Search: Darlian

Result: Vice Foreign Minister Darlian

Full name - Milliardo Darlian

Assassinated in L1 Colony under the order of General Septum….

Looking at the picture of late Vice Foreign Minister Darlian on his computer screen, Duo found it hard to believe that Relena can be related to him since they looked nothing alike. Unlike Relena, Darlian had dark brown hair and dark eyes with swarthy skin. In addition, Duo found no data or any information on his family, except for a picture of him and his wife. Blond hair and blue eyes, she bore some resemblance to Relena; it said that she died soon after Darlian's assassination.

Wait a minute…

He looked at the picture of Vice Foreign Minister Darlian again and found him very familiar. Had he seen him before? Duo's memory was good if not great. That face - he definitely had seen it somewhere before - back in space colonies in person.

But what about Relena herself?

Duo entered "Relena Darlian" into his computer and found nothing, as if no such person ever existed.

That girl with Heero - who is she really?

Resting her face against his chest, she could feel his strong arms around her and his hands playing with strands of her hair. Though awake, she kept her eyes closed. Perhaps she wanted to stay this way. Those arms, hardened from battlefield, were holding her protectively. It was as if she was in the arms of a protector or even a lover instead of a man who would kill her.

His lips brushed her forehead.

Now she opened her eyes.

"You're awake," he said, releasing her from his arms.

"Why did you hold me like that?" Relena asked.

"To keep you from cold," Heero replied. "You think the sheet itself is sufficient? I can't let you die from fever before I take you to the colonies."

His cold answer was a stark contrast to his actions. Relena was disappointed at first, but then she laughed at herself from even wanting to believe a man like Heero could have compassion.

"Your wound should be all healed," he added, and went on to remove her bandages. Wearing nothing but her panties, she quickly crossed her arms to protect her modesty. With a small knife in hand, Heero cut the stitches. Relena looked away and tried not to think about what he is doing. Cold air was harsh against her skin.

"Can I see your scars too?" Relena asked slowly after he's done.

"Haven't you seen enough of them?" Heero asked, referring to the ones on his arms and legs.

"You have seen my body," Relena replied. "It won't be fair if you don't show me yours."

Her face became hot when she said that.

Without another word, Heero took off his green tank top. Looking at his torso, Relena reached out her hand to touch his chest with slight hesitation. There were more scars on his chest and rib cage. As she traced his scars, he pulled her closer. She could feel the tips of her breasts against his hard chest as he put a new dress on her. It was blue; and unlike her previous dress, it covered her more. The waist part was a perfect fit.

Putting his tank top back on, he threw her a small pistol. "For you," he said. "Happy recovery."

"Why are you giving me this?"

"You can use it to end your life, as you have wanted," Heero said. "Or you can use it to kill me, and get out of here. Or use it in any way you like, go by your emotions."

"Press, not pull," Relena said, recalling what he had taught her. "Where are you heading to?"

"Don't ask."

Last night he had said that he is going to take her to the space colonies and kill her eventually because it is his mission. Now he was giving her the option to kill herself or kill him. Funny that she had lost the interest to kill herself.

But Heero and his Gundam; Duo and Howard; Treize manipulated Heero to believe she's Relena Darlian; and Alliance's interest in her brother's whereabouts….

Why? What is the real story? All these pieces of puzzles...how do they fit together?

She got off the bed and then realized that she's barefoot. Heero was thoughtful enough to get her a new dress, but she still had no shoes to wear.

Heero was gone; and Duo was nowhere to be seen.

Only Howard was there.

Seeing that he's alone, Relena pointed her pistol at him.

"Whoa!" Howard put his hands up. "You better put that down before you hurt yourself."

"I know how to use it," Relena said. "I don't want to hurt you. I only want to know something from you."

"Look miss, I'm only an engineer and this place is nothing but a factory."

"Why are you helping them? Heero and his friend?" Relena questioned. "What do you have against Earth and Alliance?"

"Put the gun down," Howard said with a sigh. "I'll get some coffee."

She sat with Howard as she stirred the coffee in her mug.

"You know history is written by winners," Howard said. "Here on Earth, Alliance is the winner. They will tell you that space colonies are sending terrorists to attack earth. But in the eyes of colonists, the ones deemed by Alliance as terrorists are liberators. The brutality and oppression of Earth Sphere Alliance are too much to bear."

"And yet, war is war," Relena said. "Space colonies are not any better if they are launching attacks. I heard they killed Vice Foreign Minister Darlian because he advocated peace between earth and colonies."

"How would you know if that's true? That Vice Foreign Minister Darlian is killed by colonists? Or is it a lie? Were you there?"

Taking a sip of the coffee, Relena changed the subject. "Space colonies didn't have to send anyone to fight on their behalf. They don't know that things are changing in the Alliance as well. There is a new leader now."

"And what has changed?"

"What do you mean?" Relena asked.

"WIth this new leader in charge, what has changed?" Howard questioned. "All of them are the same."

"The new leader understands the need of peace," Relena insisted. "He doesn't want to be hated." Obviously, she was thinking of Treize.

"And how would you know that? Because of a couple sway speeches he made? You have to look at the actual facts based on action. Like who killed Darlian. Regardless of what you read in a newspaper, the real question is who pulled the trigger?"

"It's press, not pull," Relena corrected him. "And he's supposedly killed by a bomb."

"The point is that words are empty compared to action," Howard said. "Space colonies are oppressed by Earth Sphere Alliance. It can only go as far before colonists had it. Alliance had created a monster."

"You are from space colonies too?" Relena asked. "Is that why you are helping Heero?"

"Like I've said, I'm only an engineer," Howard said. "What's your story?"

"I'm no one," Relena said, playing with her pistol. "I don't even know how long I'll live."

"Heero won't let you die," Howard said.

"For the time being," Relena said. "He only keeps me alive because of his dedication to his mission."

"Mission complete," Heero muttered to himself as he destroyed the entire base.

Mission

Face of Dr. J flashed in his mind.

Last night, after putting Relena to sleep, his computer suddenly turned on. Dr. J appeared on the screen with his robotic arm.

"Have you located Relena Darlian?" He asked.

Heero was silent.

"I take it as a yes," Doctor J said. "How is she?"

"Not well."

"Well or ill, you must bring her to me," Doctor J demanded. "This is important. Alliance is taken over by a new leader and he's even more dangerous. We need her to defeat our enemies."

A loud blast interrupted his thoughts and Heero resumed his battle. Alliance had back up prepared, but it should not be a problem for him.

"He's keeping me alive against my will," Relena went on. "Because it is his mission. Once the time comes, he will kill me."

"And you are looking forward to it?" Howard said. "Wanting to die is a foolish thing to do."

"You are the foolish one who assists terrorists from outer space in launching more wars! It's not helping the colonies. It only made things worse!"

"Aren't you with Heero?" Howard questioned. "You love him so much that you are willing to let him kill you to complete his mission."

"That is not true!" Relena rose from her seat. "You don't even know me! If you believe that I have feelings for a man like him, then you are the fool of this universe!"

The two were arguing as they heard noises around the factory.

"What's happening?" Relena asked, grabbing her pistol.

Soon, soldiers surrounded them; all had their guns pointing at them.

"Can I help you?" Howard greeted them coolly. He had no reason to panic, since Heero and Duo are away with their Gundams. Nothing they could prove.

One of them stepped up and looked at Relena. "His excellency wants to see you, Miss Relena. He had prepared tea and lemon cake."