He had never been to Duo's apartment before. The only time he'd seen it was as background whenever Duo called him. He hadn't realized what a run-down place it was. He knew that Duo had enough money to do better. Especially since he was living with that girl. He wondered why Duo didn't just go to a nicer place.
He got to Duo's door and noticed that the lights weren't on. Heero hoped that Duo hadn't gone out on a date or something and had forgotten about Heero's message. Heero was about to ring the doorbell when he noticed a small scrap of paper with a Duo-scrawl on it that said, "Doorbell broken. Just knock loudly". Heero shrugged inwardly. He knocked loudly enough for anybody inside to hear.
There was a long pause. Heero started to wonder what was going on. Duo wouldn't get up and leave when he knew that Heero was coming over. Heero was about to knock again when the door opened a crack, just enough for a violet eye to appear.
"Duo," Heero said, questioning his friend's actions. Then Duo opened the door all the way and pulled Heero in.
"Man, am I glad you're here!" Duo said. Heero could tell. He was afraid that Duo was going to hug him, and that would be very awkward.
"Is something wrong?" Heero turned back to the door to watch Duo lock it and then turn around to face him.
"It's been a very long day." Duo said, walking to the living room area.
"You're telling me. Are your lights not working, either?"
"I turned them off. Don't want the police to think I'm here." Duo smiled.
Oh no, Heero thought. He's worried about the police. This can't be good. He didn't say anything, though. Duo was acting strangely. Something was obviously wrong. He'd seen Duo get through a lot, and he could tell when he was forcing a smile.
"Do you want something to drink? We got water and more water." Duo turned to move to the kitchen, but Heero shook his head. Duo sat down on the couch. Heero sat in the chair across from him.
"What's your situation?" Heero asked. Might as well exchange data.
"They took Hilde. Told me to meet them somewhere tomorrow to get her back."
"Who?"
Duo shrugged. "Dunno. But I feel sorry for them! Hilde probably beat them around a bit before they finally got her."
It must be the new rebellion that Zechs had been talking about. He had said they were based on L2. They were using Hilde to get to Duo. They must not have trusted themselves with a direct attack on Duo. So why did they try a direct attack on him?
Duo stretched back and put his feet up on the coffee table in front of him. "I was planning on going tomorrow when they said and just shooting the hell out of them. Don't look surprised. You probably knew that I kept my gun. And I'm betting that you have your old gun tucked away somewhere."
"The Preventers are working on this." Heero told him.
"I know. Got a call from Lady Une. I was supposed to go to Earth immediately."
"Why didn't you?"
Duo looked at him as if that were a strange question to ask. "You called and told me to stay here." He shrugged. "I figured the other pilots would head to Earth. You must have your reason for coming here."
"Investigation."
"By yourself?"
"With your help."
Duo practically beamed. "I knew someday I'd get you to admit that you need my help."
Heero crossed his arms. "I don't need your help. You were just the most convenient person to meet with. Plus, you live on L2, where this is starting. If I'd known where Trowa's circus was, I might have gone to him."
Duo's smile faded. "Well, thanks, pal!" He stood up. "You gonna help me get Hilde back or not?" He asked, his back turned to Heero.
"If Hilde were taken by this rebellion, then it would be a good idea to use this as an opportunity to find out more about them. We'll capture the agents that meet with you and try to get some information out of them."
"Sounds good. I'm going to bed. The meeting's at noon tomorrow so don't oversleep. You can sleep on the couch, if you want. Or Hilde's room. Whatever." Duo walked into a dark hallway and disappeared.
Heero was a little surprised. Usually Duo would have stayed up and just talked about what was going on. He didn't even ask any questions about the bombing. Heero had been prepared to tell him about Zechs. He thought some more. Had what he said really upset Duo that much? He was just telling the truth. He should have remembered that Duo tended to take stuff like that personally.
Heero sat back in his chair, and allowed himself to doze off.
****
Duo knew he wouldn't be getting much sleep. In fact, he probably should have stayed up and discussed things with Heero, but Duo was just exhausted. First, having Hilde taken like this. Then Heero's little comment. Duo supposed he had overreacted a bit to Heero, but he was mentally exhausted right now. He needed some sympathy, not Heero's attitude. Duo wished Quatre had come. Quatre could dish out enough sympathy for the entire colony.
Regardless, they had a plan of action, and Duo had with him the one person who could be sure to carry out those plans without a problem. He'd just have to put up with him till they found Hilde.
Then what? Attack the new rebellion? Duo wasn't too thrilled about fighting again, but if a new force was building, who else could fight? He didn't want somebody else going in his place and then getting killed. He'd have to fight.
Duo turned the light off. He should have asked Heero more about what was going on. He knew he could go back out and ask him, but it was too late. They both needed sleep.
****
Trowa and Dorothy had taken a late flight to L2. Trowa wasn't sure which colony to go to in that area, so he decided to just choose whichever colony cost the least to get to. He knew Dorothy had a lot of money and didn't seem to mind spending it, but Trowa would rather keep some cash just in case.
Dorothy didn't say anything about his leg, though it was obvious that he was walking with a limp. Trowa wondered where the other pilots were now. Especially Heero. He'd kept checking the casualty list, and Heero's name had never appeared. Trowa had always assumed that Heero had made it out alive, but it was nice to have confirmation.
Which led Trowa's thoughts back to Dorothy. Why was she doing this? She seemed very interested in this rebellion. Trowa's first thought would be that she wanted to join them, but her actions seemed to suggest otherwise. Could she truly be on the side of the Gundam pilots this time? Trowa hesitated to believe that. He never liked having blind trust in people. Dorothy would have to earn his trust. Until she did, he'd be sure to watch his back around her.
"So, where do we go now?" Dorothy interrupted Trowa's thoughts.
"I don't know. We should find someplace to stay. Then we can go and see if we can find anything about this rebellion."
"Perhaps it's best if I go alone. After all, they are after the Gundam pilots. You're likely to be a prime target, especially on this colony."
Trowa paused. "I won't learn anything from hiding. I need to see for myself."
"How heroic." She turned to face him. "Trowa Barton, I defer to your superior knowledge." She gave a slight bow. "Lead the way. Where you go, I'll follow."
Fake flattery. Trowa didn't know how much of that he'd be able to take. Unfortunately, he didn't think Dorothy would let him go on his own. Trowa resigned himself to the fact that he was stuck with Dorothy for the time being.
He looked up at the metal sky. I wonder what Quatre's doing now.
****
Quatre stopped typing on his computer when he heard Relena's chair rock back. He glanced behind him. She seemed to be taking a break from paperwork. Quatre sighed. He wished that he could be out doing something. He understood that playing bodyguard was important. If Lady Une thought it was necessary, then it had to be important. Still, Quatre couldn't help but want to go do something a bit more active. He could be going to L2. Or trying to find Trowa.
"Do you want something to drink, Quatre?" He heard Relena call.
Quatre turned his chair around, "No, thanks. Are you taking a break?"
She nodded, "Paperwork may be important, but it's also very boring. Fortunately, I leave for a conference in the L1 area tomorrow. I can get away from at least some of this there."
"I understand exactly what you mean." Quatre had his own share of paperwork. He always eagerly looked forward to any occasion that took him away from his office.
"Somehow, Quatre, I think you'd rather not be here."
"Not at all, Miss Relena! If you need to be protected, then I'm more than happy to guard you."
Relena took a sip of water. "I think you and I are alike in a way. Neither of us sees the point in war and fighting. We just have different ways of handling it when we do have to face a war." "You think that this incident is going to turn into another war?" Quatre asked.
Relena shook her head, "Lady Une is worried. She has a good sense for these things." She looked up at him. "I know you'd rather be out putting a stop to this right now. I just want to say that I appreciate your kindness in staying to protect me."
"You're a very important person, Miss Relena. It's very possible that you are a target. I understand why I need to stay, even though I'd rather leave."
Somebody knocked on the door. Quatre got up and opened the large door. A man walked in. He was a great deal taller than Quatre. His blonde hair was a bit long. Quatre thought he needed a haircut. The man also looked very tired and even had dark circles under his eyes.
Quatre was about to ask who he was when he heard Relena stand up.
"Kav!" She came up behind Quatre. "Quatre, this is my fiance, Kav."
Quatre turned to her. While she had been at her desk, she had seemed very sullen and serious. Now she was practically beaming.
"Relena, I need to discuss some things with you. In private," Kav said, still standing in the doorway.
"Of course. Quatre, there isn't anything to worry about." Relena said.
"It's okay, Miss Relena. I don't see any harm in letting you talk to your fiancŽ." Quatre smiled. He stepped out of the room, indicating that Kav should go in.
Quatre closed the door behind him.
****
"Kav, how are you?" Relena asked. Something seemed wrong. Kav hadn't moved from his position in front of the doors and he seemed irritated about something.
"I'm very tired." He said softly.
"I can tell. Maybe you should take a break. Let your assistants take over some of your work. It can't hurt." Relena knew that she had been burnt out a few months back. Her assistants had forced her into taking a vacation, and it helped immensely.
Kav just shook his head and looked around the office. "You have a bodyguard?"
"Lady Une arranged it. It can't possibly hurt, and I know she wouldn't have done it if the situation hadn't called for it." Relena smiled.
"Aren't you afraid that the colony will take it as a sign that you don't trust them?" Kav walked slowly towards her.
Relena shook her head. "If the situation is dangerous, it's foolish to go around without some protection. Especially when I really can't protect myself."
Kav sat down in the chair in front of Relena's desk. "Has the situation gotten that dangerous?"
"Apparently so. There have been two bombings, and one of the Gundam pilots is missing. I don't understand why they're rebelling. I thought everybody wanted peace." Relena sat down and slumped her shoulders. She usually tried to maintain her air of authority around people, but she let herself go in front of her fiance.
"Everybody does want peace. However, some people are just unhappy with the way this peace is working out."
"What do you mean by that?"
Kav was almost whispering. "L2 has lived in wretched conditions since it's formation. The Earth-Sphere Alliance did nothing to help it. OZ did nothing to help it. And now, this Earth Sphere United Nation is doing nothing to help it. You can't blame its people for getting restless. I imagine that if you had to live one day on L2, you would understand."
"Kav, we've been working to fix that. You and I, together. It's something that just can't happen over night."
Kav, stood, pulling out a gun. He pointed it at Relena's head. She remained seated, afraid to move. She'd been at gunpoint before, many times. But this was different. Nobody was supposed to have guns anymore. This was her fiancŽ. The man she loved. Why?
"Kav, what's going on?" She asked, clenching her fists. She couldn't yell for help. He'd certainly shoot her. She had to talk him out of it.
"This is a false peace, Relena. While the other colonies live in luxury, my people are suffering. That's why this rebellion must take place. We must fix the errors that have been made and help the people of L2."
"Kav, we - "
"We've done nothing. All our efforts have gotten us nowhere. When you go to L2 for meetings and councils, you see the nice, clean side of the colony. You don't see the real L2. If you did, you would support me in this."
"Support you in a rebellion that will cost the lives of people?" How long had he been a part of the rebellion? Since they'd been engaged? Longer?
"This rebellion will save people. The only people that matter to me are the people on L2. Everybody else has had their fill of the good life. It's our turn."
"And how will you do that?"
"Eliminate you. Eliminate the Gundam pilots. And put our people in charge of the Earth Sphere United Nation. That is the only way this will work."
"Kav, your goals to help L2 are right. And it's what I want, too. But we can do this without any bloodshed." That look in his eye. He didn't care.
"There's no more time for discussion, Relena. We've talked this to death. Now it's time for action." His finger tightened a bit. Relena held her breath.
"Kav, don't." She said softly. She didn't know what else she could do to make him see.
"I'm sorry, Relena. Don't take it personally."
He pulled the trigger.