REUNION

Chapter Three

Yuki-hime

~ - ~ - ~

Noises had caught her attention when she was returning to her room, and her curiosity had not let her let it go.  As she rounded the corner, the last thing Relena remembered was a gun in her face before a sharp pain and darkness engulfed her.  Now that she was conscious, the woman had wished that she had not been alone.  Relena wished that she had not ventured into this Hell.  Her eyes focused on the ceiling, her vision was blurry and she couldn't make out a clear image except when she squinted.  She already knew that she was in a prison.  The room was damp and smelled of mildew and dust.  She didn't have to survey the rest to understand her current situation.  The dingy room told her everything she needed to know.

When she tried to move, her limbs were restrained and, as she peered up, saw thick rope holding her in place.  Her breath hissed as she yanked at the binding.  The braiding was tight and biting into her skin.  Her struggle had only caused the hard bristle to break through the skin, letting her blood soak the sheets.  Her eyes moved down her arms.  Dried blood dotted her ivory skin.  Relena moved her gaze to examine her feet and found that her clothing had blood on them as well.

The door opened and closed with a click.  A soft sigh erupted from above her head before a male voice spoke.  "I see you are awake." 

She tried shifting her weight to where she could see him, but it was in vain.  "Who are you?" she demanded as she struggled to free herself.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."  His gentle words of warning carried over to her as it echoed.

Relena winced in pain and looked to her left leg.  The ankle looked ugly and it felt like she had sprung it.  Cuts littered her legs and arms.  She sudden;y realized that she was very sore. 

"You know, you are the hardest person to get information from Miss Peacecraft, even with the truth-serum."  He spoke as he walked into her vision.  She could make out black hair but his features were lost to her.  The white button-up shirt she had been wearing was open, revealing her lace bra as well as more cuts.  He sat down on the edge of the mattress, his thigh touching her side as his fingers began caressing her cleavage.  He moved to whisper in her ear as his fingers snaked past the cup to catch a nipple.  "I need to ask you more questions and this time I won't go easy on you."

"Whatever it is, I'm not telling you!" she snapped back, knowing that it meant more torture.  His hands on her made her sick, but she had been through this before and she wasn't about to fall to it again.  Relena would hold onto to her strength, she was not going to snap.

"I just want some information.  Shing, Wong, get in here.  I want you to take her to the room.  We will begin the interrogation again."  He turned and walked out as the two men untied and dragged a fighting Relena with them.  She bite back her tears and dealt with the pain as she did not want to make it easier for them.  Her limbs stung with the suffering of her earlier torment.  Every step she took made her crave death.

Thoughts raced through her mind.  What they could want, but Relena could not be sure.  Whatever it is, I won't tell them a thing.  I'll bite my tongue out first.  It must be important to kidnap a prime minister.

"Please sit down Miss Peacecraft, make yourself at home.  Your legs must be killing you."  He pointed to a chair in the middle of the open area.

"No thank you.  You still haven't told me your name, what shall I call you?" she requested, though she knew that stalling for time would not help her.

"You may call me Professor Jay," he said and made a motion to the men to escort the girl to her seat.  The one called Shing forced Relena to sit in the chair as Wong tied her wrists and ankles to the posts, as well as her waist.  The man was patient as he watched the two work.  "Now I have some questions for you, my dear.  Where are the men who made the Gundams?" He sat down next to her in a rolling stool with his arms crossed.

Relena was suddenly confused.  Had she heard him right?  Deciding to ask, she voiced her question; "What are you talking about?"

"Don't you know?" his voice lowered as his fingers ran down her shoulder.

"No, I don't, and even if I did,  I wouldn't tell you," she spat out.  "Besides, I don't understand what that has to do with me?"

"Don't worry about it.  It has nothing to do with what I want anyways.  Now, tell me where the secret files are on space project BC5?"

She stumbled over his words.  The new colony?  "What secret files?  I don't understand what BC5 has to do with this."

Her elusive answer angered the man.  "Everything!" he screamed as his hand came swiftly down to hit Relena across the cheek.  "Now tell me where the fucking blueprints are."

Her blue eyes watered and she again bit back the scream that wanted out.  "I'm not telling you," she finally replied, blood dripped from her nose and split lip.  She wanted to be brave and fearless like her hero, but Relena felt herself slipping under his interrogation.  If I can't survive this, then how will I get through the anything else?  Images of Heero came to mind, the last time she saw him and the last thing she said to him made her heart twist.

Another hard blow brought Relena back to reality.  "Where the hell are they?"  He knelt down to whisper in her ear.  "This is the last time I will ask nicely."

Their eyes locked.  "Go to hell," she whispered back.  Relena had set her resolve, preparing herself for the worst.

~ - ~ - ~

"Where's Heero?" Duo asked as Hilde entered the small living quarter.

She sat beside the man, grabbing a piece of fruit out of the bowl.  "I'm not sure, I haven't seen him today."

"Well, I guess looking for three straight days without sleep or food could wear anyone down.  I wouldn't be surprised if he was asleep in his cockpit with a sandwich in one hand and the controller in the other."  The Deathscythe pilot chuckled at his comment.

"He will be here.  Heero would not miss the transmission," Wufei stated. 

Less than five seconds later, the said pilot burst through the doorway.  Eight pairs of eyes focused on him as Heero sat down.  The group could tell he was filled with worry but he kept his distance and cool, simply waiting for their next move.  Relena, where are you? he thought to himself for the thousandth time that hour.

The screen flickered and came to life.  A military room appeared; various guns and grenades could be seen scattered on tables as guards patrolled in the background.

A chuckle grabbed their attention as a man entered the frame.  "Ah, the noble and elusive Gundam pilots.  How are you today?"  He laughed at his own joke.  "Please let me introduce myself.  My name is Professor Jay."  He paused as his smile widened.  "And I must introduce someone else." 

~ - ~ - ~

Relena stirred in her makeshift bed of water and concrete.  Her bed had been taken away after she refused to answer Jay's questions.  Slowly opening her eyes, she groaned when she realized that she wouldn't be able to move her arms.  The room was dimly lit and she scanned herself, making sure that she still had all her limbs and digits.  She sighed in relief but noticed that her clothes were torn and bloody.  At least if I die, I will look semi-descent.  She grimaced at her amusing thoughts as the door swung open. 

Professor Jay filled the doorway.  "Good to see you are awake.  Wong, get her to the conference room."

The man obeyed the professor's directions.  He untied the female and pushed her to her feet, forcing her to walk on a bad leg.  They walked through a series of corridors before stopping in front of a steel door.  A card key access protected the room as she watched the professor slide a blue card through the machine.  A security room?  But Relena had guessed wrong.  Once in, she saw that there was enough ammo for an army; it filled the room from top to bottom.

Jay's words brought her eyes to him.  "Sit her there.  I want her ropes as tight as you can make them," he spat out.  His voice dropped.  "I want her to suffer."  She could tell he was at the end of his rope.  He was mad because he had not gotten what he wanted, and Relena held her smile at the little victory she acquired.  Heero would be proud of her.  The professor's barking voice broke into her thoughts.  "Get me the Gundam pilots.  I'll show them their precious princess."

The sudden realization of his scheme dawned on Relena.  Why hadn't she thought he would resort to such devious actions.  I don't want Heero to see me like this.  Her mind began racing, trying to think up anything that could prevent the inevitable confrontation, other than giving him what he wanted. 

Relena's attention was diverted to a large screen as the image of her friends appeared.  She shut her eyes to keep the tears back as she heard him speaking.  Please let me be strong.  Now she knew exactly what he was planning. 

The camera spanned to the chair where she had been tied up.  "This is my dear friend, Relena Peacecraft."  He laughed.  "But I'm sure you know that already."

Heero stared at the man.  He was taunting them, but when he spoke her name, when he revealed a broken and bruised Relena, Heero's temper almost went out of control.  The glint in his eye was the only evidence of his boiling hatred.  Her restricted form tore his heart out and the way she looked only added to the hurt.  Her head was bowed in shame, and she was covered in what he could only assume was her blood.  Her clothing was ripped and tried it's best to cover her slashed body.  He could tell that they had used several drugs on her in hopes of getting what they wanted.  Her face told that they had beaten her until she was unable to talk.  Heero could not wait to get his hands around the neck of the monster who had hurt the one person who had been there for him.

When Relena looked up, they locked eyes.  She knew he had been staring at her, and when he saw those cerulean eyes, he saw emotions that he had never wanted to see in her eyes.  She quickly looked away, not wanting him to see deeper into her soul.  Her eyes spanned across the rest of her friends, her comrades.  She found that she couldn't look anyone in the eye, her shame was too much.  Heero wanted to tear the man limb from limb.  He had stolen the spark in her eyes.

"Why don't you say hello?" he asked as he giggled again.

She kept quite, not knowing how to answer and desperately wanting to disappear.  She could only guess what she looked like and wished Jay would leave her alone.  She still felt Heero's gaze.  All knew that the professor was mocking her and she could do nothing but take it.  Heero grimaced as he watched the hazing.  What else could she do but take it?  

"She like to keep her mouth shut, don't you?" he shouted as he turned and back-handed the woman.  She was rocked hard in her chair but only lifted her head as if to dare him to hit her again.  With that one single move, Jay lost his temper.  He viciously hit her before he turned to the audience.  "I want the damn blue prints from Beta Colony 5."

"No Heero!  Don't give them to him,"  Relena shouted.  Heero could tell she was in pain, even though she tried to hide it.  She had become much stronger than he remembered, and her courage was beginning to shine through.

The man turned and smacked her again.  "Shut the hell up or I will--"

"You don't scare me!  I'll never let you ruin the peace that the Earth and the Colonies have so faithfully built.  You'll never get those blue prints, I swear on my life!"  She had to let them know that she was willing to die, like everyone else, for the peace that humanity wanted.  It was important that this man not get what he wanted.  Relena no longer feared the pain that he inflicted.  She would give her life and not think twice about it.

Heero understood what Relena was wishing for, but the world could not lose the Angel of Peace. 

"I said shut up.  The one time you do speak and now you just won't be quiet."  The strike she expected did not come, instead he pulled a gun from his large white coat.  "Get me those blue prints or I will kill the beautiful Cinq princess."

Her eyes held fast to the weapon in his hand.  "Shoot," she yelled.  Her fear of them giving in to this maniac's demands had overcome Relena.  She couldn't help but provoke him.  She didn't want to the peace everyone had fought for to die.  She wanted Heero to never have to pilot a Gundam again.  "What are you waiting for?  Shoot me," she shouted again.

Heero couldn't believe what he was hearing.  It took him by surprise and he found himself yelling out; "No!"  Fear gripped his heart.  Don't take her away! 

She felt comfort from his cry, then everything shattered as the most unexpected thing happened, something far from Relena's mind, the explosion and pain that followed.  The white polished floor filled her vision.  A heavy sigh escaped the woman�s lips.  She was always waiting, waiting in her heart and waiting in reality.  The waiting would never end.  She already knew that.   But it seemed that Death was now in front of her, and she would continue to wait all eternity as red liquid oozed around her.  With her eyes no longer able to focus between the two colors, Relena let go.

~ - ~ - ~

I NEED A BETA.....please someone volunteer to be a spell and common-sense checker.  Even though I am re-vising this story, I still miss things!  Please help!