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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

On to the Mission!

Quatre, however, did not get straight back to sleep. He went to Duo in the hangar and saw the deathscythe pilot hovering over his gundam like a mad scientist.

"Go away," Duo said in deadly tones.

Quatre sighed and dared not to go further. "We need to settle whatever is wrong with us Duo. You are my only chance that everything will be alright." Duo just remained silent so Quatre continued, "Before she came, you were I would say, the knot that ties our group. And now more than ever, we need you to tie our group again. Lizzy's our friend. We need you to keep the group the same as it was before."

Silence.

Then slowly, Duo faced Quatre and said, "We cannot make it the same as before Quatre. Now that I think about it, I think Wufei is right. She's tearing our group apart. First it was with Heero, then you and me. Heero is always perceptive. Maybe he saw something with Lizzy that isn't right."

"No Duo! Lizzy is not our enemy. She is our friend."

"Open your eyes Quatre. There are so many instances that it might be actually true – she's tearing our group apart."

"But the scientists sent her to us!" Quatre cried out.

Duo let go of what he was doing and looked at the other boy. "Do you actually believe the scientists' care about our well-being? They don't know what kind of a girl she is except that she's good as a mechanic. She's even at par with Heero when it comes to fixing our gundams. But I sense that that's not all she's hiding. Don't tell me you don't feel it too."

Quatre became quiet. Like Duo, he too had felt that Lizzy was hiding something from them. But true to himself, he knew that Lizzy is not an enemy, no matter what the others say.

Just then, they heard someone approaching them. It was Heero. "Both of you, you don't need to trouble yourselves with petty issues. Besides, we have a mission."

"Who's we?" Duo asked instantly alert.

"Dr J is sending me and you Duo together with Lizzy to Earth. The timeline is indefinite. Also, our mission is not yet clearly defined. We will get it once we reach Earth." Heero explained in his monotone voice.

Duo though clearly showed his emotions. That meant he will not be able to see Quatre for a while and he would be stuck with the girl. He was having double feelings again with Lizzy though he cannot explain his feelings a while ago when Wufei called her a slut.

Meanwhile Quatre also showed his disappointment. When a scientist says their mission is indefinite, it would usually take 1 or 2 months at least to get the job done. But much to the dismay of Duo, Quatre is disappointed because Lizzy will be away.

"We leave at exactly 0900 hours. I already briefed Lizzy on the way here." With that, Heero left the two and went to his gundam.

Duo also went back to his gundam leaving Quatre in his deep thoughts.

-o-o-o-o

Lizzy was looking outside her window. She had for the briefest of a moment thought what it would be like to see Earth from the outside with her father or mother with her. She missed them terribly and up until now she has no idea if they were still alive. But she had faith in them. In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if it's the other way around. They would probably think she's already dead. Yet what was she doing here strapped in an uncharted plane with the two deadliest persons in the universe.

"She's a beauty isn't she?" Duo suddenly asked.

Lizzy tore her eyes away from the window and looked at Duo. He was at his usual self. This is her first mission away from the colonies and going to Earth for the first time. She bowed at Duo's question and went back to gaze outside.

"Geez girl, you're not being sent to Earth to die you know!" Duo was on his knees gazing backward. Heero was his co-pilot who was currently sleeping.

"I'm not feeling myself Duo. I suddenly missed the colony that's all," she said still staring outside. She always asked her father about Earth and she surfed all she can about that place. One day, her father said, one day we'll be able to go there. She suddenly felt cold missing her parents terribly. She had that instinct again that something is going to happen on Earth. She thought of Quatre and longed for his comfort. His tea, his stories, the way he would smile… she silently cursed herself. A few hours ago, she was all smiles and brave enough to tell him, Trowa and Wufei that she can do this mission. Was she all lies?...

Duo stared at her one more time and saw or rather knew that no matter what he said, Lizzy will not talk to him. She had that faraway look again. True, he had already known her habits, in fact all about her. She was his partner in crime, they were best friends. But he too had reservations about her. Knowing Heero, he had learned to trust his instincts. And his instincts, if not 100 précised, is very accurate to the actual truth. He then settled on his seat again. Anytime now, they will be entering Earth's atmosphere.

The journey towards Earth had been a very silent one to which Heero could only surmise as a good omen.

-o-o-o-o

"So, exactly where are we?" Duo asked Heero for the nth time!

Heero was busy typing his laptop while Duo drives the trailer. Lizzy was seated between the two. She could already tell that Duo is starting to be pissed. She can handle a pissed Wufei but definitely not a pissed Duo. She decided to intervene between the two which is actually Quatre's forte and not hers.

"Ne ne Duo, you shouldn't pressure Heero. There might have been some slight delay in the information sent by Dr J."

Duo cursed loudly. Lizzy swallowed hard. It was nearing dusk and she knew Duo is too damn tired being the pilot and now their driver.

"Got it," Heero said. Lizzy and Duo sighed at the same time. Heero then directed Duo to their next mission.

When they got there, Duo was surprised to actually see "Howard!" Duo exclaimed. After a few exchanges and introductions, Lizzy found out that this Howard was also a mechanic like her. And his favorite was Duo's deathscythe.

They entered his hideout which is actually located underneath a cave near the ocean. Lizzy knew that they are nearest to Sanc Kingdom and wondered if they'll be able to meet with Relena and Hilde. Lizzy found out that those two were also close to the gundam pilots. Hilde was an Alliance soldier who sided with Oz but later met with Duo on a mission and she became an ally. She only got a chance to meet them via vidphones but not on face to face.

"…earth to Lizzy!"

Lizzy almost jumped. She was staring into space again. Duo was grabbing his attention while Heero and Howard waited for them.

"I'm sorry," she apologized and went to seat besides Duo.

"Okay now, I'll tell you about your missions." Howard said and he flipped open a projector. "This is Sanc Kingdom. Your mission is to get information by posing as students in Sanc Kingdom. You've done this before." Heero and Duo glanced at each other in acknowledgement. "As Sanc Kingdom is making a force with their total pacifism, other countries particularly Oz will not stay silent about it. As you know, about all these countries surrounding Sanc Kingdom have agreed with Relena's ideas."

"Relena?" Duo asked. "You mean Relena's leading Sanc Kingdom?"

"Yes,"Howard answered. "And you might be surprised that Lucrezia Noin and Sally Po are now allies of Sanc Kingdom."

Lizzy tried to remain calm upon hearing Noin's name. She used to be one of her officers when she was in Oz particularly in Project Mole. Would she recognize her? Although Noin only managed her for two months, she knew that Noin might actually recognize her for she is one of the most feared 'Moles' in Oz. But then she was relived upon hearing Howard's next words.

".. so while you guys are hooking information about this pacifism, you will also act as bodyguards for Relena. Note however that some Oz officials could come to and fro since Sanc hasn't exactly declared war against Oz. Meanwhile, Lizzy will stay here with me. We will do some overhaul into your gundams."

"What?" Duo exclaimed. "You mean to say that we will go to Sanc Kingdom without her?"

Howard bowed his head in agreement. Duo tried to protest but Howard had his direct orders that Lizzy will stay as they work on the two gundams. She was special, the scientists told him. He wondered just how special.

-o-o-o-o

Author's Notes:

I'm really STRIVING to finish this story, believe me! No cliffhanger again but I admit this is a really short one. This is some sort of an introduction to the action/adventure stuff but I intend to make it long and with a real story to back it up.

Responses to reviews for Chapter 21.

cindy17: Thanks for the support! hope I can update more frequently.

justforkicks: Thanks also for the review! Did you notice – I changed the disclaimer? Haha.. Just kidding.