Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Reservations For Sanity ❯ Chapter 4

Title: Reservations For Sanity

Authors: Skeren Dreamera, Makoto Sagara, and Bagelbunion

Archive: www.afallenangel.net/makotosagara/frames/fanfiction.html, www.fanfiction.net, www.foreverfandom.net (under Makoto Sagara) www.gundam-wing-fanfiction.net, www.mediaminer.org, and www.nfiction.net, (under Skeren Dreamera) (any others… Good luck finding them)

Category: AU, Shounen ai, Het, Action/Adventure

Pairings: 4+1, 3+5+3, 2+6, R+11, OCxOC, very subject to change

Rating: R

Contact: Skeren Dreamera: Mickeofas@yahoo.com Makoto Sagara: SagaraMakoto@aol.com Bagelbunion: Bagelbunion@cox.net

Spoilers: Yes, Romefeller in this chapter

Warnings: shounen ai, shoujo ai, het, language, violence, OOC, AU timeline from Antarctica on, angst, crazy muses and authors, too little sleep?

Disclaimers: All we own are our original characters and the story line. Everything else belongs to this *hideously* long list of companies with lots of lawyers who could get our pennies. So, seeing as how that's been said, please don't sue. Mako needs to save her money to move to Texas!! We sure as hell don't get any money off of this… Just have fun.

Notes: Makoto meets the rest of the OZ members, and Noin has an… interesting secret.

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Begin part four.

Skeren nodded then headed back to Treize's office. She pulled the aspirin from her pocket and popped one as she was closing the door. "It's too early for a headache."

"Really? I find that in my line of work, it is never too early for a headache," Treize said, offering Skeren a glass of juice.

Skeren took the juice gratefully, sipping at it with a sigh. "You're right. But yelling at those Asian boys earlier helped me so much! Now all that's back to where I started." She couldn't help a pout as she leaned over to get her shurikens. "I can get you a sword of some sort out of this too you know."

"I will consider it, but in no way can I condone my cousin receiving Gundanium weaponry."

Relena had finally woken up, and had enough sugar in her to be the perky person that the world knew her as. "Even I don't understand the reason for that Treize."

"The reason for what, Princess? Oh, that reminds me, I have told Zechs about your presence. He was quite overjoyed. I believe that I will take you to see him later on."

Relena blinked, and then broke into a smile. "How kind of you! Please, it would be great to see him face to face."

"Of course. So, you have something against order, Asian men, and… Lady Une, correct?" He looked at Skeren with a smile.

Skeren laughed quietly. "No, just dress codes."

Treize chuckled as he hit the com. "Lady Une, could you please join me in my office right now?"

Skeren knew Une didn't even have her uniform from the day before since it was getting... cleaned. Lady Une joined the room the discussion a moment later, her face flustered. She was wearing a light pink dress with thin straps.

Treize blinked. "Lady, where is your normal attire?"

Relena immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, staring wide-eyed. Her reaction was because she thought she'd seen an angel. Forgetting, of course, the fact that she was the same person that killed Darlian. Dorothy and Skeren's reaction was similar, but it was to contain laughter.

"The cleaners, sir," Lady Une replied, not meeting anyone's eyes.

Relena got to her feet, blinking a few times as she took in the entire result. The color actually suited Une. "It's lovely!"

Lady Une looked up. "Miss Peacecraft? What are you doing here?"

Treize coughed to cover his own fit of laughter. "Well, it seems as though we will be having visitors soon, or going to see them. I would appreciate it if you would please find something more... fitting... for the occasion." Une glared at him for this.

Relena smiled brightly. "We're here to visit with a few people on base. Lady Une?" She turned to eye Treize, and then looked back to Une. "Oh, don't worry about him. You look beautiful! That color just makes you look like an angel!"

Dorothy choked a bit, seeing the gleam in Relena's eye that was formerly reserved for Yuy, and she got a bit wide-eyed. Skeren was the one that said it though. A little whisper. "Uh oh."

Treize looked at his cousin for help with the situation. He really needed his third in command dressed properly.

"All the reason not to wear it. Excuse me." Lady Une got up and left. Relena released a little sigh, and then did the only currently logical thing. She followed.

Dorothy watched the door close behind the pair and covered her eyes. "She's suicidal, I tell you!"

"Dorothy?" Treize couldn't decipher what the two females were communicating.

Dorothy turned an accusing look on Skeren, who held up her hands in defense before looking to Treize. "Relena will be around for a long while to come now."

"Good God... I'd better tell Zechs."

Skeren shook her head. "And we just got her to stop hounding Yuy!"

Treize picked up his phone and dialed Zechs. "Your sister is now hounding Une. You may want to stop that." He then hung up.

Dorothy shook her head. "You don't understand! She isn't going to stop..."

Relena, like a happy little bird, was following after Une. "Really, I didn't mean to embarrass you! You really do look like an angel come to Earth!"

"Stop following me!" Une shouted at her, embarrassed over all the praise. She couldn't find any hair ties either, so her hair was loose and free.

"Please, I am sorry! I'll stop complimenting you if you insist, but I must say having your hair down suits you! It makes you look so sweet." Relena smiled at her brightly, hopefully.

Une sighed. "Thank you, Miss Peacecraft, but if you would really like to compliment me, do you think you could find me some decent clothes?"

Relena nodded a little. "Of course I'll help you! What would you like me to get you? You look beautiful now, but you are on duty, so I understand. Is there somewhere specific we can go for them?"

"Pants and a shirt. And a heavy-duty bra to tie back these... Things." Une was currently bra-less. "And some boxer shorts." And with that, Une turned and walked away.

Relena let out a little sigh, and then went in search of the proper items.

Skeren was staring a hole in the door. "I never thought she would react like that!"

Makoto finally got out the car, and returned back to Treize's office. "Who? What? I missed something..."

Dorothy looked at Makoto. "Have you heard about Relena's stalking fetish?"

"Something about a Heero Yuy... That's about it. Why?"

Skeren's dry voice filled her in. "She found a new target in Lady Une."

"Oh. Fun. So, what else did I miss?"

Treize looked at the woman. "You've lost your accent."

Makoto chuckled rather throatily. "It's something I learned for my line of work. I just end up not modulating my voice most of the time."

"That's really about it." Dorothy studied Makoto consideringly; then, she looked to Treize. "You have my condolences about Une."

"I will need them. I think I now have a headache." He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of aspirin, downed four dry, and chased them with a glass of water.

Skeren chuckled as she watched Treize. "At least she didn't focus in on you. She's grown up since the Yuy chasing a couple months ago. She might not be that bad."

"Please, do not even joke about that."

Makoto laughed again. "Well, if she started it, at least I could say she has good taste."

Treize turned on Skeren. "This is all your fault, Ms. Dalren."

Dorothy chuckled softly. "What's wrong, cousin. Afraid of a girl with a prospective crush?"

Skeren held her hand to her chest. "Not my fault, I was reacting to Une's orders!"

"No, afraid of Relena Peacecraft. Do not try to play innocent with me. There were other courses of action that did not have to lead to... that..."

Skeren shook her head immediately. "I'd never sic Relena on someone! She gets positively idiotic when that happens!"

"I will refrain from commenting on that." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "So tell me, when we are to meet with the Gundam pilots."

"I think that information is coming with the guest this evening. I very much doubt that he'll broadcast he is here." Skeren grinned.

"Guest?" Treize asked. "Who is this guest?"

"Person who stole my phone." Skeren huffed a bit.

Makoto laughed out loud. "Don't get too mean about it. You'll get wrinkles before you're twenty, Sky."

Skeren rolled her eyes. "Oh please. He could have taken something less important than my phone. Like my wallet!"

"Evidently. Ladies, as much as I would love to continue this meeting, I'm afraid that there are matters here that require my attention. Skeren, perhaps you'd like to retrieve Relena and take the others for a tour?"

Dorothy raised an eyebrow at the two, and then looked back at Treize. "It's been a busy morning."

Skeren nodded a bit and got to her feet, tipping her head to the side as she waited for Dorothy to rise. "Can do. C'mon, girls."

Makoto filed in behind Dorothy and leaned over to whisper, "What's your deal, pretty?"

Dorothy tipped her head. "My deal?"

"Yes, your eyebrows. Are they natural?"

Dorothy raised both of said eyebrows. "It runs in the family."

Makoto stole a look back at Treize. "Suppose it does. So, how'd you meet Sky?"

Dorothy smirked. "Won an argument with Relena."

Makoto nodded. "Must be the one with the scar. Congrats. So, what do you do for fun on a military base? Never been on one..."

Dorothy grinned. "You confuse the locals. You drop cryptic comments that could mean any number of things and make them see it as a puzzle. Then, you watch them scramble for understanding."

Makoto smirked. "Oh, so what I normally do? You know, I expected your cousin to be a bit sharper, but I suppose dealing with Skeren at first is like that for most people."

Dorothy shook her head a bit. "Sharper how?" She was never a morning person.

"He's just not so quick... I would have hoped he knew who had stolen Skeren's phone by now. Guests, my ass..." Makoto sounded scolding.

Skeren glanced back. "He's good at hiding things. He likely knows."

Makoto nodded. "Probably... So, Sky... What're the points of interest? Where's this Zechs I keep hearing about?"

Skeren steered her two charges off towards Zechs' office.

"So, is he as pretty as they say he is?" Makoto asked, feeling oddly out of place now.

Skeren glanced over at Makoto. "The ass and body, definitely, chin too, nose up is a mystery."

Poor Makoto's reply came out more than a little baffled. "Mystery? Why?"

Meanwhile, Zechs found his sister in the base's laundry room, looking positively puzzled. "Relena?"

Relena glanced up to see Zechs there and smiled. "Why hello!"

Zechs shook his head. "What are you doing, Relena?"

Relena smiled at him. "I'm helping Lady Une find something to wear that would be comfortable to her."

"Comfortable? What is wrong with the garments in her closet?"

Relena sighed a bit. "She's in a lovely pink dress. She looks absolutely angelic, but she isn't comfortable."

"Une? In pink? Dress? Angelic?" Zechs' brain froze as he tried to process that. "Hmmm, Relena, why don't we go and talk in my smaller, more cramped office?"

Relena nodded, smiling at Zechs. "Of course. Then... well..." She shook her head, floundering into silence, as she felt abruptly shy.

"Yes?" Zechs asked, pulling a few garments down that he knew would be about the right size for Une. "We will deliver these to Une, and then we can talk."

Relena blushed a little and reached over, taking them from his hands. "Alright. I'd like that."

Zechs led Relena down the halls, pausing before her room. "Une, I have some 'normal' clothes for you."

Une opened the door a crack and peeked out.

Zechs blinked. "What are you hiding from?"

"Get out of here, Lieutenant!" Une nearly shrieked the command.

Relena moved forward, smiling brightly. "Lady Angel! I brought you clothes."

"Lady Angel?" Une repeated to herself and opened the door a crack more.

Zechs just stood back, watching the exchange between his sister and Une.

"Lieutenant, Une said, spying Zechs again. She did not want him to see her in this getup. "I believe I gave you an order."

Relena nodded a little, her smile not nearly so maniacal as it had been a few minutes before. "Yes. Lady Angel. Please don't be unkind to him. We're gong to talk, and he's waiting for me."

Zechs turned around, trying to give the woman her space. "I'm taking my sister with me."

"Fine. Hand the clothes over and scram," Une replied and stuck an arm out the door.

Zechs snorted. "As polite as ever, I see."

Relena sighed a bit and handed her part of the pile first. "Play nice. She's not comfortable." She then handed over the second portion. "I will see you later, Lady Angel?"

"You'll keep your smart-ass comments to yourself, Lieutenant," Une snapped as she hurriedly snatched the first part of the offered clothes.

Relena handed her the last items as she shook her head. She didn't make further comment though, waiting to see if Une would answer her question. Une changed in a hurry and threw open the door, wearing a scowl as well as more appropriate attire. Or what she considered appropriate anyway.

"May I turn around now?" Zechs' voice was positively amused.

Relena gave a regretful sigh, but nodded to Une. "I think Treize might be waiting for you."

Une nodded in return, and stalked down the hallway. Believe it or not, the frilly pink dress was the most unfeminine thing in her quarters now.

Relena looked after Une for a moment, then looked to Zechs, taking his arm and tugging. "Lets go."

Zechs snorted. "Given up on Yuy, I see, and found something less appealing," he said, sighing and escorting his sister to his office.

Relena bristled. "She isn't less appealing. She's done some horrid things, but I don't believe her to be any less appealing than Heero was. Heero just wasn't interested." This, the other three heard as they came around the corner.

"His mask." Skeren then heard the words. "Someone said something about Une."

"Who?" Makoto asked, looking at the mysterious blond man as they turned into her line of sight. " Lieutenant Colonel Zechs Merquise, I presume." She held out her hand in formal greeting.

Zechs eyed her before accepting the hand. "You are?" Relena went silent quickly with that.

"Yuzuki Makoto at your service." She mouthed 'Definitely nice ass' to Skeren.

Skeren came up behind Makoto as Dorothy went over by Relena. "Makoto!"

"What?"

"You aren't supposed to relay these things. Lets get him into his office to give him the news we have to share from this morning, hmm?"

"I just gave him my name... Sheesh, Sky, chill," Makoto said, moving into the office before anyone else and taking the comfortable chair. "I've always wondered what an office like this was like."

"It's a pain," Zechs said, glaring at Makoto through his mask.

Skeren cast an amused look at Zechs as she moved to perch on the desk, the three blondes left to trail in. She spoke once the door closed. "As soon as we have details, you are going to be part of the group meeting the pilots."

This of course, was news to Zechs. "Pilots?"

Dorothy nodded a bit. "Yes. You know, people you Peacecrafts liked to stalk before Relena changed tactics?"

Relena lifted her head with a small, "Hey!"

"Why are we having a meeting with them? Should I call Noin here then? I assume she's involved as well." Zechs was already reaching for the comm, but clearly not to open the connection without the permission.

Skeren heaved a mental sigh. "You're having a meeting with them because Treize trusts me. And yes, Noin is involved, or will be."

Zechs nodded and picked up his phone. "Noin, could you come to my office quickly? It's important." There was no answer on Noin's phone.

Skeren shook her head. "Would you like me to go get her?"

"Yes, please," Zechs said, slamming down the receiver.

Skeren nodded and left the room, going to check on Noin's office and walking right on in. Then, she froze.

Noin's eyes got wide and she hurriedly grabbed a blanket off her bed to cover herself.

"Eep!" Sally shrieked. "I thought you said you locked the door!" she yelled at Noin as she covered her breasts, not knowing where her shirt went.

Skeren cleared her throat, gaze flicking from one woman to the other. "Zechs sent me to see why you didn't answer your phone."

"I think you have your answer!" Sally snapped, her cheeks flushed.

"Apparently... Noin, please, join us in Zechs' office, would you?" Then she moved out and closed the door, returning to Zechs' office with bright red cheeks. "She'll be a minute."

"What happened?" Makoto asked, looking at her friend from the commandeered chair she was still sitting in. Dorothy looked keenly interested in the answer as well, raising an eyebrow as she waited.

Skeren gave a weak laugh. "She was a little busy."

Zechs looked at the blue haired woman. "Busy?"

"Sally and Noin partially naked together... Busy." Skeren moved to the desk and perched.

Zechs' visible face flushed. "Really... I suppose I should have seen it."

Noin appeared a moment later, her hair still a little mussed and her shirt buttoned up crookedly. "Yes?" she croaked out, not having heard the last part of that statement.

"Noin, your shirt is crooked," Makoto retorted, snickering.

All the political females looked at Noin after she entered, and Relena was trying not to giggle. Noin looked down and adjusted her shirt a little, clearly embarrassed.

Zechs cleared his throat. "Noin, you know my sister, Relena. Dorothy, who is Treize's cousin. Skeren, the civilian representative of OZ, and her friend Makoto Yuzuki." Makoto visibly twitched at the butchering of her name.

Skeren smiled. "Miss Noin." She paused, lips twitching. "You and I should be on first names though now, shouldn't we?"

Noin nodded at everyone. "Nice to meet you." She pointedly did not look at Skeren.

The blond man moved over to a corner of his office, trying to ignore the claustrophobic feeling he was getting with so many other people around. "Would someone care to explain?"

Skeren prodded at Noin again with a look, but took pity on Zechs as Relena followed after him a couple steps. "Noin, you are going to be part of group to meet up with the Gundam pilots. If I saw what I thought I saw on your desk, I might suggest asking Miss Po to accompany us."

Noin furiously blushed. "Yes, I'm sure she'd like to come," she squeaked it out, before clearing her throat.

Makoto snickered once more. "Well, wouldn't you like to go get this Ms. Po, then?" She locked her warm brown eyes with that of Noin, her face devoid of any humor.

"Are we leaving soon?" Noin asked, as she stood up and walked to the door, wondering if perhaps this couldn't have waited...

Dorothy's lips twitched. "She might like to hear this ahead of time since she snuck on base, wouldn't she?"

Noin half paled, half blushed. "I will brief her."

"There's been quite a bit of sneaking on this base," Zechs replied dryly from his corner.

Relena turned to Zechs and blinked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," he said, looking pointedly at her, Dorothy, and the woman in his chair.

Skeren laughed quietly as she took in the stare. "I invited all of them!"

Zechs turned his icy stare to her, letting her know that she was already on his list, no matter what she may have said to Treize to win him over.

Skeren just smirked back at him, pointing at his clearly borrowed clothes before turning to Noin. "Go on and get her."

Makoto's phone chose that moment to ring. Noin left, extremely embarrassed, but eager to get back to Sally. She planned on locking the door this time. Makoto's phone just continued to ring.

Makoto sighed, and pulled out her cell, staring at the LCD screen before sighing once more. "You know, Riku, darlin', we gotta talk about your timin'. You know that it sucks, right?"

There was a small scoff from Riku. "I'll let that comment slide. I got us a place across town. You want the address?"

Skeren looked over, noting the three blondes watching the conversation in mild interest.

"Sure," Makoto said, snatching up a pen and a piece of paper off of the desk in front of her. "Ready, sweetheart."

"The Flamenco hotel, 4800 Sage Rd. When you get here, tell the Clerk you're there to see Mr. Masterson. Got it? And keep it to yourself, and Skeren, if you must tell her. And don't fuck around; we have work to do before we go on that job tonight."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it. What am I? Two?" she snapped, feeling irritated. "I know about the work. Don't be such an anal fuck!" She hung up before he could say anything else. "Sorry. Irritatin' little brother."

Skeren laughed a bit. "You claim that annoying twit as your little brother?" She shook her head. "I'd disown him!"

"Sometimes... When I dun feel like wringin' his neck," Makoto murmured. "But, yanno, he grows on ya.... Eventually..."

"I'll think about considering it." It was all Skeren could reply with.

Relena spoke up. "I don't think Miss Noin is coming back."

Zechs cleared his throat. "You know, I hate to break this up, but might I ask who this Riku person is, and how you know him?"

Makoto smiled. "You can, but then, I'd have ta kill ya... And that'd be a waste."

Skeren sighed a little. "Mako, you really need to work on who you choose to threaten."

Makoto gave her a sad look. "Summimasen, Sky, but that's a promise... And yanno I dun joke 'bout work."

"What I told those boys applies too, you to you know. He doesn't get offed." Skeren kept her voice soft. There was something about her that seemed threatening, but there was no way to place it, and her bright clothes only made her seem playful, at least usually.

Makoto gave her a cold smile. "Well, pretty boy there needs ta stop askin' so many questions..."

Zechs just stared at the two women. "Right, well, then I suppose I will that drop. On to other topics... You mentioned the Gundam pilots. What do they have to do with this?"

Skeren brightened instantly. "The other side, and you, might just be coming to some conclusions that include the people fighting for the right objective joining them. Treize has seen the reasoning that makes this a good idea."

"Somehow, I see what's left of my sanity slipping... One can only deal with Duo Maxwell for just so long," Zechs muttered, but it was loud enough for everyone else to hear.

Skeren blinked. "I was unaware you'd ever met that one."

"I haven't, but the stories are enough to make one feel sorry for those who have. You should speak to Lady Une sometime... She's had the pleasure."

"Considering he was a captive, might you consider that he wasn't acting the same as he normally would?" Skeren looked to the other three, noting that Relena was shaking her head at what she was saying.

"Ah, Duo's the kid with the braid, right?" Makoto asked, smiling warmly. "I could see him bein' a handful, captive or no..."

Relena smiled a bit. "He's amusing, and annoying. The reason I'm alive still though, so I can't fault him." Not to say that she liked him, but she didn't dislike him either.

Dorothy sighed. "I'll never understand why you didn't fixate on him instead of Heero. At least he never tried to kill you."

Mako looked up from her hands, which she had found interesting before that comment. "Heero? Is he part Japanese?"

Relena blinked. "He looks it. Has the loveliest blue eyes though." She trailed off into a murmur. She still liked the guy; she just now had other aims.

Dorothy simply shook her head at the other girl. "Please, tell me you aren't about to go into his attributes."

Makoto snorted. "Yeah, a real sweetheart... Killed what was left of my family on L1, though, not really sayin' much 'bout that side...I'd like to meet him soon."

Relena looked to Makoto. "He has made some mistakes. When he nearly shot me, for instance. But he didn't take the next chance, see? Still here."

Dorothy snorted. "Only because Duo shot him though, wasn't it?"

"I see... But like I said, I dun care 'bout that part of my family... Seems they didn't approve of my line of work." She rolled her eyes. "Hope they're havin' fun with the man downstairs, self-righteous bastards."

Relena made a soft "Oh."

Skeren shook her head on a small laugh. "Relena, you told me that story. Have you met any of your good friends without violence?"

Relena had the grace to look sheepish. "Well... No."

"There ya go. Good friends aren't good unless there's a fire in 'em," Makoto said, feeling a bit older than her twenty-two years.

Skeren snorted and looked over at Relena. "She has that one covered. Remind me to never try to break up a fight with her in it if I ever try that again. Would you?"

Une knocked on Treize's door while the others talked with Zechs.

"Come in, Lady," Treize called, putting down his papers and standing as the woman came in. "I'm glad to see that you have found something... more appropriate for the time."

"Thank you, Sir." Une nodded as she took a seat. "I'm glad as well."

Treize sat down as well. "Well, let's get down to business, shall we? Ms. Dalren has had the pleasure of meeting with three of the five Gundam pilots this morning, and it seems as though... How shall I put this? We are joining forces with them to fight for a greater cause."

Une blinked, this was news to her. "...I see."

"You are taking this rather calmly, Colonel. I had expected something a bit... sharper from you."

"Far be it for me to question your orders, Sir, but... Do you mean you want to rebel against the very organization you put into place?" Une looked down at her lap.

"Against OZ, no, but there is something sinister going on behind closed doors with Romefeller, and I would rather not have a knife in my back the next time I step into a meeting. I do hope you understand."

"I understand." Lady Une was quiet for a few moments. "What now, then?"

"Well, as soon as Ms. Dalren contacts the pilots once more, I believe we are meeting with them. She has assured me that Chang and Yuy will keep their weapons to themselves, though part of me is not happy with that."

"Are they coming here?" Lady Une asked.

"As far as I can tell, no. I believe we are to set up a meeting place with the five of them and another associate of Ms. Dalren's... One we have yet to meet."

Une just nodded a little too shocked about this sudden change of events.

"Is there something on your mind, Colonel? Now would be the time to voice any concerns you have."

"Not at this time, Sir."

"I do believe that now is probably the only time that you will have the opportunity to express yourself, with candor, if you feel the need. I know about your feelings about some of the pilots, Lady."

"Exactly what are you implying, Sir?" Une asked.

"I am implying nothing. I am telling you that now, and only now, am I willing to let you rant about how you don't trust them. After we meet with them, I will not take kindly to you insulting our allies."

Une looked very frustrated. "I don't see how we can accept the Gundam pilots as our allies... They've tried to kill you numerous times and they've killed our soldiers, destroyed our weapons, been a nuisance, stolen our money, and... and..." Une just flustered and trailed off.

"I have allowed myself to be a very public target for them, Colonel. And yes, it's true that they have killed our soldiers, destroyed our property, annoyed many of us, and stolen Romefeller's money... But I find the challenge has always been up to our standards, and if this is a way to keep certain other things from happening, so be it. Besides, what has the Alliance, Federation, and Romefeller done to the colonies they fight to protect with their lives?"

Lady Une didn't answer that.

"So you see my point, Colonel Une?"

She sighed. "Yes, Sir."

"You exceed my expectations, my Lady. So, tell me, how did you lose Ms. Peacecraft-Darlian?"

"Er...I plead the fifth, Sir." She shifted in her seat.

"Come now. Surely it wasn't all that bad, Une," Treize said, his tone light and joking.

"It wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't stuck in that ...thing!"

"I happen to think that the dress suited you quite well. It brought out the color of your eyes immensely."

"Don't patronize me, please. It was horrid."

"Only you were of that thought, although I would not go as far as Relena had in expressing my admiration for the change in your attire. But, I must say that it was very out of place at a military base. Hence my relief at seeing you in something more... businesslike."

"Thank you, Sir," Lady Une replied. "I'm glad someone around here feels that way."

"You are welcome," he retorted, thinking for a moment. "You haven't by chance seen Lieutenant Colonel Marquise this morning, have you? Or Noin, for that matter."

"I have. But I have not seen him since. And no, I haven't seen Lieutenant Noin all day."

"Hmmm.... Thank you, Colonel. That is all," he said, thinking once more. "I will contact you as soon as anything of importance is learned."

"Thank you, Sir," Lady Une replied as she rose and left the room.

To be continued.