Chapter 10: A sad rescue

Chapter 10: A sad rescue

His uniform wasn't comfortable but he didn't care. Still, it would have been easier to get through those air conditioning tunnels if the suit had been a bit larger. It was a little too tight and he wasn't able to move as easily as he would have wished. But, he didn't have the time to choose the perfect size; he had bigger problems on his mind.

A couple of meters later, he turned right, remembering exactly where he was supposed to go. It was all clear in his mind. He didn't check the map for more than 30 seconds but he had been trained to such extremes and he really couldn't afford to get caught. Infiltrating the base had been easier than he thought. The security wasn't as hi as he though it would be. He had entered the mobile suit hangar were only 10 guards had been posted. It had been easier to knock one of them out and steal his uniform…They were too sure of themselves, it would be their downfall... He continued to advance as fast as he could. The metal was rough against the skin of his arms but he still didn't care. He had to continue a little more. As soon as Relena was free, he would send the signal. The others would attack, making a diversion. The base was exactly like the ones he was used to. Those people were exactly the same as Oz: same attitude, same ideas… same love of war.

According to his memory of the map, he was near Relena's cell. He slowed down his moves.

No noise.

He looked carefully around, counting the number of soldiers. Only three, that would be easy. Still, he had to stop them before they warned the others. The tunnel was to tight for him to turn around. The only way to open the plate that covered the air vent was with a good kick. He decided to go back a few meters and make himself turn. That way, his feet would be the ones near the vent.

The first guard was knocked out before he could even move. The second one did try to fire at Heero but before he realised it, his gun was gone and he was looking at the floor, unconscious. The third guard was quicker and he did manage to fire a couple of shoots at Heero. Unfortunately for him, Heero had a gun too, he too was defeated.

From his back, Heero pulled a little switch and pushed it.

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"General! General! Were under attack!"

From his personal quarter, Kale Barton opened his communication link and looked at the young sergeant who was talking to him.

"What are you talking about?" The lack of sleep from the last month had made him very cranky.

Before the young sergeant could answer, he felt the floor shake under his feet. "Sergeant! Report now!"

"It's… it's the… I know this suit sir! The Talgeese! It's attacking the main facilities!"

Another little screen appeared at the up-right corner of Kale's screen. "Sir! The north facilities are being attacked by some white Taurus!"

Kale didn't take the time to answer. As he was leaving his room, two more screens appeared on his communication video telling him that the south, East and West facilities were also being attacked.

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"Sally look out!" Sally turned her Taurus suit around just in time to avoid the enemy's blast. Raising her laser gun, she fired at the suit, destroying it complete. "Man! Look out, Sally. If you don't come back alive, Wufei's gonna kill me!"

Sally fired at another suit and smiled at the same time. "Don't worry Duo, I'll be all right! After all, I was in the military before."

Duo made his suit take a step left and raised the two strips his suit had to cut two suits in the same time. "Man, I hate those suits! They are way to slow."

"Hey, don't start with the Gundam pilot power now. I have to endure Wufei's all day. I don't need yours."

"Don't worry, I'll be as modest as… a shrimp!"

"What?!"

"Na, forget it."

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The cell was dark and he couldn't see anything in it. It was so quiet, were they dead?

"Relena, are you in there?"

He felt something move in the dark and get closer to him. A face appeared before him, a woman's face… it wasn't Relena… it was… "Hilde?!"

The young woman smile. "Well, you don't look happy to see me, Heero Yuy."

The expression of surprised that had appeared on Heero's face was already gone. "Is Relena with you?"

"I'm here." A small voice came from the end of the cell. Heero's eyes were now accustom to the darkness and he could see her near a body. He took a few steps closer to it, leaving Hilde near the door. Leaving the body alone, he took a step near Relena. He didn't touch her, simply looked at her. "Are you all right?"

She turned her face from him and looked at Paygan. "I'm fine, but Paygan needs help, he's too weak to move on his own."

"Paygan, he's here?" Heero looked at the old man. He could see now that the man's eyes were open and that he was looking at him. He put an arm around Paygan's shoulder, forcing him to stand. "Come on, we got to go. They'll be here very soon."

"Relena, Heero!" Hilde was calling from the door. "I hear their footsteps. Hurry up!"

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"Did you check the prisoners' cell?"

"Yes General, but the camera is down. Some soldiers are on their way there."

"You idiots! It's too late now! He came to rescue her!" Kale left the room, not looking back at his helpless soldiers. My only chance is to stop them with the specials.

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Turning back her head again to make sure they were following, Relena stopped.

"Are you sure you guys don't need help?"

"Yes." Answered angrily Heero. "Stop looking back and continue to check that everything is ok ahead. Wait, I got a better idea. Come here and take my place, I'll be the one checking the way."

Without replying to Heero's tone, Relena quietly took Paygan's arm and put it around her neck.

"Don't worry about me, Miss Relena. I'm doing a lot better. I can walk on my own." Said weakly Paygan

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, please, I'm only slowing you down this way."

Letting Paygan go, Hilde and Relena continued to walk beside him, just to make sure that he was really able to stand on his own. To their surprise, the old man was doing fine.

Relena turned her head around, Heero had disappeared. She was about to call his name when his face appeared from around the corner. "Come quick. Most of the mobile suits are gone fighting the others outside. It's our chance to take one and make our escape. Hilde, will you be able to fly the suit and take Paygan with you?"

Hilde raised her head. "Hey, I didn't forget anything alright!"

Not answering to that. Heero motioned his arm, telling to advance quietly.

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"Sir! You cannot take the specials! They are not ready yet!"

Barton looked at Major Kanzaki who was blocking the way to the suits.

"How complete are they?"

"60%, sir. If you take them to battle right now, you may destroy them completely!" Kanzaki looked desperate.

"Get out of my way Major, I'm taking the specials."

"'I'm taking one as well." Barton turned his head around. Karov was behind him. His eyes were dark and he looked in some kind of trance. Kale had never seen him like this. "Colonel, I think it's wise…."

"Cut the crap General. I'm not going to let that girl escape at any cost. I'm gonna stop them even if you don't me too. "

Not sure if he was supposed to let his subaltern insult him this way, Barton didn't react. He looked at the man in front of him and slowly, he rose his arm, pointing the specials. "Stop them, Colonel."

As if it was a simple normal order, Karov saluted him. "Yes, sir." And tried to make his way to the specials. Again, Kanzaki stopped them. "Sir! They are not ready! You'll get killed or destroyed!"

Pushing him away, Karov made his way to the special #1. "Nonsense."

Without looking at Kanzaki who had fell down, Barton made his way to the special #2.

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He had to be careful. The suit wasn't as fast as his Sandrock. But still, he wasn't surprise to see that he still had it in him. How long would it take for him to stop being a soldier? When will he able to have a normal life? To smile, knowing that nothing wrong was going on? To love?

Love.

A simple word so complicate for him.

He mad his suit turned right and fired at the suit in front of him.

Love.

Love whom?

"Quatre! Behind you!"

"Whoa!" Quatre made his suit go backward and with his two strips, he cut through the suits.

"Thanks, Miss Noin."

"Just like in the old days, hey Quatre?"

"You've said it. How much are we expecting?"

"Heero said at least 400. "

Again, Quatre fired at a suit. Yeah…just like in the old days…

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It was lonely.

It was a lonely battlefield. They were trying to defeat him. But he was a Gundam pilot. They had no chance.

His emerald eyes narrowed.

Why?

They were so young.

They had been fooled. They had be trained to fight.

They had be trained for revenge.

Just like him….

Midii, I'll come back to you.

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"Hurry up!" Heero looked at Relena and Paygan who were the last one to entered the mobile suit hangar.

"Heero, would you calm down! Paygan can't…"

"Miss Relena! Look out!" From behind a door a man appeared. He pointed his gun directly on Relena who was too surprise to move.

With no word, no warning, he pulled the trigger.

Only one was echo was heard. But Heero had fired also. Two bodies fell on the ground.

"Long….live…General…Barton…" With that, he was dead.

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Why are they taking so long? Heero Yuy, if you cannot protect my sister, that means that you cannot protect peace…

You won't deserve to live.

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"Oh my God! No!" She fell on the body on the floor. "Please, God, no!"

Crying, she took the old man head in her arms. "Please, Paygan, say something."

"Miss… Re… lena." He tried to smile but the pain made his gently features twist in pain.

"Don't move. We'll save you." Tears were falling down her cheeks. "You'll survive. Please hold on."

"Relena, we must move. They'll catch us."

Relena turned her face to look at Hilde. "I know. Hilde help."

"I… I cannot do anything. If we move him, he'll die. If you stay, we are all dead."

"No!" Relena buried her face in Paygan's neck. "Please, not again!"

"Miss… Re…le..na…. You…must…go….bring…peace… to… this…..world…." Paygan's face showed a last trace of agony before freezing completely.

"No!! No!!"

Relena felt herself being pulled from the floor. "Heero! What are you doing?!" Heero had encircled her waist, like at the anniversary of the end of the Eve war. He pulled her with him and made is way to a suit.

"Hilde! Get your suit and get out of here!"

Without answering, Hilde ran to a suit.

"Heero! Let me go! Paygan!"

"I'm not going to loose you again!"

With not gentleness, Heero pushed her in the suit and entered after her. He buckled her on the top of him and turned the machine on.

"You are going to survive. I promised it to your brother."

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"Zechs."

"Yuy! It's about time. Where is my sister?"

"She's with me. Hilde his behind us."

"Hilde? She's alive?

"Yeah."

"How's everything here?"

"I think we're handling things right. Get your butt out of here as soon as possible."

" No prob."

Heero was about to make his get away when a new mobile suit appeared in front of him.

"Heero. Is that Wing Zero?" Asked Relena.

The new suit pointed his long gun directly on Heero's suit. He couldn't move without the risk of behind shot. Another suit arrived behind. It was the same design, but the colours were different. Instead of being blue red and white, is was green grey and black. The second suit pointed his gun on the Talgeese.

"I don't think you're going anywhere mister Yuy."

"Gabriel!"

"Barton…"

Heero looked at the face that appeared on his screen. The man looked dead insane.

"Let us go Barton."

"You still don't get it Yuy. I'm winning this game. You're only a minor distraction to my plans."

"And what are those plans exactly?" Came the angry voice of Zechs

"Well, looks like the whole family is here. What a pleasant situation. I'll get rid of all the Peacecraft in the same time."

"Gabriel… please… listen…"

"Shut up!" Kale's gun was now closed to Heero's suit. "Shut up! I don't want to hear anything from you! It's all you fault!"

"Kill her, General."

"My God… Karov.. is that you?" Zechs voice was strange.

"Millardo, do you know him?" Asked Relena surprise.

Silence.

"If I know him! He was one of Barton's pound! He killed more than an 100 innocent people just to put Barton were he was." Zechs put his suit in the defence position. "He's the mad one Yuy, look out."

"Gabriel… please. Listen to me."

Gabriel didn't answered. He was looking at Karov's picture in the screen. He didn't know he had killed so many people. He knew Karov was a special man but not a murder.

"Gabriel, I want peace. For you, for the humanity… even for me. Please. Give me chance. Help me. Don't do this."

"Shut up bitch!" Karov hands clenches on the handful. "You have no idea what is real peace."

"You neither! You're as young as me!"

"I do! I lived in a country under war while you were making miss little Queen! I saw your face on that monitor! I will have peace but you won't live to see it!" As he said his last word, he pushed the button on his handful and fired his laser canon. What happened next happened really fast. Relena closed her eyes, waiting for the blast. Heero tried to move his suit away from the blast but his suit wasn't fast enough. Zechs fired at Karov and almost complete destroy the unfinished suit.

She saw it fall down on the ground.

It was so heavy.

It was so sad.

Gabriel had gave up his life to save her.

To save peace.

She screamed.

Heero opened the patch.

She jumped off and ran to it. It was burning but she didn't care.

She found him. He had managed to open the patch.

He was there, lying on the ground. Blood all around him. She took his face and looked at it.

A tear.

"Bring… peace… to… the world…. I… love…y.."

Silence.