Ok, Ok. I want to get on with the chapter as much as you all do, so I'm gonna stop my stupid rambling and go on with the chapter. Happy reading!


Year: After colony 232

November 23

1:00 P.M.

Location: Colony cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89

"So what now?" Ayman asked, sitting on his knees and leaning over the back of his seat. Trevet sat beside him, head phones blaring. His sudden kindness toward the boy had disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. Tarak looked up to meet his eyes. Haru was asleep beside him, and across the isle, Yul was staring out the shuttle window into the deep void of space. Tarak shrugged.

"Dunno. I guess we have no choice but to go back to Commander Maxwell. Maybe he has another lead for us."

Ayman frowned but nodded assent. "Yeah. I guess." He punched the back of this seat in frustration. "Where did Haru put the gundams?" he asked switching topics in order to prevent himself from thinking about his father. The boy turned and glanced out his window, seeing that they had almost reached the colony. Tarak just shook his head.

"Not a clue. But I'm sure they're well hidden."

"Do you doubt it?" Haru asked, waking from his sleep as the shuttle pulled into the terminal of the colony. Tarak smiled.

"Not in a million years." He pulled his bags down from the overhead compartment, as well as passing Ayman's bags to him. Then he followed the other four out into the terminal. He waited as the rest debated getting a taxi. He honestly didn't care. He leaned against the wall, his bags beside him as they discussed. He shut his eyes, slowly drifting into a dreamless sleep. He felt a tug on his jacket. Opening his eyes, he peered at Ayman. "What?"

"We're gonna walk, ok?" Trevet called. Tarak sighed and nodded. He picked up his bags and slung them over his shoulder. They began walking towards the hotel. As they were walking a figure in black caught the corner of Tarak's eye, and then almost instantaneously disappeared into the crowd of holiday shoppers and others.

"I'll catch up to you guys. There's something I have to do," Tarak told them, and without waiting for an answer, he too disappeared into the population. He found the figure within minutes and followed him, moving just as fast as the figure did. They weaved in and out of people, getting strange looks, but no one seemed bothered by it. Finally, they turned down a dark and deserted alley. Tarak stood at the entrance, gazing around the dead end, trying to find the figure.

"I know you're here." Tarak called out into the darkness. Behind him a rat overturned a trash can, causing the young man to jump. He settled his nerves and peered around again. "What is it that you want from me?"

Suddenly, the figure landed directly in front of him after jumping from his hiding place on a fire escape ten feet above. The figure's cloak settled around him as he landed in a crouched position. He stood up slowly, his face hidden by a dark hood.

"You knew I'd follow?" Tarak asked with a smile on his face. The figure nodded slowly. "And you have information?" Again the figure nodded. "Why not just tell Commander Maxwell yourself?" Tarak questioned. The figure shook his head and slowly began to pull back his cloak hood.

"Because it would be difficult to explain to him how I received such information." The man pulled his hood back completely, meeting the younger man's green eyes with his own equally green eyes. Tarak smiled up at his father as 03 nodded towards him.

"And how do you expect me to give him the information without him questioning me, Dad?"

"You're a bright boy, Tarak." Trowa stated. "I'm sure you can develop something." Tarak just shook his head and smiled slightly.

"Alright. Alright. You win. So what do you have for m, this time?"

"And here I thought you'd never ask."

"You've been spending too much time following Commander Maxwell, dad. You're beginning to talk like him."

Trowa just stared at his son. He shook his head, his face remaining emotionless. "04 was kidnapped by someone he trusted, someone close to him; and they're somewhere on the colonies."

"And that's all you can tell me?"

"For now, that's all I know. But I have to go now before they realize I'm gone." Trowa pulled his hood back on. He clapped his son on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself and Ami. I'm counting on you." And with that, he disappeared under his cloak, up the fire escape and out of the alley, leaving Tarak to figure out a way to get the information to Duo without having to say he got it from his dad.


Year: After Colony 226

December 2

11:00 am

Location: Colony cluster L3; Colony 83GKY02

"Can I come?"

"No."

"Come on, please?"

"No." Tarak pulled his coat on, wrapping a scarf around his neck. "I'm going ice skating and you can't go." The thirteen-year-old pulled hung his ice skates over his shoulder and glared at his younger sister. The ten-year-old stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why not?" The brown haired, blue eyed girl asked following him from his room to the front door.

"Because, Sari, you're just not old enough." He walked out the door, closing it harshly behind him and began to walk across the front yard towards the fence and the street.

"Where are you going, young man?" a voice sounded from the kitchen window, stopping the teen before he had even gone five feet. Tarak winced as his mother's voice went through him. A blond woman with bright blue eyes came out towards him. He hair blew in the wind, and she shuddered a bit in the cold. But making sure her son was well dressed was more important.

"Mom, I'm fine."

She sighed in exasperation, but consented. "Very well; Have fun." Midii told him, hugging him around the shoulder. Tarak smiled at her and took off at a run. He kicked a bucket accidentally as he went, turning back and blushing at his clumsiness. "I swear Tarak, you look almost exactly like your father, but you're no where near as quiet."

Tarak just smiled. He should probably leave before she got any more sentimental. After all, dad had gone missing again. Tarak and Sari knew that their mother knew exactly where he had gone, but they also knew she wouldn't tell. "Bye mom!" he called back as he ran to the fence and jumped over it.

When he got to the other side, he slowed to a walk, judging he was safe from his mother and sister. He sighed and looked around, watching his breath for clouds in the cold winter of the colonies.

Suddenly, a biker sped in front of him, knocking him to the ground. The girl skidded in the snow and jumped off, running to him. He short blond hair hung down in her blue eyes as she stooped beside him. "I- I'm so sorry. You see, I was on my way to see a friend, and I wasn't thinking. Please, forgive me."

Tarak didn't look at her as he stood up and dusted off his pants, making sure all the snow flakes were no longer there. "Yeah, yeah. Just watch where you're goi-" Tarak said slowly looking up and meeting her eyes with his own. He had never seen anyone like her before.

"Is everything ok?" she asked, wondering why he was looking at her funny. "I mean you didn't break anything?"

"No. I mean, no I'm fine, thanks."

The girl wrinkled her nose and smiled. "Ok then. She held her hand out for him to shake. It was covered in a bright red mitten. In fact she was dressed in all bright pinks, reds, and purples, contrasting his forest greens, grays, and navy blues. "I'm Ami," she told him, her cheeks as pink as her hat.
"Tarak," he replied simply, holding her hand in his.


Year: After colony 232

November 24

3:00 pm

Location: Colony cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89

"Can I come?"

"No."

"Come on. Please?"

Whoa! Déjà vu! Tarak blinked back from his memory and stared into Trevet's violet eyes. The eighteen year old stood in front of him pouting, making the best puppy dog eyes he could.

"No."

"But she likes me."

"The definition of like is relative." Tarak informed him as he closed the door to their hotel room behind him. He began walking down the path toward town, well aware that Trevet was watching him, pouting from the window, trying to get Tarak to change his mind. The younger man was tired of sitting around with Yul and Ayman doing nothing in a colony where they didn't know anyone. Trevet turned around and sat down in a chair. His only hope for something interesting to do was gone. He knew it would have been useless to try and tag along with Haruko. He looked up at Yul and Ayman, and sighed as loud as he could.

"What do you want, Maxwell?" Yul said, glancing up from the paper he was reading.

"I want to do something." Trevet responded and rolled his eyes.

"Well, I'm going out for a walk. You're welcome to come, Trev." Ayman said pulling on his coat. Trevet looked about to refuse but then he saw that Yul had no intention of being entertainment. He sighed and went out with Ayman.

Tarak grinned and shook his head as he noticed Trevet leave with Ayman, headed in the opposite direction. He picked up his pace. As he passed an intersection, he noticed someone walking up the street on his left. He paused and waited for Haru to catch up to him.

"Going to see Ami?" Haru asked, rubbing his hands together as they walked to keep warm. Tarak nodded.

"Yeah, and Trevet begged to come."

Haru laughed a bit. "He did the same to me."

"Then I take it you're off to see Nikki?" Tarak asked, hands in his pockets. "Have anything special planned?"

Haru just grinned. He tossed a small black box up into the air and let it fall back down into his fingers. "Yep," he smiled as they stopped outside a building.

Tarak patted him on the back and smiled. "Well, good luck." Haru nodded and waved before starting off in his own direction. Tarak smiled and shook his head. He went into the apartment building, which was situated only a few blocks from the local college. He got on the elevator, and took it to the third floor. He took out his keys and unlocked the door. He laid his jacket on the couch, to show he was there, and went to the bedroom on the left. Tarak gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." a voice from inside reached his ear. He opened the door to find Ami standing beside a window wearing only a blue sheet from the bed. Tarak smiled and closed the door with one hand, taking his shoes off with the other, and moving his first hand to turn the lock.


Year: After colony 232

November 25

Location: ?

"What did we do to you?" Quatre was arguing with his captor once again, always about the same topic: the man's revenge. The captor stood beyond the lights touch.

No answer returned.

"I'm serious. We haven't done anything to you."

Still, no answer.

"Don't you see you've made a mistake."

Silence.

"You're one of us."

Quatre could hear footsteps approach him from the surrounding darkness. His captor stopped just outside the circle of light surrounding him. Quatre could see his feet.

"Don't ever classify me with you four." The man's voice hissed, making Quatre cringe. The blond man looked down at his own feet.

"But why?"

"Because Quatre, I'm ashamed." he captor said stepping slowly into the light and looking down on the other man. Quatre jumped and looked into a mangled and scared face. 04 winced. He had known who his captor was, yet he hadn't seen his face. He was surprised and frightened by the mutilations on such a familiar face.

"Heero? What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it." he said, stalking back into the darkness. Quatre heard the door close. He was once again alone with his thoughts.


And the plot thickens. Hehehe. I luff plot twists. Really I do. I just think that they're the best things in the entire world. I hope you all are in agreement and aren't planning to revolt against me? Anyway, I've already started chapter 7 and I'm liking the way it's beginning. So, please be sweet and review so I'll be motivated to finish it and post it for you all.