Chapter 17

"You two can enter through here," Duo pointed, "and then go to here and here, download
the information, then leave through here. The security guards are at these points, and this is
the rotation schedule. Jerry, you and Geoffry stay here," he jabbed at the paper, "but watch
out for the patrolling guards in the suits here, here, and here. Any questions?"

"Um, guess not. Well, what kind of security features are there?" Giselle asked.

"Infrared sensors, cameras, guards, and the occasional tear gas compartment. But if you
avoid these places (jab jab) you should be okay. Remember to keep your heads low and stick to
the shadows. Jerry and Geoffry," he turned to them, "if ANYONE catches you two or the girls,
blow the crud outta them, okay? But be quiet about it if you can."

"Okay, Tousan."

"Alright, Duo-jiisan."

"Good. Are you four ready?"

"As ready as we'll ever be. Oh, where are Rayan and Thomas?" Geoffry asked in
afterthought.

Duo frowned and scratched his head. "Huh, you're right...Hey Heero! Have you seen Rayan and
Thomas?"

"Rayan is here; Thomas is on the way," came the monotonous reply. Duo groaned. "Geez,
where IS he? He can't be late like this all the time!"

"I'll go get him, Duo-jiisan," Aelis offered. "I won't be long."

"Thanks Aelis, and yell at him for me, 'kay?"

Aelis smiled slightly. "Um, okay," she chuckled, and turned to leave.

elsewhere...

"Leave me alone Thomas!" Clare said in an exasperated voice. "Why are you following me
around? Don't you have a MISSION or something?!" she spat, placing disgusted emphasis on the
word mission.

"Of course I have a mission! But I'm not leaving until you tell me what the heck is
bothering you!" an equally exasperated Thomas shot back. "You didn't say a word last night;
you were more quiet than Reena and Aelis! And then this morning you were a wreck-"

"I am NOT a wreck!"

"Yes you-"

"No I am not, and don't you forget that, Thomas Maxwell!" Clare snapped, spinning around
to glare at him. "I will ALWAYS have INFINITELY more self-control than yo-"

"CLARE! Stop this!" Thomas suddenly shouted, stunning her into silence. "Look, I...I
mean...well..."

"THERE you are, Thomas! What do you think you're doing?! Hurry up! You're late!"
Aelis appeared suddenly, interrupting Thomas. She rolled her eyes in exasperation and grabbed
onto his arm. "Come on! Oh great," she muttered as she suddenly dropped her papers.

"Let me help-OW!" Clare broke off. As she had stooped to help Aelis, they had knocked
heads and she had accidentally spilled her drink on the papers. "Oh Aelis, I'm sorry!"

"It's okay...Thomas, why are you still here? Go! And tell them I'm going to be a little
late," Aelis instructed, giving him a dark look. Thomas backed off.

"Sheesh okay Aelis...touchy touchy. And YOU," he frowned, pointing at Clare, "You and
I are going to continue our little talk when I get back."

"IF you get back..." Clare muttered, trying hard not to cry.

"...Clare-chan?"

"Go away! Go do your little mission; I'm fine," she managed, hiding her tears. But
Thomas didn't buy it, and reaching over, pulled her close for a hug. Clare's eyes widened.
"Thomas?!"

"So THAT'S why you're so upset...Don't worry about any of us; we'll be okay," he
said soothingly, stroking her hair. Then he grinned. "I'm a son of death! I'm invici-"

"You wish, you self-centered jerk!" Clare snapped, pushing him away with mock anger.
Turning around, she lifted her nose and prepared to flounce off. "Hmph...son of death indeed!"
she muttered to herself as she walked off. Then, she sighed and murmured, "Son of the great
Shinigami, come back alive..."

Aelis watched this exchange with mild amusement. "And yet, somehow, you have no feelings for
her?" she asked skeptically, then frowned. "Now get moving!" she snapped before he could
respond and she too flounced off. Thomas watched them leave, then threw up his hands in
frustration. "Women..." he muttered as he walked off. "I will never understand them."

a few moments later...

"Done!" Aelis said with satisfaction as the printer discharged the last few sheets of
paper. Then she checked her watch. "Wow, I'd better hurry and get back...Reena, is that you?"

Reena stepped out from the shadows uncertainly. "Um, hi Aelis," she said weakly.

Aelis frowned. "Reena, what's wrong?" Then she smiled. "And why the heck do you have one of
my flight suits on?"

"Um, well, you see..." and she trailed off. Finally, she exploded, "I'm sorry Aelis!"
and lunged. Aelis' eyes widened in shock. "Reena!" she yelped right before she felt herself
get pricked by a needle. "You...idiot..." she murmured as she slumped forward, fast asleep.

Reena looked nervously at her sister's prone form on the ground. "I'm sorry, Aelis," she said,
wringing her hands. "But...you were right. I can't understand you at all, because I'm the
one who's not fighting. So now...Please forgive me; I have to do this."

Finally, Reena stood up and sighed. Picking up Aelis' dropped papers, she hurried down the
hall. Finally, she reached the hangar...and dived back behind. "Oh great! I almost went out
there! Geoffry's going to recognize me...What should I do?"

"Aelis! There you are! Come on, it's showtime!" Duo called cheerfully. Reena paled.
"Uh...coming!" she choked out, praying that she sounded like her sister. Then she hurridly jammed
her helmet on her head and rushed out.

"I'm here," she said breathlessly as she approached the other three pilots. Ignoring the sulky
looks Thomas was throwing her and the concerned looks from Giselle, Jerry, and her brother, she dashed
into the waiting shuttle.

later...

"Giselle, why is it that we're not going to use the mobile suits this time?"

Surprised, Giselle turned around. Reena had been facing the wall the entire trip, seemingly lost in
her thoughts. "Well, why do you ask?"

"...Just wondering, I guess."

Giselle thought for a moment, then said, "Well, I guess they weren't too sure if we were used to the
suit intensities yet. I mean, we just fought a small skirmish and all, and they probably don't want to
overwork us."

There was another pause. Then, Reena spoke again. "How...how could you have possibly killed then?"

Giselle winced. She had been hoping not to address the issue, but there was no avoiding it now. "I...I
guess after having done it once...it got easier..." Then she laughed a harsh, bitter laugh. "Now that I
think about it, I'll bet you they did this on purpose. To prevent us from damning ourselves anymore than we
already have. Aelis, how is it that YOU managed to do it then?"

Reena paused, not knowing how to react. How would her sister react in this situation? she wondered. Finally,
for lack of anything else better to say, she finally said, "For peace, then, I guess. For the sake of
peace...we become the monsters we must become..." Inside, she sighed. "Poor Aelis...how DID you bring
yourself to do it? I'm learning so much about you now, more than I have learned all the 23 years of my life...
Have I always been truly this sheltered from the truth? I envy you...You can sacrifice yourself for others, but
what about me? Where does that leave me...?"

outside...

"Hey Geoffry, what the heck is up with your sister?!" Jerry demanded.

Geoffry snorted. "Heck if I know," he muttered, frustrated himself. "It's not like her...though I have to admit,
I guess we should be more sympathetic."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Didn't you notice how they're not supposed to go use their suits this time? They go in pretending to
drop off cargo, grab the information, get out again, and if we have to, we cover. Odd how they aren't fighting at
all this time?"

"And if anything DOES happen, we are the ones to fight, not them," Jerry concluded correctly, then groaned.
"Of course! They're protecting them! Our parents don't want to traumatize them anymore than they already are."
Well that's just great, he thought to himself, somewhat bitterly. Fine then, let us manly men do the dirty work!

"Yeah well, we DID make the choice to get involved," Geoffry said in a flat, logical voice.

Thomas sighed. "Let me guess, said the last part out loud?"

"Very good, Einstein."

"Ha ha."

Geoffry smiled grimly. "Lose the act, Jerry. It's time to go in."

"Roger that."