Astra: OOO! Look! Another chapter! Aren't you people lucky? We'll have another up soon!
Chapter Two
The next morning, Duo woke up to something rather unpleasant: a knife to his throat and a pair of angry eyes.
"Don't even think about moving. Where am I? What have you done with Relena?"
Duo didn't move, fairly sure that the knife meant business.
"Well…um…hi…I'm Duo Maxwell…" he began.
"Did I ask for you name?" the girl growled.
"Uh…no…but see…Hilde…um…"
The girl frowned, "How'd you know my name?"
"Relena told me. Look, I'm a Flyer, you can check the medallion it's around my neck…"
Hilde spotted the chain and pulled it out. She stared at it a moment and then released Duo.
"All right. What's going on here?"
*
Meanwhile, Heero was having a much better time. Communicating mostly by the blue magic orb system, the two had started getting to know each other. Relena seemed rather quiet and docile, but Heero wasn't fooled. The back of his head still ached where she had whacked him the night before. The lump had gone down a bit, though. "So you grew up in the Southern Range?" he asked.
"Yeah. My parents were a team. I've been flying ever since I could stay on—well, even before. I've got a few scars to prove it."
"Are your parents still affiliated with the Southern Range?"
She blinked a few times and looked away. "They were until a few years ago. From what I heard, they couldn't make it through the Fire Pass through the Chira Mountains."
Heero opened his mouth to say only fools attempted the Fire Pass, but heard the tremble in her voice. "I…I'm sorry," came out instead.
"Hn. What's your story?"
"I was trained to be a knight, actually. I learned about every style of fighting there is, but free travel and a fair share of risks appealed to me more. I didn't want to get stuck serving some lord or king all my life. Besides, they expect you to get married by a certain age so there'll be more knights an' all."
"Weird…"
"What?"
"Well, if you want so much to be independent, why take a job where you have to be a team?"
"Duo and I are not a team. I'm a messenger, and he's a tagalong with a big mouth and an appetite to match it. Apparently nature was trying to make up for the size of his brain."
"Liar."
He was a bit taken aback by her forwardness. The only girls he had known had been the ones who cleaned the barracks. Just about all they ever said was "Yessir."
"I beg your pardon…"
"Not a team! The way you guys worked together last night helping us completely contradicted what you just said."
"Okay, okay. Well, we've known each other since we were drooling, squirming babies and I used to yank his hair until he scrunched up his face and yelled…" Heero pause, reminiscing. "We started the job years ago together since he's the only one I really trust. But I tell you, he's still just waiting for a day to avenge himself over that hair pulling. I say he shouldn't keep it so long but does he listen? No…"
Relena smiled. "Sounds fun. I only met Hilde about a year ago. We got assigned together by chance, but we work well together. She's very high-strung, though."
Heero smirked inwardly. "I suppose Duo will have fun. He's never really been in the company of a lady before."
"He has my pity."
"Aw, save it for a more worthy cause. It'll be good character-building for him."
Relena laughed. How strange, she thought. Talking with him helps make the pain inside ease. I still miss home and everyone there, but he makes things look brighter. She studied him from her dragon. But why? He seems so dark and stormy…
*
"So, essentially, the three of you slung me onto my mount, had me hauled miles across the country, and you didn't EVEN BOTHER WAKING ME UP!?"
Duo cringed under the wrath of his new partner and mumbled, "Basically, yeah."
Hilde glared.
"You were unconscious! Which reminds me…you shouldn't be moving that arm," Duo said, gesturing towards the arm in question.
Hilde glanced at the arm and grimaced, suddenly noticing how much it hurt.
Duo grabbed the first aid kit saying, "The bandage is falling off. Better take care of it." He gently lifted her arm and rewrapped the bandage. I've got to get her back soon; it looks infected.
"Are you done?" Hilde snapped. Duo hadn't let go of her arm in his thoughts.
"Uh, yeah," he said and let go of her arm, "Now, stop moving it," he added.
Hilde ignored him and said, "Are you ready to go?"
"As ready as I'll ever be. Here, I'll help you onto your mount, what's her name?"
"Crystal, and I don't need help."
Duo grimaced; she just had to have an overdeveloped sense of pride, didn't she?
"Yes, you do. If only because I don't want to rewrap that bandage."
Hilde looked like she was going to argue, but decided it wasn't worth it. Duo helped her get up and gain her balance once she was there and then leaped up onto Vlieger's back.
"Let's go!"
They rode in silence, Hilde still scowling and Duo trying to avoid making her anymore angry than she was already. For some reason, he was wishing he had gone with Relena instead. At least she seemed pretty good-natured. Ahh, he'd even rather be with Heero—though he doubted Hilde could be worse than a really ticked Heero. Like that time when Duo thought the lake was frozen over enough and Heero accidentally proved it wasn't… Duo shook his head, pushing away the very painful memory. Bother, and it had been his suggestion to take her, hadn't it? At that point, he thought of a nagging question, and decided to ask. "Um…how come your hors—er, Crystal—is just fine when you're all torn up?"
Hilde's jaw tightened when he addressed her, but she answered. "Apparently the thing that attacked me wanted human blood. All I remember was suddenly getting knocked off my horse, Relena's scream, and something puncturing my skin. Oh yeah, and blood…lots of blood."
Duo gulped. It all sounded lovely. "How did you get away?"
"Relena, I guess. I dunno. I blacked out, remember?"
"Oh."
*
Heero pulled his saddlebags off of Wing. They had reached their first stop, High Cliffs compound. Relena had just landed and leaped off her mount, which Heero had earlier learned was named Chenoa.
Heero looked at Relena and said, "Let's find the commander."
She nodded in agreement and they walked towards the compound gate, Heero leading Wing and Chenoa following Relena.
As they reached the gate someone hailed them.
"Halt. Identify yourselves."
Relena answered, "Rider Yuy and Flyer Peacecraft."
"May I see your medallions?"
Relena nodded and whispered the spell to create a pair of the orbs. As they appeared she sent one up to the gate guard and showed their medallions in the other. The guard nodded and the gates were opened.
As they walked in the guard came up to greet them. A Chinese boy the same age as Heero he walked with a fighter's grace.
"You weren't expected, do you need any assistance?"
Heero nodded, "We need to see your commander, immediately."
"That would be me."
Heero could see the surprise filling Relena's face, and he was sure his held the same emotion. Only more rare than female Riders and Flyers was a commander so young.
Heero bent his head in respect and said, "We have urgent news."
The Chinese boy nodded curtly and said, "Follow me."
A few minutes later Heero and Relena were standing in the commander's office. Maps and other papers covered the walls and tables, but it was very neat. The commander gestured to a pitcher of water and glasses on the table, "Feel free. Now what is your news?"
"My partner, Flyer Maxwell, and I were delivering a few messages to Southern Range when we came upon Flyer Peacecraft and her Partner, Rider Schbeiker. Rider Schbeiker was badly injured and we offered medical help," Heero began.
Relena continued when Heero paused, "Southern range has fallen to an unidentified enemy. No one is left."
The commander stared at Relena for a moment, the color draining from his face, and said, "Are you sure no one is left?"
"Only us. There were no bodies either. No bones. Just ash," she answered softly.
The commander clasped his hands for a moment, took a deep breath, and said, "I told them this would happen."
Heero and Relena looked at each other surprised.
The commander continued, "Are your mounts fresh enough to ride?"
"Yes, Commander…ah," Relena began, but she was at a loss for the commander's name.
"Chang."
"Yes, Commander Chang."
Commander Chang walked towards a map on the wall and said, "Where were your partners headed?"
Heero answered, "Flyer Maxwell is dropping Rider Schbeiker off at Crest Falls compound for medical attention. He was going to pair up with another Rider and head east warning the compounds along the way. We were going to meet him up North at Rivers compound."
"Not a bad plan, but you won't be fast enough. I'm going to send out all of my Rider/Flyer pairs except four to hold the base. Hopefully the commander at Crest Falls will do the same," Commander Chang walked over to his desk and hit a button, a moment later another person entered.
"Rider Yuy, Flyer Peacecraft, this it my second in command, Rider Barton," Commander Chang said.
Rider Barton nodded at the pair but said nothing.
"Get everyone out of bed, Trowa. They're gonna have some fun."
An hour later all the Riders and Flyers were assembled. Each pair had turned into a foursome. Heero and Relena were paired with Commander Chang and Rider Barton themselves. Apparently, the commander wanted to grill Relena for more information. Commander Chang informed the other groups on which compounds they were headed for and told them what message to deliver. Ten minutes later, only four people were left at the compound beside themselves.
As they rode, Commander Chang began asking Relena questions. Heero listened for a while, but soon tuned it out. Relena really didn't know what happened. He was thirsty, so he pulled his canteen out and took a sip. As he put it away, his hand brushed his messenger's bag. What the hay, it didn't matter if he read the note now. He pulled it out and read. There were only two words.
Got you.
"Commander!"
Astra: Heh heh. Leave you at a hook! Heh heh…