A Hero's Journey -- Part 50-

Noin secured the last of her ammo in her bag. She turned to talk to Miliardo but the expression on his face made her pause. Following his eyeline, she noted that he was glaring at Heero.

“Isn’t it time to let it die?” she murmured.

“Let what die?”

“Your feud with Heero Yuy.”

Miliardo scowled. Without a word, he slung on his pack and walked away from her. Noin pressed her lips together as she felt her anger rise.

“Not so fast,” she called, stalking after him.

“Not now, Lu.”

“Yes, right now,” she countered as she stood in front of him. “It’s time for this to be over, Miliardo. We’re all on the same side here. We all have the same mission: to get Relena back. That’s what’s important, isn’t it?”

“Noin,” he sighed, clutching the strap of his pack tighter.

She covered his hand with hers. “Why can’t you let it go?”

“I don’t know.”

She knew by his expression that he was telling the truth. She gave him a sad smile. “I hope one day you do.”

With that, she released his hand and walked away. He glanced behind him and met the cold, blue stare of his old enemy and rival. For a long moment, they measured each other. With a faint nod, he turned and went after his wife.

* * * * *

Sally watched the loading of the transports with an eagle’s eyes. It had been years since the Preventers had taken down an organization of this size or off this complexity. The possible presence of Relena at the compound made the mission that even trickier.

There would be no room for error.

“I trust that everything is going well, Preventer Water,” Une stated, appearing behind Sally’s shoulder.

“Yes, ma’am, it is.”

“I wish you well on your mission and expect a full report when you get back.”

Sally saluted. “Will do.”

Noin watched the head of the Preventers depart before joining Sally. “Ready?”

“We should be momentarily.” As the senior Preventer on the mission, she was officially in charge. She would either receive credit for its success or given blame for its failure. Failure was not an option.

“Some of them look so young,” Noin commented, watching the Preventers file into the transports.

“They’re the best the Preventers have to offer.”

“They’re still young,” Noin persisted. “Maybe peace has made us weak.”

Sally gave a derisive snort her partner would envy. Noin wondered if the other woman had been partnered with Wufei too long. They watched in silence as the final supplies and troops were loaded.

Soon she and Noin would board their ships to pilot the Preventer forces to the compounds. Their mission would be to distract the militant forces while Miliardo and the former Gundam pilots rescued Relena and destroyed key infrastructure.

Feeling watched, Sally glanced down and met the dark gaze of her long-time partner. Wufei’s expression was unreadable as they kept the other’s gaze. They had said what they needed just over an hour before, but now it didn’t seem like enough.

“So, this is it,” Noin murmured, gazing at her husband.

Sally tore her eyes away from Wufei, noting that Quatre was boarding a ship. Miliardo and Heero sized each other up briefly before the older man entered the ship. The former 01 pilot and Wufei followed.

“Will they be able to work together?” Sally wondered aloud.

“They should be,” Noin replied, but not with great conviction.

“I wish I had more certainty than that.”

“So do I. Good luck, Sally.”

“You, too.” She pulled on her helmet as she headed to her ship, hoping that they wouldn’t have to rely on luck.


Part L Noin secured the last of her ammo in her bag. She turned to talk to Miliardo but the expression on his face made her pause. Following his eyeline, she noted that he was glaring at Heero. “Isn’t it time to let it die?” she murmured. “Let what die?” “Your feud with Heero Yuy.” Miliardo scowled. Without a word, he slung on his pack and walked away from her. Noin pressed her lips together as she felt her anger rise. “Not so fast,” she called, stalking after him. “Not now, Lu.” “Yes, right now,” she countered as she stood in front of him. “It’s time for this to be over, Miliardo. We’re all on the same side here. We all have the same mission: to get Relena back. That’s what’s important, isn’t it?” “Noin,” he sighed, clutching the strap of his pack tighter. She covered his hand with hers. “Why can’t you let it go?” “I don’t know.” She knew by his expression that he was telling the truth. She gave him a sad smile. “I hope one day you do.” With that, she released his hand and walked away. He glanced behind him and met the cold, blue stare of his old enemy and rival. For a long moment, they measured each other. With a faint nod, he turned and went after his wife. * * * * * Sally watched the loading of the transports with an eagle’s eyes. It had been years since the Preventers had taken down an organization of this size or off this complexity. The possible presence of Relena at the compound made the mission that even trickier. There would be no room for error. “I trust that everything is going well, Preventer Water,” Une stated, appearing behind Sally’s shoulder. “Yes, ma’am, it is.” “I wish you well on your mission and expect a full report when you get back.” Sally saluted. “Will do.” Noin watched the head of the Preventers depart before joining Sally. “Ready?” “We should be momentarily.” As the senior Preventer on the mission, she was officially in charge. She would either receive credit for its success or given blame for its failure. Failure was not an option. “Some of them look so young,” Noin commented, watching the Preventers file into the transports. “They’re the best the Preventers have to offer.” “They’re still young,” Noin persisted. “Maybe peace has made us weak.” Sally gave a derisive snort her partner would envy. Noin wondered if the other woman had been partnered with Wufei too long. They watched in silence as the final supplies and troops were loaded. Soon she and Noin would board their ships to pilot the Preventer forces to the compounds. Their mission would be to distract the militant forces while Miliardo and the former Gundam pilots rescued Relena and destroyed key infrastructure. Feeling watched, Sally glanced down and met the dark gaze of her long-time partner. Wufei’s expression was unreadable as they kept the other’s gaze. They had said what they needed just over an hour before, but now it didn’t seem like enough. “So, this is it,” Noin murmured, gazing at her husband. Sally tore her eyes away from Wufei, noting that Quatre was boarding a ship. Miliardo and Heero sized each other up briefly before the older man entered the ship. The former 01 pilot and Wufei followed. “Will they be able to work together?” Sally wondered aloud. “They should be,” Noin replied, but not with great conviction. “I wish I had more certainty than that.” “So do I. Good luck, Sally.” “You, too.” She pulled on her helmet as she headed to her ship, hoping that they wouldn’t have to rely on luck.


Part LI Main Page