Heero looked at the clock on his screen. "Let’s go!"

"How are we going to get their attention?" Duo interrupted.

"Just walk up to the gates, and your Gundam will get enough attention!" Arys answered him.

Duo took that as an order and walked straight for the front gates. As soon as the Deathscythe loomed in front of the iron structures, guards poured out with their machine guns raised. Duo laughed and made one swipe with his energy scythe as their guns began sputtering.

Heero and Arys each took on guardhouse as their targets. Soon the dark, quiet night was ablaze with swinging spotlights and blaring sirens. The three pilots continued their walk into the Chiasmus grounds. Every now and then one of them would let loose a round of fire shattering some obstacle in their pathway. Just as Heero planned, it was more noise and confusion than mass destruction.

Trowa paced around the cell like a caged lion, wondering when his friends were going to get there. Every second that ticked by was on second too many for Javin to have Triniti. He didn’t want to even think about what was happening to Triniti; it only made him more impatient. Then he heard the familiar hiss of a C-4 and watched the door explode open. Mei stepped through the door with gun in hand.

"Glad to see you again, Trowa," she greeted him, tossing him a gun. "Ready to leave?"

"We have to get Triniti. Javin has her ."

"Follow me. I think I know where they are."

Trowa pushed passed the shattered doorframe. Even though Mei was supposed to be leading him, she had to sprint in order to keep up with his long strides.

"It’s only you?" he asked, never looking at her.

"It’s just me; the others are starting the surprise attack. We need all the help we can get."

Trowa nodded as his forehead furrowed deeper. "Heavyarms and Oracle are in the cargo bay.

"Now, Triniti, I have only one more request. This one is perhaps a bit more personal. I want all the information you downloaded and then erased from my file on the Gundanium bodies."

"How…did… you know?" she asked fighting to stay alert and in control of her thoughts. She knew she had already lost many of the mobile plans, but she tried to keep back the most important ones. Unwillingly, she felt the information that he wanted slip to the front of her memory.

"Ah, my wonder engineer, did I not tell you that all your doings were reported to me sooner or later? It just so happened I needed that file the other day, and sadly it was missing. Clumsily on your part, you forgot to erase all traces of your night’s deed. My computer keeps track of all accesses and work down on the files."

"I… can’t remember… all that. I’m sure you…. can recall more… than I can."

Javin backhanded her again for an answer. As her head snapped backwards, she felt everything start to go black. Out of the murky mists around her head came Javin’s harsh voice again.

"Don’t give me that, you scum! I want all you know, and I want it now! If you don’t tell me, I definitely will make you suffer!"

"Uh, sir, " Dr. Talbot interrupted nervously.

"What is it?"

"The alarms are going off in the building. I just got the message that we are under attack!

"Attack!" screamed the commander. "Who is it?"

The small doctor licked his lips, "I think it might be the Preventer force. The reports say several huge mobile suits, like Gundams, are approaching the front of the building now."

Javin swung around and looked down at the almost unconscious Triniti. "Leave her as she is. We’ll be back to finish this after I make some assessments and give some orders!"

Trowa paused at the closed door with the "Do Not Disturb" and looked at Mei. She nodded her head slightly for him to kick it in. Mei studied the hallway as the splintered door gave way. Trowa stepped into the lit room with his gun drawn. No one was there except Triniti slumped in a chair.

The pilot took in the humming computer with the most recent specs still on the screen. His eyes traveled from the tray holding several used syringes to the electrodes attached to Triniti’s temples. He started toward the chair with fury in his eyes.

"Watch the door!" he said over his shoulder to Mei.

Trowa aimed his gun at the central lock that controlled the metal bands holding the unconscious girl in the chair. After one shot, the bands loosened, and the pilot tucked his pistol into the waistband of his jeans. Carefully, he eased Triniti to the floor as he checked her breathing and pulse. It seemed she was unconscious, but unhurt. As he watched her face, he saw the livid mark on her check where a hand had struck her repeatedly. Trowa did not have to guess who had caused that; the sight only made his eyes colder with anger.

He reached to brush a stray curl from her check in order to see the bruise better. It was red now, but he knew that it would turn an angry blue-black in days. As his hand neared her face, Triniti’s eyes moved, but then she flinched. He quickly pulled back his hand, hurt that she should ever have reason to fear his touch. Inside, he knew it was because the last thing she remembered must have been Javin hitting her, but the simple movement stabbed at his heart.

When the blow never came, Triniti again opened her eyes. She waited for them to focus. Instead of seeing Javin’s hard face before her, she saw Trowa’s pained eyes searching hers. "Trowa!" she whispered hoarsely. "You did come for me."

Tears forced their way out of the corners of her eyes as Trowa gently gathered her in his arms. "Yes, my love. I told you I would, and now I am here."

Mei watched the scene from the doorway. She had often seen Trowa tenderly care for Hana when she had fallen or gotten hurt. But the compassion of the moment surpassed anything she had ever witnessed before. Fearing that the threatening tears would start falling, Mei turned back to watch the empty hall.

"Are you okay?" Trowa whispered into Triniti’s ear.

"Yes, I think so. Oh, Trowa…."

"What? Triniti, did he hurt you?" Her fresh sobs alarmed him.

Triniti sniffed as she tried to stop crying. All the stress and terror of the last few hours was beginning to drain her. She just wanted Trowa to hold her and let her cry.

"Tell me, love. It’s okay."

"Oh, Trowa. I tried so hard, but they still got the most recent plans for the mobile suits! I don’t think they were able to get anything about the Heavyarms or the Oracle, but I just don’t know anymore. I couldn’t think or…or…" again the tears choked off her frantic whispers.

"Shh, don’t worry about it. I’ll fix it so they won’t have anything," Trowa carefully laid the girl back onto the floor and stood up. Walking over to the computer, he put a bullet through the screen and another through the modem.

At the sound of the shots, Mei’s attention was drawn back inside of the room. The look she saw in her fellow pilot’s eyes shocked her. The man, who just moments before had so lovingly held a crying girl, was now blowing up an inanimate object with unbridled fury written across his face!

"Trowa, we need to go. They could be back any minute now," she quietly tried to get his attention.

Trowa stared at the damaged machine, and then turned to look at Mei as if she were a stranger. Silently, he nodded and knelt beside Triniti. "I’ve got to get you out of here. Can you make it?"

"Yes, as long as you are here now."

Satisfied, the man picked her up and began walking out of the room. Mei stepped into the hall and waited for Trowa to lead the way. He never looked in any direction except straight ahead. Even with the girl in his arms, Mei had to run to keep up with his long strides.

"Trowa, put me down! I’m too heavy for you carry," Triniti tried to struggle in his arms.

He looked at her and replied with a hint of a smile, "You know, you are quite stunning when you’re half dead!"

"If I could move, that would have earned you a slap in the face."

Contentedly, Triniti snuggled closer in his protective arms and encircled his neck with her hands. She smiled softly as they moved along the darkened passageways with wailing sirens in the background.

"Trowa, is there another suit she can use to get out of here?" Mei called ahead.

"She doesn’t need a suit."

"But you can’t take her in the Heavyarms. There isn’t room for two."

"No, she has her own Gundam."

As Javin entered the control room, the officer at the panel turned to face him.

"Sir, three of them have attacked the main entrance."

"Deploy the units of mobile dolls, man!" Javin ordered.

The officer blinked in surprise, " I thought you said they were flawed and useless."

Javin regarded him with a cold stare, "They are, but they will buy us time until we get more organized. Now, obey my orders immediately!"

The officer turned back to the panel of controls and hastily called for the preparation of the mobile doll hosts. Javin wandered around the room looking at the updates and damage reports. He barely concealed his impatience at the ineffectiveness of the flawed units. He would use all of those first before sending out his regular army. And, if all else failed, he was prepared to go out in the battle himself. What was the good of a Gundanium body if one never used it?

Mei was thankful when she finally saw the massive hulk of the Heavyarms loom in front of them. So far they had made it without any trouble. Now they just needed to get in the suits and make it out. She was still curious about the girl’s Gundam. She never knew that anyone besides the six pilots had a Gundam.

Trowa set Triniti down next to the tall, white Oracle. Even in the faint light of the cargo bay, the golden highlights glistened as if ready for action.

"The Oracle," breathed Triniti as she looked at the machine lovingly.

"Can you make all right?" Trowa asked watching her eyes as they traveled over the inspiring Gundam.

"Yes, I’m feeling better already. Once I’m in the Oracle, I’ll be just fine." Turning to look at him, she smiled, "Thanks, Trowa! I love you so much!"

He bent and kissed her. As she held him a moment longer, he whispered against her ear, "Be careful, I don’t want to lose you again."

Mei climbed into the Tauras waiting for them to finish. She watched as Trowa waited until Triniti disappeared into the Oracle, then he turned and entered the Heavyarms. He motioned Mei to go out first, then Triniti with him bringing up the rear.

Heero dropped back away from the line of fire Arys, Duo, and he had created with the advancing mobile dolls. Quickly, he thumbed on the screen to see how the others were doing.

"Wufei, any sign of Mei or Trowa?"

"Not yet. It’s still pretty quiet over here. I’m just waiting for it to get crazy any minute now."

"Fine. As soon as they get out, we need backup over here. Quatre, you’re going to have to come and help out. Stay between us and Nari, but it’s getting a bit tight right now."

"Right, Heero. I’m coming."

Heero rejoined the other two pilots at the entranceway just as the last of the approaching dolls exploded from a direct hit from Arys’s Shiv rifle. The three stepped back to recharge, when their attention was drawn to the side of the building. Mei had just emerged to be greeted by Wufei.

"Mei, take Quatre’s place near Nari. Wufei and Quatre circle to our left and attack that side," Heero gratefully reorganized his battle plans.

"Say, look what just came out with the Heavyarms? Talk about a match! Yo, Adrian, where’d you come from?" Duo whooped over the comm..

Forgetting the battle for a few minutes, the pilots watched as the white and gold Gundam shimmered in the glare of the spotlights. The two emerging Gundams headed straight for the line of new dolls pouring out of the building. The faint light from the cargo bay opening was momentarily blocked by a dark mass. Then, moving into the sporadic glare of the battle-fire, the mass became sharply defined. The build was very similar to that of the Heavyarms, but this one had a lighter appearance. The brilliant white metal reflected the scattered light as the golden highlights glittered. Its eyes matched the gold of the trim making it appear to be permanently on the Zero system. Each shoulder held a Vulcan cannon while twin Swiss knives extended from each wrist. Across its back hung a large crossbow just above the rocket ports used for propulsion.

The Oracle moved with uncommon ease and agility. Its arm and leg joints were flexible enough to accommodate almost any stance. When the cloaking device was activated, the machine shimmered out of sight in a cloud of golden sparks. Against the darkened sky and angry flares of light, this machine presented an awesome impression.

Unsheathing her twin Swiss knives, she met the first doll in her path. It effectively blocked her thrusts, seeming to anticipate her moves. Soon the two machines were locked into a death struggle. The range was too close to use her Vulcan cannons, so she had to make do with the knives. Crossing her blades, Triniti managed to stop one of the doll’s arms from crashing into her. The arm rested on the knives where they intersected each other, evenly increasing the pressure on them. The doll’s strength surprised her; she had never fought one hand-to-hand, so she was not prepared for its overwhelming power. Straining to shove it back, Triniti remember she had designed this doll.

"It’s flawed! What am I doing fighting with it? One kick, and it should topple."

Triniti carefully balanced the weight of the Oracle on one foot. Picking up the other, she kicked as hard as she dared at the doll’s knee. The knee joint suddenly gave way as the bolts snapped in two. As the doll swayed, its pressure on her arms lessened. She waited until the doll had almost fallen, then with the upswing of one of the knives she cleanly severed the doll’s head from its body. Not even stopping to watch the heap of sparking wires, Triniti pulled the Oracle into a high jump.

She turned on her cloaking device as she saw another advancing host. This time she would use a surprise landing. Putting away her knives, she swung her energy crossbow from her back. The approaching dolls never hesitated even when a crouched Oracle shimmered into shape before them, a golden arrow radiating on the bow. Pressing the release button, the beam hit home in the middle of the host. There was a blinding flash of light as the energy from the arrow consumed the metal dolls. Quickly standing to its feet, the Oracle cleared out the remnants of the host with a round of fire from the Vulcan cannons in its shoulder.

"Heero, did you see that? That Gundam looks like an avenging star from some other world! It moves so airily and just appears then disappears, " Arys commented over the comm..

Duo snorted in reply, "Yeah, and it has a cloaking device, too."

Heero answered shortly as he dispatched a mobile doll with one blow of his sword. "As long as the devastating energy arrow is aimed at the Chiasmus army and not one of us!"

Triniti looked around her as she waited for her crossbow to reenergize. She could make out the Heavyarms just in front of her. It was fascinating to see her first creation in action. Trowa stood facing another detail with both Buster rifles flaring. He moved very little, and yet dolls were dropping left and right in every direction.

BEEP! BEEP!

The Oracle’s sensors had picked up an enemy suit off to her right. It was too close to plan an attack, so Triniti struck out with her Swiss knife. The blade ripped through the middle of the suit. Triniti watched her screen as the dissected machine fell to the earth.

"Trowa," she called over her comm. "These are the Javin’s suits. They won’t have any of our flaws, so be careful!"

The rest of the pilots heard her warning as well. All the comms were open-linked to each other, and Triniti’s was on the same frequency.

Eventually, the Gundams fell into a formation. They formed a string of power along the front of the Chiasmus building. The Heavyarms and the Oracle were to the right and slightly in front of the others. Duo and Wufei were reeking havoc with their specialties off to the left of the line. Heero and Arys worked in unison in the center of the arrangement, while Quatre and Mei guarded the control center and took care of any stragglers that managed to break through the ranks.

A lull in the action allowed the Gundams to fall back and regroup. They waited as no more hosts issued from the building. Heero scanned the surrounding area littered with shrapnel and sizzling wires.

"Trowa, is that all the fire power Javin has?"

"I’m not sure. He doesn’t have much, but it could be a trick to catch us off guard," Trowa answered as he too surveyed the area warily.

Then from the front, charred whole that had once been the main entrance, Javin Lowe stepped out into the predawn air. He held a glowing sword that cast an eerie gleam across his face. No one said anything for a moment, then Trowa had the Heavyarms to kneel so he could climb out. He was not far from the control tower, so Nari shouted to him.

"Trowa, wait. Take this; it’s Alumna, the only thing that can penetrate his Gundanium body."

Trowa looked at her before asking, "Are you sure you don’t want to handle this yourself?"

"No," she shook her head. "It’s your battle now; I’m no longer involved."

He searched her face once more before grasping the glowing sword in his hand. Setting his eyes he walked onto the field as Javin awaited his approach. Javin threw back his head with a laugh, "So you are going to try to keep those lovesick threats, are you ---boy! Well, let’s see how good your word is."

Triniti leaned forward in her harness, "No, Trowa! He’s in a gundanium body!"

"It’s okay, Triniti," Nari’s calm voice broke through. "The sword he’s carrying can pierce gundanium."

Triniti still sat on the edge of her seat afraid to watch the fight, and yet scared of missing something. Slowly, she readied her crossbow again. If anything should go wrong, it would be the next thing Javin saw!

Trowa stepped up and waited for Javin to make the first move. He knew Javin was an expert swordsman, but Trowa hoped to get him nervous enough to make a mistake. Javin waited, too, testing Trowa’s nerves. Suddenly, the commander lunged forward. Trowa stepped to the side and turned the other’s blade with his own. Javin swung back around with a roar of anger. This time the swords met with a clash and sparks. Both men glared in the other’s face before breaking apart. Trowa knew his only chance was to stay on the defensive.

The other pilots watched as the two men seemed to practice a deadly exercise of precision. Trowa held his ground barely warding off every blow Javin sent his way. Each jab grew wilder and more vicious, but Alumna would glance off the other sword leaving Trowa unscathed. Finally, Javin made a lunge at Trowa. The pilot jerked his blade into a desparate upswing. Alumna caught Obsidian mid-blade. In a shower of sparks, the blades grated against each other until the hilts met. Javin’s sneering face was framed by the two pulsing lights. He waited as Trowa braced himself against the Gundanium strength. Then, Javin pulled back his fist and delivered a stunning blow to Trowa’s face.

Trowa reeled backwards, trying to clear his head. At first all he could do was avoid Javin’s rain of blows. Tired of retreating, though, Trowa spread his feet to gain a wider base for his return. He blocked and deflected several more thrusts before he saw an opening. Taking the chance, the pilot struck at his opponent; Javin seemed to anticipate the move and spun away an instant before it fell. Trowa followed Javin’s maneuver not giving him the time to recover. But the older man was ready with a jab from under his arm. Acting on his acrobatic instincts, the pilot twisted away from the blade’s tip.

When Javin turned to face him, Trowa had a devious plan of his own. He was fed up with this game and ready to end it for good! He waited for Javin’s next thrust, and when it came Trowa darted out of its path. He brought the hilt of his weapon up with both hands and drove it into the commander’s chin. Javin’s head snapped back, his arms flying out to steady himself. Trowa followed through with the thrust twirling the sword in his hand. He pivoted to the side turning his back on Javin and drove the white blade into Javin’s chest.

"They don’t call me the Silencer for nothing," Trowa’s voice was low and steady; his eyes were smoldering. "Das vidania!"