There was an undeniable chill in the room. It was the kind of chill that you felt in your bones and no amount of effort could drive it away. His skin pimples and his hairs stood on end as the inevitable neared. Death was coming for him; angry, vengeful and ready to finish what he was foolish enough to start. Dr. J looked in the mirror and stared deeply into his own eyes. Was it worth it? Was incurring the wrath of death incarnate worth the effort? But he had to know if it was possible. He had to know if his creation could truly live peacefully in this new age without weapons.

J put on his goggles and grabbed his cane as he prepared to check on his hostage. The girl put up quite a struggle until the gas on the private shuttle did its job. He had to admit he was impressed with the young foreign minister. Relena Darlian had come a long way from the young woman he met so long ago. The responsibility she shouldered at the tender age of fifteen only increased with time and yet, she took it in stride, keeping her political opponents and senior politicians in line as if they were children in a daycare. She was a formidable opponent in the political arena and held her own against the seasoned of her peers. And somehow she had even managed to ensnare the heart and loyalty of his prized experiment.

And Heero Yuy would not be pleased at her abduction.

As he rounded the corner and peeked into the "cell", the former Queen of the world sat calmly, reading one of the books he supplied her. The purpose of her abduction did not require her to be uncomfortable. He made sure she had all of the amenities and necessities to remain in relative comfort until such time as Heero arrived. And he would arrive. It was easy to see what his former pupil saw in her. She was as regal as she was beautiful with a kindness and determination that one could feel by merely looking at her. As he unlocked her cell, she glanced up at him, eyes alert but not hostile.

"Good morning, Relena. I trust you are well?" Relena's face was impassive and not in the least amused.

"Have you come to finally explain why you abducted me?" J shook his head.

"I am sorry, but such things cannot be revealed. I cannot leave anything to chance."

"You're not making any sense." She stood and squared off with him. "You kidnap me but give me every comfort you can provide. You clearly don't mean to hurt me." She crossed her arms. "As far as anyone knew, you and the other scientists were dead. Why would you reveal yourself by kidnapping me unless-" she paused, eyes widening. "Heero… you're after Heero."

"I should have known an intelligent young lady like you would figure it out."

"But why? What do you want with Heero? Hasn't his life been hard enough because of you?" It was a fair question, and it was clear that she loved the boy dearly. In fact, the slight tan lines ring on her finger spoke to just how deep that affection went.

"You misunderstand my motivations, my dear." J started. "I mean Heero no harm." She raised a brow in disbelief. "Honestly, my dear, whatever you think of me, I care for the boy. He is, for all intents and purposes, the closest thing I have ever had to a son. I hated what Dekim made me do to him. Heero was always such a kind soul."

"He still is. The kindest person I know."

"You really love him, don't you my dear?"

"With all my heart." The alarms began to sound. His heart froze in his chest. Nothing he put in place, no matter how intense the security measure, would be enough to stop Heero. J felt his blood run cold. If this went as he feared; if the worst case scenario played out, then J would be dead before the hour was up.

"You must forgive me, Relena, for what I must do."

"What do you mean?"

"You will see." He pressed a button on the handle of his cane and a blue-green gas began to pump from the vents. J turned and walked out the door ignoring the protests of the princess as she began to cough. This was necessary. He had to know for sure if what he'd heard was true. This was the most effective way to find out.

When the gas cleared, he pushed another button on his cane. A jolt of energy surged through his muscles and to the base of his artificial limbs. He felt stronger than ten men and just as capable. Folding his cane, he put it into his pocket before picking her unconscious body up and carried her to a large, enclosed room. He tied her wrists together behind her back, not tight enough to hurt, but rather to hold, before tying her arms around her waist. He hooked the rope to a hoist and raised her into the air. It all seemed so cliché, not unlike the villain in an old Hollywood film. He just hoped this plan worked.

Then he felt it. The unmistakable cold of the steel barrel of a gun at the back of his head. He smiled. It was time to find out what he needed to know.

"Hello, Heero."

"Lower her down." Heero growled and J knew his days were numbered.

"Go ahead, Heero. Shoot me. An old fool like me should have died a long time ago."

"I thought you were dead."

"Unwanted vermin continue to exist in this world despite their hated status. It seems as though I was cursed with the same luck."

"I'll tell you again. Lower her down."

"Or you'll kill me?" J chuckled nervously. He honestly thought he'd made peace with death long ago.

"Lower her down. Or find out."

"Not until you answer me." J pushed, heart thundering in his chest. "I know you, my boy. I made you who you are. I watched you grow from a tainted child to a trained soldier. I know better than anyone what you're capable." He steeled his nerve. "So now I'll ask you again: will you kill me?" He heard the gun click into safety mode and inwardly sighed as he felt the steel leave his scalp.

"There are worse things than death, J." Heero stated. "You said so yourself, you know what I'm capable of." He did. And now he had his answer. Heero could kill. He had no doubt that his former pupil could take a life if there were no other alternative, but any trace of the killer he thought he once created seemed to be gone.

"Very well, Heero." He pressed the button, lowering the hook slowly to the ground. Once she was safely close enough to the floor, he walked with Heero to the unconscious woman. Heero lifted her off the hook as though she weighed nothing and J watched as the former zero pilot cradled her to him. The concern in those dark blue eyes spoke loudly of the love Heero had for the young woman. In spite of his previous fear, the old man smiled.

"She's merely asleep, my boy. She will wake in an hour or so with no negative side effects."

"Why did you do this?" Heero asked. "What did you hope to gain?"

"In all honesty, I feel responsible for you and your quality of life, my boy." J began. "I wanted to see if, in spite of all of my training, you could make it in this peaceful world. I feared that the soldier I created would never be able to adjust to this new life. I wanted to see what you would do if the only thing that seemed to be keeping you placated was in danger."

"So you took her." J nodded.

"I'm glad to see that my fears were invalid." J smiled. "Well done, my boy. I am proud of you." J turned away. "Be sure to keep your promise to her, my boy. In this peaceful time, I hope you will never have to be the soldier you once were again." And with that, J left Heero with his love before hobbling off into obscurity once again.