AN Not much to say. Hope you'll enjoy this next chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Under Pressure
Chapter 14
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sally looked around while her captors were leading her down a grey corridor. The base
looked as organized as Wufei had described it. But she wasn't sure they were in Canada now. It
was too hot for that, the temperature was tropical, making her cuts and bruises sting with
sweat.
This was the first time since she had woken up about three or four days ago that she
was allowed outside the tiny, and getting more and more smelly, room she was held in. Her eyes
were still adjusting to the sudden chance in light intensity. Her room had no windows. She
hadn't seen Wufei either, not since they had been taken. She worried about him. He was so
stubborn and rebellious.
She didn't have time to worry any longer, though. Her escort pushed in a room and
closed the door behind her. This room was at least larger than her cell and lights were
hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the room stood a table and to chairs, on of which
was occupied. Three men in dark blue uniforms lined the wall left of her. She focused her
attention on the man in the chair. He was obviously some kind of leader. His brown hair was
cut short, military style. He wore a dark blue uniform with decorations reminding her of
former officers from OZ. His body was lean and well-trained. His brown eyes sparkled with
intelligence and cruelty.
"Greetings, Sally Po. I am the commander of this facility. You may call me commander.
Please, be seated."
Sally just nodded and took her seat.
"Now, you may be wondering as to why you were brought here. Well, there are several
reasons to be given. One is that, unfortunately, you were at the wrong place at the wrong
time. Had you not been where you were when you were there, we would not have taken you, nor
your friend. Don't worry, we haven't harmed him."
She relaxed again, a little.
"Then there was your other, friend. We didn't want things to be easy for him, so we
had to take his ship. That also meant taking you, because we didn't want him to receive any
help at all. I expect the poor boy is now in tears for failing to protect his dear Relena.
Such a tender girl, that one is. It's a shame she was in the way of our plans, otherwise she
would have lived." The man shrugged sadly, as if he was truly sorry for having to kill Relena.
Sally's blood boiled. That idiot made it sound like Relena was to blame for her own
death. Was she really dead? Her heart sank and her eyes stung. That couldn't be, could it?
"I'm sorry. Did I upset you with my news? Yes, I understand it must be quite
disturbing for you. Not only is one of the most prominent and pacifistic politicians of the
world dead, you also lost a friend. Oh well, friends come and go. No need to worry about her
anymore. Worry about your little Chinese friend instead. Because of you two don't give me
what I want, you'll see the other pay."
"I don't even know what it is that you want, so how can I give it?" she bit back.
Nobody threatened Wufei without her putting up a fight. When they had first met, he had said
she was weak. But he had later acknowledged strength didn't lie in muscles or even brains. It
was the heart that was most important.
"Oh, but you do know. Why else would I keep a Preventer commander captive?"
That could mean a lot of things. As a commander for the Preventers she had come across
so many things valuable to a terrorist group. "What do you want?" she growled.
"That's what I like about you, straight to the point. I want to know how you found
the Canadian base."
Did they really think she would just give away top-secret Preventer data? Well, they
had another thing coming. "Easy, we just followed your stench."
A fist connected with her jaw. She barely caught herself from falling from her chair.
Cheap shot. Carefully she straightened.
The commander was still sitting comfortably in his chair, unfazed by the interruption.
He smiled kindly to her. "Now, now, we don't like answers like that. Why won't you be
straightforward? No harm will come from that."
"Satellite irregularity. You security was lacking, we checked it out."
He just stared at her impassively. "I don't believe you. Our security is failsafe.
Why don't you tell me the truth? I am hurt."
This idiot was getting on her nerves. She had to tread carefully though. She didn't
fancy another blow to the head. "Combined with some electromagnetic waves, indicating
equipment in a deserted area. Naturally we checked it out."
He rubbed his chin. "That sounds plausible enough. I'll leave at that for the moment.
Now, there's was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
~~~~~~
Wufei growled when the soldiers hit Sally. How dare he? Taking her by surprise like
that. Did he have no honor? Probably not, otherwise he wouldn't have joined these buffoons
in the first place. Why did she have to give such a stupid answer then? There was no sense
in being stubborn if it only got yourself hurt.
'Look who's talking! You're hurting yourself by ignoring your heart. You're just as
much a stubborn idiot.' He quenched the little voice of his conscience.
Wufei was in a little room, neighboring the room Sally was in. Only a one-way glass
panel separated them. The conversation on the other side of the glass continued.
"Now, now, we don't like answers like that. Why won't you be straightforward? No harm
will come from that," that slimeball said.
"Satellite irregularity. You security was lacking, we checked it out," Sally answered.
He sighed with relief. She sounded normal enough. That had to mean she was alright, right?
"I don't believe you. Our security is failsafe. Why don't you tell me the truth? I am
hurt."
Wufei's blood boiled. That man had the audacity to call Sally a liar?
"Combined with some electromagnetic waves, indicating equipment in a deserted area.
Naturally we checked it out."
Hey, she didn't have to say that. She should have punched the guy. No, he should. And
as soon as he got the chance, he would.
"That sounds plausible enough. I'll leave at that for the moment. Now, there was
something else I wanted to talk to you about." That pricked up jerk still doubted her? How
dare he!
Wufei was ready to punch right through the glass and strangle the man. What else
would he want to know? There was no point in asking it, if he doubted every word coming from
her.
"I want to know the identity of the five Gundam pilots."
Wufei stared. What did he need that for?
"Why?" Sally asked in a croaked voice. She wondered the exact same thing.
"They have been fighting for so long, and taking pleasure in it, that I thought they
may want to join our cause. Not unreasonable, is it?"
"You're insane!"
Wufei thought she had a point there.
"My mental state is no issue right now," the commander said, leaning forward
threateningly. All pretense had faded. ""What is the identity of the five Gundam pilots?"
"I don't know!"
Wufei inhaled sharply. He hoped the man would buy it. Sally sure seemed convincing
enough.
"Don't be ridiculous! You're a high-ranking Preventer! You know that sort of things!
Who are the Gundam pilots?!"
"I don't know!" Sally shouted back. "Just because I'm a Preventer, doesn't mean I know
everything. I'm sorry, but if there is a Preventer that knows who they are, you got the wrong
one, because I don't."
Wufei froze when the commander slowly raised. Sally didn't flinch though.
"Is that so?" the man said, the malice apparent in his voice. "Sorry, honey, but I
don't buy that. Now, you gonna tell me or do I have to beat it out of you."
Sally didn't answer, just stared defiantly at the menace in front of her. Wufei
cringed. Why did that stupid woman have to be so stubborn? He banged his fist against the
glass, but it was futile. They couldn't hear him. No-one could. They had left him alone in
this room, staring at the glass wall, wondering what he was supposed to see or do. Now he
knew what they were after.
Psychological torment. Sally would likely be physically hurt, but he would scream
on the inside. He could never show these people his weakness though. They would exploit it
even further. He just hoped he was strong enough to prevent himself from screaming.
Sally still hadn't moved from her chair.
"We can beat the information out of you, you know?" the commander said.
"No, I don't, since there's nothing to beat out of me."
'Oh, please, Sally, don't be so stupid. Just say that I am a Gundam pilot and they'll
leave you alone.' She wouldn't, though. He knew that for certain, and it pained him.
A hand snatched her collar and dragged her on her feet. She didn't even so much as
blink. Despite her unwavering stubbornness he admired her courage. 'Just give in, already!'
He mentally screamed at her, but he knew very well just how useless that was.
He should have stayed with the Preventers. Then he would have been there in Canada
from the start, they would have found out in time what these people were up to, they could
have saved Relena and he wouldn't be looking at a cornered Sally right now. Hell, if he had
stayed, they might have gotten married and Sally would be home on pregnancy leave!
Pregnancy leave? Where did that come from? It didn't matter though, because big,
bad and ugly over in the other room had now raised his fist.
Wufei clenched his fist, burying his nails in the palm of his hand. He endured the
little pain it caused as Sally endured her beating.
~~~~~~
Hilde and Catherine sat next to each other on the couch in Cathy's trailer, watching
television. Today was the official statement Relena was dead. Thank god, Duo had called
yesterday, telling them it wasn't true. Otherwise Hilde was sure she would have panicked.
Lady Une was sitting behind several microphones. Her face was set stern and sad.
"Amongst the ashes of the royal palace we have finally found the remains of the vice foreign
minister. We can now officially declare the death of Relena Darlian. We have yet no leads as
to who was responsible for this assassination. However, we are doing everything we can to
unearth these terrorists. We will find them and hold them accountable for their deeds."
~~~~~~
The light was painfully bright. She squinted and tried to focus on the world around
her. The first thing she noticed was pain. Her whole body screamed with agony and she found
herself fighting to stay awake, not to faint. She wanted to know where she was and what had
happened.
She tried opening her eyes again. This time it was easier. The bright light was gone,
someone was blocking it.
"She's awake!" a voice shouted. A voice she knew.
'Milliardo?' She tried to say that name aloud, but only a hoarse whisper passed her
lips.
"Sh, don't try to talk." It was Milliardo. Happily she smiled as she made out his face.
Concern creased his forehead, but he was also relieved about something. 'Probably me.
I think I'm in the hospital. What happened anyway?' All she remembered was a loud bang. An
explosion?
Wariness washed over her and she couldn't stop her eyes from closing anymore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN That's it for now. Please review?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Under Pressure
Chapter 14
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sally looked around while her captors were leading her down a grey corridor. The base
looked as organized as Wufei had described it. But she wasn't sure they were in Canada now. It
was too hot for that, the temperature was tropical, making her cuts and bruises sting with
sweat.
This was the first time since she had woken up about three or four days ago that she
was allowed outside the tiny, and getting more and more smelly, room she was held in. Her eyes
were still adjusting to the sudden chance in light intensity. Her room had no windows. She
hadn't seen Wufei either, not since they had been taken. She worried about him. He was so
stubborn and rebellious.
She didn't have time to worry any longer, though. Her escort pushed in a room and
closed the door behind her. This room was at least larger than her cell and lights were
hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the room stood a table and to chairs, on of which
was occupied. Three men in dark blue uniforms lined the wall left of her. She focused her
attention on the man in the chair. He was obviously some kind of leader. His brown hair was
cut short, military style. He wore a dark blue uniform with decorations reminding her of
former officers from OZ. His body was lean and well-trained. His brown eyes sparkled with
intelligence and cruelty.
"Greetings, Sally Po. I am the commander of this facility. You may call me commander.
Please, be seated."
Sally just nodded and took her seat.
"Now, you may be wondering as to why you were brought here. Well, there are several
reasons to be given. One is that, unfortunately, you were at the wrong place at the wrong
time. Had you not been where you were when you were there, we would not have taken you, nor
your friend. Don't worry, we haven't harmed him."
She relaxed again, a little.
"Then there was your other, friend. We didn't want things to be easy for him, so we
had to take his ship. That also meant taking you, because we didn't want him to receive any
help at all. I expect the poor boy is now in tears for failing to protect his dear Relena.
Such a tender girl, that one is. It's a shame she was in the way of our plans, otherwise she
would have lived." The man shrugged sadly, as if he was truly sorry for having to kill Relena.
Sally's blood boiled. That idiot made it sound like Relena was to blame for her own
death. Was she really dead? Her heart sank and her eyes stung. That couldn't be, could it?
"I'm sorry. Did I upset you with my news? Yes, I understand it must be quite
disturbing for you. Not only is one of the most prominent and pacifistic politicians of the
world dead, you also lost a friend. Oh well, friends come and go. No need to worry about her
anymore. Worry about your little Chinese friend instead. Because of you two don't give me
what I want, you'll see the other pay."
"I don't even know what it is that you want, so how can I give it?" she bit back.
Nobody threatened Wufei without her putting up a fight. When they had first met, he had said
she was weak. But he had later acknowledged strength didn't lie in muscles or even brains. It
was the heart that was most important.
"Oh, but you do know. Why else would I keep a Preventer commander captive?"
That could mean a lot of things. As a commander for the Preventers she had come across
so many things valuable to a terrorist group. "What do you want?" she growled.
"That's what I like about you, straight to the point. I want to know how you found
the Canadian base."
Did they really think she would just give away top-secret Preventer data? Well, they
had another thing coming. "Easy, we just followed your stench."
A fist connected with her jaw. She barely caught herself from falling from her chair.
Cheap shot. Carefully she straightened.
The commander was still sitting comfortably in his chair, unfazed by the interruption.
He smiled kindly to her. "Now, now, we don't like answers like that. Why won't you be
straightforward? No harm will come from that."
"Satellite irregularity. You security was lacking, we checked it out."
He just stared at her impassively. "I don't believe you. Our security is failsafe.
Why don't you tell me the truth? I am hurt."
This idiot was getting on her nerves. She had to tread carefully though. She didn't
fancy another blow to the head. "Combined with some electromagnetic waves, indicating
equipment in a deserted area. Naturally we checked it out."
He rubbed his chin. "That sounds plausible enough. I'll leave at that for the moment.
Now, there's was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
~~~~~~
Wufei growled when the soldiers hit Sally. How dare he? Taking her by surprise like
that. Did he have no honor? Probably not, otherwise he wouldn't have joined these buffoons
in the first place. Why did she have to give such a stupid answer then? There was no sense
in being stubborn if it only got yourself hurt.
'Look who's talking! You're hurting yourself by ignoring your heart. You're just as
much a stubborn idiot.' He quenched the little voice of his conscience.
Wufei was in a little room, neighboring the room Sally was in. Only a one-way glass
panel separated them. The conversation on the other side of the glass continued.
"Now, now, we don't like answers like that. Why won't you be straightforward? No harm
will come from that," that slimeball said.
"Satellite irregularity. You security was lacking, we checked it out," Sally answered.
He sighed with relief. She sounded normal enough. That had to mean she was alright, right?
"I don't believe you. Our security is failsafe. Why don't you tell me the truth? I am
hurt."
Wufei's blood boiled. That man had the audacity to call Sally a liar?
"Combined with some electromagnetic waves, indicating equipment in a deserted area.
Naturally we checked it out."
Hey, she didn't have to say that. She should have punched the guy. No, he should. And
as soon as he got the chance, he would.
"That sounds plausible enough. I'll leave at that for the moment. Now, there was
something else I wanted to talk to you about." That pricked up jerk still doubted her? How
dare he!
Wufei was ready to punch right through the glass and strangle the man. What else
would he want to know? There was no point in asking it, if he doubted every word coming from
her.
"I want to know the identity of the five Gundam pilots."
Wufei stared. What did he need that for?
"Why?" Sally asked in a croaked voice. She wondered the exact same thing.
"They have been fighting for so long, and taking pleasure in it, that I thought they
may want to join our cause. Not unreasonable, is it?"
"You're insane!"
Wufei thought she had a point there.
"My mental state is no issue right now," the commander said, leaning forward
threateningly. All pretense had faded. ""What is the identity of the five Gundam pilots?"
"I don't know!"
Wufei inhaled sharply. He hoped the man would buy it. Sally sure seemed convincing
enough.
"Don't be ridiculous! You're a high-ranking Preventer! You know that sort of things!
Who are the Gundam pilots?!"
"I don't know!" Sally shouted back. "Just because I'm a Preventer, doesn't mean I know
everything. I'm sorry, but if there is a Preventer that knows who they are, you got the wrong
one, because I don't."
Wufei froze when the commander slowly raised. Sally didn't flinch though.
"Is that so?" the man said, the malice apparent in his voice. "Sorry, honey, but I
don't buy that. Now, you gonna tell me or do I have to beat it out of you."
Sally didn't answer, just stared defiantly at the menace in front of her. Wufei
cringed. Why did that stupid woman have to be so stubborn? He banged his fist against the
glass, but it was futile. They couldn't hear him. No-one could. They had left him alone in
this room, staring at the glass wall, wondering what he was supposed to see or do. Now he
knew what they were after.
Psychological torment. Sally would likely be physically hurt, but he would scream
on the inside. He could never show these people his weakness though. They would exploit it
even further. He just hoped he was strong enough to prevent himself from screaming.
Sally still hadn't moved from her chair.
"We can beat the information out of you, you know?" the commander said.
"No, I don't, since there's nothing to beat out of me."
'Oh, please, Sally, don't be so stupid. Just say that I am a Gundam pilot and they'll
leave you alone.' She wouldn't, though. He knew that for certain, and it pained him.
A hand snatched her collar and dragged her on her feet. She didn't even so much as
blink. Despite her unwavering stubbornness he admired her courage. 'Just give in, already!'
He mentally screamed at her, but he knew very well just how useless that was.
He should have stayed with the Preventers. Then he would have been there in Canada
from the start, they would have found out in time what these people were up to, they could
have saved Relena and he wouldn't be looking at a cornered Sally right now. Hell, if he had
stayed, they might have gotten married and Sally would be home on pregnancy leave!
Pregnancy leave? Where did that come from? It didn't matter though, because big,
bad and ugly over in the other room had now raised his fist.
Wufei clenched his fist, burying his nails in the palm of his hand. He endured the
little pain it caused as Sally endured her beating.
~~~~~~
Hilde and Catherine sat next to each other on the couch in Cathy's trailer, watching
television. Today was the official statement Relena was dead. Thank god, Duo had called
yesterday, telling them it wasn't true. Otherwise Hilde was sure she would have panicked.
Lady Une was sitting behind several microphones. Her face was set stern and sad.
"Amongst the ashes of the royal palace we have finally found the remains of the vice foreign
minister. We can now officially declare the death of Relena Darlian. We have yet no leads as
to who was responsible for this assassination. However, we are doing everything we can to
unearth these terrorists. We will find them and hold them accountable for their deeds."
~~~~~~
The light was painfully bright. She squinted and tried to focus on the world around
her. The first thing she noticed was pain. Her whole body screamed with agony and she found
herself fighting to stay awake, not to faint. She wanted to know where she was and what had
happened.
She tried opening her eyes again. This time it was easier. The bright light was gone,
someone was blocking it.
"She's awake!" a voice shouted. A voice she knew.
'Milliardo?' She tried to say that name aloud, but only a hoarse whisper passed her
lips.
"Sh, don't try to talk." It was Milliardo. Happily she smiled as she made out his face.
Concern creased his forehead, but he was also relieved about something. 'Probably me.
I think I'm in the hospital. What happened anyway?' All she remembered was a loud bang. An
explosion?
Wariness washed over her and she couldn't stop her eyes from closing anymore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN That's it for now. Please review?