Disclaimer: Gundam Wing...? Do I own them? Of course not! Don't be foolish, what ever gave you that idea?

Heart of Space, Dove of Peace



After Colony 200:

          "Hey, Heero!  Why didn'cha ask me t'come with you?!"  The American pilot known as Duo Maxwell could be heard loud and clear through Heero's comm link.  It was almost as if he was there in person.
          " . . ."
          "Answer me, Heero!" Duo yelled.
          "You talk too much, Duo." Heeroanswered.  "If we had all gone, you'd be sure to get us all caught."
          Duo was about to respond, but his voice was replaced by the worried tone of Quatre's.
          "Heero!" he exclaimed.  "You shouldn't go alone!  The St. Ignatia base is heavily guarded!"
          "I can handle it." Came the reply.
          "But, Heero!" Quatre protested.  "It's been 2 years since any of us have piloted a mobile suit!"
          "Then consider this a refresher course."
          "Heero--!"
          "Heero out." With that, Heero shut off his comm-link.  He knew he was out of practice battling other mobile suits, but to him, this mission was of the utmost importance. He had to fight for the sake of peace.

~*~*~ Flashback ~*~*~

          "What's so special about the St.Ignatia base?" Heero asked, reviewing a mission file sitting in front of him.
          "Until now, nothing." Noin answered, donned in her Preventer uniform. "But it seems a group of anti-pacifists who call themselves the Dark Claw have set up base there."
          'Don't these wannabes ever give it arest?' Heero thought to himself.
          "We believe they plan to attack the Sank Kingdom because it's the center of all peace negotiations." Milliardo, who was sitting by the door, said.  "I ask that you and the other pilots look into it."
          Heero remained silent.
          "Please, Heero," Noin begged.  "It would break Relena's heart if this kingdom were to fall again."
          Heero gave her the same chilling glarehe gave just about everyone.  "Ryoukai," he said in his monotonous tone of voice. "But I'll do it without the help of the other Gundam Pilots."
          "What?" Milliardo and Noin exclaimed in unison.
          "The Gundams themselves were destroyed after the Mariemaia incident, remember?" Heero said.  "There's no way the others can fight."
          "Then how do you expect to fight?"Noin asked.
          "I was expecting something like this to happen." Heero answered.  "There are just too many people out there who can't accept pacifism." He turned off the computer in front of him.  "Therefore, I took the liberty of making some modifications to an old mobile suit."
          "Are you out of your mind, Heero?" Milliardo exclaimed.  "You plan to figh tthem with an outdated Mobile suit?  TheDark Claw is armed with updated dolls!"
          "You'll be killed!" Noin added.
          Heero got up from his chair.  "You asked me to take this mission and I accepted it." He said.  "But I'll do itmy way."
          "Heero—"
          "I can handle it."  With that, Heero walked outof the room.

~*~*~ End of Flashback ~*~*~

          Heero knewthat the odds of his success were very slim. However, he didn't care.  He felthe would do no matter what it took to complete his mission, for the sake of peace.
A soft voice tugged at the back of the perfect soldier's mind. 'For the sake of peace, or for the sake of Relena?'
At this Heero grunted and forced that thought out of his mind. He couldn't think of her at a time like this. There was no time for distractions. Still, deep down inside he couldn't help but wonder, did he fight for her? Heero shook his head and continued on towards his destination until he spotted a small forest clearing.  After making a perfect landing, the perfect soldier opened the cockpit and peered out at the landscape through a pair of binoculars.
          'Let's see. . . only 20 Mobile Suits guarding this entrance?' A smirk made it's way across Heero's face.  'They aren't very well guarded at all.  This should be a piece of cake.'

~*~*~*~*~

          "I don't like this one bit!" Duo exclaimed, slamming his fist down on the table.  "We shouldn't have let Heero go on his own!"
          "We had no choice," Trowa said calmly.  "We wouldn't have been able to help him without mobile suits to fight in."
          "We don't need any mobile suits!" Duoe exclaimed. "We could trash the place from the inside out!"
          "I don't think so." Sally Po, sitting at a computer console not far from them, replied.  "The St. Ignatia base was built in the Second Nuclear Age.  Right off the coast of Southern France.  It's rumored to be impenetrable and indestructible.  You'd have a hard time getting in. . . let alone getting out."
          Duo frowned.
          "I don't think we should worry too much." Quatre said.  "If anyone can do some damage in there, it's Heero."
          "Don't overestimate him," Wufei said curtly.  "He's out of practice, just like the rest of us.  He's bound to make a mistake."
          "That right?" Duo asked, still frowning.
          Wufei leaned back in his chair.  "These two years of peace have spoiled mankind, people have forgotten how to fight."
          "That was the whole purpose of Treize and Zeches' battle three years ago," Quatre said.  "To make people forget fighting."
          "No, not to forget." Wufei corrected.  "They wanted people to get rid of the hatred within themselves that caused fighting.  There are still people out there with the lust for wars . . . that includes the Dark Claw."
          "He's right." Sally agreed.  "The Dark Claw is just like the old OZ, only stronger and more cunning.  They knew that you Gundam pilots had stopped fighting after your Gundams were destroyed.  They've probably been waiting until theEarth would be most vulnerable."
          "They hate the concept of pacifism and therefore hate the Sank Kingdom." Noin said quietly.  "With the Sank Kingdom as the center of peace, it will be attacked first."
          Milliardo put a hand on her shoulder.  "We have to be prepared for the worst."
          "We've got to protect this kingdom and everything it stands for!" Quatre explained. "We have to preserve the peace by fighting again."
          The others nodded.
          "And just how are we gonna fight,Quatre?" Duo asked.  "We don't have our suits!"
          "Ahem." Everyone turned his or herheads towards the door where Hilde Schbeicker stood.
          "Hildey!" Duo exclaimed, rushing up toher.  "What are you doing here?"
          Hilde chuckled.  "Nice to see you, too, Duo." She turned towards Sally, Milliardo, and Noin, throwing a quick salute.  "Thunder, reporting in as requested."
Wufei 'hmphed'. "The onna's a Preventer now as well? Figures."
"Say what??" Duo gaped.
Hilde grinned. "Couldn't let you have all the fun, Duo-koi."  With that, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a computer disk.  "A gift from Howard."  She handed it to Milliardo who observed it carefully and then handed it to Sally.
          "What is it?" Sally asked.  "Secret info on weird shaped space fortresses?"  Milliardo shot her a dirty look.
          "It's info and schematics of the five Gundam robots." Hilde answered.  "Howard figured you guys would need them again."
          "Did I ever tell you how bee-you-tee-full you are, Hildey?" Duo grinned from ear to ear as he picked her up and spun her around.  "Good ol'Howard!  Never ceases to amaze me."
          Wufei frowned at him disapprovingly as he walked over to Sally and looked at the computer over her shoulder.  "These schematics are similar to the designs of our Gundams during the Mariemaia incident, ne?" he replied.
          Sally nodded.  "There are a few modifications, but it sure seems like it." she turned towards him and the others.  "With the help of this data, we can have those Gundams up and running again in no time."
          "Awright!" Duo chuckled, nearly dropping Hilde, causing everyone else in the room to form sweat drops.
          "Hopefully we won't need them." Quatre replied.  "We'd be going against Ms.Relena's principles of pacifism."
          Milliardo kept a stoic expression.  "She will understand."
          "Speaking of which," Sally replied,"where is Miss Vice Foreign Minister anyway?"
          "She's at a conference in Venice, I believe." Milliardo answered.
          "Actually," Duo replied, scratching his head, "Jousan told me this morning that the conference meeting place hadbeen changed."
          "Changed?" Noin asked.  "Changed to where?"
          "Somewhere in France, I think." Duo answered, slightly abashed.  "Turin, Ithink.."
          "You idiot, that's in Italy."
          "Oh, I remember now, it's Toulon!" Duo exclaimed.  Everyone else moaned.  "What? They sound the same!"
          "Baka American," Wufei grumbled, "That's where the St. Ignatia base is!"
          "Actually, it's right off the coast .. . on a man made island, I believe." Sally corrected.  Wufei shot her a death glare.
          "You mean to tell me that Ms. Relena could get caught in the crossfire if there's a battle?!" Quatre said.
          "We've gotta get over there!" Duo exclaimed.  "With or without Gundams."
          "He's right." Milliardo exclaimed,jumping up out of his seat.
          "For once."
          "What about Heero?" Noin asked.
          "He's already on a mission." Sally replied.  "We shouldn't distract him."  She stood up from her seat.  "If Relena's in danger, we'll have to go help her ourselves."
          "Let's go then!" Noin cried out.  "We'll take my jet.  It's still armed."
          'That's my Noin . . . ' Milliardo thought to himself. 'Always prepared.'
          With that, everyone rushed out of the room.

End of Chapter 1

Author's Notes:

Miss Chang Po: Well, minna, what do you guys think of this one?

Wufei: They're probably wondering why you haven't finished your first fic.

Miss Chang Po: Ah well.. ::laughs nervously:: Y'see, it's like this...

Wufei: Here we go....

Miss Chang Po: Hey, I've got a good excuse.. I mean, reason! You see, I started writing "Boys Meet Girls" a while ago, and what I've posted so far is what I have written so far.... so, when I get around to writing some more, I'll post the rest.

Wufei: And...?

Miss Chang Po: And so, in the meantime, I will post other fics which I have yet to finish.. like this one. ::growls:: 40 freaking pages! I had 40 freaking pages and now I'm down to 29!! Gaahhh! I hate computers!!!!

Wufei:: ::blinks, ushering her off before she does harm to him or herself:: Ahem.. ja for now, minna....