Chapter 2
Introductions
Relena slept soundly next Gabriel as he watched the stars pass his window.
'This is going perfectly, at this rate I'll be able to get close enough to the pilots so they'll trust me once I've revealed myself.'
Just then his watch went off to sound an alarm.
'No not now, any time but now. Damn it, forgive me Relena.'
He carefully stepped over her and walked towards the lavatory.
'Now the ladder should be right…here.' He thought as he slid a secret compartment that lead to the cargo hold.
"Time to activate the suit." He said as he reached down to his metallic belt and squeezed the buckle. The buckle flashed as armor surrounded his body. The suit was as black as space itself. It fit around him like a suit of armor it's layered all over, like Epyon's legs. The suit had spikes along his arms and along the outside of his legs. The helmet had a golden v-shaped visor it had three layered fins one at the center, which had spikes at the end and two off to either side at an angle. He took small cubes out of his midsection and set up a stasis field so the space plane wouldn't explode from the vacuum of space. The field activated as he stepped inside he rotated his shoulders and a smaller pair of Epyon's wings appeared.
'Time to go to work.' He thought as he opened the door and the wings activated as he flew into the depths of space. As he left only the field covering the door remained on.
'Let's see where this problem is.' He brought up his arm and pressed a button on his helmet. A heads-up display appeared in his view screen as he flew in the direction it told him to. He reached down to the suits belt and activated his cloaking devise.
'Which weapon should I use this time? The buster cannons (Zero)? He powers up the chargers on his palms. The super beam cannon (Tallgeese III)? He bobbed his right arm two slits opened one along the side of his thumb and the other along the side of the bottom of his fist. Two strips of metal appeared and extended out of three parts and slid up past his fist. The two strips were setup so the chargers were past his fist. The slits closed but the strips still led into his arm. The whip, (Epyon)? He jerked his left forearm outward and a rhombus popped out of his armor, a section of the whip came out then another out of than and so on until it was twelve feet long. The sword, (Epyon)? He jerked his left forearm inward and a sword butt popped out at a 75-degree angle, he reached to the small of his back and brought out an electrical tube he attached it to the butt and held the sword backwards so the blade would point behind him. Or the electro magnetic pulse mines? Better make it quick, so the cannons it is.'
He replaced the sword and whip and charged the cannons. As he approached a squad of Serpent's his heads-up display told him there were thirty units headed for the same destination the last squad he destroyed was headed.
'You'd think they'd have sense enough to change their rally point, but NO. They make to make it to easy.'
He thought as he aimed the beam cannon and his left buster cannon at the troops. He fired and with one volley he destroyed six of the suits. His left cannon charged as he prepared both cannons to destroy the other units. When he opened his right hand the strips retracted and swung out into a horizontal position. He aimed fired and decimated the other units. He quickly finished off the remaining units. He turned around and put on the after-burners in the bottom of his feet into over drive, and headed back towards the shuttle hoping Relena was still asleep. He got back to the shuttle in record time, as he approached the stasis field reestablished itself completely. He stepped in and closed the door. He packed up the stasis cubes; pushed the same buckle and his suit repacked itself back into its belt form. He climbed back up the ladder into the main cabin and returned to find Relena still asleep.
'Thank goodness she didn't wake while I was gone.'
He thought as he climbed back over her into his seat. The stewardess came on the intercom saying they were five minutes from the colony, waking Relena.
"Well good morning sleepy head, you slept through the entire flight and missed the movie."
Relena looked over at the voice addressing her and mumbled,
"Heero?"
"Who?" Relena opened her eyes to find Gabriel looking at her strangely.
"What?"
"You said Heero. Who's that? Your boyfriend?" Relena laughed at this, getting an even more confused look from Gabriel.
"Sorry, he's just an old friend I haven't seen for a long time."
"Are we visiting him now?"
"No. I don't know where he is. We're visiting another old friend."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I mean that my butler, Pagan, planned this entire trip for me and each destination is going to be a surprise for both of us."
"So do you know who lives in this colony?"
"I will once we're inside. Most of these colonies have started to look the same to me."
"GREAT."
"Don't worry I'll know who we're visiting once we get inside. I know what each of their cities looks like."
"If you say so."
"Lets go then."
The pair got up and left the shuttle. As soon as they stepped out of the terminal Relena stated.
"Well it seems we're visiting Trowa first and you'll enjoy Trowa's job very much."
"What does he do?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"Great more mysteries."
~*~
Later on that evening after the two had settled in their, respective, hotel rooms. Relena said she had bought tickets for the circus performing nearby and that they should hurry so they don't miss any of the show. Gabriel followed her knowing full well they were going too Trowa's show.
"So when am I going to meet this old friend of yours?"
"Right after the show."
They entered the big top and took some seats. Gabriel asked if Relena wanted anything to eat or drink. She said no and that the acts were going to start any minute. After six acts the ringmaster came out again and spoke to the crowd.
"Give another round of applause to the juggling Rembrandt's." He waited as the crowd erupted in applause and died down again, "And now for our main attraction. With deadly pinpoint accuracy Catherine The Knife Thrower. And her target this and every other night Trowa The Daredevil Acrobat Clown."
Gabriel gave a sideways glance and displayed a look of complete surprise. Relena only beamed a smile at him and turned her attention back to the center ring. The lights dimmed and two spotlights shot across the tent too where the performers had been entering for their shows. First Catherine came out holding a dozen knives; Trowa shortly followed her in his standard costume. Another spotlight switched on and displayed a six-foot target; Trowa took his position in front of it. Catherine spoke up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, for my first trick I will throw six knives at my partner blindfolded."
Trowa walked up to her, tied the blindfold tight, and walked back in front of the target. She threw the first knife; it came to rest next to his right shoulder. The second knife landed just atop his head. The third sunk into the target next to his left shoulder. The forth that pierced the target landed on the out side of his right knee. The fifth stuck next to the outside of his left knee. The final knife landed straight between his legs with two inches to spare. Catherine took off her blindfold; Trowa walked forward and both took a bow as the audience erupted in cheers and applause. She waited for the praise to die down and spoke up again.
"And now my partner will dodge the last six knives blindfolded."
The crowd gasped as Trowa stood a foot in front of the target.
"Ladies and gentlemen I will ask you to remain quiet until the trick is finished, because this stunt needs absolute concentration. Thank you."
She turned back towards her partner brought back the first knife and grunted as she let it fly. Trowa took his queue and turned sideways avoiding the knife by inches. Catherine wound up and tossed again; this time Trowa jumped backwards into the air doing a double barrel-roll summersault and landed facing her. She took aim and tossed the third one; Trowa ducked backwards missing the knife again by inches and stood straight again. She hurled the forth knife; he dodged this by cart wheeling backwards, having the knife fly thru his legs. She threw the fifth knife; he turned around and bowed as the knife spared his costume by centimeters. She tossed the final knife Trowa jumped into the air back wards towards the target doing a triple barrel-roll summersault landing on top of the target, as the knife hit the bull's-eye like all the others she had thrown at him. The crowd was even louder this time. Everyone was standing up cheering and clapping as loud as they could. Trowa bowed still on the target and took of his blindfold with flare. As Catherine walked away to exit the tent Trowa simply hopped down off the target and followed her closely. Gabriel turned to Relena.
"That's Trowa? You're old friend?"
"That's him alright."
"Okay, spill how did you meet?" He asked as they got up and he followed her.
"I'll let him tell you how we met." She said as she brushed slowly past the curtain that blocked the audiences view of the tents back area.
"Trowa?"
"Yes hold on a minute. Who is it Catherine?"
"It's Relena and some other man I've never seen before."
"Relena. Give me a minute to change and I'll be right with you and your friend."
"So, what's your name buddy?"
"Gabriel White. I'm pleased to meet one of Relena's friends." He extends his hand to shake Catherine's.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Catherine, Trowa's partner and girlfriend. So Relena what brings you to our neck of the woods?"
"Just thought I'd come around and see how everyone is doing. Trowa's first on my list."
"Relena its good to see you again and you haven't changed a bit." He hugs her and extends his hand to Gabriel. "Nice to meet you I'm Trowa Barton, no relation."
"Likewise; Gabriel White, Relena's bodyguard. So can we all go somewhere to talk and get to know each other? Or are we going too stand here all day?"
"Why don't we go back to our trailer and we can all reminisce and catch up on each others lives."
"Sound's good to me." Said Trowa and Gabriel in unison.
~*~
Later in the trailer…
"Trowa?"
"Yes Relena?"
"Have you seen Heero by any chance?"
"No. Sorry." Gabriel quickly changed subjects.
"So how did you all meet each other anyway?"
"Well, we first met after the Earth Sphere Alliance was created."
~*~
Flashback
"Who are you're friends Heero?" Relena asked, referring to the other gundam pilots.
"Well they aren't my friends. But this is Dou Maxwell, pilot of the gundam Deathsythe Hell,"
"High there nice to finally meet the famous Relena Peasecraft."
"This is Quatre Wabber Winner, pilot of the gundam Sandrock,"
"Pleased to meet you."
"Wufei Chang, pilot of the gundam Nataku,"
"Hey."
"And this is Trowa Barton, pilot of the gundam Heavyarms."
"Hi."
"I'm Pleased to meet you all."
End flashback
~*~
"After that everyone became fast friends, but we haven't seen each other in three years."
"Your one of the gundam pilots?!"
"Was one; we all destroyed our suits after Mareimaia's war."
"But what if someone else tries that stunt?"
"The preventers can handle it."
"So that it? Leave it to someone else a forget about it?"
"I guess you could say that, yea."
"Man I don't know how you sleep at night." Catherine quickly changed topics.
"So your Relena's bodyguard, huh? When did she hire you?"
"Oh about a year ago. Not really that hard so far."
"Gabriel why don't you show Trowa some of your moves?" Said Relena figuring shed catch him in his lie.
"Sure if Trowa doesn't mind that is?"
"I can take it. What do you want me to do?"
"Um okay. Why don't we use this stick as a knife or gun. Now Relena you stand here. Trowa you come at us with the stick as a knife. Okay?"
"Sure."
"When ever you want is fine with me."
Trowa waited about thirty seconds until he charged the pair. Gabriel who was on the opposite side of Relena took action when he was two meters away from her. He put his arm around Relena and moved her calmly behind her so as to be a shield if he failed to stop Trowa. He let Trowa get with in two feet of Relena when he grabbed Trowa's arm that held the mock knife. He yelled stop and Trowa froze in his tracks.
"Now here is where I would pull the assailant back slightly, flip him and remove him of his weapon before letting the authorities take over."
"Interesting technique I really expected you to act much sooner than you did, and that sort of caught me off guard."
"Well that's the general idea; to catch your opponent off guard."
"Show us another will you?"
"Are you sure, not that I'm turning you down."
"Please?"
~*~
"Alright that's the last one I'm showing. I don't want to give away my entire repertoire."
"Awww." Whined both girls clearly disappointed.
"It's getting late we should head back to the hotel. Relena how much longer are we staying here?"
"Only for another day. Why?"
"When are you two done with performing?"
"Around two in the afternoon."
"Then could you met us at the park at three? We'll go some place for a late lunch. Sound good?"
"Perfect." The three chimed in unison.
"Then we'll see each other again tomorrow. Good night."
"Good night." The couple chimed as the other pair left.
"We'll that was an interesting experience."
"What was?"
"I thought for sure I'd catch you in your lie but you fooled them."
"Who's fooling?"
"You mean?"
"Yep"
"But why?"
"My last job wasn't taking me anywhere I wanted to go. I figure being around you might liven things up a bit."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay." Relena surrendered in defeat she would never win this one.
Introductions
Relena slept soundly next Gabriel as he watched the stars pass his window.
'This is going perfectly, at this rate I'll be able to get close enough to the pilots so they'll trust me once I've revealed myself.'
Just then his watch went off to sound an alarm.
'No not now, any time but now. Damn it, forgive me Relena.'
He carefully stepped over her and walked towards the lavatory.
'Now the ladder should be right…here.' He thought as he slid a secret compartment that lead to the cargo hold.
"Time to activate the suit." He said as he reached down to his metallic belt and squeezed the buckle. The buckle flashed as armor surrounded his body. The suit was as black as space itself. It fit around him like a suit of armor it's layered all over, like Epyon's legs. The suit had spikes along his arms and along the outside of his legs. The helmet had a golden v-shaped visor it had three layered fins one at the center, which had spikes at the end and two off to either side at an angle. He took small cubes out of his midsection and set up a stasis field so the space plane wouldn't explode from the vacuum of space. The field activated as he stepped inside he rotated his shoulders and a smaller pair of Epyon's wings appeared.
'Time to go to work.' He thought as he opened the door and the wings activated as he flew into the depths of space. As he left only the field covering the door remained on.
'Let's see where this problem is.' He brought up his arm and pressed a button on his helmet. A heads-up display appeared in his view screen as he flew in the direction it told him to. He reached down to the suits belt and activated his cloaking devise.
'Which weapon should I use this time? The buster cannons (Zero)? He powers up the chargers on his palms. The super beam cannon (Tallgeese III)? He bobbed his right arm two slits opened one along the side of his thumb and the other along the side of the bottom of his fist. Two strips of metal appeared and extended out of three parts and slid up past his fist. The two strips were setup so the chargers were past his fist. The slits closed but the strips still led into his arm. The whip, (Epyon)? He jerked his left forearm outward and a rhombus popped out of his armor, a section of the whip came out then another out of than and so on until it was twelve feet long. The sword, (Epyon)? He jerked his left forearm inward and a sword butt popped out at a 75-degree angle, he reached to the small of his back and brought out an electrical tube he attached it to the butt and held the sword backwards so the blade would point behind him. Or the electro magnetic pulse mines? Better make it quick, so the cannons it is.'
He replaced the sword and whip and charged the cannons. As he approached a squad of Serpent's his heads-up display told him there were thirty units headed for the same destination the last squad he destroyed was headed.
'You'd think they'd have sense enough to change their rally point, but NO. They make to make it to easy.'
He thought as he aimed the beam cannon and his left buster cannon at the troops. He fired and with one volley he destroyed six of the suits. His left cannon charged as he prepared both cannons to destroy the other units. When he opened his right hand the strips retracted and swung out into a horizontal position. He aimed fired and decimated the other units. He quickly finished off the remaining units. He turned around and put on the after-burners in the bottom of his feet into over drive, and headed back towards the shuttle hoping Relena was still asleep. He got back to the shuttle in record time, as he approached the stasis field reestablished itself completely. He stepped in and closed the door. He packed up the stasis cubes; pushed the same buckle and his suit repacked itself back into its belt form. He climbed back up the ladder into the main cabin and returned to find Relena still asleep.
'Thank goodness she didn't wake while I was gone.'
He thought as he climbed back over her into his seat. The stewardess came on the intercom saying they were five minutes from the colony, waking Relena.
"Well good morning sleepy head, you slept through the entire flight and missed the movie."
Relena looked over at the voice addressing her and mumbled,
"Heero?"
"Who?" Relena opened her eyes to find Gabriel looking at her strangely.
"What?"
"You said Heero. Who's that? Your boyfriend?" Relena laughed at this, getting an even more confused look from Gabriel.
"Sorry, he's just an old friend I haven't seen for a long time."
"Are we visiting him now?"
"No. I don't know where he is. We're visiting another old friend."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I mean that my butler, Pagan, planned this entire trip for me and each destination is going to be a surprise for both of us."
"So do you know who lives in this colony?"
"I will once we're inside. Most of these colonies have started to look the same to me."
"GREAT."
"Don't worry I'll know who we're visiting once we get inside. I know what each of their cities looks like."
"If you say so."
"Lets go then."
The pair got up and left the shuttle. As soon as they stepped out of the terminal Relena stated.
"Well it seems we're visiting Trowa first and you'll enjoy Trowa's job very much."
"What does he do?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"Great more mysteries."
~*~
Later on that evening after the two had settled in their, respective, hotel rooms. Relena said she had bought tickets for the circus performing nearby and that they should hurry so they don't miss any of the show. Gabriel followed her knowing full well they were going too Trowa's show.
"So when am I going to meet this old friend of yours?"
"Right after the show."
They entered the big top and took some seats. Gabriel asked if Relena wanted anything to eat or drink. She said no and that the acts were going to start any minute. After six acts the ringmaster came out again and spoke to the crowd.
"Give another round of applause to the juggling Rembrandt's." He waited as the crowd erupted in applause and died down again, "And now for our main attraction. With deadly pinpoint accuracy Catherine The Knife Thrower. And her target this and every other night Trowa The Daredevil Acrobat Clown."
Gabriel gave a sideways glance and displayed a look of complete surprise. Relena only beamed a smile at him and turned her attention back to the center ring. The lights dimmed and two spotlights shot across the tent too where the performers had been entering for their shows. First Catherine came out holding a dozen knives; Trowa shortly followed her in his standard costume. Another spotlight switched on and displayed a six-foot target; Trowa took his position in front of it. Catherine spoke up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, for my first trick I will throw six knives at my partner blindfolded."
Trowa walked up to her, tied the blindfold tight, and walked back in front of the target. She threw the first knife; it came to rest next to his right shoulder. The second knife landed just atop his head. The third sunk into the target next to his left shoulder. The forth that pierced the target landed on the out side of his right knee. The fifth stuck next to the outside of his left knee. The final knife landed straight between his legs with two inches to spare. Catherine took off her blindfold; Trowa walked forward and both took a bow as the audience erupted in cheers and applause. She waited for the praise to die down and spoke up again.
"And now my partner will dodge the last six knives blindfolded."
The crowd gasped as Trowa stood a foot in front of the target.
"Ladies and gentlemen I will ask you to remain quiet until the trick is finished, because this stunt needs absolute concentration. Thank you."
She turned back towards her partner brought back the first knife and grunted as she let it fly. Trowa took his queue and turned sideways avoiding the knife by inches. Catherine wound up and tossed again; this time Trowa jumped backwards into the air doing a double barrel-roll summersault and landed facing her. She took aim and tossed the third one; Trowa ducked backwards missing the knife again by inches and stood straight again. She hurled the forth knife; he dodged this by cart wheeling backwards, having the knife fly thru his legs. She threw the fifth knife; he turned around and bowed as the knife spared his costume by centimeters. She tossed the final knife Trowa jumped into the air back wards towards the target doing a triple barrel-roll summersault landing on top of the target, as the knife hit the bull's-eye like all the others she had thrown at him. The crowd was even louder this time. Everyone was standing up cheering and clapping as loud as they could. Trowa bowed still on the target and took of his blindfold with flare. As Catherine walked away to exit the tent Trowa simply hopped down off the target and followed her closely. Gabriel turned to Relena.
"That's Trowa? You're old friend?"
"That's him alright."
"Okay, spill how did you meet?" He asked as they got up and he followed her.
"I'll let him tell you how we met." She said as she brushed slowly past the curtain that blocked the audiences view of the tents back area.
"Trowa?"
"Yes hold on a minute. Who is it Catherine?"
"It's Relena and some other man I've never seen before."
"Relena. Give me a minute to change and I'll be right with you and your friend."
"So, what's your name buddy?"
"Gabriel White. I'm pleased to meet one of Relena's friends." He extends his hand to shake Catherine's.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Catherine, Trowa's partner and girlfriend. So Relena what brings you to our neck of the woods?"
"Just thought I'd come around and see how everyone is doing. Trowa's first on my list."
"Relena its good to see you again and you haven't changed a bit." He hugs her and extends his hand to Gabriel. "Nice to meet you I'm Trowa Barton, no relation."
"Likewise; Gabriel White, Relena's bodyguard. So can we all go somewhere to talk and get to know each other? Or are we going too stand here all day?"
"Why don't we go back to our trailer and we can all reminisce and catch up on each others lives."
"Sound's good to me." Said Trowa and Gabriel in unison.
~*~
Later in the trailer…
"Trowa?"
"Yes Relena?"
"Have you seen Heero by any chance?"
"No. Sorry." Gabriel quickly changed subjects.
"So how did you all meet each other anyway?"
"Well, we first met after the Earth Sphere Alliance was created."
~*~
Flashback
"Who are you're friends Heero?" Relena asked, referring to the other gundam pilots.
"Well they aren't my friends. But this is Dou Maxwell, pilot of the gundam Deathsythe Hell,"
"High there nice to finally meet the famous Relena Peasecraft."
"This is Quatre Wabber Winner, pilot of the gundam Sandrock,"
"Pleased to meet you."
"Wufei Chang, pilot of the gundam Nataku,"
"Hey."
"And this is Trowa Barton, pilot of the gundam Heavyarms."
"Hi."
"I'm Pleased to meet you all."
End flashback
~*~
"After that everyone became fast friends, but we haven't seen each other in three years."
"Your one of the gundam pilots?!"
"Was one; we all destroyed our suits after Mareimaia's war."
"But what if someone else tries that stunt?"
"The preventers can handle it."
"So that it? Leave it to someone else a forget about it?"
"I guess you could say that, yea."
"Man I don't know how you sleep at night." Catherine quickly changed topics.
"So your Relena's bodyguard, huh? When did she hire you?"
"Oh about a year ago. Not really that hard so far."
"Gabriel why don't you show Trowa some of your moves?" Said Relena figuring shed catch him in his lie.
"Sure if Trowa doesn't mind that is?"
"I can take it. What do you want me to do?"
"Um okay. Why don't we use this stick as a knife or gun. Now Relena you stand here. Trowa you come at us with the stick as a knife. Okay?"
"Sure."
"When ever you want is fine with me."
Trowa waited about thirty seconds until he charged the pair. Gabriel who was on the opposite side of Relena took action when he was two meters away from her. He put his arm around Relena and moved her calmly behind her so as to be a shield if he failed to stop Trowa. He let Trowa get with in two feet of Relena when he grabbed Trowa's arm that held the mock knife. He yelled stop and Trowa froze in his tracks.
"Now here is where I would pull the assailant back slightly, flip him and remove him of his weapon before letting the authorities take over."
"Interesting technique I really expected you to act much sooner than you did, and that sort of caught me off guard."
"Well that's the general idea; to catch your opponent off guard."
"Show us another will you?"
"Are you sure, not that I'm turning you down."
"Please?"
~*~
"Alright that's the last one I'm showing. I don't want to give away my entire repertoire."
"Awww." Whined both girls clearly disappointed.
"It's getting late we should head back to the hotel. Relena how much longer are we staying here?"
"Only for another day. Why?"
"When are you two done with performing?"
"Around two in the afternoon."
"Then could you met us at the park at three? We'll go some place for a late lunch. Sound good?"
"Perfect." The three chimed in unison.
"Then we'll see each other again tomorrow. Good night."
"Good night." The couple chimed as the other pair left.
"We'll that was an interesting experience."
"What was?"
"I thought for sure I'd catch you in your lie but you fooled them."
"Who's fooling?"
"You mean?"
"Yep"
"But why?"
"My last job wasn't taking me anywhere I wanted to go. I figure being around you might liven things up a bit."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay." Relena surrendered in defeat she would never win this one.