Earth
Trowa came into the room with Quatre right before they disappeared.
"What do you think?" Quatre asked Trowa. "We should keep people in the loop, but this is probably an isolated problem. Then again?"
"We don't know the plan," Trowa said.
"It's their individual lives and we aren't at war," Quatre said. "What are the chances this was someone that was brilliant but not all there? That just happened to see a good opportunity to make Hilde Schbeiker pay for her role? Or for being friends with Duo?" Quatre backed out of the tent. "I don't know. This isn't how someone takes revenge. This isn't foul play with someone accidentally getting caught. Duo harassed everyone on duty and the doctor, even stalking them. I barely got them to calm down enough to not take action. He came to stay with me after that until we got to Earth." He looked back toward Trowa. "I didn't sense anything wrong from any of them. Whatever happened, it was deliberate." He sighed. "I'm almost a hundred percent certain someone artificially inseminated her before her surgery."
Trowa looked toward him.
"Latest technology, still in research, but one time is all it will take with it," Quatre pointed out to Trowa. "I looked into everything for Duo. It would take someone brilliant enough to have access to that advancement. There was no one on the staff with those credentials."
Which didn't make sense. Trowa nodded. "Telling someone takes two seconds."
"Two seconds to inform allies. Two seconds to ruin their privacy." Quatre was torn in the decision. He didn't want people harassing Duo or his friend any more than necessary. They were trying to move on, get used to whatever happened, and keep going. "What do you think, Trowa?"
"I think we should ask Duo," Trowa answered. "Did you inform Heero and Wufei?"
"In the beginning. Any help piecing this together was appreciated," Quatre said. "Neither could do much. Both were just as confused. Wufei says it's probably someone with a vendetta to hurt Duo, but doesn't want to take a life." It made a little sense. This certainly was hurting Duo and no life had been taken. "Heero said something similar. A soldier that didn't want to kill, but couldn't stop thinking of revenge." He shrugged. "I don't know. Anyone's theories are just that at this point." Only guesses. Only theories.
Nothing personally helped Duo or his friend.
"I can't imagine it's easy," Quatre said, staring out into the stars. It was something lovely about Earth, all the beautiful stars. "Knowing your past mistakes made something like this happen to your best friend?" He looked back toward Trowa. "I would not want to be in his shoes."
---
Zhang Colony
Mei-Lin Wang held her ground. She was adorned in a ceremonial robe for the occasion. While she looked beautiful and gentle, she was a woman who was not fond of the position she had been placed in. For honor, she accepted it. Accepted it as her destiny, she could not go against custom. However, something had happened in that custom, and her future husband would not hear her out. She had sent news and letters, trying to tell him she needed to contact him. Li Zhang though was not fond of the clan marriage any more than her. He wished nothing to do with her until the last minute.
As she walked toward him, he said nothing. That was fine, she would talk. "You refused to look at any of my letters."
"I've no need to hear of my wife's letters," he answered. "You'll soon be telling me things face to face."
"Then hear this 'face to face'. I am not your wife yet," she reminded him. "I have been mistreated without my knowledge. I assume it was during my surgery. As my future husband, you should look into it." She shuffled. "Also, there was a dead body found at my house this morning. Once again, I asked for your counsel about it." However, he would do nothing. Nothing of either one. She already knew all she needed to know about him. If it wasn't for her integrity, she would go through with the marriage and say nothing. However, the body would sooner or later be discovered. Why risk dishonor for something out of her hands?
"Mistreated how?" Concern in his voice? "What do you mean a body?"
"I have never taken with any man, yet I am pregnant. The doctor has confirmed it."
"The body, Mei-Lin? What about the body?"
"It's still in my room."