The Jasmine and The Pine

Chapter 4

By Destiny

The knock at the door disturbed Javin’s concentration, but he was expecting a visit.

"Come in," he barked.

Dr. Kegan stepped through the steel doorframe. "Mr. Lowe it is good to have you back. Was your trip successful?"

"Yes," the commander of the Chiasmus Corporation nodded slightly. "I was able to secure those new transport carriers along with some more computer systems. But you know that is not why I asked you to come."

"Of course, and I am prepared to answer any question you may have."

"Your preparation is good, but satisfaction is what I am after."

"Javin, have you not received my reports?"

"Yes, I have received your reports, Kegan. I know Miss Barton broke her ankle and is due to have the cast removed this week. I also know that she and another tech have been working at nights to make the deadline. What I wish to find out is your evaluation of the progress!"

Dr. Kegan deliberately sat down before answering. He would not allow the other man to brow-beat him. "As the reports stated, everything is up to schedule. Miss Barton has turned out to be the asset you hoped she would be."

"Yes, our wonder engineer is quite extraordinary," Javin agreed with a sickening smile. "But has she fulfilled all our intentions?"

"To date we have five new hosts of mobile suits. Each host is fully operating and ready for combat. You were right that nothing could hurry ingenuity, and it appears that nothing can stop it once it has begun."

During this speech, Javin had been steepling his fingers as he rested his elbows on the desk. Now he pointed his hands at the doctor and said, "These suits have satisfactorily passed a simulated test then."

"Miss Barton has assured me that each step has been inspected thoroughly and…"

"The test results, doctor?"

"We were saving the simulation for your return, Javin," Dr. Kegan looked his superior in the eye. Neither man enjoyed being interrupted.

"Oh, how kind of you! And now, what are the results of your personal inspection?" Javin leaned back in his chair.

"A ‘personal inspection’ was not among my orders."

Javin’s hands gripped the armrests. "Dr. Kegan, you mean to tell me that you have neglected to investigate each step of the progress?"

"Neglect is not the word I choose to use. Our wonder engineer evaluated each day’s work…"

"But you, doctor, do not accompany her?"

Kegan crossed his arms over his chest to hide the tension in them. "Miss Barton assures me that she works best alone and at night."

"Has she so blinded you!" Javin fairly roared, leaping to his feet. "Could you not see the independent, rebellious light in her eyes. She is not to be trusted ‘alone and at night’! Why do you think we abducted her? She does not want to be here."

Dr. Kegan forced himself not to flinch at the livid commander’s rising voice. He knew nothing he could say would help matters, so he remained silent.

"You have probably ruined her now with your sympathies. Such creatures must be handled firmly and, at times, harshly. Let them feel capable and in control, but stop them short of crossing a line. Miss Triniti Barton has not yet learned to value her position with us."

"Why would she try to cross us? She knows she would lose," Kegan attempted to placate his superior. "Besides, she works well with the techs and other staff members. There is never so much as a…"

"Speaking of the techs….This other ‘night owl’…Does he work with Miss Barton at night?"

"No. As a matter of fact, they seem to work at avoiding one another."

Javin stopped pacing for a moment. "Hmm, interesting, very interesting. They avoid one another."

"Yes, but that is understandable. Triniti never wanted him in the first place."

"Never wanted him. He is the newest tech, Mr…."

"Mr. Triton Bloom," Kegan was more than glad to jump in.

Javin stared at the wall behind Kegan’s chair. "Mr. Bloom. He did seem familiar at our first meeting. Perhaps he bears further research. In the meantime, we must see to correcting our wonder engineer’s inflated ego."

"Those inspections and tests can be arranged immediately."

"No, no. Let’s leave things as they are for now," Javin slowly walked around to the front of his desk. "I believe Miss Barton needs to feel her captivity a little more. Perhaps, her hard work should be honored with a ball. If I know our wonder engineer, that will gall her to no end!"

Javin rested his hands on the edge of the desk. He smiled as his eyes rested on the seated doctor. "During the ball, you can make those overdue personal inspections. Also, you shall find a way to have Mr. Bloom escort her. Then, I can watch the two interact."

Dr. Kegan nodded complacently. When Javin did not speak for several minutes, the doctor knew he was dismissed. Silently, he left the room.

Trowa sat staring intently at his laptop screen. After punching in several codes, he gained access to the Preventer site. Deftly he went to his account to read any pressing messages. He smiled to himself. Just as I thought. The whole gang has been bombarding me with inquiries.

He had expected Catherine to stir everyone up, but he had underestimated the other pilot’s reactions. From the messages, it appeared they were all enroute to "rescue" him. That Yuy sure knows how to track a person. No one’s safe with him on the search!

Actually, Trowa was glad that help was on the way. The showdown that he knew would be eminent they needed all the Gundam power they could get. Still he had to tell them to hold back for little longer. Things were not completely ready yet. He had to get more info on Javin’s scheme, and the timing was still a little off. Plus, he had to get through to Triniti-- make her see that he loved and needed her as much as she did him.

Quickly, the charading tech typed a message for his friends. He briefly told them why he was there and what he knew of the Chiasmus plans. Then he asked them to be on standby for several more weeks until all was ready. After a final perusal of his message, Trowa hit the encoder icon and waited. As soon as the screen read complete, he sent the vital communication. His last action was to erase all record of his night’s work.

Heero relaxed as he saw a link form Trowa’s computer. He clicked on it and proceeded to decode the news. His mind briefly registered the date of origin as his eyes flew over the lines. Good old, Trowa! Wants to set everything up for us. He’s almost as bad as Duo about waiting until the last minute to let us in on the action. Must be a touchy situation, though, since he hasn’t contacted us before now.

He read the message again so he could relate its exact details to the others. Then he destroyed all evidence of or link to the communication. As he returned to the home screen, an incoming message flashed before his eyes. Hmm. A new mission at this time? Immediately, Heero opened the file.

Heero frowned. Could this be Trowa’s mysterious friend in trouble? How much did he know about this Triniti Barton? Trowa may be in graver danger than he thinks! Once more, Heero unflinchingly pressed the mission acceptance button.

"Heero. Is that Trowa’s friend?"

The dark-haired pilot turned to look up into the wide, gray eyes of his wife. He had not heard her enter, but now she stood right behind him. Heero nodded silently and turned back to the screen before him.

Arys laid her hand on his shoulder, "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be reading your message. I didn’t want to disturb you, and then when I saw it was another mission…. Well, who is Triniti Barton?"

"According to Wufei, she may be Trowa’s friend."

"Do you know anything about her?"

"Only what this mission tells me."

"Which is?" she looked from the screen to her husband. "Heero!"
"She is the last of the Barton’s, besides Marimaia. This was the one who disbanded the Barton Foundation after the final battle."

"Then she can’t be all that bad. What is the mission?"

"Triniti Barton is an engineer. She has designed lots of mobile suits, including Trowa’s Gundam, the Heavyarms. Now, she is designing whole hosts for the Chiasmus Corporation; that’s why I was sent a mission," Heero looked at his wife as he waved a hand at the darkened computer screen.

Arys shook her head, "It just doesn’t make sense. Why would she be making more suits for a new group when she closed down her old operation? Maybe she's being forced to do this."

"I don’t know. For whatever reason, she is helping a faction that will prove dangerous. I have to stop her."

"But what if she is being forced to do this?" She placed a small hand on his arm. "What will you do if you find that she isn’t on the bad side?"
Heero shook his head, "I can’t think of that now. I have a mission, and I must fulfill it."

"And what of Trowa?"
"He just sent a message, vaguely describing the situation. I don’t know how much he is aware of what is going on, though."

"Heero, you know Trowa. He’s a pretty good judge of character. Besides, he doesn’t just jump into things without first investigating."

The pilot stood up grasping Arys’ hands in his. "Yes, I know, but he often does things that aren’t as they appear. He may be in all of this because this friend is more than just a little special."

"What if he tries to stop you?" She stepped closer looking into his eyes.

"I hope it won’t come to that. We have fought each other before, so it might turn into a long battle. Anyway, I’m gathering the pilots because we have to stop this before it gets out of hand."

Arys nodded as she slipped her arms around her waist. "I understand, and I’m ready to go with you. But before we leave…. Love can make a person do strange things!"
"Yes, it can," he murmured as her eyes transfixed his.

Slowly, he drew her closer and covered her lips with his. She never had to urge him very much. Heero was not sure how he had managed before she came into his life. Arys relaxed in his arms around her. Fitfully, he pushed back the anxiety of facing another battle where anything could happen.