CHAPTER 53-Preparation

Wufei knew he would never figure out just how Duo was able to drive so fast without attracting the attention of the local cops. Duo drove fast enough to turn the thirty minute drive into eight.

"Duo, if I ever had any doubts about your piloting skills, they would have just been eradicated," Wufei said as Duo found a parking spot in the port's garage.

Duo just grunted an acknowledgement. He was too concerned about Hilde to care about the compliment Wufei had just paid him. They moved into the building quickly, but warily, and Duo spotted Hilde almost instantly at the shop closest to the door. They agreed that Duo would get Hilde and Wufei would cover them, watching to see who was trying to follow them.

Duo moved in and greeted Hilde casually with a kiss, commenting on how much he missed her and was so glad she was home. Keeping up the casual vein of his conversation, he escorted her out to the car. Once she was safely inside the vehicle, he asked, "Do you see the guys who were following you?"

"Yeah, the guy in the brown suit and that one in the green."

The two men were suspiciously scanning the parking garage. Duo told Hilde to duck down in the back seat so they wouldn't see her as Wufei casually walked out of the building. As soon as the two men saw him, they made their move, pulling out guns. Duo didn't give them a chance to get a shot in. He took them out quickly as Wufei beat it to the car before any of their colleagues could react to the gunshots.

Wufei watched out the back to make sure they weren't being followed as Duo drove like a bat out of hell. Once away from the shuttle port, he drove haphazardly through several neighborhoods, but slowed his pace in order to avoid drawing attention to them. After half an hour, Wufei assured him that no one was following them and he made for the mansion. Wufei kept watch the entire way and they were both satisfied that no one had pursued them.

Upon entering the mansion, Hilde found herself wrapped in Riley's hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"I wouldn't have been if you hadn't warned me."

Riley stepped back. "Did something happen at the scrap yard?"

Hilde hesitated a second. "Sort of. I was watching out the window of our apartment while I packed my bag and there were about six guys that showed up. They didn't do anything, but seemed genuinely peeved about something when they left. Frank called from the shop and said they were looking for me. He told me that he'd said I was off colony and he didn't know when I'd be back. I can only assume that they figured out I hadn't arrived yet and sent their little cronies to be on the lookout for me."

Riley sighed. "I'm sorry. I feel like this is all my fault."

"Don't think that. You didn't ask for any of this to happen," Duo told her sternly.

"Duo's quite right. This is how things have been since the first time we set foot in our Gundams and I do not see any reason for the situation to change any time soon." Wufei had crossed his arms as he gave her a serious look. "We've accepted our lot in life and you should not take the blame for it."

"Yeah, Quatre's already got that covered anyway," Duo quipped. Hilde slapped him. "OW! Is that the thanks I get?"

"Be nice. Quatre hasn't taken the blame for everything wrong in the world in years." Hilde was trying to hide a wicked grin.

"Will you listen to her? She's as bad as I am, but I get beaten up over it!"

"You're lucky I don't help," Riley said, the look in her eyes daring him to make one more comment.

"Aw come on! You didn't know him back then. He seriously thought his lack of effort was the reason there was no air in space."

"I never once thought that," Quatre said, coming out of the kitchen. He wrapped his arm around Riley. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd quit telling my fiancé lies."

"She's my sister. I can lie to her if I want."

Hilde turned and slugged Duo's arm as hard as she could. "That was for not telling me."

"It wasn't like I was trying to keep it a secret. It just…didn't come up," Duo said, rubbing his arm. Hilde could hit hard when she wanted to. "She only said yes last night."

"Kind of like how you and Hilde being married didn't come up until you needed help cleaning your apartment?"

Duo's eyes widened. "Seriously, Ri? You waited until now to bring that up? I said I was sorry!"

Hilde shook her head. "Oh, I'm so getting you for that later, Duo."

Duo crossed his arms and glared at Riley. "Nice goin' Ri."

She smirked as Hilde grabbed her into a hug. "Riley, I'm so happy for you! So when is the big day?"

"Um…well we haven't exactly discussed the particulars," Riley told her, trying to breathe in Hilde's exuberant embrace.

Hilde realized she was squeezing the life out of Riley and let her go. Wufei had his look of surprise controlled before Heero, Trowa, Sally, Jocelyn and the boys came out of the kitchen.

"Looks like Rashid wins the pot," Angelo announced with a smirk.

"You know, if you'd've waited until next week I would've won," Braxton complained.

"Oh good hell. Is there anything you guys HAVEN'T bet on yet?" Riley demanded.

"Whether your first kid will be a boy or a girl?" Jocelyn suggested.

"Oooh….fifty fifty odds. Who wants in?" Angelo asked.

"Angelo!"

"Okay, okay, Riley…I was just kidding." He added in an undertone, "Sort of."

Riley looked up at Quatre. "If this is how it's going to be I suggest we elope and send them a postcard."


Now that Hilde was out of danger, Duo and the others threw themselves into preparations for the attack on Okon. Heero's plan was simple. Riley would block their communications using Rhapsody while Spots, piloting Renegade, and Alex, piloting Roulette, would infiltrate with Heavyarms, Altron and Wing. Zach, piloting Vigilante, and Braxton, piloting Guardian, would join up with Sandrock and Deathscythe Hell to take out any mobile suits before descending on the base and assisting inside.

"While Rhapsody's primary directive will be communications disruption, I expect you to utilize your weaponry and assist in taking the base as well," Heero told Riley. "However, I don't want you taking any unnecessary risks. That goes for all of you." He looked at the five new Gundam pilots. "If you need help alert one of us and we'll back you up. We've got more experience than you so don't expect to be able to take on the same challenges we can."

"Well thanks for that vote of confidence," Angelo drawled.

"Angelo, I'm serious. Don't get cocky. Ask for help if you need it. I've divided our groups so that the skillsets complement each other. Work together. It's the only way we'll come out on top with this. The latest reports from Une state that Okon has started mass production of mobile dolls. We need to stop them before they can get too many made, but we don't know how many are already complete and functional.

"Once we've infiltrated the base our primary objective is to stop Okon any way we have to. If we can take her captive, it would be better, but if we can't we need to take her out. I expect her to be heavily guarded. I'm sure she sees any members of the Harvesters as expendable, so they'll probably be the first wave. Her own people will make up her personal guards. Any questions?"

When no one had any, Heero said, "All right. Everyone get your Gundams prepped for loading. We'll leave as soon as we're ready."

Everyone jumped into action checking and rechecking that their suits had sufficient ammunition and checking that their firearms were loaded and they had extra rounds. The Gundams were loaded into a transport shuttle. They would rendezvous with Sally on the Space Battleship Peacekeeper. Hilde and Jocelyn would stay at the mansion with the majority of the Maganacs to guard them. The rest of the Maganacs and Rashid would stay on Peacekeeper to repair any damage the Gundams sustained and also provide backup should it be necessary.

The ride out to Peacekeeper was tense. There was an excitement and an anticipation that filled the small space and threatened to suffocate everyone. Fortunately Peacekeeper was waiting close by and the rest of the journey would be made in the much larger ship. Once onboard Peacekeeper, they were shown to their quarters.

"Get some rest while you can, you'll need it," was Heero's instruction as he left them to go into his own cabin.

Quatre kissed Riley on the forehead. "Get some rest. Then once this is all over we can spend the rest of our lives together."

"I love you, Quatre." Riley leaned up to kiss him, which he most readily accepted.

"I love you, too." He left her to find his own bed. They would all need to be at their best to accomplish this mission without sustaining casualties. And personally, he wanted to be as alert as possible so he could keep Riley safe.


The call to arms came all too soon and they quickly met in the ship's hangar. Quatre gave Riley a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before climbing into Sandrock's cockpit. Duo approached her.

"Remember, Ri, you promised you'd be careful."

"I know, Duo. I will."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Give 'em hell, Ri."

"You, too," she said returning his grin.

They quickly boarded their suits and followed the others into space.