Disclaimer: Same as before. Why do I even bother with these?

Chap. 17

Space Knight HQ, medical bay.

The monitoring device beeped in repeated monotones around the bed. Lying in the center was Heero Yuy. His arm was scorched and he was unconscious, but alive. Above in the monitor room, several doctor monitored his condition. Aki approached from behind.

"How is he?"

One of the doctors answered, "Stable, which is a miracle in itself. He shouldn't even been alive, much less in one piece. I think it may have something to do with his gundamium armor."

"Have you made an analysis of the armor?"

"Partially. But it's very unusual. We haven't dealt with this kind of technology before. It seems Radham, but there are definite signs of human engineering. But that just makes it more difficult, plus the fact that he just self-destructed. It'll take time to understand it, Chief."

Aki nodded, "Thank you. Please keep me updated." He survived self-destruction. What is capable of creating something like this?

_____

David walked toward the exit of the building when it opened from the outside. A girl with aquamarine eyes and golden hair walked in. David's eyes widened slightly. Whoa, who is that? The girl noticed him and walked to him.

"Hello. I'm looking for a Yumi Francious. Is she around?"

"Sorry. I'm afraid she's on probation." His eyes narrowed and then he suddenly recognized her. "Hey, you're Relena Dorlian, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Whoa, she's hotter in person. But then he remembered where he had heard the name and called his hormones down. "I'm sorry about what happened to your father."

Relena nodded and quickly changed the subject, "I was wondering if I could speak with the person in charge."

The charming, boyish grin appeared on his face, "That would be the Chief. She's in a meeting right now, but it shouldn't take long. If you want to, you could wait here. I'll let her know you're waiting."

Relena smiled, "Thank you. I will."

_____

"Yumi, do you realize how much danger you put us in. If OZ finds out, they will come here." Aki announced.

Yumi was stuck looking down at her feet, "I'm really sorry..."

Nearby, Natasha growled, "Sorry? You've got the whole OZ organization breathing down our necks now. And all you have to say for yourself is 'I'm sorry?'"

"He...needed help. I had to..."

"Chief. Relena Dorlian is here to see you."

As I thought. She returned. "We'll continue this later. Right now, go to your quarters."

"Yes Chief."

____________

"Here. She'll see you now."

Relena nodded, "Thank you for your help. I don't believe I gotten your name."

"David."

"Well, it was nice to meet you, David."

Relena entered and David flashed a grin again. And the Dave-man scores. Unfortunately, he was unaware of the several other figures entering the door behind him.

______

Relena entered the command room and sat before Aki, who was still stationed behind her desk.

"Are you the Chief?"

"Yes. Aki Kasuragi. Commander of the Space Knights. I've been expecting you."

Relena was stunned. Expecting me? "You were?"

"I'm believe this has something to do with the tekkaman that crash-landed on Earth with you."

Relena looked away a bit. True that was the reason she came before. But now, it didn't seem as important. And in truth, Relena wasn't sure.

"Well..."

"Chief, we also have some other visitors, from OZ. They demand to speak with you."

At the sound of OZ, Relena stiffened. However Aki spoke back into the comm.

"Send them in." They're early.

The doors opened and in walked Lady Une, flanked by three Specials soldiers. Aki gazed in her direction.

"Welcome to the Space Knight Command Center. I'm Aki Kasuragi, the commander in charge here."

Lady Une returned the glance coldly, "I well know who you are, Kasuragi. I'm here on an inspection."

"For what reason?" Aki matched her cold gaze with a steely one of her own.

"Aiding the gundams."

If the Chief was surprised, she gave no evidence of it, "I can assure you that the Space Knights have done no such a thing."

Une was about to argue back when she finally caught sight of Relena, "What is she doing here?" she said, somewhat angrily.

Aki kept her voice calm and steady. "Ms. Dorlian is visiting us the same as you. Now if you have nothing else to say, you should go now."

"Not so fast. You still are charged with aiding the gundam tekkamen.

What makes you say that?

Lady Une flashed a dangerous grin, "This." She handed one of the soldier a disc recorder to which he played on the monitor. It showed the event of Wing Tekaman's self-destruct and the pink beam of light that swiftly went through it. Zooming in, it was revealed to be Tekkaman Hiver, holding the darkened body of Wing. She ended the tape and barked her orders

"Search this entire base. Make sure no one enters or leaves."

Aki's expression hadn't changed one bit, but she arose from her seat, "I can't allow you to do that. We are not under your jurisdiction or command. You have no rights here and I will not tolerate a seizure."

Lady Une darted an eye in her direction, "Do you know who you are dealing with?"

Aki ignored the question, "The last thing you need is to make an enemy out of the Space Knights. We have enough problems with the Radham invasions. We have not accepted, wanted, or involved anything to do with the military, OZ or otherwise. We fight the Radham. But if you threaten that or us, that may change."

Lady Une's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Is that a threat?"

"Only if you take it as one. Beyond that, it is merely a suggestion."

By now, Lady Une was fuming, and a breath away from ordering her unit to seize the command center, by force if necessary.

Proceed with more elegance from now on.

Lady Une shut her eyes briefly. Master Trieze...wouldn't want that. There will be another way and time, Knight.

"Very well. I'll accept that for now." Her voice sharpened, "But I suggest you watch your step, Chief."

Aki simply nodded, "Good day, Col. Une."

Lady Une turned and walked out, but not before casting one last glance at Relena before leaving. Once she left, Aki returned her attention to her previous guest.

"So Ms. Dorlian, what really brings you back here?"

Relena held her gaze this time, but only in direction. Her mind was slightly dazed by what happened.

"Well, truthfully I'm not sure." She looked down again, "Things have changed since my father died."

"Yes, I heard about that. I am sorry."

Relena continued, "I though...maybe here..."

"You could find some answers."

The response came from a darkened corner from behind Aki. A male figure stepped out, wearing dark sunglasses. Relena focused her attention on the new figure.

"Who are you?"

Aki answered for him, "Relena Dorlian, this is D-Boy. The Commander of the Space Knights."

"D-Boy. Yes, Yumi told me about you. You were the... It was you, wasn't it?"

D-Boy simply nodded, knowing full well what she was talking about.

Relena continued, "You were the white tekkaman that saved my life. Why?"

"Come with me." he said with a quiet, yet powerful voice. Relena was uncertain and she looked over to Aki, who simply nodded and Relena stood up from her seat and followed the mysterious leader.

_________

The doctors continued to monitor Heero's vitals from the control room, but so far nothing had changed in his condition. However, they were unaware that the person in question was wide awake and slowly escaping his bonds...

_______

Outside, beach area…

Relena and D-Boy stood side by side near the water. Relena was looking down, whenever she wasn't catching glimpses of D-Boy, who was merely staring out into the sea silently. After a couple of minutes, he started.

"I guess I should start by telling you what had been going on. Several years ago, after the final major battle in the Radham, their leader was finally destroyed. A year after that, the remaining Radham were forced out of this system by the military. But the Radham left behind many unfinished tekkamen, primary bodies in the colonies and on Earth. When the military became oppressive toward them, some of them revolted. In time, they infiltrated the Earth Sphere and became known as OZ, or the Specials as you know them."

"That's just what Dr. J told me."

The name caught his interest, "Dr. J?"

Relena answered, "The man who sent Heero to Earth. He said that Heero was sent to stop OZ."

"Hmm. I see."  So there are more powers involved after all. "I wasn't sure who he or the others were, so I let them remain until I found out."

Relena was surprised by this new information, "Others? You mean there were others like Heero?"

D-Boy looked in her direction, his eyes hidden beneath the shades, "I'm not sure I should be telling you this, but perhaps it would be best if you knew. Yes, five all together, including him. They came here and hid among us fighting the Radham while crippling OZ at the same time. Then they left on a crucial mission, but failed. From there, they split up and are now continuing to fight, but it may be useless at this point."

So Heero is gone now. "Tell me something. If you knew about OZ all this time, why didn't you try to stop them?" A twinge of sorrow and anger began to surface briefly. "My father could have been saved."

"The Space Knights can't interfere with things like that. By the time we found out, it was far too late. OZ had been deeply entrenched into the Alliance so any move we would have made would had hurt many more innocent lives. And we are only to fight against the Radham, so we can not interfere openly."

Relena eyes went back to the sea. "I see."

"I'm sorry I could not be of any more help. But I suggest you be more careful from now on. Things are going to get more dangerous." He pulled out a device from his pocket. "Here, take this. You can contact us if you need our help."

Relena took the device and looked it over. It appeared to be a communicator. She looked back up at D-Boy.

"Why are you helping me?"

"Your father was one of the few people who cared about the Earth more than his own position and power. There weren't many like him in..." His head suddenly jerked up. Unseen by Relena, his Tekka-set shimmered on his forehead briefly. "You better go now."

_______

Inside

The medical staff was in a panic as Natasha looked down out through the glass of the medical room. Aki entered in from behind.

"What's the emergency?"

Natasha turned to her, "Chief. Heero has escaped."

Aki looked past her and out of the glass. The medical bed was empty, with a few blood stains on it.

"They didn't even know he was conscious. I'm going to go out and find him my..."

"No. Let him go."

"Chief?"

Aki continued to stare out, "It would be better for him to escape. We can't afford to confront OZ now and he has been trained to survive on his own."

Natasha was a bit surprised, but she accepted it.

"Yes, Chief."

__________

Relena walked alongside the beach toward her limo. Even though D-Boy answered some of her questions, she was still a little confused. Why must these things end up in violence? She entered the vehicle and Pagan drove away. However, both of them were unaware of the lingering figure that slipped into the trunk of the limo.

Heero manages to escape from the Space Knights. But with no current mission, he finds himself lost. To make matters worse, a group of Radham attack Relena's home. Heero goes to fight, unaware of the condition of his power. Next on Gundam Tekkaman: Time Limit