Too Lost to be Saved
by: WolfCry17
Disclaimer: I do not own gundam wing or any of the original characters.
AN: Wow! I finally got this chapter done. Yay! Thank goodness finals are over...they were a killer. Thanks again for the reviews! I really appreciate it...and if anyone has some advice, I completely welcome it.
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Chapter 6 ~ Cheating Death
That same day...
"DUO-O-O-O-O-O!" Hilde hopelessly screamed through her sobs into the smoke-filled air as, a cold wind blew in a spiral-like motion down the gap of the building. It chilled Hilde to the bone and froze the tears that left a crystaline path down her cheeks. They wouldn't stop. He was gone.
Her body fell numb, weak, motionless until the strength of her knees gave out bringing Hilde on her hands and knees at the edge, where Duo had just fallen not even five minutes ago. 'No, no Hilde. This is a dream. It is just a dream. Wake up!' But, she was still there, overlooking the same darkness that engulfed the only love she ever knew. She did love him. As cruel as life is, she didn't realize until now just how much she cared for that goofy, sloppy, loud, obnoxious, absolutely dreamy hell of a man. 'No, it's just a dream.'
She suddenly jerked away when she felt two pairs of hands lift her up and try to pull her away from that ledge. She struggled fiercely with all the stength she had left to free herself from their clutches. "How could you? HOW COULD YOU, YOU BASTARDS!" Tears blurred her vision as she abrubtly turned to face the two men, who had been responsible for Duo's fate, and slapped their hands away from her. She wrapped her arms around herself shakily trying to hold herself up as she slowly backed up away from them, not wanting anything to do with them. She felt the back of her left heel lose ground and for a second lost her balance. In a mental surge of apprehension, she quickly leaned forward to balance herself out again as she looked back to see why she lost her balance in the first place. Oh yeah, the ledge. But then, in that same moment, the darkness overwhemingly seemed to welcome her.
"What are you doing, you foolish woman? Back up away from there! Unless you want to share the same fate as your equally-foolish boyfriend." The scrawny one yelled, extending his hand in an effort to convince her. Besides, they still needed to figure out if those files really were in that backpack they had now lost.
Hilde glarred with venom at the bloody hand extended toward her as time seemed to slow down again. All sounds ceased to reach Hilde's ears, except the rythmic thumping of her heart. She saw the same man still talking, but his words never reached her, never came close. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own as she felt the assertion of her legs, moving back from the three others until both of her feet now rested next to the ledge. She stared at the three people in front of her at a loss, hopeless without her one pillar of strength anymore. She looked away from the three toward the dark abyss below. It was so very welcoming, beckoning her toward it, as the stiff air above seemed to blow down trying to tilt her body just enough. One lone tear escaped from her cheek and cascaded down to be engulfed by darkness.
Her gaze traveled once more to the three individuals, the scrawny one still speaking and slowly moving towards her with his arm still extended out. Hilde looked on through strands of astray hair, out of place due to all the fighting. Then, without thinking, she closed her eyes to welcome the darkness and leaned back with her arms spread out wide to allow the air to catch her, and she sunk through the wind's weak grasp.
The scrawny man cursed at Hilde's stupidity as he raced to the edge in an attempt to catch her before it was to late. But it WAS too late. He watched her limp body sail downward through the air until he lost sight of her. "Stupid girl!"
The braided woman merely smirked with merriment in her eyes. Their problem was now taken care of and, now, all they had to do was find the boy's dead body to retrieve that backpack. "Come on. We still have work to do."
*~*
The feel of the air blowing up rapidly against her frail body soothed her as she allowed the darkness to gulp her down to the bottom. Her mind was blank from all feeling, and little goosebumps covered her body as the dramatic change in temperature decreased, further freezing her body. Was this what it was like to die.what it was like to be dead? She always imagined a light at the end of some hopelessly long tunnel, not the bitter feeling of nothingness. Then again, all that was left in her heart was a bitter nothingness.
Hilde merely accepted this fate. No one was there to help her, no one could save her, and she couldn't even save herself if she truely wanted to. This somehow pleased her as she felt her body quicken its pace toward the ground below. The impact now stung her body like a thousand knives playing on her skin, caressing her skin as she neared the bottom.
But the bottom never came. Everything, the impact, the pain, the falling, it all just suddenly stopped. "Am I dead?"
"No," Hilde's eyes fluttered open in complete shock and realized that she wasn't touching the ground at all, but still dangling in the air unexplainably. That's when she felt it. A rough, warm hand clasped her own, denying her body the right to keep falling further down to meet her fate. She was still alive! Her gaze followed up her arm to try and see what held her up, but it was too impossibly dark to see anything. All that assured her of anything was that simple touch that heated her hand.
"How could you be so stupid? Why the hell did you just decide to jump off that ledge like a sardine to die? What the hell were you going to accomplish? You damn, foolish, incredibly stupid woman." Hilde's heart pounded rapidly beneath her breast as her ears registered that voice, that tone, that beautiful music. Tears engulfed her shocked eyes and poured freely once again down her cheeks in happiness.
"DUO!" She sobbed endlessly, "I though you were...you were," she couldn't even speak the words.
Duo grinned devilishly, though Hilde couldn't see it. "No way, you can't get rid of me that easily!" With one last surge of strength of his own, he pulled Hilde up, constraining his tired muscles, to his chest to feel her soft, sound body nest to his, all while his other hand remained gripped onto a random slab of concrete that he had managed to catch on his own fall down. Hilde wrapped her own warm arms around his neck while her legs found their way around his waist as she cried desperately into his shoulder. How in the world he managed to catch unto that slab of rock and then catch her, blind as a bat, was beyond him. What were the chances anyway? He didn't care how or why it happened as he locked his free arm around her waist in an attempt to bring her closer to him, he was just happy it did. Someone was watching over them, and Duo silently prayed a thank you.
He then felt Hilde push herself away from him ever so slightly, and without warning, Hilde raised her hand and slapped him square across the face. His cheek throbbed horribly as his mind registered what just happened. Dang, even in pitch black, she had perfect aim. "ARGH, WHAT was THAT for?"
"For scaring the hell out of me! Do you have any idea what was going through my mi--"
Duo smirked as he listened to Hilde's melodic voice rambling on without a breath of air between words. Duo merely leaned his head down and kissed what he figured was her cheek, cause he felt her jaw immediately become motionless when he did so. He then explored around with light kisses here and there until he found her lips to claim as his own. Once he did, he felt Hilde balance herself on him while she stroked his messy locks with one hand and then fully responded to his kiss with a passionate fire.
*~*
In the Sanq Kingdom, 11:30 p.m...
"But, Mr. Jackson, sir Miss Relena has already retired to her courters, and it wouldn't be gentlemen-like to intrude her privacy. Besides, the Preventer Commander in Chief Lady Une has ordered the installation of the most sophisticated security system in the world around her room and this entire palace for the matter." Relena's most trusted friend and most loyal confident, Peygan, argued sensably trying to convince her new personal bodyguard Carl Jackson to leave her be. He knew how much Relena loved to be on her own once she settled into her room, because it was the one place she could be entirely alone. If she wanted to be around people, she would venture out.
Carl Jackson seemed unaffected by the old man's reasoning, which to him sounded quite inferior words. The old man was much too lenient toward his mistress's safety. When the old man continued to persist, Carl turned sharply before heading to the grand staircase, "Mr. Peygan, I do realize how much you care for my client, Miss Relena, however, I do not appreciate you telling me how to do my job. So, if you will escuse me--"
"Client! I am not sure you realize this but the Vice Foriegn Minister is not your client, but your superior--" Peygan continued on completely outraged at the very nerve of this man to consider Miss Relena as his inferior.
Two baby blue orbs looked upon the conversation intently from around a corner darkened by the lack of lights, which were scheduled half an hour ago to be turned off. She watched the two arguing men ascend the staircase toward Miss Relena's room at last, which satisfied her. 'Good!' Blonde hair swept through the air as the woman turned quickly and ran lightly on her toes like a mouse to avoid making too much sound. Breathing lightly and stopping by another corner, she rested to look both ways, but this wing of the palace was flooded with darkness, so no one should be up and around. Still, she thought she must check.
The woman backed up slightly to look down the hallway she had just come down to make sure no one was following. As she did, she bumped into a head stature resting on a three-foot pillar. Her eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat when she lunged to catch it just before it hit the floor and shattered. She sighed in relief as she stood up to replace the artifact to its original position.
With that, she rounded the corner to head to her destination. She finally reached a single door lit up by the streams of moonlight cascading though a window across the hall. The woman hesistantly opened the creaking door and peered in to make sure no one was occupying the room. She smirked and slid behind the door as the quickest way in with the lowest chance of anyone just passing by seeing her. She quietly closed the door behind her and flicked a portion of her long, straight hair off her shoulders. "Finally," she quickly turned the switch to her flashlight to light up what appeared to be a guest room. "Now to find out who you really are, Carl Jackson." She glanced around until she found something that might give her so much as a clue and found Carl's suitcases, a black preventer bag, and a small metal box, the size of a shoebox.
*~*
A single hand controlled a soft brush agilely through a cascade of golden tresses as Relena looked at her dull reflection in her vanity mirror. The brush slowed its pace as Relena lost herself in her thoughts. How'd she end up like this? All she ever did anymore was work and when she finally got home, that's all she ever did, stay home. She felt trapped, enclosed in a suffecatingly small confinement that led to no escape.
She thought that the people of the Earth Sphere had finally accepted peace and learned how to coexist. She hoped that one day, the Earth Sphere would no longer need foriegn ambassadors to cooperate with each other, or at least use them just as messengers instead of someone to rely on. However, now there was another possible crisis and the ESUN was already falling apart. Why? It seems that an important lesson is learned after every huge conflict and devastitating war, but the people always seem to forget those lessons learned, and repeat history. Was MarieMaya right in that aspect that history would always repeat itself? 'No, Relena stop.' She had to keep her faith in the people or there would be no hope for the future. How could she give up so easily on her trust in each citizen when each citizen still wished for absolute peace and freedom. 'Not every citizen.' There were still those filled with power-hungry, revengful minds who would never give up their meaningless fight.
'This is not meaningless! Even if it does become a disgrace to future generations, the battle still has plenty of meaning to it.' 'My dear Relena, you've grown up strong Relena, but your strength is no longer needed. I want you to at least remain a kind woman.' Relena's eyes widened as she dropped her brush on the vanity table. She turned, but no one was there. "Brother..." Relena shook her head mindlessly. Now, she was hearing things.
'Relena, I promised that I would protect you, but in order to protect you and the Earth Sphere, Relena, I have no choice, but to fight.' 'No.' Relena subconciously responded. 'Believe in me.' Relena stepped toward her bed to grasp the chocolate bear that always rested soundly in front of her silk green pillows. "Heero..." she choked out as she clutched the bear to her chest.
"Who is he?" The unexpected voice rudely interrupted Relena's reverie, forcing her to gasp and drop the furry teddy bear as if it was nothing.
She turned toward the source of the voice and glared angrily at the intruder. "What are you doing here? You didn't even knock!"
"I am your bodyguard, Relena. It's my duty to make sure you are safe, and that includes making sure that your room is secure." Carl Jackson approached Relena with that same over-confident grin on his face. He was fairly amused by the little brat's glare she was giving him in an attempt to faze him. This was the woman that the Earth Sphere depended upon too much. He eyed her intently; his gaze fell from her eyes and followed each curve that filled the tiny emerald nightgown she wore almost...lustfully. Maybe she wasn't just a little spoiled rich brat, but a woman.
Relena's eyes widened in shock and wrapped her arms possessively around her body to hide what her tight nightgown couldn't. She saw it. There was pure amusement and lust in his eyes. It was unmistakable. She suddenly felt very scared, frightened, and alone. Why the hell did she put this stupid thing on anyway? "My name is Miss Darlian to you, Mr. Jackson!" She kept a careful eye on his every movement as he moved toward her bed to pick up the forgotten bear. When he turned his back to her, she quickly turned to grab her robe off the vanity chair. She wrapped it tightly around herself as Carl turned back toward her.
"Who is he?" Carl tenderly caressed the bear's soft fur and then moved on to rub the thin fabric of red ribbon between his thumb and forefinger.
Once Relena felt somewhat secure beneath her thick, jade robe, she was able to gain control of her body once more and put on her political facade. "Who?" She moved past him, claiming her little soldier bear away from Carl in the process.
Carl mused once again at Relena's possessive actions toward the silly stuffed animal. "The guy who gave you that bear." Carl noticed Relena open the balcony doors of her bedroom and decided to follow her out.
"Whoever said a 'guy' gave me this bear?" Relena avoided the question as she proceeded to the edge of her semi-circular balcony. She gazed up toward the twinkling stars, which seemed somewhat dimmer than last night. Suddenly, a single star streaked across the sky, lighting up everything around it on its journey, Relena closed her ceralean eyes once it passed. 'Heero.' A single tear left her eyes and wettened her cheek as it slid down.
"How long do you expect this peace shall last when too many people still rely on you, Miss Darlian?" Carl leaned against the wall and watched Relena's body tense. He struck a cord.
Relena hardened her eyes upon the rustling trees below as the wind picked up and whistled through the air. What was with this guy? First, he invades her only private sanctuary, then he sets her uneasy under that sickeningly lustful gaze of his, and now he was questioning everything that so many people have strived to accomplish. "The people don't rely on my position or the fact that I hold that position. The people of the Earth's sphere want true peace, despite the few misguided rebel factions that crop up every now and then."
"Are you sure, Miss Darlian? I can bet you my life that if anything were to happen to you, the whole of the ESUN would crumble under the fore winds. And you and your beliefs, Miss Relena, are the very cause to that problem."
Relena clenched up her fists to contain her anger. Was she really in the wrong about everything she ever stood for? She realized a year ago during the MarieMaya coup d'taet that total pacifism was only a fool's dream and war was sometimes meaningful in the fight to peace. That's why she gave up her name as Peacecraft as did her brother, because that name was no longer necessary for the world. But is she also mistaken that even that fight and those who represent the people's wishes are not enough to give true peace to the world? Was the world not happy in this time of peace, or with this kind of peace? What then, was the answer? "You show little faith in the world around you. That sort of thinking causes all these needless revolts and unnecessary loss of innocent life."
Carl lifted an eyebrow as he noticed how long Relena took to respond and how her answer sounded somewhat unsteady. "Hmph, I believe Miss Relena, that your beliefs are wavering. You aren't sure anymore what you believe is right or the correct path to that unreachable dream of everlasting peace. The last time the world knew of peace was when every nation and every tribe was ignorant that others existed around them. However, that was thousands of years ago and no one can live in the bliss of ignorance anymore. Knowledge and technology has poisoned the world. Those 'needless' revolts and the 'unnecessary' loss of innocent life play the most crucial role in the development of society to reach that peace again. Wars will never cease, my dear, despite how many hours you politicians waste argueing over everything under the sun. Until the people can learn to cooperate with each other and govern themselves, then rebellions will never stop. "
"That will never happen so long as every human mind thinks differently and uniquely. And the people do govern themselves indirectly through political leaders. There are too many lives in the Earth's Sphere to hear out each thought of each mind. Nothing would ever be accomplished."
Carl chuckled at Relena's stubbornness, but he continued to challenge her. It was quite fun, after all. "Politics is nothing but a corrupt system filled with power-hungry men who only think of their own ambitions. As Henry David Thoreau once said, "Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity." According to Throeau, life can not be truefully and peacefully lived unless each individual relies only on themselves to manage their life. As long as each human remains dependent upon others, the more people will lust for power and people to depend upon them, and the longer wars will resist to cease."
Carl watched as Relena appeared deep in thought as if contemplating his truth. When it became apparent that she wouldn't respond, Carl headed toward her door to make his exit. "Goodnight, Miss Darlian."
Relena listened her door click to affirm Carl left, and sighed, "What you are proposing, Mr. Jackson, is downright perposterious. How can people let go of reliance upon everything but themselves? The colonies would shut down and eventually fall upon the Earth. The colonists and those working on the terra-formation project would die without technology."
*~*
Blonde strands fell forward, covering baby blue eyes as they searched tirelessly through every suitcase that littered the ground of Carl Jackson's room. Clothes, suits, socks, collagne that gave off the worst aroma she ever smelt, more clothes. Nothing out of the ordinary. The woman, frustrated, zipped up and pushed the offending suitcases aside.
The woman rubbed her temples to help relax her throbbing muscles as she reached for the single preventer bag that Carl had brought with him from headquarters. She breathed heavily and balanced the flashlight between her shoulder and cheek to leave both of her hands free. She then proceeded to open the black bag, and as expected, found several guns with additional shots, a radio, cell phone, a small laptop, several other tiny gadgets, along with files, reports, and assignments.
She glanced through the text of each file until she came across the assignment of guard duty for the Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian. Curiously, she opened it up slowly and found an extensive profile and history of Relena Darlian-Peacecraft down to the every detail of her medical history. 'Medical History? Why does he need that?' She flipped through a few pages until one that was all marked up caught her eye. It was Relena's records on her blood type, immunity records, genetic make-up, and the symptoms of diseases she had ever experienced in her life time. All of which was highlighted. She furrowed her eyes in bewilderment.
She glanced back at the silver metal box, which was the size of a shoebox. There was something strange and almost sinister about the mysterious box. She finally decided, after several seconds of thought, to lay the file aside, which was still open to the same marked up page. She pulled the box toward her and found it sealed tight with a master lock. 'Damn.'
She grabbed her flashlight and tenaciously hit the end of it against the lock several until it broke free from its hold, which allowed the lid to fly open. The woman felt a cool breeze resonate from inside and play upon her skin as a light from within revealed the mysterious box's contents. It was a small refrigerated box with a dozen or so labeled tubes with liquid inside each. One in particular was highlighted and caught her eye. She picked it up slowly as not to break it and read the label quietly. Her eyes widened as she looked back to Relena's medical files and the marked page, then gasped. Before she could react to what she just uncovered, she felt a sharp pain enter at the back of her skull and darkness suddenly engulfed her.
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AN: YAY! I finished it! I was going to put this up last night, however, I went to see LOTR: The Return of the King! Good Times! So, I am now just getting this chapter up, and I am about to start Chapter 7. Hopefully, now that school's out for a couple of weeks, I can really get this fic going. *crosses fingers*
Again, sorry, it has taken me so long to really get this fic going, but I really wanted to thoroughly introduce the problem that is arising, instead of a crisis just suddenly happening. So many fics do that, and I just wanted to do something a little different. These first several chapters should almost be a prequel to the main plot of the story....cause if anyone has realized this, my synopsis hasn't even tied in yet to my story. But don't worry guys, cause now I have developed the mood and scene to allow the plotline to occur, and this story will truely start by the next chapter, and most certainly by Chapter 8
Just to let you all know, I decided against a prequel because I couldn't find a way for these first few chapters to stand alone as a prequel. But just the same, they are very necessary. Thank you all who have kept with me this long, and I truely am appreciative for all the reviews I have recieved.
I personally would like to thank Kiya Mikayla Kideackiy, Psycho Kitty, sweetangel4, and Sanae for taking the time to review my story. Thank you so much! I really appreciate your input!
Well, until next time!
by: WolfCry17
Disclaimer: I do not own gundam wing or any of the original characters.
AN: Wow! I finally got this chapter done. Yay! Thank goodness finals are over...they were a killer. Thanks again for the reviews! I really appreciate it...and if anyone has some advice, I completely welcome it.
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Chapter 6 ~ Cheating Death
That same day...
"DUO-O-O-O-O-O!" Hilde hopelessly screamed through her sobs into the smoke-filled air as, a cold wind blew in a spiral-like motion down the gap of the building. It chilled Hilde to the bone and froze the tears that left a crystaline path down her cheeks. They wouldn't stop. He was gone.
Her body fell numb, weak, motionless until the strength of her knees gave out bringing Hilde on her hands and knees at the edge, where Duo had just fallen not even five minutes ago. 'No, no Hilde. This is a dream. It is just a dream. Wake up!' But, she was still there, overlooking the same darkness that engulfed the only love she ever knew. She did love him. As cruel as life is, she didn't realize until now just how much she cared for that goofy, sloppy, loud, obnoxious, absolutely dreamy hell of a man. 'No, it's just a dream.'
She suddenly jerked away when she felt two pairs of hands lift her up and try to pull her away from that ledge. She struggled fiercely with all the stength she had left to free herself from their clutches. "How could you? HOW COULD YOU, YOU BASTARDS!" Tears blurred her vision as she abrubtly turned to face the two men, who had been responsible for Duo's fate, and slapped their hands away from her. She wrapped her arms around herself shakily trying to hold herself up as she slowly backed up away from them, not wanting anything to do with them. She felt the back of her left heel lose ground and for a second lost her balance. In a mental surge of apprehension, she quickly leaned forward to balance herself out again as she looked back to see why she lost her balance in the first place. Oh yeah, the ledge. But then, in that same moment, the darkness overwhemingly seemed to welcome her.
"What are you doing, you foolish woman? Back up away from there! Unless you want to share the same fate as your equally-foolish boyfriend." The scrawny one yelled, extending his hand in an effort to convince her. Besides, they still needed to figure out if those files really were in that backpack they had now lost.
Hilde glarred with venom at the bloody hand extended toward her as time seemed to slow down again. All sounds ceased to reach Hilde's ears, except the rythmic thumping of her heart. She saw the same man still talking, but his words never reached her, never came close. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own as she felt the assertion of her legs, moving back from the three others until both of her feet now rested next to the ledge. She stared at the three people in front of her at a loss, hopeless without her one pillar of strength anymore. She looked away from the three toward the dark abyss below. It was so very welcoming, beckoning her toward it, as the stiff air above seemed to blow down trying to tilt her body just enough. One lone tear escaped from her cheek and cascaded down to be engulfed by darkness.
Her gaze traveled once more to the three individuals, the scrawny one still speaking and slowly moving towards her with his arm still extended out. Hilde looked on through strands of astray hair, out of place due to all the fighting. Then, without thinking, she closed her eyes to welcome the darkness and leaned back with her arms spread out wide to allow the air to catch her, and she sunk through the wind's weak grasp.
The scrawny man cursed at Hilde's stupidity as he raced to the edge in an attempt to catch her before it was to late. But it WAS too late. He watched her limp body sail downward through the air until he lost sight of her. "Stupid girl!"
The braided woman merely smirked with merriment in her eyes. Their problem was now taken care of and, now, all they had to do was find the boy's dead body to retrieve that backpack. "Come on. We still have work to do."
*~*
The feel of the air blowing up rapidly against her frail body soothed her as she allowed the darkness to gulp her down to the bottom. Her mind was blank from all feeling, and little goosebumps covered her body as the dramatic change in temperature decreased, further freezing her body. Was this what it was like to die.what it was like to be dead? She always imagined a light at the end of some hopelessly long tunnel, not the bitter feeling of nothingness. Then again, all that was left in her heart was a bitter nothingness.
Hilde merely accepted this fate. No one was there to help her, no one could save her, and she couldn't even save herself if she truely wanted to. This somehow pleased her as she felt her body quicken its pace toward the ground below. The impact now stung her body like a thousand knives playing on her skin, caressing her skin as she neared the bottom.
But the bottom never came. Everything, the impact, the pain, the falling, it all just suddenly stopped. "Am I dead?"
"No," Hilde's eyes fluttered open in complete shock and realized that she wasn't touching the ground at all, but still dangling in the air unexplainably. That's when she felt it. A rough, warm hand clasped her own, denying her body the right to keep falling further down to meet her fate. She was still alive! Her gaze followed up her arm to try and see what held her up, but it was too impossibly dark to see anything. All that assured her of anything was that simple touch that heated her hand.
"How could you be so stupid? Why the hell did you just decide to jump off that ledge like a sardine to die? What the hell were you going to accomplish? You damn, foolish, incredibly stupid woman." Hilde's heart pounded rapidly beneath her breast as her ears registered that voice, that tone, that beautiful music. Tears engulfed her shocked eyes and poured freely once again down her cheeks in happiness.
"DUO!" She sobbed endlessly, "I though you were...you were," she couldn't even speak the words.
Duo grinned devilishly, though Hilde couldn't see it. "No way, you can't get rid of me that easily!" With one last surge of strength of his own, he pulled Hilde up, constraining his tired muscles, to his chest to feel her soft, sound body nest to his, all while his other hand remained gripped onto a random slab of concrete that he had managed to catch on his own fall down. Hilde wrapped her own warm arms around his neck while her legs found their way around his waist as she cried desperately into his shoulder. How in the world he managed to catch unto that slab of rock and then catch her, blind as a bat, was beyond him. What were the chances anyway? He didn't care how or why it happened as he locked his free arm around her waist in an attempt to bring her closer to him, he was just happy it did. Someone was watching over them, and Duo silently prayed a thank you.
He then felt Hilde push herself away from him ever so slightly, and without warning, Hilde raised her hand and slapped him square across the face. His cheek throbbed horribly as his mind registered what just happened. Dang, even in pitch black, she had perfect aim. "ARGH, WHAT was THAT for?"
"For scaring the hell out of me! Do you have any idea what was going through my mi--"
Duo smirked as he listened to Hilde's melodic voice rambling on without a breath of air between words. Duo merely leaned his head down and kissed what he figured was her cheek, cause he felt her jaw immediately become motionless when he did so. He then explored around with light kisses here and there until he found her lips to claim as his own. Once he did, he felt Hilde balance herself on him while she stroked his messy locks with one hand and then fully responded to his kiss with a passionate fire.
*~*
In the Sanq Kingdom, 11:30 p.m...
"But, Mr. Jackson, sir Miss Relena has already retired to her courters, and it wouldn't be gentlemen-like to intrude her privacy. Besides, the Preventer Commander in Chief Lady Une has ordered the installation of the most sophisticated security system in the world around her room and this entire palace for the matter." Relena's most trusted friend and most loyal confident, Peygan, argued sensably trying to convince her new personal bodyguard Carl Jackson to leave her be. He knew how much Relena loved to be on her own once she settled into her room, because it was the one place she could be entirely alone. If she wanted to be around people, she would venture out.
Carl Jackson seemed unaffected by the old man's reasoning, which to him sounded quite inferior words. The old man was much too lenient toward his mistress's safety. When the old man continued to persist, Carl turned sharply before heading to the grand staircase, "Mr. Peygan, I do realize how much you care for my client, Miss Relena, however, I do not appreciate you telling me how to do my job. So, if you will escuse me--"
"Client! I am not sure you realize this but the Vice Foriegn Minister is not your client, but your superior--" Peygan continued on completely outraged at the very nerve of this man to consider Miss Relena as his inferior.
Two baby blue orbs looked upon the conversation intently from around a corner darkened by the lack of lights, which were scheduled half an hour ago to be turned off. She watched the two arguing men ascend the staircase toward Miss Relena's room at last, which satisfied her. 'Good!' Blonde hair swept through the air as the woman turned quickly and ran lightly on her toes like a mouse to avoid making too much sound. Breathing lightly and stopping by another corner, she rested to look both ways, but this wing of the palace was flooded with darkness, so no one should be up and around. Still, she thought she must check.
The woman backed up slightly to look down the hallway she had just come down to make sure no one was following. As she did, she bumped into a head stature resting on a three-foot pillar. Her eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat when she lunged to catch it just before it hit the floor and shattered. She sighed in relief as she stood up to replace the artifact to its original position.
With that, she rounded the corner to head to her destination. She finally reached a single door lit up by the streams of moonlight cascading though a window across the hall. The woman hesistantly opened the creaking door and peered in to make sure no one was occupying the room. She smirked and slid behind the door as the quickest way in with the lowest chance of anyone just passing by seeing her. She quietly closed the door behind her and flicked a portion of her long, straight hair off her shoulders. "Finally," she quickly turned the switch to her flashlight to light up what appeared to be a guest room. "Now to find out who you really are, Carl Jackson." She glanced around until she found something that might give her so much as a clue and found Carl's suitcases, a black preventer bag, and a small metal box, the size of a shoebox.
*~*
A single hand controlled a soft brush agilely through a cascade of golden tresses as Relena looked at her dull reflection in her vanity mirror. The brush slowed its pace as Relena lost herself in her thoughts. How'd she end up like this? All she ever did anymore was work and when she finally got home, that's all she ever did, stay home. She felt trapped, enclosed in a suffecatingly small confinement that led to no escape.
She thought that the people of the Earth Sphere had finally accepted peace and learned how to coexist. She hoped that one day, the Earth Sphere would no longer need foriegn ambassadors to cooperate with each other, or at least use them just as messengers instead of someone to rely on. However, now there was another possible crisis and the ESUN was already falling apart. Why? It seems that an important lesson is learned after every huge conflict and devastitating war, but the people always seem to forget those lessons learned, and repeat history. Was MarieMaya right in that aspect that history would always repeat itself? 'No, Relena stop.' She had to keep her faith in the people or there would be no hope for the future. How could she give up so easily on her trust in each citizen when each citizen still wished for absolute peace and freedom. 'Not every citizen.' There were still those filled with power-hungry, revengful minds who would never give up their meaningless fight.
'This is not meaningless! Even if it does become a disgrace to future generations, the battle still has plenty of meaning to it.' 'My dear Relena, you've grown up strong Relena, but your strength is no longer needed. I want you to at least remain a kind woman.' Relena's eyes widened as she dropped her brush on the vanity table. She turned, but no one was there. "Brother..." Relena shook her head mindlessly. Now, she was hearing things.
'Relena, I promised that I would protect you, but in order to protect you and the Earth Sphere, Relena, I have no choice, but to fight.' 'No.' Relena subconciously responded. 'Believe in me.' Relena stepped toward her bed to grasp the chocolate bear that always rested soundly in front of her silk green pillows. "Heero..." she choked out as she clutched the bear to her chest.
"Who is he?" The unexpected voice rudely interrupted Relena's reverie, forcing her to gasp and drop the furry teddy bear as if it was nothing.
She turned toward the source of the voice and glared angrily at the intruder. "What are you doing here? You didn't even knock!"
"I am your bodyguard, Relena. It's my duty to make sure you are safe, and that includes making sure that your room is secure." Carl Jackson approached Relena with that same over-confident grin on his face. He was fairly amused by the little brat's glare she was giving him in an attempt to faze him. This was the woman that the Earth Sphere depended upon too much. He eyed her intently; his gaze fell from her eyes and followed each curve that filled the tiny emerald nightgown she wore almost...lustfully. Maybe she wasn't just a little spoiled rich brat, but a woman.
Relena's eyes widened in shock and wrapped her arms possessively around her body to hide what her tight nightgown couldn't. She saw it. There was pure amusement and lust in his eyes. It was unmistakable. She suddenly felt very scared, frightened, and alone. Why the hell did she put this stupid thing on anyway? "My name is Miss Darlian to you, Mr. Jackson!" She kept a careful eye on his every movement as he moved toward her bed to pick up the forgotten bear. When he turned his back to her, she quickly turned to grab her robe off the vanity chair. She wrapped it tightly around herself as Carl turned back toward her.
"Who is he?" Carl tenderly caressed the bear's soft fur and then moved on to rub the thin fabric of red ribbon between his thumb and forefinger.
Once Relena felt somewhat secure beneath her thick, jade robe, she was able to gain control of her body once more and put on her political facade. "Who?" She moved past him, claiming her little soldier bear away from Carl in the process.
Carl mused once again at Relena's possessive actions toward the silly stuffed animal. "The guy who gave you that bear." Carl noticed Relena open the balcony doors of her bedroom and decided to follow her out.
"Whoever said a 'guy' gave me this bear?" Relena avoided the question as she proceeded to the edge of her semi-circular balcony. She gazed up toward the twinkling stars, which seemed somewhat dimmer than last night. Suddenly, a single star streaked across the sky, lighting up everything around it on its journey, Relena closed her ceralean eyes once it passed. 'Heero.' A single tear left her eyes and wettened her cheek as it slid down.
"How long do you expect this peace shall last when too many people still rely on you, Miss Darlian?" Carl leaned against the wall and watched Relena's body tense. He struck a cord.
Relena hardened her eyes upon the rustling trees below as the wind picked up and whistled through the air. What was with this guy? First, he invades her only private sanctuary, then he sets her uneasy under that sickeningly lustful gaze of his, and now he was questioning everything that so many people have strived to accomplish. "The people don't rely on my position or the fact that I hold that position. The people of the Earth's sphere want true peace, despite the few misguided rebel factions that crop up every now and then."
"Are you sure, Miss Darlian? I can bet you my life that if anything were to happen to you, the whole of the ESUN would crumble under the fore winds. And you and your beliefs, Miss Relena, are the very cause to that problem."
Relena clenched up her fists to contain her anger. Was she really in the wrong about everything she ever stood for? She realized a year ago during the MarieMaya coup d'taet that total pacifism was only a fool's dream and war was sometimes meaningful in the fight to peace. That's why she gave up her name as Peacecraft as did her brother, because that name was no longer necessary for the world. But is she also mistaken that even that fight and those who represent the people's wishes are not enough to give true peace to the world? Was the world not happy in this time of peace, or with this kind of peace? What then, was the answer? "You show little faith in the world around you. That sort of thinking causes all these needless revolts and unnecessary loss of innocent life."
Carl lifted an eyebrow as he noticed how long Relena took to respond and how her answer sounded somewhat unsteady. "Hmph, I believe Miss Relena, that your beliefs are wavering. You aren't sure anymore what you believe is right or the correct path to that unreachable dream of everlasting peace. The last time the world knew of peace was when every nation and every tribe was ignorant that others existed around them. However, that was thousands of years ago and no one can live in the bliss of ignorance anymore. Knowledge and technology has poisoned the world. Those 'needless' revolts and the 'unnecessary' loss of innocent life play the most crucial role in the development of society to reach that peace again. Wars will never cease, my dear, despite how many hours you politicians waste argueing over everything under the sun. Until the people can learn to cooperate with each other and govern themselves, then rebellions will never stop. "
"That will never happen so long as every human mind thinks differently and uniquely. And the people do govern themselves indirectly through political leaders. There are too many lives in the Earth's Sphere to hear out each thought of each mind. Nothing would ever be accomplished."
Carl chuckled at Relena's stubbornness, but he continued to challenge her. It was quite fun, after all. "Politics is nothing but a corrupt system filled with power-hungry men who only think of their own ambitions. As Henry David Thoreau once said, "Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity." According to Throeau, life can not be truefully and peacefully lived unless each individual relies only on themselves to manage their life. As long as each human remains dependent upon others, the more people will lust for power and people to depend upon them, and the longer wars will resist to cease."
Carl watched as Relena appeared deep in thought as if contemplating his truth. When it became apparent that she wouldn't respond, Carl headed toward her door to make his exit. "Goodnight, Miss Darlian."
Relena listened her door click to affirm Carl left, and sighed, "What you are proposing, Mr. Jackson, is downright perposterious. How can people let go of reliance upon everything but themselves? The colonies would shut down and eventually fall upon the Earth. The colonists and those working on the terra-formation project would die without technology."
*~*
Blonde strands fell forward, covering baby blue eyes as they searched tirelessly through every suitcase that littered the ground of Carl Jackson's room. Clothes, suits, socks, collagne that gave off the worst aroma she ever smelt, more clothes. Nothing out of the ordinary. The woman, frustrated, zipped up and pushed the offending suitcases aside.
The woman rubbed her temples to help relax her throbbing muscles as she reached for the single preventer bag that Carl had brought with him from headquarters. She breathed heavily and balanced the flashlight between her shoulder and cheek to leave both of her hands free. She then proceeded to open the black bag, and as expected, found several guns with additional shots, a radio, cell phone, a small laptop, several other tiny gadgets, along with files, reports, and assignments.
She glanced through the text of each file until she came across the assignment of guard duty for the Vice Foriegn Minister Darlian. Curiously, she opened it up slowly and found an extensive profile and history of Relena Darlian-Peacecraft down to the every detail of her medical history. 'Medical History? Why does he need that?' She flipped through a few pages until one that was all marked up caught her eye. It was Relena's records on her blood type, immunity records, genetic make-up, and the symptoms of diseases she had ever experienced in her life time. All of which was highlighted. She furrowed her eyes in bewilderment.
She glanced back at the silver metal box, which was the size of a shoebox. There was something strange and almost sinister about the mysterious box. She finally decided, after several seconds of thought, to lay the file aside, which was still open to the same marked up page. She pulled the box toward her and found it sealed tight with a master lock. 'Damn.'
She grabbed her flashlight and tenaciously hit the end of it against the lock several until it broke free from its hold, which allowed the lid to fly open. The woman felt a cool breeze resonate from inside and play upon her skin as a light from within revealed the mysterious box's contents. It was a small refrigerated box with a dozen or so labeled tubes with liquid inside each. One in particular was highlighted and caught her eye. She picked it up slowly as not to break it and read the label quietly. Her eyes widened as she looked back to Relena's medical files and the marked page, then gasped. Before she could react to what she just uncovered, she felt a sharp pain enter at the back of her skull and darkness suddenly engulfed her.
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AN: YAY! I finished it! I was going to put this up last night, however, I went to see LOTR: The Return of the King! Good Times! So, I am now just getting this chapter up, and I am about to start Chapter 7. Hopefully, now that school's out for a couple of weeks, I can really get this fic going. *crosses fingers*
Again, sorry, it has taken me so long to really get this fic going, but I really wanted to thoroughly introduce the problem that is arising, instead of a crisis just suddenly happening. So many fics do that, and I just wanted to do something a little different. These first several chapters should almost be a prequel to the main plot of the story....cause if anyone has realized this, my synopsis hasn't even tied in yet to my story. But don't worry guys, cause now I have developed the mood and scene to allow the plotline to occur, and this story will truely start by the next chapter, and most certainly by Chapter 8
Just to let you all know, I decided against a prequel because I couldn't find a way for these first few chapters to stand alone as a prequel. But just the same, they are very necessary. Thank you all who have kept with me this long, and I truely am appreciative for all the reviews I have recieved.
I personally would like to thank Kiya Mikayla Kideackiy, Psycho Kitty, sweetangel4, and Sanae for taking the time to review my story. Thank you so much! I really appreciate your input!
Well, until next time!