Dorothy raised a forked eyebrow. “…So Lady Une has grown soft…. Perhaps, living with Zechs and Noin has more… *conventional*…benefits.” A tiny laugh escaped Dorothy's mouth as she watched Mariemeia stiffen in her seat. (excerpt from part 4)

Care to see what has Dorothy raising forked eyebrows? ( Like mission details? Well stay tuned for a gripping tangent: the mission that brought Noin, Zechs, and Une together in a most unanticipated way.)

Contains: some 11x9, 9+6, 11?OC (original character), different OC+9

Une flipped off the monitor for the com unit and sat back in her chair. The conversation with Dorothy had gone rather well. Although Dorothy had seemed reluctant to inform her of the details of the sudden trip that had enticed Mariemeia to tag along, it had taken only a little urging to loosen Catalonia's tongue. Une's fingers drummed the desk. So, Dorothy knew where Heero was and Mariemeia wanted a “reunion.” Une stifled a snort. She wasn't stupid. This trip had to do with something else other than simply meeting up with an estranged Heero. But, Une didn't press the issue, and neither was she going to investigate. Things always had a way of filtering back to her. She'd just wait, patiently.

But, even as she sat back in her chair behind a long shiny mahogany desk with a gentle breeze wafting in from the open French windows, a sense of well-being eluded her. Was there some other reason behind Mariemeia's decision to join Dorothy? Why did Mariemeia travel so often these days? Was it because—

At that moment, one of the doors to Une's office swung open to reveal a casually dressed Noin. She wore a white silk blouse and pair of charcoal riding pants. Her black boots came up to her knees and she carried a jockey hat in hand. She crossed her arms over her chest as she approached Une's desk. “You're never late. I waited at the door for five minutes until realized there was a slight possibility that you'd still be here.”

Une looked up at her from behind the desk. “It's fine to go riding without me.”

Noin peered at her intensely for a moment. “You know that's not true. The minute you walk into the stable the horses go calm. I walk in without you and it's like I let a cat in.” Noin's arms fell to her sides. She rested the jockey hat on the desk before walking around the mahogany piece to stand beside Une.

A small snort came from Une. “You're only saying that so you don't have to ride alone.” Une's gaze fell to the desk. A ray of light coming from an open window had landed on the desk to brighten a patch of the mahogany. Une eyed that particular patch of wood.

Noin perched herself an inch from the lightened swatch. “You could be right…” A moment passed before she reached out to gently lift Une's chin with two fingers. “Something's wrong?”

Une took Noin's hand away from her chin but still kept it in her grasp. Her tone was deceivingly unruffled as she said, “Mariemeia's on another trip. This time with Dorothy.” But a slight frown betrayed her displeasure.

“Dorothy…so that's it.” Noin's expression brightened. “You're worrying for nothing. Those two can hold their own against one another. And besides, they're their closest family. They won't kill each other…I hope…” Noin's fingers moved in Une's grasp as she realized Une still wore a frown.

Noin's eyes widened when Une suddenly brought her fingers to her lips and kissed them softly. She watched in surprise as Une spoke against her entrapped digits. “Sometimes I worry…that's she stays away…because of what we're doing.”

Noin managed to regain her composure from the sudden display of affection. Her tone was soft as she said, “You can't believe that.” Her free hand left its position on the desk to move to Une's hair. “Mariemeia deserves more credit.” After a quiet moment, she leaned forward on her perch on Une's desk. As her hand moved through Une's hair, she briefly brought her lips to Une's forehead. “Mariemeia only wants your happiness. It's impossible not to see that.”

Une closed her eyes as her hand squeezed Noin's fingers.

Noin took the last squeeze as a sign of Une's agreement. She slid off the desk and stood to her feet. Une tugged her closer by the hand. “Where's Zechs,” she asked without releasing Noin.

“Out,” murmured Noin. She could see the intention in Une's eyes. Despite her apprehension, she found herself leaning against Une's chair.

A soft, bittersweet laugh escaped Une's lips before she whispered, “While Milli's out of the way, the girls shall play…”

Noin closed her eyes and shook her head. “Une, really...if you call him that one more time to his face, he'll crack. You know he will.”

“That's what I'm banking on.” Une tugged Noin towards her until the other woman finally caught the hint and sat on her lap. The office chair creaked in protest under their combined weight. Une continued in the same unwavering tone, “It would be so much easier if he'd just allow himself to get angry instead of skulking about…if he's against the three living together, he should just say it.”

Une was interrupted mid-tirade as the com unit on her desk rang. With a noise of frustration, she pulled her hand out of Noin's grasp to reach over for the receiver. She brought it to her ear and, as she did, Noin slid off her lap and began to saunter away.

Une couldn't hide her irritation as she said into the receiver, “This is Lady Une speaking. *How* may I help you?”

There came a warm male chuckle over the line. “Seems like I interrupted something important, right?”

Une turned white. She recognized the voice instantly. But, her voice was almost whisper soft as she said, “Mallory?”

Noin turned around at the sound of the name. She watched Une from her half-turned position.

Mallory laughed again over the line. “Yes. Are Noin and Zechs around?

“Only Noin,” responded Une. At the mention of her name, Noin walked over to stand behind Une.

“Looks like Zechs is going to have to experience this secondhand,” said Mallory. “I have something special to show you two. Turn on your screen.”

Without further comment, Une reached over to flick on the monitor. She'd purposely turned it off after speaking with Dorothy so that she didn't have to deal with anymore potentially trying face-to-face encounters before she escaped from her home office. A man's image appeared on onscreen. He had chin length blond hair that was tucked behind his ears. He had olive eyes and a slight smirk. His cheeks were red as apples. It was as if he'd just over exerted himself by lifting a large package.

Mallory's eyes twinkled back at the two women before he began to speak to someone who didn't appear on screen. “Gisele, could you bring the 'miracle worker' over?” With that said, Mallory began to move farther and farther into the background. And as he did, Une's gaze took in his strong arms as they guided his wheelchair backwards. He made little grunting noises as he directed the wheelchair where he wanted it. When he'd succeeded, he looked towards the monitor and gave Une and Noin a wide beam that was uncharacteristic of a man his age. Une's throat went dry; she hadn't seen him that happy since before the beating. He'd grown sullen and withdrawn the very moment the doctors informed him that he was paralyzed from the waist down.

A young woman with long russet hair appeared onscreen. She dragged a walker over and placed it in front of Mallory before stepping off to his side. Mallory rubbed his hands together before gripping the handles of the walker. Both Noin and Une watched in stunned silence as he began to struggle to lift himself into standing position. When he almost toppled over, Gisele quickly latched onto him to try to steady him. But the effort was for nothing. There was a loud crash as the two toppled to the floor taking the walker with them. Then there came a series of guttural curses whose origin could be none other than Mallory. Despite their disappointment at the sight of the accident, Noin and Une both found themselves laughing. Mallory's voice suddenly came over the unit. “We're both ok! Don't worry!”

Noin and Une watched as Gisele helped Mallory into his wheelchair. She pushed him closer until his entire face took up the entire monitor. He appeared crestfallen, and now, not just his cheeks but his forehead and nose were entirely red. His disgust was palpable as he said, “Damn it, it worked before. Why I can't show you?”

It was Noin who beat Une to answer, “Mallory, you've given us enough of a surprise already.”

~*(Begin Flashback)*~

He went by the name Mallory. He was recruited by the Preventers agency not too long after Wufei resigned. But even though his arrival was preceded by the departure of the last gundam pilot, having Mallory around was almost cathartic for Noin, Zechs, and Une. They'd handpicked him from a pool of 600 hundred promising agents. It was unclear whether their motives for choosing him were unconscious or deliberate. As she walked toward Zech's office, Lady Une's steps faltered. It didn't matter. Not one of them would ever admit that they'd chosen a man who exemplified the defining characteristics of the five gundam pilots they'd lost. Mallory had Trowa's poise under pressure, Maxwell's easygoing manner, Heero's appreciation for details, Quatre's intuitive nature, and Wufei's steadfastness. His arrival had been a godsend. But now…what could she say to Noin and Zechs about the man they'd come to depend on?

Une's hands pushed the doors to Zechs's office open. He and Noin were there waiting for her. She'd called beforehand to tell them she was on her way. Une had been Mallory's contact for this last mission. And, when she hadn't received his usual check in call, she'd grown apprehensive, but there was nothing she could do but wait. He was undercover; she couldn't risk blowing everything just to give into a gut feeling.

But she did receive a call that morning, and not from the person she'd expected. A nurse phoned her, some nurse form an obscure hospital with an equally obscure and easily forgettable name. She was calling on behalf of man who was recently admitted into the hospital. According to the woman, the man kept murmuring a number over and over again but seemed unwilling to respond to questions regarding his name or residence.

Not five minutes after she'd pried the hospital's address from the nurse's lips, Une was out on a plane to a hospital in Burgundy.

Une entered the office and looked back at a seated Noin and Zechs. They managed to appear quite calm given the non-informative call they'd received from Une an hour earlier.

Une approached Noin and Zechs. She was rather poised as she related to them all that she'd learned during the past 6 hours. She transmitted the details in a detached rapid fire manner. “A group of young children found Mallory's body out in the grasslands of Burgundy. They thought he was dead until one intrepid 12 year old poked him with a stick. Consequently he groaned, and the children were sent into a panic. After they calmed down, an ambulance was called and he was taken to the nearest hospital as a John Doe. He was barely conscious but he kept murmuring a number for the hospital staff to call. He murmured it until he'd lost consciousness. It was my number. A nurse phoned me and informed me of his whereabouts. I flew there and, after much arguing with hospital staff, I was finally allowed to meet with him.”

Zechs gestured for her to take a seat. Une waved the gesture away and continued to speak as if she'd were relating something she'd read in a newspaper. “When I found him, he was barely recognizable. He'd been given a good going over. His face was so swollen he could barely open his eyes. The skin that wasn't covered by his hospital gown was purple and engorged with blood. But I'll go into the details of his condition later. It seems he was waiting for me to show up. His voice was barely audible but he was able to tell me that he knew where Peyton was hiding and that he'd come by that knowledge only because the thugs who's beaten him thought he was dead and proceeded to rehash their plans only ten feet away from his battered body.”

Both Noin's and Zechs had managed to contain a reaction throughout the description of Mallory's beating but their faces contorted with anger at the mention of Peyton's name. Peyton was supposed to be Mallory's collar, but Noin, Zechs and Une had personal reasons to despise this man and what he stood for. Peyton McGinnis, aged 44, was one of the few practicing mobile suit engineers since the eve wars. There existed a mandate between Earth and the Colonies that prohibited the building of mobile suits, but McGinnis had found a way around this law by building what he called “suits of leisure.” He built “replicas” of mobile suits that were made of standard issue metal alloy, not the metal used by the military. McGinnis's customers were the upper class. And the purpose of these suits was to allow these people to engage in “realistic competitions” without them actually receiving or causing any harm. The battles took place on the aristocrats' private estates. And, since the suits were not outfitted with weapons of war in the form of cannons, beams sabers, gatling guns, and missals, they couldn't be considered on par with the suits using during the wars of the past. These suits shot paint instead of ammunition. They were luxurious toys for the rich, and that was that. At least, that was the story Peyton had sold to a few easily assuaged congressmen. (Peyton had a way with people. He'd flash some green and a smile and everything would turn up roses.) But the Preventers agency wasn't buying any of it. They'd worked too hard to watch McGinnis make a mockery of the wars that had swallowed both their comrades and millions of innocents.

And, like they'd anticipated, Peyton slipped up. A paid informant notified the Preventers agency that McGinnis was trying to smuggle a sizable amount of gundanium onto Earth. That was blatant breach in the United Earth sphere treaty. And it was more than enough for Noin, Zechs, and Une to be spurred into action to collar the bastard. But some of the higher ups in the government demanded proof. As far as they were concerned, the words of some greasy informant meant next to nothing. They needed hard, cold facts. And, that's when Mallory came in. He went undercover as one of Peyton's low level engineers. But somewhere along the way he was found out and he'd almost paid with his life.

“Peyton will be at Conceit, tonight at midnight,” said Une in a tone filled with contempt.

“Conceit?”

Une peered back at Zechs, but her gaze wavered as she said, “Mallory…he was hemorrhaging. Before I could question him further, he had a stroke. I was ushered out of his room and I haven't seen him since. That was two hours ago. I've called back several times. He survived the stroke, but hasn't woken up.”

The room was filled with silence. Une's gaze moved over the dark table before her. Briefly, her eyes moved to Noin and Zechs. Neither had anything to say and neither returned her gaze. Their thoughts had turned inward for the moment as they considered who they were on the verge of losing. Une continued without urging, “It didn't take me long to figure out what Mallory meant by Conceit. It's a train of night clubs, 23 worldwide. But, we have the advantage.” Une's eyes grew small. Her voice had grown soft and calculating in a cold tone she hadn't used in years. “I called our informant and he had a rather succulent piece of information for me. McGinnis has been cozying up to a certain Countess Winningham, who's interested in purchasing one of his 'suits of leisure'.”

For the first time since Une entered the office, Noin spoke. “Countess Winningham of the London Winninghams?”

Une nodded. “And, McGinnis will be near the countess, especially since he's currying her favor. He'll be in London tonight. I have no doubt.” She watched as Noin and Zechs looked at each other. Something passed between them and they both nodded before turning back to Une.

Zechs's voice was eerily calm as he said, “Then we'll be there to give Peyton a Preventers welcome.”
~*(End of Flashback)*~

“Mallory's grown strong, Noin,” said Une as she turned away from the dead monitor.

Noin nodded as she watched Lady Une leave her chair to stand beside her. “I thought we'd lost him for good.”

“It's Gisele. She's a good woman for sticking by him.”

Gisele, as Une had learned later that day when she'd first went to see Mallory at the hospital, was the name of the young nurse who'd called her and informed her of Mallory's whereabouts.

“Still feeling up for the ride,” asked Noin a she proceeded to walk away. She could feel Une walking behind her. And, she assumed the woman's footsteps meant she was following her to the stables.

Oh, yes, Une was following Noin, but not to the stables.

“We have enough time, before Zechs gets back,” she heard Une say from behind.

Noin's breath hitched in her throat. She knew very well Une was not referring to riding horses. That tone. Noin felt color flood her features. That tone…she'd heard it whispered against her ears on enough occasions to know what it meant. “We can't,” she replied in an unnervingly breathless tone.

“Is there a reason why?”

“I can't think…” Noin swallowed. “That is reason enough.”

~*(Begin Flashback)*~

The flight would have been a rather pleasant one if Noin didn't have other things on her mind. She couldn't stop thinking of it, of the insane plan she, Zechs and Une had concocted to lay their hands on Peyton. But the higher ups had left them no choice.

“You can't arrest Peyton without proof of wrongdoing,” murmured Noin to herself as she repeated the President elect's words to them. “It would cause a scandal to arrest a law abiding citizen on such shallow grounds,” imitated Noin in a gruff, rattling voice. “Your only witness is in a coma and you cannot take any action until he awakes and can sign a testimony verifying that all of what you've said has indeed occurred.” Noin scoffed, but the noise had somber undertones. No one had any idea if Mallory would ever wake up again. The doctors had been brutally honest. Head trauma like his in addition to the damage he sustained below the neck made a sudden awakening unlikely. The doctors were still in wonder as to how Mallory had communicated anything to his female visitor in the state he was in. Noin shook her head as the heels of her black boots clacked across the pavement. By the time Mallory awoke, if he ever did, Peyton would have made his deal with the Countess, have received his shipment of the gundamium and have flown off to some far off region where the Preventers agency couldn't touch him.

Noin frowned as she pulled at the top of her black vinyl corset. Her faith in the plan was dwindling and she was beginning to feel ridiculous in her attire. She wore all black. Her hair was slicked back in waves that landed low on her nape. She wore tight leather pants and a black vinyl corset that pushed up her breasts so that the tops of an ample bosom sat as an offering on the black vinyl. She'd dusted a silvery powder all over her skin so that she'd shimmer under the club's flashing lights. Noin parted ruby lips. She'd never worn more make-up in her entire life. Her eyes were shadowy and mysterious and her lashes were dark and full. Her mouth had never been more delectable or more ruby red. Noin stood across the street from Conceit and clasped her hands. Could this work? Could they really lure Peyton in to propositioning them… so that they could arrest him for soliciting? Prostitution was still illegal both on Earth and in the Colonies. That principle had never changed even during political upheaval and the present need to stimulate the economy. Noin closed her eyes. She'd never done anything so underhanded. They all new it was entrapment. But, they needed to have something to hold Peyton until they could build some evidence against him and prove to the higher ups that he was indeed scum.

Noin took one last reassuring breath before opening her eyes. It was nighttime and around Midnight. She, Lady Une, and Zechs had taken separate flights to London. Just in case something unfortunate happened in the form of a flight delay or an accident, at least one of them would make it to London. They'd agree that they'd meet at Conceit fully undercover and ready to tempt Peyton into a nice stint in a jail cell. Noin looked across the street at Conceit. The club was a beacon for the London underworld. Pimps, ravers, perverts, they all made their way over to Conceit for a good time. Why such an old man as Peyton had the indignity of going there was beyond Noin. Finally, she willed her legs into motion. Her heels clicked clacked across the street and finally over the side walk. She suddenly found herself overwhelmed by a crush of leather wearing partygoers. Noin pushed her way through the crowd as she tried to make out signs of Zechs or Une. She'd spent more or less fifteen minutes pushing through a rowdy crowd when a hand suddenly grasped her shoulder. It was warm and inconceivably smooth. Noin whipped around to greet the bold partygoer. She'd already been patted on the ass several times and been approached by enough seedy suitors to be perturbed by the non-threatening gesture. But the look of contempt left Noin's face as she recognized the person who'd grasped her shoulder. At least, she sort of recognized that person. She acknowledged the eyes as familiar but almost nothing else fit in that category. Her mouth was open as she stared back at a rather scantily clad Lady Une. Lady Une's hair was wild and loose. Untamed and wavy honey colored hair moved on the wind. Her shoulders were bare, as was most of her. She wore an orchid colored top that consisted of two flaps of cloth that barely covered her two lush breasts. The top came to end as it wrapped around the lower portion of her waist and was followed by a black skin tight mini skirt that ended mid thigh. Noin's gaze didn't make it past the skirt. She managed to look back at Lady Une. The woman had heavy dark lashes and glowing skin. Her mouth was shiny with a glossy mauve finish.

Une's stern tone jolted Noin out of her appraisal. “Zechs is already inside.”

Noin nodded in acceptance. So, they were really going through with the plan. Zechs would approach Peyton and if he failed Noin and Une would approach as a team. It was simple. They were playing into the man's sexual weaknesses: young, attractive men and sluttish, simpering women.
~*(End Flashback)*~

Noin's back met with the cool surface of a cream wall. She had backed into it as Une had approached her. Dark blue eyes moved over Une's form. They both dared and chastised her.

“Will you always put up a fight?” murmured Une as she lifted a hand to hover an inch from Noin's blouse.

Noin pushed away the hand. “As long as I have to choose between you and Zechs, yes.”

~*(Begin Flashback)*~

Noin leaned against the bar and sighed. Her head was pounding in time with the pulsating club music. A voice stopped her from covering her ears.

It was whimsical and confident as it shouted over the music.

“Why come here if you can't handle the noise?”

Noin looked up. A man with short platinum hair and fuchsia tips was staring at her from behind the bar.

“The name's Chester, in case you were wondering,” said the barkeep.

Noin's eyes lingered on the man's lip ring before they moved back to his face. The club's strobe lights made shadows dance across his face.

“So what'll you have to slake your thirst?”

Noin took a seat at the bar. Her leather shrouded bottom came in contact with the stool. She'd have to remain at the bar until Zechs arrived to give her the go ahead. She'd been lingering by its edge for the last fifteen minutes. “Water,” said Noin.

The barkeep almost choked on his own astonishment. He laughed, “You can't order water in Conceit. That's sacrilege.”

Noin looked him right in the eye and lied, “I just came from another rave. I'm pacing myself.”

The barkeep leaned forward. “So, you're attractive *and* smart. I get it. A little water will keep you from sweating yourself dry. I'll give it to you on one condition.”

“I paid the cover charge. You'll give me whatever I ask for.”

Chester snorted amicably. “A feisty one! I like my women feisty. But…can you move like her?”

Noin managed not to roll her eyes. Didn't this guy realize he was flirting by himself? But she did give in and followed the direction of the barkeep's extended hand.

And for the second time that evening, Noin found herself startled. A woman with long hair and wild moves was brought into her line of sight. The woman's hair whipped around her twisting tight form. Noin coughed in surprise. The barkeep had pointed to Lady Une.

“Ahh, now that's a woman. You see those moves? Christ, just to feel those legs wrap around me…”

Noin turned back to the barkeep. Her throat was dry, dryer than before. “Where's my water, *Chester*?”

Once again, the barkeep snorted amicably. “Oh, now that you see your competition you're ready to get friendly with me.” Chester dared a pat at Noin's hand. He received a cold look. He shrugged it off. “One glass of H2O coming right up. But if anyone asks, say it's vodka. I have a reputation to keep.” Chester turned to fill Noin's request and the very moment he did a man with long platinum blond approached the bar.

The man wore tight leather pants and a close fitting fishnet shirt that hugged his body in such a way as to make his solid, fit build glaringly apparent. The man's platinum hair was swept in a long ponytail that ended low on his back. He rested a firm hand on the bar.

Chester turned around to deliver Noin her cold glass of water. She brought it to her lips to hide a smile. Zechs looked fabulous in his outfit. Too bad she couldn't take pictures.

Not nearly as whimsical as before, Chester turned to Zechs to ask, “What'll you have?”

“Something to heal a bruised ego,” said Zechs.

“Hey, I've got a lot of things that dull the senses. Be more specific. I'm not a mind reader.” Chester paused mid-complaint. “Bruised ego? What happened, blondie? Your target saw you for the gigolo you are?”

Zechs was unfazed. “You could say that. Peyton refused me.”

Noin took a too large gulp of water. But, she managed not to choke on it.

Chester chuckled as he slapped the bar. “You went after Mr. Big Time? On your first night here? Idiot, no one goes to Peyton. *He* calls *you*. Musta been a nasty rebuke.” Chester paused for a moment to think. “A Flaming Dr. Pepper will fix you right up.” As Chester spoke, he pulled out a shot glass and then a large glass. He grabbed a bottle of Amaretto and filled the shot glass before bringing the larger glass under a beer tap. He placed the shot glass and the glass of beer side by side on the bar. Chester reached behind the bar and pulled out a lighter. His gaze returned to Zechs. “Ok, hot shot, when I say 'when,' drop the shot glass into the beer and guzzle. Hell, guzzle for all your worth.” Chester set the amaretto aflame. He smirked. “When.”

Without a glance of acknowledgement at Noin, Zechs did as he was told. He gulped the mix and it tasted strangely like a certain caffeinated beverage that gave the drink its name.

Chester watched him put the glass back on the bar. “Good shit, right?”

“I'll have another,” said Zechs while wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

Chester chuckled. “Sure thing.” Once again Chester began to set up for the mixture. “If you're really hard up for cash, I've got the names of a couple of men who like blonds. You'll be in like flint.”

Without a word, Zechs dropped the flaming shot glass into the beer. Noin watched him down the mixture a second time. That was her cue to leave. She moved off the seat to go in search of Une. Zechs had two drinks. He was now over the limit for on duty work. She and Une would take over.
~*(End Flashback)*~

Une's hand deftly undid two buttons on Noin's white blouse. She moved in to whisper against Noin's lips, “Just one taste and then I'll be good.”

“Just one?” whispered Noin. “I'm not stupid.” She relented and sighed against Une's approaching lips. They were inexplicably warm and soft against her own. Une's fingers blindly traced the tops of Noin's breasts.

~*(Begin Flashback)*~

Noin found Une. She sighed in disgust. They were actually going through with the plan. All this time, she'd hoped Zechs would succeed so they could be saved from disgrace. She glanced around at the surrounding sea of vibing leather clad partygoers. She watched Une move with the music and quickly followed suit. She whipped her form, making her hips move seductively to the music. Noin frowned. So, the two of them were supposed to make a scene…

The songs seemed endless and all alike. Three techno songs with synthesized voices and heart-thumping beats passed painfully slow, but before Noin could grimace over the fourth, she felt a hand grab her wrist. She was forcefully led to through the sea of sweaty dancers and brought to one corner of the club…by Une.

Une continued to hold Noin's wrist in her grasp. She looked around to see if anyone was watching them. No one was. And that was the problem. She turned back to Noin to hiss, “*What* do you think you're doing out there?”

Noin glared back her. “Exactly what we planned, dancing.”

“You call that dancing? How do you expect us to attract Peyton if you're moving around like you have sand in your pants? I didn't come this far to leave here empty handed.”

“What do you want me to do? Strip for the crowd?”

“No, just act like you're trying.”

Noin's eyes shot daggers. “I *am*”

Une's hand squeezed Noin's entrapped wrist. Her tone grew cold and calculating. “You *will* try harder, if not for me, then for Mallory.”

“Mallory…” whispered a jolted Noin.

Her eyes widened in shock as Une continued in that same sinister tone, “Perhaps it's a little self-serving of me to take the blame. But it was my job to protect Mallory. I was his contact. And, don't doubt me when I say this: I *will* get Peyton, even through as silly a scheme as this, and I don't care how dirty I have to play.”

Noin couldn't help but appear unnerved as she tried to pull her wrist away. That tone…that cold, vicious tone… she recognized from when Treize was still alive. It chilled her to the bone, even in the balmy atmosphere of the club.

And then Une seemed to gather her wits. She looked down at Noin's entrapped wrist and then released it. “I apologize. I didn't mean…”

Noin held her sore wrist in her hand. She looked back at Une. She thought it was best not to dwell on what had just occurred. “It's fine. You're right. If I forget my embarrassment, we'll succeed.”

Une nodded. She was composed as she said, “And succeed we will.”
~*(End Flashback)*~

----
yep, a sucky cliffhanger (I guess). I'm just wondering if this sort of tangent from the main storyline is ok. If so, part 7 will continue where this left off

ja

Part 7