Trowa sat back against the wall and closed is eyes. Not once had it crossed his mind that something could happen to him. All he cared about was if Triniti got away. If she had gotten away, by some chance, then his sacrifice would be worth it. Only, would the other pilots accept her, and would she know where to find them? Also, what if she had realized he wasn’t at the cargo bay? Would she wait for him or try to find him?

The door to the cell opened, offering more light into the otherwise dim space. A dark shadow stepped into the cell as two guards waited outside the door. Trowa squinted into the light trying to determine who was his visitor.

"Mr. Bloom…er…Mr. Barton. So glad to see you haven’t suffered any major side effects form your scuffle," Javin only received a silent gaze from the prisoner. "Yes, well. I don’t suppose you remember me. It even took me sometime to recall our past encounters. Six years can really change a person."

"Javin, you’re wrong. I know you are and how we last met. That is the whole reason for my being here."

"Come, come, we know better. A certain young lady has caught your fancy, boy."

Trowa leaped to his feet despite the two pistols aimed at his chest. "Javin what have you done to her? If Triniti is hurt… in any way… you will have to answer to me!"

"Calm down, boy. Lovesick threats are often the hardest to keep," Javin crossed his arms. "Besides, I believe you have forgotten something from our last encounter. I have a new, improved Gundanium body."

"No, I haven’t forgotten, Javin," Trowa too crossed his arms and spread his feet apart. "you have trifled with me too long. Last time, you tried to use me as a model for a Gundanium body in order to infiltrate the pilots."

"Yes, yes," chuckled the commander. "Everyone thought I was dead. How surprised they must be to find out that I was able to download all my information into a new body before it was too late."

Trowa refused to satisfy Javin with any further remarks.

"Well, duty calls me again. We shall see one another again soon. Please, make yourself comfortable. It may be a while before I return."

As the door closed behind Javin, Trowa stepped forward, calling out, "Javin, remember what I said about Triniti!"

His only answer was the slam of the iron door.

The screen surrounding Heero glowed an eery green as he checked the monitors for statistics on the enemy. He flipped on the comm. system in order to give everyone their battle stations.

"Alright, Mei, enter through the cargo bay opening and see what you can find out about Trowa and whoever he is trying to help. Do you have the layout plans for the building?"

"Yes, Heero, I’ll go straight for the cell area and see if he is there first."

"Right. The toughest part will be getting through the bay area. The rest of us will start a surprise attack at other distant parts, but the army will be coming to the bay for their suits. Move quickly and keep us posted as to your position," the lead pilot pointed out.

Mei nodded over the screen, "Got it. Here I go."

Wufei watched her face over his open-circuit screen. He closed his eyes and silently willed her to be safe and careful. His thoughts were interrupted by Heero’s next command.

"Wufei, you need to guard the entrance where Mei goes. Don’t start anything there because that is probably where they will have to come out. Just guard it and be ready for any trouble."

The Chinese pilot nodded and turned to follow his wife’s Taurus suit.

Heero then turned to Quatre and Nari. "Quatre, you need to stay near Nari and the makeshift communication tower. You need to stay far enough away not to invite trouble, but near enough to keep the equipment safe. Nari, you will have to monitor as much of the battle at one time that you can. Also, keep me posted as to when Mei, Trowa, and this other person are safely out of the building. Any questions?"

"No," replied the blonde pilot. "Let me know if anyone needs some backup."

"I think we will be fine because the surprise is on our side. Hopefully, by the time they send out a full army, Trowa and Mei will be free, and everyone can work together."

Heero checked his screens once more and saw that Mei was inside the building with Wufei positioned nearby. Once more he spoke over the comm. system. "Arys and Duo, get ready. We are going to wait a few more minutes to let Mei have a good head start. Then go in for the attack. First round, conserve your ammunition; just make noise and a lot of confusion. We’ll need the ammo for the full scale, organized battle."

The other two pilots nodded in agreement.

The cell door opened once more letting a slab of light dart into the room. Two guards threw a limp figure onto the floor of the cell and banged the door shut again. Trowa knelt down beside the unconscious form, and his heart sank. It was Triniti. So she had not made it out. He could only guess what the remainder of the night held them.

She was unconscious, but not harmed. Taking off his jacket, he draped it over the still girl and pillowed her head on his lap. He gently smoothed her hair away from her face as he waited for her to wake up. Silently, he berated himself for leaving her alone again. Hadn’t he promised her never to leave without her? No wonder she thought he had lied to her all those years ago!

Mei cautiously made her way into the cargo bay keeping an eye out for other night prowlers. She knew the cell area was not far from the bay, but if there was any alarm given she would not be able to make it. Suddenly, to her left she recognized the hulk of the Heavyarms. It appeared ready for its pilot, but there was no sign of life around it.

Mei stepped out of the Tauras where she had hidden it near the Gundam. Tucking a pistol in her waistband, she patted her arsenal of bombs and C-4’s. Picking up a second handgun, she made her way out of the bay, keeping to the shadows as she moved along.

She had memorized the building’s layout so that she could easily find her way through the various hallways. The bay was located in the back of the west wing, while the cells were along another hall of the same wing. To get there she had to go through several doorways and passages. Just as she was about to turn down the hall leading to the prison, a murmur of voices caught her ears. When they seemed muffled by a closed door, she hurried in that direction.

A door, bearing a "Do Not Disturb" sign, unexpectedly opened. Mei barely had time to duck behind it before a tall man stepped out. She prayed that he would go in the opposite direction and never look over his shoulder.

"Dr. Talbot, have everything readied. It will take about 45 minutes before I am ready for the process to begin. I don’t want any slip-ups now. My patience is growing thin."

"Yes, sir. I will not disappoint you. This type of stuff happens to be my specialty," a voice inside the room nervously chuckled.

After the first man had disappeared down the hallway, Mei stood on tiptoe to look through the steel door’s square window. Inside, she saw a chair with metal clamps sitting near a blank computer screen. The person addressed as Dr. Talbot was bent over a tray with assorted needles and small bottles holding a clear liquid.

All this told Mei that some typed of interrogation was to be held in the near future. She shivered slightly as she looked up and down the hallway. She had to find Trowa soon, because most likely the room was being set up for him.

Triniti woke up cold, freezing cold. She closed her eyes again and tried to remember what had happened. Oh, yes. The Tranq dart in her office! But where am I now? It didn’t take her long to realize she was lying on something metal. But her head rested on something firm and warm, and something heavy and soft lay over her shoulders.

She knew she was in a cell, and now it was time to face the hard facts. Opening her eyes she saw Triton’s face above her. He had his head propped up on one knee. It was his other leg that she lay against, and his arm was resting on his coat, which covered her. She started to sit up, her worst fears coming to the surface. She violently shivered as the cold truth pressed in around her.

"Put it on," Trowa’s quiet voice startled her.

"What?"

"The jacket. Put it on; it will keep you warm."

"But what about you?"

"Nothing helps me."

The intensity of his voice shocked her into silence as she numbly shrugged into the jacket. She looked around the cell.

"How did they get you?"

Triniti stood up, " A tranq gun while I was in my office."

She was not sure how to take the mixture of concern and fierceness in his voice. Instead, she started pacing the room. As she turned back to Triton, she noticed the angry lump on the side of his head. "How did that happen?" she asked kneeling down beside him and gently touching the lump.

"Javin’s men. Apparently, they don’t know how to use a gun properly."

"I’m so sorry, Triton," she said so softly that Trowa barely heard her.

He stood to his feet and walked towards the far end of the room. "It’s not your fault."

"Yes, it is. Everything is," she responded, hanging her head to hide her tears.

Trowa watched her, fighting his own internal war. He desperately wanted to just hold her and tell her that everything would work out all right. He still loved her, but he was afraid to say too much. Anger at all that had happened in the last few minutes almost choked him. The precious few moments that he had held her in the lab seemed like ages ago. How did she feel towards him now? Would she be angry again that he had let this happen to her?

Taking a deep breath, he approached her, "We don’t know when they’re coming to get us, so we need to talk."

Triniti looked up at him helplessly, "Where do we start?"

"Well, my name isn’t Triton Bloom."

Hoping to calm herself, she stood up and began pacing the room. Trowa watched her and then continued. "It is Trowa Barton."

Triniti stopped and turned to face him in disbelief. "Trowa Barton?" she whispered. "But how…?"

He drew a hand through his hair before letting his hand fall back to his side. "Yes, that is why Heero called me Trowa in the garden the night of the ball. Didn’t they tell you when you found out I was a spy at the Barton Foundation?"
"No, well, maybe," Triniti shook her head as she went over to the corner and slumped against the wall burying her head on her arms. "I guess I just didn’t listen. I was busy doing those tests for my father, and then trying to convince him that he couldn’t use the Serpants to initiate a war."

"Well, that isn’t even my real name. I… well, this sounds crazy, but I forgot my real name. I lost my memory once, and that was one of the things I never regained. I was given that name to use, so everyone just has just called me that." He stopped as a small sob shook her frame. "Triniti?"

When she continued to cry softly in response, Trowa knelt beside her and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "What is it?"

He waited as she regained some of her composure. Then she lifted her head with tears streaming down her cheeks. "Trowa Barton? That was my older brother’s name. The one who piloted the Heavyarms."

"He was? I was asked to pilot the Heavyarms after he died. I was there when he was killed. I’m sorry, Triniti, but he and your father were wrong about how to use it. Since I was so young and couldn’t remember my name, they gave me his and the new mission. But how did you know he piloted the Heavyarms?"

Wiping at her eyes, she slipped out from under his touch. Trowa stood and turned to see her standing in front of the door with her arms wrapped around her chest. He waited, sensing her hesitancy at telling him something.

"I designed the Heavyarms. It was my first real design. It was a little bulky and slow, but I designed it to have the most firepower possible. I planned to pilot it one day and surprise everyone," she turned around to face him again. "But my father found out early. He thought that since I was a girl and so young, I shouldn’t pilot it. Instead, he gave it to my older brother to try out. He talked me into doing more designs for him. I agreed to because I so wanted him to need and appreciate me—maybe even love me."

Trowa’s heart ached for her. He heard none of the cold, bitter Triniti of the past few weeks, only the gentle, kind tone of the sketcher he had fallen in love with six years ago. He wanted to take her in his arms, but something told him to wait.

"You know the rest. My brother was killed over an issue about the Heavyarms, and the Heavyarms was stolen by some scientists. I was devastated because Trowa was the only one who loved me for what I was, the only one who understood me—until you came along. After my brother was killed, my father buried himself in the Foundation and used my designs without telling me what he planned to do with them. That’s when you came into the picture, and I told you everything else back then."

"I never knew until I saw the Heavyarms’ plans on your laptop. I wondered why they were there," Trowa walked closer to the weeping girl.

"I’m sorry I never told the whole truth," she whispered with her head still down.

He gently lifted her chin and began wiping away the tear streaks. "There was no need."

"You aren’t upset with me keeping things from you?"

"No, because I understand that there are things you have to keep to yourself. I just want to help you if you ever need to talk about them."

Triniti almost threw herself into his arms as a flood of relief and new love washed over her. After everything she had said and done, he had remained with her, and his love had never faltered. "Why do you still love me?" she asked as she moved her arms up to his shoulders.

Trowa regarded her face for a moment trying to sum up years of feelings for this lovely woman in his arms. "Because, you are a kind, loving person who has denied herself so much, including a wonderful part of herself. You saved me from a lonely, terrible fate years ago; one I had imposed on myself. I found that I couldn’t live without you."

"Do you still feel that way?"

"Would I be here if I didn’t? Yes, Triniti, I love you dearly."

Triniti melted into his arms as fresh tears formed in her eyes. She was so undeserving of this man, but if he could still want her, the she was more than willing to be his forever. Trowa wrapped his arms protectively around her and held her close, waiting for her tears to subside. When she had quieted, he turned her face to his and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Triniti pressed closer to his chest feeling his arms tighten around her. He was right, she was the only one for him. Ever since the day they had met in the hallway of the Barton Foundation, they had been drawn togethermagically. Now, her response told both of them that he had been right; she was all his without reservation.

As they sat in the floor, Triniti was content to rest in his arms with his chin on the top of her head as he ran his fingers through her hair. "Tri… Trowa," she laughed softly. "I don’t know which to call you. I’ve only known you as Triton, but if your real name is Trowa, I suppose I need to call you that."

"It doesn’t matter to me. Either one sounds sweet on you tongue. Does it bother you to call me Trowa?"

She was silent for a moment. "No. The two people I have loved most were named Trowa, so I think I will call you that."

"That’s fine. Trin, do you remember when we would read together?" he continued after feeling her move her head against his chest. "I can remember one stanza that fits this perfectly."

Triniti listened closely as his deep voice resonated in his chest.

At those tremendous words, "Let there be light!"

"Oh, Trowa…" she started, but was interrupted when the cell door opened and Javin, followed be Dr. Talbot, stood in the door way.

"Now, isn’t this sweet!" Javin remarked. "Excuse the interruption. Let’s go Trowa, you’re first."

Trowa went to stand up, but Triniti kept her hands around his arms. "Let me go first," she pleaded softly.

"No," he replied firmly, standing to his feet this time.

"Trowa, please. Let me go in your place," she stood and grabbed his arm, trying to turn him towards her.

"No!" he repeated, refusing to look at her.

Triniti let go of his arm and took a step in front of him. "I’m ready, Javin. It’s me you want, let him go!"

"Triniti!"

She shook her head, "If they kill you and still get the information out of me, I couldn’t live with myself. Besides," she said softly, turning to look at him. "This is the only way I can make up for how I have treated you."

The two men watched the scenario with exasperated expression. Finally, Javin spoke up, "Well, if Miss Barton so wishes to go before you, we can arrange that."

Trowa looked hard at Javin, then softening his expression leaned close to Triniti. "Stay alive, my love. I’ll come for you."

She started to protest when she caught the intenseness in his eyes. He would save her! All she had to do was trust him and hang on. "I love you, Trowa," she whispered.

Trowa bent to brush her lips with his. Triniti reached to embrace him, but found herself roughly pulled away. Before he could react, the door clanged shut, leaving him alone and colder than ever.

Triniti was shoved roughly into a chair with metal clamps, which snapped around her ankles and wrists. As they had entered the stark white room, the other man had torn Trowa’s jacket from her before pushing her into the chair. Javin stepped into her line of vision and reguarded her with a look of pity.

"My dear Miss Barton, allow me to introduce my new assistant. This is Dr. Talbot," he waved to the second man. "He is taking Dr. Kegans’ place since he unfortunately is unable to be with us. I am truly sorry to have to end that tender scene with Mr. Bloom, or should I refer to him as Mr. Barton," He looked away thoughtfully. "Oh, well, so many names for so few people. But regardless of all that, Dr. Kegan is dead, thanks to you two, and I intend to execute him for that. But first I need some information."

Dr. Talbot stepped up beside the chair and jabbed a needle into her arm. She tried not to flinch and immediately started putting up mental shields to protect any information that he might want. The only thing she allowed to go through her mind was common knowledge facts. She could feel the cold serum move through her body. Desperately, she fought to concentrate on keeping a clear mind when she felt the electrodes being hooked up to her temples so Javin could see what was going through her brain. Javin pulled up a stool and sat down across from her. Triniti stared a cold, hard look at Javin, daring him to go on with his plan.

"First, of all I want the specs for any mobile suit you have ever built."

When she didn’t respond, Javin glanced at the screen to see that it was black. "Is that on?" he growled at one of the techs.

"Oh, it’s on," Triniti told him with a rebellious grin.

"Hit her with another dose."

She put up another mental wall around more mobile suit designs. The Oracle and Heavyarms were safe; she would sooner die than give up those. The Serpants II were safe as well. She was glad that it had been so long since she had worked on those. She was about to tuck the specs for the newer dolls when Javin’s voice broke into her concentration.

"Come now Triniti, tell me. It will go much easier for you if you just comply with my requests."

Triniti continued to stare at him, although she could feel her eyes beginning to glaze over. "No!" she muttered.

"Another shot, doctor!"

Triniti could feel herself slipping as the third shot began taking effect. She mentally kicked herself and put the newer designs behind another wall.

"Triniti," Javin’s voice was threatening now.

"No," she persisted through clenched teeth. Suddenly, Javin slapped her across the face. Triniti felt her control slipping. Javin watched as a memory of one of Dekim Barton’s speeches came up on the screen. Realizing he was getting some response, he hit her again. Another memory surfaced—an archery lesson. Another hit, another memory—Trowa. Javin stood back and watched this one, even though there wasn’t much to see. Trowa was working on a mech and Triniti had been sketching him without his knowing.

Javin ordered another dose. As soon as that took effect, Javin slapped the almost comatose woman again. Finally, s few specs began running across the screen. "Are you saving this?"
"Yes, sir!" answered the doctor gleefully.

"Wonderful," commented Javin, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.