zoom in on his face as its being read. I want everyone to see what a conniving bastard he is," Treize looked at his watch and sighed, he hadn't seen Zechs since they arrived at the hotel. Where was he? What was taking him so long?
"Excuse me, Lord Byrom?"
Treize turned, it was one of those news reporters he'd managed to avoid, until now.
"May I help you?" he asked.
"Yes sir, I'm Chandra Davies with RNN and I was hoping you could answer some questions. There have been reports of a skirmish or battle out in space near the colonies. Can you enlighten us on those rumors?" she stuck the microphone in his face.
"Miss . . . Davies, was it? I'm afraid I have no idea what you are referring to. Although I think if you go inside the conference room and wait for the Duke's speech, you'll have something of far greater interest to report about. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm waiting for some colleagues," he turned his back on her, the interview was done.
"C'mon boys, let's find us a good spot inside," she said as they walked towards the two large doors, "why are all politicians such assholes?" she muttered.
"Are you ready Treize?" Milliardo asked as he approached the other man.
Upon seeing Milliardo arrive, Treize took off the light overcoat he had been wearing, revealing his Oz uniform. He wished he'd been able to dye his hair back to its own color, but there had been no time.
Milliardo was less resplendent but as handsome in the dress grey of White Fang. Col. Pulaski felt more himself wearing the colors of Oz security.
"We're ready. My men will enter on my signal, and yours?" Treize said.
"My men have been ordered to follow yours."
"Une has reported that the fighting has already escalated. Romefeller was not happy seeing White Fang show up at all."
"My men may not be professional soldiers Treize, but they are trained just as well, they'll more than hold their own."
"I know they will, they had a great teacher," Treize said, "this feels good, Zechs, like old times."
"Don't get used to it Treize," Milliardo warned.
"I know. It's time for our entrance," he said, changing the subject.
"Yes, it's time," Milliardo agreed as they walked through the double doors.
TBC
End of Act 17
1) That's a reference to a fic I wrote called Celebrating Relena part 7 of the Belle of the Ball series. Bronze is the sequel to Belle of the Ball.
2) This is what Milliardo believes, that does not make it true nor does it mean he's mistaken. Only Treize knows for sure.
KwyckSylver
Please send comments to: kwycksylver@yahoo.com