Warning, anxt ahead, leaning toward the cringe-worthy side. I'm ill whether from allergies or a particular nasty bug I can't say but it is no fun…likewise our boys are not having fun ether; teetering on the brink as it were. But don't worry this is the jump off point for bigger things. I Hope you like it.

0-0-0 Section 27 0-0-0

Heero regained consciousness to find himself securely bound to a chair with a near blinding light shining in his eyes. He had been conditioned to resist all forms of torture and had proven this fact in the face of more than a few Oz and Alliance interrogators over the years. But this he expected was going to be different.

Mainly it was the smell that tipped him off, it was subtle and chemical in nature leaving a slight metallic tang on the back of his tongue. He knew that scent…O1 remembered it well from the labs. It had always accompanied his worst sessions…and it had always meant–pain. Not physical pain. That he could handle well enough. Re-training was far worse. He didn't have the words to explain the mind-numbing ache left in its wake, as if something instrumental to your sense-of-self had been inexorably torn away. Heero shivered.

"Ah awake already I see." The young duke gloated though Heero couldn't see him past the light. A hand ran over his bear forearm chest and abdomen. He had apparently been stripped to the waist. "The diamonds were impressive of course…but you, my stunning catalyst are far more precious and unique. Une simply could not fathom the prize she had in you. Was it difficult to keep your true nature hidden during the war?" the man felt the steady throbbing of the pulse in his neck.

"Omae o korosu" Heero hissed and never had the familiar threat been more heartfelt.

"I'm sure you will try." The man laughed. "But I wouldn't have attempted to obtain such a rare treasure if I didn't think I could keep you contained."

Heero felt something wet and cold brush against his left temple and there was the familiar tang of chemical and adhesive that made his skin crawl. 'No, no no no.' his mind urged he struggled against the restraints but they were likely gundanium not something as common as steal. The duke placed a hand on his brow holding him still and pressed the control mechanism home.

Heero cursed J soundly. It was the egomaniacal scientist that left him wide open to this type of manipulation and there was nothing he could do about it. It was the reason he tended to divest himself of his communications devices when the electro-magnetic interference got too much to bear. By J's reasoning a perfect soldier had to have the appropriate fail-safes built in. And those measures had been quite effective else he would have done away with J and the other Doctors while operation meteor was still in the planning stages.

Heero felt the thrum of the device against his temple and the duke injected a full ampoule of oily serum into his jugular. He felt cold and that 'coldness' was quickly spreading throughout his body and seeping into his mind. Heero knew the serum contained tiny ionized particles that would resonate in time with the device ensuring his obedience. It took the man only a few seconds to find the proper frequencies to disrupt his thoughts and override bodily control.

"You have been conditioned to accept commands from those in authority. My sire was included in your command structure and so am I. You understand O1?"

No response…not even his customary 'hn' Heero had beaten J's influence in the wilderness. His handlers were all dead. The died with Peacemillion, or sometime before it. He didn't need that type of control any longer…he could fight…perhaps.

"You aren't strong enough boy. Shall I prove it to you?" the man leaned in and whispered something in his ear…something Heero was never consciously able to recall. His pupils dilated and the muscles of his back and neck spasmed before going lax. Dermail clearly expected this reaction and nodded to himself, "I am going to release you and you are going to obey everything I say understood?" Dermail hissed in his ear.

Heero tried to grind his teeth together but the control device was on full-physical-override and would not permit even that much. "Understood," His dispassionate voice echoed but inside he screamed in rage. Of course, the fact that he could do even that much was a sign that the mental aspect of the restraint was somewhat less than he was accustomed to, but he could not rely on it staying that way.

**Heero Heero! You're awake. Where are you? What happened? Are you alright?"** Trowa's minds voice flitted about his thoughts.

'I have been effectively neutralized thus compromising the mission. Sever communications I have become a liability.' Heero silently responded, thought lapsing back to their wartime thought patterns.

Trowa likely felt the shift and responded in keeping with something far older, **You are part of our pack O1. We will not cut you loose. O2 informs me the mission is still within acceptable perimeters. The audience is waiting. Dermail can not spend too much time with you. He will either lock you up tight or bring you to the arena. The latter would be most useful to us. Don't fight him of you can help it. No-one is forgotten, none left behind. That is a promise O1, my life on it.**

'Acknowledged' Heero's face was impassive, not even his eyes reflecting the unspoken conversation with his telepathic teammate.

**Did you see WuFei at all?** Trowa asked,

Heero's response was, 'Negative.'

O3 accepted that. Of all the pilots Barton had always understood him the best. Whether it was a result of their complimentary temperaments, residual from the time they has shared in the labs, or new knowledge gained during their bonding in the wood, he could not be sure, but the trust was there regardless. They were pack mates and that did not change. **We will get you clear O1, everything is set here, mission is a GO Understood?**

'Affirmative' Heero blinked several times but that was all he could do. The restraints holding him to the chair had been released but he could not move unless he was told to.

Pyatr Dermail ran a hand across Heero's collarbone and over his shoulder to his back. "Excellent, I can't even feel the wings but they are there aren't they. You are a most exquisite creature, a bit unrefined perhaps… I look forward to discovering all your secrets. But first I think I should like to show you off…test your skills against the others. Let Une know her payment was appreciated. Won't that be fun? Come." He commanded. Heero nodded wordlessly and followed him out.

0-0-0 0-0-0

Huddled in a plush lounge chair in Sanc Palace, Relena had already bitten off all her nails and had taken to leaving teeth marks in her knuckle as she sat hunched over the small screen that was streaming images of a sort of stadium with theater box style seating. Quatre had somehow won himself a place in the announcer's booth and the vid-feed he set up provided her an excellent view of the premises. No expense had been spared in its construction and likely took more than a year to complete. The largest part of the arena floor was hard packed soil with strategically placed obstructions scattered about… a pile of crates, a collection of steal drums, cinderblocks, wood and steal. There was a shallow ditch and several low walls. Above the 'pit' were three metal gantries leading to a raised stage.

"While most of the arena is below ground the ceiling can be retracted for open air concerts and the like…" Relena easily recognized the voice of Devit DeVier explaining to her blonde representative knowing the vid-connection was open and active. "It is quite ingenious."

"Aren't you worried about Preventers breaking up this little get together?" Quatre asked voice and inflection conversational like the consummate businessman he was.

"Commander Une has won the right to place the opening bid this evening, two hundred thousand in diamonds I believe, though I'd be quite disappointed if her involvement did not increase as the evening progresses."

"You sound as if you expect her to out bid the others." Quatre's voice did sound mildly surprised this time.

"I would not be disappointed if it were so." Dev admitted the tiny chime of a communication device kept him from continuing. "Let the games begin." The man whispered, Relina heard rustling and a hint of movement as he took up the microphone and switched it on.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, august guests from the length and breath of Earth-sphere let me formally welcome you to the main event. After years of extensive research and development and countless attempts I am sure you are all eager to see the first fruits of project Dætelus."

With those words three trapdoors opened in the midst of the stage and large metal cages pushed up from beneath. When they had emerged fully the bars fell away leaving only 3 pedestals of varying heights similar to the three tiered podium used to present the 1st 2nd and 3rd place winners of the Pan-spheric Olympiad. On each of the pedestals knelt a figure hunched and hidden by some sort of covering, black, red-brown and gold.

"Firstly I present to you our Dashing Dragon." Devit called. The figure on the lowest pedestal, cloaked in black, rose first - almost unfolding to stand upright, arms crossed at the wrists before him, black wings of feather and scale flaring to reveal animalistic features for all to see.

"That can't be Chang." Relena gasped her hands shaking. She blinked her mind refusing to accept the evidence her eyes registered on the screen. The picture zoomed in to provide a closer view as the winged figure turned in a slow circle revealing an exquisitely muscled body, slit-pupiled eyes, bestial ears, talons and tail. After completing his turn he threw his head back, opened his mouth to reveal sharp fangs, and roared.

"I fine specimen to be sure. Noble is next and I assure you this one will not disappoint. It is no surprise that a bid is already in place for our august alpha. The rest of you may enter your bids as you will on the keypad in your boxes. I am sure the contest for all three will be fierce. That is why you have come here is it not."

Relena's heart beat fast and irregular in her chest. Her breaths came in hitched gasps but she was somewhat relieved. Treize was dead of course so this had to be some sort of clone. And if the second was a copy then there was a real possibility that the others were as well. WuFei and her brother may have contributed genetic material to the creation of these…things but they themselves were just fine; likely hidden somewhere else in the complex. In fact, the other pilots probably had them free by now.

The onetime Queen of the world did give thought to Une however, seeing that creature made in the image of Kushrenada must have unnerved her, which had probably been Dermails intent. Clones of two agents and a ghost…what could it be but a distraction aimed at the director of the Preventers? And truly, when one discounted the mutations the resemblances were uncanny. But that is all it was. Relena had almost managed to convince herself what she was seeing was illusion then the golden figure revealed itself.

"We have of course taken extra special care with this, the most recent addition to our collection; none can boast a better pedigree than our golden prince. Both rare and beautiful, it remains to be seen who will add this stunning gem to their personal repertoire."

The newly crowned queen's fists clenched, her eyes drifting inextricably to the winged figure still kneeling atop the highest pedestal, "It is not him…It is not really him." Relena told herself over and over again. But when the 'Prince' looked directly into the camera ice blue eyes narrowed and teeth clenched she could not continue with the self deception any longer. Sally had warned her that Milliardo had likely been 'tampered with' it was the only explanation for animal DNA so inextricably mixed with his own. She had dismissed the idea, told herself that it didn't matter. She had told Quatre she was more than prepared to be her own representative in the event. But he had been adamant and now she was grateful for there was no doubt in her mind that she would have completely disgraced herself and ruined the mission when the time finally came.

"In form & features, beauty & bearing these three are the culmination of years of research testing and development. Their training is well underway. You see how obediently they stand… their wild nature held in check. I would not call them tame however…do not be deceived. They are still every bit the fighters they were in their former lives. It will take a strong hand to guide them. Will it be yours? I wonder…" The announcer practically purred into the microphone. The vid-camera was still focused in close on Prince's face, his crystal blue eyes blazed.

It was her brother that was standing there! Tears streaked Relena's face and there was a very real chance she was actually suffering from shock. It had been building and building as each specimen had been presented. But this was real that thing wasn't some mindless clone. 'How could it be so?' she wondered. Then emotion rippled across her brothers face, the pupils of his eyes contracted into cat like slits, his ears folded backward, golden wings spread wider than they had been. Clawed hands stretched over his head, tail lashing with barely controlled fury. He roared… and there was an answering roar from somewhere back in the stands…behind the camera.

"This is It my friends. For your entertainment and to present you with a proper gauge of the subjects' skills one of our own will face the Dætalus prototype. I know it was widely believed that all prototypes had perished during the wars but as you can see this one is still in fine fighting form and has been maintained under the auspices of the Preventers organization. I bet you are eager to see which of ours will be given leave to face him first…I know I am."

Relena blinked in incomprehension at the bare chested figure that ran full tilt down the center gantry closest to the announcer's booth. He was almost level with the camera when he howled, wings erupting from once unblemished shoulder blades. It was none other than Heero Yuy…her …Heero Yuy… and her brother was off his pestle in a flash to meet his rival with tooth and claw. It was just too much. Relena stood up so fast the chair fell over behind her. She turned away from the screen mouth agape and ran into Pagan's chest. The venerable old man enfolded her into his arms stroking her hair and back as she sobbed.

The familiar cadence of her caretaker's voice was a comfort but there were no words of comfort no matter how well meaning that could make everything alright in her world. She wanted the nightmare to end…and it did for a time as her mind succumbed to the velvety folds of unconsciousness.

"Oh Milliardo." The old man whispered slate grey eyes never leaving the screen. "You managed to make it out of the fires of Sanc. You slipped out of the clutches of Romefeller. You evaded enemies and allies alike all your life. You even survived the detonation and fall of Libra. You will make it out of this as well my boy. I know you will. Stay strong and remember who you are." Pagan prayed for regardless of the unruly twists of fate one thing remained unchanged – Milliardo would always be his prince.