Chapter 13

The first thing the pilots decided to do was to contact Zechs and his family. They sent Heero to do that, after a lot of convincing. After he left the room, there was silence for a short time, until Duo blurted, "We’ve got to find her."

"Smart observation, Maxwell," Wufei said coldly. "Did you think that up by yourself?"

With a glance, Quatre silenced any smart-aleck remark Duo might retort. He said firmly, "Yes, we have to find her. Wufei, you’re as worried about her as we are, and you know you’re going to help. Think how Heero feels. First thing – any ideas where they could’ve taken her?"

"My first idea would be the white building we were in just two days ago," Trowa said calmly, rewarding everyone with a speech.

"But they could have easily changed position," Duo said. He was no longer the cheerful, irrepressible Duo they usually saw; now, he was Gundam pilot 02 of Deathscythe Hell, the dangerous God of Death they saw on the battlefield.

"Unless it’s an entirely different party that’s kidnapped her," Quatre said thoughtfully.

"Do we know anyone who would have a good motive?" Wufei asked.

"The people who blew up the Peacecraft mansion last night."

"Do we know who that is?" Duo asked, raising an eyebrow at Quatre.

Trowa said tonelessly, "There’s also the people who kidnapped her before, unless they're the same."

Quatre sighed. "We really are clueless this time, guys."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After punching in the sending digits, Heero waited nervously for Zech’s face to appear on the vidcam screen. It was a mystery to all how Zechs would handle this…unless he already knows, Heero thought. Though he seriously doubted it, it was possible that someone had seen Relena being kidnapped and told Zechs.

The screen wavered for a moment, then Lucrezia’s face appeared, bouncing a smiling Ashlyn on her hip. Lucrezia herself broke into a grin as she saw Heero.

"Why, nice to see you so soon, Heero," she said, a teasing light in her eyes. "Missing somebody?"

"More than you know," he said seriously. "Get Zechs here now."

Lucrezia knew that tone from her long days following Zechs around, and she nodded once immediately. "I’ll go get him – he’s just doing some paperwork."

Heero waited impatiently, shifted his weight from foot to foot. Zech’s wrath was something all soldiers feared, and Heero had felt it more than once. Before now, he had easily been able to control his emotions, but since Relena…

His thoughts were interrupted by footsteps, and Heero looked up at the screen to see Zechs coming into view of the vidcam. The older man was looking exhausted and more than a little sad, and despite himself Heero was sympathetic. He was not used to the feeling and wasn’t sure he liked it.

Zechs sighed and said, "What’s wrong this time, Heero?"

At least he doesn’t know already, Heero thought to himself. Or maybe that’s something I shouldn’t be thankful for. "Well, Zechs, I’ll tell you straight out."

"Please do."

Heero winced, preparing himself for the onslaught. "Relena’s been kidnapped."

However, Zechs merely sighed once again and replied, "Wonderful. Have you taken any action yet?"

Heero raised his eyebrows, immensely surprised. He had expected to be beaten mercilessly with Zech’s wrath. "Um…well, actually, no." His expression hardened. "Not yet."

Zechs gave him a brief, humorless smile. "I know, Yuy. You’ll do everything you can." He paused, then continued, "Do you mind if I leave most of it up to you? It’s not that I don’t want to find her, but…"

"You’re busy," Heero interrupted, nodding. "It’s fine. You do your part, we’ll do ours. We’ll have her back faster than you’ll believe."

Zechs nodded. "I know. Thank you, Heero."

For the first time in a while, Heero smiled. "You’re welcome, Zechs."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You won’t get away with this."

Relena held her chin high, ignoring the stray locks of golden hair that fell from her loose ponytail. She stared defiantly at the three men seated around the table in the X-283’s kitchen, watching her with amused expressions on their faces.

One of them, the one that had ordered her kidnapper to handcuff her twice to the bolted-down chairs, replied calmly, "I do believe, madam, that no one knows you were kidnapped. And when they do find out, we will be long gone. You are our prisoner, and when you have served your purposes you will be executed."

She was silent, but the men knew it was not because of fear or weakness. Instead of speaking, she studied the men at the table as one of them began giving her the lecture she’d been hearing for the past hour; all about how she was to be used for ransom and how they were going to start a war that would end all she had worked for.

The first man was extremely tall and extremely thin, in his late middle-ages, wearing thick wire-rimmed glasses and a white lab coat; Relena guessed he was a doctor or scientist of some kind. Small tufts of white hair arranged themselves in random places around his head, sticking out in all directions, giving him a rather unkempt appearance. The second man was big and burly, in his late thirties, with flame-red hair and a thick beard, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. Relena had no idea was his occupation was, but he watched her with a greedy look that she did not like at all. The third was much younger, probably only a few years older than Relena herself, and was actually quite good-looking. His thick brown hair was combed to the side, and chocolate-brown eyes watched her with a strangely uneasy and uncomfortable gaze.

If I ever need someone extra on my side, I’ll try him, Relena thought to herself, studying him an extra second longer than the others. He didn’t seem to want to go along with this any more than she did.

They continued watching her until Relena grew uneasy. Breaking the heavy silence, she said spitefully, "You men have no idea what you’re doing. I’ve been kidnapped more than once, and every single time I’ve been rescued. It never fails. You’re just another power-hungry group that wants to rule the world. Nice try, gentlemen."

Instead of striking back harshly, a sneer spread across the first man’s face, and he said coolly, "You are unaware, madam, that there is a leak in your brother’s supposedly tight government."

Relena let herself smirk a bit, then say, "Actually, sir, I am aware."

"And has your supposedly super-smart brother found out who is betraying him?"

She did not like the look on the man’s face, but she didn’t answer. She knew Zechs had no clue.

"Of course he hasn’t. That’d be giving him far too much credit than he deserves," cut in the burly man with a derisive snort.

Relena did not move, but she said, "There are other people out there, you know, who know how to find me, and it’s what they do best. I will be saved, no matter what you say."

This time it was the third man who spoke, and his voice was surprisingly forceful, "Ma’am, the Gundam pilots are of no use here, do you hear me? Sure, if they’re lucky they’ll find us, but," he ground his huge fists together, popping the knuckles and making Relena wince involuntarily. "I’ll be waiting for them."

With that, the first man said, "Take her away. She is of no use to us until the traitor to her country comes to deliver his information."

Relena said quickly, "And are you going to tell me who it is?"

He responded with a raised eyebrow. "Why, madam, I believe you already know him quite well."

She was ushered out of the kitchen before she could reply.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They put her in a dimly-lit room on the ship, with one lumpy bed, a tiny bathroom, and a very small desk. Everything was bolted to the ground, and door was mechanically locked from the outside. The instant the guards left Relena searched for some means of escape, but there was none.

The room was cold; obviously whoever was in charge didn’t want to waste heat on her. They had taken all of her belongings away except for her clothes, the pajamas she had been wearing when she was kidnapped. Her shoes were gone, too, lost somewhere in the forest around Quatre’s house.

Relena sighed in memory of Quatre and the one-day span of peace and happiness that was now gone. Even though she had been kidnapped twice before – and subject to hundreds of rumors – she was worried. No other group had seemed so incredibly intent on using her, then killing her. And, she thought uneasily to herself. No other group has been so incredibly organized as well.

For instance – the leak. For a few long moments Relena thought hard, trying to think of anyone that would betray her and her brother…but no one came to mind. Everyone in her world was so kind, so caring…but then, Relena thought, it could easily just be a show.

She paced the room uneasily, mentally listing her assets. After a long time, she realized that for a time being there was nothing she could do. Sighing, Relena retreated to the lumpy bed, letting her mind blank. She’d just have to wait until Heero got there. He’d save her, no matter what. Relena fell asleep with a half-smile on her face.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

However, Heero was farther from her than Relena thought. At the moment, he was seated around the table of the X-283, seated in puzzled silence at their present situation. Minds whirled, trying to think, yet no one was overcome with a sudden, wonderful idea that would solve all of their problems.

Story of our life, Duo thought sullenly, staring blankly at the wall. Quatre was talking; Duo wrenched himself out of his pessimistic thoughts and focused on his comrade.

"…just going to have to follow our leads," the blonde-haired pilot was saying, shaking his head. "We don’t know anything for sure, we don’t – "

"Have any real leads," Wufei said, with a deeper scowl than usual etched on his face.

"I beg the differ," Heero said quietly, speaking for the first time in their little meeting. "We have one, though I’m not sure if it’s related to Relena or not."

"The letters," Trowa said with a nod.

Realization hit Duo suddenly, and he said, "You want to investigate that some more? Still go along with the plan?"

Silently, Heero nodded.

Quatre sighed and shrugged. "It’s the only thing we’ve got to go on."

Trowa added, "But we could also send one or two of us to check out the white building we were at before."

Heero looked up. "Do we even know what the building is?"

Wufei nodded shortly. "According to local records, it was supposed to be, basically, an office building. Didn’t turn out that way."

"Like white, do they?" Duo asked casually.

Quatre gave him a reprimanding glance, and Duo shrugged indifferently. "I agree we could send someone there," he said calmly. "But I’m not going. I’m staying right here with Heero to help him out."

Trowa said quietly, "We were all supposed to be here to help Heero out."

"I don’t need help," Heero said coldly.

Duo snorted. "Shut up, Heero, don’t say a word until we say you can."

Heero gave him the infamous Death Glare that usually scared people out of their wits. Duo, however, got it so many times a day he barely noticed anymore. Heero didn’t say anything else, though.

"No matter what he says, he does need help, at least in some aspects of the plan," Duo insisted. "He can’t make negotiations, save his own life, and watch his back at the same time without going insane."

Quatre nodded, giving Heero a stern glance. Heero promptly turned the Death Glare onto him.

"You know he’s right, Yuy," Wufei said flatly. "You may be the best, but even the best can’t defeat an army with simply his hands and feet. Take it from one who knows."

Quatre sighed. "Well, who’s going to visit the office building?"

Quietly Trowa raised his hand and said, "You don’t need me as much. I can go."

Duo was skeptical. "Trowa, buddy, you had a pretty important job."

"But not essential to Heero’s success," Trowa cornered, still very quiet. Trowa was a man of very few words.

Heero replied, "I agree. You and Wufei could go."

Wufei snorted. "Leave me out of the action. How like you, Yuy."

Duo rolled his eyes. "Oh puh-lease, Wuffie. Don’t be dumb."

The Chinese man stood up, yelling and shaking his fist, "Don’t you call me that, Maxwell!"

Duo smiled innocently. "What…you mean Wuffie, Wuffie?"

Trowa and Quatre caught Wufei as he leaped over the table to attack Duo, who scampered out of the way fast. As fighting ensued, Heero ran a hand through his unruly hair, muttering, "I think it’s time to go."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The young man came to her cell early the next morning. Relena had slept for a little over two hours the entire night, and she was running on pure adrenaline. Even so, when two sharp knocks resounded throughout her tiny room, she sat up straight on the bed, her muscles tensed and ready for action.

However, it was the younger man that entered her room silently, taking a seat. Relena watched the door, but no sooner had the man entered than there was the sound of a key turning in a lock, and the hiss of security lasers being activated.

There was silence in the room. Relena watched him warily as he shuffled through a rather thin stack of papers, not meeting her eyes. She noticed he was wearing a baggy sweatshirt with a hood, baseball cap, and jeans; very casual for a kidnapper.

Finally, after what seemed to her like hours, he looked up and said, slightly nervous, "I’m not allowed to give you my full name, but call me Jim."

Relena nodded, silent.

He cleared his throat, then continued, "Um, I was hired to work with these men because I am, among a behavior specialist, a, pardon me, superb hacker and a well-known politician."

Knowing this, Relena studied him more thoroughly as he resigned to looking through his papers once more. Yes, there it was: the firm chin, straight posture, and calculating eyes that every politician possessed. She could believe him on that note…yet she had never seen him before. He obviously wasn’t the leak; anyone close enough to her family to have access to information, she would know at a glance.

He cleared his throat yet again, and Relena had the impression that he was nervous.

"They have appointed me in charge of your execution, a job I…" he swallowed. "…didn’t quite accept with eagerness. However, I am also in charge of an interrogation that must be performed before any advances can be made."

Relena sat up straighter, smiling inwardly. How many times had she been through these things? If necessary, she could lie without batting an eyelid. "Bring it on," she muttered under her breath, then said firmly, "That’s fine."

He smiled, and began.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They prepared everything in a haste for the next night: Saturday. Trowa and Quatre – they had decided on him after ‘Wuffie threw a fit – left quite suddenly, renting a small ship to fly to L4, where the white building was located – under an alias, of course, and disguises. Meanwhile, Heero, Duo, and Quatre stayed behind, readying everything to make sure nothing went wrong the next night.

Quatre’s father was an incredibly rich politician and businessman, beginning his career on oil exporting and importing, then moving steadily closer to politics. Through his many wives, he had had twenty-nine daughters, and Quatre. Duo tirelessly teased his comrade about this, mainly jokes about the bathrooms in the morning. The Gundam pilots knew Quatre’s sisters to all be loud and cheerful girls; as Heero quaintly put it, "The female version of Duo." Quatre himself, however, was quite the opposite: he was quiet and resigned, polite and smiling. He was the one that no one would suspect to be a Gundam pilot; that, and because of his known status and money, enabled him to help the other pilots on more than one occasion with security and entrance troubles. His platinum-blonde hair and sparkling, wide blue eyes created an innocent, sweet look about him that deceived many; Quatre was as ruthless as the others on the battlefield, and he was one of the best strategists on the team.

Duo had been orphaned as a young child, left with absolutely no family. A church had taken him in, and he lived there for several years until, when the war started, the church and everyone in it was killed. He then had met the five Doctors and agreed to train to become a Gundam pilot. He had met Hilde when the pilots needed information from the enemy ship Libra, and she had retrieved it. They had hit it off right away; they were nearly exactly alike, both loud, cheerful, and smiling. After the war and the Mariemaia incident was over, Duo had proposed, and the couple was married and moved in to start their mechanics shop.

Trowa had a confusing past, most of which he didn’t know himself; he didn’t know his real name, and had taken on the name of ‘Trowa’ after another man. After a long and confusing while, he had met a young woman by the name of Cathrine Bloom, who just happened to be his sister. Trowa dropped being a Gundam pilot for a while to join the circus, and because of an accident lost his memory. Duo went to look for him, but each time Cathrine chased him off, telling him to let her brother be. However, eventually Trowa had regained his memory, and though Cathrine told him his real name – Triton – he had decided to keep the title he had chosen for himself. He had met Rebecca when she was visiting her second cousin – Quatre – and a few months later, months full of serious dating, Trowa surprised them all by proposing.

However, Wufei’s past was probably one of the most tragic, if you didn’t count Heero. He had grown up with his people, and when he was very young married to a pretty girl named Meiran. However, just a few years later, the war began, and Meiran was one of the first casualties, along with the rest of Wufei’s family and friends. He had gone through the pilot training with determination etched on his face the entire time, focused completely on his duties and every day insulting women and everything to do with them. No one really questioned him; it was part of his upbringing, and most women around him got used to it fast, and simply insulted him back. He didn’t seem to mind.

Heero, along with having an equally tragic past, had gone through the most rigorous and painful training of them all. He was orphaned as a very, very young child, and taken in by Doctor J. No one knew his true title; he was named after an assassinated pacifist that had lived several years ago. Also, no one knew his family at all; even the Doctors, with their unmatched library of information, could find any hint at all of Heero’s relatives. Even as a young boy, he was serious and focused on his training. However, the beginning of Heero’s training was exactly like the others; there was no plan for the ‘Perfect Soldier’. He was simply another pilot, just like Duo, Quatre, Wufei, and Trowa. But then, an associate of Doctor J’s had suggested a new method: Train a pilot or soldier to completely rid themselves of emotions, of basically humanity, so that on the battlefield they would have no weakness. The first day they began this training, Heero nearly broke down, both mentally, emotionally, and physically. It was harsher training than any soldier so far had undertaken. Yet after a while, the Perfect Soldier began to take shape. He became cold, calculating, and ruthless. And he had been that way ever since…until the day his Gundam took a crash-land to escape the enemy on a beautiful beach, a beach that a young woman happened to be walking on the instant he crashed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Saturday passed quickly. They docked at 2491-5 L4 in a small docking bay, not taking the time to rent a hotel; they would stay in the ship. While Duo checked the local maps for the intersection, Heero and Wufei went over the equipment, checking for any errors at all.

"Laptops?"

"Mine and yours, secure."

"Radar?"

"Check."

"Infrared cameras?"

"Check."

"Transmissions module?"

"Check."

"Sca – "

Suddenly, the door to Heero’s bunk room burst open and Duo strode in, nearly knocking the heat detector over.

"Maxwell!" Wufei yelled angrily. "Watch the equipment!"

Duo rolled his eyes and ignored him, thrusting a paper into Heero’s hands.

"I’ve got it," he said, jabbing his finger at an intersection on the paper. "It’s out in the middle of nowhere, clear out of the city lines, out by the agricultural farming. However," he continued, handing Heero another paper. "Because I’m so nice, I did a radar scan on it too, from our main console, and – "

"There’s a shack nearby that’s using up quite a bit of electricity," Heero finished, his dark blue eyes studying the paper with uncanny speed.

Duo nodded. "It’s supposed to be abandoned, but it is supplied with electricity, and someone’s been mysteriously using the power. Quite a high bill, if you ask me," Duo said, handing him yet another piece of paper.

Heero whistled. "You’d think they’d clear this."

"My point exactly," Duo said, and paused, obviously waiting for Heero to come to a conclusion.

"You think it’s a decoy?" Wufei asked, looking over Heero’s shoulder.

Duo shrugged. "Could be. But it could also be – "

"A smaller unit," Heero said.

Duo nodded. "One of two things."

"Or something we don’t know about," Wufei said, giving Duo one of his many reprimanding scowls.

Heero rolled his eyes. "Yes, Wufei, of course," he said, as he and Duo exchanged glances. People either learned to live with Wufei, going along with his ideas, or hated him forever. The other Gundam pilots hadn’t really had a choice.

"Are you insulting my honor, Yuy?" Wufei demanded, turning his glare on Heero. "Because if you are, you should know that – "

"Oh shut up," Duo said crossly. "No one’s insulting your honor…Wuffie."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Though she knew from long experience that she could withstand any interrogation, she had no idea how stunning and shocking the session really was going to be. As the young man left her room, she sat, completely aghast, on the bed, fingers gripping the bottom rung on the bed with white knuckles.

They had known everything.

Every little detail of her life, they had known. Everything. From her entire history with the Gundam pilots, from every single homework grade in school, to every object she owned and cherished – especially the teddy bear she had received from Heero long ago. The session lasted nearly an hour, but after five minutes all she could reply were monosyllables, a yes or no; she was beyond stunned.

Relena stood up, sudden determination coursing through her veins. This time, she’d have to save herself.

And no matter what anyone said, she was going to do it.