Chapter Two: Part One: Paintball and Espionage

 

Duo stalked toward the training room, muttering to himself. “Man, what a rotten thing to do to a guy!” He slammed the training room door with an aggravated palm as he stormed in.

           

Wufei was in the middle of a breathing exercise and Duo’s noisy entrance disrupted him.

           

“Wufei!” Duo’s eyes flashed as he approached him. “Fight me!”

           

Wufei stared at him. “Why do you want me to fight you, Duo?”

           

Duo clenched his fists at his sides. “I gotta let off some steam, okay? So, come on and just do me the favor and fight me.”

           

Wufei took fighting stance. “Okay. Just know you’ll be defeated.”

           

Duo held his fists in front of him. “Bring it on, pal!”

            

Wufei made a sweeping kick and knocked Duo to the floor. Duo scrambled to his feet and took a jab at Wufei, who blocked it easily. Wufei’s palm struck Duo in the ribs and Duo grunted. Duo stepped back and attacked Wufei again, rushing at him like a raging bull. Wufei rose in the air and with a swift kick sent Duo reeling.

           

The fight continued in the same manner. Duo laid into Wufei with blinded rage, each time being forced to the mat. Finally, Wufei stepped back, his hands falling to his sides.

           

Duo staggered to his feet, his internal organs cringing from the beating he’d received. He wiped the sweat out of his eyes and the blood from his mouth. “More,” he demanded, weaving as he lifted his fists again.

           

Wufei shook his head. “You’re too weak for me to fight. It is not victory to defeat someone weaker than I am.” He turned to walk away.

          

             “No!” Duo shouted, holding himself up with sheer willpower. “Wufei, come back! I can still fight!” But Wufei had already left.

           

Duo collapsed on the mat screaming, “Wufei!”

 

 

Heero’s eyes focused on the green blur glowing in the dimness. The clock shone – eleven o’clock. He blinked. “Did I sleep? Or was I unconscious?” His head pounded. HE lifted himself on his elbows and glanced around the room.

 

“Duo. He was here before – but when? And how long did he stay?” Heero rubbed his head. “Wait. Maybe it was a dream.”

 

He tried to stand and he felt so dizzy that he had to sit down. “Then maybe what he said - about Relena – wasn’t true.”

 

He tried again to get up and this time succeeded. “I’ve got to find out.” He made it to the door and left the room.

 

 

As Heero walked past the atrium looking for Duo he was met by Quatre. Quatre stared at him, looking concerned.

 

“Boy, Heero, you look terrible,” he remarked. “Are you okay?”

 

“I haven’t slept well,” Heero replied in a low voice, “and I’m… a little hungry.”

 

Quatre’s eyes held compassion. “I guess that’s why you’ve been acting so strange lately, huh? Well, if you’re really feeling bad you can come with me to the kitchen and Ill fix you something to eat.”

 

Heero hesitated. “You don’t have to go to any trouble, Quatre.”

 

Quatre smiled. “No, it’s okay. I used to do things like this for my sisters.”

 

He turned and Heero followed him to the kitchen. Heero sat down on a stool as Quatre fished through the cabinets. “Anything in particular you’d like to eat?” he asked.

 

“No,” Heero replied, “but I doubt my stomach can take much anyway.”

 

Quatre tossed him a piece of fruit. “Here. Try an apple. It’s light and it’ll give you energy.”

 

He sat down next to Heero as Heero bit into the apple. “I’m glad you’re eating, Heero. You really need your strength – especially now during all this war,” Quatre added. “You can’t afford to get sick.”

 

Heero’s stomach twisted angrily and finally accepted the nourishment. “Thanks for your concern, Quatre,” he replied.

 

Quatre smiled gently. “Listen, Heero, things’ve really been hard on all of us lately. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me, okay?” He gazed into Heero’s face. “I think we need to help each other out.”

 

Heero nodded. “I know where to find you.” He finished the apple as Quatre watched with satisfaction.

“Have you seen Duo, Quatre?” Heero asked, feeling much better now that he’d eaten.

 

“Not since breakfast,” Quatre replied. “Sorry.” He perked up as he thought. “ I could help you find him.”

 

Heero regarded him kindly. “No, that’s alright.” He rose and headed for the door, but he glanced once at Quatre before he left.

 

“Quatre’s a nice guy,” Heero thought as he took a short flight of stairs to the west wing of the mansion. “I wonder if he’ll be so nice by the end of this war….”

 

He walked past several doors to the training room. As he approached the door he heard the muffled sounds of combat inside. “I wonder who’s training? Wufei…, maybe Trowa.” He pushed the door open and walked in.

 

He scanned the matted floor, but saw no struggle. Then he glanced over and spotted a very battered Duo, stripped down to his black pants, pummeling the life out of a large punching bag. He nearly smiled at the sight, but didn’t. Instead he walked over looking as sober as always.

 

“So, here you are. Never thought I’d see you in here,” he remarked over Duo’s shoulder. “Who beat you up this time?” He eyed the punching bag.

 

Duo glanced at him and continued to murder the bag, looking quite flushed and angry. “It was – unh – Wufei! So – where’ve you been – all morning?”

 

“Why’d he beat you up?”

 

“I asked you first,” Duo replied, pausing to wipe away the streaming sweat. He turned to look at Heero and Heero had to stare at his numerous bruises.

 

“Wufei did a good job.”

 

Duo frowned, looking even worse. “Oh, cut I out and answer my question.”

 

Heero stared him in the face. “ It doesn’t matter where I was. Were you in my room last night?” His eyes revealed how disturbed he felt.

 

“Huh?” Duo stared at him oddly. “No, I wasn’t in your room. I stayed with Quatre last night.”

 

This didn’t ease Heero’s mind. “Never mind.”

 

Duo began attacking the punching bag again. “You know,” he said, “ since you – told me about that – dream you had, I’ve started – having dreams of my own!” He glanced at Heero. “They’re no – picnic either! I had to – go visit Quatre – just to keep from losing it!”

 

Suddenly he stopped, panting. “Heero, man, how do you stand it?!”

 

Heero didn’t respond.

 

Duo sat down on the mat, catching his breath. “Why’d you think I was in your room, anyway?”

 

Heero hesitated. “Nothing. Just – a dream,” he mumbled. “No one heard me screaming,” he thought, “- if I really was screaming.”

 

Duo looked concerned. “Hey, these nightmares of yours are really getting to be a problem, Heero. If you keep it up… you just might go insane!” He added, “as if you’re not crazy enough already!”

 

Heero frowned at the last comment. He turned to leave.

 

“Hey!” Duo called. “I thought you wanted to know why Wufei beat the tar out of me!”

 

Heero glanced back and Duo grinned. “Because I asked him to!”

 

Heero seemed impatient “Don’t be foolish enough to do it again.”

 

Duo met his eyes. “You’ll be happy to know that the Duchess and I are through.” He frowned. “I’ll be glad to get back to space where there aren’t any women!”

 

Heero looked a little less stern. “Maybe you’re not as foolish as I thought you were.” He added, “Why’d you fight Wufei?”

 

Duo shrugged. “The Duchess got me steamed.” He looked into Heero’s face. “Yeah, I know. It was totally stupid. Don’t know why I’d want to mess up this face over some girl.”

 

 

Trowa stood in the shadows at the beginning of a narrow hallway lined with windows. Ho one had seen him there – not even the Duchess or Duo as they walked past. At least he didn’t thing that the Duchess had seen him.

 

“So,” Trowa thought, “the Duchess has been spending time with Duo. I wonder what she’s trying to get out of him?” He stared at the door at the end of the sunlit hallway. “Obviously she’s already heard what she needed or she’d still be stringing hinm along…. I thought Duo was too smart for that.”

 

He glanced around the main hallway. The dining room was still as well as the front entrance to the mansion and the rooms that connected to the hall. There was no sound except for the ticking of a great clock in the hall.

 

Trowa stepped out of the shadows and faced the bright hallway. “There’s no avoiding it,” he decided. “If I get caught, I’m just speeding up the inevitable.”

 

He began to walk toward the door at the end of the hallway. The sunshine warmed his face as he walked past the tall line of windows. He stopped at the door and, taking a breath, reached for the knob.

 

“This has to be done.”

 

The door eased open with a whisper. Trowa kept his eyes peeled for the Duchess, but she was nowhere to be seen. Instead, before him stretched another hallway.

 

Trowa stepped inside and closed the door softly behind him. The hall’s red carpet and long draperies made him think of the Rommefellar foundation. He half expected to see someone dreddes in Rommefellar uniform come out of one of the doors and demand why he was there.

 

He looked around in the silence. Suddenly he heard a low murmur issue from one of the rooms. He felt his heart climb into his throat as he crept to the door. He crouched down and peered through the keyhole.

 

“I don’t know how long I can handle this, Dorothy,” the Duchess was saying to the glowing screen in front of her.

 

She was sitting at a desk with her back to the door and Trowa couldn’t see the face of who she was talking to.

 

“Patience, dear cousin,” a female voice responded. “It will all be over soon….”

 

“It’s such a shame…,” Duchess Kara continued. “I only wish they were on our side.”

 

“Now, Kara, you’re not getting soft are you?”

 

“Oh, heaven’s no!” she replied. “It’s just that this acting is killing me! I’ll be so glad when it’s over and I can be myself again!” She tossed her auburn hair. “It’s almost as if I’m becoming this syrupy little twit that I’m playing!”

 

“Kara, Kara,” the voice chided. “We’re relying on you to make this mission a success. Keep those pilot boys entertained just a little while longer, then Rommefellar will come in and take over. I’ll tell your comrades at Richter that you’re handling your part very well….”

 

The Duchess chuckled with a coldness Trowa had never heard before. “You do that, Dorothy,” she retorted, “and I’ll report to Rommefellar how you want to keep Heero Yuy for yourself!”

 

There was a pause and then Dorothy replied, “How unfair, cousin! You get to have all the fun! The least you could do is let me pick up after you!”

 

With that the screen went dark and Trowa realized he’d better make his getaway. He dashed quickly to the door he came through before he heard the Duchess approach. He slipped out into the sunny hallway and fled toward the atrium.

 

“Did she hear me?” he thought as he caught his breath among the concealing plants.

 

He heard footsteps in the hallway, walking into the atrium. “I guess I’m going to find out.

 

Duchess Kara entered the cluster of greenery where he stood. “I thought I heard someone in here.”

 

He watched her uneasily. She met his glance. “I must say, I’m glad it was you,” she added. “I’ve wanted to talk to you since you arrived, but you’re not that easy to find.”

 

He stared at her. “What do you want to talk to me about?”

 

She clasped her hands and smiled. “Oh, just how you like it here, what you think about the war and what you plan to do when it’s over.”

 

“I like it here as well as I can. I think the war is a ridiculous concept, but I intend to fight to help fix those horrible mistakes made by people who don’t even know why they’re fighting,” he replied. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when the war is over. I think it’s going to be going on as long as there are foolish people with great power.”

 

The Duchess seemed amused. “Bravo, Trowa. Your opinion of war is very accurate. I understand how you feel, you gundam pilots putting yourselves into battles you shouldn’t even have to fight.”

 

“Huh?” Trowa looked at her questioningly. “What do you mean?”

 

Kara smiled. “Well, everyone knows that the gundams are more powerful then any of Oz’s forces. With that power you pilots could live very comfortably - if you gained the right alliances.” She met his eyes. “You wouldn’t have to fight unless you wanted to.”

 

Trowa frowned. “Only an aristocrat would say something as foolish as that. The strong must protect the weak, Duchess. That is the only way to build a functioning society.”

 

The Duchess nodded. “You are very wise, Trowa, to be so young.”

 

“Age has nothing to do with it,” he responded. “It’s observation.”

 

Kara studied him. “I’d like to see you pilots in action,” she remarked with a glint in her eye. “With all this talk of war I’d like to see you do battle, Trowa.”

 

He stared at her, wondering what she’d been planning.

 

“I’ve scheduled a paintball war for this afternoon,” she added. “A little fun perhaps…, but still a battle. You pilots should feel right at home.”

 

She turned to leave. “That is all I want to say, Trowa. It’s been a pleasure talking with you.” With that she swept gracefully out of the room.

 

 

“Paintball!” Duo exclaimed as the five pilots met later in the study. “Cool!”

 

Heero and Trowa exchanged silent glances.

 

“When is she going to announce it, Trowa?” Quatre asked, glancing at Trowa from where he sat in a high-backed Victorian chair.

 

“Very soon, probably,” Trowa replied. “She wants to see the five of us together.”

 

“Prob’ly wants to see how great I am in battle,” Duo remarked, folding his arms behind his head. “ I don’t blame her.”

 

“I doubt that,” Heero spoke up with a frown. “She told Trowa, not you.”

 

Duo shot him a resentful stare. “That’s only because she gets too emotional when she talks to me.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Wufei, sitting indifferently by the door said, “ Someone’s coming.”

 

The five glanced toward the door as Duchess Kara entered the room smiling. “Hello, boys. Ready to fight?” She glanced around at each of their faces.

 

“You bet!” Duo grinned.

 

Heero frowned, his arms folded. “Fighting is all we know.”

 

“Well, then let’s off to the battlefield,” she smiled and turned toward the door.

 

Rising, the five followed her lead.

 

“Does she think this is really a war?” Quatre asked as they trooped down the hallway.

 

“It seems that way,” Heero responded, staring with great animosity at the Duchess’ back.

 

“I don’t know about you, spoilsport, but I, for one, am glad to get a chance to fight!” said Duo, stepping up next to Heero and Quatre. He glanced over his shoulder.

“What about you, Wufei?”

 

            Wufei glanced at him. “I look forward to seeing if the Duchess is as weak in battle as she is in spirit.”

 

            Duo grinned. “Yeah, she’ll be really sorry she asked us to fight her!”

 

 

            The six emerged at the back of the estate’s gardens, a wide forest stretched out behind them. Duchess Kara turned to face the five pilots, her back to the trees. She smiled. “Here we part ways, gentlemen.”

 

            She lifted a helmet onto her head. It had been sitting along with five others upon a low stone wall that skirted the forest. Underneath each helmet was a jumpsuit. She draped hers over her arm.

 

            “We will be splitting into two teams,” she added, “ the red and the blue.” She indicated a read band on the sleeve of her jumpsuit. “Heero, Trowa and I are on the red team.” She glanced at both of them.

 

            Heero glared at her coldly.

 

            “Quatre, Wufei and Duo are on the blue team.”

 

            The boys exchanged glances.

 

Heero reached for his paintball gun.

 

            “Yes, Heero, those are your markers.”

 

            He glowered at her, but she only smiled. “I don’t feel it’s necessary to tell you all that there is a penalty for tagging your own teammate.”

 

            Duo grinned, glancing at Heero.

 

            “Once you’ve put on your jumpsuits, proceed immediately to your team’s base. This game is called elimination. First team to eliminate all their opponents is the winner. – Blue team’s base is to the right. Red team’s base is to the left. Good luck!”

 

            Trowa could swear she had an unusual twinkle in her eye as she disappeared into the forest. The boys pulled on their jumpsuits and helmets, grabbed their markers and dashed off into the woods right behind her. The war was on.

 

            The blue team met beneath their flag in a fort made of earth and leaves. They huddled in a circle, designing a plan.

 

            Wufei glanced at Quatre and Duo. He wondered how he’d gotten teamed up with them. Inwardly he was thankful that it wasn’t with Heero.

 

            “I have an idea,” Quatre said, scribbling with his finger in the dirt. “We al know that Heero and Trowa are going to try to lose the Duchess and take us on their own. So, our biggest strength is unity.”

 

            Wufei watched him soberly. “If they’re going to do that we should defeat them one by one.”

 

            Quatre stared at his figures. “That’s what I’m thinking.”

 

            Duo stretched. “I don’t care what the plan is. Just promise me that I get to shoot the Duchess.”

 

            Quatre stared at him in surprise. “You can’t try to do it alone. We don’t want to risk you getting tagged!”

 

            Duo shrugged. “I’ll be fine. If you guys are looking out Heero and Trowa for me, I can go after the Duchess by myself.” 

 

            Wufei frowned. “I don’t trust that woman. I’m sure she had other reasons for suggesting this game besides entertainment.”

 

            Quatre dusted his hands off on his jumpsuit. “That doesn’t matter, Wufei. We should just try to play the best that we can and not worry about it.”

 

            He turned to say something to Duo, but Duo had left the fort and was slipping off in the direction of the red base. His marker was cradled close to his shoulder.

 

            “Duo!” Quatre exclaimed. “That’s not our plan of attack! You’ll be shot before you know it!”

 

            “Shhh!” Duo hissed over his shoulder. “It’s just a game! Besides, I’m good at this kind of operation, remember? They’ll never see it coming!” He winked and crept off into the trees.

 

            Quatre and Wufei looked at each other. “I suppose it’s just us following the plan,” Quatre sighed. “ Well, I guess it’s better than nothing.”

 

            They left the safety of the fort and headed toward the red base.

 

           

            At the red base the fort stood empty. The ground was hardly disturbed from the team’s quick arrival and departure. The three were already stealthily making their way through the forest toward the blue camp.

 

            Heero and Trowa crept carefully through the brush. Heero’s face was set in a determined frown. He turned his eyes to Trowa. “This is not a game. I don’t know what the Duchess is up to, but it’s more than just paintball.”

 

            Trowa returned his gaze. “She hides her intentions, but not well. She told me today that she wanted to see us in battle.”

 

            Heero began to head off in a different direction.

 

            “Heero!” Trowa called. “Where are you going?”

 

            Heero turned around. “I want to follow her. You keep playing.”

 

            Trowa nodded. “Alright.”

 

 

            Meanwhile, on the blue team, Duo had climbed into a tree and was sitting like a menacing bird of prey, surveying the forest. “Defeat waits for you like a vulture,” he whispered with a grin. “What a better way to prepare for a ground attack than from above?”

 

            The bushes rustled behind him and he saw Quatre emerge, completely oblivious to his presence, and dash past looking very anxious.

 

            “Hmph!” Duo murmured. “Wonder where Wufei went?”

 

            Quatre’s footsteps died away and Duo perched quietly, waiting.

 

           

            Heero followed cautiously behind the rustling ahead that he had identified as the Duchess. “Why bother to follow her at all?” he thought. “I should just confront her and let her know that I’m wise to her tricks.”

 

            Still something held him back.

 

           

            The Duchess continued to walk toward the blue camp, barely trying to conceal herself from enemy attackers. She could sense someone following her.

 

            “Heero,” she thought, “ most likely.”

 

She smiled. Things were going well. The pilots were reacting almost perfectly in accordance with what she’s expected.

 

Duo, sitting in his tree, heard a rustling coming toward him. As he peered through the branches, Duchess Kara emerged a few feet from his tree.

 

“Hah!” he thought in triumph. “Now’s my chance to make her pay!”

 

But just as he prepared to leap down from the tree he heard a voice from the bushes behind him.

 

“Drop your gun, woman.”

 

The Duchess stared at her ambusher and her marker fell to the ground.

 

“What?” Duo squinted through the leaves. “Is that Wufei?”

 

 

Heero pushed aside the brush. The Duchess stood under the tree in front of him as Wufei held his marker on her threateningly.

 

Heero seethed. “How dare you, Wufe?! She was my target!”

 

Wufei stood, hidden in the brush. “I’m tired of games, Duchess. Those who are weak fear confronting enemies directly.”

 

The Duchess only smiled – which Heero didn’t see. “Who said I was your enemy, Wufei? This is only an exciting exercise… not a real battle.”

 

Wufei’s eyes were cold. “I don’t trust you, woman, and nothing you can say can convince me otherwise.”

 

Heero couldn’t stand any more hiding behind bushes. He stepped into the learing, his marker cocked and aimed at Wufei.

 

“Heero!” Kara exclaimed when she saw him. “It looks like our team might win after all!”

 

He glared at her and within a split second had the marker aimed at her chest. “I was never on your team, Duchess.”

 

Duo, who had been watching all that time, chose that moment to jump down from his perch. He landed on the ground in front of them and when he rose he held his marker pointed at Heero.

 

“What the heck is going on here?!”

 

The Duchess’ eyes glittered with surprise. She hadn’t known he’d been sitting in the tree. None of them had.

 

Duo’s eyes were flashing. “Heero, I wanted to be the one to shoot the Duchess! And Wufei –!” He glanced toward him. “Where in the world did you come from?!”

 

Wufei didn’t respond. He held his marker firmly on Duchess Kara.

 

“You’re a little behind, Duo,” Heero remarked. “You’re not the only one who wants to shoot this deceiver.”

 

Suddenly a shot rang out from a marker being discharged a few yards away. There was a loud scream.

 

“Trowa!”

 

For a moment all of the teammates under the tree turned their attention in the direction of the shot.

 

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know it was you!”

 

The sounds came closer. The rustling of feet in the undergrowth proceeded the arrival of Trowa and Quatre.

 

Quatre was holding onto Trowa’s shoulder and Trowa was dripping with blue paint.

 

“Honestly, I didn’t mean to shoot you like that!” Quatre was declaring, looking very contrite indeed.

 

“It’s alright, Quatre,” Trowa said, wiping paint out of his eyes from where it had spattered after hitting his chest.

 

The two joined the others in the clearing. Quatre stared at their markers with were still aimed at each other. “What – what’s going on?” he asked.

 

Trowa caught Heero’s eye. He said nothing.

 

The Duchess chuckled. Wufei was glaring at her. “Just a little fun to liven up the game,” she smiled.

 

Heero frowned.

 

No one moved.

 

“Come on, boys, put your markers down. The game’s over.”

 

Duo reluctantly lowered his gun.

 

Heero did the same, still looking sour.

 

            The Duchess turned to Wufei. “It’s over now,” she repeated.

 

            He stared piercingly at her. “Yes, it’s over. For you.” He lowered his marker and let it fall to the ground. Then without another word to anyone, he walked away.

 

            Quatre and Duo were staring.

 

            Duchess Kara smiled brightly and picked up Wufei’s discarded marker. “He should learn to be a better sport.”

 

            Once back at the mansion, the Duchess disappeared as usual to her private quarters. The four pilots were left to entertain themselves. All went off to their own diversions until their hostess called for them again.

 

            Trowa went to the shower. Heero went to the shooting gallery and Duo went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Quatre, feeling deeply pensive, went for a walk in the gardens.

 

            As he strolled past the aromatic rose bushes under the warm sun he felt very unsettled. He gazed at the beauty all around him, but none of it eased his troubled heart.

 

            “Something’s wrong,” he thought as he walked. “I can feel it. I’ve known it since the first night, but I don’t know what it is.”

 

            Birds flew overhead and Quatre sighed. “I wonder how many of the others sense it?”

 

            He remembered what Wufei had told the Duchess under the tree. “He knows something’s wrong.”

 

He frowned. “Something’s very wrong.”

 

            As he trailed his fingers along the bushes he tried to imagine how the other pilots were feeling.

 

 

            Trowa had finished his shower and was making his way to the training room. He needed to think, and found it easier to let his mind meditate while his body was involved in a physical activity.

 

            He was surprised to see Heero waiting for him as he walked through the training room door.

 

“We need to talk,” Heero said.      

 

Trowa laid his gymsuit on a bench beside the training mat. “Sure, Heero. What’s going on?”

 

Heero frowned. “Wufei tipped the Duchess off today.”

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

Heero glared more fiercely. “Is he a fool?! You’d think he’d never discussed this with us at all!”

 

“Wufei has his own agenda,” Trowa said calmly.

 

Heero glared darkly and folded his arms. “He’s loyal to no one but himself. We can’t afford an attitude like that in this situation.”

 

Trowa looked at him pointedly. “Wufei knows what he’s doing, but he’s not a team player.”

 

Heero gazed across the training room. “Now we’ll have to explain all of this to Duo and Quatre.”

 

Trowa watched him thoughtfully as he slipped out of his street shoes. “We would’ve had to anyway, Heero. You know that.”

 

Heero was silent.

 

“There are things that they can do,” Trowa continued. “We all have to take part or we will die.”

 

Inwardly, Heero remembered his dreams and wondered whether a sooner would be better than what he’d envisioned. He stared at the floor.

 

Trowa finished dressing into his gymsuit and began to stretch out his muscles. “This’ll run as smooth as clockwork if we do it right. There’s a part for every one of us to play.

 

 

Duo had left the kitchen and was reclining in the lounge, quite satisfied and sleepy. He’d propped himself in a comfortable chair and was resting with a book on his lap. He was trying to read, but every time he’d stare at the page his eyelids would get heavy and he’d begin to nod off.

 

For once Duo didn’t want to go to sleep. He wanted to sit and think about what had happened during paintball – what he’d seen and what he’d heard. Things just didn’t add up.

 

He remembered sitting in the tree and watching Wufei, then Heero, both pull their guns on the Duchess. Then he, like a ridiculous dunderhead, tried to prevent them from shooting her because he wanted to himself!

 

“Man, I’m a dork,” he muttered to himself.

 

But what were they doing? Heero, of course, already hated the Duchess, so he would’ve shot her even if she were his teammate. Wufei, however, was another matter. From what he’d said to the Duchess, Duo knew that Wufei knew something – something very valid that he hadn’t said anything about.

 

 

A stray breeze rustled the leaves overhead. Wufei sat cross-legged on the sun-dappled ground beneath. He stared up at the sky.

 

“Nature is peaceful,” he thought. “So must I be.”

 

He took a long deep breath. Calming, clearing. Yet, he couldn’t block the flooding of his thoughts even if he could control the emotions that followed.

 

“The Duchess is a weaker adversary,” he thought. “She has made mistakes… and these will cost her her life. Her organization will not deceive Oz for very long.”

 

He stared into the shining foliage. “She is playing foolishness. Doesn’t she know that gundam pilots cannot be manipulated so easily?”

 

But what of the others?

 

“They don’t realize, but it’s just as well. The conclusion will be the same. Gundam will triumph.”

 

He allowed himself a small smile as he thought of ‘Nataku’.  “Yes,” he whispered. “We will beat them, Nataku. We will defeat them all!”

 

(to be continued…)

 

 

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