Chapter 17

"Noin, we're going to the Sanc Capitol, get ready to leave." Milliardo said as he set the phone on its cradle. She turned and said in surprise, "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know, Heero said he wanted to have a chat with us. . ."

"And he couldn't over the phone? I have things I need to do. . ."

"It's 8 hours until the execution date, we can't keep out of the loop, not this late in the game."

"You can go, I'm sure he doesn't need both of us."

"He specifically asked for you and me. . .Noin, why are you being so stubborn?"

"I'm not. . .let's go." She said, getting irritated as she packed her laptop into her briefcase and picked it up, walking toward the front door.

"Hmm. . ." Milliardo narrowed his eyes as he gathered his things and followed. 30 minutes later, they walked up to the front door of the Capital building and knocked.

"I'll get it!" Stacy called out as she trotted to the door and opened it. With a big, inviting smile, she said, "Welcome! Come in, you have been expected. Mr. Yuy is waiting for you in the parlor, please follow me." She said, leading them into the parlor and announcing, "Mr. Peacecraft and Ms. Noin have arrived, sir."

"Thank you, Stacy." Heero said, not looking up from some papers he was reading. She bowed and left the room.

"Heero, why have you called us here?" Milliardo asked.

"Have a seat. . ." Heero motioned to the couch and they sat down, looking a little confused by their calling to this place. Tapping his papers on his knee to stack them neatly together, he said, "Milliardo, did you ever hear about OZ having plans for any special mobile suits?"

"No, not that I know of. . .did you, Noin?" Milliardo looked over at his girlfriend and she said, "Nothing of the sort, they were mostly concerned with finding the gundams and destroying them."

"I see. . .did either of you ever have contact with the creators of the gundams?" Heero asked, leaning forward to set the papers on the coffee table.

"I don't think so. . .I have met a lot of people in my life. . ."

"Just as a point of clarification, the names of the doctors are: Doctor J, Instructor H, Professor G, Master O, and Doktor S."

"Don't forget Howard. . ." Rachel popped into the room, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Howard? Well, if you say so. . .any of those names sound familiar?" Heero said, looking up at the couple in question.

"I don't think so. . .Heero, why are you questioning us like we're the enemy?" Milliardo began to get defensive.

"Someone in our ranks has been contacting one of the scientists, Doctor J to be precise, and requesting work from him on the construction of a new mobile suit design. . .one with great power and capability."

"It wasn't me, I wouldn't dare do something to threaten my sister's reign. . ." Milliardo defended himself.

"Of course not. . .Noin, you've been so quiet since you got here, is there something you wish to tell us?" Heero said, staring at Noin. She looked up and said, "No, not at all. . ."

"Come now, Noin, you can trust your friends, can't you?" Heero said, leaning back and folding his hands, resting them against his chin.

"If you know something, why torture me. . .just come out and say it, Heero." Noin narrowed her eyes and Milliardo stared at her in surprise.

"Fine. . .read those papers." Heero nodded in the direction of the papers he had laid on the table a minute ago. Slowly, Milliardo leaned forward and took them, looking back and forth briefly between Noin and Heero before looking at the documents.

"These are. . ." His eyes widened.

"Schematics for the new model of mobile suit: Mercurius." Heero stated, his gaze locked on Noin for her reaction.

"That's a nice mobile suit. . .what's your point, Heero?" Noin looked up and he knew immediately it wasn't the one she had seen.

"Rachel. . ." He glanced in the direction of his informant and she shrugged.

"What are you trying to prove, Heero?" Noin asked, looking aggravated.

"Well since this isn't the exact design of the model you commissioned Doctor J for. . ." Heero said.

"What? Noin, is this true!" Milliardo sounded outraged.

"Yes, it is. . ." Noin said, not sounding ashamed in the slightest.

"Then what is the mobile suit you requested? The Vayeate model?" Heero asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about but if you must know. . .this does resemble the model I had made, yes." Noin said, glancing at the blueprints.

"Does this also resemble it?" Rachel stepped forward, giving her a paper.

"Yes, it does. . .they both have pieces of the design for the mobile suit. . .where did you get these?" Noin asked, looking concerned.

"Rachel drew them up a few minutes ago, they're designs of two mobile suits created in the original track of our lives before she came and changed things. . ." Heero said.

"Yeah, sorry, you didn't have the pleasure of going into space or meeting any of the scientists or almost getting killed tons of times." Rachel rolled her eyes.

"This isn't good though. . .if this model she had made is a combination of the two then. . ." Heero began thinking over the situation.

"Then it's unstoppable. . ." Rachel whispered, realizing the extent of the damage it could do if in the wrong hands. She leapt forward, grabbing Noin by the shoulders and saying, "Noin, you have to destroy this thing, before it's too late!"

"Rachel, what are you talking about! This is the best defense we have against those war plotting maniacs!"

"You have no idea to what extent this thing can cause damage. . .the carnage. . .Noin, you can't let it exist." Rachel begged.

"I can't destroy it. . ." Noin said.

"Noin, you have to!"

"I can't, I don't have it!" She exclaimed.

"What do you mean! Was it stolen!"

"No, the doctor still has it, it hasn't been shipped yet. . ."

"Then take us to the doctor." Heero said in a demanding tone.

"I can't do that either, he moves around every time I meet with him. Who knows where he could be now. . ."

"We do. . ." Heero said, glancing up at Rachel.

"This would be considered an emergency so I'm allowing the use of powers at this point." Rachel said, nodding to Heero. He closed his eyes and focused on the location of Doctor J, closing in and saying, "Let's go."

"It's time, let's go." Sopher said, fixing the collar of his black button up shirt.

"Don't forget to call in every 30 minutes if you can, you have 7 hours and 15 minutes to complete your rescue mission. Move out!" Dextosterone said, typing in the beginning of their logs for the mission. They dashed across the campus and headed toward the clock tower, not seeing anyone near it.

Maybe they're on the other side. Sopher thought to himself as he slowed down and walked toward the tower, sneaking around to the other side where he heard hushed voices. Iceman quietly followed him around until he froze in his steps.

"GAH!"An arm reached around the tower and grabbed Sopher's shirt, yanking him around and behind the wall. Iceman began to sweat as he jumped around the building and yelled, "HEY!"

"Another one! Who sent you two!" A man shouted as two others grabbed Iceman and held him.

" 'ey, chill out! Tim told us there was a great new club to join an' we was to meet yin's here for initiation!" Sopher said in a southern accent, looking afraid for his life at the large man's mercy. The man eyed him and let him go, saying, "Ya don't say. . ."

"Ain't yin's the guys we're s'pose to meet?"

"Maybe. . .what're your names?" The man looked the two over curiously.

"My name's Topher, and this here's James! We're the best men yin's could ever want, I reckon!"

"I'm sure. . .are you good at fighting or flying aircrafts?"

"Ain't I! Useta fly my dad's crop duster every week! And I reckon all that wrestlin' with the hogs done worked up a few muscles in me!" Sopher said with a broad grin.

"And you? Are you any good at anything?" The man motioned to Iceman.

"I'm from Minnisooda, I carried begs of feed for the cows, don'tcha know. . ." Iceman grinned.

"Yeah. . .alright, you look pretty sturdy, let's go." The man walked across the road to a van waiting for them to load in.

We're in. . .now it's only a matter of time. . .Sopher thought to himself as he sat next to Iceman and gave him a side glance and said, "This here's gonna be excitin'!"

"Don'tcha know!" Iceman cheered. They pulled out of the parking lot and headed off down the road to Cumberland Falls and the headquarters of the enemy. An hour later, they were in the park and pulling in the lot by the park's pool.

6 hours left. . .better hurry this up. Sopher thought to himself as he followed the group over to a path leading through the forest.

"Don't get lost cause we're not coming back for you." The man in lead said, trooping down the dirt path. It twisted up and down hills and over fallen trees until they reached a paved path leading to the falls.

"Ah, I love the sound of rushin' water!" Sopher exclaimed, taking a deep breath of the clean mountain air.

Thanks, now I gotta pee. . .Iceman thought to himself, trying to drown out the sounds of the fall with thoughts of video games far off in his bedroom.

"This way, and don't go looking at all the souvenirs. . ." The man lead them into a shop by the fall and through the aisles of gifts and do dads everywhere. They walked back to a door marked 'Storeroom" and he opened it, walking in and going on through the darkness inside.

"Where are we? I can't see a dang thi-OOFH!" Sopher ran into the man in front of him as he stopped.

"Quiet. . ." The man hissed and he obeyed. Suddenly, a light came on and they found themselves in a long hallway leading to another door. The man in lead opened it and led them down a series of stairs that seemed to go on forever.

Geez, haven't they ever heard of elevators! Iceman huffed along, feeling the burn in his thighs as they kept on going. Finally, the stairs ended at yet another door, this one was locked with a swipe key access only. The man pulled out a card and swiped it through the slot, hearing a beep and opening the door. A bright light flooded the stairwell and everyone squinted as they entered a large cave.

"Welcome to headquarters, follow me and I'll take you to the one in command." The man said, walking across the room past many technicians working on various unknown things.

"Wow. . .are we in a cave beneath the falls?" Sopher asked dumbly.

"We're in the cave behind the fall, no one can access it by boat because of the strong current created by the falling water."

"Naturally. . ." They arrived at an office and the man knocked, saying, "More recruits, sir!"

"Bring them in. . ." A feminine voice called out and the man opened the door. As they walked in, Sopher's eyes locked onto the one in charge.

Sara Sachs. . .He thought as she said, "Welcome to NeOZ (Neo OZ), I am the second in command in charge of this little organization, you won't be seeing the Commander until he's. . .living once more."

Living. . .once more? Iceman was disturbed by this comment.

"Uh. . .excuse me, ma'am. . .?" Sopher raised his hand cautiously. She cocked an eyebrow and said, "What."

"Well. . .what exactly do ya mean by livin' again? Is he in a coma or somethin'?"

"Not exactly. . .meet our commander and chief, Treize Kushrenada." Sara stepped aside and pulled back a curtain, revealing the very man she spoke of, laying in eternal slumber behind glass.

This could only mean one thing. . .they don't want the hostages, they want. . .

"Rachel, what is it?" Heero asked as they appeared in a large docking bay containing a covered structure.

"Something doesn't feel right. . .quick, go invisible!" She said before vanishing. The others did likewise and as soon as they did, a group of people entered the room.

"I told you it was here, you make me feel like you don't trust me, Lieutenant Widener." Doctor J slowly strolled across the expanse of the dock, looking up at the monstrous beast veiled under a huge drape.

"How do I know that's actually it under there?" Chris said, not sounding shaken by the guilt trip.

"It takes me forever to get that thing covered up, sir, must I take it off? You have my word, it's under there. . ."

"You better not be lying, old man. . .have this thing ready for shipment in less than an hour or else. . .you hear me?" Chris turned and stalked off out of the bay, leaving the doctor to stare up at his creation.

"Well. . .seems you've caused me quite the dilemma, my child. . .what shall I do?" Doctor J said.

"You have three choices: Supply it to the Sanc Kingdom, supply it to the enemy, or destroy it and the plans and hide away. . ." Doctor J turned to see Heero standing behind him with the others feet away.

"Still quiet as ever. . .now you're giving me the orders? How the tide does turn. . ." Doctor J smiled as he admired how grown up Heero looked, "You still have those deathly deep blue eyes, but. . .they seem different now. . ."

"I've seen a lot, Doctor J. . .but what I see right now is betrayal. . .whose side are you on?" Heero said as he approached the scientist.

"No one's. . ."

"So you're just in it for the money?" Rachel asked.

"Perhaps. . .a man's gotta eat." Doctor J said, turning away.

"Don't you mean a man's gotta pay for his devious plans on the side?" Heero asked, glaring at the back of the man's head.

"Whatever. . ."

"I don't like your attitude. . .how would you like it if I killed you right now and spoiled all your precious plans?"

"Heero, you can't kill him!" Rachel said.

"Why not? Keeps him from making any more of these. . ." Heero looked up at the mobile suit.

"You can't kill him. . .okay? Now, Doctor J, can you keep this mobile suit a secret? I'll pay you any amount of money just to keep this off the market, I'll fund your experiments if you want but please. . .keep this out of enemy hands." Rachel said, trying to be as sincere as possible. He seemed to consider it for a moment before saying, "You must be rich to make such a bold statement, how do I know you will keep to your word?"

"As much as we know that's really the mobile suit under there. . ." She said, raising her eyebrows. The doctor chuckled and said, "I like you, you have spirit! It's a deal. . .now, shall we discuss these terms?"

"I'd love to but we have some friends of ours to save, thank you for your cooperation, Doctor J." Rachel bowed and turned to the others.

"That was too easy. . .since when have you been the negotiator?" Milliardo asked her as they walked away.

"Eh. . .I just know where he's coming from. . ." She shrugged.

"And where are you going to get tons of money from, miss wannabe poor person. . ." Heero queried, glaring at her out of the corner of his eye.

"I have my ways. . .let's head back and check on the status of the situation, shall we?" They vanished and returned to the capitol to find Quatre frantically looking for them.

"Heero! Where have you been! This isn't the time to be running off without warning!" Quatre exclaimed as he ran up.

"What's your problem, Quatre?" Heero said, crossing his arms.

"It's. . .it's Trowa, he's disappeared!"

"What!" Everyone shouted in unison at the new surprise.

"Great, that idiot's probably gone to get them back on his own. . ." Heero muttered as he ran off to find the others to check if they'd seen him before going on a search.