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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options"
Sanc Palace Date 21st Feb AC 198 Time: 17:49 Duo //I wonder why no one does anything with that old place? It just sits there and no matter how you try, you can’t not look at it. Took more damage in that second attack. Wouldn’t be too safe to walk through it.// On the low hill overlooking the manor now called the Palace of Sanc arose the ruins of the true Palace, seat of the ancient Peacecraft monarchy. Duo had seen vids of the former glory of the palace. A gleaming white edifice of marble and gold accents, windows reflecting the sun and the distant sea. Surrounded by lush well tended gardens it had given the impression of peaceful nobility. It had been a place to draw the eye then, too. Now it drew the eye and brought to mind death, destruction and massacre. Bathed in the setting sunlight, the snow banked around it glowing golden, it had an odd, surreal beauty. It was hauntingly beautiful, but tragic at the same time. The white marble was blackened by fire, softened by weather, silvered by time. Sunlight glinted off piles of snow which softened the ruins lines and seemed to whisper of grander days. //I wonder what it was like growing up here? It’s a pretty country. A lot different to L2, that’s for sure. I can’t remember anything before I was on the streets, and you couldn’t get further away from this quiet than on the streets of L2. Yeah. Definitely different. I wonder how He survived the inferno it must have been?// “May I bring some refreshment for you, Mr. Maxwell?” The quiet voice intruded into the moment. “Huh?” Duo turned and grinned at seeing Pagan, Relena’s old family retainer. “Nah, man. I’m fine. Just checking out the view.” The old servant moved closer to the window and his eyes immediately sought out the ruins now turning blood red in the light of the setting sun. It was surreal. For a moment he thought he could see dancing flames and the shadows of people running amid the ruins. He could hear screaming and shouting and the sobbing of the women seeking their children. He sought to go past the blood shed that had sullied the beauty of the old palace, to go back to the gentler days, when laughter had rang in the lush gardens and music had played through the halls. “It was beautiful. A different world. There is the chance now that it will come again. Better, no doubt, than it was before.” Wistful, low voiced. Almost a sigh. “Yet different.” “Why hasn’t someone demolished it?” Duo watched the man, seeing haunting memories in his cloudy eyes. “It stands as a memorial to what was.” Pagan returned quietly. “What Sanc lost. The Peacecrafts were well loved, Mr. Maxwell. I for one do not want to see the old palace removed. It reminds me of what can so easily be lost. Miss Relena seems to disagree, though.” “Oh?” “Miss Relena is making plans to have it removed
and the site used to build a new government centre for the Preventers.
She believes people do not need reminding of war.” “I believe Master Milliardo tried to give them a lasting memory of the horror that is war. Perhaps Earth will know peace for a little longer, this time.” Duo counted silently to ten and then sighed. “You know, Pagan, I think I could do with a cup of coffee. Would you care to join me?” Perhaps the old man could tell him what he needed to know. He surely would not get a better opportunity than this to begin his enquiries. “I believe I would, Mr. Maxwell. Would the first kitchen be suitable? I believe no one is there at this time, as the evening meal is being prepared.” Duo followed the old retained through the labyrinthine halls of the palace constructed for the former governor appointed by the Alliance. Relena had moved in here when she accepted her Peacecraft heritage during the One Year War. It was a large rambling structure built in the style of a centuries old manor. The former Governor had had pretensions at grandeur. The palace boasted three kitchens, the first and smallest of the three was a small kitchen Duo would have expected to find in a large but modern house in any suburb in L2’s more affluent areas. There were two larger kitchens, one being exclusively for the food preparation during a banquet. The intimate kitchen Pagan led the way to made Duo feel more at home than anywhere else in the rambling structure. “So how formal is the dining tonight?” Duo queried as he took a seat at the table. “I believe Miss Relena is entertaining fifteen delegates and their partners this evening.” Pagan returned, opening cupboards. “Delegates from L3 and L4. I believe young Mr. Winner will be arriving for the evening within the hour.” “Quatre? Cool. I haven’t seen him for a long while. Be nice if I get the chance to talk to him, but I’m on security in the east wing tonight. Probably won’t have much of a chance to socialize.” “If you are working this evening would you like me to prepare you something to eat?” Pagan glanced at the young man and beneath the bushy moustache he smiled. “I generally make myself a little something about now to tide me over until after the evenings entertainment and duties are completed.” Duo grinned. “Well, if it’s not an imposition. Guess I could do with something to eat.” Pagan fired up a hot plate and began heating a pan. “It was pleasant meeting someone who appreciated the meaning behind the old palace. I find that many do not wish to be faced with tangible reminders of what occurred back then. This city is built on the ruins of the old. It is so easy to wipe away the past if one does not face a reminder of it every day.” “How long have you served the Peacecrafts, Pagan?” Have to start somewhere. This was as good as anywhere else. Pagan set coffee on to brew and then collected some ingredients. “My family have been retainers to the Peacecrafts for the last fifteen generations, young sir. I am the last. My family died in the Raising of Sanc.” Pagan broke eggs into the pan as he spoke, and for a moment his shoulders slumped before he straightened his back, fortifying himself. Duo was quiet as the old man sprinkled herbs and seasonings into the pan, stirring before fetching fresh bread rolls from the pantry. “You must be pleased that peace has been restored and that the Peacecrafts survive.” "Yes, Sir." After a moment of silence the old man sighed. "Though I would be happier if Master Milliardo was home." Duo counted to ten before moving to a cupboard that held dishes and fetched two, beginning to set the table. This was the perfect opportunity for him to start asking questions and he had not had to push to open the topic. It was almost as though Pagan was deliberately offering information. He could not know that Duo sought it, so what was going on? “Do you know where he is?” Duo asked, careful to be casual and seem not too interested in the answer. “No, Sir. He never returned to Sanc.” Pagan’s voice seemed heavy with unspoken hurt. “I’m sure he had a good reason. Maybe he couldn’t face the memories he associated with this place. I’m sure he’ll come back.” //Gee. The old guy seems really upset Zechs didn’t come to Sanc.// “Unlikely, Master Duo. I very much doubt he will be permitted to return home, Sir.” Duo studied the old man for a lengthy time as Pagan spooned the seasoned eggs onto plates and poured wine. He considered the old retainer in silence as he watched the man garnish the plates with herb sprigs. The verbal bomb shell had been dropped casually, but he had caught it and did not like the implications at all. //Permitted? Now who would stop Zechs from coming back to Sanc?// “Who would stop him? It’s his home.” “I suggest you not mention Master Milliardo in anyone else’s hearing, Master Duo. The staff are under instruction that he not be mentioned. Ever.” There was, very clearly, a wealth of hurt in the old man’s tone. “Ever?” The breath of a whisper. “Who gave that order, Pagan?” The old man placed fresh butter on the table and motioned Duo to sit again as he removed a bowl of salad from the fridge and returned to the table. “Miss Relena has made it clear that her brother no longer exists. He died in the war. As a traitor to Sanc and the Earth.” His voice thickened at the end of that statement. Duo stared at the old man in disbelief. “She - Oh, man. That’s cold. That’s bloody cold.” //I knew she wasn’t happy with him, but man, that’s even worse than I thought. I thought she would calm down with time. Seems not.// “Miss Relena will not see any view on what happened other than her own. Master Milliardo should have listened to her and returned to Earth when she instructed him to step down from White Fang. Did you know there is a standing arrest order for him, should he be found anywhere on Earth? Or in the colonies, for that matter.” “No. I thought there was a general amnesty after the war.” //Even if it’s conditional for some of us who fought. If he’s found in the colonies he’s to be arrested? So, where could he go if he can’t come home and he can’t live on the colonies?// “There was. For everyone except Master Milliardo. One must have a villain, Mr. Maxwell, to whom one can point one’s finger and cast all the blame. Someone must be the villain so that others sins may be forgiven. Or overlooked entirely. It has ever been so in the halls of power.” “Surely that was lifted when he held off Dekim Barton’s army?” Pagan considered the fork full of eggs he held of a moment and sadly shook his head. “I would have thought so, but it was not the case. Miss Relena returned to Sanc from Brussels in a temper because her brother had escaped justice for his crimes and cast further stains of blood upon the Peacecraft name.” “Hey, he and Noin never killed anyone in that fight in Brussels. They fought for hours and only disabled the mobile suits, never killed anyone.” /Fair’s fair. He held Barton’s troops and kept him busy long enough for us to get there. He never killed those Mobile Suit pilots.// “Master Milliardo destroyed the Mobile Suit carriers in space, Master Duo. It is believed there were people remaining on the resource satellite when he destroyed that too.” “Oh.” Duo considered his bread roll for a long moment. “You know, I was angry when he destroyed Barge. Horrified, actually. Took me months after the war to look at the whole thing and remember that not so long before that I had almost done the same thing. If he hadn’t gotten to Barge there is no doubt that they would have destroyed that colony. No doubt of that at all. Maybe more than one in trying to take down White Fang. They didn’t seem too concerned with casualties. We were intending to disable their canon, but to do so we probably would have had to destroy Barge itself. I don’t suppose Milliardo was any worse than we were. He did save that colony.” “Master Milliardo has not had an easy life. I believe him to be in space, somewhere and it no doubt disturbs him greatly that he can not return to Earth. The Peacecrafts are not known for half measures, Master Duo. When they make a decision they give their all to see their vision complete. Also, it is known only to a select few that he survived the war.” “What do you think Relena wants?” Duo considered Pagan, blue-violet eyes intense in the bright light of the kitchen. “A united Earth Sphere. No wars. An ideal world as her vision sees it.” Came the instant response. “What do you think Zechs wanted, Pagan?” Honestly curious. “Peace, Mr. Maxwell. Peace.” There was no doubt in the old man’s whispered words. “Where do you think he is?” The all important question, out in the open. Duo held his breath, afraid to breathe before he got an answer. Would it be as simple as this? “I am very much afraid he is confined, Mr. Maxwell. Imprisoned somewhere to salve the wounds of politician’s conscience. I believe he would have been in touch with me were he free to. I believe quite firmly that Master Milliardo is held against his will. A Peacecraft in chains, Master Duo. A sorry thing indeed. Particularly that Peacecraft. His entire life seems to be one horror after another.” Pagan glanced up at the clock and rose, collecting his plate and moving to the sink. “If you will excuse me, Young Sir, I have duties to attend.” Duo contemplated the last of his eggs and salad in silence. Not what he had expected, but definitely food for thought. t.b.c.
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