A/n: I finally typed and posted chapter seven. Now you can't kill me. Well, you can't kill me for the moment at least. If you want chappie 8 before I leave for France (Basically, any time within the next 2 months b/c I can't post while I'm in France) I need 4 ( brining the number to 25 ) reviews before May 29th. Onward ho to the thnxs.
CuRsEd: I see I've got another one hooked. Review again for more! And yes, I'm the evil queen of cliffhangers.
Rain-Child182: I plan on keeping writing. See that little button at the end of the chappie? Click it and write something for more!
KaT: *Gives KaT a cookie* That's for reviewing again! And I did my damnest to avoid the cliffhangers, but he snuck up on my, tied me up, and demanded to be reinstated.
Reboo: Thnx. I had problems deciding how to do that part, so I'm glad you liked the result.
Chibi Noin: *Gives chibi noin a dozen cookies* That's for being a faithful reviewer. You want more, review again. And since my personal mantra is "Sexy Zexy with wild turkey" I don't mind the dirty thoughts directed at Zechs. And I'm sorry if Treize sounds Wufei-ish. I was thinking about killing off Wufei, but I decided not to. Besides, Sally threatened to kill me if I did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Eight of the nine gundam pilots sat around a desk that was overflowing with papers, configurations, blueprints, and some where under it all, a computer. The ninth gundam pilot sat behind the desk, in large leather chair that bespoke his rank.
"Thanks to Noins recovered memories, we have been able to identify the exact location of the headquarters of the Blades. One must confess, that while a desert is a little over clichéd, it is a useful location for such a base. The infiltration of the grounds will be the mot difficult part. Once you are actually on the grounds, it will be clear sailing form their. The security systems in the immediate vicinity are impressive. Not only do they posses a radar that is high above the ground to discover the presence of planes, they have a special system set up in a 50 mile radius around the base that will notify them to the presence of enemy mobile suits. This system was the most dangerous threat to the mission. Since, however, we came up with a similar system for our own bases, we have been working on a way to get around that fact.
"The labs have been working overtime for days to finish up this device. I must warn you: the time crunch made it impossible to adequately test the device. The device in question is capable of actually shutting down the radar systems and making it look like an internal problem. No hacking required. I was informed by Betty, the research team leader, that brownies once a week for a few months might make up for the inconveniences." The pilots all laughed, as that sounded much like the woman who was in charge of the research department.
"That's Betty, alright. So, are our gundams ready?"
"Yes, they are."
All of the pilots glared at Treize. "So where are they?"
"In the main hangers. Mines still being updated, so it's in the shop hanger. You will travel in carriers to the closest site possible to the base. Pilots 001 and 002 will be together, 003 and 004 will be together, 006 and 009 will be together, and well, uh………"
"Treize-sama, are you sure that's right? That leaves Wufei and myself to share a…." Une trailed off as she realized what she was saying. "No," she whispered. "You wouldn't really make us share a carrier?!?!?!"
"Sorry love. But you never have to even speak. There will be some of our most elite soldiers going along to pilot the crafts." Treize chuckled over the death glares still coming his way. "Now, extra weapons have also been added to all of the gundams. Noin, as you have requested, Shadowcat has been equipped with a laser saber in addition to her metal ones. Wufei, Nataku was also equipped with a laser saber. I'll not even ask what it is that you two see in those weapons. Anne and Trowa, both your gundams were loaded with as much as ammo as possible. Use it wisely. You all leave at 0400 hours so I recommend going home and actually sleeping. We will expect you here at 0230." Treize finished his notes even as he stood and gestured for Une to join him. The two left the office hand in hand.
Zechs looked up at Noin who was stretching and paused for a moment to admire the view.
"Love, why don't go on ahead? I'll catch up in minute."
Looking at Zechs oddly, Noin left the room in silence. Zechs motioned for the other pilots to remain behind for a second. He carefully studied the men around him, men he had fought with and/or against for a majority of his life. These men may be his only chance to save the woman he loved with his whole heart and soul.
During the previous briefings on the mission, it had been determined that while Noin would lead the attack on the inside of the base, the other pilots would be sent in as the situation determined. The more soldiers needed outside, the fewer would go in with her. But nothing was definite. All they knew was that the infiltration of the base would be damn near impossible.
Zechs stood and instantly the attention of the elite warriors was solely on him.
"I will do anything to keep Noin safe. However, the very nature of this mission demands that I stay outside until almost all external threats have been cared for. So I need you to help me keep her safe. I love her and don't want to lose her again." With that, he turned and left the room, shutting the door softly behind him.
The pilots all looked at each other. Confusion about what to do was clearly written all over their faces. They had been trained that the most important part of any mission was the objective being carried out, not those doing the carrying out of the objective.
"Should we do what he says? Protect Noin at all costs?" Duo was the first to form his incoherent thoughts into a coherent query.
"I'm going to." The pilots all looked with pure astonishment at Wufei, who normally would never let anyone or anything come between him and his precious justice. "You guys weren't there when they told Zechs that Noins contact had lost sight of her. We've all done some insane things in our lives, but not like this. Calm, cool Zechs sent a coffee mug into the wall, destroyed a table, and told a perfectly capable high class officer she was a lying idiot. I'm not going to risk a repeat, let alone a repeat where Zechs isn't going to be brought back to the world of the sane by the return of his wife."
With that said, Wufei stood and left the room, leaving the pilots facing some of the hardest decisions and the hardest mission of their lives.
A/n: Once again, you want more, review! There's only one chappie plus an epilogue left. And the last chappie even ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. So, you want the rest before I disappear for 4 weeks to France, I suggest reviews. Lots of them.