Queen's Knight of Ni: The battle has intensified throughout the city. The Gundam pilots are still flying towards the colony. Will there be any help for the Sanc Kingdom?

Chapter 4

Tasting the Pain

Heero had all the com systems in Wing Zero turned off. He again was in prayer for Relena's safety and the safety of his troops going into battle. Heero knew these battles would take many of these soldiers' lives. It would be inevitable. Though he was the 'perfect soldier' and had seen countless battles, the loss of one life still hurt his heart. Unfortunately, sometimes death was necessary.

A vulcan cannon bullet nicked one of Wing Zero's wings. This caused Heero to come back to reality. Heero stopped Wing Zero and turned getting ready to return fire. When he turned all he could see were the Earth Sphere and Colonial troops along with the other five Gundams. The heat sensor detected that it was Deathscythe that fired the shot.

When Heero finally resumed communication he heard Trowa first.

"You're lucky he doesn't kill you now."

"Well, you said get his attention," Duo replied. Although he answered defensively Duo made no motion to possibly block payback from Heero.

"What is it?" Heero asked, slightly annoyed at Duo.

"We received several distress calls from earth," Zechs stated, "No real definite cause why, but there have been seven so far."

Heero opened his sub-space com-link and several messages came up. All of them were from Relena, aside the seven Zechs spoke of. All of Relena's said the same thing, "Heero we are in trouble."

"Attention all units, we are returning to earth," Heero commanded.

"Sir, what about the colony?" one Aries soldier called out.

"Do not question me soldier. The colony can wait. If this group attacked the earth they are not at the colony." Heero stated.

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

Unlike when they left, Heero now led the group as fast as he could to get back to earth. The Gundam pilots followed suit closely followed by the rest of the units.

Relena had her head back in her arms. She started crying again, this time harder. She couldn't remember the last time she cried this hard. The tears streamed down her face and one hit her lip. It had the familiar bitter, salty taste that always reminded her that she was emotionally distraught.

Although she hated it, sometimes she would also think of times when she would kiss away the tears of little Odin when he would fall or hurt himself. It took Heero almost two years before he softened up to a true fatherly role. Of all his training, Relena could tell parenting was not one of them. Relena laughed at this until she realized she had still not seen Odin since the explosions started.

Relena jumped up and bolted straight through her office door. She looked around the control center and finally spotted Noin and Une, who had arrived five minutes earlier.

"Where's Odin?" she asked.

"We have a detail going to escort him here," Noin replied.

Relena began to grow very impatient with Noin and the other officers. She understood that this was as much as a surprise for them as it was for her, but then her son is at stake, they better get a move on.

"Major Noin," Noin turned to face the voice, "We have a report in from Lieutenant Manning. Prince Odin has been injured. Manning is taking him to the base hospital right now."

"What!" Relena felt as if she had just been punched in the stomach. Her eyes were wide and full of sudden, unimaginable pain.

Relena ran towards the elevator door. Tears came back to her eyes slightly blurring her vision. It didn't matter though; she had o get to Odin.

"Wait Mrs. Relena!" Noin called after her.

Relena didn't stop. She struck the button beside the door. She was just about to walk in the door when two soldiers stopped her.

"No Queen," they said, "It's too dangerous to go out there by yourself."

Noin turned to Une. A silent agreement came between the both of them. Une nodded and they both followed where Relena was.

"Commander Dixon," Noin turned to face the commander, "You take command here. Take what suits we have left and set up a perimeter around the Mansion."

"Yes ma'am."

The commander rendered a salute, accepting his orders and immediately began carrying them out. The Aries that were left, set up a perimeter around them mansion. The ground Leos set up at sentinel points in a two mile radius of city.

Relena, Noin, Une, and two guards left the control center and proceeded to the base hospital. The roads were littered with debris, most of it still burning; the rest was piles of burnt ashes. Aside the debris, cars were either lined up and down the road where they were left or swerved left or right from the people dodging the falling debris.

The buildings were blackened with soot and ash. Looming over the people, they were quite imposing. The people who were out walking were eventually escorted to military secure locations for protection. Although many did not like being bossed around by the military, since they were not apart of it, they gladly sacrificed their normal freedom for the safety of their lives.

The group ran from hiding place to hiding place trying not to be seen by any enemy personnel. The base hospital was about five blocks away, and although the explosions had stopped Noin, Une and the guards were not taking any chances. Relena, though, was a handful to keep in one place at one time. Her only thought was to see Odin and find out if he was alright.

As they scurried down the street they kept to as many shadows as possible. The buildings created the afternoon shadows as usual, but the shadows were deeper and darker than usual due to the smoke still lingering in the air above them. The sky was so choked with smoke and it seemed much later then what it actually was.

The two soldiers motioned for the women to move out and follow them. They began to move, crossing an alley street. Relena's eyes stayed straight forward, although Noin, Une, and the two guards kept their eyes darting here and there looking for any unfriendly persons.

As they crossed in front of the alley a shot rang out. The guard to Relena's right fell to the ground. Noin instinctively fell to his side checking him over.

"Sniper!" the other soldier yelled.

The soldier grabbed Relena and pulled her behind another building. Noin and Une together pulled the fallen soldier to the shadows where Relena and the other soldier were.

Looking at the fallen soldier Noin noticed that the shot flew straight through the head. She checked his pulse. There was no sign of his pulse in his neck. In a last ditch effort she ripped his shirt and put her ear o his chest. Still she could not find the soldier's pulse.

"He's dead. The sniper had a clean shot." Noin said.

"But where is the sniper?" Une asked.

The rest of the group looked around trying to find out where the sniper was hiding. Relena, being her at times bold self, decided to step out a little farther than the others.

"Queen Relena, get back. He may be able to see you," the soldier yelled, jumping up from his position to pull her back.

When the soldier got to Relena, a glint of metal caught his eye. Looking back up the soldier noticed a sniper rifle almost ten stories up the building across the alley from their position. The soldier covered Relena's body with his own. The sound of a rifle discharge hit their ears. Time, it seemed, stood still for Relena.

The guard slumped forward, shot in the back. Une, pistol in hand, searched for the sniper. She found him in the window. Aiming to take his next shot on Relena, the sniper did not notice Une. Right as he was pulling the trigger, Une fired her round. The bullet shot up and through the sniper's scope into his head. He fell over the window sill and down to the concrete below.

Noin rushed to check on Relena and the soldier.

"He's still alive. The hospital is only two more blocks away. Come on!"

Noin and Une carried the unconscious soldier with an arm across each shoulder. Relena, again, decided to lead the group now armed with the soldier's pistol.

The next two blocks were slow and arduous. Noin and Une had to stop four times to set the soldier down, but they tried their best, knowing he didn't have much time.

Trudging along at a very slow pace Une and Noin finally were able to drag the wounded soldier to the base hospital. Relena stood behind them now making sure their backs were covered. A daring move by her, but she wanted to get in to see Odin and wanted to see the soldier make it as well. Relena kept her back to Une and Noin until she was in the doors and they were shut.

End Chapter 4