Episode 7

"Hecate and the Captain sure are taking their time getting in here." Alex said to Solo as they took their seats in the conference room.

"They’re probably getting reacquainted, if you know what I mean." Solo said with a broad smile.

"Have you no respect Maxwell?" Jade chastised him taking her own seat at the table.

"None what so ever Jadie." Solo answered. But he decided to let the topic drop when he noticed the glare she was giving him. "So Al how long have ya been a Preventer? I don’t remember seein ya around?"

Alex noticeably paled at the question. " Not long…I…I… I’m sort of new to this whole thing." He gulped suddenly becoming incredibly interested in the tabletop.

What’s up with him? Solo looked at Jade. The puzzled look in her obsidian eyes told him that she had picked up on Alex’s odd reaction to the question as well. We’ll have to talk about this later. He thought as Lu and Rowan made their way into the room.

***

Once everyone had settled into their seats Duo activated the facilities direct link to Preventer headquarters. Soon Lady Une’s face appeared on screen.

"Good afternoon, people. I won’t waste time on formalities. You have been brought here because you are the best pilots that Preventer can currently spare. Once your Gundams have been completed you will use them to neutralize the current threat to the peace of earth and the colonies."

"We have managed to gather some information on the group we’re up against thanks to Preventer Shadow." Everyone turned to look at Alex.

"Just something I stumbled into." He said with a shrug.

"Yes, well that not withstanding we now have a name to connect to our opponent. The group is calling themselves the Dark Wave. It appears that they were formed from some of the remaining factions of the White Fang, along with several wealthy backers, probably ex-Romafeller members. We are not certain as to what their goals are. Their attacks starting with the destruction of the K-20 research facility have been unpredictable at best."

Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Solo leaned over to him. "You okay man?" Alex just nodded. Solo shot Jade a questioning glance.

Lady Une continued with the briefing for sometime after that. The more she spoke of the mysterious Gundams attack on K-20 the more visible Alex’s discomfort became. What’s his story? Solo wondered. Maybe we should keep an eye on him.

****

The meeting ended soon after that. Solo was following his father to the elevator which led to his home when a delicate arm grabbed him. He was suddenly pulled into a small room off of the main hangar. "What the…"

"Baka, not so loud." Jade whispered closing the door.

"What the hell are you doing Jade?"

"I wanted to discuss Preventer Shadow’s behavior back in the conference room." She said leaning against the wall.

"So you did notice it?"

"Yes, he was acting rather strangely."

"Yeah, I don’t know about that guy. He says that he just joined Preventer but I’ve never seen him before and Lu and I were on rookie detail for months."

"He could have been earthbound."

"Nah, the earth recruits mainly go to earthbound Preventer teams. Besides he was acting weird. Especially when Lady Une talked about the attack on K-20."

"I noticed. I wonder how he acquired the information on Dark Wave."

"Yeah, that’s not exactly the kind of thing you stumble into."

"You think he’s a plant?"

Solo ran a hand through his hair. I just don’t know. "Could be Jadie. Could be. All I know is that we better keep an eye on him."

"For once Maxwell we agree."

"Though I don’t think we should say anything to the others. Lu and Rowan have their own problems to deal with and Pop and Lady Une would want more proof than the guy’s acting funny. Until we find out more this should be just between you and me."

"Alright we’ll play it your way." Jade nodded towards the door. "We should be going, they’ll definitely get suspicious if you miss dinner."

****

Later that evening, after the others had fallen asleep; Lu slipped out of his quarters and went to the hangar where the Tallgeese III was docked. He stood in silence before the massive mobile suit. Are you finally giving me your blessing father? He asked as he admired the suit that his father once piloted the suit that was now his.

"It’s an impressive suit." A voice said snapping Lu out of his thoughts. He turned to see Rowan walking towards him.

"Yes it is."

"It was your father’s wasn’t it?" She asked once she stood beside him.

"Yes it was. He had it constructed after the First Eve War, before he came back to Earth and joined Preventer."

"The Lightning Count. I’ve studied him. He was an excellent soldier, and I hear that he is extremely influential in Preventer."

Lu flinched slightly at the use of his father’s old nickname. "There are some people who aren’t too happy with that fact. They think that my father is a cold blooded killer." He clenched his fists as he chuckled to himself. "He did try to destroy the Earth after all. Many people still see him as a threat even after all he’s done for Earth and the Colonies through Preventer."

"It was my understanding that your father did what he did in the Eve Wars in order to preserve peace. Any one who thinks differently clearly hasn’t studied the events that took place." Rowan looked him in the eye. "Your father is a good man. You should be proud of him."

Lu smiled. "Actually I am. He’s just not that proud of me."

"What do you mean?"

"He wanted me to be a diplomat like my aunt, or a merchant like my mother’s family, not a Preventer. I’m a disappointment to him."

"I don’t think so."

"What makes you say that?"

Rowan smiled slightly and pointed towards the Tallgeese. "That does."

Lu shook his head. "He just sent the suit to save time. It means nothing."

"Wrong Captain. Jade and Duo had plans drawn up for another suit, your suit. Your father stopped them from constructing it. He told them that his son should get the best mobile suit available. He personally delivered this suit for you." Rowan touched his shoulder. "That tells me that he is very proud of you."

"Maybe…" Lu whispered.

"Well I should get back to the Hecate. I was installing the rear stabilizers when I saw you come in here. I need to finish things up before I turn in for the night." Rowan turned to leave.

"Hey Rowan?"

"Yes."

"How about I give you a hand with those stabilizers?"

"Alright Captain if you think you can handle grunt work then be my guest." She smirked, walking towards the entrance of the hangar.

"I can handle anything you throw at me." He said taking one last look at his suit before following her out of the hangar.