A/N: Aight. I stumbeled upon one of my best friend's fics and I read her disclaimer for Gundam wing. I like it so much that I'm gonna use it. Here
it goes...* Shiroi Dragon clears throat* "For the love of God people do you think that if I owned Gundam Wing Heero would have ended up with Relena?"
Hahahahaha great diclaimer! aight. On wit the fic, not many more chapters 2 go! Just cause I love you readers...dis chap is gonna be a long one.

Chapter 17

~*~A Heart-Breaking Sacrifice~*~

" Keep up, your holding back" growled the gundam pilot. I panted and heaved as I tried to keep up with him. I'd like to see him try and run with the
pain that I was going through,' I can't...run as well as you ok?...I'm still sore...' " If you don't keep up, then I'll leave you behind" he replied
coldly. Angered by his comment, I forced the strength to run up beside him as we turned a corner,' Listen buddy. Do you think, just for a minute you
could put your ^Mikey Act^ in motion cause he was alot nicer than the asshole you've become!' Suddenly the boy stopped in his tracks. I was forced
to stop aswell. I panted as I looked at him victoriously,' Ha...I see my words have gotten to you'

" Shut-up...listen" he said leaning his back up against the wall. I held my breath for a second to listen carefully. There were a couple of guards
at the next corner. We were trapped and couldn't go. " Damn. Now what do we do?" I asked in an angry whisper. The boy looked at his gun and hm'ed
undecisively. He then handed it to me,' There's one bullet left. I've watched you during our target shooting classes. Your good at far range. Just
don't miss' I looked at him curiously. I was kinda happy to know that he at least remembered us during classes. I smirked as I grabbed the gun in my
hands. I then nodded,' Right' I inched along the side of the wall and held my gun firmly.

I only had one shot at this and it had to count. I peeked over the side of the corner and saw two gaurds talking with eachother. They were in
perfect position for me to shoot. One gaurd's back was toward me while the other gaurd was infront of the first one. So if I shot at the arm of the
gaurd closest to me, there may be a chance the bullet would go straight through and hit the other one aswell. I cautiously leaned out from the
corner and reached out my arms, pointing my gun straight at the gaurd with his back at me. I closed one eye and thought quick, but hard, where I
would shoot. I decided that the leg would be the most sufficient spot. That way we could make a run for it without having to worry about being
chased.

I breathed in and with a quick tug on the trigger, the bullet flew and sped at the gaurd's leg. It ripped right through his flesh and stuck itself
in the other gaurd's leg. I opened my eye and smirked once again,' 2 birds with one stone...' The two gaurds lied on the floor crying out in pain as
they held their bleeding legs. Heero walked up beside not showing the least bit of emotion,' Don't get relaxed right now. There's still more to get
through' He then continued running down the hall as if nothing happened. I stood there in disbelief,' Your so pessimisstic!' Quickly I ran hurriedly
and joined him while passing the 2 gaurds that weren't to happy with what I had done to their limbs.

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Slowly, a pair of colbalt blue eyes started to open. Not knowing whether they would be looking into a world of death, or into the eyes of the one
he loved. " Huh...damn...where am I?" he said wincing. Duo went to sit up when he felt a sharp pain in side which quickly convinced him that lieing
down was the best thing at the moment,' Ah! man...I forgot about the bullet wound...great' " Ah you've finally stirred. Good to see your alive and
well. Keense would be furious if you had given up on life" said a tall dark man sitting on a chair infront of the injured braided boy. Duo turned
his head and looked at the figure speaking to him,' I'm not going to die just yet. There's still alot more I need to do. Until I finish it, your
stuck looking at my face, pal'

" If I wanted to, I could easily get rid of your face, boy. So watch your tounge before I confiscate it" Trigger growled angrilly. Duo turned his
head once again and looked up at the ceiling,' I'm only going to behave myself because I'm injured. I don't need anymore damage' Trigger cocked an
eyebrow and smiled,' Wise decision. In the meantime, why don't you tell me about you and Keense. She's extremely fond of you. It's a rare thing.
Usually she's angry with anyone who gets in her way yet you seem to have won your way around that little obstacle' The chestnut haired boy closed
his eyes and tried not to overreact,' Leave Keense out of this. Whatever is going on between me and her is none of your bussiness...'

The dark haired man shurgged his shoulders from where he was sitting,' No need to get jealous. It's not as if I can take her away from you anyway.
As you already know she hates everything about me' Duo turned and looked at him with his rare serious look,' And do you have reason why she
shouldn't?' " Hell no. I was doing my job so whether she liked it or not, it was bound to happen to her sooner or later. She's gotten over it and
soon she'll forget it ever happened" he said assuringly. Duo closed his eyes in disappointment,' Taking away a lady's womanhood by force is
nothing to be proud of. Especially when your ordered to do it. Something like that can't be forgotten. It's like a scar. The only difference is, is
that only she can see it aswell as others like her'

" Pfft. What do you know. Your just saying that to defend her because she isn't here. Your words don't affect me" he hissed back. The braided boy
opened his eyes curiously,' Don't you feel at least a bit of shame for what you've done? If Keense wasn't as strong as she is, she'd be in a mental
hospital right now. Not here trying to make a difference for you people. After this is over, she won't be able to live like an ordinary woman. She
probably won't be able to have a proper relationship with her partner later on in life! How can you not feel shame in knowing that you've ruined a
lady by trying to force her into a whore?'

Trigger rose from his chair and pointed his finger angrily at the injured gundam pilot,' Shut the hell up. Who are you to tell me if I should feel
shame or not! I don't feel the least bit of shame at all. Your just a little boy! It takes a man to do what I did!'" If raping a woman makes you a
man, then why was I the pilot of a gundam? " Duo shot back annoyingly. Trigger growled in anger. The braided boy looked up at the ceiling again,
' I didn't need any woman to get that job. So who's really the man here?' " Oh you little bastard. Not only are you sneaky, but your wit is quick
to" said Trigger deviously as he calmly sat back down in his chair.

" I don't know what your talking about..." said Duo seriously as he lied there on the cold floor. " I'm not stupid you little fuck. You tried to
anger me so I'd end up killing you. Then the commanding officers would have my throat. It took them quite some time to find you the right sergeons
on this colony to fix that bullet wound for you. You should be extremely greatfull. If you hadn't received medical attention soon after that shot,
you wouldn't be here talking with me right now" he replied.

Duo hm'ed as he closed his eyes. He was greatfull that he was still alive, but the fact that he was healed just so he would be hated, annoyed him.
" Oh...and you have Keense to thank to. If it weren't for her, you'd also be dead right now" he added. The young boy opened his eyes in wonder. He
then turned his head and looked at the I.C.O.N assassin,' What do you mean? Where is she?!' " Don't anger yourself. You'll only tire yourself out.
Then again, if I were you I would have reason to be angry. You having these feelings for her and all" he said teasingly trying to get the gundam
pilot's rage to burn. " Shut up about that...where is she?" Duo asked anxiously.

" She's dead..." he replied coldly with no expression. Duo growled,' You lie...' " Why would I lie about that? I have no reason to. Just a few
minutes ago while you were still knocked out, she was summoned by the commanding officers. She's definetely dead right now. The commanding officers
don't stall with matters like this. You only have yourself to blame" he said. Duo closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as his head faced the
ceiling while Trigger continued to irritate him with verbal torment,' She willingly gave up her life for you. After you were shot, I told her that
I'd pretend as if nothing happened only if she gave you up to the commanding officers. She knew that was the only way you would live. The only
thing was, if she gave you up, she'd die. If she would have left you, she'd probably still be alive'

* Keense...no. Why? Why'd you go do something so stupid?!* Duo said in thought, angrily. " What're you talking about. I'm still up and kicking" I
said holding a gun in my hands. Trigger whipped around and saw me standing there in the prison door, glaring at him. His eyes were wide with shock,
disbelieving that I was still alive,' No. You died! The commanding officers-' " Are dead. And so will you be in just a few seconds..." I said
anxiously. Frantically, the dark haired man looked to the side and saw the gaurd that was suppose to be watching the door was now unconscience on
the floor. He then looked back to me nervously,' Is that gun really loaded?' I smiled and fired a shot close to his feet. I then placed my aim back
to where his heart beated to evily." Convinced? or do you need another demonstration?" I asked smirking. It felt good to be in power. Knowing that
one of your worst enemies had no other choice but to cower before you.

" Even if you kill me, the colony will destroy you and your boyfriend here..." he said backing up nervously. Suddenly another figure emerged behind
me. Trigger's nervous and shocked expression grew into more detail,' Mikey? But I thought he was-' " Dead? Ya he is. Mikey is long deceased...
say hello to Heero Yuy. Pilot of Gundam 01..." I said feeling pretty good about the situation. The look on Trigger's face was priceless. " A...
another gundam pilot?!" he yelped out in fear.

" Yep. What's that saying now? Once you lay your eyes on a gundam it's the last thing you'll see. I think it goes the same for its pilot. Don't you
think...Trigger?" I said angrily. The man continued backing up in fear, shaking his head praying that I'd show him mercy,' Keense...no! Don't do it!'
I hm'ed,' To late' I pulled the tigger back and instantly the bullet fired from the gun. It then sped right into the man's heart, burrying itself
deep and killing him instantly. Slowly I lowered my gun at the same time, Trigger's body slid down the wall. Leaving a beautiful red blood line as
a result. The smoke from my gun flew upwards. I looked way feeling a sense of justice,' That was the first time I've killed someone purposely' Heero
stood beside me and looked at Trigger's lifeless body sitting upside the wall,' No need for me to ask whether or not it satisfied you, knowing that
he's dead. Even I don't know the answer and I've killed more than the amount of kills the students on this colony have killed alltogether.'

" Well I'M satisfied that he's dead. His voice was like an itch I couldn't scratch..." said Duo as he continued to lie there patiently. I looked over
at his lieing body and felt greatfull that he was alive. Happily I walked over and sat down beside him, looking at him with soft eyes. Eyes that told
him that someone loved him,' You ok?' The boy smiled. The one smile I loved so much,' Ya. I'm fine. Just a bit tired is all...You?' I smiled back,
competing against his,' Great' " I hate to ruin the moment, but we should be getting out of here while we can" The other gundam pilot stated.
" But what about the bombs?" Duo asked curiously. I placed a hand on his cheek. He was cold. I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them again
only to stare back in his cute curious face,' Your friend already planted the bombs. All we have to do is get the the ship I took to get here. Then
we can go back to Earth...'

Suddenly the short, dark haired brown boy knelt down beside me looking at our injured companion,' Duo, can you sit up?' " Ha. Ya right..." he
replied. " Fine. Keense, take your gun and gaurd the prison door. Make sure no one comes near. I'll help Duo up" he said seriously. I nodded and did
what I was told. I stood cautiously looking out like a vulture while Heero helped Duo to his feet. Soon they both stood in the door way. Duo had his
right arm slung around Heero's neck, while Heero himself supported the braided teen and helped him to walk. " You ready?" I asked curiously. Heero
nodded. What we were about to do wasn't going to be an easy task. Somehow, we had to get to the main floor and get to the ship without getting
caught. No one said this would be easy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" Err..." grunted Duo as the pain continued to singe his side. I walked infront of the two, making sure that no one got in our way. Right now we
had to find the opposite stair well since the power was down and the elevators weren't working. When we finally came to the door, Duo's pain only
continued to increase. " Just a bit more ok Duo?" I said concernly as Heero continued to help him. I looked back at the door and opened it, aswell
as holding it for the other 2 to walk in. I then closed the door and looked at what we had to climb. " Shit...this isn't good..." I said seriously.
Duo laughed lightly,' This just isn't my day is it...' " We have no choice. There's only about 15 minutes until those bombs go off..." stated Heero.

I thought for a minute. Heero was right. If we wanted to live, we had no choice but to go up the stairs. It may be nothing for me and Heero to climb
but for Duo, it was a whole different story. I placed my gun in the strap that still stuck to my thigh. I then made my way over to Duo's left side
and slung his left arm around my neck. " Ok...this should be easier on you with 2 of us helping. Just relax. All you need to use if your feet" I
said looking at him from the side. " Ready?" asked Heero. " Ya" I replied. Then at the same time, we both began to help our injured friend up the
stairs. There were 3 flights. Like I said before. This was nothing for me and Heero to climb. But for Duo, this was killer. I hoped it wasn't to
much stress on his wound.

Going through one flight of stairs seemed as if it took forever. At least 2 minutes were taken on each flight. When we reached the top, we sat Duo
down upside the walled railing. We now had only 9 minutes to get off this colony. I kneeled down beside the braided boy and his condition didn't
seem to be getting any better. He was breathing heavily and was sweating madly. " I don't know if we'll make it out of here at the pace we're going"
stated Heero semi angrily. I ignored his comment. I knew what he really meant and I wasn't about to do it. I then zipped down my pilot suit and
pulled the sleeves off reavealing my loose tank top. I placed a piece of the material in my mouth and clutched another part with my hands. With
great force, I pulled in opposite directions ripping a long piece off.

I then folded it and began to wipe off the tired boy's face. " Hang on Duo. Just a bit more ok?" I said. I looked down at the bandages that were
wrapped around his waist. It seemed as if the blood was starting to seep through. His wound was re-opening. " How much longer do you think it might
take us before we reach the ship?" I asked worriedly. There was a short moment of silence before the short brown haired boy spoke,' If we leave now,
we'd probably make it there in 5 minutes. We'll have 4 minutes to leave the colony' * 4 minutes. That should be enough. I just need you to be strong
for a little bit more. Then you can rest* I said mentally, looking at Duo. " Alright, lets get moving then" I said helping the injured boy to his
feet. Placing his arm around my neck once again. Heero did the same only on the opposite side.

We went through the door and walked down the hall. All we had to do was turn a corner and we would be home free. Walking down the hall wasn't as bad
as it was going up the stairs." Keense. You'll have to let go of Duo. I need you to stay infront gaurding us with your gun" said Heero suddenly.
I decided not to make a fuss and did what I was told once again. Slowly and gently, I took Duo's arm off from around my neck. I took out my gun and
we continued walking down the hall. When we finally reached the corner, I felt a sense of relief. We were almost there. I poped my head out from the
corner and saw a few guards standing infront of the security checking system that me and Duo went through when we arrived.

I looked back over to Heero who was having trouble supporting both himself and our injured companion. " Do you want me to try and take them all out
now? Or do you want me to rush in and threaten them until you load yourselves onto the ship" I asked curiously. The blue eyed boy didn't seem to
care which method I chose. " Whatever one you feel is the most effective and less time consuming..." he replied. I rolled my eyes and looked back at
the men I had to face. Sighing I finally came to a decision. " Boys?" I said walking out pointing and swaying my gun around. All the gaurds turned
their attention toward me. They then quickly whipped out guns and pointed them in my direction. " Keese! Put the gun down!" shouted one gaurd. I
then smiled, doing the opposite of what he told me. I continued holding my gun firm.

" I wouldn't shoot if I were you. You see my gun here? It's got a detination button. If I press it, everyone goes boom" I said bluffing. Hoping they
would be gullable enough to believe it. " Bullshit! You wouldn't blow yourself up to!" another guard stated. I then growled,' Why the hell not?! If I
didn't really plan on blowing myself up, then why then hell would I risk myself infront of all you men. Let me see...it's like...6 against 1? If I
wasn't lieing, think I'd be here threatening you guys, standing here, taking a big risk right now?' One of the guards started shaking,' What if
she's right?' " Put your weapons down before I decided to blow the damn place up!" I yelled assertively. Soon all the guns fell to the floor. A
smile stretched across my face,' Good. You guys aren't as stupid as I thought...Now move out of the way but stay clear where I can see you all'

As I moved toward the middle of the area, Heero and Duo began to emerge out from the the corner. Slowly they started making their way through as I
swayed my gun, pretending to threaten them with a so called detination device. The door to the tube like corridor opened. Giving access to Heero so
that he could walk in. I slowly backed myself in until I stood in the corridor. The door then slowly closed infront of me. Feeling relief, I turned
around and saw Heero continuing to drag Duo with him towards the door of the ship. I stood there for a few seconds, thinking about something.
A decision that seemed only right. I didn't want to go to america to see what I had helped do. It wasn't right.

Before Heero entered the ship, I quickly ran up to him yelling his name. Annoyingly, he turned around and looked at me. I then stopped infront of
him and smiled,' Hey Heero listen. Ah...I've been thinking about something. And I feel as if it's the right thing to do' The emotionless gundam
pilot hm'ed in understanding,' Then I wish you good luck...' I smiled and nodded in thanks. But before he went, there was something else I wanted
to tell him,' Before you leave...when Duo's all good again and back to his jumpy self, tell him that I said...thank-you. He'll understand' For the
first time I saw the boy smirk as Heero Yuy and not as Mikey. He then turned around and started dragging his fellow gundam pilot with him. Then,
slowly the doors closed. *Bye Duo...I'm sorry things had to end like this. But it's for the best and for your own good. It's best that what we
shared is taken with me to my grave* I said in thought as I turned around and walked back into the colony.

One minute passed after I had made my decision. They would make it out. They had to. There was only 2 minutes left until the colony would explode
into tiny bits. Duo was safely fastened into a seat, still in deep pain. The engines roared on the back of the ship. A few flicks of switches and a
couple of pushes on buttons, and the ship blasted off with an explosion of force. The ship had to get out of there before the colony exploded. Or
else they would feel the aftershocks of the blast ramming into their ship. Heero stayed focused on the controls. It's been awhile since he's been
rushed out like that. The ship rumbled with turbulance as they shot out into deep space. Soon, without warning, the colony exploded. With it went
down all the students that were once cold blooded murderers.

The ship continued to rumble as a few shock waves hit the tail. It was nothing the gundam pilot couldn't handle, though he felt a small amount of
guilt for leaving me back there. He was one of the students there on the colony. But he was undercover so was he actually really part of that
organization? Did he have the right to feel guilty. If he chose to, it wouldn't matter anyway. He couldn't turn back now to save me. I had chose to
fall with I.C.O.N. I had to or else I'd never be able to free myself of my guilty conscience again. I was just as guilty as the commanding officers
themselves.

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A/N: Yes a good long chapter! The next chapter may be the last one!!! I'm serious! ITS SO SAD! I can't believe it! Its the last one! Or It may be.
Anyways, I just wanna say, you've all been great readers! Writing this story was so much fun! and with your reviews giving me inspiration, I don't
know what to say! But, ARIGATOU!!!! Thank you all so much!