Queen Relena Peacecraft sat calmly in the midst of chaos, speaking seriously into one communicator while answering another, as her several assistants tried in vain to organize the stacks of papers toppling off the desk and cascading onto the floor.

“Yes, Senator, I understand your position completely. Yes, yes, I will address that matter immediately. Thank you for your time. Yes, goodbye.” The Queen sighed as she flipped the communicator’s off button, and responded to another’s shrill call.

The face of a familiar friend suddenly appeared. He smiled, a slow, easy smile.

“Hello, Duo.” Relena said with genuine enthusiasm. “What honor is this?”

“Long time no see.” Duo laughed. “I need a favor, Relena.”

“Oh?”

“I need my Gundam.” His voice turned dead serious.

Relena tapped the desk with one hand. “Duo, I—”

“Hear me out, Relena.” He interrupted. “I know that you have the Gundams under lock, key and about a million soldiers, but I need mine.”

“That is not a request easily granted.”

“I’m not askin' for you to make it easy. I’m askin' for you to give it to me.”

“Duo,” Relena said patiently, as though she was explaining something to a child. “I can not simply give you Deathsyche. The only reason it still exists is the Treaty of Gundam, which, may I remind you states that—”

“That you may never release or activate a Gundam without signed permission from each nation and space colony. I know, I know.”

“Then you understand?”

“No. I’m coming over.” The communicator screen flashed white, and went blank.

Relena sighed again, and set the communicator back gently in its holder, watching with uninterested eyes as the little green charging light grew bright.

“Um…Queen?” One assistant asked tentatively.

“Yes?” Relena pulled her mind together, and looked at the girl.

“Do you want to see the new treaties that arrived, or would you rather—” The girl was cut off by Relena’s upheld hand.

“Enough. It’s Saturday, and none of you need to be here. Go have some fun, ladies, and I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Are you sure, Queen?” Another girl asked, though her excitement was obvious.

“I’m sure.” Relena answered firmly. “You are young, and you don’t deserve to spend all your time locked in her with me.” She smiled faintly. “Go on.”

“Of course, Queen.” The girls curtsied, and thanked her, hurrying out of the office.

As soon as Relena heard the door click for the last time, she turned back to the piles of paper demanding her attention, and began sorting through time, her mind straying from this tedious task. Duo’s request confused her. All warfare had been ended exactly two and half years ago, thanks to her efforts, and the huge mecha had no use in this time of peace. Furthermore, every nation and every colony had signed her Treaty, and violating it would severely jeopardize her position as Queen, not to mention causing the leaders of the galaxy to lose trust in her, trust she need to continue her work. Pacifism was a task that never ended.

A sudden feeling of another presence in the room broke Relena’s concentration, and she looked up. Duo was leaning against the doorframe, smiling that famous smile of his.

“Duo!” She cried in delight, losing that calm composure the world though she always held, and stood up. Duo Maxwell was the only former Gundam pilot she had seen since the war ended, and they had all separated. He visited her frequently. “You look good.” He did, in fact, dressed in loose black pants, and a tight white shirt.

“So do you,” he teased, brazenly running his eyes over her body. She had grown in beauty since he had last seen her. The sharp, angular prettiness she had shown during the years of war had been smoothed out by good eating, making her body far more curvaceous then before. The peace she had rammed down the throats of the world’s leaders had given a glow to her face, and a completion to her eyes. Dressed simply, yet elegantly, in a long, flowing dark blue skirt and a sleeveless top open at the throat, she was breathtakingly beautiful—the very image of Queen.

“Why, thank you.” She ran a hand over her hair unconsciously, touching the coiled bun at the nape of her neck. “You got here fast.”

“I wasn’t very far away.”

“I see.”

Duo sat down at the chair opposite her desk, and Relena lowered her body back into her chair as well. She leaned forward, looking into his blue eyes thoughtfully.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that, Relena.” He complained. “It freaks me out.”

“Sorry,” she laughed. “Do you mind explaining why you need Deathsyche so badly?”

“Sure.” He coughed. “I need it for a mission.”

“Mission?” She frowned. “Your ‘missions’ died when I brought peace to the world.”

“Not true.” Duo disagreed. “There are still organizations against you, and your peace. To rid the galaxy of these organizations is basically my mission.”

Relena’s frown deepened, and a crease appeared on her forehead. “Isn’t there another way I can disband these organizations? Some treaty perhaps, or a conference.”

“No way.” Duo shook his head vigorously, his long braid twitching from side to side. “These guys want your blood, Relena. Offerin’ 'em a treaty would only infuriate them.”

“There has to be another way.” She insisted.

“No, there isn’t! Trust me, if I don’t complete this mission, you’re gonna to be assassinated!”

“Duo, at my last speech, there were two separate assassination attempts.” She said patiently. “My bodyguards can handle it.

“Not these guys.” Duo shook his head again. “These guys are good, I’m tellin’ you.”

Relena rather abruptly changed the subject. “Who is sending these messages?”

Duo shrugged. “Same as before.”

“Not the scientists? I thought they were dead…or something.”

“You amaze me, Relena. For Queen, there is an awful lot you don’t know.”

“Thanks.” She said dryly.

“So, what’s it gonna be? Do I get my Gundam back, or not?” Duo pressed.

Relena’s slender fingers twisted together. “I want to, Duo, but I can’t.” she said softly.

“I understand.” He squeezed her shoulder gently. "I just had to make sure."

She looked up quickly, searching his face. “What are you doing to do?” she demanded.

Duo grinned. “Nothing that involves you, O great one. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.”

Relena gazed at him suspiciously. “Why do I not trust you?”

Duo grinned, and tugged on the end of his braid, his face taking on a transparent innocent look. “I’m hurt.” he pressed a hand to his heart as Relena smiled at his antics. “Just wait. You’ll see,” he promised. “Just wait.”

~ Continue to Mission: War, Part 2

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