AN: Action! Action! Action! This chapter is packed full of it! I know you will all love it. Please send me your comments I am going to try to finish up the story here shortly. Always send me reviews I LOVE TO READ THEM! I do not own Gundam Wing or any of the characters. But I'm beginning to wish that I did.
Heero and Relena ran down the hallway as fast as their legs could carry them. Heero held a gun in hold hand and Relena's hand in the other as he pulled her through the hallway towards the auditorium. He prayed silently that Trowa had made it unharmed and had managed to get a car for them. Heero stopped abruptly though. He pulled Relena in a doorway and peeked around the corner. It was just as he thought. More enemy soldiers were beginning to come into the building. Ahead he had seen a door handle turn. He immediately had pulled Relena out of harm's way. They would soon be trapped and he had to think quickly before getting them both killed….
Meanwhile…
Quatre and Zechs were under heavy fire. The few Preventers that had been with them were falling left and right. Zechs and Quatre managed to pick off as many enemies as they could. But they were both beginning to run low on ammo. More enemy troops were beginning to file in too. Now there were only two other Preventers left who had not fallen.
"We can't keep this up for much longer!" screamed Quatre. We'll have to make a run for it!"
"Right, but we have tog give Heero more time to get Relena out of here!" answered Zechs. He was beginning to lose hope of leaving the place alive. Suddenly an idea sprang into his head. "Winner! Look out the window. How many flights up are we right now?"
Quatre crawled over to a window while the others kept firing and peered out cautiously. "About two stories. This building isn't that high. Right now the enemy is veering to the left of us outside."
Zechs sighed, "Good; that means that if we jump we might have a chance."
Quatre suddenly realized the concept of the plan. He nodded his head. They could make the jump easily without hurting themselves. It would not be that difficult. Just trying to regroup with the others would be. And managing to stay alive after the fall would also be a challenge considering there would be enemy fire from above them. Once they hit the ground they would have to clear out quickly.
"Winner, all of us will go at the count of three! Once we hit the ground, run like hell! It's the only way! One… two… three!" screamed Zechs as he grabbed the other two Preventers and pushed them out the window.
Quatre set his arms out in front of his face and broke the glass as he fell forward. He hit the ground quickly and rolled. He picked himself up and ran to catch up with Zechs and the others. Gunfire was all around them. One of the Preventers cried out and fell as a bullet took him down.
"Leave him!" cried Zechs. They continued to run occasionally returning fire.
"We go towards the back of the building, where the auditorium exit should be!" screamed Zechs.
Meanwhile…..
Heero spun his head sharply. He could hear voices coming from the other end of the hallway as well. They must have gotten past Zechs and Quatre. Heero looked around for a means of escape. He looked up to see the air system vent. He braced his legs on the wall and climbed up. He pushed up the cover and pulled himself through. He then reached down and grabbed Relena's small body, pulling her up as well. He quickly replaced the cover.
Heero held Relena close to him and covered her mouth to muffle her heavy breathing. Underneath of them, soldiers passed by in both directions. Relena tensed up and held tight onto Heero. They waited for a few moments longer, until both groups had passed. Heero released Relena and began to crawl forward through the ventilation system. He motioned for the young woman to follow him cautiously behind. Each time they passed a new cover Heero would peak down to see if it was the auditorium. At one point the reached a fork and Heero steered them to the left. Relena breathed heavily and tried to keep herself calm. She had never been fond of tiny spaces and this was most uncomfortable, not to mention that assassins were chasing them too.
Heero stopped once more and peered through a cover. He crawled over it and pulled it out. They had reached their destination. Relena crawled over to Heero.
"Relena everything is clear. Take my hand and I am going to drop you as gently as possible to the ground. The auditorium ceiling is higher so be careful when you land. I'll be right behind you."
Relena nodded her head and let Heero guide her body down through the small opening. She held onto hi hands and nodded that she was ready. Heero released her and Relena fell to the floor. She landed roughly but safely. Heero dropped down immediately afterwards and helped Relena to her feet. They were at the back of the large auditorium. The exit they wanted was backstage. A noise behind them caused them to jump. They turned in horror to see a small group of soldiers running in through the doors.
"Run Relena!" cried Heero as he drew his gun and began to fire.
Relena heeded his words and fled towards the stage as the soldiers filed in one by one. Several of them slipped past Heero and made their way towards her. Relena ran onto the stage and began to knock over anything that would keep them away from reaching her. Backstage she overturned furniture and saw the door that would mark their freedom. Someone touched Relena's shoulder and she jumped at the sound of a gunshot. The man beside her fell and she turned to see Heero.
"Heero look out!" cried Relena as several jumped onto his back and tried to over take him. He fell to the ground and wrestled with three large men.
"Relena go now while you still have the chance!" he cried in between breaths.
In despair Relena ran towards the EXIT sign. She had almost reached in when she was abruptly grabbed from behind and tackled to the ground. A man twice her size had taken her down and was trying to take her away. She struggled with him and kicked and struck out at him with all her might. She managed to free herself temporarily only to be seized again by the man. She kicked him and then grabbed a chair beside her and hit him with all her might. The man cried out and struck her sharply across the head. Relena fell to the ground and cried out in pain.
Hearing Relena scream, Heero redoubled his efforts and threw off the men that had tackled him. He drew his gun and fired three deadly shots. He wasted no time and raced to the man attacking Relena. Heero landed a heavy blow on the man's head and pushed him away from the frightened girl. Heero knelt on the ground inspecting her momentarily and held her to him. He looked to see several more soldiers coming towards them.
Kneeling with Relena, Heero held out his gun in one hand and held Relena in the other. Her arms were wrapped about him in fear as she held onto him for dear life. Heero fired and fired, felling his opponents' right and left, but they just kept coming and coming. He would not let them take her while he was alive.
Suddenly, light poured out from behind him and Heero turned to see Trowa, gun upraised and firing, directly at the enemy. The last of their opponents fell and Heero picked up Relena and carried her out to a waiting car while Trowa ran quickly behind them. They all piled into the front seat: Trowa driving, Relena in the middle, and Heero in the passenger side.
Get us out of here!" ordered Heero. Trowa wasted no time. He slammed down on the accelerator and fled away from the building.
"I know you said no longer than ten minutes, but I couldn't leave knowing I could have tried and waited just a little longer," said Trowa quietly as he drove away.
"You're a good man," answered Heero.
Suddenly Trowa slammed on the brakes. His passengers lurched forward as they came to a complete stop. They looked up and before them were Zechs and Quatre dragging in between them an injured Preventer. The small group quickened their pace when they saw the occupants of the car. The three men climbed in and Trowa took off down the street.
"Put some pressure on his leg, Quatre," said Zechs as they held the injured man between them. Quatre did as he was told. Zechs applied pressure with his hands to a wound on the man's chest. Relena had turned around and held the injured man's hand.
"Breath with me," said Relena soothingly as the young Preventer struggled for air. "Just hold onto me and keep breathing. Look right at me, don't look away."
Heero watched with a feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. It was clear to see that the man was mortally wounded; all they could do was try. But Relena was there, fighting with him until the very end. He admired her for that: the spirit she had. Strong and able, loving and caring, and never willing to give up no matter what the cost.
Relena squeezed the young man's hand tighter as he began to slow down his breathing. It was becoming too slow now. She knew at this point all she could do was be there. She watched, with tears forming in her eyes, as the Preventer slipped away from the world. Relena sighed and closed her eyes, struggling to fight back the tears. Quatre and Zechs shook their heads and muttered in disbelief. Trowa and Heero remained silent.
"Why does war always come to this?" asked Relena to no one in particular. But no one could answer her question.
For a few more moments all was quite until Heero broke the silence,
"Zechs, try to get a hold of Une. We need to arrange a flight out of here once these mobile suits have cleared out."
"I tried earlier but my communicator is broken. All I am getting is static. We are on our own but I sure they are on their way as soon as possible."
"They should have been here by now though," said Quatre with a puzzled expression. "I can't imagine what might have taken them this long."
"The enemy must have set up a decoy to keep the Preventers away from the colony," said Trowa. "It is the only logical explanation. They knew we had rebuilt the Gundams, so they must have set up a trap to lure us away."
"I think you're right," answered Heero. "But right now we are on our own; and the main objective is to find a place to hide so that we are all safe."
Trowa nodded his head and turned the wheel to the left. As soon as he did though, he had made a grave mistake. Before them was band of at least fifty foot soldiers who all looked right into the car the small group of companions were in. Trowa floored it, and steered through the crowd in a hurry, wasting no time so that they may make an escape. Shots were fired at the car immediately and Trowa swerved on both sides of the road, avoiding obstacles and trying to make the enemies target much more difficult to hit.
Heero grabbed Relena and put her head down so that a stray bullet would not hit her. He then rolled down his window and loaded a new clip into his gun. Climbing half way out the window, Heero fired and took down six soldiers. Zechs did likewise, and took down three others. The two men climbed back into the car. Quatre glanced behind them.
"They will send the mobile suits in a moment," he said gravely.
True to his word, two large mobile suits began to pursue the tiny car. Trowa did his best to maneuver out of their way but it was no use.
"They aren't firing at us or we'd all be dead by now!" cried Quatre. "They must want to keep us alive!"
"They want to keep Relena alive," answered Heero coldly.
Relena froze at his words. It was because of her, everything was because of her. They valued her life yet took other lives to make sure she stayed unharmed. They didn't care as long as they got her in the end. A great sorrow hit her like a bullet. She didn't want this, she didn't need this, and she couldn't do this anymore. She couldn't live knowing that others were dying for her, protecting her. It was too much for her to bear. She was a failure; her whole purpose in life didn't mean anything anymore. She had nothing left to live for.
As these thoughts flew through her mind, Relena was only vaguely aware of what else was happening. The mobile suits had cut them off and Trowa was doing his best now to keep the car moving. Suddenly, a large electrical pole in front of the car fell and crashed before them. Trowa tried to swerve out of the way but it was too late. Heero grabbed Relena and brace her with his own body as they crashed into the pole.
Heero looked around slightly dazed. Relena was safe in his arms, only slightly bruised and shaken. In the back Zechs and Quatre began to climb out of the car. Only Trowa seemed to have suffered with a large cut on his forehead from hitting the steering wheel. But he nodded to Heero that he was fine and removed himself from the car as the others had done. Heero pulled Relena out, grabbed her hand, and ran with the others, as fast as they could, to the shelter of the large buildings of L1. More foot soldiers were heading towards them now. They were running out of time and they were trapped.
Zechs led them all into an apartment building that was now abandoned because of the attack. Behind the building was a large lake that overlooked a park. With Heero and Trowa, Zechs moved furniture in front of the entrance way to maintain a final stand against the soldiers. Quatre led Relena upstairs to the top floor, ten stories up. The others joined them shortly.
Relena sat on a couch and fell into her own thoughts as the others discussed a means of defending themselves.
"We're extremely low on ammo. I've no round left whatsoever and you only have a few. We won't last five minutes!" exclaimed Zechs helplessly.
Below them, they could hear the soldiers trying to break through the entrance. Quatre looked out of the window and down below,
"They're almost in."
Heero tried desperately to think. No matter what happened he would keep Relena alive. He would die if he had to. He was not about to leave her side now. Even when there was no hope left.
"We will not go down with out a fight," said Heero coldly.
"Damn it Yuy! Open your eyes!" cried Zechs angrily. "We have nothing left! We are going to die here!"
Relena snapped from her own thoughts and stared at her brother. She stood and looked at all of them, but they didn't seem to notice her at all.
"Then," said Trowa sadly, "I think we all know what we must do."
Heero read Trowa's mind and instantly became enraged. He knew what Trowa was thinking, he had thought the same thing, and it was the only way for them to stay alive, all of them. But he couldn't bear leaving her, he couldn't do it. Angrily, Heero punched the wall with his fist as hard as he could. He drew in a deep breath and tried to hide the emotion he had just shown, but it was too late. He turned around and looked at the young woman,
"Relena listen to me…" he began.
"Yes," she interrupted, "go Heero. All of you get the hell away from here."
"Relena!" cried Zechs but Heero stopped him.
"Relena, if we leave, there is a chance we may survive. There will be no fight, and they will take you away unharmed. But if we stay, we will fight and there is a good chance that we will not make it out of here alive."
"I understand Heero," said Relena sadly.
"They're beginning to come into the building!" cried Quatre.
Trowa took a vase and broke through a large picture window that overlooked the lake. He looked down at the drop. They would fall ten stories into the water below and try their best to get out of there.
"Relena…" began Zechs.
"Milliardo, listen to me, whether you believe it or not, you are a Peacecraft. You must survive if I should not. You must carry on the name that brings hope to so many others. Promise me this Milliardo; promise me you will do this, not just for me, but for our own father and mother who fought so hard for pacifism and peace. Peacecraft is not just a name Milliardo; it is a symbol of hope. Use it and the people will follow you."
Zechs nodded his head sadly and embraced Relena before turning away to join Trowa and Quatre at the window. Trowa nodded to Heero who nodded back. Trowa then gracefully leapt downward to the waiting water. Quatre looked at Zechs and almost smiled,
"Two windows in one day. Are you up for it?"
"At the count of three," replied Zechs before the two of them jumped down.
Heero now stood with Relena alone. He could hear the soldiers coming up the stairs now.
"Heero go!" cried Relena.
"Listen to me first. You stay alive no matter what happens Relena. Do what they say and stay alive! I will find you, no matter how far and how long it takes… I will find you."
Relena nodded her head slowly at his words. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. She loved him she was sure of it. She just doubted that she would ever see him again. But his words gave her hope.
"Relena," he continued, "Don't be afraid of who you really are. You have a strong name, use it. Don't lose hope…"
The door pounded as soldiers tried to break in. Relena looked around in horror and screamed at him,
"Go Heero! Go now! I promise to do as you say! Go!"
Heero wasted no time and just as the door opened, he jumped through the broken window and fell, for what felt like and eternity, into the lake below him. He hit the water hard, and the force took the breath of him slightly, but he swam back up to the surface and gasped for air. He remained motionless for some time and looked above him. He saw Relena's golden hair moving about in the breeze. He then saw the soldiers come and take her away.
"Heero!" cried Quatre from the bank of the lake. Heero swam to meet his companions. Relena was alive, but in the hands of the enemy. All of them stared as a massive mobile suit, a Gundam, took off and flew into the depths of outer space. It was the Gundam Gehenna. Relena was on board; Heero felt her presence leave as the massive mobile suit did.
Trowa pointed towards the buildings. The other mobile suits and soldiers were still bent on destroying the entire colony. Helplessly, the small company watched and nearly gave up when all of a sudden, a familiar sight came to their eyes.
The giant scythe of Deathscythe swept through three mobile suits. Shenlong terrorized the foot soldiers and fired into their ranks. A Taurus landed inside of the park and a slender pilot emerged from the cockpit and greeted them,
"Need a lift?" asked Lucrezia Noin.
AN: Chapter 20 all and accounted for! Email me tell me what you think! Email: WildRose1404earthlink.net