Author's Notes: Hey everyone, how's it going? Sorry this took so long, wound up putting a lot more into the chapter than I'd originally planned! Things will start to heat up moving forward, in more ways than one!

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen: No Need For A Knife In The Shadows!

December 26th, A.C 198

"Home, sweet home," Heero muttered as he opened the front door to the countryside safe house.

Never really considered myself the type of guy to say that about a particular residence, he mused as he and his companions went inside, I guess this place is starting to grow on me. I could definitely do worse…

Ayeka smiled. "Ah, there's simply no place like it! How wonderful it is to finally be back!"

Sasami stretched and yawned. "Would anyone mind if I just went right to bed? I'm so tired."

"Meow…" groaned Ryo-Ohki from her perch on Sasami's shoulder.

"Shuttle and jet-lag will do that to you," said Kiyone, "Go ahead, Sasami. I'm sure the rest of us will follow soon enough."

"Yup," said Mihoshi as she tried and failed to stifle a yawn, "I'm beat!"

"I'm off to the lab," said Washu as she brushed past the others, "I'll see you all at breakfast tomorrow."

"Good night, Doctor Washu," said Azaka.

"Please do not create anything new and terrifying tonight!" chirped Kamidake.

Washu chuckled. "No promises."

Ryoko rolled her eyes. "That figures. Just try not to burn the house down, okay?"

Washu folded her arms. "Is that any way for a girl to talk to her mother?"

"With you, I think it's a valid concern," Ryoko shot back, "We all know what kind of work you get up to in your lab!"

Heero decided to step in before things got out of hand. "That's enough, both of you. We've had a long trip, so I know everyone's nerves are a bit frayed. Washu… please hold off on any dangerous experiments just for tonight. I think we'll all sleep a little better if we're secure in the knowledge that the house will still be here in the morning."

Washu smirked. "All right, but on one condition. Care to guess what that is?"

Heero had a pretty good idea of what she wanted. "Please don't conduct any dangerous experiments tonight… Little Washu."

Washu grinned. "Aw, you're getting so good at this! You're so cute when you anticipate my needs like that, Heero! All right, I suppose I can go one night without conducting ground-breaking research, but only because you asked so nicely."

I am so glad that I didn't have to call her that in front of Duo at the party, Heero thought, I doubt he'd ever let me live something like that down…

As Washu disappeared into her lab, Sasami gave the group a smile before heading upstairs. "Good night, everyone! See you in the morning!"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

Mihoshi stumbled after her, apparently so tired that she could barely even walk straight now. "G'night…"

Now it was just Heero, Ryoko, Kiyone, Ayeka and her guardians in the hall. None of them were quite ready to hit the hay just yet, but the overall attitude was rather subdued and weary.

"Anyone care for some tea?" said Heero, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I could use a cup after all the flying we did earlier."

Ayeka nodded. "That sounds lovely."

Kiyone smiled. "I could go for some."

"Same here," said Ryoko.

"All right, then," Heero replied, "Just leave your bags in the hallway for now; we can take everything upstairs and unpack later."

While the others went to the living room to unwind, Heero went to the kitchen. Truth be told, he was grateful for the chance to have a little bit of space; he felt like he needed it. It wasn't that he was tired of his guests' company, but there was one of them in particular that had Heero's thoughts in a jumble ever since the night of Quatre's party.

Ryoko.

What am I going to do?

Perhaps that was the wrong question. It may not have been a matter of what as opposed to a matter of when he was going to do it. Heero had been completely honest with Ryoko on Christmas morning when he'd told her that if it was her who told him of her desire and not simply alcohol lowering her inhibitions that he was willing to reciprocate, but ever since then he'd been unable to shake this strange nervousness that had taken hold of his heart. He had started to feel apprehensive around her, almost jumpy, despite his fondness for her. As much as Heero cared for Ryoko, something between them had changed since his… well, he wasn't sure whether to call it a confession or declaration of intent.

So much of this situation was uncharted territory for him. Actually, all of it was. Heero knew that, despite his belief that he had a duty to be even and fair with all the girls under his care, his affection for Ryoko had clearly grown beyond that which he might show to the others. He suspected that Ryoko had picked up on that even before the party, but now that he had confirmed it to her he had no idea what he was supposed to do next. Could he simply act on his feelings now, or should he remain circumspect? If he followed his heart here, wouldn't he run the risk of alienating the others? If he did not act, he could lose the affection of Ryoko, and the thought of that was terrifying in a way that Heero had never felt before.

Heero Yuy, Gundam pilot and Preventers operative, one of the deadliest soldiers and assassins in the entire Earth Sphere…

…was afraid.

Not of an enemy. Not of a battlefield. Not of any sort of mission or physical threat.

He was afraid of the potential consequences of the desire that now gripped his heart.

Keep it together, he thought as he prepared the tea, You won't be doing anyone any favors by paralyzing yourself with doubt.

Unfortunately, his doubts were very much alive and waring with his heart's desire. It was a conflict between the emotions that he very much wanted to follow and the duty that he had to protect and look out for all the guests under his charge. If there was an answer to this dilemma, it was not an easy one for Heero to find. Unfortunately, Heero feared that he didn't have as much time as he might like to come to an appropriate conclusion; his actions Christmas morning had been an admission of affection to a woman who was inclined to follow her heart, and consequences be damned. If Heero wasn't able to reconcile desire and duty soon, it was very possible that Ryoko could force his hand.

"Sir Heero?" called Ayeka, "Is everything all right in there?"

"That tea's been boiling for a while now," said Kiyone.

"Need some help?" asked Ryoko.

Heero's eyes widened as he realized that the tea had indeed been steaming at a high pitch for quite some time; he'd gotten so wrapped up in his thoughts that he'd barely noticed it. He hastened to rectify the situation.

"Everything's fine," he said, "I'll be out in a second."

Pouring the tea and blowing the excess steam away, he brought it out to his guests. "You might want to give this a little time to cool."

Ayeka nodded. "Very well. Thank you, Sir Heero."

Ryoko smiled. "This smells good!"

"Indeed," said Kiyone, "I think this is just what's needed after such a long trip."

As the four of them enjoyed their tea, Heero idly picked up the remote and turned on the television. He didn't have anything particular that he felt like watching at the moment, so he decided to flip over to one of the major news networks that was based out of the capital; he knew that Ayeka in particular enjoyed their broadcasts, especially since they offered a window into important political affairs.

The current news update wasn't focused on anything involving Brussels, though, or at least not directly. On screen there was footage of a religious structure in flames, and as Heero studied the footer he saw that it was coming from North America.

"…and this marks the third synagogue bombing in as many months," said the anchorwoman, "A claim of responsibility was posted by the Order of Holy Aryan Knights just a few minutes ago. This same group has also claimed responsibility for the past two bombings. As of right now, the casualty count stands at 24 dead and at least twice as many wounded. We expect these numbers to rise in the coming hours and days."

Ayeka gasped. "How awful! What manner of savage beasts could commit such an atrocity?"

"I think she just named them," said Kiyone, her eyes narrowing, "The Order of Holy Aryan Knights…"

"What the hell's that supposed to be?" asked Ryoko, "Some band of religious wack-jobs?"

Heero sighed; he had a working knowledge of the group from a past operation. "Not quite. They use religious trappings to obscure what they really are; white supremacists. The use of the word 'Aryan' in their title is a dead giveaway. I thought we had these guys under control, but it seems they've regrouped and started a new campaign."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "You've dealt with these sickos before?"

Heero nodded. "I led a tactical raid that took out most of their upper hierarchy a while back, although the head of the group managed to slip through the net. I didn't think they'd rebuild and start a new round of attacks so quickly."

"I see," said Kiyone, "They look like a real piece of work."

Ayeka scowled at the television. "I would say that they're far more than that from the look of things. Vile beast! What could possibly drive them to bomb a temple full of people in the middle of peaceful worship?"

"Hatred and paranoia," Heero replied grimly, "They have both in abundance, and there are plenty of other groups out there that are just like them."

"You called them 'white supremacists'," said Kiyone, "Should that mean something to us?"

"Have you ever dealt with people who believe that they're superior to others base on nothing more than how they were born?" asked Heero.

Kiyone nodded. "I think I see what you're getting at. In the Galaxy Police, we've dealt with a few species-supremacist groups from time to time. Humans are the only sentient species that lives on Earth though, right?"

"That's correct," said Heero, "Groups like the Order of Holy Aryan Knights think that who they descend from, who they worship, and what color their skin is makes them better than others. It's not enough for them to simply have that kind of superior complex, though; they take it a step further by terrorizing those they consider beneath them. They're the dregs of humanity's ugly past. With the world united under a single government, the idea of race and racial superiority is beyond stupid; it's regressive to the point of being laughably primitive. Unfortunately, there are still those who not only believe in that nonsense but are willing to kill in the name of it."

"So who's gonna deal with them?" asked Ryoko, "Someone's got to take these assholes down."

Heero nodded. "Normally the ESUN would let the local security forces handle groups like this, but the fact that this is their third recent and high-profile bombing puts them back on Preventers' radar. When I dealt with them, we gathered all the intel we could before making a surgical strike in an attempt to decapitate the group in one fell swoop. Like I said before, it didn't quite work since their top leader got away. I imagine Director Une's going to set up another suppression operation, and given the body count they're stacking up I doubt she'll pull her punches this time."

It was at that moment that his phone rang. Checking the caller identification, Heero saw that it was Sally who was attempting to reach him.

A friendly check in, he thought as he glanced back and forth between his phone and the news broadcast, or something more?

"Sorry, but I need to take this," he said before standing up and heading outside.

The crisp winter air felt good on his face, but Heero didn't have time to really enjoy it at the moment. "Hello, Sally."

"Hello, Heero," she replied, "You and the girls make it home safely?"

"Why ask questions that you already know the answer to?" Heero quipped, "You and I both know that you can track me via my phone without calling me."

"True," Sally admitted, "but it's the thought that counts, don't you think?"

"I think that this isn't just a friendly check in," said Heero, "Social calls aren't your style when it comes to me."

Sally sighed. "Unfortunately, you're more right in this case than you may realize. Have you turned on the news today?"

Heero's eyes narrowed. "Is this about the synagogue bombing in North America?"

"Guess I've got my answer, then," said Sally, "You hit the nail right on the head. Lady Une's already drawing up plans for a mission to put the Order of Holy Aryan Nights in the ground once and for all."

"And you wouldn't be calling if those plans didn't involve me," said Heero firmly.

"That's right," said Sally, "Normally I'd want to give you a little more time to unwind; hell, I'd honestly prefer to leave you and the girls alone until the new year comes along. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury right now."

Heero nodded. "I understand. If the Director's bringing me in for a suppression operation, what's the plan as far as my guests are concerned? Will we be relocating?"

"No," Sally answered, "Based on your most recent reports, along with what I observed at the party, Lady Une and I both believe that the girls can be trusted to look after themselves while you're away on field operations. Of course, we still consider watching over them to be your primary mission, but I'm afraid that we can no longer afford to keep you out of the field. The Earth Sphere's simply too big, and hostile activity's growing at a rate that not even Wufei and our other seasoned operatives can handle on their own. We need to truly put the fear of the Grim Reaper into these scum, and that means we need you, Heero."

"When do I leave?" he asked.

"A briefing email should pop up on your end in a little while," said Sally, "A Preventers plane will be at the airfield tomorrow morning. We've been hunting the leader of the Order ever since he slipped through our fingers last time, and we'd actually just pinpointed their new base of operations when this attack took place. We're going to strike while the iron's hot, so be ready to head out at dawn."

"I'll make sure to rest up tonight," Heero replied.

"One more thing," said Sally, a dark edge creeping into her tone, "The mission's going to officially be categorized and sold to the public after the fact as a suppression and apprehension operation. The main strike force will be instructed to attempt to take the primary target alive, but to shoot to kill if they feel threatened. However, they're not going to be the ones taking the shot at the Order's leader. Director Une has already determined that you're the one that task will be given to, and she has a specific set of orders for you."

"What would that be?" asked Heero even as his gut told him that he already knew the answer.

Sally didn't disappoint him. "You're to isolate and execute him. We won't risk him slipping through our fingers again. He's spilled enough innocent blood already, and he will not be given the chance to put more lives at risk. Put him down like the rabid dog he is, Heero."

Heero nodded. "Roger that."

….

December 27th, A.C. 198

The snow was thick on the ground and still falling, but Heero wasn't bothered in the least by the cold or impeded by the powder. Clad in winter camouflage, he moved through the woods like a wraith; swift, silent, and ready to strike at a moment's notice. In addition to his pistol and knife, he was armed with an assault rifle that he had customized himself for just this sort of operation, with a suppressor for quiet kills, a specialized dot sight scope for longer range shooting, and alternate firing settings; semi-automatic and full auto. Right now, he had it set to semi-automatic to ensure greater accuracy and efficiency with his ammunition; if he had to go full-auto then it meant that something had gone very wrong.

Their encampment should be just over the next hill if the intel's right, he thought, I'm surprised I haven't encountered any foot patrols by now. Their perimeter security's a joke…

Aerial and satellite reconnaissance had picked up a large-scale encampment concealed in a forest nestled on the eastern flank North America's famous Rocky Mountains. Heero had actually parachuted in rather than take a helicopter like the main strike team had done; Lady Une and Sally had wanted to make sure that he slipped in ahead of the raiding force undetected in order to get a clean shot at his target. He was making good progress, but he knew that he had to pick up the pace. Once the main strike team was on scene it would only be a matter of time before stealth went out the window.

Pausing behind a tree, Heero pulled out his smart phone and brought up a picture of the face of his target. It was a tall man in his mid-forties with greying-black hair and blue eyes. He was well built, and in the picture he was carrying a military-style assault rifle. According to the intelligence file on him, the man didn't actually have any formal armed forces training, but Heero knew from firsthand experience that there were other means to develop one's skills in the art of war.

Assume nothing, Heero told himself, I know that bombings are Brigham Beauregard's method of choice for killing, but there's always the chance that he knows how to handle himself in a straight-up firefight. That's why I'm not going to give him the chance to defend himself.

He advanced forward again, and as he hit the crest of the hill he spotted a man nearby. Crouching in the shadow of another tree, Heero carefully studied the newcomer. They were wearing camouflage, but it was the wrong kind; a standard forest pattern rather than one tailored for winter conditions. They stuck out like a sore thumb, and the large badge on their upper left torso with a crimson cross on a gold field didn't exactly help. An assault rifle was slung over their shoulder, which Heero considered to be another sign of the amateurish nature of his foe; a professional on patrol duty would've had the gun in his hands and ready to fire at a moment's notice. The emblem on the badge was that of the Order of Holy Aryan Knights; Heero was on the right track.

It would be a simple matter to kill the man now, but Heero didn't need to. He had only one target for this mission, and taking out other members of the Order might serve to alert their leader that he was closing in. Heero didn't know if the group had regular check-in protocols set up for their sentries, so he couldn't risk taking the guard out. Fortunately, slipping past one man wasn't exactly a tall order.

If you need perimeter patrols, do it in pairs, Heero silently critiqued, Two men are more difficult to deal with than one, after all. There's a reason the 'buddy system' has withstood the test of time…

Advancing, Heero silently moved through cover and was past the sentry in a matter of moments. The man didn't even bother to look back, and upon closer inspection Heero saw why; a set of earbuds linked to a portable music player were in his ears, and the music was so loud that Heero could actually hear enough to make out the specific genre.

Aryan death metal, he thought, both amused and disgusted, How Neo-Nazis managed to create an entire musical sub-culture is beyond me… I suppose I should be thanking them in this case, though. This idiot wouldn't hear me coming if I walked right up to him without even trying to conceal my presence.

Moving up to a series of bushes overlooking the enemy's base of operations, Heero pulled out his binoculars to survey the area. Just like the satellite photos had shown, the Order had set up a decent-sized encampment, with several large military surplus tents spread out over a wide area. Heero counted at least three dozen men wandering about, and there was always the chance that more of them were inside the tents. An impromptu motor pool consisting of a dozen old UESA jeeps was set up on the east side of the encampment; the Order had managed to acquire an impressive amount of hardware since the last time Heero had dealt with them.

There was no sign of his target amongst the men wandering the encampment, which meant that he was probably inside one of the tents. Normally Heero would wait for the cover of darkness and then slip in to find and eliminate his prey, but he didn't have the luxury of that kind of time today. He would have to move in quickly if he wanted to take out the Order's leader before the main force arrived.

This should be interesting, he mused, I just hope that the girls are keeping out of trouble back home. I've got enough on my plate to deal with as it is…

….

The previous evening…

"Wait, you're going out on a mission?" asked Ryoko, still trying to process what she'd just heard.

Heero nodded. "Yes. I'm afraid the bombing you saw on the news has forced Preventers' hand. Sally and Director Une want me to take point on this one."

"So you'll be taking the fight to these monsters," said Ayeka with a smile, "How can we help?"

"There should be something that we can do," said Kiyone, "I know it's not Galaxy Police protocol to get involved in a world's internal affairs like this, but I'm willing to make an exception after what we just saw on the TV."

Ryoko nodded. "She's right, Heero. Let me tag along so I can rip these sons of bitches a new one!"

Heero shook his head. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but that's out of the question. The Director wants all of you to stay here. I shouldn't be gone more than a few days, and we have more than enough food and supplies here to last that time period."

Ayeka's eyes widened. "With all due respect, Sir Heero, do you honestly expect us to sit back idly while you put yourself in danger? I cannot abide that!"

"I'm coming with you!" said Ryoko, "If you're going after these guys then you're gonna need help!"

"I won't be working alone," said Heero, "Preventers will have a tactical team assigned to this mission. This is nothing that I haven't handled before."

"Perhaps," said Kiyone, "but you didn't have us here before, either. I've got training for missions like this, you know. At the very least, I could watch your back."

"And I can use my powers to shield you in combat," Ayeka persisted, "No enemy could so much as a lay a finger upon you if I were to fight by your side!"

"They wouldn't even get the chance to try if you took me along for the ride," said Ryoko, "I can wipe the floor with any terrorists your world has, Heero. Come on, let me come with you! You know what I can do in a fight!"

Heero shook his head; he'd have to put his foot down now if he wanted to keep things from getting out of hand. "No. I really am grateful for the offers of support, but this is not your fight. This is a Preventers concern, an internal affair that doesn't involve you. If any of you intervene it will only cause trouble for us down the road; we can't risk anyone seeing your abilities in combat and then reporting them to the public. You will all remain here while I am gone, and that is not up for debate."

"But… I cannot accept this!" Ayeka protested, "I cannot allow any harm to come to you!"

"You'll be more effective if you've got someone you know covering you," Kiyone pressed, "I can do that!"

"I can take them all down without breaking a sweat!" Ryoko argued, "I'm not going to give these bastards a chance to hurt you!"

"Enough," said Heero firmly, "This is my mission, and I will be the one to handle it. Ayeka, you're not in the Empire anymore; you're under Preventers jurisdiction. Ryoko, Kiyone, that goes for the two of you as well. You're under my observational custody, and it's my duty to keep you all safe and out of the public eye. I will complete this mission with resources that Preventers commits to it, and I will not put any of you at risk. This is my responsibility, not yours. Is that understood?"

Ayeka sighed. "If… if that is what you wish, Sir Heero."

Kiyone reluctantly nodded. "All right… if that's really the way it has to be."

Heero's gaze turned to the lovely pirate sitting next to him. "Ryoko?"

Ryoko grimaced, and to Heero it looked like it was taking every ounce of what little self-restraint she possessed to keep herself from exploding in anger. While he knew that her fury came from her desire to protect him, there were more important things at stake here than his personal safety.

If the world learns of her powers, her very existence, she'll be forced to leave, he thought, I… I can't have that. I can't just let go… not anymore. Not after what happened up in that colony.

It was an entirely selfish line of reasoning, but hadn't he earned the right to that just this once? Heero felt like he was on the precipice of something special with her, a new frontier that both terrified and excited him. He might not know what he ultimately intended to do with it, but he knew that he couldn't put it at risk. Of course, if he got himself killed in the line of duty then it would be a moot point, but Heero hadn't survived a world war and an insurrection just to be taken down by a bunch of white-supremacist nut jobs.

It was with no small amount of reluctance that Ryoko finally backed down, and even then Heero could tell that her desire to go with him hadn't completely abated. "Fine… just watch yourself, all right? Don't do anything stupid."

Heero nodded. "I'll be careful."

She suddenly grabbed his arm, and Heero was surprised by the intensity of her grip. "I mean it, Heero. If anything happens to you, then I'm going to cut loose on whatever's responsible for it, and nothing your world has will be able to stop me."

The raw passion in her amber eyes was a marvel to behold. No woman had ever looked at him like that before, and Heero was in awe of it. There was a smoldering fury in her gaze that could match the heat of a volcano, but anger wasn't all that was there; it warred with, or perhaps enhanced, a blazing desire that was more brilliant than the light of the sun itself.

It took every last bit of self-control Heero had to keep from kissing her right then and there.

….

The present day…

If any of them followed me here, it would've been Ryoko, he thought as he continued to survey the enemy encampment, I've seen no sign of her, though, so hopefully she listened to me.

As adamant as he had been about her and the others staying home, he had to admit that Ryoko's abilities in particular would definitely come in handy right about now. With her power to phase through solid objects it would be a simple matter for her to reconnoiter the encampment and find the Order's leader. She wasn't here, though, which meant Heero would have to find his target another way.

Flipping a switch on his binoculars, he adjusted the setting so that it was now set for thermal imaging. Sure enough, there were plenty of heat signatures coming from inside the tents. Narrowing down which one his target was in would not be easy.

If I were the leader of a pack of murderous fanatics, thought Heero, where would I be?

It actually didn't take him that long to find an answer. Based on his past experience, Heero knew that most terrorist leaders, regardless of ideology, tended to have a key characteristic in common; they were willing to send others out to die for the cause, but when it came to their own lives, they tended to have an escape plan. After all, the Order's leader had eluded Preventers once before, and Heero realized that if he focused on the most likely avenue of retreat available to the enemy his likelihood of finding his target would increase considerably.

The motor pool…

Heero shifted his gaze towards the tents that were closest to the assorted jeeps. That was when he noticed that one of the vehicles in particular was actually parked a slight distance away from the others…

…and it was right next to the rear entrance of a tent.

If Heero were a gambling man, he'd place his bet on that particular jeep being the leader's personal escape vehicle.

Which meant that it was quite likely that he'd find his target in that tent.

"Time to start the hunt," he murmured as he lowered his binoculars.

Once he spotted a clear path to his destination, he moved in, silent as a wraith…

…and ready to kill.

….

For what must've been the twentieth time that day, Ryoko slammed her fist against the coffee table. "Damn it, this sucks! Try another channel!"

Kiyone sighed. "We've flipped through every possible news channel at least four times in the past hour alone. None of them have had anything to say about Heero's mission. It's possible that Preventers may be trying to keep it off the radar."

Ayeka folded her arms. "There was nothing 'off the radar' about that bombing yesterday! The moment the leader of this 'Order' is dealt with should be major news. We must know when Sir Heero triumphs in his mission!"

"I just hope he's okay," said Sasami softly, "It sounds like these bad guys he's after are really dangerous."

"Why didn't he ask any of us for help?" asked Mihoshi, "He knows that we could back him up, right?"

Ryoko folded her arms and scowled. "It's because he's so damn stubborn! He needs to learn to use his head more!"

Off to the side she heard Washu chuckle. "Now there's the pot calling the kettle black."

"Shut up!" Ryoko snapped before glaring at the television again.

I hate this, she silently fumed, Heero, you'd better not get yourself hurt out there!

If she was angry, then it was anger born of worry. Mentally, it was easy enough to understand why Heero had told her and the others to stay behind. He was charged with looking after them, after all; it was his primary mission to keep them safe and out of the public eye. Ryoko could appreciate his protectiveness, but right now all it was doing was pissing her off.

If anyone needed protection, it was Heero. He couldn't surround himself with an energy field, fly or phase through walls. It didn't matter how skilled he was when it came to combat; it would only take one lucky shot to bring him down. That wasn't a chance that Ryoko was willing to take.

Especially not after what he'd told her up at the colony.

The fire within her, always smoldering even when she was at her calmest, had been absolutely blazing ever since Christmas morning. She'd hoped for who knew how long now that he'd developed feelings for her, and he had finally confirmed it. What Ryoko had wanted to do ever since they'd returned home was take him upstairs and rock his world like no other woman could, but things were never that simple when it came to Heero. She wasn't the most observant woman, but she wasn't blind, either; she could tell that it had taken a lot of work for Heero just to admit what he had to her, and there was clearly something that he was trying to settle with himself before he made a move. Ryoko didn't want to push him, but at the same time she knew that it would be impossible to hold herself back for long. All that pent-up desire had a target, and she wanted to cut loose sooner rather than later.

He just had to run off on some dangerous mission right after pushing my motor into high-gear, she thought in frustration, Heero, you might be one hell of a guy, but damn it if you don't know how to set a woman off! I know you didn't mean to, but that's not making this any easier!

"Hey, check it out!" cried Kiyone as the latest commercial ended and the broadcast returned, "I think this is it!"

"About damn time," Ryoko grumbled as she leaned forward.

"Quiet!" hissed Ayeka.

Normally Ryoko would've fired back with some harsh quip or another, but she didn't have time for that now. Her gaze was focused solely on the screen as the raven-haired anchorwoman addressed the camera.

"We have breaking news out of North America," she said, "Regarding the culprits behind yesterday's synagogue bombing, we now have confirmed reports that Preventers has not only raided the base of operations of the Order of Holy Aryan Knights, but have managed to take out the organization's top leadership and most of its foot soldiers. We now go live to Adam Ramirez, senior correspondent with our North American branch, who is at the scene of the raid."

A brown-haired man with tan skin and green eyes appeared on the screen. Behind him, Ryoko could see what looked like part of a large encampment. Security personnel in black tactical gear were all over the scene, but the man Ryoko was looking for was not among them.

"Where is he?" she muttered, "Where's Heero, damn it?'

"Calm yourself," Washu chided her, "We all want the answer to that question, but if we can't hear the broadcaster we won't get it."

Ryoko scowled but didn't say a word. She fixed her gaze on the correspondent as he delivered his report.

"According to statements from the men and women assigned to the Preventers strike team, roughly half of the senior leadership of the Order was killed in the raid," said Adam,
"The other half have been taken into custody, as have a considerable number of the organization's foot soldiers. While there has been no official statement yet regarding the Order's top leader, Brigham Beauregard, security personnel speaking off the record have confirmed that he is dead. However, the manner of his death appears to be at odds with the methods typically employed by Preventers tactical teams."

"What do you mean by that, Adam?" asked the anchorwoman.

"Well, Courtney, this is where things take a turn for the strange," Adam replied, "According to the people I've spoken with here, it appears that Beauregard was killed just minutes before the strike team arrived. From what they've observed, it appears that someone took him and his chief bodyguard by surprise and slit their throats."

Mihoshi shuddered. "Creepy!"

Sasami's hand reflexively went to her neck. "Yeah… I really don't want to know what that feels like."

"Meow…" murmured Ryo-Ohki.

The anchorwoman's eyes widened. "You said someone slit their throats? Are we hearing you correctly, Adam?"

The correspondent nodded. "Believe me, Courtney, I'm just as surprised as you. None of the Preventers personnel on the ground have claimed credit, so we have no idea who executed the Order's leader or why they did so in such a manner. An official press briefing has been announced, so it's possible that what's revealed there will shed further light on how Brigham Beauregard met his end."

Washu chuckled. "Not likely."

Ayeka raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Rather than answer directly, Washu simply nodded at the television as the anchorwoman spoke again. "We'll eagerly await that briefing, then. In the meantime, are there any reports of casualties outside of those suffered by the Order?"

Adam shook his head. "According to personnel on the ground, it appears that the Preventers strike team suffered no casualties. This was a complete sweep for the government's security forces."

Kiyone sighed with relief. "That's good to hear."

Ryoko allowed herself to breathe a little easier. "Yeah. As long as Heero's safe, that's all that matters."

"Why aren't they showing him on the broadcast?" asked Mihoshi, "He was in charge of taking down the bad guys here, right? He should be getting recognized for that!"

"That's true," said Ayeka, leaning forward, "It is odd, now that you mention it."

Washu smirked. "None of you have put it together yet, huh? Why am I not surprised?"

"What do you mean, Washu?" asked Sasami.

"Cut to the chase already," said Ryoko, "What do you know that we don't?"

"Quite a bit," Washu replied, "In this case, though, it's not a matter of knowing so much as making an educated guess."

"So what's your guess, then?" asked Kiyone, "Come on, Washu; spit it out already."

Washu sighed. "Well, if the rest of you are too lazy to try to figure it out for yourselves, then I guess I have no choice. Strikes from Preventers teams like this may kill targets, but normally they at least make an attempt to take the enemy alive, both for purposes of interrogation and to make them stand trial for their crimes. However, in this case it would seem that the Order's leader was never given a chance to surrender. More importantly, they said he was killed before the strike team arrived. Why do you think that is?"

Ayeka shook her head. "I don't know… it doesn't make any sense."

Washu's eyes narrowed. "Is that so? Or is it that you simply don't want to accept the obvious conclusion?"

"What are you talking about, Washu?" asked Mihoshi.

"Think about it," Washu replied, "The broadcaster said that the manner in which the Order's leader met his demise is not the way that a Preventers strike team would usually kill a target. Most likely, the team would've shot the leader had he resisted, but that wasn't how he died. His throat was slit, which is a much quieter form of killing than gunfire. Someone slipped into the encampment before the raid and assassinated him. That would've taken a considerable level of skill, something that only a trained and experienced operative would possess. Now, tell me; who do we know that meets those qualifications?"

"Heero…" said Ryoko softly.

Kiyone nodded. "That makes sense. He did say that Sally and Director Une wanted him to take point on this one. I thought that just meant he'd be leading the strike team, though…"

"Now hold on just a moment!" Ayeka protested, "Sir Heero is a soldier, not an assassin! Striking down a terrorist may be his mission, but to do it like this…"

"Was his mission," Washu coldly answered, "Don't you get it? Preventers never had any intention of taking the Order's leader alive so he could stand trial for his crimes. He had already slipped through their fingers once, so they weren't about to risk that happening again. They wanted to put him down for good, so they unleashed their deadliest weapon do to it; the man that's been watching over us this whole time."

"Heero's not a weapon!" cried Sasami, "He's a person!"

Mihoshi nodded. "Sasami's right! He's been so nice to us since we all came here! How can his bosses treat him like he's just a weapon?"

"I'm sure Sally and Director Une don't see him that way," said Kiyone.

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "Maybe, but I bet others do. Governments are like that; they see people as tools to use however they want. That's why I hate them."

"But the government of Sir Heero's world is devoted to peace!" cried Ayeka, "They've even dismantled the military of the old regime!"

"Indeed," Washu replied, "and that means that they have to keep the peace by operating in the shadows now rather than the open. Why do you think that Heero was the one they entrusted with watching over us? It's because they trust his discretion and judgment. He knows how to keep a low profile and accomplish his mission; he's been doing it for years."

They've been using him for years, thought Ryoko grimly, Heero's the guy that they have take care of all their dirty work. Damn it, that's not right! He deserves better than that!

Sasami looked back and forth nervously between Washu and the television. "But… Heero's still a good guy, right? I mean, he's been so kind to all of us. He's done so much for us since we all arrived here!"

"Yeah!" cried Mihoshi, "He's taken care of us this whole time, and he's been so patient even when I mess something up!"

Washu smiled. "I'm not saying that he's a bad guy. Far from it, in fact; he's as good a guy as you all think he is. It's just that the way his superiors have him keep the peace in this world is different than what you may be used to in the Empire."

Ayeka shook her head. "Even so, this… this isn't right. I understand the need to take out the enemy, especially after what happened yesterday, but… this isn't like Sir Heero at all! He's noble… honorable… he's not just some knife in the shadows for Preventers to plunge into someone's back!"

"He can be honorable and noble even when working in the shadows," Washu countered, "This isn't a world of gallant knights fighting evil out in the open, Ayeka."

Kiyone nodded. "I bet the government won't tell anyone what Heero did here today, and I'm sure this isn't the first time, either. Still, that doesn't change the fact that his mission saved lives. Thanks to him, the leader of this so-called Order won't be able to hurt innocent people ever again. The dead can rest easy, and living will be safe, all thanks to Heero."

Ryoko sighed. "But he won't get any credit for it. None of them will know what he did to keep them safe… what he has to put himself through. His own government isn't willing to acknowledge him. Look at the news broadcast. They act like he doesn't even exist!"

"And that's the way Preventers wants it," said Washu, "I'm willing to bet that's the way Heero wants it, too. You know him; he's not the type to seek out fame and recognition for himself."

No, thought Ryoko, he's not. Not even when he deserves it.

Ayeka stood up, looking at the screen like she'd been slapped in the face. "I… I think I need a little fresh air."

Washu shrugged as Ayeka left the room. "Well, I suppose that could've gone worse."

"I'll go make sure she's okay," said Sasami before taking off after her.

"How about you, Mihoshi?" asked Kiyone, "I know this isn't exactly how we pictured Heero before, but he's still the same guy that we've known this whole time."

Mihoshi nodded. "I know. I just need a little time to think about it all, I guess."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed as she looked at Washu. The way that she had been talking about all of this was enough to set off alarm bells in her head; her 'mother' knew far more about Heero's line of work than she was letting on.

Of course, it didn't take Washu long to notice Ryoko's gaze on her. "Something on your mind?"

"You could say that," Ryoko replied, "You knew from the beginning that Heero's mission would play out like this, didn't you?"

"I had my suspicions," said Washu, "The leader of this 'Order' didn't seem like the type of threat that Preventers wanted to let slip through their fingers twice. Given Heero's standing within the Preventers organization combined with the fact that he was assigned to this mission, and it was easy enough to predict how it would go down."

Ryoko folded her arms. "What do you mean by 'his standing' with Preventers? You're hiding something from the rest of us, aren't you? You found out something about Heero and you're keeping us in the dark!"

Washu stood up and headed for her lab. "I have work to do."

"Washu, Ryoko's right," said Kiyone as she glared at the mad scientist, "I know when someone's keeping something important hidden. What information have you uncovered?"

"Tell us!" chirped Mihoshi.

"You're out of your jurisdiction, officers," Washu shot back, "Any interrogations around here are under Heero's purview, not yours. I don't have to tell you anything that I don't want to."

"Washu!" growled Ryoko before grabbing her by the arm, "I'm not letting you off the hook that easily!"

Washu glared at her, and Ryoko froze. She'd never seen a look like that in her mother's eyes before. It was cold, harsh, and downright menacing.

"Let go," she said, calmly but with a firm steel edge in her tone, "or I'll do far worse than turn you into a frog this time."

Ryoko instinctively recoiled. Was that really the same crazy Washu they all knew and tolerated looking back at her? It was hard to reconcile the eccentric mad scientist with the icy woman that was staring her down.

This is giving me the creeps…

She was left standing in place as Washu withdrew into the lab. There wasn't a doubt in Ryoko's mind now that the half-baked inventor and exiled genius was withholding valuable information, but how to pry it from her was another matter entirely. Sighing in defeat, Ryoko returned to the couch.

Heero, she thought as she looked at the television, I know you've only been gone for a day, but you'd better get back here soon.

I think we're starting to go crazy around here…

….

Ayeka sighed as she sat down outside and watched the snow fall. "I don't know what to make of this…"

The whole time that she had lived under Heero's roof, there had never been a doubt in her mind that he was a decent, kind, and noble man. Sure, the fact that he had played a key role in an insurrection against the regime that had once ruled the Earth Sphere had taken her by surprise, but gradually she was beginning to reconcile that with his status as a peacekeeper in the current government. It hadn't been an easy process, and in fact it was still ongoing, but Ayeka felt that she had made great strides in coming to understand just what kind of person her guardian was.

And now it had all been thrown right out the window.

While she had feared for Heero's safety, Ayeka had been proud that Preventers had chosen Heero to be the one to lead the effort to take down the leader of the group that had been responsible for the monstrous synagogue bombing the day before. It completely fit with the image that she had of him as a righteous peacekeeper, a man determined to protect the world that he called home and bring down the hammer of justice upon those who would wreak such horror and devastation. It was only now, though, that she realized that the manner in which Heero kept the peace did not necessarily fit with the impression she had of him. She had imagined him as a noble soldier fighting the evils of the world head-on, but what just been shown on the news broadcast… well, there was no way for Ayeka to sugarcoat it.

It was a straight-up assassination.

That man deserved to die, thought Ayeka, I would've ordered his death myself were it within my power, but still… did it have to be like that?

For a criminal to perish in a fight with law enforcement was something that Ayeka understood. The ideal course of action was naturally to attempt to capture fugitives so that they might face the justice of the Imperial courts, but the princess knew that sometimes targets would decide to fight to the death rather than let themselves be held accountable for their crimes before the eyes of the law. It was hardly unheard of for notorious criminals to perish in foolhardy engagements with either the forces of the Empire or the Galaxy Police, but even then, the targets were still given the chance to surrender peacefully. Ayeka had been under the impression that Heero would be operating under the same principle when it came to this revolting 'Order' and its leader.

It had never crossed her mind that Heero might simply kill the terrorist from the get-go.

Ayeka shook her head. Why was she questioning Heero's methods when his target was such a despicable individual? The victims of the Order had hardly been given a fair chance; they had been murdered in the middle of peaceful worship. Their killer had earned a death sentence several times over; the courts of the Empire of Jurai most certainly would've ordered his execution for such a heinous act.

So why did it bother her so much that Heero had taken on the role of executioner himself?

That may be the wrong way to look at it, she thought, I don't know where Washu got her information, but she seemed quite certain that Preventers intended for Sir Heero to kill the leader of this 'Order' right from the start. Sir Heero may not have chosen to be the instrument of execution; he may have been commanded to carry out that sentence.

If that were the case, wouldn't that just make him a soldier following orders from his superiors? That idea should've been more palpable to Ayeka than the notion of Heero being nothing more than an assassin, but under these circumstances it felt like a distinction without a real difference. After all, assassins could kill under government orders just as well as soldiers.

Had she been living under the roof of a state-sanctioned hitman this entire time?

No. There had to be more to it than that. Heero's dedication to keeping the peace in the Earth Sphere seemed to be quite genuine. In all the time Ayeka had spent with him, he had never given her reason to doubt that his actions were in keeping with his mission to protect innocent lives and preserve stability. He wasn't just some cold-blooded killer; she had witnessed firsthand his kindness and nobility.

"None of this makes any sense," she said softly, "Sir Heero… I do not understand… who are you?"

"Ayeka?" said a nervous voice from behind her, "Are you okay?"

She forced a smile as she turned around to answer her little sister. "Oh, yes, Sasami. I'm just… processing everything, I suppose."

Sasami nodded as she came out to sit next to her. "Right. I'm glad Heero's all right. The news lady would've said something if he'd been hurt, right?"

"Yes, I'm sure she would've," Ayeka replied, "I'm quite relieved that he seems to have completed his mission successfully."

"Yeah…" said Sasami softly, and Ayeka could tell that she was bothered by what the two of them had just seen.

If this matter is troubling me so, then I can only imagine how she must feel about it all, Ayeka thought, Mother and Father would know what to do here, but I…

There was a tense silence for a moment before her younger sister spoke again. "Ayeka… Heero didn't do something bad… did he?"

Ayeka shook her head, although the gesture was more forceful than she'd intended. "No… he did his duty. He delivered justice and protected his world… just like he's supposed to."

Was she trying to convince Sasami of that, or herself?

She couldn't figure out the answer.

….

Washu sighed as she sat down in her lab. "What the hell got into me back there? That wasn't like me at all…"

Truth be told, she had felt a little on edge ever since she'd learned that Heero would be going back out into the field. She hadn't expected his first operation to come as quickly as it had, and as a result the gear she'd been planning on developing for him wasn't anywhere near ready. She might've been the galaxy's greatest genius, but even she required time to work her magic.

She shook her head as she looked up at the screen. It wasn't the lack of time to properly develop equipment for Heero's mission that bothered her.

It was the fact that he was being used as nothing more than a living weapon when he had the potential to be so much more.

Those idiots at Preventers have no idea what they have with him, she thought, and if they keep throwing him against the petty threats that this world has to offer, he'll waste away out here.

Squandered potential infuriated her, but there was more to her bad mood than that. From everything that she had read in Heero's file, Washu knew that the time he had spent with her and the others away from field operations had done him a world of good. Even if keeping an eye on all of them was by no means an easy job, Washu could tell that having that as his mission rather than being sent out to kill targets had given him space for peace and rejuvenation that he had desperately needed, whether he would admit it or not.

Now that would be taken away from him. It wouldn't be all at once, of course; Washu knew better than any of her companions just how tough Heero was. Over time, though, the operations would take their toll. Bit by bit, the light that had been growing within him since his time with them had begun would be lost to darkness.

How much of his soul would be left when the time came to fulfill his destiny?

He needs to get out of here, she thought, Earth doesn't deserve him. His place isn't on this backwater world. It's out there, in the wider galaxy. Being used for black ops on this planet is going to drain the life from him. If he could just be convinced to leave this planet, to go to Jurai and discover who he really is, who he was born to be, then that fate could be averted. Of course, that's a case of easier said than done; Heero's as stubborn as they come.

Her eyes narrowed, and a moment later she stood up. Grabbing a coat, she swiftly strode out the door.

She needed to have a word with an old friend.

….

Setting his cup of tea down for a moment, the priest's brow furrowed as he carefully considered all that Washu had told him. "I see… I must confess, the situation is unfortunate. If he's drawn further down this path, then it will not bode well for him long-term."

Washu nodded. "Nice to know that you and I are on the same page here, then. We need to find a way to get him to alter course before it's too late."

"And how exactly do you propose we do that?" asked Yosho, "He is a member of Preventers, and he is doing his duty to keep the peace in this world. That is also why he is still looking after the others, correct? He strikes me as the type of young man that is quite dedicated to his mission, whatever the costs to him personally might be."

"Keeping the peace is all well and good," said Washu, "but there are plenty of other people qualified to handle that on this planet. You and I both know that he's meant for more than this, and yet apart from your sparring matches with him you've done nothing about it. Isn't it about damn time you started accepting responsibility and acted accordingly?"

The priest raised an eyebrow. "Accept responsibility? You know, that is rather rich coming from you."

Washu folded her arms. "Don't change the subject, pal. We're talking about your screw-ups right now, not mine, and you've got a pretty big one on your plate."

"Do you think that I did not try to find him before now?" asked Yosho, "Do not forget that you've been slumbering for centuries, Washu. This world may be far removed from the beating heart of galactic civilization, but it has seen more than its fair share of devastation and turmoil. Tracking him down in the midst of a conflict spanning both the planet and the orbital colonies would've been a rather tall order, especially since I knew so little about him."

"You knew he existed, though," Washu pointed out, "You knew that he was out there, just like I'll bet anything that you knew what kind of power he could potentially unleash. If that had somehow been awakened during the war, it could very easily have gotten out of control, and you would've been the only person on the planet capable of restraining it. You know the strength that lies in that bloodline; you're part of it, for crying out loud!

"You forget that the last time we met, I was in my prime," Yosho replied, "I've done what I can to maintain my skills, but I'm afraid my strength has waned over the centuries. I'm getting too old to go running off into warzones."

"Even if one of the combatants was your grandson?" Washu pressed, "What happened to the man who used to value family so highly? The Yosho that I knew would've charged into the heart of the deadliest battles for the sake of a family member! Don't tell me that you lost your spine when your hair started to go grey!"

Yosho sighed. "The only time I saw him before was when my daughter sent me a picture of him. He was a child back then, and he disappeared completely when my daughter and her husband died. It must've been his biological father that picked him up; from what little I learned of him, going off the grid with a young boy in tow would've been easy for him. It was not until he turned up at my shrine months ago that I realized it was him. Even then, it took some time for me to truly believe it."

Washu's eyes narrowed. "I hacked a copy of his file from Preventers' database while I was in the capital. He went through utter hell in the colonial rebellion, you know. Knowing that he still had family out there might've made bearing it a little easier."

Yosho closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again Washu could see genuine regret within them. "I know. I could tell that first time we sparred that the war had left its mark on him. He is deeply scarred… and the shadow haunts his soul."

Washu nodded. "More than you know. There's still time to keep him from being swallowed whole by the darkness, but it's not infinite. He needs to be shown that there's another path… and not just for his sake. You and I both know what's out there. If there's gonna be an ace in the hole for us to play against them, it's him."

Yosho's brow furrowed. "I'd hate to use him in such a matter, but we may not have a choice. After all… they are the reason why I wound up stranded on this world in the first place."

"I thought as much," said Washu, "I did what I could to buy us all some time before my exile, but my countermeasures won't hold forever. You know just as well as I do how cunning they are, especially him. They'll bide their time, but not indefinitely."

Yosho nodded. "I suppose it is time for the two of us to get back in the game. We've been out of it for a long time now; I hope we haven't grown too rusty."

"First thing's first," said Washu as she stood up, "We find a way to save your grandson's soul before it's too late. Without him, it all goes to hell in a handbasket."

"Agreed," Yosho replied, "Let me know when he returns from his mission. I don't think it's time to reveal myself yet, but I suppose I can begin nudging him in the right direction."

Washu smiled. "Well, I guess we gotta start somewhere. Catch you later, Yosho."

….

December 28th, A.C. 198

Normally the sight of the countryside safe house would be a relief to Heero, especially after returning from a field operation. As he walked up to the front door, though, the young man only felt a sense of apprehension.

I know our raid made the news, he thought, Preventers was able to conceal my specific role in the operation, but word about how the Order's leader died still got out. My name didn't get released to the press, but still… the girls are smart enough to read between the lines.

He'd been dreading this moment for quite some time now. As much of a handful as they could be, Heero had genuinely enjoyed his role as watchful guardian for his guests from beyond the solar system. Over that time period, he knew that they had each built up their own impression of him, and while he hadn't lied to them about his duties as a Preventers operative, he had omitted a few key details as well.

Specifically, the fact that one of his duties was to more-or-less act as a government-sanctioned assassin.

He realized that his hand was hovering over the doorknob. It wasn't like he could put this off. This was where he lived now, after all, and watching over the girls was still his primary mission.

But did they still want him to watch over them after what he had done?

There was only one way to find out.

"Here we go," he muttered as he opened the front door.

He'd barely set a foot inside the house when Ryoko came barreling down the hallway and flung herself at him. "Heero! You're back!"

Heero hadn't been sure what to expect, but the fierce embrace she took him into certainly hadn't been at the top of the list. He wouldn't complain, though; there were far worse ways for her to greet him under the circumstances, after all.

"Ryoko," he said after a moment, "Are you… okay?"

Her response was just as surprising as her earlier embrace; a slap right across the face. "Am I okay? You idiot! Do you know how it felt to be stuck here while you were risking your neck? I was worried sick about you!"

What struck Heero far more than the slap was the fact that he could tell that she really meant it. There were no doubts hidden in her gaze, nor any sign of harsh judgment for what he had done.

She was only concerned for his safety.

Did she really not know what he had done?

Or was she fully aware and simply didn't care?

If Heero had to place a bet, it would be on the latter.

At least, that's what he desperately wanted it to be.

"Sorry," he said softly, "I… didn't mean to cause you concern."

He was relieved to see her smile. "Well, you're safe now, and that's what counts. Good to have you back, Heero."

"Heero!" cried Sasami as she came rushing forward, "You're okay!"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki as she came bouncing up the hall behind Sasami.

Ryoko slipped aside and let Sasami have her turn to hug Heero. He was surprised at the younger princess's enthusiasm, but Heero certainly wasn't about to turn her away.

"It's good to see you, Sasami," he said, "I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine."

Sasami smiled as she let him go. "Good. You must be hungry. It's almost dinner time, so let me handle the cooking tonight, all right?"

Heero nodded. "Thanks. I can't wait to try whatever you make."

She was still smiling, but there was something about the look in her eyes that caught Heero's attention. Her relief at seeing him in one piece seemed genuine, but he also detected concern of a different sort. Heero had a feeling he knew what the source of it was.

The others are at least grown up enough to understand the concept of assassinating a terrorist, he thought, Sasami, though… how would she process something like that?

As Sasami ran off to make dinner with Ryo-Ohki hot on her heels, Kiyone and Mihoshi came into the hallway. The two Galaxy Police officers smiled when they saw him, and while they did seem pleased to see him safe there was also a hint of wariness about them. Heero couldn't blame them; with backgrounds in law enforcement, the two of them had more than enough knowledge and experience to read between the lines of whatever news broadcasts had come out following the raid on the Order.

"Welcome back, Heero," said Kiyone.

"You're not hurt, are you?" chirped Mihoshi.

Heero shook his head. "Not a scratch. Did anything happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing important," Kiyone replied, "It was pretty quiet around here."

"Except for everyone pacing everywhere," said Mihoshi, "We were really worried about you, Heero! Well… we still are."

"Your mission," said Kiyone nervously, "It was… successful, right?"

Heero nodded. "Yes. It went exactly as planned."

Kiyone's eyes narrowed. "Exactly as planned… I see."

Ryoko stepped forward, scowling at Kiyone. "Hey, you got a problem? You're a cop, right? I thought you of all people would be behind Heero after he took down that scumbag."

"I am," Kiyone replied firmly, "but that doesn't mean I can't have… reservations."

Heero held out his hand. "Ryoko, it's all right. She's well within her right to have mixed feelings. After all, it's not like I conducted the operation with the intention of arresting my target like a police officer normally would."

"So it was a hit-job," said Kiyone, "Not that the bastard didn't deserve it, but still…"

"Did it have to be that way, Heero?" asked Mihoshi.

"Are you upset that Preventers planned such an operation, or that I was the one that carried it out?" asked Heero pointedly.

Mihoshi looked down. "Well, no, but… I thought you were like… well, like Kiyone and I."

"To a certain extent, I am," Heero replied, "However, there are key differences in our roles. It's all right if mine isn't easy to reconcile; believe me, I won't hold it against you."

Both may be police officers, but of the two of them, Kiyone's by far the most mature, he thought, I don't know if Mihoshi will be as open-minded as her…

He was relieved to see her smile a moment later. "Well, you still take down bad guys, and you made sure that he couldn't hurt anymore people, right? I guess you still are like us, Heero. Either way, I'm glad you're back."

Kiyone nodded. "Same here."

"Likewise," said Washu as she stepped into the hallway, "Welcome back, Heero."

She was smiling like the others, but there was something about the way she was regarding him that put Heero on edge. He could feel her evaluating him, but what exactly was she looking for?

"Washu," said Heero, "Thanks for not blowing up the house while I was gone."

The resident mad scientist chuckled. "Well, I suppose I owed you at least that much considering that you've been such a good host. I can't make any promises for the future, though."

"Of course," said Heero dryly.

She took a step closer and leaned forward, peering intently into his eyes. Heero could feel the hairs on the back of his neck bristle at the scrutiny. Just what in the world was she trying to find in him?

"Heero," she said after a moment, "I want you to come by the lab later, all right?"

"What for?" asked Ryoko, her eyes narrowing.

"Just an examination," Washu replied, "If he's going to be heading out on field assignments on a regular basis, then I want to make sure he doesn't get himself hurt and then try to hide it from the rest of us. Face it, Heero; that's exactly the kind of thing you'd do just to keep us from worrying about you."

Heero suspected that there was more to what Washu wanted than just a medical examination, but he kept that to himself; there was no sense in arguing with her over something like this. "All right."

Washu smiled. "Good. I'll see you later, then."

As she returned to the lab while Kiyone and Mihoshi went off to the living room, Heero realized that there was someone he hadn't seen yet. "Where's Ayeka?"

Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Upstairs, probably. She's been acting strange for the past day. Don't know what's up with her."

Heero had a hunch that he knew what was bothering her. "I'd better go talk to her."

Ryoko put her arm around him. "Hey, you just got back; you don't need to bother yourself with a gloomy princess. You should just kick back and relax with me!"

That was when a familiar female voice came from the staircase. "Sir Heero? Is that really you?"

Ayeka entered the hallway a moment later, followed by Azaka and Kamidake. There was a nervousness about her that Heero wasn't used to. Something was definitely on her mind, and Heero was pretty sure that it had to do with his mission.

She stepped forward, and the cautious manner in which she approached him stung more than Heero thought it would. Did she consider him a threat now? Had he lost her trust because of how he had conducted his operation the day before?

Was she the first of the girls that he had lost because of who he really was?

Ryoko slipped off to the side as Ayeka approached; rivalry aside, the pirate seemed to have at least enough regard for the princess to know that now wasn't the time to pick a fight. When she was right in front of him she tentatively reached out her arm and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"You weren't harmed at all… were you?" she asked quietly.

Heero shook his head. "I'm not hurt, Ayeka. I appreciate your concern, though."

That was when she flung herself forward and embraced him as hard as her sister and Ryoko had earlier. "Oh, thank Tsunami! Sir Heero… I'm so glad you've come back safely! I was so worried about you, and I… I'm ashamed to say that I doubted you. Please, forgive me!"

Heero shook his head as he held her. "Ayeka, there's nothing for you to apologize for."

"You're wrong!" she cried, "What I thought of you when I saw the news… you did not deserve that! I'm so sorry!"

Heero did his best to reassure her, but he felt out of his depth here. "Ayeka, it's all right, really. I'd understand completely if you had misgivings about how I accomplished my mission."

Taking a step back, Ayeka smiled as she met his gaze. "Perhaps, but… seeing you here, now… my misgivings don't change the fact that you're a good man, one that I'm greatly indebted to. You… you're still the Sir Heero that I've known all this time… you haven't changed. I… I suppose I just didn't try hard enough to understand you. I still have much to learn… there's so much that I don't understand about what you do. Still… I want to try."

Heero nodded. "It sounds like you've got a lot on your mind. We can talk about it later, if you want."

"I'd like that very much, Sir Heero," she replied.

"Welcome back, Heero," said Azaka.

"It's good to see you safe and sound!" chirped Kamidake.

"Glad to see you two are still in one piece," said Heero, "Washu didn't try out any modifications on you while I was gone, did she?"

"Thank Tsunami, she did not," said Azaka.

"She seemed to confine herself to her lab most of the time," said Kamidake.

Ryoko shrugged. "What else is new?"

"As long as everyone's all right, that's all that really matters," said Heero.

He felt as if a very large weight had been removed from his shoulders. It was true that the girls still didn't know the full story with regards to his past and what he had done, but they had been exposed to one dark aspect of his role as a Preventers operative and had not turned him away. Some of them clearly had mixed feelings about what his job required him to do, but they had not been scared away.

They still wanted to be with him.

They still cared about him.

For Heero, that was all he needed right now.

….

While Washu was a firm believer in the principle of objective observation in scientific research, there were times when she failed to completely hold herself to that standard. Having Heero Yuy shirtless in her lab was one of those occasions. Sure, she was quite focused on gathering all the relevant data as she completed her examination, but she would privately admit that she was enjoying herself a little more than she should.

One of the perks of living in this house is that I get some serious eye candy to enjoy, she thought with a smirk as she ran her gaze up and down Heero's toned figure, I was on ice for several centuries, so I think I've earned the right to indulge myself a little…

Clearly her close scrutiny had not gone unnoticed if the slight stiffening in Heero's frame was any indication. "How many more tests do you need to run?"

She patted him on the shoulder before heading over to her desk. "Patience, handsome. We're almost done here."

That's a shame, really, she mused, I could do this all day…

Entering the latest bit of data into the computer, she then stood up and went back over to Heero, pulling out a syringe as she did so. "All right, Heero; right arm out."

Heero raised his eyebrow. "Another blood sample? How many do you need?"

"Three's the magic number!" she replied with a smile, "This is the last one, so be a good boy and play along!"

Heero shrugged. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me what you're really after here. I've had post mission medical examinations before, but none of them have been as thorough as this one. I didn't even get hit, Washu."

"If there's one thing I pride myself in, it's diligence in my work," Washu retorted before sticking the needle into her patient's arm.

"Only one thing?" Heero quipped.

Washu chuckled as she drew her sample. "You know, you're lucky that I like you, Heero, otherwise you'd be getting the frog treatment right about now."

"How far would I have to go to lose that favor?" asked Heero, "Would questioning whether or not you're really the greatest scientific genius in the universe do the trick?"

"Don't push your luck, handsome," said Washu as she withdrew the needle and cleaned the injection mark.

"So," said Heero, "can I put my shirt back on now?"

Washu sighed. "As much as I would love to come up with an excuse for you to keep it off, yes, you can. I've got everything I need, Heero. Do try to take it easy for a few days, all right?"

"I can't make any promises," Heero replied as he grabbed his shirt, "Normally there's a bit of downtime between my field operations, but with the way things have been going it might not be a long break."

Washu raised an eyebrow. "That bad, eh?"

Heero nodded. "The enemies of Preventers aren't stupid; they were able to figure out that I was off the playing field, and they've been moving to take advantage that. We need to move quickly to get things back under control."

"None of these small-time terrorist groups really has what it takes to seriously threaten peace in the Earth Sphere, right?" asked Washu.

"Not if we take them out while they're still small," said Heero, "That requires us taking a very proactive approach, though. I suspect we'll be busy for a while."

Washu's eyes narrowed. "More black ops?"

There was a distinct pause before he answered her. "If that's what it takes. I'll do what I must to protect the people of this world."

"No matter the cost to yourself?" she asked.

Heero nodded grimly. "Yes."

Washu shook her head. "It doesn't have to be that way, you know."

"This is my job, Washu," said Heero, "Someone has to do this. I have the skills and the experience required to be effective at it."

Washu sighed. "Heero… it doesn't have to be you. There are other paths out there for you. You must know that much, especially after the time you've spent with us."

Heero closed his eyes for a moment before responding. "Perhaps, but… I don't know if I could go down another path."

"Why not?" asked Washu, "What's stopping you?"

"Responsibility," he replied, "I have the talents needed to protect people. It'd be wrong if I didn't put them to the best use."

Washu nodded. "Well, that's certainly one way to look at it. However… have you ever considered that you've already fulfilled your responsibility? Think about it, Heero; you're only eighteen, yet you've done more for the sake of peace and security in the Earth Sphere than most people will in their entire lifetimes. You've put in more than enough work; no one would think less of you for wanting to walk away and find something new to do with your life. No one would have the right to think less of you after all that you've done."

Heero shook his head. "You're wrong. I don't know what all you've learned, but I don't think you've uncovered everything about me. If you had… well, you'd know enough to realize that I'm not the hero that everyone else thinks I am."

"You're the one who's wrong," Washu replied firmly, "You are more of a hero than this world could ever know or ever deserve. You have earned the right to move beyond your current role as its guardian. Let someone else take up the torch. There is so much more that you could be… and I can think of at least a few girls who'd be willing to show you the vast realm of possibility that lies beyond the tiny world that you inhabit now."

He looked at her for a long moment before answering. "Maybe…"

With that he walked out of the lab, leaving Washu to sigh in frustration. Getting through to him was going to be a lot harder than she thought it would.

I'd prefer to do this the subtle way, she mused as she pulled up the samples she'd taken during the examination, but he's so hard-headed that subtlety in this matter might not be an option. I don't want to just whack him over the head with the truth, yet it very well could come down to that.

She shook her head as she reviewed the data. There was still time to turn him around towards her way of thinking, and it wasn't like Washu was the only one that would be making such efforts; if she really had gotten through to Yosho the other day, then her old friend ought to be taking a shot at reasoning with the young man soon enough.

I'll have to wait and see how things play out with the two of them before making my next move, she thought as she studied the results of the examination, In the meantime, at least I've got plenty of material here to keep my busy for a while…

….

There were few things more beautiful in the world as far as Heero was concerned than moonlit snow. Th way the brilliant white orb in the night sky illuminated the powder on the ground was simply divine. There was a sense of peace and tranquility that was almost impossible to find in Heero's life. The air was still and cold, but it was a refreshing sort of chill that he more than welcomed.

Dinner had gone far better than he could've hoped for. There had been some tension, and no small amount of concern, on the part of his guests, but much to Heero's relief and surprise there was still that warm acceptance that they had given him since the moment they had met. He didn't quite understand how they could still welcome him in their presence after knowing one of the grimmer aspects of what his job entailed, but he was grateful for it all the same.

Taking a sip of his tea, he looked up at the moon as his breath created small wisps of fog on the evening air. While he had never exactly enjoyed black ops, he was surprised to find that he was now almost dreading the inevitable call that would take him back into the field. Heero had long ago accepted that taking life was the price to pay for keeping the peace in the Earth Sphere, but the prospect of being given another assassination mission now turned his stomach in a way that it had not before.

I know what my duty is, he thought, I came to terms with it long ago… or so I believed. So why… why these new doubts?

It was because there was now the possibility of another way.

Another path.

Multiple paths, in fact.

And they all ran through his guests.

They stayed here because of him, but Heero had little doubt that if he put his mind to it he could persuade any one of them to take him away from the Earth Sphere. In fact, he suspected that many if not all of them would welcome such a request with open arms. Kiyone and Mihoshi would likely offer him the chance to join the Galaxy Police, while Ayeka and Sasami would want to take him to the Empire of Jurai and show him their homeworld. It was harder to tell what Washu might want, but Heero was sure it would involve plenty of crazy experiments.

And then there was Ryoko.

The life of a pirate, a criminal, did not exactly appeal to Heero, yet it wasn't the thought of becoming an outlaw that drew him to her more than any of the other girls. It was the fact that, out of all of them, she had the one thing that Heero realized he desired more than anything else.

Freedom.

She was accountable to no one but herself. She had no duty, no obligation of any kind. With the power of Ryo-Ohki, she could travel the galaxy at will. Of course, her background meant that she was hardly welcome at respectable ports of call, but Heero was sure that in her time she had found plenty of ways to sneak around law enforcement. She had the means to go wherever she wanted, but more importantly, she had the will.

If I said the word, he thought, I have no doubt that we'd be halfway to the moon a second later... and well beyond soon after. It'd be so easy…

Before meeting the lovely pirate, Heero had never considered himself to be a man easily swayed by temptation. With Ryoko, though, almost all his previous assumptions about himself seemed to go right out the window. Her free spirt, her impulsiveness, her passion, that mischievous light in her eyes… they all called to him like nothing he'd ever seen before.

And that was why he was starting to become nervous around her.

With each day that went by now, his desire for her only seemed to grow. It was as if his confession to her on Christmas Day had opened up a floodgate, and the torrent was becoming so powerful that Heero was steadily losing his capacity to properly channel it. The temptation to throw caution to the wind was very real, and it was only growing stronger.

She'd teased him enough in the past that he had a pretty good idea as to what she could offer him…

…and he wanted it badly.

In accepting it, though, he was afraid of what the consequences might be. Not just for himself or her, but for the others that he was charged with caring for as well. A few might be supportive, but Heero knew that there were some who would not take kindly to him openly declaring his intentions towards Ryoko. In fact, there was one in particular that had Heero concerned.

"Sir Heero? May I join you?"

And of course she picks now to show up, thought Heero as he looked over his shoulder and saw Ayeka standing behind him with a fresh pot of tea.

He nodded; he had no desire to be rude and send her away despite his worries, and he was sure that Ayeka was here for more than just to check up on him. "Sure, as long as you don't mind the cold."

Ayeka smiled. "Not at all. Your planet's winters seem to be quite pleasant, or at least this one has been so far."

"You'd be singing a different tune if we were farther north," he replied as she sat down next to him.

"Well, as long as I could enjoy your company, I would be willing to endure any sort of weather," she said as she poured herself a cup of tea before nodding at his, "Care for a refill?"

Heero nodded. "Thank you."

After she topped off his cup she looked out at the night sky. "That constellation, the one that looks like a cup with a long handle… that's the one your people call the Big Dipper, yes?"

"That's right," said Heero, "Sounds like you've been doing some reading."

Ayeka nodded. "Indeed. I rather enjoyed viewing the stars back on Jurai, and it's always fascinating to come to a planet that offers a different view of the galaxy."

"Can Jurai's home star be seen from here?" he asked.

Ayeka's eyes narrowed as she studied the sky for a moment before shaking her head. "If it is up there, I'm afraid I cannot differentiate it from the rest. That's a shame, really… I'd most certainly like to know where my home is in relation to Earth."

Heero nodded in sympathy. "You must miss it. I know we've done all we can to make sure that your stay on Earth is comfortable, but I understand if you're homesick. It's natural given just how far from the Empire you are."

Ayeka shook her head and smiled. "Oh, no, not at all, Sir Heero! While it is true that I'd certainly like to see Jurai again, my time on your world has been a most pleasant experience, and one that I'm in no hurry to end."

Heero gave her a small smile in return. "I'm glad to hear that. We're very lucky to have someone like you be one of our first official visitors from beyond our solar system."

Ayeka raised an eyebrow. "Would my visit really be counted as 'official' seeing the lengths that your government has gone to in order to keep it concealed from the general public?"

"A fair point," Heero conceded, "Still, it's official in that it is recognized by the very highest level of our government. We just can't make that acknowledgement common knowledge due to security concerns."

"Yes," said Ayeka, and Heero did not fail to notice the slight air of caution in her voice, "I've come to realize that your world takes its security quite seriously… even if it is in a different manner than the Empire."

"This world has had its fill of open conflict," said Heero, "Keeping the peace from the shadows is far preferable to the alternatives we've experienced."

Ayeka sighed. "I… I can see the merit in that. However... well, I suppose I'm just having difficulty making it fit with my own cultural experience."

Heero's eyes narrowed. "From what you've told me, Jurai has a powerful military, but not every hostile force can be fought with overwhelming martial might. Surely the Empire's encountered situations where it's better to deal with enemies in a more discrete manner."

Ayeka nodded. "I'll admit that not every crisis calls for a fleet or an army. The Empire does employ elite teams of knights and agents for missions that involve a deft hand as opposed to brute force. We also have our own intelligence services, and naturally their activities tend to be more behind-the-scenes than the other components of our security and peacekeeping apparatus. Still, the type of operation that you conducted… Sir Heero, please believe me when I say that I do not wish to cast any aspersions upon you, but outright assassination is beneath those who serve Jurai."

"Are you sure about that?" Heero countered, "In my experience, every nation has its secrets, and that included operatives who handle matters that the government would rather avoid becoming public knowledge. Can you really say with absolute certainty that the Empire doesn't employ people who use my methods in service to the throne?"

Ayeka shook her head, but the shift in her tone and her hesitation hinted at fresh doubts. "No… no, it does not. It… it cannot! The Empire of Jurai is more than just a mighty nation; it is a symbol of peace and justice in the galaxy! Honor and nobility are synonymous with its very name! Sir Heero, I truly do believe that you are a just and valorous individual, but the Empire of Jurai…. it would never sanction an operation like the one you conducted yesterday."

"Is that what you know, or what you believe?" asked Heero, "The two are not the same thing, Ayeka. I realize that you know far more about the Empire of Jurai than I ever will, but you are a princess; you are not an empress. The throne may be your birthright, but you do not hold it yet, so can you really tell me that you know all that the Empire does and is willing to do in the name of peace and justice?"

She looked down nervously. "No… well… I mean… listen, you are correct in that I do not rule the Empire, but my father has taken steps to educate me on matters of governance, and that includes the security and protection of our people. If… if he had ever resorted to ordering operations similar to the one that you engaged in… he would've told me, Sir Heero. I.. I know he would have!"

"Would he have?" Heero pressed, "You don't think that the knowledge of black operations would be something that he might try to conceal from you? Keeping the peace from the shadows isn't clean, Ayeka; your father quite likely has his share of dirty secrets that he's ashamed to reveal to you."

Ayeka shook her head frantically. "No! He's always told me that a monarch should rule without shame! With humility, perhaps, but never shame! My father… any Emperor or Empress of Jurai should be willing to stand proudly behind the commands that they give! If it is for the sake of the Empire, then their decrees should not bring them shame!"

"It's never that simple, Ayeka," said Heero, "Decisions that might be necessary for the greater good can still bring shame to those who make them. Trust me; I know that all too well."

Ayeka's eyes widened. "Sir Heero…"

Heero shook his head. "It may not be my place to say this given my lack of knowledge regarding the Empire, but if your father truly is the just ruler that you believe he is… then I'm willing to bet that he's been forced to make some very tough decisions. Choices that, while they might have been right for the Empire and your people, were not necessarily honorable or noble. They may very well have brought him shame, but he made them anyway for the sake of your people. Choices such as those aren't likely ones that he'd be very willing to discuss with you."

Ayeka sighed. "Ever since coming to your world… I've slowly begun to question what I believed before. Governance, peacekeeping, even matters of personal honor and nobility… it all used to be so simple back in the Empire. Now, though… I don't know."

"If you want to leave," said Heero, "I won't stop you. I'm sure Kiyone and Mihoshi would be more than willing to take you and Sasami back to the Empire. That is your home, after all, so it would only be natural for you to be more comfortable there than on a planet that's made you question everything that you were taught before."

Ayeka shook her head. "No… I'm not leaving. Not yet. While it is true that I have more questions, more doubts now than I ever did back in the Empire, that does not mean that I regret coming here. Far from it. In fact… I believe that landing on this planet and meeting you… they are the best things that could possibly have happened to me."

That certainly wasn't the response that Heero had been expecting. "Ayeka…"

She smiled before reaching over to take his hand. "Sir Heero… coming to your world, meeting you… this has been a truly fascinating experience. I've learned and seen so much that I doubt I would have in the Empire, or at least not so soon, and I believe that I still have more to learn out here. I never would've imagined that out here, on a planet that's so far from the heart of Jurai, I would discover so many new insights and facets of knowledge. Your world truly is a gem, Sir Heero… and that pales in comparison to you."

Heero looked down, uncomfortable with such praise. "You're… you're giving me far too much credit, Ayeka. I'm… I'm not the paragon you've made me out to be."

"That is because you are far more than what I first believed," she said firmly, "Sir Heero… I realize that I still have much to learn, both about your world and you as a person… but I want to learn. In all my years, both on my homeworld and throughout the Empire… I have never met anyone like you, Sir Heero. I wish to remain on your world, by your side, for a while longer… if it's all right with you, of course."

Heero couldn't help but give her a small smile. "If that's what you wish, then I'd be honored. Having you and your sister here has been a privilege, Ayeka. You two are welcome here for as long as you'd like."

Ayeka nodded as her smile grew. "Thank you very much, Sir Heero. I promise that your hospitality and compassion in this affair will not be forgotten. Even… even if you must undertake missions that I may not agree with, I wish to remain by your side. I want to understand you, Sir Heero. I believe I owe you that much… and a good deal more."

Heero sighed. "I won't stop you, but… you may not like what you find at the end of all this, Ayeka."

Ayeka shook her head. "With all due respect, Sir Heero, I believe that you are wrong. I may still have much to learn, but this I know; you are a good man, Sir Heero. Perhaps you are more complicated than I had originally thought, but that does not change the fact that you remain someone who is worthy of my faith, and that of my sister as well. Please… never forget that."

Heero nodded. "Roger that."

….

Heero chuckled as he pulled a blanked over Sasami. "Looks like someone went a little overboard."

In their excitement at his return home, most of the girls had wound up staying up much later than they were used to. Sasami in particular had refused to go to bed even when Ayeka had finally decided to call it a night, so here the girl was now, passed out on the couch. She wasn't the only one; Mihoshi was snoring on the other end of it, but fortunately there was room and spare blankets enough for the both of them.

What a strange night it's been, he mused, I come home from an assassination mission, the girls know exactly what I did… and yet, above all else, they're happy that I'm back. I know they had their questions… and still do, I imagine… but they still welcomed me back with open arms. How I got so lucky as to meet a group of women like them, I'll never know…

He was about to head upstairs and call it a night when none other than Ryoko approached him. Heero could feel his heartbeat pick up ever so slightly as she drew near and hoped that he could maintain his restraint; it was taking a considerable amount of it to refrain from giving into the desire that had been building up within him for some time now.

"Hey," she said softly, "you got a minute?"

She just wants to talk, he thought with no small measure of relief, Good.

Heero nodded. "For you? Always, Ryoko."

She smiled. "Thanks. Mind if we go outside?"

"Sure," he replied.

The two of them went down the hall and out the front door. Once again, the cool and still night air felt quite refreshing to Heero, and it was just as lovely outside now as it was when he'd spoken to Ayeka earlier.

"Want to walk around the lake?" she asked.

It was a bit out of character for her to ask for something like that, but Heero saw no reason to refuse her. "All right."

He led the way, and she looped her arm through his. Despite his inner unrest, it felt good to have her close to him like this, especially now that the others were asleep and there was no reason to fear how they might react to seeing them together in such a manner.

"I know you said you're not hurt," she said after a moment, "but still… are you really okay, Heero? You don't have to hide anything from me, you know."

It was easy to forget just how perceptive she could be sometimes. Heero was so used to her willfulness, playfulness, and devil-may-care attitude, but it was times like this that he was reminded of her intelligence. Ryoko might be an impulsive woman, but she was also an insightful one when she put her mind to it.

"I… I will be," he said, "Returning to the field after all the time I've spent with you and the others… I guess it's just taking a little more getting used to than I thought it would."

"Were all your missions like this?" she asked, "Before you met me, I mean."

Heero shook his head. "Not all of them, but plenty went along similar lines. My job is to keep the peace in the Earth Sphere, but how I do it… well, it's rarely clean, Ryoko."

She gave him a sympathetic smile. "You know that I don't judge you for that, right? I mean, after how accepting you've been of me, I'd be a real bitch if I didn't cut you some slack."

Heero couldn't help but return her smile. "I appreciate that. Still… I wouldn't blame you if you did judge me. My actions… well, they certainly call for it."

Ryoko shook her head. "You're wrong. Look, I'm hardly a do-gooder, you know that, but even I have my limits. I steal from people, and if I get in a fight I don't pull my punches, but there are lines that I don't cross. The scum that you go after? That monster that bombed that temple? They need to be taken out. You're not doing anything wrong by killing them, Heero. They deserve it."

Heero sighed. "It's easy to say that, and it may even be true… but that does not take away the fact that these are living and thinking beings that I'm killing, Ryoko. They were born into this world the same way I was. They had families and friends, people who cared for them. That does not excuse the choices that they made or the actions that they took… but it does make them more than mindless beasts."

"They're beasts that decided to kill people who didn't deserve it," Ryoko replied firmly, "The fact that they were able to think about what they were doing and did it anyway just makes it worse."

"I'm able to think about what I do, and I still do it," Heero countered, "I'm fully aware that my actions take lives, yet I still pull the trigger or plunge the knife into their flesh. What does that say about me?"

Ryoko shook her head. "You're wrong. Heero, you're not like them at all! You're as far away from them as you could possibly be! You're the kind of man that those scum could never be!"

Heero looked out across the lake. "What makes me so different from them, Ryoko? With every life that I take… it gets harder to tell. Blood does not wash away blood."

He was surprised to feel her firmly grab him by the shoulders, and even more so when he saw the fierce glare she gave him. "All right, that's enough! You listen and listen damn carefully, because I'm going to hammer this into your thick skull if it's the last thing I do! You are not them! Yes, you kill, but how many lives have you saved in the process? How many victims have you avenged with each bastard that you take down? How many people in this world get to sleep easier at night because you've protected them from someone who would kill them without a second thought? You're not some heartless murderer; you're a damn hero!"

"Ryoko…" he said softly, at a complete loss for anything else.

"Look, I've been around," she continued, "I've flown all over this galaxy, and I've been to some nasty places in the universe. I've seen more psychopaths and cold-blooded killers than I thought could possibly exist in the universe, and more often than not no one does a damn thing to stop them! They plunder and kill on a whim, but Jurai and the Galaxy Police can't be bothered to take them out unless they target someone rich enough or powerful enough that the assholes who rule society actually care about. I may be one of the most wanted criminals in the galaxy, but that's because I've stolen from the rich shits who think they own the damn universe! They only go after monsters if they feel threatened by them, but you? You go after them because it's the right thing to do! Maybe it's your job, and maybe you feel like it's your duty, but that doesn't change the fact that there's nothing in it for you when you take them down. Your government's done a lot to make our lives here comfortable, but I know you're not rich; they wouldn't give you nearly the same salary that the people who rule this world get. You're not doing this for fame, either; you didn't get any credit on the news for taking out that Order leader, but that didn't bother you at all, did it?"

Heero shook his head. "No… I've never desired it…"

Ryoko smiled. "Thought so, and that only proves my point. Heero, I won't pretend that I completely understand what you go through in this job, but I do know that you're way too hard on yourself. We talked about that at the end of your dream world during the Dimension Turner incident, remember? I told you specifically to cut yourself some slack, and I know I'm not the only one that feels that way."

Heero sighed. "I know. I… I guess I'm still trying to figure out how to accomplish that. It's not easy…"

She stepped closer and looped her arms over his shoulder, clasping her hands at the back of his neck. "Then let me help you."

"How?" he asked, his hear racing as she pressed herself up against him.

Was this seriously going where he thought it was?

"Like this," she said softly as she leaned forward…

…and kissed him.

For a moment he froze. He should've been ready for something like this, but the last thing Heero could claim to be was prepared. His mind had absolutely no answer for what he was supposed to do.

So his instincts took over for him.

Before he even realized he was doing it, he took Ryoko into his arms and held her tight, returning her kiss with a fierce desire that was finally given permission to slip loose from its chains. For a second, he feared that he had grabbed her too roughly, but that concern was immediately laid to rest as she all but forced his mouth open and sent her tongue in to explore. He lost himself then and there as her fiery passion swept over him…

…and he was loving every second of it.

It was only a need for air that eventually forced the two of them to part, but even then, they still held each other close. The lovely pirate's amber eyes were absolutely blazing in the radiant inferno of her desire, and Heero could only imagine the fire that was reflected in his own right now.

She leaned forward again until her forehead was pressed against his. "Heero… do you trust me?"

He nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

She shifted her grip so she held him beneath his shoulders, and the two of them floated off the ground a moment later. Heero held on tightly as they gained altitude, and when they eventually ceased to rise he saw that they were level with the top floor of the house.

Where his room was located.

The gleam in her eyes was more than hint enough for Heero to grasp what she wanted, and the last thing he wanted to do now was fight her. He saw her smile grow as she sensed his acceptance, and the two of them floated towards the house. A few seconds later, they were hovering just outside his bedroom window.

Then she phased the two of them through the wall…

…and a cold winter's night soon became very, very warm.

….

December 29th, A.C. 198

As sunlight filtered in through the window, Heero's eyes slowly opened. His mind felt like it was covered in a warm haze, but that wasn't exactly a bad thing.

Last night… was that real?

As his senses gradually returned to him, he became aware of two things that definitively answered that question. The first was Ryoko pressed up against him beneath the sheets. The second…

…was the fact that neither of them was wearing any clothes.

With the lovely pirate still asleep and using his shoulder as her pillow, Heero idly ran his hand through her wild turquoise hair. Images from the night before came rushing back to him, bringing a small smile to his face. As the old saying went, there was a first time for everything, and if that was his first, then it went better than he could possibly have asked for.

There would be consequences, of course. All actions had repercussions and given the rather delicate social circumstances that Heero now lived in he knew that he would have to tread carefully going forward. For the moment, though, he wasn't worried about that in the least. All he cared about was the woman that now shared his bed…

…and had given him a night unlike any other.

I wonder what Sally and Lady Une would have to say about that, he mused, I don't think they had me sleeping with any of these girls in mind when they ordered me to watch over them…

A few minutes later Ryoko moaned, and her eyes fluttered open. She smiled when she saw him and leaned forward to give him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Morning, hotshot," she murmured, "Sleep well?"

Heero nodded. "Yeah… thanks to you."

"Good," she replied, "Last night… you were really something."

Heero couldn't help but blush slightly. "Thanks… I just wanted to… well, I wanted it to be good for you."

Ryoko grinned as she slid herself on top of him. "Oh, it was, handsome… totally worth the wait."

Heero reached up behind her head and pulled her down for a kiss. "Glad to hear it. If I'd known it would be like that… well, I wouldn't have kept you waiting so long. Sorry about that."

Ryoko shook her head. "Hey, don't worry about it. I know we've all kept you busy… and I know that you've been trying to be fair to everyone here. I may be selfish, but I can still appreciate that. You're a really good guy, you know that?"

"Thanks to you," he said, "You seem to know just how to remind me of that… even when I can't see it myself."

She reached down and ran her fingers through his hair. "Well, if last night is how you need to be reminded, then I'll remind you as many times as you want."

Heero chuckled. "I might just take you up on that."

She laid against his chest, and he basked in the warmth of her body. Holding her close like this, with nothing but the sheets concealing them as the sun slowly rose in the sky outside… if this wasn't paradise, then Heero didn't know what was.

"Looks pretty out there, doesn't it?" she asked after a moment.

Heero nodded. "It does, but I'm quite happy staying right here."

Ryoko giggled. "Me too. I want to lie here with you all day, Heero. What do you say? How does a nice, relaxing day in bed sound?"

Heero sighed. "As much as I'd like that, you know that we can't, Ryoko."

Ryoko nodded. "I know. It'd draw attention… especially from Ayeka."

"I'm sorry," said Heero, ashamed of himself more than anything else, "I… Ryoko, believe me when I say that this isn't because of you, it's…"

"Hey," she said softly as she caressed his cheek, "It's all right. I understand, really."

His eyes widened slightly. "Ryoko…"

"I'm a big girl, Heero," she said with a wink, "Sure, I know that I can be pretty selfish most of the time, but believe it or not I really do understand what you go through for us. I know how important it is for you to try to treat us all fairly. So, you and me, this… I'll keep it a secret. I don't mind, really."

Heero smiled as he kissed her. "Thank you. Really, I mean it."

Ryoko smirked. "Hey, what are friends for? Although… I guess this would make us friends with benefits now, right?"

Heero nodded. "Yeah… I suppose it would."

I'm certainly not going to complain, he mused, but… I don't know. The way I feel about her… calling it 'friends with benefits' just seems to… cheapen it somehow. It's more than that, I know it is… and she deserves more, too.

There was nothing that Heero could really do about that, though. Keeping the peace between his houseguests was as important to him as keeping the peace in the Earth Sphere, and that meant making certain sacrifices. He didn't like it, and it sure as hell didn't feel fair to Ryoko after what she had done for him, but he knew his duty.

His thoughts were interrupted by a grumbling in his stomach, which caused Ryoko to laugh. "Sounds like I'm not the only one who worked up an appetite after last night. What do you think Sasami's making for breakfast?"

"I'm not sure," said Heero, "Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be good."

Ryoko nodded. "Yeah… well, guess we'd better get down there, eh? Better hot food than cold, right?"

"Right," said Heero, "Although… we shouldn't go down together. We should space it out a little bit."

Ryoko smiled. "Sounds like a good idea. I think we should be okay."

"You don't think they heard us last night, do you?" he asked.

Ryoko winked. "Relax, Heero. You saw how tired they were. I think we're fine."

"Good," said Heero before kissing her again, "We can't always count on luck, though. We'll have to be a little more careful next time."

Ryoko grinned. "So, there will be a next time, then?"

Heero smirked. "If you're up for it."

"Hell yes," she replied, her eyes blazing with that passion that he just couldn't get enough of.

I really do need to be careful, he mused, Ryoko… you're absolutely intoxicating…

…and I love it.

….

Breakfast was rather uneventful, all things considered. Just as Ryoko had hoped, everyone else had been too tired to really notice her roll-in-the-hay with Heero, as it were. As important as it was to keep things on the down-low, she still couldn't help but steal the occasional knowing smile and wink at Heero… and much to her thrill, he actually smirked a few times in response.

I don't know what's gotten into me, she thought, I feel like some giddy schoolgirl… it's actually kind of fun!

She knew that Heero felt like he was insulting her by keeping the evolution in their relationship hidden, but Ryoko truly didn't mind. Sure, it would've been fun to rub it in Ayeka's face, but she really did appreciate Heero's need to preserve at least some sense of peace in the household. After a night like the one before, Ryoko was willing to indulge him.

Especially given the prospect of a repeat performance hopefully not-too-far down the line.

As the meal wrapped up, she saw Ayeka turn to their host. "Sir Heero, if you don't mind me asking, is there a particular agenda for today?"

Heero shook his head. "I was going to visit the shrine up the hill and see if the priest wanted to spar, but beyond that I didn't have anything planned. Is there something else that you had in mind? I can always see him tomorrow."

Ayeka smiled. "Oh, no; I was just curious. I'm all for a relatively idle day, and I have no wish to force you to change your plans. Do pass along my regards to Mister Katsuhito, please."

"Mine too!" chirped Sasami.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"I hope he's doing well," said Kiyone, "This cold weather can't be easy for him to live with."

Mihoshi nodded. "Yeah. His place didn't look as warm as ours does."

"I'm sure he's fine," said Heero, "He's lived here longer than any of us, after all. He knows the region's climate far better than we do."

"Enjoy yourself," said Washu, "Don't mind us; we'll keep the house in one piece."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "And how many times have I heard you say that you can't make any promises in that regard?"

Washu gave him a playful wink. "Well, just for today, I can make an exception. I don't have anything particularly dangerous on my plate at the moment, so consider yourself lucky!"

"I'll take your word on that," Heero replied as he got up and put his dish in the sink, "Sasami, do you mind handling the cleanup this time? I'll do it after lunch and dinner tonight to make up for it."

Sasami smiled. "Sure thing! Have fun at the shrine!"

Heero nodded. "Thanks. Stay out of trouble… all of you."

Ryoko gave him a faux-pout. "Hey, was that meant for me? Heero, how could you? It's like you don't trust me at all!"

Heero shook his head, and she could tell that he was holding back another smirk. "I wouldn't go that far. I just know what you can get up to."

Damn right, you do, she thought, resisting the urge to get up and kiss him right then and there, and I know that you like it!

She smiled, although it was far from innocent. "Well, you'd be surprised. I can be a good girl too, you know!"

"I highly doubt that," Ayeka muttered.

"Your rap sheet with the Galaxy Police would indicate otherwise," Kiyone quipped.

"Heero, they're picking on me!" Ryoko cried, "How come you all have to be so mean?"

"You're a big girl, Ryoko," said Heero, "I think you can handle yourself. I'll see you later."

"Do take care, Sir Heero!" Ayeka called as he headed for the door, "The steps to the shrine are quite treacherous with all the snow!"

"I'll keep that in mind," Heero replied just before he left the house.

"I think he'll be fine," said Azaka.

"He does seem to be quite capable of looking after himself," Kamidake concurred.

"I hope he doesn't catch a cold out there," said Sasami as she rose and began to gather the empty dishes, "I know the snow's lightened up, but it's still chilly."

Washu grinned. "Well, if he does, I'll just drag him into the lab and play doctor with him! I'll give him a nice and thorough checkup…"

"Y-you will do no such thing!" Ayeka stammered as her face turned red.

"Why not?" asked Mihoshi, "I think that's nice of her!"

Kiyone shook her head. "You're hopeless…"

They gradually disbanded one by one as they finished their breakfast, with Kiyone staying behind to help Sasami with the cleanup. Bored and with nothing else to occupy her attention, Ryoko was going to settle in on the couch for some late-morning television when none other than Washu tapped her on the shoulder.

"Ryoko," she said with a smile that sent chills down her spine, "Would you mind stepping into my lab for a moment? We need to talk."

"About what?" she asked nervously.

Washu laughed. "No need to be so apprehensive. Think of it as a simple mother-daughter chat. I think we're long overdue for one of those, don't you?"

"And if I say no?" Ryoko asked.

Washu smirked. "You're welcome to try."

And find myself turned into a frog again, I'm sure, she thought ruefully, I know you too well, 'mother'…

"Fine," she grumbled, "Let's get this over with."

Washu shook her head. "Now, now, there's really no need for such a poor attitude. Family members are supposed to bond, after all, so you and I really should take advantage of such opportunities."

"Right," Ryoko quipped as the two of them entered the lab, "because mother-daughter bonding is so important to you."

Washu grinned. "Well, it is when it concerns my daughter's love life."

Ryoko felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," Washu replied as she led her over to her desk, "It's an insult to both of us. So, tell me… how was last night?"

Ryoko's eyes widened. "How do you know about that?"

Washu chuckled. "Besides the fact that you just told me? Well, the way the two of you could barely go five seconds without looking at each other at breakfast was a pretty big hint. There was also… this."

A nearby monitor lit up, and Ryoko saw that it was footage of just outside the house. A moment later the camera zoomed in on her and Heero kissing each other before Ryoko carried him off the ground and into the house through his bedroom wall. The footage stopped just as the two of them phased through the wall, but Ryoko did not like the implications.

"You were spying on us?" she asked as she glared at Washu, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"If it makes you feel any better, I was only watching what took place outside," said Washu, "As for what happened in the bedroom, that's not recorded. I do have some respect for privacy, after all. Still, it wasn't hard to figure out where things were going with that footage."

Ryoko folded her arms. "So is this supposed to be blackmail, then? Do I have to do something for you or else you tell the others what happened?"

Washu shook her head. "Believe it or not, I do have some rules, Ryoko. I have no intention of revealing this footage to anyone beyond you."

Ryoko sighed with relief. "That's good."

Washu smiled. "You're my daughter, Ryoko, so I have high hopes for you… and that includes your choice of paramours. As your mother, I must say; he's quite a catch."

"Thanks, but I never needed your approval," said Ryoko, "I wanted Heero way before we found you in that cave, and you were never going to stop me."

"That was never my intention," Washu replied, "Tempting as it may be to claim him for myself, I wasn't planning on standing in your way. Quite the opposite, in fact."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "What? Why?"

"Because I have high hopes for that boy," she said, "and I think you might be just the spark he needs."

Ryoko was even more confused. "What are you talking about? Why does he need a spark?"

Washu's eyes narrowed. "He's not a normal man, Ryoko. We all know that; it's why we've stuck around even though leaving this backwater world would be child's play for us. He's magnetic in a way that he's not even aware of. However, he's wasting away out here. He's never been aware until now of just what lies beyond this star system. Now he's had a taste, thanks to us, but it's not enough. He needs more, and I think you can go a long way towards opening his eyes to that."

Ryoko could practically see the gears turning in Washu's head. "What do you have planned for him?"

Washu chuckled. "No need to be concerned, Ryoko. Trust me; if it all pans out, it'll be good for the two of you. You want him, but at the same time you don't want him to spend the rest of his days on this little blue and green ball, right?"

"This is his home," said Ryoko, "If he's comfortable here, then I don't mind sticking around."

Washu shook her head in disappointment. "Really, Ryoko? I thought you knew better than to lie to your mother. You've been wanting to steal him away with Ryo-Ohki since the moment you met him, haven't you?"

"That's none of your damn business!" Ryoko snapped.

Washu grinned. "I beg to differ. In fact, it's an outcome that I wouldn't be opposed to. One way or another, he needs to get off this rock. We all do… and when the time comes, we will."

"You're making me nervous here," she said, hoping she'd be able to escape the lab real soon, "Do you know something that the rest of us don't?"

"Several somethings," said Washu, "You don't need to worry about that right now, though. All you need to worry about is keeping our handsome host focused on you rather than your competition. You might be the first one to make it to his bed, but you know that the others have their eyes on it too."

Ryoko bristled as her thoughts went immediately to Ayeka. "I'd like to see them try."

"They will," Washu replied, "and you know they will. Can you blame them? He's one hell of a guy, after all… something that you know far better than the others. You'd better stay on your guard; you don't want him to fall for someone else's charms."

"Why do you care so much about that?" asked Ryoko, "Why are you even warning me about stuff like that?"

"This might be hard for you to understand," said Washu, "but I actually have Heero's wellbeing in mind here. You're good for him in ways that I don't think the two of you fully understand. It goes both ways, in fact; I can tell that he's had an effect on you, and I think it's for the better. I'd hate for the progress you've both made to be undone."

"So you're just worried out of the goodness of your heart?" asked Ryoko, not even trying to hide her skepticism, "Why am I having a hard time buying that?"

Washu sighed as she turned towards her console. "I don't expect you to understand, at least not right now. In time, perhaps."

Ryoko scowled; she hated when Washu wouldn't give her a straight answer, which had been at least half of their conversation. "Are we done here?"

"Yes," Washu answered casually, "Run along… and think about what I said."

"Right," she said warily as she beat a hasty retreat.

The sooner I'm out of here, the better, she thought, I don't know what's gotten into her, but she's giving me the creeps today!

….

Washu sighed as her daughter left the lab. "I suppose I could've handled that better…"

Truth be told, Washu hadn't been entirely sure as to whether confronting Ryoko about sleeping with Heero was the right thing to do. Would it have been better to simply let things play out on their own? Taking the simple wait-and-see approach had been tempting, but ultimately Washu had vetoed it; there was simply too much at stake.

I knew that the two of them getting together was a distinct possibility, she mused, I was afraid that Heero going back into the field would eventually push him into darkness, but if he has Ryoko as a source of private comfort then that could mitigate the damage. Will it be enough, though? She can be rather unpredictable; there's enough volatility within her to throw the best laid plans out the window. Plus, there's the fact that she's yet to discover the true extent of her own power… something she's quite unaware that she has in common with Heero.

The physical sciences were where Washu excelled; the social sciences weren't her area of expertise, as loathe as she was to admit it. It was much harder for her to read people than it was to read tables of elements or complex formulas. She knew what paths she wanted Heero and Ryoko to take but getting them to head in the appropriate direction was another matter entirely.

She could only hope that Yosho was better suited to that department than she was.

….

The crisp, cool air felt quite refreshing as Heero traded strikes and parries with his sparring partner. Despite the winter weather, he was actually working up a considerable sweat as the duel went on. It was hardly surprising; ever since he had finally managed to end a match with the old man in a tie, the priest seemed to have determined that Heero was worthy of greater effort now than he had been before.

His moves are sharper than in the past, he thought as he deflected a rapid-fire series of attacks from the shrine keeper, and he's actually putting greater force behind his swings than in previous encounters. He's really ramping things up…

Even after all the fights they'd already had, it still amazed Heero that the old man was able to engage him with such strength and intensity. The priest never seemed to miss a step, and it was hard to tell if any of their matches came close to tiring him. His moves were efficient and swift, and despite Heero's growing skill it was still quite difficult to keep up with him.

His sparring partner chuckled as he drove hard against Heero. "Short of breath already? I thought today's youth were supposed to be full of energy!"

"I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet," Heero replied as he counterattacked with a thrust aimed at the priest's torso.

The shrine keeper was able to redirect the blow, but it was a very close thing. Heero allowed his momentum to carry him forward before rolling to the side, and it wasn't a moment too soon; the old man took a swing that would've clocked Heero right in the head if he hadn't gone low to evade it. As he came back up Heero made a diagonal slash that almost caught the priest in the chin, but his opponent was able to move back just barely enough to cause the strike to miss.

Katsuhito chuckled as he went on the offensive again. "Trying to give me a shave? I admit that I probably could use one, but I'd prefer to handle that myself."

"Then do it after the fight," said Heero as he blocked one strike after another, "I haven't finished my work-out yet."

The priest laughed. "Indeed!"

The two of them continued their back-and-forth exchange across the snow-covered land surrounding the shrine. Mindful of their footing, neither combatant was about to be done in by slipping in the powder. The clacking of the wooden practice swords hitting each other increased in tempo as the duel reached a fever pitch; the end was swiftly approaching, and both of them could feel it.

Ducking beneath a horizontal slash, Heero surged forward, unleashing a ferocious sequence of strikes against his opponent. The assault drove the old man back, but the hard look in his eyes was all Heero needed to know that his foe wasn't about to yield just yet.

His counterattack a moment later was proof enough of that. As Heero brought down his sword in strike aimed at the priest's shoulder, his adversary parried and redirected the blow, sending Heero towards the ground. The Preventers operative made to roll in order to use his downward momentum to recover, but before he could do so Katsuhito brought his knee up and nailed Heero right in the gut. It wasn't enough to completely knock the wind out of a hardened Gundam pilot, but it was all the priest needed to briefly stagger Heero before bringing his wooden sword to the young man's neck.

The shrine keeper had a confident smirk on his face as he looked down at Heero. "I suppose congratulations are in order; you really made me work for that one."

Heero couldn't help but chuckle as he rubbed his gut. "Still not enough, I see."

Katsuhito smiled as he helped Heero to his feet. "Now, now, there's no need for that kind of talk. You fought very well. In fact, I daresay that was one of our longest matches yet. Quite impressive, given the cold."

"Snow's never really bothered me," said Heero casually.

Between Antarctica and Siberia, I've fought in places that are much colder than this, he mused, I barely even feel the chill here, really…

The old man gave him an evaluating look. "Is that so? Are you from somewhere that has winters like the ones here?"

Heero shook his head. "No, but I'm well-travelled."

The priest nodded. "I see. That's quite remarkable given your age. Just how much of the world have you seen in your life thus far?"

"Not all of it," Heero replied, "but if I had to guess, I'd say more than most."

"I don't doubt it," said the shrine keeper, "When someone's seen much of the world, it shows in their bearing, whether they're aware of it or not."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying that I'm easy to read?"

Katsuhito shook his head. "No, only that the signs are there for those who know what to look for."

Heero nodded. "I suppose that's fair enough."

"You know, they say that travel can be good for the soul," the priest pointed out, "It can rejuvenate and revitalize people in ways that they would never expect. Sometimes the simple act of getting away for a while can be remarkably therapeutic. With distance comes perspective, and with perspective comes both clarity and refreshment."

"If that's your experience when it comes to travel, then I've clearly been doing it wrong," said Heero, "I'm afraid my journeys haven't had those sorts of outcomes."

Katsuhito nodded. "Indeed. That is clear enough for those of us with the presence of mind to detect it."

Heero's eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at?"

"When we first met, I could tell that there was a shadow that haunted your footsteps," said the shrine keeper, "As time went on, I could sense that shadow recede somewhat, and I have no doubt that your lovely companions played a role in that. However, it remains with you just the same. A shadow the endures like that is not one that is lightly carried."

"My 'shadow', as you put it, is none of your concern," said Heero, a little more forcefully than he had intended, "We all have past misdeeds that we'd rather not dredge up, don't we?"

"Quite true," Katsuhito conceded, "and out of respect for the fact that we had only just met, I did not see it as my place to inquire as to the nature of your shadow. Darkness can wax and wane, and its effects can be as corrosive as a toxic tide. It may not be readily apparent at first glance, but eventually the erosion becomes impossible to miss."

"And what makes you think that you know the first thing about darkness?" asked Heero with a glare, "If you'd seen what I have, you might not be able to speak with such surety."

Katsuhito folded his arms. "And what makes you think that I haven't seen what you have? The peace we now enjoy is only a very recent phenomenon, and the conflicts that preceded it were hardly discriminating in their effects. The Earth Sphere's wounds are still quite fresh, and more people bear scars than might readily be apparent."

Heero forced himself to take a deep breath. He didn't know why he was getting worked up all of a sudden, and the old man did raise a very valid point. Still, this felt quite different from their past conversations. It was as if the priest knew something very important while Heero was in the dark.

"You're right," he said after a moment, "Forgive me… sometimes I forget that. It can be easy to lose perspective when… well…"

"When you're still trying to mend wounds of your own?" Katsuhito finished, "That's quite understandable. You may be young, but the journeys that you have already undertaken would leave many veteran travelers shattered. For you to have come through marred by the shadow but still capable of holding on to who you truly are is no small feat."

Heero studied the priest carefully. "Just who exactly are you, really?"

The shrine keeper chuckled ruefully. "A head as grey as mine comes from more than just age, you know. I have had my share of misdeeds and mistakes. I am no stranger to death and violence, just as you are not. Our individual experiences may differ on the details but believe me when I say that you are far from the only one that grapples with demons of the past."

"Is that why you're out here now?" Heero asked, "Did you choose the solitude of the mountains because the distance made dealing with the past easier?"

"That was part of it, yes," Katsuhito replied, "Other factors were also at play, though."

"Like what?" Heero pressed.

"Enemies that I was not able to defeat," said the priest grimly, "I suppose you could consider my taking up residence here as a form of exile more than anything else."

Heero raised an eyebrow; he was genuinely intrigued by where this was going. "What kind of enemies? Did you fight in the last war? Were you on the run from the old Alliance or OZ?"

Katsuhito shook his head. "No. It was not the kind of war that the world might recognize. It was a different sort of conflict, one waged behind the scenes."

Heero nodded. "I know a thing or two about those."

The shrine keeper smirked. "Indeed. I'm afraid that my particular opponents in this struggle were quite unlike any that you might have encountered, though."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," said Heero, "I've dealt with enemies from all over the Earth Sphere. I won't say that I've seen it all, but I've experienced more than most. It's hard to surprise me these days."

Unless it's anything concerning the girls and where they're from, he mused, I'll be the first to admit that the galaxy beyond the Earth Sphere is completely unknown territory for me, and the same goes for whatever enemies they might've faced out there before coming here.

Katsuhito regarded him for a long moment before nodding. "Perhaps. I hope you'll never have to find out firsthand."

"So you're not going to tell me about them, I take it," said Heero, "That's too bad. You actually had my interest there for a moment."

"Sorry to disappoint you," the shrine keeper replied, "Suffice to say that my tale isn't something I prefer to bring up in casual conversation."

Heero shrugged. "It's none of my business, so don't worry about it."

The priest nodded. "If you say so. Forgive me if this sounds hypocritical, but I believe that your struggle with your enemies may be my concern."

"I highly doubt that," said Heero, "I don't think any of them would have any real interest in a shrine located up in the mountains. I'm pretty sure that you're about as under-the-radar out here as you can get."

Katsuhito shook his head. "That is not quite what I was referring to. What I meant to say was that I was concerned about where your future struggles may lead you. You're a decent young man, and I do enjoy these visits of yours; it can be awfully hard to find good company out here."

Heero's eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure what all you know, but after everything I've seen and done, I doubt that whatever struggles lie ahead for me will confront me with anything that I haven't dealt with before."

Except for Ryoko, he thought, I'm about as far out of my element as I can get with this new… relationship of ours. Is that even the right word for it? I'm pretty sure that Duo would have a more colorful term for it, but I'm in no hurry to get his input on the matter…

"You are wrong," said Katsuhito firmly, "As I told you before, the shadow that dogs your steps is not hard for one with experienced eyes to discern. Once someone's forced to go through darkness once, the likelihood of them facing it again is considerably increased. You may very well be standing on a precipice that you are completely unaware of, much less prepared for."

There was a ring of truth in the old man's words that gave Heero pause. His first field operation since Ryoko and the others had come into his life had bothered him in a way that previous missions hadn't. There was no doubt in his mind that the people he had killed in the operation had earned their fates, yet taking their lives had weighed more heavily upon him than he had expected. Heero was certain that part of that was because of his absence from the field brought on by his responsibilities for Ryoko and the others, but he felt as though there had to be more to it than that.

He had experienced a life, even if it was just for a few months, where he wasn't called upon to kill. Now he was thrust back into the nasty business of assassination and infiltration, and even if it was for a good cause that didn't change the fact that it was still state-sanctioned murder. How many more black operations would he be called upon to complete now that his superiors had deemed it appropriate to send him back into the field?

How many more people would he have to kill?

And what would that do to the bonds he had forged with the girls that he was still charged with watching over?

"A precipice," he said softly, talking as much to himself as he was to the old man, "I hadn't thought of it like that before…"

"There's still time to pull yourself back from the ledge," said Katsuhito, "There is always another path. The key is the willingness to seek it out."

Heero shook his head. "If there is another path, then I don't know how to find it."

"I don't believe that," the priest replied, "and I don't think you truly do, either. I think you're afraid."

"Afraid of what?" asked Heero.

"Afraid of the unknown," Katsuhito answered, "Afraid of stepping out of the life that is familiar to you and into a new one that you do not fully comprehend."

The old man's words hit rather close to home. In fact, it was a reminder of the way he felt about what had happened between him and Ryoko. She was more than just an incredible woman; she was a gateway out of his old life, a lifeline that offered a chance to be pulled towards a horizon that was as bright as it was mysterious.

What would happen if the two of them went further than just 'friends with benefits', as she had described it? Part of Heero was afraid to find out…

…and the other part was desperate to find out.

….

December 30th, A.C. 198

"Ah, Heero!" said Washu with a smile as he entered the lab, "So glad that you could join me today!"

"It's not like I was busy," he replied as he followed her towards her main console, "Besides, you said you had something that would help with my next field operation, so how could I say no?"

"Aw, that's sweet of you!" Washu cooed, "All you need to do now is call me Little Washu and this day will be perfect!"

"Can we just cut to the chase?" asked Heero, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the resident mad scientist, "The sooner you show me whatever it is you've created, the sooner I can figure out whether or not it's something that has practical applications in the field."

"All right, all right," said Washu with a smirk, "This little baby might not be flashy, but I think you'll find it to be quite useful."

She hit a few buttons on her console, and a few seconds later Heero heard a hissing sound. A panel on the top of the desk slid open, and another one rose. Atop the new panel were two items. One appeared to be a high end set of binoculars, and the other looked like some sort of personal digital device that was about the size of a high-end satellite phone. It had a thick reinforced case, several knobs and buttons along the side, a small antenna, and a strange circle on the front that appeared to be some sort of projector.

"What's this?" he asked as he picked up the device.

"I call it the Integrated Tactical Espionage Communications/Analysis/Mapping Package," said Washu with a grin, "You can just call it ITECAMP for short. Good things really do come in small packages, and this beauty is proof of it!"

Heero raised an eyebrow as he studied the device. "ITECAMP? What exactly is it supposed to do?"

"Several things at once, actually," said Washu as she stood up, "Grab the binoculars. A practical demonstration would be best accomplished outside, and with some assistants."

"I'm not sure if the others will be thrilled about being guinea pigs for one of your experiments," said Heero as he took the binoculars and followed her out of the lab with both devices in hand.

"Relax," said Washu with a dismissive wave of her hand, "This one won't involve anything invasive."

"How comforting," Heero quipped.

The two of them went to the living room, where everyone else was enjoying a relaxing afternoon watching the TV. After several months of living with the girls now, Heero had a pretty good idea as to what they all liked and based on what was on the screen at the moment he doubted they would mind missing a few minutes of it.

"Hey, everyone," said Washu casually, "You all mind stepping outside for a few minutes?"

Everyone in the room immediately turned to face her, and they looked rather apprehensive. Given that it was Washu that was asking them, Heero honestly could not blame them.

"For what purpose?" asked Ayeka.

Ryoko scowled. "You're up to something, aren't you?"

"Is it something that I'm going to have to arrest you for later?" asked Kiyone.

Washu grinned. "It's nothing like that. I'm just doing Heero a little favor, and I need your help."

Sasami smiled. "Okay!"

"Aw, can't it wait until later?" pouted Mihoshi, "The show's just getting to the good part!"

Kiyone rolled her eyes. "It's a rerun, Mihoshi. You've seen this one like three times now."

"But I really like it!" Mihoshi protested.

"We don't need everyone, do we, Washu?" Heero asked.

Washu sighed. "Well, I suppose I can do without one of them. Fine, Mihoshi; you can stay here."

"Yay!" she cheered.

"Hey, no fair!" Ryoko cried, "Why does she get special treatment?"

"Because I'm feeling merciful," Washu replied.

"And your mercy only extends to one person today?" asked Ayeka, "How unfortunate for the rest of us."

"Oh, quite complaining," said Washu, "Seriously, this won't take long, and it won't hurt a bit."

"Come on, Ryo-Ohki," chirped Sasami as she stood up, "Let's go outside!"

"Meow!" cried the cat-rabbit as it took off behind her.

"Nice to see that someone's excited about this," Kiyone muttered.

"Hey, Heero?" said Ryoko nervously, "Do you know what she's got in mind?"

Heero nodded. "I've got a rough idea. It shouldn't be anything weird this time."

That seemed to be enough for her if her smile was any indication. "All right, then. I don't trust her, but you're another story."

"Indeed," said Ayeka, "Besides, she did say that it was a favor for Sir Heero, so I suppose I can play along this time."

"Would you like us to go with you, Princess Ayeka?" asked Azaka.

"We're eager to serve," chimed Kamidake.

"Not necessary," said Washu, "I think we've got enough volunteers."

Heero and his companions went outside, and Washu had them all gather in front of the lake. She then motioned for Heero to pass the equipment to her, and they watched as she spent a few minutes making adjustments to it.

"All right," she said as she passed the binoculars and the ITECAMP back to Heero, "They should be properly synched up now."

"So what exactly am I supposed to do with these?" he asked.

"We'll start off with something simple," Washu replied, "You see these buttons on top of the binoculars?"

Heero nodded. "What about them?"

"Look at me with them," she said, "Then press that little green button."

Heero did so, and he was surprised to see a small green triangle appear above Washu's head as he kept the lenses trained on her. "What just happened?"

"You designated me as a friendly contact," Washu replied, "I color-coded the keys for simplicity. There's also red for hostile, yellow for neutral, blue for native wildlife, white for key landmarks or points that you want to keep track of, and a few others that you can use for whatever strikes your fancy. Go ahead and mess around with it a little more."

Heero did so, marking the rest of the girls and Ryo-Ohki as friendly before shifting his gaze. A few seconds later he had designated the island and tree in the middle of the lake as key landmarks, and he had also tagged a few birds just for the sake of experimentation. All of them had icons hovering over them whenever he looked at them through the binoculars.

"That's interesting," he said as he lowered the equipment, "Still, it's not like I'll be looking through these every second of an operation, and the utility's rather limited."

Washu grinned. "Oh, yeah? Bet I can prove you wrong! Turn on the ITECAMP and go to the map function."

Heero did so, and his eyes widened slightly as a holographic display sprang to life from the circular projector imbedded in the device. A moment later he had successfully pulled up a map of the local area, and he was rather impressed with the level of detail it had. The terrain was laid out perfectly, and it was precise to the point that he could even make out individual trees. It only took him a second to find their precise location, and much to his surprise he saw that everything he had designated with the binoculars was now showing up marked on the map.

"How did you set this up?" he asked as he studied the display.

"Very carefully," Washu replied, "The ITECAMP and the binoculars are electronically linked; any targets you designate will show up on the electronic map. There's a special laser marker projector imbedded in the binoculars that tags the targets."

Heero nodded. "I see. What's the effective range?"

"Three kilometers is where the tagging function maxes out," said Washu, "That's not the only trick those babies have. I managed to install several lens configurations to suit your needs. Infrared, night-vision and more can all be activated just by turning that little knob on the top right."

"That's handy," said Heero as he experimented with the settings, "Since it's all on one set it'll also cut down on the amount of gear that I'll need in the field. Nice work."

Washu smirked. "Please, this was nothing. Besides, you're still only scratching the surface of what this gear can do."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "What else is it capable of?"

"Keep an eye on the map," she said before turning back to the others, "The rest of you, do me a favor and walk towards the house."

The girls gave each other questioning looks before following Washu's orders. As Heero studied the holographic map, he saw the series of green triangles that he had used to mark his companions move towards the house as well.

"Active target tracking," he said softly, "Now that's a neat trick."

Washu nodded. "I thought you'd say that. The markers stick with your target until you delete them from the map. If you accidentally remove one that you wanted to keep, just mark the target again with the binoculars. Also, you can manually designate points on your map without tagging them with the binoculars, although that's really only useful for large structures or landmarks."

"Good to know," said Heero, "What else can this thing do?"

Washu grinned. "Quite a bit! Go to the menu and check out the Communications section."

Heero did so, and quickly discovered that the ITECAMP had been programmed with all of Preventers' main frequencies and encryptions. His eyes narrowed as he gave Washu a cautious look.

"These encryptions are supposed to be classified," he said, "How exactly did you come by them?"

Washu winked. "Do you really want to know? Haven't you ever heard that saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth?"

Heero sighed. "I have… and I also have a pretty good guess as to what you did to program these encryptions into the ITECAMP. Sally and Director Une would be quite displeased if they found out that you'd been hacking Preventers' systems."

"Then they should beef up their security," Washu countered with a devious smirk, "Of course, they really shouldn't worry; it's not like there's a hacker on this planet that can measure up to my level of genius!"

Right on cue, the mini Washu-bot cheerleaders appeared on her shoulders. "Washu, your genius is unmatched! You are the greatest!"

Washu sighed in satisfaction. "Ah, I love these things!"

"I'm sure you do," Heero quipped, "So, how else did you potentially get me into trouble in your efforts to make this thing?"

"Oh, relax," Washu replied, "I was in and out of the system before anyone knew I was there. At this point, the only way they'd be able to trace it back to me is if you told them yourself."

"And what makes you think that I won't include that information in my next report to Sally?" Heero asked her pointedly.

Washu chuckled. "Because I know you better than you think I do. You're going to let me off the hook once you've had the chance to try out my baby in the field!"

What's rather troubling about that is she's probably right, Heero mused, I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of saying that to her face, though…

"We'll see how things play out," he said after a moment, "Is there anything else that I need to know about these new toys?"

Washu nodded. "For starters, the ITECAMP's casing is heavily reinforced; it can take direct hits from small-arms fire and keep functioning. It's also protected against electromagnetic interference."

"Good to know," said Heero, "What about environmental hazards?"

"It's fully waterproof," Washu replied, "and it's also sealed against sand and other fine particle matter as well."

"What about the battery life?" he asked, "It'd be rather inconvenient if this thing died on me in the field."

Washu grinned. "Oh, you won't have to worry about that; the ITECAMP can run non-stop for about two thousand years before the power source needs to be replaced!"

Heero's eyes widened. "Two thousand years? You can't be serious."

"Oh, but I totally am," she countered, "I build my creations to last, Heero, and I take great pride in their longevity."

Heero was still skeptical to put it mildly, but it wasn't as though he could argue with her on the matter; she knew far more about the device than he did, after all. "Well… I suppose I'll have plenty of chances to test its durability soon enough."

"Trust me," said Washu, "You won't be disappointed."

"Since you were able to hack into Preventers' systems to get the encryptions on this thing, I'm assuming that also goes for our satellites," said Heero, "Civilian satellites wouldn't be able to offer the same level of detail that's on this thing's map. How strong is the connection?"

"You won't have to worry about losing it in the field, if that's your concern," said Washu, "You'll have full access anywhere in the Earth Sphere. It's not just satellites that the ITECAMP connects to, either; you've got full internet access on it as well."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "Really? Full access, regardless of the security settings of the local networks?"

Washu grinned. "Yup! If you think my little baby can be locked out by something as trivial as a Wi-Fi password, you've got another thing coming!"

I'm starting to wonder if I'm breaking any laws by carrying a device with the sort of capabilities that she's describing, Heero mused, I might have to do some research later…

"It's also got a fully integrated intrusion system," Washu continued, "Jack it into an access point, and you can directly infiltrate an enemy's network if they're operating on a closed system instead of a wireless one."

Heero nodded as he studied the device. "I was wondering what those little slots on the side were for. I'm assuming you've got the cables that go with these back in the lab, right?"

"Yup," said Washu, "I'll grab them for you later."

"Thanks," Heero replied, "Sounds like you thought of just about everything with this little invention of yours."

Washu grinned. "You bet! It can even store and play music!"

"A feature I'm sure I'll take advantage of," Heero deadpanned, "Every field operative needs their playlist."

Washu folded her arms. "Hey, don't knock it like that! You never know when you might be stuck in the middle of some boring stakeout and need a little something extra to get you through it. Some music could go a long way in a situation like that!"

"It can also be a distraction," said Heero, "Distractions are an easy way to get yourself killed in my line of work."

Washu sighed. "You really need to learn to relax more."

"Now you sound like Duo," said Heero.

Washu rolled her eyes. "He's not wrong, you know. You could learn a thing or two from him."

"Duo is Duo," Heero countered, "I'm me. Simple as that."

Washu groaned. "Boys… and here I thought you were one of the smarter examples of your gender, Heero."

"That's hardly relevant one way or the other," said Heero as he gave the ITECAMP and the binoculars another look over, "I'll take these with me next time I head into the field and test them out. I'm assuming you'll want feedback when I return."

Washu smiled. "I think that's the least you could do after all the work I put into those. You owe me one!"

"I'll do my best to repay you swiftly," he replied, "Anything else about this gear that I should be aware of?"

"Only that I put a lot of thought and care into it," said Washu, "I think that deserves a little gratitude, don't you?"

Heero nodded. "Of course. Thank you, Washu."

Washu smirked. "Close, but that wasn't quite what I had in mind. Come on, Heero; you're a smart young man. You know what I want to hear!"

I really should've seen this coming, he thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

Heero sighed. "Sorry. Thank you…. Little Washu."

Washu grinned and patted him on the back. "Aw, don't mention it! Anything for you, handsome!"

….

Washu smiled as she leaned back in the chair behind her console. She was glad that she had sold Heero on the merits of the gear that she had developed for him and was looking forward to hearing his thoughts on how it performed in the field. At the same time, however, she had not been entirely honest with him regarding its capabilities.

"Time to see if all the bells and whistles are in order," she muttered as her fingers danced across the keyboard, "Ah, there we go…"

The ITECAMP and the binoculars did indeed do exactly what she had described to Heero, but there were hidden functions in both devices that she had kept to herself. While she didn't like lying to him about the equipment that he was carrying, a little deception was necessary in order for her to take full advantage of the situation.

The first little trick that she had concealed was a visual data transmitter that had been installed in the binoculars. In addition to helping Heero spot and mark targets, the binoculars would also send live-action footage directly to Washu's lab; whatever he saw through those lenses, Washu would see as well. Both the binoculars and the ITECAMP had also been fitted with beacons that broadcasted on a highly encrypted frequency that only Washu's equipment could pick up. She would be able to track Heero in the field as long as he had the devices with him.

After all, it wouldn't do to lose him when he was meant for so much more than what he currently was.

The final trick up her sleeve was the one that Washu was most proud of. Hidden within the ITECAMP was a series of sensors that were constantly analyzing Heero's immediate environment. Audio and visual data within a complete 360-degree field with a fifteen-meter radius would be sent back to Washu's lab, and when combined with a special imaging chamber that she had built as an ad-on to her lab the night before they would offer a real-time three-dimensional holographic presentation of where Heero was and what he was doing.

Was it a gross violation of his trust and that of his superiors to spy on him in such a manner? Absolutely. Did Washu care about the ethics involved? Absolutely not. She had a vested interest in his long-term survival, after all.

As far as she was concerned, it was anything-goes.

….

December 31st, A.C. 198

"Ah, what a lovely day this is!" said Ayeka with a smile as she sat outside, a hot cup of tea in her hands.

Heero had to agree. There was a very light snowfall, but the temperature was actually quite pleasant given the time of year. Sasami and Mihoshi were currently working on their second snowman of the morning, while Ryo-Ohki was still munching on the carrot nose of the first. Kiyone was engaging in a brisk jog around the lake, while Ryoko was idly floating just over the surface of the water. Her eyes were on Sasami and Mihoshi's snowmen, and Heero was sure that she was plotting some sort of mischief towards them. Even Washu had come outside to enjoy the weather and was sitting next to Ayeka enjoying her own cup of tea. Azaka and Kamidake hovered unobtrusively behind them.

If more days unfolded like this, I'd have no complaints, Heero thought, I'm all for a nice and relaxing New Year's Eve…

He'd kept an eye on the international news ever since he'd been called back into the field, but nothing had come up that struck him as a matter his superiors would assign him to deal with. No news was good news as far as he was concerned, although he had to wonder just how long that would last. He knew that the government's attention would be focused on providing security for the multitude of celebrations that would be held come nightfall, and he could only hope that the festivities would go off without a hitch.

"So, Heero," said Washu, pulling him from his thoughts, "Any plans for later? The end of the year's trivial to me, but it's supposed to be a pretty big deal for your world, right?"

"Are we gonna have a party?" asked Mihoshi.

"That'd be fun!" cheered Sasami.

Heero shook his head. "I honestly didn't really have any plans. I was thinking we'd take it easy today. Besides, the party that Quatre held for Christmas should've been enough to hold you all over for a little while."

"That's too bad," said Ryoko as she floated closer, "I wouldn't mind another chance to cut loose."

Ayeka folded her arms. "You're the last person that needs a chance to 'cut loose', as you put it. If anything, you require a lesson or two in restraint!"

Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Please. You're just jealous because I actually know how to have some fun! You need to pull that damn stick out of your ass!"

Ayeka glared at her. "Excuse me? I do not have a 'stick up my ass', you loathsome wench!"

"Keep telling yourself that," Washu muttered.

"Come on, you two," said Kiyone as she came over, "Do you have to get into a fight at the drop of a hat? I thought we were all trying to relax and enjoy ourselves here!"

"That's certainly the impression that I was under," said Azaka.

"Me too," chirped Kamidake, "Were we mistaken?"

Heero sighed. "No, you were not. Ryoko, Ayeka, knock it off."

"She started it!" Ryoko pouted.

"As if!" Ayeka shot back.

"I don't care who started it, I'm ending it," said Heero firmly, "Is that understood?"

Ryoko sighed. "Oh, fine."

Ayeka nodded. "Very well, Sir Heero."

"Heero, want to help Mihoshi and I finish up our snowman?" asked Sasami, "We want to make him bigger than the other one!"

He was about to answer when his phone rang. Checking the screen, he saw that the caller was Sally.

"Give me a moment," he said, "I need to take this."

Putting some distance between himself and the others, he then answered the call. "It's still a little early for New Year's well wishes, you know."

"I wish that was why I was calling," said Sally grimly, "I really do. Are the girls doing okay?"

Heero's eyes narrowed. "They're fine. What's going on?"

"Something's come up," she replied, "You'll be briefed in person. That's all I can say for the moment."

"Does it involve the girls?" he asked.

"No," she said, "This is an Earth Sphere affair. Our own petty concerns, not theirs."

"It hardly sounds petty if you're calling me out of the blue like this," Heero quipped dryly.

Sally sighed. "True enough. We've got a chopper on the way out as we speak. It'll be there in five minutes. Gear and weapons will be on board, but if you've got anything you want to bring along, grab it now. Time is a luxury that we can't afford for this one."

Heero nodded. "Understood. I'll get ready. Heero, out."

….

Washu could tell something was up as soon as Heero got off the phone. While the others had been looking curiously at him and clearly waiting for an answer, Heero hadn't even bothered to fill them in; he simply went straight inside. When he came out a few minutes later, Washu couldn't help but notice that he had both the ITECAMP and the binoculars that went with it.

Looks like my babies are about to get that field test I've been waiting for, she mused, I didn't think it'd come quite this soon, though.

"Sir Heero, is something wrong?" asked Ayeka.

"What's with the gear?" asked Ryoko.

"Something's come up," he said as he turned to Sasami, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you with your snowman today. I will when I return, though."

Sasami looked worried. "Where are you going?"

"I'm not sure," Heero admitted, "I'll find out soon enough."

"That doesn't make any sense," said Mihoshi.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

Kiyone's eyes narrowed as her gaze turned skywards. "Hey, does anyone else hear that?"

Closing her eyes for a moment and concentrating just on her sense of hearing, Washu was able to pick it up; the unmistakable sound of a helicopter. The thrumming of its rotors was growing louder with each passing second.

Local media wouldn't have much reason to come out here, she thought as she opened her eyes and scanned the sky, so I doubt it's a news chopper. Given the position of our resident guardian, I'm betting it's a military craft.

As the noise gained in volume, Washu could make out a black silhouette on the horizon. A few moments later it drew near enough that she could indeed recognize it as a security forces helicopter of some sort. As it came in for a landing approach, Washu could make out several armaments attached to the craft. A machinegun was situated in a chin turret just below the cockpit, while two miniguns were set up on swivel-mounts by the side doors. Behind the doors just before the helicopter's tail began were a set of short and stumpy 'wings'. Each 'wing' was outfitted with hardpoints that could mount additional weaponry, and this particular chopper was set up with what looked like two rocket pods.

Ayeka's eyes widened. "What is the meaning of this?"

Ryoko glared at the craft, and Washu saw sparks of crimson energy dancing in the palms of her hands. "Are we under attack?"

"What should we do?" cried Mihoshi.

"Ayeka, who are they here for?" asked Sasami nervously as the chopper descended.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"Stay calm," said Kiyone, "They're probably with Preventers. No one else would dispatch a craft out here, right?"

"Let us hope it is Preventers," said Azaka, "and that they have come at Sir Heero's invitation."

"If not, we shall do what we must!" chimed Kamidake, "We will defend you, Princess Ayeka!"

"That won't be necessary," said Heero, "Kiyone's right; it's a Preventers aircraft."

"Do they have anything to do with the call you just got?" asked Ryoko warily.

Heero nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry for the short notice, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave for a little while."

"Is it another mission?" asked Ayeka.

"Yes," said Heero, "although I'm afraid I don't know the details just yet."

"How long will you be gone?" asked Washu.

Heero shook his head. "I don't know. Hopefully not for long."

The chopper touched down a few seconds later, and the door on the right side of the aircraft slid open. A young man who appeared to be about the same age as Heero stood in the doorway, and his black eyes instantly found his colleague. His black hair was tied back in a small ponytail, and despite his black jumpsuit Washu could detect a very athletic figure. She immediately recognized the young man from the files that she had copied from the database of Preventers.

Chang Wufei, she thought, I guess this is no small operation if they've got both of their top operatives on it.

The former Gundam pilot wasted no time with pleasantries as he shouted at Heero over the roar of the whirling rotary blades. "You ready?"

Heero nodded. He stepped forward but paused long enough to give Washu and the others a farewell.

"Try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone," he said, "I'll come back as soon as I can."

Ryoko put her hand on his shoulder. "You'd better come back. Don't do anything stupid out there, all right?"

"I'll be careful," he replied.

The two of them looked at each other for a long moment, and Washu wondered if Ryoko was about to come clean with the others right then and there. Surprisingly, restraint won the day with the notoriously impulsive pirate, who settled for giving Heero's shoulder a brief squeeze before releasing him.

"Okay, then," she said, "Take care of yourself."

"Sir Heero, must you go?" asked Ayeka, "At least let me send Azaka and Kamidake with you! I cannot bear the thought of you being hurt!"

Heero shook his head. "I'll be all right. Besides, their place is with you, Ayeka."

"Quite true," said Azaka.

"We have our duty," said Kamidake solemnly, "Just as you have yours."

Ayeka sighed. "Very well, then. Go forth, Sir Heero… and come back safe and sound."

"I'll make you a nice warm meal when you get back!" cheered Sasami.

"Come back soon!" cried Mihoshi.

Kiyone nodded. "Watch yourself out there."

"I'll try to make sure the house is still standing when you return," said Washu with a smirk.

"I appreciate that," said Heero, "Farewell."

Washu sighed as she watched him climb aboard the helicopter. Finding out what he was walking into would be easy enough, and while his superiors doubtlessly saw it as important, Washu didn't like the idea of Heero putting his life at risk for another one of his planet's petty squabbles.

Those fools have no idea what they have with him, she thought as the chopper lifted off, I can only hope that his skills are enough to bring him back here when his mission's over.

….

"Quite the following you've gathered," said Wufei as the chopper gained altitude, "Director Une gave me access to their files, but still… it's strange seeing you surrounded by so many women."

Heero couldn't help but smirk as he sat down. "Try living with them."

Wufei chuckled. "No thanks. I like to have at least some time to myself, and from the looks of things I doubt you get any."

"You'd be surprised," said Heero, "They're more considerate than you might think. Still, they can definitely be a handful."

Wufei doubted. "I bet. Well, you'll have them out of your hair for the rest of the day, and likely a good chunk of tomorrow too. I'm afraid we'll be ringing in the New Year with a bang, and not the fun kind with fireworks."

"What exactly is our mission?" asked Heero, "Sally was pretty light on the details."

"We're trying to minimize all possible leaks, whether it be through human or signal intelligence," Wufei replied, "The media still hasn't gotten wind of this, and if at all possible we'd like to keep it that way."

Heero nodded. "Makes sense. What's so important that Preventers had to assign the two of us to deal with it?"

Wufei grabbed a nearby laptop and opened it up as he sat down next to Heero. "Six hours ago, a weapons storage and disassembly facility in the northwest of the former China was hit. The enemy was inside the compound before the security personnel knew what hit them."

Heero's eyes narrowed as satellite footage of the facility showed up on the monitor. "Did the enemy have help from the inside?"

"Without a doubt," Wufei replied, "Their entrance was too clean, and they knew exactly where and how to hit the guards. They were efficient… and they were thorough."

Heero didn't like where this was going. "How bad were the casualties?"

Wufei sighed. "Total staffing at the facility before the attack was 237 people. Now, 234 of them are dead."

"What about the remaining three?" asked Heero, "Hostages?"

"That was our first thought, since the enemy took them along when they left the facility," said Wufei, "However, after a careful review of the personnel files, we suspected there was something more to it. Sally suggested we look into their finances, and that was where we uncovered several suspicious transactions in the weeks leading up to the attack."

"They were paid off," said Heero.

Wufei nodded grimly. "Yes, and they've signed their own death warrants in the process; Director Une's given us the greenlight to execute them if we encounter them in our mission, although they're not our primary target."

"So, who exactly are we dealing with here?" asked Heero.

"This man's our main target," said Wufei as his fingers danced along the keyboard.

A middle-aged man with grey-black hair appeared on the screen. He had a rather thick mustache, and he was wearing a military uniform that Heero didn't recognize.

"Meet Li Changlong, the self-proclaimed General of the New People's Liberation Army," Wufei continued, "His group's been active for a few years, although before now they were considered more of a nuisance than an actual threat."

"What's he after?" asked Heero.

"The group's stated goal has been the revival of the old People's Republic of China under classical Maoism," said Wufei, "He actually got his start as an officer in the old Alliance military, but he went rogue shortly after Operation Meteor. Back then, he didn't have more than a handful of followers, and to secure funds they acted more like a smalltime crime syndicate than an actual insurgency. That actually helped them survive; the old Alliance and OZ didn't see them as worth going after, especially given the fact that they were trying to deal with the likes of us at the same time."

Heero shook his head in disbelief. "Classical Maoism… did these guys miss the part where Mao got tens of millions of his own people killed through incompetence and malignance?"

Wufei shrugged. "Either that or they thought it was a feature rather than a bug. Who can say when it comes to fanatics, right?"

Heero nodded. "True enough. How many of them are there?"

"The group's size has fluctuated over the years," said Wufei, "Nowadays, Preventers Intelligence Bureau puts their numbers somewhere between two-hundred and four-hundred. Some are no more that radicalized country youths or punks looking to cash in on the group's connections to the heroin trade, but others are ex-military. Based on the manner in which this attack of theirs was pulled off, it's clear that the latter were calling the shots."

"So what did they manage to steal?" asked Heero, "Mobile suits?"

Wufei shook his head. "There weren't any at the facility they hit. Most of what was there was infantry weaponry and armored vehicles awaiting disassembly and scrapping. However, one wing of the facility was devoted to handling something much more dangerous; nuclear material."

"Shit," Heero hissed, "How much did they get away with?"

The laptop's screen shifted as Wufei typed. "The Preventers initial response team that got called in ran an inventory check as soon as they secured the scene. The heavy stuff was still in place; the NPLA didn't have the means to move it quickly. However, two cases of plutonium cores were taken. The containers were about the size of large suitcases, so they'd be much easier to transport on a short notice. With the right level of technical expertise, one could make functional tactical weapons from them. However, given the group that we're dealing with, their more likely plan is to create dirty bombs."

"I can see why Director Une wanted both of us on this one," Heero said grimly, "You said the attack took place about six hours ago, right? They could've covered a lot of ground in that timeframe."

Wufei nodded. "Believe me, I'm well aware of that. Fortunately, they were sloppy on their getaway; we were able to pick up their convoy on satellite shortly after the attack. They've been heading west across the Taklamakan Desert at a pretty decent pace, but as long as they're on the move they won't be able to start weaponizing those plutonium cores; they'd need a stable and secure location with the right equipment to begin the work."

Heero sighed with relief. "Small favors. They must have an endpoint in mind, though. Any idea where it's at?"

"Yes," he replied, "Based on their current trajectory, we believe they're heading for the Pamir Mountains along the old China-Tajikistan border. According to our records, there's an abandoned base that once belonged to the PRC out that way. We've suspected for some time now that they've been using it as a hideout; if they really are retreating back there, then it confirms our suspicions."

"How much intel do we have on the place?" asked Heero.

"Sally's putting together a package on it as we speak," Wufei replied, "She'll send us the data soon enough. We'll have plenty of time to look it over before we strike."

Heero nodded. "Understood. What's the plan?"

"We have two primary objectives," said Wufei, "Director Une wants us to secure the plutonium and assassinate Li Changlong. If we encounter the three men that sold out the base to the NPLA, we're to kill them as well, although they're considered a secondary priority. I'll show you the photos later so you'll be able to pick them out in a crowd. All the gear we'll need is in this chopper, and it's our means of insertion and extraction."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "We're taking this thing all the way out to the Pamir Mountains? I know Preventers has been working on extending the range of our helicopters, but there's no way they're that fuel efficient yet."

Wufei shook his head. "It's not. We've got two stop-offs planned for refueling, and an emergency supply station's being established in the field just in case. The chopper can also provide us with some close air support, but the enemy's expected to be in possession of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, so bringing it in for attack is a last resort."

"Of course," said Heero, "If we have to call it in before extraction, it means that we screwed up bigtime somewhere. I'd rather avoid that."

Wufei nodded. "Same here. We'll be heavily outnumbered, so keeping a low profile will be key to accomplishing our mission. It's nothing you and I haven't done before, though."

"We still need to be careful," said Heero, "If the casualties they inflicted in their attack are any indication, this group's ruthless."

Wufei's eyes narrowed. "Agreed. If they thought they were going to just get a regular Preventers strike team after them in response, though, they'll be in for a rude awakening. They're going to pay for the lives they took today in blood."

"Roger that," said Heero grimly.

….

January 1st, A.C. 199

Once again, Ryoko found herself in a situation that she loathed; staying behind while Heero went on a mission. With nothing better to do, she was currently in the living room with the others, watching the television and trying to gain some clue through the various news channels as to what kind of situation Heero had gotten himself pulled into this time. They hadn't had much luck, though; every broadcast was focused on the global New Year's celebrations. The near constant stream of fireworks they'd seen on the television was a stark contrast to the atmosphere inside the living room; no one was in the mood for a party while Heero was gone. All they could do to pass the time was try to find some clue as to what was happening with him, but Ryoko wasn't exactly optimistic at this point.

He didn't really give us anything to go on this time, she thought as she scowled at the screen, I swear, Heero, you really know how to make a girl worry….

"Hey, go back!" cried Mihoshi, "Maybe that was it!"

Ayeka went to the previous channel as Mihoshi had requested, but the crown Princess of Jurai shook her head a moment later. "I'm sorry, Mihoshi, but I don't think this is what we're looking for. Those are simply peaceful demonstrators in the capital; I highly doubt Sir Heero would be called in for such a trivial matter."

"So why did they have him leave?" asked Sasami nervously, "Ayeka, I'm worried!"

"Meow!" whined Ryo-Ohki.

Kiyone sighed. "You're not the only one. Nothing we've seen on any of these networks would likely require Heero's attention. Whatever his superiors have assigned him to deal with, they might be trying to keep it off the public radar."

"He'd better not have gotten himself in over his head," Ryoko grumbled.

"I sincerely doubt that would be the case," said Ayeka, "This is Sir Heero's world, after all; he knows the Earth Sphere and its troublemakers far better than the rest of us do. Whatever his new assignment is, I'm sure he's up for it."

"It's a pity that he would not allow either of us to accompany him," said Azaka.

"We would've guaranteed his safety for you, Princess Ayeka!" chimed Kamidake.

Ayeka nodded. "I do not doubt that for a moment, but Sir Heero was adamant on the two of you remaining here with me. While it is hardly my place to make demands of him, I do wish that he had conceded to me in this matter."

"Me too," muttered Ryoko.

Kiyone raised an eyebrow. "You two are actually agreeing something? Here I thought I'd seen everything."

Ryoko folded her arms. "He should've taken me along! I could do better than Ayeka's bodyguards!"

"I highly doubt that," said Azaka.

"You lack the discipline to be a bodyguard," chirped Kamidake, "No offense, of course."

Ryoko stood up and shook her head; she had better things to do that argue with the two of them. "Whatever. I'm getting a beer."

Ayeka glared at her. "Drinking while Sir Heero puts his life on the line? Shameful!"

Believe me, I'm not exactly happy about it, she silently seethed as she left the living room, but it's not like I can do much of anything else right now. Damn it, Heero…

When she got to the kitchen, she was surprised to see none other than Washu standing between her and the fridge. Ryoko scowled; she wasn't in the mood for any of her games at the moment.

"You mind moving?" she said, "I need something to take the edge off."

Washu stepped forward and leaned close in a conspiratorial manner. Alarm bells began going off in Ryoko's head; something was off with her behavior.

"Rather than getting a drink or watching trivial fireworks displays," the eccentric scientist whispered, "I've got a better idea as to how you could pass the time."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "What might that be?"

"Come with me," she replied, "There's something that you need to see."

Ryoko was wary of being dragged into another one of Washu's experiments. "Really? Is it something that I'm going to destroy the second you try to touch me with it?"

"This isn't a game, Ryoko," she hissed, "It's important. You'll want to see this."

She was surprised at just how serious Washu was acting. If this was a put-on, it was a good one. Ryoko was still on her guard, but she doubted that Washu was going to take no for an answer at this point.

"All right, fine," she said after a moment, "Let's get this over with."

None of the others paid any attention as Ryoko followed Washu back to her lab. It felt as though Washu had expanded it since the last time Ryoko had been there; she didn't recognize the area the resident mad scientist was taking her to.

"What's going on?" she asked as she looked around nervously.

"Through here," Washu replied as she opened a door at the back of the lab, "You'll get the answer you're looking for, and a little bit more."

Ryoko scowled. "Do you get off on being cryptic and annoying? Why can't you just cut right to the chase?"

The fact that Washu didn't offer so much as a single witty comeback was actually rather concerning. Instead she simply gestured for Ryoko to follow her before she disappeared through the door.

Well, I've already come this far, she thought, Might as well go all the way.

She stepped through the door and found herself in a room that was, save for Washu and a small console at the back end, completely empty. Ryoko was a bit taken aback by this; she'd expected it to be filled with gadgets and equipment that likely violated all kinds of laws and scientific ethics.

"Are you sure we're in the right room?" she asked as she looked around.

Washu nodded. "Yes, we are. Computer, resume real-time transmission."

The room was suddenly bathed in blue light, and as Ryoko struggled to see through the glare she spotted what looked like tiny projectors covering the walls, ceiling, and even the floor. The room rapidly began to fill with what Ryoko realized was an in-depth three-dimensional hologram of another location. The blue light became highly detailed floor grating, railings, rafters, and more, although it all cut off at the edges of the room. She and Washu appeared to be standing in mid-air, but there was another figure kneeling on a catwalk that Ryoko instantly recognized even though he was made up entirely of blue light.

"Heero!" she gasped.

The holographic representation of the young man paid her no heed; Heero clearly wasn't aware of the fact that he was being monitored. He wasn't wearing casual attire this time; he was fully geared up and in the field. He was clad in a jumpsuit with several large pockets spaced out around it, along with a utility belt lined with pouches. His sidearm and knife were easy to spot, and an assault rifle with a silencer and scope was slung over his shoulder. He was currently scanning what looked like the interior of a warehouse with the binoculars Washu had given him, and Ryoko recognized the ITECAMP clipped to his belt.

Washu smiled. "What do you think? Way better than just sitting around watching the news hoping to catch a glimpse of him, right?"

While it was hard to argue with that, Ryoko was still smart enough to realize what all of this meant. "Heero doesn't know about this, does he? That the gadgets you gave him let you spy on him while he's on missions?"

Washu sighed. "No, he does not."

Ryoko folded her arms. "And you have no problem with that? What the hell, Washu?"

Washu raised an eyebrow. "You're really complaining? This lets you observe him in the field. You should be thanking me."

Ryoko grimaced. It was true that this beat the hell out of trying to find a hint about Heero's activity on the news, but part of her still felt bad about spying on him like this. She normally wasn't above watching someone in secret, but for some reason this felt different.

It's because he trusts me, she realized after a moment, and this… it's a violation of that trust. Shit… I'm not the kind of girl that usually cares about stuff like that. Damn it, Heero…

What was she going to do? Turning around and leaving the lab was theoretically an option, but it was one that Ryoko knew she couldn't take. Now that she had this window into an area of Heero's life that the others did not, it would be a waste not to use it.

"Do we at least get audio with this setup?" she asked.

Washu smiled. "Yup!"

It was a good thing that was the case, because Heero spoke a moment later. "What's your status?"

A male voice Ryoko didn't recognized answered through a small bud placed in Heero's right ear. "I've got eyes on the plutonium. They're keeping it in the old vehicle hangar in the southwest corner of the facility. It's under guard, but nothing I can't handle. How about you?"

"I've got visual contact with our three secondary targets," Heero replied, "You were right about them turning traitor; they're unbound and walking freely. They're inspecting some of the stolen hardware with other members of the NPLA. There are five in all, and their weapons are off to the side; they didn't expect anyone to track them back here."

"Who's the other guy Heero's talking to?" asked Ryoko.

"Chang Wufei," Washu replied, "He's another Preventers operative… and another former colonial revolutionary. In fact, he fought alongside Heero during that big rebellion of theirs."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "Really?"

"Trust me," said Washu, "I wouldn't lie about something like this."

Ryoko glared at her. "How do you know all of this to begin with? Heero didn't tell you, did he?"

Washu shook her head. "No. I had to use other means to acquire this knowledge."

I'm sure you did, she thought.

"Can you take them all out?" asked Wufei, drawing Ryoko's attention back to Heero's unfolding mission.

"The first three for sure," Heero replied, "but the last two might be to get their weapons before I can draw a bead on them. It'll be tight."

"Engage at your own discretion," said Wufei, "Just don't forget who the primary target is. I'm going to start thinning out the sentries on my end, then I'll make a play for the plutonium."

"Roger that," said Heero as he took aim with his rifle.

It may have just been a hologram, but Ryoko still felt a chill go down her spine as the reality sunk in. Heero Yuy, the young man who had taken her in, looked after her, and captured her heart, was about to kill. She could see the killing intent in his eyes as he looked down the scope; harsh, cold, and sharper than any knife.

Following his gaze, Ryoko could see Heero's targets. Since she was currently standing level with him, the five men that he was aiming at actually appeared to be down on the floor itself; the holographic projector system was providing a remarkable sense of depth despite the fact that the people below the catwalk Heero was on were actually being displayed on a two-dimensional surface.

There was no loud burst of gunfire, but rather a series of soft chirps as Heero took his opening shots; the suppressor on the rifle was remarkably effective. There was nothing soft or low-key about the results on the other end, though. Heero's first victim had taken a round right between the eyes, and the hologram was detailed enough that Ryoko could clearly see bits of brain tissue and skull fragments come out the other side. The next two shots weren't as neat; the second man was hit straight through the right eye, while the third suffered a bullet that went into his nose and out the back of his head.

Ryoko had to fight back the urge to throw up. She'd killed before, but the nice thing about fighting with the energy she wielded was that it tended to burn and cauterize; death was relatively clean.

There was nothing clean about the weapon Heero was using now, though.

She saw the last two men race for the rifles that were leaning against a crate, but they never got the chance to use them. One of them took a round right through the left knee, while the other was hit in his right leg. As both men fell to the ground, Heero swiftly finished each of them off with a burst through their backs. Pools of blood quickly began to grow beneath their bodies.

"Secondary targets eliminated," he said softly, and Ryoko didn't know if he was talking to Wufei or himself.

"Copy that," Wufei replied, "I've taken care of a few sentries, but it's been slow work. So far no one's discovered that they're missing. I'm not sure how long that's going to last, though."

Heero nodded. "Understood. I'll try to pick up the pace."

Ryoko watched as Heero slung the rifle over his shoulder before climbing down a nearby ladder. He methodically worked to hide the bodies of the five men he'd just killed, although there was little he could do about the bloodstains on the floor. After about a minute or so he ducked into cover and pulled out the ITECAMP before bringing up its map function.

"Warehouse One's a bust," she heard him mutter, "The old admin building's next."

He marked a structure on the map with a blinking white dot before setting off. His footsteps made almost no noise whatsoever, and he seemed to have an instinctive grasp of how to keep to the shadows and minimize his chances of detection. There were no fancy sound mufflers or other high-tech toys that Ryoko had seen bounty hunters like Nagi use against her in the past; Heero's stealth came from skill alone.

"He's good," she said softly.

Washu smiled. "You have no idea…"

As the hologram shifted to keep up with Heero's movements, Ryoko and Washu soon found themselves outside with Heero as he traversed what appeared to the pirate as an abandoned military complex. The outer facades of the buildings that she could see within the ITECAMP's limited range were worn down to one extent or another, many with broken windows and structural supports that were corroded and rusting. Eventually she caught site of Heero's destination; a squat and ugly office building, about five stories high and adorned with a few hastily installed searchlights.

"What a dump," she said.

Washu shrugged. "What do you expect? He's hunting terrorists here; it's not like they're able to check themselves into a five-star hotel."

Ryoko didn't really have a response for that, so she settled for watching Heero as he approached the building. Rather than head towards the front, which was both guarded and illuminated by one of the searchlights, Heero was taking a more roundabout approach. Working his way between a few parked trucks, he slowly and quietly moved around the perimeter until he was on the east side of the structure. There were a few rusting barrels and remnants of a chain-link fence, but nothing substantial standing in his way. It took Ryoko a moment to spot his objective; an old service ladder near the northeast corner of the building. The area around it was poorly lit; the searchlights were focused mainly on covering the ground entrances at the front and back of the building. Two guards were patrolling around the perimeter together, but since they weren't spread out it was a simple matter for Heero to wait for them to pass before making his move.

As soon as he had a clear path he rushed forwards. He was at the ladder in moments, and it seemed to take him almost no time at all to make it up to the rooftop. There were two more guards up there, but they appeared to be more focused on maintaining the searchlights than watching for anything coming up to the roof itself. Ryoko thought that Heero was going to take them out, but instead he simply waited to make sure that they weren't looking his way before sneaking through a nearby service door.

"Who exactly is he after?" asked Ryoko.

"Some two-bit thug with delusions of grandeur," Washu replied, "They were dumb enough to attack a weapons storage facility under Preventers' watch. They deserve what Heero's about to do to them."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly is he going to do?"

"The same thing he did to those guys earlier," said Washu, "He's not here to take anyone into custody, Ryoko."

So it's an assassination, then, she thought grimly, I should've known. He did say that keeping the peace in his world isn't exactly clean work. Still…

It wasn't that she didn't understand why he had to do it. It was more that she was worried about what it would do to him. She was well aware of how returning to the field and having to take life was affecting him; the day he'd returned from his first mission since he'd begun watching over her was fresh in her mind. Was it really necessary for him to put himself through this kind of pressure? Heero seemed to think it was, but Ryoko felt otherwise.

"He deserves better than this," she said softly, "His government treats him like nothing more than a damn weapon."

"I agree," Washu replied.

Ryoko's eyes widened; Washu agreeing with her was even weirder than Ayeka doing so. "Really?"

"Yes," said Washu, her expression surprisingly somber, "I doubt Sally and Director Une do so lightly, but the rest of his government sees him as nothing more than a knife for them to wield in the shadows. It's a damn shame, really. He's capable of so much more than this."

There was something about her words that set Ryoko on edge. "What are you talking about? What are you hiding now?"

Washu shook her head. "Nothing that's relevant to what we're watching now."

Ryoko doubted that, but she could tell that she wasn't going to get anything more out of Washu tonight. There was nothing to do but watch Heero carry out his mission.

She saw him slowly make his way through dimly lit hallways, ducking into side rooms and closets to avoid the occasional enemy patrolling the interior of the building. He briefly paused in front of what appeared to be a floor layout that was posted on the wall, studying it for a moment before continuing on his way.

"So just how dangerous is this guy that Heero's after?" asked Ryoko.

Washu shrugged. "No more or less so than any other human. The guy does have military training, but I doubt it'll be enough to make him a match for Heero. Besides, the thug doesn't even know that Heero's infiltrating his compound; surprise is on your lover boy's side."

Ryoko blushed at that, but kept her gaze fixed on the hologram. Heero was making his way further down the building, and soon enough he was in what looked like a basement. His posture shifted as he focused on keeping a lower profile, and Ryoko could tell that there was a higher concentration of guards in this area.

She saw Washu's eyes narrow before she pointed at a man standing behind a table overlooking a map and giving orders to the men surrounding him. "That's his target."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "The geezer? He doesn't look like much."

"He's not," said Washu, "He's a smalltime rebel who happened to pull of one big strike and got Preventers to sic their top operative on him. It's enough to almost make you feel sorry for the bastard… almost."

Ryoko folded her arms as she assessed the situation. Heero was crouching in a corner behind some crates, poking his head out just long enough to observe his target. This wasn't like the setup in the warehouse; it was a much more confined environment, and Ryoko counted at least seven men as opposed to five, all with their sidearms strapped to their hips.

Washu smiled. "So, how will you play this one, Heero?"

Ryoko scowled at her. "This isn't a game, you know! He's in danger!"

Washu shook her head. "Only if he messes up… and trust me; he won't. He's far too good for that. These schmucks don't stand a chance."

She sounded confident, but that mattered little to Ryoko. All she could see was Heero, outnumbered and outgunned. Why had he and his partner split up for this mission? She would've felt a lot better if they were taking on their targets together.

Then again, that still wouldn't feel as good as actually being there herself to protect him.

"Damn it, Heero…" she hissed, "Don't do anything stupid…"

"I have the target in sight," Heero whispered, "He's guarded, but I can handle it. What's your status?"

What sounded suspiciously like a neck snapping was followed by Wufei's reply. "Just finished up with the sentries. I'm about to move on the group guarding the plutonium."

Heero nodded. "Once you've seized it, head for the rendezvous point. I'll see you soon."

"Copy that," said Wufei, "Good luck."

"Same to you," said Heero.

Ryoko watched as he reached for one of the pouches on his belt. Pulling out a fragmentation grenade, he took another peek out from behind the crates to judge the distance before priming the explosive. He then tossed the grenade, and it landed right on top of the map his target was so focused on.

Washu grinned. "Bullseye!"

Ryoko had to agree with her on that. The men gathered around the table only had a moment to register what they were looking at before the grenade went off. The combination of fire and shrapnel was utterly lethal at such a close range, and it shredded Heero's target along with his subordinates. The sound system Washu had set up muffled the blast, which was a good thing for Ryoko; she had no doubt that her ears would be ringing if it were as loud as the real thing.

As soon as the blast faded, Heero rushed out of hiding. Ryoko saw him raise his rifle and take down two men that had been standing at the edge of the room with headshots before they could even spot him. He was kneeling next to his target a moment later, checking the body to make sure it was indeed dead.

"Target eliminated," said Heero, "I had to make a bit of a mess, though."

Ryoko heard Wufei chuckle. "Figures. I've got the plutonium. On my way out now."

The sound of men yelling came from above, and Ryoko could hear footsteps as well. Heero turned his attention to the staircase he'd come down before and moved to cover, aiming his rifle where Ryoko assumed the enemy would appear. That staircase was the only way in or out; Heero was boxed in, but he still had room to maneuver and enough cover to give himself a fighting chance.

There was more yelling in a language that Ryoko didn't recognize, followed by a grenade being flung down the stairs. Fortunately, Heero appeared to have planned for that; his cover included several crates and a very thick concrete support column. He ducked to avoid the worst of the blast, then immediately came back up, aimed his rifle, and started firing. His first burst quite literally cut the legs out from under the lead enemy, and as the man fell into a rapidly growing pool of his own blood Heero swiftly transitioned to his next target. The enemy was trying to rush down as quickly as possible to overwhelm him, but Heero's disciplined trigger finger and devilishly accurate aim made that a case of easier said than done.

Of course, Heero's main weapon wasn't an advanced plasma pistol or rifle of the type that Ryoko was so used to dealing with in her encounters with law enforcement or rival criminals out there in the wild galaxy. Its ammunition was finite, and despite using short and controlled bursts Heero soon exhausted the rounds in his clip. The enemy had clearly been waiting for such a break because the survivors rushed forward with renewed intensity. However, Heero had apparently planned for that as well, because just before swapping out the clips he primed another grenade and chucked it. The explosive landed right in front of his opponents and literally tore them to bloody chunks and ribbons.

As soon as he was done reloading Heero brought his rifle up to bear again, but an eerie silence had fallen over the room. Ryoko watched with bated breath as he cautiously edged out of cover. His eyes never left the staircase, but it appeared that there was a pause in the enemy's assault. Either they had run out of men to throw at him, or they were trying to bait him into running right up the stairs and into an ambush.

"Shit," she hissed, infuriated at just how powerless she was to interfere, "Heero…"

She saw his eyes narrow, and she could practically see the gears grinding away in his mind as he considered his options. After a moment he charged forward, apparently deciding to take a chance and make a break for the surface.

"Come on, Heero," she heard Washu whispered, "Get out of there before it's too late."

Ryoko could feel her heart hammering away like a machinegun in her chest as Heero rushed up the stairs. Was he really in the clear, or was he running right into a trap? Would he be able to escape, or was she about to watch him get cut down right before her eyes without being able to do a damn thing about it?

He emerged on the ground floor a moment later, and Ryoko saw him immediately raise his rifle. It wasn't a moment too soon; following the gunbarrel, she realized that he was aiming at a trio of me who were rushing down a nearby hall. The three men brought their weapons to bear just as Heero opened fire. Even while in a rush and under pressure, though, Heero's discipline did not waver. He didn't go fully automatic, but laid into the enemy with short, controlled bursts. The lead target went down with the upper right quarter of its head reduced to blood and gore, while the second took two rounds through the throat. The third was hit center mass and dropped to the floor…

…but not before squeezing off a burst of his own on the way down.

Ryoko gasped as she saw blood suddenly appear on Heero's left shoulder. The impact barely seemed to slow him down, but the brief wince was enough for her to know that he'd definitely felt the hit. Rather than stop to check himself over, though, he went into a dead run, booking it the exit.

There was a pair of guards up ahead, but they barely had time to register Heero's approach before he gunned them down. A distinct 'pop' signaled that his suppressor had finally been burned out; any shots he fired from here on out would now be as loud as his world's primitive firearms typically were.

"Move it, Heero," Ryoko murmured, "Get the hell out!"

There was no way that he could hear her, of course, but from the pace he was setting his thoughts were clearly aligned with hers. The front door was just up ahead, but rather than go through it he suddenly veered to the left. Ryoko briefly wondered what he was doing before remembering that the front entrance was both guarded and well-lit; to go through it with the enemy on high alert would be suicide. Instead, Heero went into a nearby office, busted the window with the butt of his rifle, and leapt outside.

"Where are you?" he said as he hit the ground and raced away from the building.

"Almost to the fallback point at the southeast perimeter," Wufei replied, "What's your status?"

"On my way out," said Heero as he looked over his shoulder, "I made a bit of noise getting away, though. The enemy could pursue."

"Understood," said Wufei, "I'll try to find some high ground to cover you."

"Call the chopper," Heero ordered, "We might need a bit of heavy artillery."

"Roger that," said Wufei.

His wound didn't seem to be slowing him down, but Ryoko was sure that would change soon. She could only imagine the adrenaline that had to be flowing through him right now, and a fast heartrate would mean more blood coming out of his wound. She desperately wanted him to stop and at least apply some emergency field treatment, but there was clearly no time; she could hear men yelling in the distance and thought she picked up what sounded like an engine revving up.

As he sprinted across the open tarmac he brought his rifle up again and opened fire. Looking around hastily for his target, Ryoko saw a man slump to the ground next to an open-top military jeep. Another burst killed the driver of a second vehicle before he could get it into motion, but even with the limited field of vision provided by the ITECAMP's hidden sensors Ryoko knew that there were more where those two had come from.

"Wufei, what's your position?" said Heero, "I'm going to need that cover fire pretty quickly."

"Hong on," Wufei replied, "I'm almost set up. Chopper's thirty seconds out."

Heero nodded as he ran. "Tight, but should be good. They'd better be ready for ground-fire."

"They are," said Wufei, "All right, I've got you on my scope. Keep moving; I've got your back."

"Where is he?" asked Ryoko as she looked around.

"Probably still out of range of the ITECAMP," said Washu as she surveyed the hologram chamber, "No, wait… that's him! Up on the ledge!"

Following Washu's gaze, Ryoko saw what she assumed to be Heero's partner kneeling on a cliff that jutted over the half-rusted and mangled perimeter fence. Two large metal cases were right behind him, and he was sighting down the scope of a rifle that appeared to be the same type that Heero was carrying. Heero was heading right for him, but with the hit his shoulder had taken Ryoko didn't know if he could make the climb.

Come on, Heero, she thought frantically, you're almost there!

Slinging his rifle over his shoulder, the young man ran up the ruined husk of a rusted-out tank before leaping towards the cliffside. He hit the rock hard, and Ryoko winced as she thought of what that would do to his wound, but he still managed to get a firm grip and immediately began climbing. Up above, Wufei began laying down fire, using the same short, controlled bursts that Heero had demonstrated earlier. The men down below quickly began to fall, and despite the severity of the situation Ryoko could not help but be impressed by his marksmanship.

"He's good," she said.

"What did you expect?" Washu asked rhetorically, "There's a reason he was picked to work with Heero on this mission, after all."

Heero reached the top of the cliff a few seconds later. Not even pausing to catch his breath, he immediately grabbed his rifle and joined Wufei in raining fire down on the enemy. Men fell in rapid succession, but even with the limited field of vision Ryoko was given with the chamber's projectors she could tell that many more were closing in. It didn't matter how good Heero and Wufei were; they couldn't fight forever.

Her fist was clenched in impotent fury at the situation. Heero was wounded and heavily outgunned, even with the help of a highly skilled partner, and there was nothing that she could do to help him. She'd never felt anything close to this sensation before, and she absolutely hated it.

If I were there, I could wipe them all out and get Heero out of there in no-time, she thought, He wouldn't have even gotten hurt… DAMN IT, Heero!

There was a steadily growing mechanical sound in the background, and for a moment Ryoko feared that Heero's foes were bringing out some heavy artillery. However, she soon recognized the rhythmic thrumming of a helicopter's rotary blades; Heero's air support was moving in, and with not a moment to lose.

Even with the sound-muffling capabilities of Washu's gear, the sound of the chopper unleashing its potent firepower was almost deafening. A rain of bullets began shredding the front ranks of the enemy, while a hail of rockets practically obliterated everything else. The chopper rapidly descended, with Heero and Wufei already moving towards its landing zone.

"About time," she heard Heero mutter through gritted teeth as he pressed a hand over his wound.

Wufei nodded as the chopper door slid open. "Get in. I'll stay on the minigun until we're clear."

There was a high-pitched whirring sound as one of the twin swivel-mounted miniguns rotated back. As Wufei climbed into the chopper behind Heero he set the two metal cases on the floor and immediately turned around to take up position behind the weapon, flipping a switch that Ryoko assumed transferred control of the gun from the helicopter's pilot to him.

Meanwhile, Heero turned to the pilot. "We're in, and we've got the goods. Get us out of here!"

Ryoko couldn't see the pilot's face behind their helmet, but the voice that replied sounded female. "Roger that!"

As the chopper began to lift off, Wufei sprayed the surviving hostiles with the minigun. Meanwhile, Heero leaned back in his seat and grabbed a nearby first aid kit. Ryoko winced as he cut away the fabric of his jumpsuit so he could easily access the wound. Thankfully, it didn't appear that deep, but Ryoko was sure that it hurt like hell.

A few seconds later Wufei ceased fire and slammed the door shut. As the chopper rapidly gained altitude he made sure the two cases were secure before turning his attention to Heero.

"How is it?" he asked.

Heero shook his head. "Not bad. I've had worse."

Wufei chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose you have. Want some help?"

"It's all right," Heero replied as he began to clean the wound, "I can handle it."

Wufei nodded. "Okay. I'll contact the Director and let her know the operation was a success. I'll also give her a heads-up on your status; light wound or not, you know she'll want a report."

"Of course," said Heero, "Do what you must."

Ryoko leaned closer to look at Heero's wound. "Will he be okay?"

Washu nodded. "It's not severe, and he's tougher than most. It'll take a little time to heal, and it will leave a scar, but he should be fine."

Ryoko sighed with relief. "Good."

"Indeed," said Washu, and Ryoko saw that she was studying her intently now, "So, what do you think? You knew in the abstract what his job required; now you've seen it up close."

Ryoko's gaze returned to Heero's wound. "He's reckless. It doesn't matter how good he is; he could've gotten himself killed!"

"He's well aware of the risks that he takes," Washu pointed out, "That being said, I do agree with you there."

Ryoko shook her head. "How can he expect me to just sit back here safe and sound while he goes running off into danger like this? I don't care if he's got partners in Preventers; he shouldn't be going on missions like this without us with him. We can help him! I can help him!"

Washu nodded. "That I don't doubt one bit. However, he sees it as his duty to keep you and the rest of us away from danger. I disagree with his desire to do so, but I understand his feelings on the matter. After all, his superiors have been quite adamant on keeping our existence a secret for security purposes."

Ryoko's eyes narrowed; she was absolutely seething as she looked at the hologram. "They keep us safely out of sight, but they have no problem sending him out there to risk his life. That's not going to happen anymore."

For once, Washu looked genuinely worried. "Ryoko… I think you need to calm down. I doubt Heero would want you to get yourself so worked up over him carrying out his duties."

Ryoko clenched her fists. "He doesn't get a choice in the matter. I am done sitting on my ass while his bosses put him in danger!"

"Ryoko, hold on!" cried Washu in something that actually seemed close to panic, "If you go out there and reveal yourself, the consequences…"

"I don't give a shit!" she snapped, "If his superiors don't like it, then I'll deal with them myself! The next time he goes out there, I'm going with him, and if anyone tries to stop me they won't live long enough to regret it!"

"At least talk this out with Heero first!" she argued, "This'll affect him more than anyone else!"

"Oh, don't worry," Ryoko replied as she stormed out of the lab, "Heero and I are going to have a long talk when he gets back!"

Preview for next time!

Ayeka: Welcome back, Sir Heero!

Sasami: Sorry you had to miss New Year's Eve.

Ryo-Ohki: Meow!

Mihoshi: We saved plenty of food for you!

Kiyone: Rest up, you've earned it.

Washu: Indeed.

Ryoko: Heero! You don't get to pull that crap again! Next time you go out there, I'm coming with you!

Heero: Ryoko…

Ryoko: No arguing! I'm going, and that's final!

Azaka: Oh, my, where's this coming from?

Kamidake: I do hope it doesn't cause any problems going forward.

Sally: Well… this complicates things.

Washu: Next time, in Chapter Fourteen: No Need To Be A Hero!

Ryoko: So this is how it feels to be one of the good guys, huh? I could get used to this…

Author's notes: Originally, I'd only planned to have Heero go on one mission in this chapter, not really sure how it wound up being two. If any of you readers are Metal Gear Solid fans, then you probably recognized the ITECAMP as Washu's version of the iDroid from MGSV. It won't be the last shout-out to that game in this fic, either; the mission Heero and Ryoko go on in the next chapter is in Afghanistan, a key area from that game. Couldn't help myself, I love me some Metal Gear!

Also, I'm pleased to announce that this story's Earth segment will soon be drawing to a close. The Space Arc's on the horizon, and if Heero thought his life was crazy before, he ain't seen nothing yet!

Hope you liked the chapter! Please review!