A Final Solution (6)

Caliborn · Post by **Caliborn** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 1:57 pm

<CENTER>
<BIG><BIG>Chapter 6</BIG></BIG>
</CENTER>

 
 
 
" . . . To stop this crisis. As you all know, certain events have lead
to new tensions among the colonies and earth . . ." 
 
Relena sat comfortably, cross-legged before the large viewing screen, listening
to Ambassador Lochley give his speech. The other Preventers on the roof had
mostly left, after they had gotten the equipment to work. Wufei and Trowa
had put the blueprint away. They now sat in two folding chairs in almost
identical poses, (Legs crossed, on arm resting on a chair arm while the other
rested in his lap) watching the Preventers, the screen, and the skies, apparently
all at the same time, which was only possible at all when you were a former
Gundam Pilot, Relena supposed. They weren't too interested in the screen
and the delegates behind it, though, and neither were the other handful of
Preventers that were continually scouting out the enormous roof. Relena seemed
to be the only true audience of the conference who's seat was on the roof,
which made sense, as she was the only politician. 
 
She was not liking what she was hearing. 
 
"It is my opinion that we cut communication from the L4 sector immediately,
until this . . . mess can be sorted out." 
 
Relena made a sound deep in her throat. "Idiot! That will just let them keep
doing . . . whatever they're doing, and us without an eye or ear on them!"
She looked up at the sky for a moment, almost pleadingly. Had all the delegates
lost their minds since she had become a ghost? She had not heard one single
helpful idea since the screen had started working. 
 
To top her frustration off, she still wasn't sure what in earth and
space was going on. Some trouble with the L4 sector--Some great
trouble-- that was creating new problems between the Earth and the Colonies.
But what else was new? There were always tensions between the two
powers, but most were minor and easily solved. The worst case in her memory
was when an L3 representative had socked Senator Grisham in the nose, starting
immediate animosity between those two families, and friends of the two families,
etc. That, though, had eventually been explained when it was found out that
Senator Grisham had been having certain secret . . . relations . . . with
the representative's sister. 
 
Sometimes, politicians could really get on her nerves. 
 
Her attention was returned to the screen when polite clapping announced
Ambassador Lochley's exit from the podium. She bit her lip, hoping that relations
would not be cut and Lochley's ideas would not be followed. That was far
too drastic a move, and could only lead to disaster. Part of her wished more
than anything that she was at that conference; if only to stop the more
ridiculous ideas dead in their tracks. Sometimes she felt like she was a
mother of all of them, having to gently push them into the ways they should
have already be going in, had they used any sort of common sense. Yet also,
sometimes she felt like the little sister, running along behind the older
politicians, not truly belonging in their play. She had felt that feeling
more and more recently, telling her that perhaps she didn't belong with the
50 or 60 aged men who talked of things which she understood, but had no true
interest in. 
 
Just because one is talented in something, it does not mean they are always
happy doing it. 
 
Relena blinked when she saw Quatre take the podium. Since becoming involved
in politics himself, he had always been a sort of ally to her. She smiled
slightly. I know you won't let me down, Quatre. 
 
He looked serious-- very serious. Usually his kind heart and easy smile would
warm and ease the room when he had to speak. Now, though, he only looked
tired and withdrawn-- too much like some of the older politicians would were
very close to retiring. Relena's relieved smile faded into a frown. Then,
her friend began his speech, for a moment regaining his usual energy. 
 
"Tragedy can strike without a moment's notice." He was calm, collected.
"Without even a second's notice. None of us were ready for what has happened,
but all we can do now is become ready. 
 
"They have surprised us. Apparently, the group behind this crisis was
much more effected than everyone else at Ms. Relena Dorlain's . . . tragedy."
His eyes closed briefly, painfully. Relena felt a stab of guilt. Quickly,
though, Quatre continued. "Instead, they took the chance too begin to
work towards their own goal. By the time our eyes were finally turned to
that quarter . . . it was too late. They had already begun to amass power
and followers, also creating what, if we let get out into the public, could
cause great . . . suffering." Again, Quatre paused. Retrieving a handkerchief
from his suit pocket, he gently dabbed at his forehead. He looked to be catching
his breath. 
 
Relena's breath caught in her throat, when something seemed to click in her
mind. Something was wrong with Quatre. Something was very wrong. 
 
" . . . Excuse me. As I was saying, we must find out exactly who is behind
this . . . " Again, a sight pause, a slight need to catch his breath.
" . . .We must find out how exactly this group . . . this organization
plans to market their . . . product to the public. We cannot . . . let them
get away with this, yet at the same time . . . cannot give into their demands."
Another pause for breath. Another dab at his temple. Relena bit her lip;
Quatre was gripping at the podium with more strength than was necessary.
 
 
Sensing movement behind her, Relena turned her head. Wufei and Trowa had
suddenly become far more interested in the screen. They shared a brief look;
Trowa frowned, a brief downward twitch of his lips, and Wufei had a brief,
confused look on his face. "How was he infected so quickly?" Wufei asked
quietly, with a touch of what Relena was surprised to recognize as slight
panic. Wufei shook his head and with sudden urgency he twisted in his seat,
reaching down to grab a walkie-talkie, quickly turning a knob. 
 
"A-team? This is C-Leader. Do you copy?" 
 
Static. 
 
A little more forceful, now. "A-team. This is C Leader. Do you copy?" 
 
Static. Then, a slightly accented voice. "Hello. I hope you have already
realized what's happening. This is warning number 2. Unfortunately, Quatre
Winner . . . loses." Relena stared. Wufei looked about ready to kill.
 
 
"Who is this?" 
 
"Over and out . . . C-Leader." There was more than a twinge of sarcasm.
Then, more static. 
 
"FUCK!" Wufei drew his hand back and looked about to pitch the walkie-talkie
over the side of the building. Trowa, moving quickly, grabbed the device
out of Wufei's hands even though Wufei's arm continued it's heave. 
 
Trowa, very much calmer, took over. "B-team, come in. Do you copy?" 
 
" . . . This is B-team. West Gate, to be exact. We copy . . ." The
voice sounded confused. "What's wrong?" 
 
There was a clattering sound from the speakers. Relena spun around, eyes
wide. Then she gasped, leaping up from her position. "Quatre!" 
 
Quatre had fallen over, and he now lay, apparently unconscious, behind the
podium. At least, Relena hoped to God it was just unconsciousness. Anyone
nearby had rushed to the scene. Lady Une materialized by his side, and was
calling for someone to phone an ambulance. 
 
Trowa was still watching the screen. Then, he closed his eyes, very slowly.
When he spoke, it was with his usual calm deliberation. "Where was the breech
in admission?" 
 
" . . .What?" 
 
No hesitation. "Which part of B-team isn't responding?" 
 
"Everything is fine. There's no problems--" 
 
"Which. Part?" Trowa had a way of sounding even more deadly then Wufei, when
he wanted to. 
 
There was a long pause. Then, " . . . About a minute ago, we discovered
that was had lost contact with the men at the service entrance." A pause
. "But only for a moment. Nothing has gone by that way, judging from the
cameras . . ." 
 
Wordlessly, Trowa handed back the communicator to Wufei. Then he turned and
began towards the fire escape. 
 
Wufei glared at the walkie-talkie for a long moment (the man on the other
end still seemed to be talking) before he looked up to realize Trowa was
leaving. 
 
"Where are you going?" He demanded. 
 
Trowa didn't even pause. "To help. You get to clean this one up." 
 
Wufei now glared at Trowa's back. "You realize that they're going to blame
the Preventers for this." 
 
"Yep." Trowa disappeared over the edge, never looking back. 
 
"Fuck." Wufei breathed, again. This time, he did throw the walkie-talkie
against the cement of the rooftop, where it promptly split into two separate
parts. He looked up again, meeting the bewildered gaze of the handful of
Preventers still on the roof. His glare made them all immediately wince.
 
 
"Clean all this hardware up. Now! Rendezvous at the base." He spent a few
minutes-- very long minutes, as Relena has been to slow in following Trowa
and so had no way off of the top of the building until someone else decided
to leave--looking things over and directing the others. Then he, too, stalked
off towards the fire escape. 
 
Not about to be left behind, Relena hopped up and followed Wufei down the
metal staircases, returning into the darkened hallway through the same door.
Wufei was furious. His stalking steps certainly showed that to be true. He
was moving so fast down the dark hallway that Relena had to jog slightly
in order to keep up. 
 
They were about halfway down the hallway when Relena noticed something out
of the corner of her eye. One of the doors, just to her left, was ajar. This
wouldn't have caught her attention if it weren't for the fact that none
 of the doors had been open before; there had been at least a dozen leading
off from that hallway and every one had been shut and locked tight, save
the one leading to the fire escape. And even with that, Relena still wouldn't
have noticed anything if she hadn't seen the flicker of a broken glass shard
just a few steps away from the ajar door. 
 
She paused, even though Wufei continued his stomping down the hallway,
occasionally muttering to himself. She eyed his back, hissing,
"Wufei!"though knowing full well he wouldn't answer, and he didn't,
too caught up in his own muttering to notice the plea of the ghost of the
former Queen of the World. 
 
Well. This was just wonderful. 
 
Curiosity killed the cat, of course, but then again Relena had always been
more of a dog person. Still, why was a door open when it hadn't been
before, anyway? She intended to find out. She eyed the opening for a moment,
tested pushing at the door a little to see if it would budge at all--it
wouldn't--and then decided to hell with it and threw herself at the tiny
opening, sideways, with all the leverage she could get from the hall. This
resulted in Relena affectively wedging herself tightly in the space, unable
to escape either way. 
 
There was an intense, brief battle with the door and wall, but after a moment
Relena came out on top, popping through the opening and landing on the other
side in an ungraceful heap. 
 
I wish I had cut down on chili dogs before I died, She thought, though
she grinned in triumph as she glanced back at the door. So there. Hah!
 
 
She stood and stuck her tongue out at the offending doorway, as if to get
one last hit in, and dusted herself off--although ghosts didn't really collect
dust, she noted. She was seriously considering indulging herself in a
ghost-victory-dance, though her thoughts were cut short as she heard muffled
sounds coming from an open doorway. 
 
Raising an eyebrow, she started towards that opening--which thankfully was
much wider--absently eyeing the dark room around her. There were metal cases
of drawers, and a desk in that corner, a large copying machine, as well as
a few other heavy-duty office things. It was too small for an office. A workroom,
perhaps? With an adjoining room. Or something. 
 
The adjoining room looked like a small kitchen, actually, Relena noticed
as she stepped through the opening. This room was a little lighter as it
actually had a window, though high up and small. It even had a little U-shaped
counter of some sort-- and behind this, the voices became clear. 
 
"Idiot!" Hissed a voice, accented softly. "I can't believe you broke it!
Falcon will have your head over this one!" 
 
"No one saw it! And it wasn't dangerous, anyway. Winner had already been
infected by it." 
 
Tiptoeing to the counter, she carefully reached over and tried to peer over
into the little space. Yes, it was absurd for her to be worrying
about being spotted--as it was physically impossible for anyone to notice
her--but she didn't like what these people seemed to be talking about. Actually,
she was pretty sure she didn't like these people period. She was too short
to see very much this way, however, and so with a grunt heaved herself onto
the top of the counter, and then leaned over the side again. 
 
A man and a woman were talking in hushed voices, the woman apparently being
berated by the man. She had long, brown hair that was up in a pony tail,
while the man had blond, greased-back hair and a mustache. Relena's couldn't
see very much beyond that, and so couldn't guess an age for either, but judging
by their voices they were both full adults. 
 
"That doesn't mean we can't still get infected, you numbskull! Or
anyone that happens to walk by and get attacked by the virus!" 
 
"I cleaned it up after the first Preventer left!" Snapped the brunette. "It's
fine!" 
 
"You got all of the glass?" 
 
"Yes! Every bit, damn it!" 
 
"I sure as bloody hell hope so." 
 
"As it is, at least we're vaccinated . . ." 
 
"As it is, you're still going to get skinned alive." 
 
"Oh, shut up already!" 
 
"If the Preventers found it . . . if the police found it . . . hell, if a
lousy politician happened to walk by and noticed a pretty speck of
glass, our organization's goal would be severely in jeopardy!" 
 
Actually, though Relena, slightly amused, This politician happens
to be a ghost, so . . . 
 
"The White Doves will succeed in our mission." Muttered the women, with
surprising passion. She stood, glaring down at the man, and startling Relena
so much that she nearly toppled over. "I would think you, at least, would
have faith." 
 
"I do have faith." The other man stood slightly, grabbing at the
woman's arm and trying to drag her down again, glancing around warily, although
she stubbornly refused to take cover. Finally, he gave up, sighing softly.
"Calm down, Serenity. It's just . . . you know how important this
was. If we had botched it up . . ." 
 
Some of the fire went out of the brunette. "I know. I know. I'm sorry. I
saw the fire escape open, and darted inside without thinking. It won't happen
again." 
 
"Good." Murmured the man, nodding. "In any case, once the World leaders realize
our true cause . . . once they accept it . . . the world will be in better
shape." 
 
She nodded. 
 
There was a pause, and then the man murmured, "I think the coast is clear
now. We should take the chance to get out of here while we have it." 
 
Another nod. Then the man grabbed a hat from underneath the counter, pulling
it on so that the rim lowered slightly over his eyes. The man stepped out
from behind the counter, followed by Serenity. Relena, this time, did slip
off the counter-- in shock. She hadn't realized it before, but now, with
them both in the light of the window, a fact blared through her conscious,
leaving her frozen on the floor in shock. 
 
The man wore a truck driver's uniform. But what was more-- what had Relena
staring with eyes like China saucers licked clean-- was that the woman wore
a Preventer's uniform. A real Preventers uniform. Which meant one
of two things-- either she had killed someone and stolen it, or she really
was a Preventer. Relena wasn't quite sure which would be worse, though the
uniform fit her form well, to Relena's chagrin. 
 
They started off, and it took a moment for Relena to realize that they would
probably shut the door behind them, thus leaving her trapped here. Eeping,
she was instantly standing and within a few feet of them. They reached the
doorway and the man cautiously peered around the edge before deeming it safe
and motioning the woman ahead. She moved forward, passing through the opening
and then walking swiftly yet silently down the hall. Relena tried to follow,
but the door was rudely pushed shut again in her face. She pulled back, wrinkling
her nose at the man, wondering what he was doing. His hand was still on the
doorknob, though, and he seemed was murmuring something under his breath.
Relena frowned and cocked her head at him, then she realized-- he was
counting. Then, without warning, he jerked the door open again. Since
Relena was closer, she managed to make it out before he did-- which was a
good thing, as he closed the door very carefully behind him. 
 
Relena fidgeted. Would he notice the bit of glass? She hoped not. Whatever
it was, it seemed very important to these people that the Preventers not
find it, and so Relena wished wholeheartedly that the Preventers would
find it. 
 
Unfortunately, though, his gaze was flickering all across the rough carpeting,
searching. Eventually his eyes did find the glass that had caught Relena's
eye earlier. She sighed with regret as he picked it up, depositing the bit
in a small plastic bag he withdrew from his pocket. Replacing the plastic
bag, he strode off a different way down the hall, exiting through a different
door. 
 
Relena could've growled in frustration. If only there was some way to
tell someone! 
 
Right now, though, she was alone in a dark hallway, so she sighed and made
her way back to the main entrance. The conference was over, but maybe she
could still listen to some of the groups of people that were bound to be
around the ambulance Une had ordered for Quatre, and perhaps overhear needed
gossip. 
 
Or, she thought, a few moments after she had stepped outside, as she
noticed a very familiar vehicle into the chaos of police, Preventers, and
ambulances-- I could just take the bus. 
 
 
 
********** 
 
Notes: This may be a little shorter than usual, but I had to stop the
chapter there. ^_^ I have the ending chapter all planned out, though, for
which I am very grateful-- although planning it out in my head has made me
realize how far away from it I am in the story right now. ^_^;; But, that's
okay, right? Right! Anyway, reviews are what really makes an author work
hard to finish a story, so . . . well, hint, hint. ^_^ 
 
Randomly, does anyone else play Star Fox? This may sound dorky, but I
have a Game Cube and have become addicted to Star Fox Adventures, even though
I've already beaten the game. I just love the storyline, even though Krystal
didn't get any of her mysteries solved-- anyway, I'm going to stop rambling
now. ^_^; Chapter seven will come around eventually!

stormwind16 · Post by **stormwind16** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:42 pm

This truely is my favorite story! I can't wait to see how this ends!
Keep those chapters comming!

Gaia

Julia · Post by **Julia** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:56 am

Wow great part Caliborn!
I hope she'll find a way to tell them and TO COME BACK i mean she can't die !!
You won't make her die, will you? I hope Heero will arrive soon...
Take care!!

Caliborn · Post by **Caliborn** » Sat Jul 12, 2003 4:00 pm

This truely is my favorite story! I can't wait to see how this ends!
Keep those chapters comming!

I will certainly try, Stormwind! Usually, I'm horrible at hurrying with fics . . . but reveiws really help. ^_^ I'm just glad so many people actually like this story! It was originally intended as just a one-shot, but, well . . . here it is. ^_^;

Wow great part Caliborn!
I hope she'll find a way to tell them and TO COME BACK i mean she can't die !!

Thank you. ^_^;; And, I -will- say that there is a very important reason that Relena is as she is! She still has some very important business to take care of!

You won't make her die, will you? I hope Heero will arrive soon...
Take care!!

Heero -will- arrive soon . . . no, really! For some reason, though, the story (Which has taken a life of it's own) is stalling Heero's grand entrance. ^_^; But I guaruntee a Heero-appearance in the next chapter!

Julia · Post by **Julia** » Sat Jul 12, 2003 4:04 pm

But I guaruntee a Heero-appearance in the next chapter!

I can't wait

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*hugs caliborn*
Julia: hehehehehehe
Caliborn: My readers are insanes
Julia: hu? Haaaaaaaa Caliborn dear!!!!!!!! *jumps on Caliborn
Caliborn: oh noooooo *faints*

RDP · Post by **RDP** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 12:40 am

Interesting concept! You don't see Relena as a ghost that often...^_^ I have a question though, why can't Relena float through walls if she is dead and a ghost? :-? Sorry if the answer was in a past chapter...this was the first one I stumbled upon, and still have to go read the others.

Perhaps, as Julia was suggesting, Rel's only half dead or something?

Well, hope Quatre will be fine. I will be waiting for the chapter in which Heero makes an appearance.

Caliborn · Post by **Caliborn** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 6:48 pm

She can't float through walls or any of that stuff because . . .I said so. ^_^ No, really! I wanted to do a non-cliche-like ghost, sorta . . . so, instead of passing through anything solid, Relena simply cannot move anything . . . at all. Besides herself, anywho. Anything she touches or tries to pick up just stays as it is, like it was super-glued or something! In one point of the story, she tries to walk on the grass, but yelps and finds she can't because the grass won't move for her. ^_^;; She can't affect -anything- in the form she's in . . . she can't open doors or pick up pens or leave footprints . . . etc.

And yeah . . . *Sweatdrop* Maybe I tend to explain a bit too much . . . but I hope that answers your question!

RDP · Post by **RDP** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 7:51 pm

Thanks, Caliborn! Aww...but now I feel bad for Lena...grass pokes her feet.

But this makes things interesting...because if Relena cannot interact with solid things at all, how will she be able to alert the Preventers about the information she found out about the glass poison stuff? :-?

Wow Caliborn, this is such an intriguing fic! Not cliche at all! Now...where is the Heero chapter?

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 7:11 am

I really love it. You don't read a lot of fanfics where Relena is a Ghost. She won't die right? She will be alive. And Heero will come later.
And there will be romance between the two.
Hehe sorry I just love that couple that I always want romance between them.
Anyway I love this story. So keep on writing these chapters.
Kari
:o :o :o :o

Elyn Yuy · Post by **Elyn Yuy** » Thu Aug 07, 2003 9:36 pm

About time you got this chapter going.

This is good but I agree with everyone else. ...WHERE IS HEERO?

sniff. I miss him in this fic.

Elyn Yuy

Blissful Ignorance

A Heero and Relena Dedication site

A Final Solution (6)

Here is where you can find Heero x Relena centric fanfics, like those we archived on our original site. Happy posting!

A Final Solution (6)