AN: Chapter 21. Did you guys like the last one? Because from all the feedback I was getting it sure did sound like it. I am so excited that you all love the story. All right, things are going to get good from now on. Please R&R as always. I do not own Gundam Wing or any of the characters.
Relena stood looking downward to the lake below. She let out a deep sigh of relief as she saw him emerge from the blue water. She could see his blue eyes penetrating her own. She only removed her gaze from his own when a large noise from the door interrupted her thoughts. She spun around and was immediately grabbed b y two enemy soldiers roughly.
All though fear gripped her heart, Relena forced herself to remain calm. If her life were to end right now, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing that she was terrified. She would accept her fate with grace and dignity, as he mother and father had before her.
A tall dark figure stepped through the doorway. Relena straightened her posture and stood tall as she recognized him: Bret Mavica. He approached her, a gun in his hand, aimed directly at her head. Relena simply stared right into his eyes, telling herself to show no signs of fear; that she would not be beaten down.
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you right now, Relena Darlian," snarled Mavica as he cocked the trigger.
Relena stood taller and peered deeply into his black eyes. She thought carefully about her words before she spoke,
"Because murdering me, in cold blood, would mean that you organization would fail to be able to control the colonies and earth. They would see your cruelty, and you can not afford that."
Mavica gripped the gun tighter. He began to pull the trigger slowly, a crazed expression crossing his face. But, suddenly he let go and lowered the gun.
"You are too wise for your own good, Ms. Darlian. Take her away!" he ordered.
Relena was blindfolded and carried out of the building. The next thing she knew she was being strapped into a seat. She was cramped up, it had to be a mobile suit of some kind. She heard Bret Mavica's voice and he entered the mobile suit. He strapped himself in front of her, in what she guessed was the pilot's seat. A panicked voice came over the intercom system,
"Sir, there's a fleet of mobile suits approaching the colony at a very high speed!"
"Well hurry up and destroy everything you can! Cover for me as I leave!"
"Yes sir," said the soldier.
Relena almost whimpered as she heard explosions right after the other, coming from outside. How she wanted to be anywhere but there. She felt the seat shake her violently as the mobile suit she was in was fired up. As they were about to take off, the voice came over the intercom again,
"Sir we have enemy suits approaching us…"
"Cover for me, as I leave," ordered Mavica sharply.
"Yes sir but it's a Gundam! I repeat it's a Gun…" the man was cut off by static.
Mavica fired up the engines and fled from the colony, Relena with him.
Meanwhile…
Heero and the others had finally arrived back at the Preventers station. They told Commander Une of the unfortunate news regarding Relena. The head of the Preventers thought quickly as she tried to devise a plan before the public began to despair.
"We must find a way to get Relena back. She is the only one who can keep the world from complete chaos."
"She is not the only one," said a deep monotone voice.
All looked in Heero's direction. The dark pilot emerged from the corner he had been standing in. He slowly approached the direction of Zechs and stood before him.
"There is still one Peacecraft left. One who will lead the people out of dark times, if he chooses to accept his fate, or run like a coward."
"Watch yourself Yuy," snarled Zechs.
"You sacrifice your own sister to a cause in which you have always fought for yourself!" cried Heero, "If that is not a coward I do not know what one is!"
Zechs fist landed a blow on Heero's right cheek. But the Perfect soldier just stood there like it had not even phased him. He was beyond physical pain right now. Angrily Zechs lunged at the young man, but the others held him back.
Heero moved away unoppressed by the emotional outburst. He began to speak again anger evident in his voice,
"You would sell her for the sake of the Peacecraft cuase, for the cause of peace yet you are too afraid to take up that cause yourself! Even now, when she has been taken and could be dead for all we know. You will not do it for the world, for her, or for yourself!"
"Damn you Yuy!" screamed Zechs as he tried to break free from the others.
"Heero please!" cried Noin desperately.
But Heero did not falter with his words. He approached Zechs and came face to face with him,
"Will you not do it for yourself, Milliardo Peacecraft?"
Zechs face fell at those words. He looked away. He knew Heero Yuy spoke the truth. Heero, seeing that he had gotten through to the man walked away and continued his small speech,
"The people flock to the name of Peacecraft like it is the coming of the second Christ. They need something that will give them hope, a symbol that will hold them together, whether they are colonist or of earth. The name Peacecraft will be their savior, Relena once understood that, though now she fears of the power and responsibility it shall bring to her. She fears that power, but mostly she fears the failure and defeat that might come out of it. That is why she chooses the name Darlian, and from my guess, that is why you choose the name Zechs Merquise. You fear the good that could come out of this name as well as the bad because of your past. But the people need you, Relena needs you… even I need you at this point. We need a Peacecraft to survive."
Everyone was shocked at the dramatic speech. Heero often kept to himself. This was powerful and his words stung the hearts of all around him.
Zechs was released slowly from everyone. He looked directly into the cold blue eyes of Heero Yuy. He peered closely, but through the layers of ice and pain, Zechs understood and saw the truth: Heero was a human, he feared what was to come and he was doing his best to prevent it. Underneath it all Heero was a man of truth, wisdom, experience, and emotion, even if he failed to show it.
"Lucrezia, gather a team of Preventers and call a press conference. Tell them that Milliardo Peacecraft wishes to address the colonies and the Earth."
Lucrezia Noin smiled as a single tear rolled down her cheek. The others breathed a sigh of relief and did so as well.
Zechs looked around at his companions,
"Well what are we waiting for? We have work to do!"
"Yes sir!" cried Duo excitedly.
"Right!" cried Lady Une. "Wufei and Quatre, prepare every able pilot in this space station. We have a war to fight. Duo and Trowa, go to Howard and make sure that everything is in order with the Gundams. Sally, prepare the infirmary for any injuries or casualties we may have! Noin shall remain with Milliardo. The Magnuacs will do as Quatre tells them. Heero… you have a Vice Foreign Minister to rescue."
Heero nodded and walked out of the room to the docking bay.
Enemy base…
Relena felt the mobile suit land. Moments later she was roughly grabbed by more soldiers. They brought her out of the mobile suit and set her on the ground. The blindfold was taken from her eyes.
Relena gasped. She was in some sort of space port or base. It was a huge docking bay, filled to the brim with mobile suits. Spinning around, Relena caught her breath as she peered at a gigantic Gundam.
"That, Ms. Darlian, is the Gundam Gehenna. But it is the least of your worries. Come with me," ordered Mavica as he led her away with a group of soldiers.
Relena looked around as she walked and absorbed all of her surroundings. The base was titanic is size. It was one of the largest most magnificent space stations she had ever been in, she had to admit it. This organization must have had a strong sponsor behind them. No one could ever afford all of this thought Relena to herself.
She tried to memorize the way which she was going, but it was all like one giant maze. They took so many twists and turns she was beginning to grow dizzy. Finally, they began to slow down as they reached a long corridor with large metals doors at the end.
Bret Mavica approached a secretary seated at a desk in front of the doors. He spoke briefly to her before she nodded her head and pressed a red button on a panel located on her desk. The large doors slid open and Relena was lead in with only Mavica by her side. They were now in a large spacious office surrounded by huge windows that overlooked outer space. Relena could even recognize some of the colony clusters from where they were. But her gaze was not focused on the beauty of space. It was rather fixed on a figure in a large office chair who had his back to her.
"So glad that you could join us, Ms. Darlian," said the man quietly.
Relena grew puzzled. That voice, it seemed so familiar. Almost like a memory that was at the back of her mind, not yet forgotten. She watched as the chair spin around. Relena looked at the man and caught her breath. It couldn't be, there was no possible way. Relena began to back away from him in fear shaking her head in disbelief. But Mavica caught her arms and held her tight.
"I see you have not forgotten me. Why Ms. Darlian, you look as if you have seen a ghost?" sneered the man.
Relena found her voice,
"Perhaps I have, Senator Pentane."
AN: OOOO the horror! LOL! Are you guys surprised? Or did you have an idea? LOL let me know. I'm sorry this chapter was short but it had to be or else other things wouldn't have tied in as well. The story is wrapping up! Please enjoy! Email: WildRose1404earthlink.net