Lots of chit-chat here! Two more chapters to go! The stage is set, the lights are on, and the curtain drawn. Enjoy and thanks for reading.

Standard stuff: Gundam Wing is not mine, but I do enjoy playing around with it some. My intent is purely for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made on this work. Read, enjoy, hate, whatever!    Now with that out of the way, enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Believe in Me Chapter 5

-To Deal with the Devil-  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Relena tried to concentrate again on work. But honestly, she was exhausted; it had been a tremendously long two days. Bickering, threats on her life, the death of two colleagues, Heero, Mars, it went on and on. She ran her hands through her hair again for what must have been the hundredth time today then laid her head against the chair of the private shuttle her and Maggie were taking back to Earth. Her mind drifted back to the conversation she had with Heero yesterday evening….

“Relena, what do you want me to say?”

“What do you want to tell me?”

“You already know.”

“‘I already know.” Relena whispered. She turned back to some paperwork in front of her and began scribbling down words on piece of paper. She was scheduled to make a few comments when they landed about the Mars assassinations. Campbell seized the opportunity fast to sway the people in his comments last night and it irritated her to no end. He was already playing to the people and the Congress. Diligently she was planning what she knew would be a futile defense. Still her pride and principle demanded she drive forward. The fact she hadn’t heard a word from Heero since last night also dug into her side.

She looked over at Maggie who was fast asleep and smiled a little.

‘Let it go Lena.’ She tried to reassure herself, sliding her papers to the side grabbing a blanket.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Heero are you sure this is going to work?”

Heero looked at Duo his face classically void of expression. “No.” He answered bluntly.

Duo grinned slightly.

“Her shuttle will be landing soon. I’ll need time to prep her.” Heero looked at his watch then around Relena’s office. She kept it immaculate; Relena had several antiques moved in from the Sanq kingdom. Historical pictures adorning the walls but one lone photograph sitting on her desk caught Heero’s eye. A picture of himself and Relena taken at a gala ball over a year ago.

Duo glanced over to Heero then down at the picture he was now holding in his hands. “That’s a good one of the two of you together.”

Heero looked up at Duo, his face looked a little flushed.

“Isn’t that right around the time you two got together?” Duo asked.

Heero nodded then surprisingly spoke. “I had been on Earth investigating shipments of weapons from earth to the colonies. After the investigation was wrapped up, I attended the Gala.”

Duo chuckled, “You make it sound like you went on your own free will! If I recall correctly, you were roped into going with a certain Congressman’s daughter as a favor from the Preventers.”

Heero shot Duo a cold eye then shook his head. “Don’t remind me.” A half grin tugged at his lips as he spoke though.

“How did you ever get rid of Mitchell’s daughter anyway?” Duo inquired mischievously after the last two days the mood needed to be lightened he figured.

“Easy really. Relena walked into the ballroom. To this day, I don’t know what overcame me.”

Duo out right laughed this time, “I do just look at her.” Heero looked at the photo again. Duo was right!  She was gorgeous, her long honey brown hair pulled up allowing her neckline to shine. Her dress hugged her slim frame immaculately and her big blue eyes sparked like stars. Duo was right she's gorgeous.

“So you mean to tell me, Relena walked into the room and you left your date cold?”

“It wasn’t going well Duo. Honestly, I would have rather fought another war again than sit pretending to be interested in someone else… I hadn’t seen Relena in over two years, we locked eyes and that was it. I grew up and realized a lot of things in that moment.”

Duo didn’t say anything; he stood a little stunned at his friend’s new found openness.

“What things did you realize?” A sweet soft voice echoed across the room, causing both men to turn around. Relena stood in the archway of her office door. She looked a little tired but was holding up a good front. Her hair was pulled back slightly so it didn’t fall in her face and she wore one of her standard diplomatic suits.

Heero smiled, “That the quickest way to get rid of your date that night was to have him arrested.”

Her mouth fell agape. “You didn’t?” she said walking into her office setting her bags down in an empty chair.

“And if I did?”

She laughed, “At least it was for a good cause. I'll have to thank him someday for going quietly.”

Heero sat the picture back down on her desk as his smile faded.

“I was told you would be going to Mars.” Relena said.

“We’ve had a change of plans.” Duo chimed in, his eyes found Heero who motioned for him to step out.

“Excuse me.” Duo winked at Relena stepping out of her office.

“Well, I figured something was going on when my security detail forced me straight here and not home after my press conference. While I hoped, I didn’t expect to find you here.”

“It was necessary to move quickly and discreetly. I’m sorry I didn’t call last night. We caught a shuttle straight back to Earth.”

“Why Earth and not Mars?” Relena asked.

“Maybe you should sit down.” He motioned for her to take the seat in front of him.

Relena tilted her head to the side and took one of the chairs in front of her desk facing Heero. His face was solemn. He hadn’t made any motions of physical expression up to this point, she knew him well enough to leave him alone for the moment.

“What I’m about to tell you, I’ve done my best to avoid.” He paused and she noticed his unrurely hair danced about his face down into his eyes more than usual today anguish hinted in his voice.

“I’m listening…” She whispered.

“For the past six months we have been aware of a mole in the Preventers. We thought we knew whom he was, so we fed him incomplete and inaccurate data. Turns out, we were the ones being fooled. Three days ago we apprehended our potential mole only to find out there was another.  We left for L2 to stop the true source.”

“Source?” Relena questioned as confusion set in on her face.

Heero got straight to the point. “The source is Congressman John Campbell. The data we were feeding the prospective mole was to help keep us informed of his potential plans. We failed. Campbell wants on the defense oversight committee to gain control of the Preventers. But you already knew as much.”

“Yes, I know that’s why he wants on… Did you let him push me on purpose last night?”

“I knew the two of you had no intentions of seeing eye to eye on Mars. But I didn’t expect him to come out so hard on you.” Heero replied.

“So you planed to use me?” Relena held a new irritable tone in her voice.

Heero knew this question was coming and he offered her the best answer he could. “Without your knowledge, yes. This is a battle I’ve been fighting for two days now.”

She leaned back in the chair and looked away from Heero for a moment. “So why tell me this all now?” She knew why, but wanted to hear the answer from his lips.

“We… I need your help.” He replied looking into her eyes. Her eyes screamed with him to break down any and all walls he had left.

 “Now you need me Heero?” Doubt flooded her voice.

“You should have came to me with this before.” Relena finally continued after several moments of silence flooded her office.

“I should have done a lot of things before.” He returned to her his voice lower than normal.

“What do you want me to do?”

Heero sighed, “I need you to arrange a meeting with Campbell and offer him a free ride on the Defense Committee, no objections from you or your supporters in exchange for him to drop immediate Mars representation.”

“Heero?” She questioned him a bit of shock in her voice. “You’re asking me to betray everything I believe in. And for what? He will get confirmed either way, I can’t stop him my pride is all I have left.” Her voice was filled with frustration.

“You may not be able to stop Campbell now, but you will soon. Relena, I know what I’m asking requires swallowing pride and honor. We don’t have many options at this point. I need you to do this.”

“What good will it do? Campbell could laugh in my face! I have no ground to stand on.” She argued.

“That’s the whole point Relena. It will look like a good faith measure on your side. Campbell doesn’t care about Mars and he sure as hell doesn’t want you dragging his hearing through the mud. He knows he’d survive your defense why press the issue when victory is so close.”

“You still haven’t answered my question, how does this help you? You’re giving him the Preventers with open arms.” She pressed him for answers.

“I know it looks like what we’re doing is foolish, but trust me, this is the best possible solution.”

“Stop avoiding the question. How is this the best solution? What are your other solutions?”

Heero just stared at Relena and uneasy glare between the two of them. “You were going to kill him?” She asked taken aback by her own words.

He shook his head no, “At one time it was a option, no longer." Guilt was in his voice now. Relena, go to him tell him what he wants to hear, together we can force his hand.”

She shook her head closed her eyes then looked back to Heero. “Tell me now and don’t lie to me. No secrets. Did he kill those people on Mars last night?”

“We have no direct proof, but yes I think he did. I know he did, and I need your help to prove it.”

“I have no doubt that man will lead us to another dictatorship, Heero, and inevitably another war. You’re convinced you can get him?”

He paused and moved from her desk until their faces were precious inches apart. Time slowed as they starred into each other’s eyes. Then he spoke.

“Believe in me.”

And she did, she believed with every part of her being all her heart and soul.

The inches closed and their lips met and washed away any doubt they had about each other, their careers, or future. Finally they pulled apart, both of their faces flush.

She looked at Heero and noticed how tired he was. His face hid it, but his eyes now told her another story. He was tired mentally and had been fighting a battle with himself and with Campbell. She stood up and moved behind her desk. He watched her hand reach for the phone and press a single button.

Relena’s assistant Maggie chimed in across the speaker. “Ma’am.”
”Maggie, contact Congressman Campbell’s office and arrange a meeting. Tell them I wish to speak about Mars Independence right away. His office will understand.” Relena’s diplomatic voice was firm.

“Yes Ma’am, Mars Independence, Right away.” Maggie confirmed.

Relena released the button. “Okay, shall we go over the details?”

Heero nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Minister Darlian this way please.” Katrina Grace led Relena back to a conference room in the hotel Campbell is staying in. The room was medium in size with portraits of the hotels founders adorning a few walls. The paint on the wall was light and the row of windows along the north wall had their shades drawn.

Campbell sat on the far end of the table; Congresswoman Kate Mitchell sat to his left. They were just finishing up a meeting. Mitchell stood up and greeted Relena then excused herself. Katrina closed the door behind Mitchell eyeing Relena wearily.

“Minister, it is pleasing to meet with you again.”

“Yes, I thank you for time today.” Relena’s voice was even but comforting.

“Well then, shall we… get down to it?” Campbell said eyeing Relena solemnly.

She nodded and took a seat on the other end of the small table.

Collecting her thoughts and reassuring herself once more, she spoke, “Since we shall be working together more directly with your pending confirmation, I am here to ask you today to start our new partnership off on a strong foot.”

Campbell’s left eyebrow shot up showing his interest.

Relena continued, “Congressman, I won’t mince words, I have no interest in running you name through the mud or trying to hold up your confirmation. In fact I’ll offer you my full support and blessings.”

“In exchange for what Minister?” He forced himself to hide his smile.

“I ask that you place a rest to Mars representation and allow the Preventers to complete their investigation. I don’t want to give the Mars Independence League any further reason to believe ESUN threatens the sovereignty of Mars.”

“Minister, are you blaming me for the tragedy on Mars?” Campbell pushed at Relena wondering where she truly was coming from.

Her eyes went wide as she carefully considered her response. “No Congressman, not at all. Some fanatics took our words and are trying to build a futile cause from it. I’d rather not give them any more ammunition. I've worked long and hard on Mars, I’m willing to concede my positions at this point, there is nothing left to gain from us bickering. The word is the Preventers are close to bringing the Mars League to justice I know we both want to see that happen.”

This time it was Campbell who considered his words carefully. Cautiously, he tried to suppress some alarm he now felt. “I agree Minister, adding fuel to the fire will not help matters at the moment for either of us. I will do what you ask and I must say, I am rather pleased to be meeting with you. It took a lot, I’m sure, for you to come to me regarding this matter. I think I speak for both of us when I say the past shall live only in the past.”

Relena hesitated then forced a smile. “I agree there is no room for the past in the future. After all the future is yet to be written.”

Campbell forced his own smile as well. She was making him uncomfortable and he was having a hard time reading her, either that or he was reading to far in what she was saying. “Yes, how very true. Unlike your father before you, your embracing change is a wise decision, I look forward to our future partnership.”

Campbell made sure she understood his point and it landed across Relena as intended. She forced her smile to stay on her face. “Some decisions aren’t easily reached. I’m happy to be given a chance to see the error of my ways.”

“I’ll be looking forward to making some changes to the Defense committee and how the Preventers currently operate. Of course I’ll work with you to make sure that the vision of ESUN stays intact.”

Relena swallowed hard, doing her best to play the game. Her phone rang interrupting their conversation. “Can you excuse me for a moment?” Relena asked Campbell

He nodded, “Certainly.”

She turned her attention to the phone spoke a few words smiled and hung up.

“Congressman I have excellent news.”

“Ah what’s that?”

“Members of the Mars Independence League have been captured. Also a mole operating under the League’s flag inside the Preventer organization has been flushed out.”

Campbell’s eyes went wide again, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“So soon? Were you given any names Minister?” Apprehension now filled his voice.

“Not yet I’m afraid. I’m sure the press will be informed soon and since I’m on the committee I’ll forward you over a copy of the official report that will be filed since you’ll be joining us tomorrow.”

“I would appreciate that Minister.” His voice remained shallow and uneven.

“Well then once again I thank you for your time and look forward to the committee hearings tomorrow.” She stood and held her hand confidently out to Campbell. He seemed to squirm from his chair then met Relena and returned her shake lightly. “Thank you minister.” The confidence he once held gone, the man watched Relena leave the conference room. Slowly, he sat down and waited for Katrina to come but she didn’t.

Instead a handsome man with brown hair and piercing blue eyes walked into the conference room. He wore black trousers and a white shirt with a light jacket to round him out. He was obviously armed. The man turned and closed the conference room door then removed an ID from his jacket pocket.

“Congressman my name is Commander Heero Yuy with the Preventer organization. I’m here to speak with you about the Mars Independence League.”

End Chapter 5

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Two more to go! Thanks as always ~ Cass