Chapter 3

Heero crawled through the ventilation system, pausing at every vent to get his bearings.  There was air in there, so he had left his stuffy space suit at the entrance to the ducts.  He thought he heard something, like singing below him, and he stopped.  Yes, it was definitely humming, and it was coming from the room right below him.  Cautiously, he slid along the cramped space until he found the nearest grate. 

It was late.  He hadn't expected anyone to be up at this hour.  But maybe time was somehow different here on Mars.  His heart was pounding as he said a silent prayer, "Please don't let Zeches be there…."

He deftly removed the grate and looked down.  It appeared to be a hallway, and a quick glance in either direction told him it was empty.  He quickly dropped to the ground without a sound.

Heero opened the door in front of him quietly and caught a glimpse of her shimmering blond hair.  She was looking in the mirror, brushing her long tresses and humming softly.  He quickly shut the door again and leaned back against the wall outside her room.

His breath was ragged, and he wondered briefly if there was something wrong with the air in there, that he would run out of oxygen so quickly.  His heart was pounding in his ears, drowning out the silence all around him.  He closed his eyes and tried to focus on his mission.  He opened them again and any fear or uncertainty at his decision had vanished. 

*          *          *          *          *          *

It had been three days since the declaration that she was a traitor to all of ESUN.  Life as she knew it was over.  "What happened?" she asked herself for the hundredth time.  "I had enough votes when I left.  But nine months later, well, I guess loyalty is too much to ask these days."

Relena looked at her reflection in the mirror; she was a fugitive - banished from her home and her friends.  At least she still had her brother and Noin.

Thinking of her brother, she sighed.  Milliardo had taken the news hard.  But her life really wasn't so bad - no ESUN soldiers had appeared on her doorstep to haul her away, "Yet." She reminded herself, then pushed the thought aside.  She just needed to stay positive. 

She forced a smile and brushed her hair out, humming the song she and Heero had danced to, so long ago.  Her thoughts wandered to him and she wondered if he was happy.

Relena heard the door open and turned around, expecting to see Noin or Milliardo.  But the figure standing just inside her room was neither.  "Heero!"  She took in a sharp breath at the sight of him standing there, the light from the hallway illuminating his

silhouette, leaving his face in darkened shadows.

"Relena," his cold voice echoed eerily in the room.

She bowed her head at his tone, she knew this was no `social' visit.  Her golden hair fell forward to hide her eyes.  Underneath the single light in the room, she sparkled.  Heero wondered again at the lack of air in the room. She seemed to be breathing fine, but he was fighting for every breath.  Why?

"Relena, you can't do this.  I came to turn myself in," he said quietly.  "I am a Gundam pilot.  Hand me over to them."

"No." Her soft tone contrasted sharply with the fire that suddenly lit in her eyes.

"Relena." His voice sounded more urgent as he started across the room, "Turn me in."  He reached out and grabbed her roughly by the shoulders.

"No!" She tried to twist from his grasp, but he held her tightly.

"Whatever it is you think you're accomplishing by this, you're not doing me any favors." He was shaking her, trying to make her understand.  "I hate you, Relena!  I don't love you - not now, not ever.  Turn me in!"  He yelled in frustration.

She wouldn't look at him.  She heard his words, and knew he meant them. "NO!  I won't do it, Heero!"  His grip was bruising her upper arms as he continued to shake her.

Suddenly the door flew open, and Heero released her.  She staggered backwards a few steps before regaining her balance. 

Milliardo stood in the doorway and glared, "Yuy."

Relena called out to him in a calm voice, "Milliardo.  It's all right."  She moved across the room to where he was standing.  Her brother could see the tears in her eyes that she would never shed in front of ‘him’.  "Mr. Yuy will be leaving shortly," she continued quietly, her hand coming up to rest on the door.  He smiled faintly,

watching her gain her composure.

"I would like to have a word with him before he goes," he said addressing himself to Relena, but glaring at the dark figure across the room.  Heero nodded silently.  Milliardo turned and left.

She stood there a moment, looking at the closed door, then suddenly whirled around to face her sorrow. "You," she began.

Heero was startled.  He had never seen her so mad, or so beautiful.  Her whole complexion had changed to a lively pink beneath the lines of her delicate satin nightgown.  Her eyes glittered in the artificial light.  ESUN may have beaten her, but they hadn't quashed her spirit.  She was still fighting, even now.

"Why are you so angry with me, Heero?  Because of what I did? Or because I'm not as good a politician as you had expected me to be?"

"Relena, you're doing this for the wrong reason.  I hate you.  I will never love you.  Never.  Now turn me in, and stop this."  He couldn't decide if he was glad or not that she wouldn't look at him.  He was afraid his eyes would give him away.

"Heero, no matter what your feelings are towards me, I will never turn you in.  Not you or any of the other Gundam pilots," she said defiantly.

"Relena…"

She walked over to the door, and yanked it open - indicating he should leave.  "Go.  Hate me all you want, Heero.  But live to do so."

He glared at her in anger.  Damn she was stubborn!  Didn't she understand the sacrifice he was making?  He promised to protect her, and this was the only way he knew how.  Why wouldn't she just let him?  He wanted to lash out at something, but not at her - never at her.

Defeated, he strode quietly to the exit.  In the doorway, he paused and stared down at her face again. She was gazing at the ground.  He silently willed her eyes to look at him, to see that he didn't hate her; he could never hate her.  She just turned away from him and shut the door.

He stared a moment longer at the closed door, then bowed his head.  He fought the anger holding his body rigid, then walked down the hallway to meet with Zeches.

At the mouth of the hallway, there was a small sunken den where a television was set up across from a large couch.  Behind the couch was a bar area, which opened into the galley-style kitchen.  Four black bar stools sat in a small space between the bar and den.

Milliardo Peacecraft stood in the kitchen still in his boxers and robe.  He saw Heero and smirked.  "Would you like a beer?"

Heero crossed his arms and glared.  Milliardo went over to the fridge and pulled out two bottles.  He opened both, and handed one to his silent companion.

"You may not know it, but you just blew it."

"Did you just call me in here to gloat?" Heero asked in his usual monotone.

"No.  I was wondering if she told you what happened.  She won't talk about it with me or Noin,"  Milliardo said and then sat down on one of the barstools.

"Well, she didn't say anything to me, either."  Heero replied, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he tried to block out the scene he had just made in her room.  He took a swig from his beer and flopped down on the chair next to the older man.

"They won't kill her, you know," Milliardo said looking at Heero out of the corner of his eye.  "They talk big, but none of them wants to be responsible for killing the beloved former Queen of the World.  It would be political suicide.  She'll be fine, as long as she stays here."

"You should have better security.  It was way too easy to get in."

"Not too many people come out here looking for us.  I'm dead, remember?"

They sat there in silence for a few moments - each reflecting on their own thoughts.  Finally, Milliardo spoke again, "She believes you.  That you hate her.  You realize that, don't you?"

Heero looked over at the hallway leading to her room.  "Who says it's not true?"

"You spend all this time worrying about someone you hate?"  Milliardo

laughed.  "She can't see it, but I can."

Heero didn't respond.

"What did you really think you could accomplish?  Did you think she would turn you in?  That she could somehow get out of this `situation' by handing you over to those arrogant, paranoid wind-bags?"

Heero shrugged.

"Well, she can't.  And she wouldn't even if she could.  You know that.  So why are you here?"

"Who did it, Zeches?  Who betrayed her?"

"The delegates have sealed the vote, so I don't know.  If Relena knows, she's not telling me."  Milliardo looked at him.  "What would you do, anyway?  You have a life, now, don't you?  I thought Relena said you were going to college?  Just let it go.  You're out of her life now, go live your own."

Heero stood up and glared at him.  "She doesn't deserve this."

"No, you're right, she doesn't.  But what's done is done. So, go. It's what she fought for."

Heero turned and walked toward the hallway. 

"Oh, and Yuy!" Milliardo called out.  Heero stopped in his tracks.  "Thanks."

Heero whirled around to face him.  He saw the malicious grin on his old enemy's lips and flet his stomach turn.  "For what?"

"I was concerned."

Heero's face darkened.

"Since she's no longer a princess, I thought you might show up and try to take her away with you.  You know, offer her a new life, and finally admit your feelings.  Seems I was worried about nothing."