~*~Chapter 3-Don't leave me old friend ~*~



Each opponent eyed each other wearily. "I forgot how good you are Sorcha! You've been gone on that mission too long." the other girl smirked.

"Still not as good as you Nerida. That's probably why you're team leader!" They both ran towards each other full speed. Sorcha had long, un-tameable wavy black hair. Her green eyes seemed to glisten in the light and cast a shadow when they were in the dark. Her voice held a rich Irish accent. The one named Nerida ducked to avoid a fatal kick. Grabbing Sorcha's foot Nerida flipped her over her head. Then pressed a glistening dagger to her throat so that one move would slit her throat. "I give." she sighed disappointedly. Nerida tucked her dagger away and helped Sorcha up.

"Come on, we got to go meet Elita, Jo and Sajana. First though I have to go to my room. I'll meet you guys in the briefing room Dr. T will be pissed if you're a no show. She's already mad at you because of your last mission." Sorcha nodded sadly. Nerida smiled at her reassuringly before heading towards her room.



The one known as Nerida sat quietly at her vanity. This room was so much like her room in the Peacecraft mansion. 'No! It is not MY room in the Peacecraft mansion. It is Relena Peacecraft Dorlain's, NOT Nerida Jackson's. How long has it been? 1 year 12 months and 16 days...' she was snapped out of her thoughts as she felt something licking at her ankles. She gently picked up the small gray wolf pup. "Hi Zero!" she had named it after Wing Zero but usually just called him Zero. "Come on boy, let's go meet everyone." she gently put the small pup on the ground. Zero followed her every command, it absolutely adored her. It gently pawed at her leg showing his big black eyes, it whimpered gently. She shook her head and picked him up, "you're getting too lazy for your own good." The duo quickly made it's way to the briefing room.



The door burst open as Nerida and Zero fell flat on their faces. Nerida quickly scurried to her seat. "Sorry about that. I kind of tripped."

"We noticed." Elita had dirty blonde hair that reached just past her shoulders, hazel eyes and freckles. Sajana was Arabian with dark brown hair that reached her shoulders and brown eyes. She had a dark tan and metal garments strapped to each arm which each hold daggers which come out on command. Jo had white hair (a/n: yes I know it sounds ridiculous but I know someone who's in grade 7 with white hair. It's natural mind you *glares*) and a slight tan from spending so much time on the beaches. The group leader, Nerida had fine, long, waist-length honey-blonde hair. Her cerulean blue eyes held pride, innocence long forgotten, honor and strength.

Dr. T coughed getting everyone's attention back on her. "The organization is now officially being called the Soke organization. They are planning on attacking the Preventors headquarters in exactly one month. This means much more intense training from now on. No more raves or wild parties. Every second you're not eating/drinking or sleeping you are training. You have the rest of today off. So, go have fun at your last rave or something. "As they were all leaving Dr. T held Nerida back. Immediately Zero started growling and bearing his teeth at her. "Well isn't he over-protective?" she said sarcastically.

"Oh, he's just showing off. Aren't you boy?" The wolf immediately began to lick her hand affectionately.

"We've just gotten news that Mr. Pegan Bowring has just fallen extremely ill and was rushed to the hospital last night. The doctors say that his chances aren't good. He only has about two days maximum. I know I don't know much of your past Nerida, but I'm allowing you to go. Just please, don't blow your cover and get anybody killed." Nerida began to tremble. 'Pegan, dying? He can't! I have to go, I won't believe it until I see it.' "Come back safe... Rele-."

"Don't! Don't call me that! I am not Relena Dorlain Peacecraft any longer Tristan!" Dr. T / Tristan looked at her sympathetically.

"You have 3 days off Nerida." she simply nodded. Gathering her wits she called for Zero to follow her and ran towards the hangar.



Nerida had chosen to take a stealth plane and concealed it in a nearby forest. She jumped into her convertible black Jag. Running in almost out of breathe she asked the nurse at the front desk as nicely as she could where Pegan was. It only took a few seconds but to Nereda it took ages. He was on the top floor. Running she slammed into the elevator button jamming her finger into it impatiently. "Come on, come on!" she urged it through clenched teeth. "Damn!" She began running once again up and up up hundreds of stairs. She finally made it to his room. Glancing through the window she saw him hooked up to the IV. She took a deep breathe as she entered his room. "Pegan?" her voice was barely audible, it was just slightly louder than a mouse. He didn't respond. The only the thing that reassured her that he was still alive was the steady pulse of the heart monitor. She shut the door quietly behind her. "Pegan?" she asked again, this time with more confidence. His eyes opened slightly.

"R-Relena?" she smiled. And walked over to his bedside.

"Yes, it's me old friend." He sighed, then mustering up all the energy her could he placed his hand on hers.

"I knew you'd come. I missed you Relena." Tears suddenly spilled out of her own eyes as he said this. He squeezed her hand gently and looked into her eyes, eyes holding more tears than it could bear. "I'm glad I could see you on my last day in this cruel, cruel world. It was gentle enough to me, but for you... it was too cruel for me to bear watching. You were always like a granddaughter to me except, much more like a friend. Stay strong Relena, the world needs your strength."

"No Pegan, no! Don't leave me, please. I'll do anything, just promise you'll stay here with me. Please Pegan!" she sounded like a lost child, a lost child who had just lost everything, she sounded like the lost child she was in her memories of her short childhood. She sounded like a lost child that she was all to familiar with.

"You'll do quite fine without me Relena." His face contorted in pain, "It's my time, Relena. I'll be watching over you. Good-bye, Relena."

"No Pegan. You told me once before that there were no good-byes in life, only I'll see you later or we'll meet again soon just, no good-byes." She felt his hand go limp. She saw his skin get clammy. And she heard the heart monitor go flat. Oh that wretched heart monitor. The steady beat had turned flat. "Pegan? Pegan don't leave me! NOOOOOO!" She let out a scream like never before. It felt like someone had burned a whole right through her heart. She began to bawl hysterically. "Pegan come back!!! Please, I beg you!" Her heart-wrenched screams had turned into desperate whimpers begging him to come back. She got out of the room as the nurses came in. As soon as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her she knew who it was. "He left me Heero, he left me!" She began sobbing into his shirt and pounded her fist against his chest. She was shaking uncontrollably.