Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing
_Okay the characters are a little different, slightly OOC, but remember it has been a year and Heero and Duo have been though a lot, and Relena and Hilde have completely adjusted to their new way of life. A little cussing in this part.
Mission of Mercy
Chapter 4 'So we meet again.'
Hilde spoke first. "I don't know if this is a blessing or a curse." She closed her eyes and looked at the wall. "I mean at least this way no one will come looking for us, but also they think we're dead. Did you ever write your brother."
"I did." Relena said. "I don't know if they just never got it or they assumed that I mailed it after my flight and planned on carrying out the plan when I landed. Remember I never told them where I was going." Relena pointed out.
Hilde swallowed. "Should we contact them."
"No." Relena said quickly. "I think it would be worse for them to find out that we've been alive for the past year." She swallowed. "I think they should continue to think we're dead."
Beside her Hilde nodded. "I know your right, it's just that…" She trailed off and Relena didn't feel brave enough to say anything about it.
The sound of a gunshot jarred both Relena and Hilde out of their daze. They looked at each other and raced out of the tent. Each of them owned a gun for safety. Relena pulled hers off her desk and waited while Hilde got hers. There was another shot and they both ran faster. The first thing Relena saw when she exited the tent was Bulzer lying on the ground a pool of blood surrounding his shoulder. 'No.' Relena's mind screamed. 'We don't want war here.'
She turned to see Hilde's attention focused else were. There were men raiding their newly bought supplies. "Dammit." She hissed from between her teeth and glanced at Hilde. "Well I always thought I should see what a good shot I am."
Hilde nodded at her grimly. "I knew that sooner or later our great 'wealth' would attract other people." She smiled venomously. "Let's do it girl, wound don't kill, okay."
Relena nodded. "I will I will. You go around back and I'll try to get their attention."
"Why?" Hilde asked.
"Because my friend, I may have the biggest mouth, but you have always been the best shot." Relena smiled at her. "Be careful."
Hilde grinned at her and sneaked to the back of the tent. Relena turned to her present task, distraction. She kneeled behind a few crates a few hundred yards from the men. Sweat poured from her brow and into her eyes as she tried to calm her nerves. If she didn't act fast it would be too late. Relena leaned over the crates and took aim. She hit the first guy in the shoulder just to let him know that she had aim. The man's screams punctured the air and she peeked around to see the men looking for the assailant.
'Good they didn't see me. That gives me one more lucky shot.' Relena leaned on the stacked crates again and aimed at on of the guys on top of the storage building. She aimed for his thigh and pulled the trigger. She stayed out just long enough to see the man crumple and fall from the roof. 'Target two hit.' She smiled. 'Okay know to stop their get away.' Relena leaned to the side and made sure she was aiming at the van and pulled the trigger. Bullets hit the van and the side of the building providing just enough distraction to keep them from moving any more supplies into their van. When her clip ran out she pulled back immediately hoping her cover wasn't blown and that Hilde was almost in position. Relena pushed another clip into the gun and did the same as she had done before this time another gun joined hers and she knew Hilde had it covered.
"Things are clear Lena." Hilde called. "Come help me get these guys tied up and the supplies back in the storage house." Relena wiped her head and headed for the storage building her gun still pointed in front of her.
"Well Hill I must say I'm a better shot than I thought" She mused as she rounded the corner and came face to face with five very pissed off men. "I'm not going to ask where you came from because I know you won't answer. I just want all of you who can to stand up." Relena watched grimly as they all complied. "Now help your less fortunate friends inside." She ordered and watched as they followed.
"I took their weapons." Hilde told her "and that van won't be running, not ever again." She smirked. "Bulzer made sure of that." With her words a stumbling Bulzer appeared from the side of the van. "
"Well now that that's done." He said smiling and making sure to flex his muscles.
"I thought you were hit." Relena told him in relief. "Just grazed my shoulder. Pretended I was out until you guys provided the perfect distraction." He smiled. "I knew you guys would come in handy one day."
It didn't take long for the police to take them to jail and Hilde, Relena, Bulzer, and Misty were left to consider what to do next.
"We need more security." Misty said simply. "We need military to help, you know like Bulzer." She smiled at him.
"Where are we going to find people willing to help free of charge." Bulzer asked.
Relena looked at Hilde and they grimaced. "We might know some people." Hilde forced herself to say and Relena nodded her encouragement. "We knew them before, we came here, during the war."
"Are you sure they'll work without pay?" Misty asked.
"Yeah, we're more than positive." Relena told them. "We may only have them for a month of so though."
"That's better than nothing." Bulzer pointed out. "When can you get them?"
"As soon as Tutain approves." Hilde said smiling grimly.
With that said the meeting adjourned until they discussed the situation with Tutian. Relena and Hilde headed for Relena's tent their feet and heart feeling incredibly heavy. What had they just done? Sealed their fates? They didn't want to be found, but they had to do what was best for the mission. That was all that mattered.
"Tell me this is the only way." Relena asked Hilde and hung her head as she sunk onto her cot and closed her eyes.
"It's the only way." Hilde informed her. "We don't have to tell them who we are at first. We'll make a request to Milliardo Peacecraft on behalf of a refuge in need of protection. There's no way he can turn us down." Hilde smiled. "He won't even know it's you and me and he probably won't even send one of them." Hilde said more to encourage herself than Relena.
"For my sake I hope they don't." Relena said "But for the people I hope they do."
Hilde nodded her agreement. "Same here girl, same here."
* * * * * * * * *
Milliardo glanced at the e-mail and tried to ignore the way it reminded him of something Relena would fight to protect. 'We don't have the men.' He lied to himself and took a sip of his drink. 'You do though.' The voice of Relena followed this argument and he couldn't do anything, but promise the refuge that he would send the best. He knew whom that meant, the Gundam pilots. He groaned and picked up his phone to dial the Preventer base were all of them now worked. "Get me Yuy." He growled into the phone. It wasn't long before Heero picked up the phone his monotone voice coming over the line.
"I've got a job for you guys." Milliardo sighed and added. "It's more like a favor. There's a refuge in South Africa." He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before he continued. "They're constantly plagued by robbers and guys from the black market. Just last week they were attacked and almost lost a month's worth of supplies. They need help. Most of the people down there are volunteers with little or no military experience. They have Five high school teachers, two elementary teachers, someone working funds, one guy in charge of security and someone else who brings in the refugees or finds the orphans homes. They could really use some help."
"We'll go." Heero assured him and listened to the details involving the mission. When Milliardo had said all he was going to Heero went in search of Duo and Quatre, they would be the ones to go with him. Three Gundam pilots would certainly be enough. They had to catch a plane tonight in order to make it there in the morning. Some how he knew that Duo was in the cafeteria. His instincts were right and he found Duo eyeing the snack machine. The former pilot had come to term, mostly, with Hilde's death and sometimes dragged Heero out on double dates. Heero didn't like the social interaction much and guessed Duo didn't either because they never called the girls back.
"Duo, we've got a mission." Heero said flatly. The phrase pulled Duo's attention away from the machine for a moment.
"Where at 'Soldier Boy?' He asked and turned back to the vending machine and pushed the buttons for the snack he wanted.
"South Africa."
"Cool." Duo answered back and pulled his cheetos out of the machine. "Who else is coming?" He asked as a few crumbs fell from his lip.
"Quatre." Heero answered coolly. "We're defending a refuge."
"Well a mission's a mission." He spouted. "When do me leave?"
"In two hours." Heero said and smiled inwardly at the pilot's expression.
"Two hours, that hardly gives me time to pack!" He complained. "What if they don't have hair dryer's there. What about my hair."
Heero left Duo to find Quatre. Quatre was much more enthusiastic.
"This will be great! I always wanted to do this." He exclaimed and ran to pack.
Heero shrugged and went to pack his own bags. He hadn't gotten over Relena, but he'd put her behind him and lived each day the best he could. At least, as Duo said, he was living. He was thankful for that much. Yes, believe it or not he was happy to be alive. He believed that one day he would find Relena, when he died and they would be together forever, but for now he would live and do what he could to help.
* * * * * * On the plane and hour later* * *
Duo shoved a Twinkie into his mouth. "Do you think they have Twinkies down there Q-man." Duo asked cream spilling out the side of his mouth, which he quickly licked up with his tongue.
"I really don't know Duo." Quatre told him smiling. "They probably don't." The answer was followed by a groan.
"I love Twinkies and I only brought twelve boxes with me." He moaned.
"Where did you put all of those?" Quatre asked.
"Easy." Duo explained. "They told us we could only have two bags. I stuffed everything I need in my biggest bag and filled the other with food." He smiled. "There's no way I'll starve." He lowered his voice. "Last time I went on a mission with Heero we ran out of food."
"That's because you ate four rations for each meal." Heero pointed out and looked over at the pilot.
"Oh well anyway. I'm kinda looking forward to doing this. It's like being back with the church." Duo said his eyes glazing over a bit. "The father here told me a lot that work like this would heal my soul. I didn't believe him, but just the thought of going is making me feel good."
"Even if they don't have Twinkies." Quatre asked grinning.
Duo smiled. "Yeah, I can live on twelve boxes. Everyone has to suffer sometime or another." He shrugged his shoulders. "Hilde used to want to do this." He lapsed into silence for a moment. "Its like I'm fulfilling her wishes because she'd dead." Duo smiled. "I bet Hilde's watching me right now with a huge grin on her face." Duo didn't say anything else, but seemed to fall asleep.
Heero continued to look at his computer screen. He didn't know if Relena ever wanted to do anything like this. He hadn't talked to her and that made him feel bad for not knowing anything about who she had really been. Heero sighed and shut his eyes; he really needed to get some sleep anyway.
It seemed to Heero that he had just shut his eyes when a loud crackling voice came over the AP system. Heero opened his eyes and blinked for a moment as he registered the voice.
"We will be landing in about three minutes."
Heero rubbed his eyes and looked out the window. He was over a completely different continent. He watched as the plane headed for the landing area. Because, they were in on special mission and their plane was so small they were landing right in the village. He watched as the squares of land turned into dotted houses and the people began to look like people instead of ants. He was here, and for some reason he felt like this was where he belonged.
* * * * * * * * * *
"I knew this would happen. Shit." Relena cursed as she looked at the list of their military assistants. "Preventers Duo Maxwell, Heero Yuy and Quatre Rabba Winner. Fuck." Relena threw the list at Hilde in disgust.
"Did you really expect anyone else?" She asked closing her eyes and under more control than Relena was.
"No." She mumbled. "I didn't. I just hope that they get settled before we drop the bomb on them." Relena sat down on her bunk. "You think they've got girlfriends." Relena asked tentatively.
Hilde laughed at her. "If Heero Yuy has a girlfriend I will personally lick the mud off our jeep." She said and began laughing hysterically.
"Why is that so funny?" Relena challenged.
"Because." Hilde managed. "If Heero can't see that you ever liked him, and I mean you followed him like a stalker, no normal girl could ever bag him."
Relena smiled and began laughing too. "Your right." Relena laughed. "I did stalk him." She giggled until her sides hurt. As her giggles subsided she looked at her watch it was time to leave for school. Relena stood and straightened her jeans and navy blue tank top. "How do I look Hill?" She asked. "Do you like my new stylish outfit."
Hilde smiled and looked down at her faded blue jeans and white tank top. "They aren't even close to this knockout outfit." She mused. Hilde threw her arm over Relena's shoulder and together they headed out of the tent. "Whatever happens were in this together."
"All the way." Relena told her and together they sprinted toward the schoolhouse.
As they entered the classroom they knew immediately that they weren't going to get anything done. The children knew that the new guys were coming and the excitement of new comers was just too much for them.
"Alright guys, we'll have a short day today, and as soon as they arrive you can run out to meet them." The class cheered as Hilde finished her speech. "But first we have work." Hilde pulled out the history book. "Okay first today is chapter 13 everyone flip there." There was a collective groan throughout the schoolhouse but every one complied. They hadn't read more than four pages when the roar of airplane engines sounded over head. All the children looked up eagerly, their eyes shining with excitement.
"First." Relena said. "Copy down your homework." They all frowned and pulled out their notepads. "Alright I want you to ask all three of these men where there from and learn at least three things about them that you can share in class tomorrow." The class cheered and Hilde let them go as soon as she heard the plane touch down.
"How long do you think we have?" Hilde asked.
"I don't know." Relena said and looked at the empty desks. "No matter what I'm not leaving here." She told Hilde defiantly.
"Me either." Hilde told her. "No matter what."
Relena turned to her friend. "I just hope they don't take it too badly."
They both stepped out of the schoolhouse as the children were ambushing the three pilots. Relena covered her mouth and tried not to laugh as one of them jumped into Heero's arms. Another was pulling on Duo's braid trying to get his attention. Beside Relena Hilde nudged her.
"I bet Duo is afraid his hair is going to fall out." She mused and headed for the tent. "I'm guessing we have two hours before they get away from those kids." Hilde said "and we have two hours until they find out and peace is broken." She smiled slowly and pulled Relena behind her. They settled into their rooms hoping that they would be able to delay their meeting for one more day.
* * * * * * * * *
Hilde closed her eyes and hoped that she'd be able to face him again that she could be as strong as Relena was. Besides Duo never loved her like she did him and he'd probably wouldn't give her a second glance. Hilde swallowed. She knew better. Duo cared for his friends in all forms. She groaned and rolled over in her bunk she didn't feel like dinner and if Relena didn't come and get her she wasn't going to go.
* * * * * *
Relena felt tears beginning to form in the corner of her eyes. She wanted to cry so badly, but she refused to let them slip out he was part of her old life and she didn't need to cry about her past. No matter how much it hurt her to have him in the same place she was in. She frowned and wondered if they would tell Tutian of their true identities. If they did, if they lost their cover they would be more of a threat to the people than a help. 'The lost Peacecraft Princess found.' Relena let her eyes close as she cursed her position.
* * * * * * *
"Hey you guys get up." Misty called from the corridor, her hands on her hips. "I can't believe you're missing them. You especially Hill. I mean I don't remember one day going by when you didn't complain that there were no good looking young guys here." She laughed. "Besides Tutian wants them to meet you guys. She told them all about you both." Misty waited as Relena and Hilde both emerged from their tent. "That's better she told them. Now get out there and make me proud." She mocked.
"Shut up." Relena told her twisting her face into an uncharacteristic scowl.
"Ditto." Hilde mumbled and followed Relena to their doom.
"Geez you guys are sure grumpy. Did you drink some dirty water or something." Misty mumbled and fell into step behind her two friends.
They rounded the corner enough ahead of Misty to see the guys sitting at the tables in the tent. There were children all around them and some of the families had even come to meet the new military help. Their expressions were odd. Relena thought. Not exactly smiling but not frowning either. Hilde moaned beside her and Relena knew that Misty was coming up behind them. "Pretend you've never met them before." Relena said quickly. "Maybe they'll catch our drift and keep our cover." Relena whispered to her.
"Sounds like a plan." Hilde said and shook her head. "Into the lions den we go." She laughed in spite of herself which made Relena giggle along with her.
"Sounds like two people I know." Bulzer commented from in the room. "I never knew you two to be shy." He laughed. "In fact I thought you'd be the first two out here."
Relena gulped and tried to stay in character as she shouted back. "I know someone whose not going to be getting a warm shower for at least a month." As she spoke she rounded the corner careful to keep her face neutral. Relena smiled at them through her guilt and hoped they would catch on and realize that neither her nor Hilde wanted to be recognized.
"Hello." She said evenly. "I'm Lena and this is my friend Hillary." She stuck her hand out and waited for one of them to shake it. 'Please shake my hand.' She pleaded with them silently. Hilde stuck out hers as well. 'Please play along.'
I know Duo seems a little goofy, but I see him as hiding what he really feels behind that child like immature persona. He hides his pain with laughter and would rather joke about food and time then face the real issues that are bothering him. So they way I made him act doesn't make him less of a character, just a deeper one.
R&R tell my what you think!! *Sighs in exhaustion* That was a really long chapter. Maybe I should have split it or something.
