Chapter Fourteen
Information Revealed

It was early morning when Relena arrived at Preventer. Making her way down to the second floor of the Medical Facility, she knocked on the door to Serena's room before she entered.

Relena lifted a brow when two pairs of deep blue eyes looked at her.

"Have you two been up all night?" She wasn't expecting Heero to be in Serena's room but part of her knew that this is where he would be. Considering this is where he had been for almost a week. What she found, that may have been worse than seeing him there, was looking at the two of them.

Heero's hair was a complete mess and the bags under his eyes were darker than normal. Serena had pieces of her hair falling out of the bun that was sitting lopsided on top of her head, and her eyes were holding the same look as Heero's. A "hm," came at the same time from both of them before they both turned their attention back to their respective laptops. Relena shook her head as she moved to the bed.

"Serena, I brought you some clothes along with a new pair of shoes. Sally said that she had to throw yours out," Relena said as she placed the two bags she had been carrying down.

"You didn't need to bring me anything," Serena said as her typing came to a stop.

"No, I didn't, but I don't mind. You need something other than what you're wearing now," Relena smiled as she started to remove the clothes from the bags when Serena came to stand next to her. "Lucky for you, we're about the same size. I did buy you some new undergarments… at least a few to get you by for now. Sally also asked if I could get you some athletic clothes," Relena felt her cheeks heat up.

She had been a little embarrassed when Sally told her what size to get Serena. Relena didn't have as large of a chest as she did. Not to mention buying underwear for someone other than herself was something she had never done. She just hoped Serena didn't mind the things she had picked out.

"Thank you," Serena said slowly. Serena turned towards Heero, who had stopped working to look at them. Serena said something to him. None of which Relena could understand.

"English, remember?" Relena cleared her throat as she looked pointedly at Serena when she turned her head to look at her.

"Sorry," Serena said, turning back to Heero, she addressed him again. "Do you?"

"Why?" Heero lifted a brow at her. Serena walked over to him, taking the pen that lay on the table along with a piece of paper.

"This is my account. Transfer whatever amount you see fit," Serena said as she tore the piece of paper, handing it to him. "Also transfer some funds into Trowa's account too if you can."

"Huh?" Heero took the piece of paper from her outstretched hand.

"I have an account just like you did during the wars."

"What account? And what funds are going to be transferred to mine and Trowa accounts?" Relena finally asked after Heero nodded his head at Serena.

"You explain it to her," Heero said as he went to work on his laptop.

Relena listened to Serena and watched as Heero pulled up Serena's account. Serena had explained that J had given them each an account for whatever they would need while being away. Heero's typing stopped and Relena understood why.

"How did you get all this?" Heero turned towards Serena.

"I didn't ask," Serena shrugged at him. Heero shook his head, turning his attention back to his screen.

Relena stared at the amount of money that was listed on the screen. It was a sizable amount, more than enough for one person to live comfortably. Relena saw Heero enter in an amount that she felt was too much. She hadn't spent that much money, nor did she want anyone to repay her. She wanted to say something before Heero quickly moved on, gaining access to Trowa's account to transfer more funds to his.

"How much for Trowa?" He asked.

"Whatever amount. A few hundred. Doesn't matter to me," Serena shrugged. Heero shot her a look. "He's been bringing me food," Serena said as she lifted a brow at him. Heero shook his head as he did what he was asked to do. Once he was done, Serena made her way back to her seat.

"What are you two working on?" Relena asked, leaning over Heero's shoulder. Deciding against saying anything about the money.

"Encrypted data," Heero said as he pulled the screen back up.

"Have you found anything yet?" Relena asked as she read through the jumbled lines of letters and numbers.

"Nothing yet," Heero responded. Relena watched as his fingers flew over the keyboard. She could hear Serena doing the same. Then she spotted something.

"There!" She said, pointing to the screen. "It looks like a date," Heero stopped his typing to look. "Heero, that's my birthday, and isn't that the same date all five Gundams were sent to Earth?" Relena caught sight of Serena's head snapping up from the corner of her eye.

"What?" Serena asked.

Heero turned his laptop around for her to see. Serena read over the numbers and letters. They matched up to read April 7, AC 195. She looked at Heero before turning back to her screen. Her fingers flew over the keys as she pulled up a program that Heero conveniently had. She took what information she had unlocked and put it into the program.

She let it run through the data before she noticed a pattern. All the information were dates and locations that corresponded with each other. She stared wide-eyed at the screen when the last date showed.

August 23, AC 197.

Serena stood, shoving the laptop away from herself. She couldn't believe it.

"What is it?" Heero asked.

"We were played," Serena said as she ran a hand over her head.

"What?" Heero grabbed the laptop, turning it so he could see.

"They're just dates and locations. Every single one. From when each Gundam was built, to every attack that took place during the wars. Even the deaths of some important figureheads."

"Why would they have this information? All of it was destroyed," Heero looked up at her.

"We were set up. Can't you see?" Serena said as she slammed her hands on the table.

"What do you mean you were set up?" Relena asked, but neither Heero nor herself responded. Serena stood, turning herself away from them. She knew it was starting to click for Heero.

"Could I have some time alone?" Serena asked after a moment.

"Relena, I'll bring you to your office," Heero said. Serena glanced at him from over her shoulder. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes. Do you understand?"

"Yeah."

After Heero and Relena left, Serena grabbed a change of clothes. She didn't care if someone was watching her as she stripped out of the clothes she had been wearing. Throwing on the clothes that Relena had brought her, she made her way into the bathroom. Ripping the hair tie out of her hair she looked up at her reflection in the mirror. Steel-blue eyes stared back at her. Almost laughing at her for being so foolish.

He played me. He set this all up. He never offered me my freedom. I'm nothing more than what he created.

Serena balled her right fist as she continued to look at herself. The anger grew stronger and stronger before her fist shot up, connecting with its target.

Duo had made his way down to the Medical Facility. He was hoping to try and talk with Serena. He had told Hilde about her which resulted in her yelling at him for being an ass. Even though she was curious about Serena, Hilde had told him that maybe he should apologize to her.

She wasn't pleased with the fact that he was, in her words "an asshole for acting like that towards her." But at the time he didn't think any of it was a big deal. He still didn't think it was a big deal.

Serena was after all another version of Heero. Though Hilde still didn't see it that way. The more he thought about it the more he thought that maybe Serena could banter with him. She was after all different in her own way from Heero. Which didn't help the questions he had for her floating around in his head.

Walking up to her door, he swiped his keycard. When he walked in he saw the bed pushed towards the far wall and a table with two laptops and some chairs. But Serena wasn't there, nor was anyone else. Turning his head he looked towards the bathroom where Serena stood, leaning over the counter. Her hair was covering her face. Then he saw the blood and shards of glass all over the counter and floor.

"Holy shit!? What the fuck happened?" Duo's eyes widened as he continued to look at her. "What the hell did you do, Serena!?"

She said nothing in response. She didn't even move. He was about to call out to her again when the door to her room opened again.

Trowa saw Duo first who had turned to look at him. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open. Trowa looked in the direction that Duo had been looking in. He saw Serena standing in the bathroom with glass and blood everywhere.

Without thinking he rushed past Duo. Coming to stand next to her, he reached out a hand to her. Before his fingertips could reach her arm, she jerked away from him.

"I'm fine," she said, brushing past him.

"Serena, you're bleeding," he said as he followed her. He glanced at Duo as he passed by him, "go find Sally," he said quietly. Duo nodded his head, exiting her room. Serena had started pacing around the room when Trowa turned back to her.

"Serena, what happened?" Trowa asked as she continued to pace. Never looking at him. Her jaw was set and her hands were clenching and unclenching. After a moment of watching her with no response, he made his way over to her. Trowa placed his hands on her shoulders, stopping her. "What happened?"

"Does it matter?" Serena's eyes were a fiery blue as she gazed up at him.

"Yeah, it does. You broke the mirror in the bathroom," Trowa kept his gaze hard. "What happened?" She shrugged his hands off her shoulders, running a shaky hand through her hair.

"I was set up. You were set up."

"What are you talking about?" Trowa watched as she started pacing again, this time he let her. She still hadn't answered him and after a moment, he tried again. "Serena, you need to tell me what you're talking about."

"J played us. He fucking set this whole thing up!" She said as she came to a stop, turning to look at him. Her eyes were hard as she continued to speak, "there was no information at that base. It was only the dates of when the Gundams were constructed. Locations and dates that corresponded with attacks from the wars." Serena came to stand in front of him. Her chest was heaving slightly. Trowa saw something flash in her eyes. Running over what she had told him, he came to one conclusion.

"He wanted you to be captured by Preventer?"

"No, he wanted Heero to find me. He sent Heero those messages using old coding. J knew that Heero would be the one to look into them. He just needed to plant the seed then let Heero figure out the rest," Serena ran a hand through her hair again. "I-" she started to say before the door to her room opened.

Trowa turned his head to see if it was Sally. She came walking into the room with Duo in tow. The look on her face made it clear she wasn't happy to be there. Trowa moved to the side as Sally came to stand next to him. Her hands came to rest on her hips as she looked Serena up and down.

"Duo tells me you decided to break something," Sally leveled Serena with a stern look. "I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my facility. Do I make myself clear?" Serena hardened her eyes but said nothing. "Good, now let me take a look at the damage. Go sit on the bed," Sally said.

Serena did as she was told while Sally gathered a few things to clean and wrap her hand. Trowa moved to stand against the wall, watching as Sally tended to Serena's hand. Within a few minutes, the door opened again. Heero looked at everyone as he came to stand next to Duo.

"What's going on?" Heero asked.

"Your sister decided to go ape shit on the mirror in the bathroom. Cut her knuckles up pretty good," Duo said while snickering.

"She's not my sister," Heero glared at Duo.

"Yeah, whatever you say, man," Duo smirked. Trowa said nothing. He watched as Heero looked towards the bathroom where the glass still lay all over the counter and floor. Turning his head back, Heero looked at Serena who quickly turned her head away from him. It was clear to Trowa that Heero already knew what Serena had said to him moments ago.

"Well good news, you don't need any stitches. But unfortunately, I think we'll have to push the testing back," Sally said, bringing everyone's attention back to her and Serena.

"I want to do it today," Serena said quickly.

"Between your shoulder and now this, I don't think it's a good idea anymore," Sally leveled her with another look.

"I'm fine. It's not anything I can't handle. I want to do the tests," Serena said as she hardened her eyes at Sally. Trowa wondered why Serena was pushing it so much. Sally had a point, Serena needs to take it easy.

"Fine," Sally sighed. "Heero, Trowa, take Serena to our training warehouse. I'll meet you guys there." Serena stood, making her way over to the door when Heero grabbed her by the arm.

"You're going to wear a hooded sweatshirt. We can't let anyone see your face."

Serena grumbled something under her breath as she walked back over to the bed. Sifting through the clothes she found one. Throwing it on she pulled the hood over her head. Letting her hair fall out to one side.

"Better?" She asked Heero bitterly, making her way back towards the door. Heero stopped her again, tucking her hair inside the hood.

"Drop the attitude and stay close," Heero growled. He moved in front of her as he opened the door. Looking over his shoulder, Trowa made eye contact with him.

He moved to stand behind Serena. Trowa was glad he was going with Serena. He wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he wanted to be there for her if she needed him. Heero nodded his head as they left the room, making their way to the stairwell. Heero and Trowa flanked Serena on either side.

"So, can I come?" Duo asked Sally after the three left.

"Don't you have something else to do?" Sally lifted a brow at him.

"Nah, that "paperwork" can wait. I wanna see what that girl can do," Duo said while throwing a thumb over his shoulder. Sally rolled her eyes as she moved towards the door.

"Fine, I just need to grab my things then we can head over," as she stepped through the doorway she looked over her shoulder at him. "By the way. When we get back you can clean up the mess Serena made."

"What? No! She's the one who broke the damn mirror!"

"And you're the one who wants to blow off doing your job," Sally laughed as she let the door close behind her.

Duo scratched his head before letting his chin drop to his chest. "Why am I always the one who's on clean-up duty?" He looked into the bathroom, glaring at the shards of glass before making his way out of the room.

A/N

Well someone was a little angry towards the end here. Can you blame her? I do believe this is when I start to get more into her mind moving forward. I should know these things, but as I said in my last note, I'm so far ahead of what I'm posting that it's easy for me to forget some things or get things mixed up. I also shouldn't pre-write these notes, but it's easier for me to do that. In the next several chapters, some fun stuff happens. I know I keep saying things will get fun and more exciting, and they will. I'm just laying down some groundwork right now. I promise things will get better, crazier and by the second half of this story, I'll bring taking you through all the feels.

Have a great day, whatever today is when I'm posting it. (Hopefully, it's Wednesday, unless it's Tuesday and I randomly uploaded this.)

-MM