Gone

Standard disclaimers…. Not mine at all…………
Warning! Some foul language.

 
Gone

Chapter 3

 
 
Hilde was looking at the screen. The computer had shut off after she failed to get the correct password. She had tried every thing she could think of to get into a files about Duo. It was dirty pool but if she could get into it maybe there would be information about this “mission” that he so willingly put his life on the line for. She hit the power button and waited for the computer to reboot. As she waited, the tell a type across the room beeped, then began typing a message. She stood and went to it. It spat out page after page of meaningless dribble. it was a mass of messed up words and symbols. As Hilde scanned the sheets of paper, then it hit her that this was a code and codes could be deciphered. She picked up each paper and returned to the computer. She went to her decoding program and began to decode the message. The more she decoded the more disturbing the message was. As she finished it up, she put her hand to her mouth and blinked back a few tears.
This wasn’t about a idle threat against Relena or Commander Une or even the president. This was total world destruction. Not just the earth but all the colonies as well. It was a manifesto of sorts. She frowned as she read the words. They were not demanding money, they were demanding lives. Lots of lives. 3 major cities were mentioned and one colony. Her colony! Her home. Now this was more personal than before! Would the pilots already know this? Is this the reason Duo went off on his own? Damn, more questions with no answers ! She stood looking at the computer screen. She had to tell Sally. She hit the print button. After it was done she picked both up and bolted from the room.
She hurried through the hallways, making her way to Sally’s office as quickly as she could. She knocked on the door and didn’t wait for Sally to let her in. She pushed it open and stepped in. Sally looked up at her and waved her in. She sat in the chair in front of the desk.
“Yes. Yes. Was it accomplished? Good. Come home. We’ll repair the gundams and then make plans to continue this assault. Alright. No, I can’t talk freely now. Yes, we will see you in a few hours.”
Sally disconnected and shut down the computer.
“What is it, Hilde? You seem upset.”
“Read this.”
Sally took the papers and read through them.
“Are you positive about this?”
“Yeah, but my question is, why are they telling us this? Don’t they think we’ll try and stop them?”
Sally frowned. “I think they would now this, unless this is a ploy to chase us away from what they are really planning.”
“What could that be?”
Sally shook her head. “I don’t know, Hilde. Maybe we’ll know more when the guys get back.” She looked up at her. “Yes, they are on their way back, but ….”
“But?”
Sally sighed. “Duo has been hurt.”
Hilde’s face went white and she clenched her fists. “Stupid boy.” She muttered under her breath.
Sally watched her reaction. “Easy, girl, don’t be kickin’ his ass when he gets back. I don’t know what happened. WuFei wouldn’t tell me.” She paused,” I know his Gundam was damaged.”
Hilde sighed and fell back into the chair. She was either going to kiss him or kick his ass. Maybe she should do both. “You don’t have any idea how badly her was hurt?”
Sally shook her head. “He’s with Yuy. That’s all WuFei said after he said the mission was accomplished.”
“Now that I know some of this, what was the mission that Duo so foolishly risked his life for?”
Sally shook her head. “We had a lead on where these guys were, but they are smart. The first one was false, the second was a trap. Duo figured it out and went to spring it.”
“Did he know about the threats? You know on the colony and the cities?”
“I don’t know. You know we may be getting second hand information here. The pilots could be getting it first. This may sound so clique but perhaps there’s more to this than destruction of the Earth and colonies. Maybe it’s a revenge ploy. Revenge on everyone involved.”
Hilde frowned. “You know ,Sally , That does make sense, in a twisted point of view. It’s also a hell of a huge attention getter. Can we find them in time and stop this from happening? If it really will happen.”
Sally shook her head and sighed, “ I don’t know.”
“You don’t suppose it’s against the Preventers? Maybe Relena, the president. You , We We were all involved, Sally! How is destroying everything suppose to be right? What about them? Where will they live if they destroy our homes? I think it‘s an idle threat. I think there‘s something more.”
Sally grinned. “Now you see why I asked you to come in to this. It’s all so illogical! So, we have to read between the lines.. But, I think you should rest. In a few hours that “stupid boy” as you called him will be home to get a ear lashing from you or a kiss which ever you feel.”

Hilde frowned as all the information she had received in the last few hours started to sink in. Her mind was whirling. Millions of synopsis went through her tired brain. She was tired but wound up. She needed to rest, but couldn’t . And Duo was coming back. Would he be glad to see her or tell her she was a fool for getting involved? Maybe she would slap him and yell at him for being the damn fool! Her emotions were in turmoil as she made her way to the showers. What should she do about all of this? On one hand she wanted to pounce on him and kiss him silly on the other she wanted to beat the living crap out of him. She stripped down and stepped into steaming water. She hoped the hot water would help relax her overworked brain and at least let her think with some intelligence. Although, when it came to Duo her intelligent mind would go into hibernation. He just fucked her all up. Is that what love did?
“ARRRRG!” She shouted to the shower walls. She turned away from the wall and let the hot water beat down her back.
After she was done, she walked back to her room, feeling no better. Her mind was still in turmoil and it showed no sighs of stopping. She plopped on her bed and closed her eyes, but sleep did not come.
She tossed and turned for an hour before she got up and stomped to her desk. She sat down and pulled out a note book. As she doodled on it, she let her mind run. As it ran through everything, she frowned. What was she missing? What were they all missing?
She sighed and stood. She decided she would go for coffee and maybe think more about it. She had made her own copy of the manifesto so she could study it. She dressed ,grabbed her things and went to the cafeteria.
As she poured herself a cup and sat down, Relena came in. She spotted Hilde and came to sit with her.
“Hi, Hilde. Um, do you……..”
“Please sit, Relena. I can tell something is on your mind. Spit it out.”
“Are you waiting for the guys to return, too?”
Hilde nodded as she watched the other girl’s face.
Relena sighed. “I don’t know why I bother. He’ll just ignore me and walk away.”
Hilde smiled slightly, understanding the other girl’s plight. “Yeah, what were we thinking… falling in love with Gundam pilots.”
Relena shook her head, “Just stupid , I guess.” She sighed.
“No,” Hilde said, shaking her head, “ Not stupid, hopeful.”
Relena smiled, “Actually, I think we are hopeless. I used to think he cared, but I’m not so sure.”
“He promised to protect you didn’t he?”
She nodded.
“Then he cares.”
“ Well, maybe. I could be just a mission to him. What about you?”
Hilde shrugged, “I don’t know. I have no idea. I only have what people have told me.”
She looked at Relena. “Don’t get me wrong. I think he cares but I can’t be for sure. We fell in love with a couple of fucked up guys, Relena. Let’s face it!” She sighed.
“Yeah, ain’t love grand?” Relena replied, sarcastically.
Both girls laughed, easing the tension a little bit. Relena looked at the papers Hilde had in front of her. “What are those, Hilde?”
“Do you have any idea what is going on here?”
She shook her head.
“Here, read these.” She pushed them toward her.
Relena looked at them , then picked them up. “Do you mind if I keep these till I get them read?”
“Yeah, then come and tell me what you think. I need someone else’s opinion. Sally and I are stumped about the whole thing!”
“Ok.” She looked at her watch. “The guys should be coming in soon. Shall we wander down to the hanger and wait for them?”
Yeah, let’s go. Just as well.”
They stood and walked slowly to the hanger, talking about the guys and how it would be nice to see them. As they were about to enter the hanger, there was a flurry of activity.
Hilde grabbed a tech and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Gundams are coming in!” He said, excitedly.
Hilde looked at Relena. “Come on!”
The two girls hurried to the control booth to watch them coming in.
Relena gasped as she watched Wing and Deathscythe land.
“Oh my god. Hilde! Look at Deathscythe! What did Duo do?”
“I don’t know, but I will find out.” She said with a determined voice.
Relena looked at her friend, startled by the fierceness in her voice.
They stayed in the booth till the other three lands and the pilots were coming out of the cockpits.
They went in and stood on the catwalk waiting for them to descend. Relena looked up expectantly, while Hilde stood with her hands on her hips. Her body language giving away her true feelings.
Hilde watched as each pilot, Quatre, Trowa and WuFei descended from their cockpits. She frowned as she wait for Heero and Duo. It was a minute later as Heero descended with a semi conscience Duo. Hilde gasps as she saw him, her anger dissipating immediately. Heero looked at Relena, then glanced at Hilde, nodding slightly, indicating she should follow him to the infirmary.
Hilde followed behind Heero. Her mind again in turmoil. Was she angry, was she frightened for him, what was she feeling?
“Oh, Duo, what have you done to your self?” She muttered to herself.

To be continued……..