Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, but oh how I wish I did.
Authors notes: There is a smidgen of cussing in this one. Nothing really big but I figured I would put this up anyway! And the master plan has been reviled.
~*~*~Chapter 13~*~*~
Head snapped up, and Heero looked at Hilde. "Where?"
"There was a group of people aboard the Libra known as the Terra Foundation. They were a freelance group known for getting themselves into trouble. In fact,
most of them ended up in prison or on death row after the war. Anyway, they were on Libra right before the last battle. That means there's a fairly good chance
they were there when I was onboard getting information."
Hilde tapped out a new command and nodded. "There is a faction of people who live on L2 now. Most of them were caught in a drug raid, but their leader got way.
It says here his name is Mark Tile, and he's wanted on slavery charges, kidnapping, use of drugs, and assassination attempts. He could be our guy."
Duo was lost from that point on. His mind going gnawed on Hilde's words like a hungry dog on a bone. 'Slavery charges, kidnapping, use of drugs, and assassination attempts. He could be our guy. And he could have my
baby?'
Fury once more hit him in the pit of his stomach. If they even hurt one hair on Marcail's tiny head, he would make them wish that they had never laid on eyes
on her or his family.
"Isn't slavery outlawed though?" Quatre asked, blinking at his friend. "I mean, after the slave war you would think that these people would have learned."
Duo nodded. "Yeah, Quatre, but you should know that some people just never learn no matter what happens. If they want something bad enough they just keep
coming. They don't care what happens to the people around them." Duo Maxwell knew that first hand.
The slave wars had occurred before he or the other pilots were born. It was far enough back to have settled down, but not so long ago that people had
forgotten the horrors.
Pushing the thoughts away, Duo sighed to himself. He was going to lose his mind one of these days. He could feel it. He, the great God of Death, would end up in a funny farm. 'But first I gotta make a bastard pay.' And pay he would.
~~~
"Ere are ee oing?" Marcail whispered, clutching her Styth. The bad man had tried to take him from her again, but she had kept him once more.
"None of your business," the man replied. Looking up at him Marcail frowned.
"Why?"
"Because it's not your concern."
"At is onern?"
"Concern you little brat, say it right."
"I did, onern," Marcail replied, tears filling her eyes.
"Mark, be nicer to the child or I will have your head."
A female voice rang in through the speakers of the vehicle they were riding in.
"What's wrong, Michelle, got PMS or something?"
Her face darkened, and Michelle glared at him before rolling her eyes. "You are a fool, Mark, do you hear me? If you think for one minute that those Gundam
pilots aren't going to be on your tail, you can just think again."
"I fear no man."
"You should," Michelle replied. She smiled gently down at Marcail. "Just sit there and try not to make him mad, okay honey?"
"I isn't oney," Marcail retorted "I on't go on bread." Marcail's eyes filled with tears again.
"Don't you dare start crying again, little girl."
"Ee is Martail," she wailed "No ittle irl"
"Martail uh?"
"She means Marcail, Mark. But she obviously doesn't have all of her speech yet. In fact, she looks really little to me. How old are you, Marcail?"
"Ee is ree," Marcail said, holding up three fingers.
Blinking down at the little girl, Michelle's face went pale. "It was nice knowing you, Mark." Michelle whispered softly.
"What do you mean?"
"You kidnapped a three year old. I can understand a teenager, but a toddler? What are you going to do with her?"
"I was going to sell her. Why?"
"You were going to DO WHAT?" Michelle screeched. "Are you insane? She won't survive two days on the market, not the way she is now. She's too tiny!"
"If she wants to live, she'll make it. Besides, look at her parents. Unfortunately for us, they're survivors."
"His dying isn't worth it Mark."
"She killed my brother."
"He ATTACKED her! I was their, Mark. I saw it just as you did."
"She will pay for her crimes, and selling her daughter to the market is the best way. Finding her daughter first gone and then dead will be the best revenge we
can get!"
"Mark you're forgetting one thing, well person actually."
"Who? I forget no one."
"The father."
"I know all about mister Gundam Pilot. He is a nobody. He can't do anything to me! The guy's just a joker who got lucky and got his hands on a Gundam."
"Well, if that is how you feel, it was nice knowing you. And Mark, be good to the little girl or I WILL kill you."
The connection was suddenly cut, and Mark found himself staring at a blank screen. He looked down at Marcail, who had cried herself to sleep, and grinned.
"Yes, little girl. The daughter of a Gundam Pilot will bring a lot of cash. Oh yes she will."
~~~
Leaning back against her headboard, Hilde sighed softly. It had been a long day, and tomorrow was going to be even longer. They had it all planned out. Hilde,
Sally, and Noin were going to lead the team in through the back way for backup, while Duo, Heero, and Milliardo took the front. The remaining outfit would
guard the escape exits that would be most likely way out.
Hilde had reach an exhausted yet hyper stage, and sleep was as far from her reach as it could get. She was also scared out of her mind. What if something
happed to Marcail? What if she wasn't there, or the man had already moved on? There were a hundred thoughts running through her head, and she was scared
senseless. All she wanted to do was to be held by Duo, and hear him tell her that everything was going to be okay. With Marcail's kidnapping she had come to
realize that there were some things in life that were to special to lose, and what she had with Duo was one of those things.
Her insides were frozen in a way they hadn't been since the war. The first time that had happened was when she had joined Oz. She had been so nervous that
her superiors would discover she was younger than she was supposed to be. The second had been when she had rescued Duo. She had always been risking her neck for that crazy baka back then. Though she'd been the
bigger baka recently. Duo didn't ask her to risk her neck; she had done it with him in mind. Oh how stupid could she be? She would have to teach Marcail that
little lesson; never go off doing stupid stuff for a guy. It can get you killed. It had almost gotten her killed.
"Hilde," Duo's voice rang across the room. "We need to talk."
Nodding her head she motioned him in. "What is it Duo."
"I don't want you going on the mission."
"What!" She said, her eyes going wide with shock.
"And I want to know why you didn't tell me about killing a guy on Libra."
"I killed a lot of people, Duo." She retorted, rolling her eyes "Its called war."
"But in mobile dolls, Hilde. Killing people face to face is a lot harder to get over. Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because you would just worry, and you already had enough on your shoulders, Duo."
"You are never too much for me, Hilde. I always want to know when something is wrong."
"I'm fine." Turning toward the window Hilde took a deep breath, and tried not to scream.
"And as for the mission," Duo started.
"Don't you dare say I cannot go, Duo Maxwell. Marcail is my daughter and I have the right to be there. Not you or anyone else has the right to tell me where I
can and can not go."
"Hilde, I am your husband I do have the right to say that," Duo snarled, his eyes going black with anger.
"I don't think so, Maxwell. I hate to say it, but I'm not the one who loses his temper," she snapped her finger, matching his glare with her own. "Like that
when someone he knows is in trouble."
"Hilde, it's too dangerous," Duo snapped back, eyes flashing.
"But not for you uh? I survived a war, Duo. I think I can survive this."
"I don't want you to put yourself in any more danger than necessary."
"And you can put yourself in danger, Maxwell?" Hilde said, looking at him as if he had grown two heads. "I don't think so."
"Hilde, I will lock you up if I have to."
"You even try to lock me up, and I swear that if you though Libra was bad what will happen next will scare ten year out of your life."
"Hilde, you are not doing anything stupid," Duo snarled, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close. "I won't lose you again."
"Then let me come along where you can at least keep an eye on me." Hilde tried to compromise "You're letting your fear get to you, Duo, and quite frankly if you
leave me behind I will go after him myself."
Duo's expression softened, and he sighed, "I just don't want to lose you. I already did that once, and I knew you were alive. I almost lost it then, babe. I
dunno what I'd do if you died."
Wrapping her arms around his waist, Hilde sighed softly and hugged him. "I know, Duo, but you can't make me stay home. I have to be there." Her voice
suddenly hardened. "And if you ever think of locking me up, I will kill
you myself, God of Death or no. Got that?"
"Yes. Yeah, Hilde. I got it."
"Good. Just remember, I don't want to lose you either. Sides, we have to catch this freak and make him pay."
Chuckling softly, Duo pulled her back into another hug, before replying. "He will pay. I promise you that, Hilde, he will pay."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Relena grinned up at Heero. He was hidden in the shadows, but she knew he was there. "That went better than I thought it would."
Heero just nodded. Relena caught the slight gesture and grinned again. "For a second there I thought she was gonna strangle him."
"Foolish baka," Wufei muttered. "Never make an onna mad without reason."
"Wufei, are you alright?" Sally teased.
"I think he has a fever," Noin replied dryly.
"He is right though" Milliardo murmured. "Specially one with a temper to match your own." Smiling fondly down at Noin, he sighed. "We should all get to bed and
stop watching the love birds. Besides they might find us, and then its every one for themselves."
Nodding their heads, the group quickly dissipated, each of them lost in their own thoughts about what tomorrow would bring.
Authors notes: Questions? Thoughts? Comments? Email me at