Disclaimer: I don't own any of the gundam characters or the show (but I wish I did) so please don't sue me.

Author's Note: This chapter has been revised as well. If you haven't read it yet, hope you enjoy!

 Chapter Two: So Where are We?

 Duo kept grumbling on and on, "We can't be dead!  Death doesn't die!" He was take handfuls of sand and throwing them into the air without caring in whose face it landed in.

 "Will you calm down already?" Heero stated still clutching the newspaper he had found in his hand, but away from everyone's view. The hand that held the paper was slightly quivering.

 "Where are we?" Quatre asked looking around but seeing nothing but the endless stretch of sand dunes. He was now standing with his arms open wide as if he wanted to hug the sun. "Well, if we had to end up anywhere, I'm glad it was a desert and not the Antarctic," he thought with a small smile to himself.

 "It's obvious we're in a desert," Zechs commented.  The gundam pilots all turned to face him; they had forgotten that they had also brought their enemies along for the ride.  "What?" Zechs inquired while glaring at the staring bunch, "you asked and I'm stating the obvious!" He gestured towards the valley of the scorching sun to make his point.

 "Listen here!" Wufei shouted with fists clenched, "we don't know where we are, and we didn't want to bring you either, so I say we go our separate ways, or we just kill you!" The unforgiving UV rays were beginning to get to him.

 "But that wouldn't be right Wufei," Quatre tried to make peace as always, "wolves may fight amongst each other, but they unite when a common problem arises." His eyes were filled with this content look that came from being the timid hearted of the group.

 Duo looked rather befuddled, "What about wolves?  I don't see any wolves!"  Quatre sighed; he had tried at least.

 Then Trowa spoke quietly, "I think what our friend is saying is for us to work together during this dilemma, and then afterwards try to kill each other." Trowa's words caught everyone's attention because they had to remain silent in order to hear him speak. Plus, it was common knowledge among the pilots that Trowa was the taciturn sort, and that when he did speak, the words usually held wisdom.

 "Ahhh… now I see," Duo nodded the light bulb finally turning on. He clapped his hands together at the amazement of his own understanding. Though he had understood even before Trowa explained. He figured someone had to be the comical relief of the bunch since the tension was so thick that one could cut it with a knife.

 "So we have a truce?" Wufei said holding out his hand, "Though I really would have preferred to kill you." And his eyes blazed with the yearning for revenge that he had to restrain. 

 "And you think I wouldn't of had it the same way?" Zechs answered with his hands behind his back, "Fine, we're at a truce, but I'm not going to shake your hand."  Wufei quickly pulled his hand back. 

 

"Why don't we find the nearest city?" Treize suggested. Attention poured on to the leader of the OZ specials who stood with his cape waving in the wind.

 "How about you be quiet Mr. Scary Eyebrows and let Heero come up with the ideas," Duo snapped.  Duo displayed his famous Duo Maxwell grin; it felt good to show power. Treize fell silent; it would be futile to try to help the situation when the majority present were enemies.

 "I say that we should try to find the nearest town," Heero stated a few seconds later aware that Treize's idea was a good one but would only be considered if he was the one to present it.

 Treize was slightly furious, but he remained calm as he always did and simply whispered to Zechs, "Isn't that what I just said?"  Zechs only shrugged and walked off to catch up with the gundam pilots who had already started walking.

There was no doubt about it that Zechs and Treize were friends. But in this desperate situation, it proved that every OZ soldier was for himself. He could either agree with the pilots to get through the quagmire easier or side with Treize in a vain attempt to hold power. And as it was, it seemed that the best thing Zechs could do is follow the guide of the pilots.  

 Heero had decided to remain quiet about the fact that they were not only far from home; they were far from that time period as well.  "No use scaring them about it now," he thought, "besides, you saw how everyone threw fits when they found out we were far from home, no use getting them excited again.  His stride was strong like that of a perfect soldier, but what bothered him was that he couldn't see any buildings for miles.  He started to ponder over the situation again, "What was 2001 like?"  He was digging through his memories for his early history lessons.  Pity he fell asleep during most of them because it would have come in really useful now.  Then a thought that he wanted to push out from his brain rang in, "What if there is just no way home, the technology doesn't exist in the future, so it obviously doesn't exist now either, what if we are doomed to die here in the desert and have the vultures pick our bones clean?"

 "Something bothering you Heero?" Quatre asked.  He was rather content, actually, walking through the desert; some how feeling the sand under his feet made him feel at home. But he knew that Heero was probably not fond of the desert environment.

 Heero turned to Quatre, "Nothing is wrong."  But somehow Quatre could tell he was lying; something *was* wrong.

 The sun began to set over the sandy hills and night began to overtake the desert.  Without any urban lights the stars twinkled like thousands of diamonds painting a breathtaking mosaic in the sky.  Presently, the group was beginning to get tired, and the weaker ones started to lag behind.

 "Come on Treize!" Zechs shouted from the front of the group, whether Treize was actually tired or he was purposely walking slowly was beyond him.

 "I'm coming Milliardo," Treize panted quickening his pace. The fine life cost him; he might have been fit for battle, but not fit for the brutal atmosphere of the desert.

 Zechs became crimson, but his mask hid it. "I told you never to call me that," he whispered in a chilling voice.

 "Man, are my legs ACHING," Duo commented a few minutes later. He was indeed stumbling a bit through the sand, not used to the walking on such a loose surface.

 

"Why don't we stop and rest here, we should take a break and sleep even if we don't have all the time in the world," Zechs suggested. He was beginning to tire as much as the others.

 "You have no idea what irony that statement has," Heero thought, "for we do have all the time in the world. And more." He hadn't tired out yet because his training had demanded that he be able to stand vigorous days of toil.

 "I think that's a good idea!" Duo announced quickly taking the opportunity to lie down for some rest. He lay sprawled on the sand allowing the aches of his body to drain away from his body.

 "Sure, listen to his suggestions," Treize mumbled joining Duo.  They all tried to make themselves comfortable laying in the sand with nothing but stones for pillows.  Despite the conditions most of them slept peacefully, but sleep wouldn't come to either Zechs or Heero that night. 

 Zechs sat up, " There's something strange about all this," he muttered to himself.

 "Got that part right," Heero answered; though he was about ten feet away, he had heard Zechs.

 "Oh, so you can't sleep either?" Zechs asked.  Looks like he wouldn't be alone for once. Of course, of all people to hold a conversation with, Heero was last on his list.

 "For that matter, I never sleep," Heero answered, "listen Zechs, this situation is worse than it seems." He didn't want to tell Zechs what was going on, but he felt like he needed to tell someone before he could rest in peace. And Zechs was the only option at the moment.

 Zechs couldn't help but laugh, "Oh you mean it gets worse than being stuck in the middle of the desert, with not particularly your favorite people, without any food or water, or means of getting around?" In an odd sort of way, the situation seemed amusingly impossible.

 "Unfortunately, yes," Heero seemed rather serious, "and you just reminded me that we don't have any food or water, so I think the situation is even worse than I thought." How could he have forgotten about food and water? It was probably because his body never cared for those necessities. No wonder everyone thought of him as a robot.

 "So, what is so horribly bad Heero?" Zechs asked in a wry tone, "Is it that you don't have a weapon to shoot me?"

 "I'm sure I'll manage without that," Heero smirked, "I guess I should tell you but you can't tell the others because they might get too how should I say this, scared." He didn't want it to look like he thought of the other pilots as cowardly. He just didn't think they had the capability at the moment to accept the truth. But from observing Zechs, he had seen that the masked man possessed a sense of calmness that would aid him in soaking in the truth.

 "Alright," Zechs answered. It was easy enough terms to agree with, so there was no reason not to agree.

 "Well, it seems that not only are we far from home, we are also in another time," Heero started, "the year 2001 according to this newspaper I found." He brought the Newspaper into view for the first time.

 

"So it CAN get worse," Zechs smirked using amusement to mask his worry, "I suppose this mean that since we don't know exactly how we got here in the first place, our chances of returning our slim if there is EVEN a chance at all."  Heero grumbled, Zechs had confirmed what he had refused to believe before.  "I'm getting some rest," Zechs said, laying his head on the nearest rock, "I suggest that you do too."

 Heero lay down in the sand, but he couldn't sleep; it baffled him, "How can he sleep when there might be a chance we'll never go home?"

Author's Note: I hope you've enjoyed the revision. Please Review!