Delicate Anger (Part 2)

Zhang Colony

Back in the ceremonial wear, Mei-Lin prepared herself to take on the role of wife now. The suspect on the video had been found and would be in prison soon. Real prints that would have exonerated her faster, if her husband-to-be had been more supportive. She was safe and sound. She took her position gracefully in front of him. ///Mei-Lin: At least you know he will be a terrible husband. A decent provider, but don't let yourself fall into trouble. He will not help./// It would bring her into the Zhang's though and her children would be safe and respected. The arrangement once official would keep her in good fortune unless she did something reprehensible. Since Li knew the child wasn't his and was still going through with the arrangement, he would not be able to protest it later. The best tutors, the highest honors, the marriage would provide everything she needed. ///Mei-Lin: I will be more honorable to him than he ever will be to me./// Still, she greeted him with that smile that first made him take notice of her.

Mei-Hua, his family's second choice, watched the proceedings with one nasty scowl. Vile thing was trying to win Li over while she was in prison. At least Li didn't give up so far as to go with Mei-Hua. It wasn't hard to see who the lovelier wife would be.

A small curl at the end of Mei-Lin's smile, a nice reminder how she was so genteel on the outside, yet not so fragile on the inside. Everything was finally coming together until-

"Stop!"

Mei-Lin watched as a man, all dressed in white, approached them. No not just a white outfit, a flowing white garb designed specifically not of their culture. That would never be found on the Zhang colony.

"What is the meaning of this?" Li asked the foreigner. "Who are you?" He noticed the difference in robes too. "That's impossible. You are from the Long colony?"

"I am." The stranger didn't deny it. Nor would he or he wouldn't have worn the clothes that represented his colony.

"He is here on urgent business," a guard said next to him. "An urgent matter that required meeting Wang Mei-Lin."

"This marriage will not take place," the foreigner demanded. "It will create a war between our colonies."

What? She did not even know him and the Long colony was extinct. Wasn't it? Li was, of course, instantly looking toward her with those same eyes as before. Accusing. "I don't know him."

"Then why does he want to stop this marriage?!" Nothing but jealousy and distrust in Li's eyes.

"Ask me instead of the woman," the man replied. "My name is Chang Wufei."

Chang Wufei. She didn't know anyone from the fallen Long colony but that name was familiar. Like a whisper on the wind.

"You were a Gundam pilot." Li had found the answer before her in her mind. "You are the last remaining colonist of the Long colony. Are you an honored guest here I was unaware of?"

"You don't listen very well," Chang Wufei accused him. "Pay attention. I said this marriage cannot take place. I did not say I knew the woman, nor did I bring up my history." He gestured toward Mei-Lin. "There is a rebel group who call themselves Revenge of the Lost. They are the ones responsible for your recent pregnancy, as well as the corpse found in your room."

Oh. Mei-Lin did not like where this was headed. This? This had better not be.

"Created for the sole purpose of war between us." He had to say those words. He had to say them toward her as well. His glance turned back to Li. "To prevent war. Give her to the Long colony."

The only sound Mei-Lin made was her customary head dressing jingling from side to side as she made sense of it all. What did this rebel group have to do with her?

"Wait." Li gestured toward Chang Wufei. "I understand how you survived, but what do you mean Long colony?"

Chang Wufei clearly did not want to be as forthcoming about that. He would have to be if he wanted any answers though. "Colony A0206 was recreated from the descendants of the original that had not been there the day it was destroyed."

"Hm. This Revenge of the Lost?" Li continued to question. "How do you know this for sure?"

"You said yourself you've heard of me, Zhang Li," Chang Wufei reminded him. "If you are going to make a war, make it with the biggest impact."

Li looked annoyed, but he didn't back down. "Do you know the chances of artificial-"

"I'm not an idiot!" The man had a fury himself. Mei-Lin could see that. "They had access to technology that isn't out to the public yet. With it, yes, it's a one-time deal. Now stop trying to hide the pregnancy like I'm an idle moron who wouldn't know before I came. She was jailed for the murder but judged for the pregnancy too." He raised an eyebrow toward Li. "Do we really need to bring blood tests into this?"

Li groaned and grabbed Mei-Lin's arm and shoved her in front. "Go with him."

Mei-Lin watched as Mei-Hua was right there, ready to take her ceremonial garbs for her wedding. No! "Take the man if you wish, but you will not confiscate my family's sacred robing." There was little left for her now. She was about to be taken to a foreign colony to prevent war. Rebelling would only bring shame and problems with it, but if Mei-Hua expected such a gesture as giving her family's ceremonial outfit, she was not getting it!

"Women," Li muttered. "We are trying to prevent war and all they think of is clothes. Mei-Lin, forget the robes, and go to Chang Wufei."

Her family. Her acquaintances. Anyone she had ever known. To leave as a resident from the Zhang colony to the Long meant she was abandoning her colony. She was trying to come to terms with it all, but if there was one thing she was not giving up? It was her robes.

"Wang Mei-Lin!"

Chang Wufei raised his voice towards her. She would have to get used to it. If she was in fact carrying his child, her fault or not, he would be her future. She looked toward him.

"I will be here half an hour and no more. Say goodbye to your family, pick up one suitcase of clothes, and meet me at the nearest shuttle area." Then, he started to walk away. He stopped to look back at Li. "Leave Wang Mei-Lin her robes and make the other woman find her own. If she was ready, then she'd be ready. If not, set another date." Then, he continued to walk off.