* * * *
Chapter 1-Limo Abduction
* * * *
It smelled like new leather. A wave of nausea passed over Relena as she rolled her window down to get a fresh breeze into the stuffy car. The chauffeur of the sleek black limo glanced into the rear view mirror at the young girl in the professional navy blue suit and skirt.
"Don't you just love that new car smell?" He asked in all sincerity. "I love it when the company gets a new one and I'm the first to drive it."
Relena nodded her head silently and gulped as another impulse to be sick ran through her. She sighed inwardly and knew it was going to be another rough day of endless meetings compromising with diplomats and discussing treaties with dignitaries.
The war was over. Peace talks were being made at last and a new era was dawning. Relena conceptualized all this and viewed endless possibilities in peace, but she was still saddened, and she knew why. Now that the war was over there was no need for the Gundams and therefore no need for their pilots. She would no longer have reason to interact with Heero. After all, his most defining characteristic was his need for no one. He would never approve of a relationship with her: the weak, pathetic onna.
Relena straightened her back and squared her shoulders. Well, she did not need Heero! She was independent! And how many times had that inconsiderate buffoon crushed her attempts at friendship and broken her heart? Too many! If he wanted to be alone, fine! He didn't appreciate her, so he wasn't even worth the effort.
Charged with anger and resentment, Relena was ready to be aggressive in the day's schedule. She held her head high and thrust out her chin. Eyes flashing dangerously, she was ready to conquer the world, even if that was what she most detested.
Suddenly, Relena was thrown forward, her seatbelt cutting into her stomach as the limo's brakes screeched to a halt. She was flung backward just in time to see the look of horror on the chauffeur's face and hear two booming gunshots. Blood splattered all over the windshield, the glass partisan and the seats closest to the front as the chauffeur slumped over the wheel and thick red liquid oozed out of a gaping hole in the side of his head.
Relena acted quickly and slammed down the locks on both sides of her and slid the glass partisan shut, locking it, too. She dove for cover between the leather seats, pulling a gun from the liquor cabinet as she did so. Rolling over on her back and taking off the safety latch, she aimed the .45 pistol at the rear doors.
For a few seconds everything was silent except for Relena's haggard breathing. Then glass shattered as a tommy gun pumped led through the rear windows. Relena covered her head with her arms to protect her face from the razor shrapnel. The shooting stopped and muffled footsteps could be heard tramping around the limo.
Relena vaguely thought of how the limo company would have to buy a new car. She looked around at the torn seats and the broken windows. They would also have to hire another chauffeur.the thought nearly made her vomit, and she banished it from her mind.
Relena tightened her grip on the pistol and focused on the thought that yet another terrorist group would have to hire a few more men in a little while. She wasn't going quietly.
The thought quickly vanished from her mind as a safety latch clicked behind her and the tip of a tommy gun was nudged into her head. A deep voice sounded harshly.
"Don't move, or this limo is going to get a little more messy than it already is."
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Relena beat herself mentally as she slowly put her hands up to her head as directed by the deep voice. Of course! The sliding glass partisan could be unlocked from the front! She cursed the makers of this limo! What a stupid concept! What was the point of having a lock that could be unlocked on either side?????? And while the previous shooting had mortally frightened her, the other gunman had crept into the driver's seat.
At gunpoint, Relena was forced to squeeze through the little window and into the front of the limo. There was blood everywhere and she tried not to think about how it was all over her hands, seeping under her fingernails. The chauffeur's body had been removed and she cautiously stepped on to the pavement, hands held high.
The gunmen all wore black masks, held tommy guns, and were disguised in camouflage uniforms.
"Ooooooo." Relena thought cynically. "Professionals."
The road to the mansion where the conference was to be held was surrounded by countryside. Large, overhanging trees hid this particular stretch of road. Two SUVs were parked right in front of the limo.
"Well thought out." Relena mused to herself as they led her, hands on head, to one of the black cars. There was no sign of the chauffeur, but a few drops of blood on the concrete sent icy chills up and down her spine.
"Get in." the lead gunman commanded. She slowly placed herself in the middle seat and instantly was flanked by two more guerrillas. The doors slammed shut and the rest of the terrorist party loaded up. The lead turned to a companion.
"You were right. She's just as you said." He commented. The second replied sarcastically.
"If you were around her more often, you would be able to predict her behavior, too. Always the courageous one. She can be very headstrong."
* * * *
The diplomats had begun without the Vice Foreign Minister, but some were worried. A delay might not be a simple accident when it came to one of the key people in the peace talks about the future of the earth and colonies.
Search parties had been sent out to all the roads leading to the mansion after a phone call revealed she wasn't at the hotel. It would only be a matter of time until the remains of the limo were found.
* * * *
Relena had been blindfolded for the trip to whatever destination was in mind of the terrorists. The lead gunman and his companion in the second SUV were discussing the plan.
"She's taking it very well. No hysteria. No attempts to escape. Yet." one said warily.
"I've heard it's happened a couple times, though," replied the deep voiced driver.
"Hmmm. Yeah. True, true."
Relena was fighting the rising panic in her stomach. Fear swept over her and she was cold and hot at the same time. Her nerves felt as if they were on thumbtacks. She tried to keep her breathing steady.
There were several turns and stops in the ride and the only reason she didn't slide out of her seat were the football player sized guards scrunching her into place.
The car eased to a stop and Relena heard the doors opening on both sides. A hand grasped her arm firmly and yanked her out of the back seat. Still blindfolded and wrist-bound in a coarse rope, she put up no resistance.
Her feet landed on to smooth pavement. Where were they? In a hidden camp for her captors? Still on the road amid the trees and countryside? Relena stiffened in terror as the thought of being shot just like the driver, blood spluttering from a large hole in her head and onto the fitting navy suit. It would be quick, and they would leave her corpse dead, next to the road. Or would they shoot her in one of the limbs? Or in the stomach? Then she would die slowly, and in sheer pain.
The whole time Relena contemplated on all the horrific ways she would be killed, preparing herself for the worst, the kidnappers conversed among themselves. Relena was shaken out of her nightmarish daydreams by a hand once again grabbing her arm roughly. She braced herself for a gunshot and a hard impact into some place on her body, but it didn't come.
Instead, she heard a door open and she was led into a spacious room where her footsteps echoed faintly. The hand on her arm was strong, she noticed, but it was careful about guiding her. She didn't trip or stumble over anything or run into random objects.
Still blind and bound, Relena was led down a series of staircases, her guide grunting multiple directions to keep her from falling. There was an icy draft blowing through the now low stairway and she could hear the "plop, plop, plop" of water leaking from something or other. It smelled damp and musty and some of the wooden steps were soft fromm rotting. As they finally touched down on to the concrete floor she detected a rustling, the soft patter of tiny feet, and a small squeak.
"Oh, joy." Relena thought. "Rats".
Relena was not afraid of the little rodents, like some girls who would scream and jump up on chairs. But the thought of a vermin infested prison brought very little comfort to the already sullen mood.
Metal clanked against metal as a key turned in a rusty lock and a heavy door creaked open. Shoved into the room, Relena heard an audible gasp as the door slammed behind her. Someone rushed over to where she was kneeling on the floor and quickly untied the blindfold. As the cloth fell from her eyes, she looked up into ice blue orbs surrounded by white hair.
"Milliardo!" she cried out loud with joy and anxiety mixed together. He quickly bent down to untie the ropes that were now cutting into her. She sighed with relief as she brought her arms up to rub her sore and chafed wrists.
When she was done of ridding her hands of stiffness, Relena embraced her brother, tears of happiness filling her eyes. Pulling back she saw compassion and worry etched into the elder Peacecraft's face.
"Are you all right?" he asked and concern quickly changed into anger. "They didn't hurt you, did they?" He took her hands and glared at the bloodstains on them. He growled menacingly. "I'll kill them! I'll kill those.those-"
Relena put her small hand gently on her brother's large one.
"Milliardo," she spoke softly, "Milliardo, they didn't harm me. I'm all right. It's the driver's blood."
Her brother looked up swiftly as her voice barely cracked. She glanced away to hide her tears. Milliardo took his baby sister's chin between his fingers and brought it up to look at his solemn face.
"What happened?" he asked, pronouncing each word slowly.
Relena sighed shakily and sat down on one of the cots in the room. She took a deep breath and began to talk.
* * * *
Chapter 1-Limo Abduction
* * * *
It smelled like new leather. A wave of nausea passed over Relena as she rolled her window down to get a fresh breeze into the stuffy car. The chauffeur of the sleek black limo glanced into the rear view mirror at the young girl in the professional navy blue suit and skirt.
"Don't you just love that new car smell?" He asked in all sincerity. "I love it when the company gets a new one and I'm the first to drive it."
Relena nodded her head silently and gulped as another impulse to be sick ran through her. She sighed inwardly and knew it was going to be another rough day of endless meetings compromising with diplomats and discussing treaties with dignitaries.
The war was over. Peace talks were being made at last and a new era was dawning. Relena conceptualized all this and viewed endless possibilities in peace, but she was still saddened, and she knew why. Now that the war was over there was no need for the Gundams and therefore no need for their pilots. She would no longer have reason to interact with Heero. After all, his most defining characteristic was his need for no one. He would never approve of a relationship with her: the weak, pathetic onna.
Relena straightened her back and squared her shoulders. Well, she did not need Heero! She was independent! And how many times had that inconsiderate buffoon crushed her attempts at friendship and broken her heart? Too many! If he wanted to be alone, fine! He didn't appreciate her, so he wasn't even worth the effort.
Charged with anger and resentment, Relena was ready to be aggressive in the day's schedule. She held her head high and thrust out her chin. Eyes flashing dangerously, she was ready to conquer the world, even if that was what she most detested.
Suddenly, Relena was thrown forward, her seatbelt cutting into her stomach as the limo's brakes screeched to a halt. She was flung backward just in time to see the look of horror on the chauffeur's face and hear two booming gunshots. Blood splattered all over the windshield, the glass partisan and the seats closest to the front as the chauffeur slumped over the wheel and thick red liquid oozed out of a gaping hole in the side of his head.
Relena acted quickly and slammed down the locks on both sides of her and slid the glass partisan shut, locking it, too. She dove for cover between the leather seats, pulling a gun from the liquor cabinet as she did so. Rolling over on her back and taking off the safety latch, she aimed the .45 pistol at the rear doors.
For a few seconds everything was silent except for Relena's haggard breathing. Then glass shattered as a tommy gun pumped led through the rear windows. Relena covered her head with her arms to protect her face from the razor shrapnel. The shooting stopped and muffled footsteps could be heard tramping around the limo.
Relena vaguely thought of how the limo company would have to buy a new car. She looked around at the torn seats and the broken windows. They would also have to hire another chauffeur.the thought nearly made her vomit, and she banished it from her mind.
Relena tightened her grip on the pistol and focused on the thought that yet another terrorist group would have to hire a few more men in a little while. She wasn't going quietly.
The thought quickly vanished from her mind as a safety latch clicked behind her and the tip of a tommy gun was nudged into her head. A deep voice sounded harshly.
"Don't move, or this limo is going to get a little more messy than it already is."
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Relena beat herself mentally as she slowly put her hands up to her head as directed by the deep voice. Of course! The sliding glass partisan could be unlocked from the front! She cursed the makers of this limo! What a stupid concept! What was the point of having a lock that could be unlocked on either side?????? And while the previous shooting had mortally frightened her, the other gunman had crept into the driver's seat.
At gunpoint, Relena was forced to squeeze through the little window and into the front of the limo. There was blood everywhere and she tried not to think about how it was all over her hands, seeping under her fingernails. The chauffeur's body had been removed and she cautiously stepped on to the pavement, hands held high.
The gunmen all wore black masks, held tommy guns, and were disguised in camouflage uniforms.
"Ooooooo." Relena thought cynically. "Professionals."
The road to the mansion where the conference was to be held was surrounded by countryside. Large, overhanging trees hid this particular stretch of road. Two SUVs were parked right in front of the limo.
"Well thought out." Relena mused to herself as they led her, hands on head, to one of the black cars. There was no sign of the chauffeur, but a few drops of blood on the concrete sent icy chills up and down her spine.
"Get in." the lead gunman commanded. She slowly placed herself in the middle seat and instantly was flanked by two more guerrillas. The doors slammed shut and the rest of the terrorist party loaded up. The lead turned to a companion.
"You were right. She's just as you said." He commented. The second replied sarcastically.
"If you were around her more often, you would be able to predict her behavior, too. Always the courageous one. She can be very headstrong."
* * * *
The diplomats had begun without the Vice Foreign Minister, but some were worried. A delay might not be a simple accident when it came to one of the key people in the peace talks about the future of the earth and colonies.
Search parties had been sent out to all the roads leading to the mansion after a phone call revealed she wasn't at the hotel. It would only be a matter of time until the remains of the limo were found.
* * * *
Relena had been blindfolded for the trip to whatever destination was in mind of the terrorists. The lead gunman and his companion in the second SUV were discussing the plan.
"She's taking it very well. No hysteria. No attempts to escape. Yet." one said warily.
"I've heard it's happened a couple times, though," replied the deep voiced driver.
"Hmmm. Yeah. True, true."
Relena was fighting the rising panic in her stomach. Fear swept over her and she was cold and hot at the same time. Her nerves felt as if they were on thumbtacks. She tried to keep her breathing steady.
There were several turns and stops in the ride and the only reason she didn't slide out of her seat were the football player sized guards scrunching her into place.
The car eased to a stop and Relena heard the doors opening on both sides. A hand grasped her arm firmly and yanked her out of the back seat. Still blindfolded and wrist-bound in a coarse rope, she put up no resistance.
Her feet landed on to smooth pavement. Where were they? In a hidden camp for her captors? Still on the road amid the trees and countryside? Relena stiffened in terror as the thought of being shot just like the driver, blood spluttering from a large hole in her head and onto the fitting navy suit. It would be quick, and they would leave her corpse dead, next to the road. Or would they shoot her in one of the limbs? Or in the stomach? Then she would die slowly, and in sheer pain.
The whole time Relena contemplated on all the horrific ways she would be killed, preparing herself for the worst, the kidnappers conversed among themselves. Relena was shaken out of her nightmarish daydreams by a hand once again grabbing her arm roughly. She braced herself for a gunshot and a hard impact into some place on her body, but it didn't come.
Instead, she heard a door open and she was led into a spacious room where her footsteps echoed faintly. The hand on her arm was strong, she noticed, but it was careful about guiding her. She didn't trip or stumble over anything or run into random objects.
Still blind and bound, Relena was led down a series of staircases, her guide grunting multiple directions to keep her from falling. There was an icy draft blowing through the now low stairway and she could hear the "plop, plop, plop" of water leaking from something or other. It smelled damp and musty and some of the wooden steps were soft fromm rotting. As they finally touched down on to the concrete floor she detected a rustling, the soft patter of tiny feet, and a small squeak.
"Oh, joy." Relena thought. "Rats".
Relena was not afraid of the little rodents, like some girls who would scream and jump up on chairs. But the thought of a vermin infested prison brought very little comfort to the already sullen mood.
Metal clanked against metal as a key turned in a rusty lock and a heavy door creaked open. Shoved into the room, Relena heard an audible gasp as the door slammed behind her. Someone rushed over to where she was kneeling on the floor and quickly untied the blindfold. As the cloth fell from her eyes, she looked up into ice blue orbs surrounded by white hair.
"Milliardo!" she cried out loud with joy and anxiety mixed together. He quickly bent down to untie the ropes that were now cutting into her. She sighed with relief as she brought her arms up to rub her sore and chafed wrists.
When she was done of ridding her hands of stiffness, Relena embraced her brother, tears of happiness filling her eyes. Pulling back she saw compassion and worry etched into the elder Peacecraft's face.
"Are you all right?" he asked and concern quickly changed into anger. "They didn't hurt you, did they?" He took her hands and glared at the bloodstains on them. He growled menacingly. "I'll kill them! I'll kill those.those-"
Relena put her small hand gently on her brother's large one.
"Milliardo," she spoke softly, "Milliardo, they didn't harm me. I'm all right. It's the driver's blood."
Her brother looked up swiftly as her voice barely cracked. She glanced away to hide her tears. Milliardo took his baby sister's chin between his fingers and brought it up to look at his solemn face.
"What happened?" he asked, pronouncing each word slowly.
Relena sighed shakily and sat down on one of the cots in the room. She took a deep breath and began to talk.
* * * *