PERFECT ASSASSIN
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters in any way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: FORGIVEN BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
Heero only held her tighter. In close proximity, Duo was in near panic by the sudden turn of events.
"We need to get her to a hospital." The braided American said in exasperation.
"I refuse to let her die like this." Heero promised and gently laid her down on the rug as he took in a breath and began striking her cheeks with his hand. "Wake up, Relena." Heero bellowed.
Duo looked shocked as he continued seeing Heero slap her senseless. Relena's head lolled from side to side, appearing not to feel his ministrations. "You're not going to give up this easily, dammit!" The Perfect Soldier accused. Color slowly came to her cheeks but they may very well have been from Heero's actions.
Suddenly her eyes slowly fluttered and returned to life. However, Relena was unable to fully open her eyelids and they remained more than half closed over her irises. She was desperately fighting to cling onto an extra intake of breath. "…He..Heero…."
Without waiting any further, he lifted her left light blue sleeve up to her shoulder and jabbed the needlepoint into her veins. Relena suddenly felt a sharp stabbing pain on her left arm and she struggled with all her power to repel the feeling. Moaning in pain, she attempted to swarm away from the injection and Heero used his other hand to hold her down. Duo also helped secure her body from lashing about.
"Just breathe for me, Lena." Heero murmured as he pressed down to ensure every last drop of the placebo has gone into her lifeless body.
"Heero… it hurts." Relena whispered between raspy breaths.
"Shhh lie still. It won't take much longer." He said soothingly. She slowly ceased squirming around as she listened to his melodic voice, instructing her to breathe and be a little more patient. Relena focused her eyes on his unreadable visage, hoping that he could take away her pain.
Was Heero giving her the antidote? How did he manage to find it? She thought. Perhaps she could be saved after all…
Then her world collapsed in darkness once again. The last thing she heard was the cacophony of ambulance sirens driving up to the estate.
As the ambulance drove Relena to the nearest hospital, dozens of armed officers searched the estate for evidence that could condemn McCallister. The two men behind the chaos, along with Vincent McCallister's minions were found hiding in the basement laboratory and were then taken into custody at Preventer Headquarters where they would be dealt with accordingly. Wufei returned to the estate after leading Quentin to an unmarked vehicle outside. He led the search as the men separated to different sectors of the estate.
Heero and Duo were responsible for searching the lower levels and they took a high tech steel encrusted elevator to reach the basement. The lift looked as if it was something out of a military research facility. Once they arrived to the main control room, they were astounded from what they found.
An extensive laboratory stretched for thousands of square acres below ground where computer monitors were stationed. No one would have ever guessed what McCallister was hiding under his estate! Animal test subjects were encaged in their metal confines, staring at the newcomers with attentive and fearful eyes. Dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits littered the far right wall, cowering in their respectful cage corners. To the left, there were smaller rooms that looked exactly like Doctor's rooms for checkups. The now abandoned laboratory seemed a lot bigger up close and the Gundam Pilots didn't have a doubt that this was where all of their unethical works and experimentations took place.
Duo picked up a logbook from one of many black counters in the center of the room. Hundreds of chemical bottles, graduated cylinders, and flasks covered the majority of the desk space.
"Hey take a look at this." Duo announced to Heero as he flipped through the thickly bounded volume. Heero walked over to Duo and noticed that the title of the book read, Confidential.
"They have test trials, chemical mixtures, and tons of data recorded in here." Duo explained as he continued glancing from page to page. Then he began reading an excerpt from the book. "So far, the tests to produce a superhuman formula have proved unsuccessful. However, we are confident that under careful evaluation and more funding from Mr. McCallister, we will have the drug in no time at all."
Heero remained quiet as he heard what Duo had to say.
"Huh, they were trying to make a superhuman formula? That's so ridiculous!" Duo laughed as he closed the book and passed it to his counterpart.
Was it so ridiculous though? Heero pondered. Should they have been successful, the leverage McCallister would have against the world would be uncanny. He would have been able to either sell the drug to developing countries that have a grudge against the government or even use it for his own chaotic deeds.
"Luckily they won't be able to finish their research. It makes you wonder what else they have been doing in here." Duo said.
Heero sat down by one of the computer monitors and took no time at all to breech the codes to open the hidden files. "The information in here will be able to lock McCallister up for decades." Heero said as he opened the files one by one to see if there were anything else of importance. One file was labeled "R. Darlian." And Heero's spine suddenly grew stiff.
"R. Darlian?" Duo read behind Heero's right shoulder as he leaned against the chair. "What would they have on Relena here?" Heero didn't take another second to double click on the icon. There were documents stating her capture, an injection they gave her known as the A. Product, and close to ten charts detailing her vital signs through the ordeal. It also mentioned the decline of her condition several hours after the initial injection and finally the apparent vaccine they gave her.
The more Heero read on, the more furious he became and he slammed his palm against the table for not realizing how much danger she was in. "What is this?" Heero whispered to no one in particular. "What did they do to you?" He realized now more than ever that he could have lost her so many times. What if she didn't survive the initial injection? What if she didn't overcome the vaccine in her bloodstream? It was too horrendous to think of the possible outcomes.
"Better question yet," Duo began. "How on earth did they even capture her without us even knowing about it?" After thinking about it, Duo yelled out. "Son of a bitch! Remember how she disappeared a couple of weeks ago? Was that when?"
Rereading the files and dates according to each incident, Heero concluded that that was exactly what happened. "That's when they had her." Heero confirmed as his brows wrinkled in deep thought. "She lied to you even then."
"Oh, Relena…" Duo sighed, recollecting all those times when she deceived them in order to resolve the conflict on her own. "When will she ever learn that she's not alone in this chaotic world?"
Several weeks have passed and Relena was still under the care of Sally Po in one of many Preventer private infirmaries. Sally refused to release her until she was back to full health. Throughout her recovery, her doctor explained the extent of her illness and Relena still couldn't believe how real the pain felt. Despite the excruciating pain she underwent, there was nothing physically wrong with her. It took days for her to wrap her mind around that thought. Incredible! She couldn't believe how fragile one's mind can be.
However, Sally did mention the side effects of the vaccine she was injected with. Heero and Duo made a copy of the logbook to the important parties within Preventers. Sally was more than glad to have the book as reference or else she would never have suspected that Relena had an allergic reaction to the extremely high mineral content known as AD4-H in the vaccine. That would explain the headaches, the dizzy spells, and the shortness of breath she experienced. Unfortunately for Relena, she thought it was the poison at work. Sally happily prescribed her the medication to ward off the side effects and she was feeling the best she had in weeks, even months!
During her recuperation, she heard of nothing else but the trial of the century: McCallister v. the State. It took another good week for the jury to convict him for first-degree murder on two accounts, attempted murder, and the highest conviction as conspirator against the state. After all the solid evidence that was presented in court, there was no doubt in the jury's mind that McCallister was as guilty as Satan himself; he would be sentenced to life in the maximum security ward with no chance of parole. Relena was thankful that she did not have to make a court appearance and Une made sure of that. The fallen politician knew that her day of judgment would come soon enough.
Lucas Pavilion paid her a short visit and the moment he walked in the door, tears began to well up in her eyes. She was ashamed and didn't have the right to face him. With utmost understand and respect, he sat down by her bedside and offered her a fatherly smile. "Relena, I'm glad that you are well." He began.
She only cried harder and declared, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Pavilion. I have lost the respect of the entire country. I am unworthy of talking to you."
He only smiled wider and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Relena, please don't be so hard on yourself. The whole world witnessed McCallister's trial. We know you are not to blame."
How could he be so understanding? She thought, for it only made her feel worse.
"I almost killed you, the only father-figure I had left after my father was killed years ago. If Heero didn't intervene, I would have had another life on my hands. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" Relena explained silently, looking down on her bed sheet. Her eyes drowned in her tears. She didn't have the authority to look him in the eye anymore.
"Relena, I forgive you." Pavilion said confidently as he used his left hand to lift her chin up so that they could see eye to eye. "Life is complicated in itself. You'll be able to get over this hurdle. You have grown to become a very strong young woman. There is so much more you can do for the world. Don't let this stop you from fulfilling your goals and your ambitions."
Her tears continued cascading down her cheeks as she managed to form a small smile and whispered, "Thank you." He hugged her then and she was overjoyed that the old man had such a huge heart. She would never be able to repay him.
"You'll be alright, my dear." He affirmed softly.
It was a hug that she didn't realize she needed until now, that human contact. "I need a favor to ask." Relena asked softly.
"I'll do anything I can."
The day Relena was free to leave from the infirmary, Pavilion greeted her by the main entrance. She asked the old politician to call Dominic Sackheim and William Smith's families, requesting a meeting with her. Relena had much to say to both of the families and now that the moment had arrived, she could feel the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Two vehicles were waiting for them by the curb, one for Pavilion and Relena and the other for his bodyguards. It felt somewhat awkward for her not to have any bodyguards at her side but she was no longer an important figure in the eye of the public. She wondered what Alexander was doing now. Right on cue, the very man himself walked up to them and gave a slight nod.
"Alexander? What are you doing here?" Relena asked, surprised.
"To look after you, of course!" He replied simply, as if she asked a silly question.
"But, but I told you…"
"Yes, Relena. I know you told me to request for a new client but I'm not a good listener ok?" He explained, trying to hide his grin. She smiled back and leaned forward to give him a hug. It almost felt as if the world was standing upright again.
"I don't know how to thank you. Both of you." She confessed, looking at both Alexander and Lucas Pavilion.
"Well, let's get this show on the road." Alexander pulled the car door wide open for Relena and Pavilion. Then they were on their way.
All parties agreed to meet at Pavilion's estate, where it felt more on neutral ground. The former Vice Foreign Minister had no idea how the families felt towards her and she grew even more nervous as the cars were parked and they made their way to the meeting hall. The other attending members of the meeting were already there and waiting patiently.
Pavilion walked into the room first, accompanied by Relena and Alexander. He gave the first introductions and made light conversation to brighten the mood in the room. Dressed in a casual black business suit and with her hair tied back neatly with a clip, she gave a generous bow to Mrs. Sackheim, Mrs. Smith, and the other patrons in the room. "Thank you for taking this time to meet with me." Relena began.
Pavilion decided to sit by the widows to lend his support and he, too, became an audience for their speaker. Still standing, Relena was afraid she'd say the wrong things so she inhaled a deep breath and counted to three before continuing. "I know what I did was wrong and I do not expect forgiveness. Taking away your husbands, your fathers, and your friends, was the cruelest act any human could perform and for that, I am sorry."
No one uttered a sound as they looked on. Relena felt like a bug under a microscopic lens. The emotions she tried to bottle up for this meeting suddenly burst open. She couldn't keep her silent tears at bay, which seem to have been appearing every day since the confrontation with McCallister. They could see her tears and the desperation in her voice.
"I cannot begin to comprehend the amount of pain that I have caused all of you. When my father was assassinated, I had only one thought in my mind: vengeance. I wanted nothing more than to kill the woman who had taken my father from me. Perhaps, I do understand what you are feeling." Relena's knees began to weaken and she slowly went down on her knees, still looking straight at the two widows.
"I will face my punishment in confidence. Please don't live with anger in your hearts. Rejoice in their accomplishments instead, for they have done much for their god and country." She almost forgot to breathe and needed to pause to refuel her lungs with air. "That is all I have to say. Thank you."
Tears began forming under Mrs. Smith's eyelids and she brushed them away with a white handkerchief. Mrs. Sackheim walked over to Relena and knelt down with her. "Relena, we have all heard what happened on the news. Lucas was even kind enough to share his opinions of the whole situation." Mrs. Sackheim explained calmly. "This has been such a horrific tragedy, it's true." Her eyes, too, began flowing with tears of remorse and anguish. "What's worse, this must have been such a hard time for you. Relena, forgiveness is all that we have to offer, not anger, never hatred."
"Our families forgive you but you're right about one thing. We will never forget this moment that has been scarred into our memories. However, we will only remember the good memories so that their spirit may live on." Mrs. Smith acknowledged.
Relena took a quick glance around the room and noticed all the other family members were nodding in agreement save one. She noticed a young man standing far at the back, eyes glaring deeply into Relena.
Mrs. Sackheim reached for Relena's elbow and helped her up from their kneeling position. "Please stand, Relena. There is no need for you to feel any shame whatsoever. Our husbands will continue to live in us and that's all that really matters."
Suddenly the man marched right up to them and shrieked with venom, "Mother! How could you say that? Do you have any idea what she has done to our family?" He was too angry to contain himself and everyone in the room gasped. The air turned much colder from his intrusion.
"Darwin, please calm yourself." Mrs. Sackheim soothed his son. "Anger will simply lead to more anger. More anger will ultimately lead to more hatred. Is that what you want your father's memory to be solely based on?"
Without answering his mother's question, he turned to face the rest of the audience. "I can't believe you. ANY of you!" Darwin spat out. Then he pointed an accusatory finger at Relena and vowed with every fiber of his being, "Make no mistake, Relena Darlian. You will pay for this."
TBC…
NOTE: Special thanks to …
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