Face of the Enemy

Chapter 9

Peacemillion

Duo leaned down to touch Hilde's face. She was still unconscious, but her wounds had been all bandaged up. She did not respond to his touch. He straightened up and just looked down at her quietly.

"What was she doing on the Libra?" Heero asked as a medic wheeled away Hilde's gurney.

Duo held up a smeared disk. It still had Hilde's blood on it. "She got this for us." He handed it to Heero.

Heero took it. "Do you have any idea what's on it?"

"I haven't looked at it yet." Duo cringed as the medbay door slammed closed behind Hilde's gurney. "I... I couldn't."

Arys squeezed Duo's shoulder sympathetically. "It probably has the damage report on the Libra as well as anything else I don't know about that space fortress."

Duo glanced at Arys, his usual cocky expression replaced by an air of regret. "But why...?"

"Don't you see, Duo?" Arys shook her head. "It was the only way for her to show you that she cares for you."

Duo bowed his head, remaining silent. "I wish..."

Arys smiled at him. "Duo, it's okay, you don't have to say anything."

Quatre stepped forward, his face grave. "We can't let the data she brought us go to waste."

Duo nodded emphatically. "Yeah..." Suddenly, he perked up and looked at Heero. "Heero, Relena Peacecraft's on the Libra."

"She is?" Heero asked.

"Yeah, seems that Hilde met her there and Relena asked about you."

"I see..."

The other Gundam pilots silently walked away, down the hall toward the lounge. Arys, however, stayed. She leaned against the wall, her gaze on Heero.

"You should go save her, Heero." There was pain in her eyes, and it hurt him to see it.

Heero stood in front of her, his blue eyes boring into hers. He was tempted to put his hands on her shoulders, but he knew she would only shrug his hands away. "Arys, come with me."

Arys shook her head. "You don't need me, Heero. You can do this on your own."

"Wrong, Arys. You know every inch of the Libra."

Arys turned her head away, looking down the hall. "Heero, what did you see?"

Confusion filled his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"In my mind." Her gray eyes pierced his.

Heero countered her question with one of his own. "What did you see in mine?"

Arys' eyes grew distant, as if she were looking beyond him. "That little girl, Heero. The one you killed... And her puppy. I felt... your pain, your sorrow, when you realized that you had killed them." The words came out in short spurts as she tried to make him understand. Tears welled up in her eyes. "You've borne that pain for so long, Heero. How?"

Heero wondered what she wanted from him. "I just had to, Arys. They tried to train compassion out of me, but I don't think it ever really left."

Arys leaned her head back against the wall. "I, on the other hand, felt nothing when I killed. Nothing, Heero! I feel no remorse for all the destruction I've caused! What kind of person am I?"

This time, Heero reached out for her and she tried to struggle away, but he held her shoulders tightly. "Arys..."

Arys began to cry, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I... I don't deserve to live, Heero." Her tortured gaze swept his face.

Heero looked down at her silently, his face impassive. Instead of replying, he drew her close, rested his chin on top of her head, and waited for the storm to pass.

"I love you, but I don't deserve you...." Arys murmured. "She...does."

Something within Heero snapped when he heard those words. He forcefully pushed her away from him and glared at her. She cowered against the wall, thinking that he agreed with her. Her eyes were now dry, but they were blank, empty. Arys reached for her holster and slipped out her gun. Trembling, she limply held it out toward him, grip-first.

"Shoot me, Heero." She jerked her head down the hallway, toward the lounge where the other pilots were gathered. "Tell them I was a traitor. That I was still working for White Fang. They won't ask any questions then."

Heero's dark blue eyes flashed with subdued anger. "How dare you?" He growled, stepping forward and slapping the gun from her hand. It landed on the floor with a loud metal clang.

Arys looked down at the gun and back at Heero. She bent down to pick it up, but Heero kicked it away. It skittered down the hall and slid to a stop in front of the lounge door. Arys straightened up and found herself eye to eye with Heero.

"They care about you just as much as I do. They would never believe me if I told them that you were a traitor." Arys turned away from Heero's intense gaze, but he captured her chin in his hands and forced her to look at him. "And if I killed you, I would never forgive myself."

The lost, distant look in Arys' eyes vanished as she searched his face. Arys bowed her head, penitent. "I...I'm sorry." Then, she lifted her head, determination in her eyes. "I'll go with you, Heero."

____________

Duo walked out of the lounge and almost tripped over something lying on the ground. It was Arys' gun. Duo picked it up and stared at it curiously. He shrugged and stuck the gun into his belt. He had gone into the lounge only to get a drink from the soda machine and once again, the machine had been stubborn. Finally, Wufei had used Heero's trick to knock some sense into it. Duo sipped his drink as he sauntered down the hallway. He wanted to check on Hilde and make sure that she was really going to be all right. Duo stopped in his tracks and slowly lowered the can from his face to see Arys and Heero standing in the hallway, kissing... again. Duo sighed.

"Don't you two ever stop?" Duo asked as he passed them, a disgusted look on his face.

Heero muttered something about his gun, let go of Arys, and drew his usual weapon, a PP7. He pointed it at Duo, eyes burning angrily. "Do you have a problem?"

Duo raised his hands, an innocent look on his face. "Hey, don't get violent now!"

"Heero, shouldn't we be going?" Arys looked a little sheepish.

Heero glanced at her, then holstered his gun. There was still an angry edge to his voice. "You're right." He shoved his way past Duo. "Let's go."

Arys gave Duo a repentant look. "Bye, Duo."

"Wait! Where are you going?"

Heero turned around, his face blank. "You don't need to know."

Duo pulled Arys' gun out and waved it at them. "Well, Arys, you might need this!" He tossed it to her, and she caught it deftly.

Heero glanced at her, an unspoken request in his eyes. Arys smiled. She handed the gun to Heero. Duo wondered what Arys was smiling about.

Heero flicked off the safety and aimed the gun straight at Duo. Duo froze. Heero pulled the trigger.

"Ahhh!" Duo tossed his soda can into the air and dropped to the ground to avoid the incoming bullet.

He heard a soft clink as something metal hit the ground. He removed his hands from in front of his face to see his soda can rolling on the floor, a bullet hole through it. Dark liquid drained from the can. Duo groaned.

"Man! Now I have to go get another one!"

_______________

Outside the Libra

Arys and Heero sat in the cockpit of a damaged Virgo carrier that had been captured during one of their recent battles. They neared the Libra quickly. Heero reached for the comm, and Arys leaned away from him, so that the comm camera would not see her.

"This is the Peacemillion attack unit 02.... Propulsion power system hit on the port side, coming in for an emergency landing."

Arys pointed to a hangar bay situated on the side of the Libra facing them. Heero responded by throttling the carrier in that direction.

The comm flickered slightly with static as the comm officer on the space fortress replied, "This is the Libra bridge. Please confirm the number of survivors. Identification numbers..."

Arys switched off the comm. Heero's voice came to her through her helmet's intercom.

"There are no survivors..."

Heero crashed the carrier into their chosen hangar bay.

_____________

Inside the Libra

Water poured onto the hull of the flaming Virgo carrier. Smoke drifted around the hangar bay as men floated around, trying to assess what was going on inside the carrier. One of the floating crewmembers waved to someone nearby.

"Careful! It's very possible that there's a saboteur in there. Status on the fire?"

"We're working on it! Our hands are full!" He replied.

A lone figure slowly flew out of the carrier.

"Hey, you!" The first crewman motioned to the lone figure. "Seal off this block. No one gets out!"

"Roger."

The lone figure drifted away to join a dark shadow hiding behind an outcropping in the wall. The two figures ducked into an open doorway and floated down the hall away from the hangar bay, unnoticed.

____________

Arys pulled off her space suit and threw her helmet to the floor. She and Heero were standing in a White Fang uniform locker room. Arys shook out her black hair and grabbed a khaki White Fang uniform from one of the lockers. She had worn her civilian clothes underneath her space suit, so she went to another area of the locker room to change. It was the first time she had worn the uniform. During her time in the White Fang, Arys had refused to wear the uniform, instead wearing her usual outfit of black pants and black belted jacket. Arys quickly slipped on the uniform, pulled on the brown fingerless gloves, and waited for Heero to signal her. The sound of fingers tapping on lockers reached Arys' ears, and she came around the corner to see Heero dressed in the White Fang uniform.

"Not bad. Maybe you should have joined the White Fang." She surveyed his uniform.

Heero handed her gun to her, his blue eyes serious. "I don't think so. Here's your gun. I put a silencer on it."

Arys took it and placed it in the holster at her belt. "Thanks."

"We need access to the ship's network."

Arys' eyes closed as she tried to remember the ship's blueprints she had memorized. Her eyes opened. "There's a computer room down the hall."

Heero punched the door lock mechanism. It slid open. He casually walked into the hallway, Arys following him. There was no one in the hallway at the moment, but Heero knew that security cameras were probably watching him and Arys.

"Are there security camers hidden in the ceiling?"

Arys nodded slightly.

"Keep your head down then."

Heero and Arys continued down the hallway, heading for a door marked "Security room number four."

"There are probably two guards in the room. Take them out," Arys whispered as they walked. "I'll take care of the cameras."

Heero nodded. They reached the door. Arys tapped a code into the keypad beside it and the door whooshed open. Both pilots dove inside. Heero landed on one knee, raised his pistol and expertly took out the two guards sitting at the console. They never knew what hit them. As the door closed behind her, Arys took precise aim at the two cameras located on the walls. Within a few seconds, they were nothing more than smoking husks.

Heero stalked forward to the console as Arys checked the bodies on the ground.

"They're dead."

Heero looked down at them. He glanced at Arys. "Leave no witnesses."

He slid into the chair in front of the console, while Arys leaned down to peer at the screen over his shoulder. Heero tapped a few buttons and various screens flashed by until he found the one he was looking for.

"High-security prisoners," Arys murmured close to his ear. "Classified information." She smirked. "We'll see about that."

"Do you know the password?"

Arys replied by reaching in front of him and typing something into the keyboard.

One name showed up on the screen. "Bingo. Relena Peacecraft. Sector 1, Unit 15. That's one level above us," Arys said.

Heero pulled up a map of the space fortress and highlighted the path from the security room to Relena's room. Heero studied the map quickly and then reached forward to touch the console. The screen cleared. He stood to his feet and then motioned Arys into the chair.

"I'll get her. You stay here and see if you can locate Zechs."

Arys nodded. "Understood."

___________

Quinze slammed his hand down on the security officer's console. "You let an infiltrator slip through!? Fools! You let it happen again? I told you to be ready for this!!"

Zechs sat in his command chair, completely in control. "Calm down. I was prepared for this eventuality.... But it came sooner than I'd anticipated." His icy gaze subdued Quinze for a moment.

"Huh?" The enigmatic former leader of the White Fang looked confused.

"I suppose I should say that the gundam pilots live up to their name." Zechs stood to his feet and came forward to where Quinze stood by the security console.

"What do you have in mind, Mister Milliardo?" Dorothy asked from her position beside the command chair.

"As long as they've made their presence known, there's nothing but for me to make mine known." Zechs studied the security screen for a moment and then headed for the door.

"But there's been no confirmation of the infiltrator yet," Dorothy said, a slight tone of doubt in her voice.

Zechs turned to look at her. Dorothy had to struggle to keep her eyes on that cold face.

"It has to be him... Heero Yuy. And he's probably brought our little Windrider with him." Zechs' use of his nickname for Arys was not affectionate. Zechs left the bridge, the door sliding closed behind him.

_________

Relena stood in her room, staring out the window. Outer space looked so peaceful when there were no battles being fought in it. She cocked her head. And yet, it looked so cold and lonely at the same time. She wondered if that was what she was doomed to. A life given in the pursuit of peace that was destined to be cold and lonely. Full of bureaucracy, endless meetings, red tape, and paperwork. Relena sighed.

She heard the sound of the door opening behind her. Relena raised her head stubbornly

"I have nothing to say to anyone except my brother... Why don't you just leave me alone?"

A familiar voice spoke from the door. "I can't do that."

Relena whirled around to see Heero Yuy standing in the doorway, his face, as usual, competely emotionless.

"With you here, Noin and the others are shaken in their resolve." He stepped into the room, holding the door open with one hand.

Relena looked surprised. "I never would have thought you'd come for me, Heero..."

Heero turned around, glancing over his shoulder. "Let's go..."

"Wait! I still..."

Heero stopped in his tracks. "Zechs? Do what you have to. I have matters to settle with him as well."

Heero walked into the hallway, glancing around as he did so. Relena followed him.

________

Arys called up the tracking system on the Libra. Every White Fang uniform contained a tracking device on it. Fortunately, she had removed the devices from both hers and Heero's uniforms, so according to the Libra's tracking system, the room she sat in was currently empty. Each device contained a unique signature, and the data on Hilde's disc had contained the frequency for Zechs' signature. Arys plugged in Zechs' tracking frequency and hit the enter button. Almost immediately, the screen blinked at her. A schematic of the ship automatically zeroed in on the frequency's position. Finally, the changing screen stopped and a circular figure on the schematic flashed red at her.

"The stargazer room," She murmured.

The door opened behind her, and Arys smoothly spun in her chair and raised her gun in one graceful motion. Heero and Relena walked in. Heero didn't even blink at the gun aimed at his head, but Relena stared at Arys, horrified. When Arys saw that it was Heero and Relena, she lowered her gun and turned back to the console.

Heero marched forward to study the screen Arys had up. "You found him."

"He's in the stargazer room." Arys stood to her feet and ejected a disc from the drive. She tossed it to Heero. "Here."

Heero caught the disc and pocketed it. "Do you know where it is?"

Arys walked over to Relena, who still stood in shock at seeing Arys there. "It's okay, Miss Relena. I'm on your side. Soon, you'll get to have your say with your brother." She went to the door and touched the pad next to it. The door slid open. "And of course I know where it is, Heero."

Relena and Heero followed Arys out of the room. They both trailed her down the hall and to the lift located at the end of it.

"The stargazer room is three levels up. It's situated at the tip of the Libra's number four wing," Arys said blandly as they rode in the lift. "It has an excellent view." Her eyes settled on Relena. "But you wouldn't be interested in that."

The lift slowed to a stop, and the doors opened. Arys stepped off the lift and waited for Heero and Relena to get off.

"This way." Arys slowly walked down the hall until they came to a wall. She palmed the lock and part of the wall slid open.

The room inside was unique. Even from the doorway, Relena could see that there were stars everywhere, on the walls, on the floor, on the ceiling. A person with a case of vertigo would have fainted from the overwhelming feeling of standing in outer space. Arys stepped inside, apparently used to the room already. Heero walked in immediately as well. Relena wasn't surprised. Not much seemed to faze those two.

A familiar figure sat at a desk at the far end of the stargazer room. It looked up when they walked in.

"So you finally show yourself." A slight smile pulled at Zechs' pale lips.

"Brother!" Relena stepped in front of Heero and Arys. Arys made a move to pull her back, but Heero put a hand in front of her.

"Relena, I thought our conversation was over." Zechs' gaze settled on his sister. He looked uneasy at her presence.

"No. Not yet."

Zechs raised his chin in much the same way Relena had a habit of doing. "I will not change my mind." The wall behind him changed viewpoints to show the OZ attack force approaching the Libra. "This is what Treize is doing. Libra must take on this huge armada."

"Stop this immediately! It's absolutely meaningless!"

"No, it's not. Even if this was only a cowardly offensive, there's more than enough meaning in it."

"Brother..."

Heero pulled out his gun and aimed it at Zechs. "I don't know what's going on between you and Treize, but you shouldn't be involving others."

"This war must involve many others.... This problem is related to the hope of all mankind."

"Is that why you became a representative of the colonies?" Heero's gun hand lowered a bit. There was something in his eyes that said he was beginning to understand.

"The colonies toyed with the will to fight, and continued the path to arms.... Chose me as their leader.... If you have problems with that, then you as a native of the colonies should take command of the White Fang." Zechs' tone was almost sarcastic, but his next few words revealed that he was indeed serious. "In other words... become my comrade."

"Comrade? I see. You would say that." Heero raised his gun again.

"Is that your answer?" Zechs asked.

"Does the person who finds so much meaning in this war have something more to say?" Heero's eyes had grown cold again. Arys stood silent beside him, wondering what Heero was fishing for.

"Unless one fights, one cannot realise the stupidity of war.... I must make all of humankind realise this."

"Why have you chosen yourself to fill this role?"

"The former leader of the colonies, Heero Yuy, with the Cinq Kingdom, attempted to establish complete peace. One in space - one on Earth."

"Father?" Relena whispered.

Zechs raised his head proudly. "I am merely following my father's will."

"Father's will?! You're saying that this battle... this miserable war will bring about the complete peace that the Cinq Kingdom advocates?" Relena stepped forward again, almost standing right in front of Heero's gun.

"Peace does not come without war," Arys murmured softly to herself.

"That is correct, Windrider." Zechs finally glanced at Arys. He nodded approvingly. "You still remember your lessons."

Arys glared at him, then bowed her head to stare at the floor. "I do not wish to remember your lessons." She remembered the nickname. He had called her that during her training after she had lost her memory.

"No, you're both wrong. Peace cannot be born out of fighting!" Relena glowered at both Zechs and Arys. Zechs hardly flinched under her intense gaze, but Arys cringed at her words.

"That's fine... Keep thinking that." Zechs nodded, his eyes softening slightly.

Heero lowered his gun and holstered it. He bowed his head almost respectfully. "I understand now..." He turned to look at Relena. "Isn't that enough? Your role in this is over." He walked away, back toward the exit.

"Heero!" Relena was about to go after him when Arys took her arm.

Zechs looked at both girls affectionately. "Little Windrider, I've missed you, but now, you must repay me for saving your life."

Relena glanced at Arys' face and saw the grave expression in her eyes. Arys' dispassionate gaze would have made any other man falter in his speech, but not Zechs.

"Take care of Relena for me. She must survive this war."

Arys barely nodded, but there was acceptance in her eyes. Relena frowned slightly.

Zechs shifted his gaze to Relena's face. "Farewell, Relena... Sister."

Zechs' form rippled for a few seconds and then vanished into thin air.

"Brother! ...A holographic projection?!" Relena exclaimed.

Arys did not look surprised. "Very clever, Zechs." She walked away and stopped beside Heero at the door. They both looked back at Relena and then left the room, knowing that she would follow.

Relena ran after them. "Heero! Arys!"

__________

Zechs drifted into the main bridge and launched into a jump that smoothly deposited him in his command chair.

"Enemy units are in range," Quinze informed him.

"Is the main array charged?" Zechs asked as he settled his hands on the armrests.

"Completely. But... those units are comprised of mobile suits..." Dorothy told him hesitantly.

Zechs nodded. "Of course... I'll send out an advisory. But depending on Treize's

response, we may have to fire. I want to eliminate all sentimentality when dealing with him."

"U...Understood." Dorothy looked almost frightened now.

Zechs tapped a button on his armrest. "This is Commander Milliardo Peacecraft of the White Fang. If you continue to advance, I will be forced to fire the main array. Consider yourself warned." He released the button.

A White Fang crewmember placed a hand against his ear as a voice came to his earpiece. "Special enemy unit approaching..." His fingers flew over the console and a picture of the Tallgeese II showed up on the main viewscreen.

Quinze waved a hand. "Launch Libra units!"

Zechs leaped to his feet. "Belay that order!"

Quinze lowered his hand. "Commander Milliardo...?"

"That's the Tallgeese... and the pilot is most likely..."

Treize's face appeared in place of the Tallgeese II. "This is the world sovereign, Treize Khushrenada. I challenge White Fang's leader, Commander Milliardo Peacecraft, to a duel."

Quinze crossed his arms over his chest. "A duel?!" He shook his head. "How very OZ."

"He can't be serious!" One of the bridge crew said.

"Yes. That's his usual method," A former OZ member replied.

"Mister Treize...," Dorothy whispered.

"Hmph" was all Zechs said.

___________

Treize eyed his former best friend on the comm screen in front of him. "Will you give me your answer.... Commander Milliardo?"

Zechs only stared at him dispassionately for a few seconds. Treize hid his discomfort at seeing Zechs' utter unresponsiveness.

"Try not to forget that your answer will include your response regarding this battle," Treize said, trying to regain control of the situation.

Treize waited expectantly.

"...is NO!" Zechs finished angrily.

"What?!" Dorothy exclaimed. She was surprised. "Why, Mister Milliardo?"

"I'm not an 'OZ' soldier. I am in a position where the code of knights does not matter. I bear the will of the space revolution!!" Zechs stalked forward until he was right in front of the viewscreen. "I can't allow such a frivolous thing as a duel to decide the fate of the colonists."

Treize closed his eyes. "I see... That is the correct choice."

"Treize, those who stand in the way will be removed!"

Treize opened his eyes again to gaze at Zechs. "Milliardo, behind us is the earth. We will not retreat." Treize leaned forward, his blue eyes serious. "I love the earth."

"That's what makes you Treize," Zechs observed, the anger fading from his voice. He turned around and headed back to his command chair.

Dorothy rubbed her hands together in distress. "Please wait, Mister Milliardo!"

Zechs ignored her request. "Prepare the main array for firing. Target the enemy mobile suits and spread the beam to include the resource satellite MO-II."

Quinze looked almost as distressed as Dorothy, but for a completely different reason. He was afraid they would miss again. "Use the main array on the Tallgeese?!"

Zechs shook his head. "It doesn't matter. It's what Treize wants."

Dorothy stepped in front of Zechs, pleading now. "Please reconsider, Mister Milliardo! Please, do anything else except fire upon Mister Treize!"

"Quinze, please restrain Dorothy. She is a traitor." Zechs' eyes had again turned cold.

"Yes." Quinze leveled his weapon at Dorothy and she stepped aside, head bowed in defeat.

"Mister Millardo..." She whispered.

"Enemy units approaching!"

Zechs gazed at the viewscreen, his face expressionless. It ends here, Treize.

"Main array charging complete!"

Treize's voice came over the comm. "If I die here, your victory is assured. Fire at me! For the sake of peace on the colonies and earth!"

"My enemy is the earth. And you, it's representative.... Treize!" Zechs leaped out of his seat and drifted forward to come to a stop beside the main array operator.

The operator glanced up at him. "Countdown initiated."

"Move over. I'll finish him myself." The operator complied, and Zechs sat at the console. He began to push the button.

Dorothy leaped forward, throwing herself at Zechs, desperate to keep him from firing. "No!!"

Zechs tried to push her off with one hand. "Get off me! This is the path to peace!" He reached out with his other hand and pushed the button with one finger.

Dorothy collapsed to the floor, while Zechs managed to stagger to his feet. He watched the viewscreen. In the distance, an object approached the Tallgeese. It was the Gundam Zero-One, in wing mode. Just in time, the Gundam transformed and shoved the Tallgeese out of the way, saving Treize.

"Zero-One!?" Zechs said in complete shock.

Treize's voice came over the comm again. "The Wing Gundam? It can't be... Lady... Une..." His voice abruptly cut off.

Zechs slammed his hand down on the console in front of him as the azure beam from the main array slammed into the Gundam and then shot toward the World Nation forces. The energy beam sliced through at least a dozen of the carriers, obliterating them with one shot. The beam lost no energy as it continued on its destructive path toward the MO-II resource satellite. It ripped through an entire section of the satellite, disintegrating that section into little particles of dust.

Quinze looked a little smug. "I knew it. We missed again."

"Mister Milliardo..." Dorothy said as she stood to her feet.

Zechs waved a hand at her. She stopped talking. "That's enough."

Quinze sighed. "How long until we can fire the main array again?"

"One hundred forty minutes are necessary for the charge." The array operator stated flatly.

"Mobile suits approaching from behind! They're... earth forces. We're being targeted from both directions!" The crewman sounded frantic.

"Launch the Libra's units!" Quinze turned to Zechs, a snide look on his face. "You don't have a problem with that, do you, Commander Milliardo?"

Zechs ignored him, still shaking with anger as he stood at the console, his head bowed.