Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Gundam Wing characters; only the bad guys. Please read and enjoy!
Chapter 2
Suddenly there was a bright flash. Heero and Relena both jumped.
"It's a Kodak moment!"
They both looked over at Duo. He was holding a camera in one hand and a developing picture in the other. Heero lunged at the picture, but Duo moved it out of the way. Heero turned around and tackled Duo to the floor. They started wrestling and Duo ended up in a chokehold. Everyone was laughing, including Heero.
"Why don't we all go for a swim in the lake out back?" Trowa suggested. "That way these two can cool themselves off."
Duo was the first to jump up, "Last one out shuts the door!" They all laughed and took off after him.
Out at the lake Wufei and Trowa were the first to get in. Relena was on her way when suddenly Heero ran up beside her. "Hey.
Relena smiled. "Oh, hey."
"Are you still having a good time?" he gave her a worried look.
"Yes, this is all wonderful! You guys are so great!"
Heero gave her a smile.
Just then, Quatra and Duo came running by. They ran straight for the lake and then yelled, "Cannon Ball!!" They both jumped in and made a huge splash. Relena and Heero laughed.Heero walked over to a diving platform. He glanced back at Relena and then did a perfect dive into the water. He came up and yelled back at her. "Come on in! The water's great!"
Now Relena walked up to the platform. She glanced down at the water below her and then dove in. When she came out of the water they were all clapping for her.
"Bravo, bravo!" Duo yelled.
She laughed and gave a bow. "Thank you, thank you."
They were all having such a great time. They had no idea what was about to happen.
Back at the cabin there were three men searching around the house.
"Hey boss," one of the men shouted, "What are we looking for anyway?"
"You idiot! How many times do I have to tell you? We are here to find out anything we can about these five pilots! We need to get them on our side so we can take control of the colonies instead of that stupid girl!"
Just then, the other man walked up. "Hey boss, look at this." The man was holding a photograph! It was the one that Duo had taken of Heero and Relena dancing.
The leader looked down at the picture. "That's that Gundam pilot Heero Yuy and the Peacecraft girl. Heero Yuy is supposed to be the best of all the Gundam pilots. If he has a thing for this girl, then we might be able to persuade him to join us."
Just then there was the sound of laughter coming from outside. The leader jerked his head towards the window. "Move out! They're coming back!" The men ran out the front door and shut it just as the five boys and Relena walked in the back door. They all went and changed out of their bathing suits and then sat down in the living room.
"Whoa! We really need to do this kinda thing more often." Duo exclaimed.
Trowa nodded. "I agree. It's rather nice to get away from all our duties."
Duo looked over at Heero. "How bout' you? You probably don't care either way. You're all work and no play." Duo looked at Heero curiously. He had expected some kind of remark back, but he got nothing. Heero was just staring. He seemed kind of focused on something. "Hey, Heero. What's the matter?"
Heero looked up at him. "Duo, didn't you put that photograph on the table over there?"
Duo looked for the photograph. "Yea, I did. That's funny. I wonder where it went.
Heero got an uneasy look. "Something's not right."
Duo laughed. "What? Just cause a picture isn't in the exact place I left it you're going to panic? Just chill out man. Relax."
Heero glared at him. "It's not just that. I can feel it. Someone has been here."
The other boys looked around the room. Wufei stood up. "He's right. Something's different."
Duo let out a wail of frustration. "You guys are all nuts! We are out here in the middle of nowhere! No one knows where we are!"
Suddenly, Heero dove for Relena and threw them both to the ground. Just as he did, they all heard rapid gun firing. All the others lunged to the ground. The front window began shattering into a million pieces. Heero covered Relena with his own body to shield her from anything that might hit her. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her. Not after everything they'd already been through.
After several minutes of non-stop rounds, the firing ended. They slowly started to stand up and head for the back door. Suddenly they heard guns cocking. Heero grabbed Relena's hand and pulled her towards the door. Heero kicked the door out and looked around to make sure no one was there to surprise them. Then the rest of the group followed him out.
"We should split up," Duo said. "That way it'll be harder for them to find us."
They heard the men come bursting through the front door. "Lets go!" Heero yelled. He pulled Relena with him and headed towards the woods. Duo and all the others headed off in the opposite direction.
"Hey boss! There they go!" One of the men pointed at Heero and Relena just as they disappeared into the woods.
Duo looked back and saw all the men chasing after Heero and Relena. "Oh man!" Duo turned and began to run in the other direction towards Heero and Relena. "I know Heero's the best fighter, but he might still need some help!"
Heero could hear the men following them so he kept pulling them deeper and deeper into the woods.
"What do you think those guys want?" Relena asked as she ran alongside Heero.
"I'm not sure, but we better keep running. I think they're catching up."
Both Heero and Relena were now panting and out of breath. Heero took them around quick turns and many changes of direction. He was hoping to lose the men before Relena gave out. He knew she wouldn't be able to run as long as he could.
After jumping over a few fallen trees, climbing around some rocks, and go over a creek, Heero finally started to slow down. He couldn't hear the men any more and he hoped that he'd lost them. He looked at his surroundings though, and realized he might have gotten himself lost as well. He'd never been here before and none of it looked familiar. He turned to Relena. Before anything else, he wanted to make sure that she was okay. "Are you alright?"Relena leaned against a large rock. She could see the concern in his eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. I just need to catch my breath."
Back near the edge of the woods, Duo was hiding behind a tree watching the group of men. They had stopped chasing Heero and Relena and had returned to the outside of the forest. Duo was confused. He knew they were up to something.
"Call for some backup!" The leader of the pack yelled. "Tell them to enter the woods on the east side and hopefully we'll catch those kids somewhere in the middle."
Duo quickly began racking his brain. "I've got to warn Heero! But how am I going to find him?"
The backup the three men had called for had now arrived. They were entering the woods on the opposite side as told. Heero and Relena sat alone in the woods not knowing that they were about to be surrounded.
"Maybe they gave up," Relena said hopefully.
"Maybe, but I highly doubt it," Heero replied. "I know that guy. His name is Blade and I've never known him to give up that easily before."
Relena gave him a questioning glance. "How do you know him?"
Heero sighed. "Well, a while back I was sent to this training camp and it just so happens that he was sent there too. He was sent by another agency that was trying to create weapons out of humans. I remember the first time I saw him. He immediately came over to me and told me that I'd better watch out. The whole time I was there, they kept teaming us up against eachother. He was very competitive. He was always extremely jealous if he got beat and unfortunately if was me that beat him the most. He always said that one day he would surpass me."
Relena got a worried look. "You mean, he's after you? Does he want to kill you?"
Heero just shrugged. "I don't know. He's a strong guy and the last I heard of him, he'd become the leader of some rebellion group."
Just then they heard a twig snap. Heero jerked around just in time to see eight men jump out and surround them. He backed up and put his arm out to protect Relena.
Then two of the men stepped back and Blade entered into the little circle. "Ha, ha, ha! So, we meet again Heero Yuy. It's been a long time hasn't it? I hear you're one of those Gundam pilots now. That was my position! You stole it from me, just like you stole everything else! You took my pride, you took my status, you made a fool out of me! Ha, ha, ha! But that's all in the past now isn't it? Now the time has come for me to return the favor. You aren't the best anymore Heero! It's my turn now!"
Heero smirked. "Don't count it!"
"Ha, ha, ha! You're still as cocky as ever. Well, don't worry. I'll help you swallow that pride of yours!"
Suddenly Relena screamed. Heero turned around quickly. One of the men had come up from behind them and grabbed her.
"Let her go!" Heero shouted. "You're fight is with me!"
Blade chuckled. "Yes, I know. Normally I'd love to stay here and toy with you, but I have some business to attend to. I actually intend to make a deal with you. So, unfortunately, I need you alive."
Heero glared. "What kind of a deal?"
Blade grinned. "Well, you see I need someone to fight on my side. And who better than a famous Gundam pilot? You are said to be the best, so I've decided that I need you. You either work for me, or Miss Peacecraft over there dies. It's simple really. If you cooperate, then you both get to live."
Heero snarled. "You can't do this!"
"Watch me!" Blade retorted. "Men! Take her to the car! Heero, either you come with us or stay here. It's up to you. Ms. Relena's life or you agree to help us."
Heero looked at the ground. "What should I do? I can't fight against the colonies. That's what I've been fighting to protect. But, I can't let anything happen to Relena either. I mean, she's the ruler of the colonies. Ugh! Who am I trying to kid? I can't let anything happen to her because I love her!"
"Heero! Help me!"
Heero jerked his head up and ran towards Blade. "Blade!"
Blade sneered as he turned around. "Yes?"
"I'll go with you, but you have to promise me you won't hurt Relena!"
"Fine," Blade replied. "I give you my word."
With that, Heero reluctantly followed Blade to an awaiting car. They all got in and the car sped off. Heero looked at Relena. She was sitting there with a gun pointed at her. She looked so terrified. He longed to reach out and comfort her. He wanted to help her. He looked out the window and sighed in frustration. "What am I going to do?"
Back at the cabin Trowa, Wufei, and Quatre were looking around at all the damage. Suddenly, Duo burst through the back door. "Hey...you....guys!" Duo said panting. "Relena....and...Heero!" He coughed for a minute. "They've been kidnapped!"
Trowa looked up in alarm. "What?! By who?"
Duo shook his head. "Some guy that seemed to know who Heero was. I think his name was Blade."
Quatre jumped up. "Well, where is he taking them?"
Duo shook his head again. "I don't know, but we have to hurry!"
Quatre nodded. "Isn't that road on the other side of the woods a dirt road? If it is, then we can follow their trail!"
Duo jumped into the air. "That's right! We can! Let's get the bikes and get going!"
They all ran out of the house and jumped on their bikes. Within seconds they were speeding off to the rescue.
Meanwhile, the car Heero and Relena were in pulled up to a large mansion. Blade got out of the car and motioned for everyone to follow him. The other man jerked Relena out of the car and held the gun up to her once more. Heero followed behind, all the while gritting his teeth and tightening his fists.
Once they got into the house, Blade turned to the man holding Relena. "Kino, take her to one of the rooms upstairs and lock her up! Heero, you can follow me."
Heero watched as Relena was led upstairs and then he reluctantly followed Blade. He wanted so badly to just kill him right now while his back was turned, but he couldn't risk it. Relena would be in too much danger if he did.
