Act I

Colonel Anne Une brushed a strand of long, sleek, caramel-colored hair behind her ear and looked at her watch with a sigh of impatience. It was half past four already; the shuttle should have arrived over an hour ago.

Lieutenant Nickol, Colonel Une's personal assistant and escort, cleared his throat, coming up beside her. "I apologize for the delay, Colonel. I've tried to get in contact with the pilot of the transport shuttle but there is no answer. Should I keep trying?" The young lieutenant shifted nervously and reached for the mobile phone in the breast pocket of his uniform.

Colonel Une held up her hand to stop him. "No, that isn't necessary. I appreciate your efforts." She smiled then; sweetly, uncharacteristically. "They should be arriving soon. The pilot will face the consequences later."

Lieutenant Nickol saluted and resumed his watchful position beside her. He almost felt sorry for the pilot; Colonel Une's smile had told him of the punishment the poor man would have to face upon arrival. She wasn't the type of woman one could keep waiting. The lieutenant glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, watching as she tucked another loose strand of hair behind her ear again. Such a delicate, feminine gesture. He almost smiled; it was difficult to believe that this beautiful, graceful woman was responsible for much of the death and destruction caused by OZ in this war. It only made him love her more, her strength. Her eyes moved in his direction suddenly then and Lieutenant Nickol quickly regained his composure.

No time to think of foolish things now. The OZ transport shuttle was finally making its landing out on the airfield through the window of the watch tower.

"Let's go," Colonel Une said briskly, leading the way out. Nickol followed.

The shuttle's engines were just dying down as Colonel Une and Nickol made their way across the airfield. The passenger door slid open with a hiss and a sergeant stepped out, tripping lightly down the steps of the shuttle and coming to a halt before Colonel Une. His hand snapped up in a brisk salute.

"We apologize for our tardiness, Colonel. Your patience is greatly appreciated. It seems we had a bit of confusion in retrieving the ensign," the young man explained, his voice trembling slightly.

Colonel Une let a smile play across her lips. She took an immense pleasure in the fact that she made these young officers so nervous, so eager to please. It amused her more than anything. "A confusion, Sergeant..." She peered at the nameplate displayed on the young man's left breast pocket. "...Janssen?"

Sergeant Janssen lowered his eyes and cleared his throat loudly. "Yes, Colonel. We didn't realize that the ensign you ordered us to retrieve would be female... and so young..."

Janssen trailed off as a second figure emerged from the shuttle. She was small and slender, looking incredibly young out of uniform. She was clad in a pair of blue jeans and a soft purple sweater, her long, blue-black hair pulled back in a ponytail and her large blue eyes bright and eager in her smooth, pale face. A small smile curved her lips as she descended the stairs and came to a stop beside Janssen, executing a crisp salute. "It is an honor, Colonel."

Colonel Une smiled in spite of herself at this pretty waif standing before her. She looked no more than twelve, although her dossier claimed she was all of fifteen. Her form was perfect, though, and the way in which she stood and carried herself belied her age. She was certainly the girl they had ordered to bring here.

"Lovely," Colonel Une finally said, waving her hand dismissively, signaling for the girl to relax. "Perfectly lovely. His Excellency Mr. Treize was right about you, Ensign Schbeiker; you are going to fit in just fine here." She smiled and Ensign Hilde Schbeiker finally relaxed, bringing down her salute as crisply as she had executed it, smiling shyly back.

Colonel Une turned to Nickol then. "Lieutenant, please retrieve Ensign Schbeiker's bags. We'll be leaving to headquarters now." Her gaze suddenly shifted to Janssen, who had been standing quietly nearby, fumbling with his hands nervously. "Sergeant Janssen, please inform your captain that I should like to speak with him later. Tardiness is not something that is tolerated at OZ."

Janssen averted his eyes and nodded once. "Yes, Colonel." He then disappeared back into the shuttle. Nickol returned from inside with Hilde's bags.

"Good. Follow me to our transport, Ensign Schbeiker. His Excellency is expecting us," Colonel Une said, turning sharply and walking towards a long black car parked just off the airfield.

"Yes," Hilde replied, and followed the elegant colonel. She was more beautiful and imposing in person than Hilde had imagined. It was no wonder Treize Khushrenada had chosen her to command OZ at his side; she was the picture of perfection, both indomitable and lovely at the same time. Hilde hoped she would be able to continue to please her.

The long drive from the airfield back to OZ headquarters was silent, each lost in his or her own thoughts. Hilde Schbeiker stared out the window at the passing landscape, wondering what her life would be like now. All of her friends back at the academy had told her how lucky she was, to be picked by Treize himself for the new mobile suit project. She herself was excited; finally, she would be able to prove her worth as a soldier, to make something of herself as her brother, Thomas Schbeiker, had before her.

She thought of Thomas then and tears came to her eyes. He was her older brother, her hero, the only family she had had left. Her parents had been killed in a bombing earlier in the war, leaving only her and Thomas to fend for themselves. So Thomas had joined the military, OZ, to support himself and her. He was a perfect soldier; he fought bravely and never questioned his authority, wanting only to fight for the freedom and safety of the colonies where they lived. Hilde had always admired this, and as soon as she turned thirteen and was able to enlist in the military, she, too, had joined OZ. Thomas had been unhappy about this, but he continued to support her and love her, and for a time they were together happily at the academy, training for combat. But then Thomas was called to battle in outer space. It was there that he died, shot down ruthlessly by a Gundam.

A Gundam.

Hilde's hands formed fists unconciously as she remembered this. It was because of the Gundams that her brother had been killed. It was because of the Gundams now that she had come here to OZ headquarters, to participate in the building and testing of the new mobile suit designs, based after these Gundam models, that would ultimately be the solution to the rebel problem and the safety of the colonies.

She would make sure her participation in this project didn't fail. The suits would be perfected and made to use.

She would destroy the Gundams, for both the colonies and her brother.

The car finally came to an abrupt halt in front of an immense, ornate white mansion, made of marble and decorated with balconies and cheerful red banners. In celebration. Hilde couldn't stop the smile of excitement from spreading across her face as she stepped out of the car, gazing up at the highest level of the mansion. This was her new home.

A tall, elegant man stood on the top floor balcony and looked down, watching with a smile as Colonel Une and the young ensign emerged from the car.

"Come, Ensign Schbeiker," Colonel Une said, leading the way towards the entrance of the mansion. "Lieutenant Nickol will bring your bags to your room for you. I will show you there later, but first His Excellency Mr. Treize would like to speak with you."

Hilde nodded and followed silently, feeling a slight blush creep up into her cheeks. So she would be meeting with Treize after all. She wondered how he would seem in person; she had only seen glimpses of him on television screens and video transmissions shown to OZ ensigns. He was incredibly handsome; she only hoped she would please him as much she seemed to please Colonel Une.

Colonel Une led the way inside; up four flights of endless stairs, through a long, great hall adorned with portraits of OZ aristocrats and founders, and finally to a pair of gold-paneled French doors. "His Excellency's chambers. Do not be afraid, Ensign Schbeiker," Colonel Une said, noticing Hilde's deepening blush and averted gaze. She smiled. "He is actually quite friendly and very eager to meet you. Please, come." She opened the doors then and stood aside to let Hilde enter first. Hilde stepped through, keeping her eyes down. Her gaze landed on a pair of shiny, black leather boots.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ensign Schbeiker," a deep, soothing male voice said. Hilde watched as the boots made their way closer to her, stopping inches from her own feet. Her breath caught in her throat as a large, white-gloved hand touched her chin and lifted it carefully. Her eyes met sparkling cerulean orbs in an almost unbelievably handsome, smooth tanned face. He smiled.

Hilde's fear subsided and she lowered her gaze again demurely before whispering, "It is an honor, your Excellency."

Treize looked over at Colonel Une, who only smiled. He returned the gesture and chuckled softly. "Absolutely lovely, Colonel Une. She is perfect." His hand fell away from her chin then and Hilde finally looked up, a feeling of relief washing over her. Treize walked over to an armchair by a window and sat down, facing away to gaze out the window. "How do you feel about this project, Ensign Schbeiker? I should hope to think we did not bring you here against your will," he said, still not looking at her.

Hilde cleared her throat. "Sir, I am very excited about the mobile suit project," she replied, trying her hardest to keep the girlish eagerness from slipping into her voice. "It is my greatest honor to fight for the freedom of the colonies and especially to be a part of the future and success of OZ."

Treize smiled and finally shifted his gaze back to Hilde. Colonel Une watched proudly; this ensign was turning out to be a splendid choice on her part. Treize would reward her greatly for selecting this girl and she had only to think about the possibilities to keep herself from screaming with joy.

"Beautiful, Ensign Schbeiker," Treize replied, laughing again. "I think we are all going to be very happy here. I do hope you enjoy yourself as well as work hard on this project while you are here. It is very important to me, but I would not want to scare away such a wonderful young person with too much rigidity." He smiled. "You may go now and get acquainted with the other test pilots, as well as settle into your room. I do hope you will join all of us for dinner later tonight." His eyes traveled across the room then to rest on Colonel Une and she straightened and saluted.

"Sir," she said, walking towards Hilde and gently taking her arm. "Come, Ensign Schbeiker. The other pilots are in the mobile suit hangar."

Hilde took one last look at the tall, beautiful man sprawled on the armchair, gazing thoughtfully out the window with the barest trace of a smile on his face, before exiting with Colonel Une. He hadn't been as formidable as she had thought him to be. She finally allowed herself to relax.

"There are others?" Hilde couldn't stop herself from asking as she and Colonel Une left the mansion and crossed the great courtyard to the immense mobile suit hangar just to the left of the building. Her inquisitive nature always got the best of her; something she knew shw would definitely have to work on.

Colonel Une turned and nodded. "Yes, two others. They are about your age as well. I am sure you all will find that you are able to work well together; I noticed that your scores on the previous mobile suit combat tests at the academy were extraordinarily high. Certainly commendable work, and definitely worthy of competing with a Gundam pilot."

Hilde stopped suddenly, her throat tightening almost painfully and a sick, numb feeling spreading through her body. "A Gundam pilot?" she asked, her voice trembling. "OZ has a Gundam pilot?"

Colonel Une stopped at the door to the hangar and looked at Hilde. The younger girl's face was paler and she looked even more fragile than before. "Yes, Ensign Schbeiker. He was captured by one of our younger officers and another of our test pilots, Trowa Barton, some days ago. Officer Barton was the one who commissioned the Gundam pilot to serve on our testing team as well. I hope this won't complicate your situation." Colonel Une's gaze turned cold, almost menacing.

Hilde fought the urge to throw up and only shook her head, slowly. "No... No, of course not," she whispered.

"Very well then." Colonel Une nodded and opened the doors to the hangar. Hilde followed silently behind her, fighting to stop the shaking of her body as she stepped forward, towards two dark figures hunched over the open body of a mobile suit.

"Officer Barton, Mr. Yuy," Colonel Une called out, the heels of her boots clicking loudly on the hard concrete floor of the hangar, the sound echoing through the immense room. "Attention please." The figures before them straightened up and turned around. Hilde only gazed at them, half in revulsion, half in awe. They both looked no older than she was, both slender, well-muscled, and handome. The taller of the boys was dressed in uniform, Officer Barton, she supposed, with beautiful green eyes set in a pale, serious face; the other was equally serious, darkly handsome, with cold, deep blue eyes, half-hidden through the thick brown hair that fell into his face. He was out of uniform; the Gundam pilot. Hilde met his gaze steadily, unable to keep her eyes off him.

He was her enemy.

"This is Ensign Hilde Schbeiker. She will be joining you in the test pilot project. I expect that you will both treat her with the respect and regard she deserves," Colonel Une said, training her eyes on the defiant looking Gundam pilot as well.

"My name is Officer Trowa Barton," the taller boy finally spoke. "Welcome, Ensign Schbeiker."

"Hello," Hilde whispered, still gazing at the other.

The Gundam pilot's eyes darkened. "Heero Yuy," he said. "It's a pleasure."

Hilde didn't say anything; she only continued to stare. The boy, Heero, didn't look away, didn't flinch under her obvious revulsion of him. Yet, she was oddly fascinated with this boy; this strange boy who was nothing like a boy at all. He seemed touched by something not of this world, his innocence long gone.

Hilde hated him.

She was enthralled.

*I'm going to find out your secrets, Heero Yuy.*

Act II

Hilde sat at the vanity table in her new room, absently brushing her hair and trying to fight down the conflicting emotions racing through her mind and body.

A Gundam pilot. She couldn't believe it; OZ, the very organization that considered the Gundams their greatest threat, whose very existence was intent on destroying the Gundams, had one of their pilots. One of their most ruthless pilots, she was sure. The cold, emotionless look in his midnight blue eyes still haunted her; there was something about him that spoke of loss, sadness, hatred. Things that had rendered him insensitive to war and death, love and kindness. He was a monster.

And yet... Hilde couldn't seem to get him off her mind. She needed to know his secrets, wanted to peel away the layers and see into his soul.

*I've got to concentrate. I'm not going to be defeated.*

Hilde gave her hair three quick, last strokes before finally putting the brush down. Dinner was in a few minutes and they would all be there, waiting for her. She didn't want to make a bad impression by being late. A soft knock on her door suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

"Yes, I'm almost finished," she said, standing up.

"It's Officer Barton, Ensign Schbeiker," a soft male voice said from the other side. Hilde walked to the door slowly, trying to keep the blush from slipping into her cheeks once again. She smoothed the skirt of her simple blue dress nervously and pulled open the door. The handsome face on the other side greeted her with a small smile.

"Would you mind if I escorted you to dinner tonight?" he asked, offering his arm. He wore a white dress uniform that contrasted sharply with his forest green eyes and the customary OZ rapier strapped to his waist with a green banner, his shiny brown hair combed neatly over the side of his face. He was gorgeous.

Hilde lowered her eyes shyly and nodded. "Yes, that would be fine," she finally replied, slipping her arm gently through his. At least he wasn't a Gundam pilot.

The two walked down the stairs silently before Hilde spoke. "Have you been an officer here very long, Officer Barton?"

The tall boy looked down at her with that same small, mysterious smile. "You can call me Trowa," he said. "And no, I haven't been here very long."

Hilde blushed deeply at the mention of being able to call him by his first name. "I just wondered... since Colonel Une seems to regard you very highly," she said. "And you can call me Hilde." She smiled up at him shyly and the boy named Trowa laughed softly.

"You're different, Hilde," he said thoughtfully, almost as if he were talking to himself. "Somehow I think you don't belong here."

Before Hilde had the chance to ask what he meant, they had reached the dining hall. The others were already seated; Treize, Colonel Une, and the other boy, Heero Yuy. Hilde's eyes fixed on him immediately, almost unconciously. He wasn't wearing a uniform, although he had changed into a pair of blue pants and a pale blue turtleneck that accentuated his dark eyes. He met her gaze evenly, the look in his eyes unchanged since their first meeting. She felt a chill run down her spine and averted his gaze quickly, lightly squeezing Trowa's arm as she held it.

"Ah, Miss Schbeiker," Treize called, standing up and walking over to her with a smile. He took her free hand gently and kissed it lightly. "I am so delighted that you decided to join us tonight. It seems that you and Officer Barton are getting along quite well." At this, even Trowa blushed slightly and Hilde couldn't supress a giggle.

"It is my honor, Your Excellency," she said, bowing her head demurely. Heero Yuy hadn't stopped watching her. She took a seat at the long table, across from the Gundam pilot. He gave a quick nod of acknowledgement to her before fixing his eyes on Trowa. The other boy simply nodded back. Hilde wondered what kind of connection the two of them had; it seemed that they had known each other long before this test pilot project came about. She was determined to find out their secrets.

The dinner was silent but for the occasional laughter from Treize and Colonel Une's end of the table. The three pilots ate quietly, each gazing at one another from time to time. Hilde couldn't keep her eyes off Heero. She had so many questions to ask him, so many things she wanted to tell him. Yet she knew she couldn't.

She would destroy him.

But she could talk to Trowa; she had a feeling he knew more about Heero than it seemed and he seemed like someone she could trust. After all, they would all have to learn to trust each other eventually, having to work so closely together on this project.

The three were allowed to return to their rooms after dinner had ended; the training and testing would start the next day and they would need their rest, so Colonel Une had told them. Hilde walked back upstairs alone, deciding to wait until the morning to ask Trowa about Heero, since both boys had rooms on the same floor as hers, but as she was about to enter her own room, she noticed Trowa alone, unlocking his door. She decided to make her move.

"Trowa?" She walked slowly towards him, trying to keep from blushing and hoping he wouldn't mistake her actions for something else.

Deep green eyes met hers. "Hm?"

Hilde stopped a few inches from him and looked down at her hands, clasping and unclasping them nervously. "Would you mind... if we talked for a while?" She looked up then, biting her lip.

Trowa smiled softly; her shyness made her even cuter. He knew for certain now that she didn't belong here. "No, I wouldn't mind," he replied and offered his arm again. "There's a garden just out back. We can go walking there, if you'd like."

Hilde exhaled slowly, finally realizing that she had been holding her breath the entire time. She smiled and took his arm again. They started back down the stairs together before Hilde stopped, her eyes widening. "Won't we be in trouble with Colonel Une and Mr. Treize, if they find out we aren't sleeping?" she asked in a whisper, glancing back up the stairs to see if anyone had wakened.

Trowa chuckled lightly and shook his head. "It's hard to believe you're a soldier," he said. "So nervous. Or maybe it's because you just want to please everyone." Hilde looked away, embarassed. He lifted her chin with gentle fingers and smiled. "It's ok. They won't be mad for us talking. It's only natural that we should want to find out more about each other; it's what they expect as well."

Hilde smiled and they started down the stairs again. The night was cool and clear, silent but for the low hum of cicadas in the great trees of the garden and the faint chirping of birds settling down to rest. A gentle breeze swayed the branches and leaves above them, sending down the faint smell of roses. The peace was finally interrupted after some time when Trowa spoke, his deep, soft voice barely distinguishing itself from the other night sounds.

"What was it you wanted to talk about?"

Hilde lifted her gaze from the stars and turned to stare at Trowa. She had almost forgotten he was there, lost in thoughts of her brother and the happy times she had known before the war, before her parents died, before everything. "Yes," she replied slowly. They came to a bench set in a circle of white lilies and sat down. "I wanted to ask you about that Gundam pilot... about Heero." The blush came back and she quickly busied herself with picking leaves off the bushes nearby.

Trowa was silent for a moment, possibly gathering his thoughts, his incredible green eyes fixed on a point in space she couldn't see. "I don't know him very well," he finally replied.

Hilde gazed at him. He was lying; she knew it. "I know you probably think I'm naive, or stupid, even," she spoke up, her voice raising unintentionally. "But I know that you aren't telling me the truth. Even though we've just met, I've seen the looks that pass between you two, like you're hiding some sort of secret. You may not have been here long, but you know him from somewhere else, I know you do. Now, please, don't lie to me." She removed her arm from the crook of his and sat stiffly, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes fixed on his, challenging him to answer. She wasn't nervous anymore.

Trowa tried to keep the smile from lifting the corners of his mouth; Hilde Schbeiker had finally shown herself. He sighed instead and looked off into the distance again. She was different from the other young OZ soldiers he had met; even though she was perfect in everything she did, and always aimed to please, he knew that deep in her heart, she knew what OZ was doing was wrong. He knew about her brother; he was the only reason Hilde had even joined OZ. Her loyalties laid with her family, with the colonies, in the end. Of this he was sure. But he couldn't tell her that he was a Gundam pilot as well just yet. He knew that one of the Gundam pilots had killed her brother; he knew this because later, he realized it had been him.

*I killed her brother. I killed Thomas Schbeiker.*

He couldn't tell her just yet. He shifted his gaze back towards the slender, pretty girl sitting next to him, her bright blue eyes large and imploring. She trusted him; he couldn't tell her yet. He finally spoke.

"You're right, I was stupid to think I could fool you." She smiled at this, almost triumphantly. "I do know Heero, but not as well as you think. I only know what I've managed to observe about him; the rest he keeps well hidden."

Hilde nodded. "I know. He isn't very emotional, is he?"

Trowa cocked his head to the side, thoughtful once again. "Actually, he can be. He's taught me more about emotions than anyone else ever has. He just prefers to keep his inside, instead of letting them be known to others."

Hilde sighed. "I wish I could be like that, sometimes." Trowa laughed and she blushed. "See?"

"You're fine the way you are; everyone was meant to be different," he said, smiling gently. Then he turned serious once again. "What do you want to know about Heero exactly?"

Hilde closed her eyes. She hadn't been prepared for this; she wasn't even sure what she really wanted to know. Everything about the Gundam pilot intrigued her, and yet, she was somehow afraid to find out more about him. She was afraid that she would find out finally who had killed her brother. She was afraid...

"Hilde?" A large, strong hand gently touched her bare shoulder. Hilde opened her eyes.

"I don't know," she answered truthfully, averting his gaze. "The Gundam pilots... I had an older brother, he was a soldier with OZ... there was a mission... and..." Hilde closed her eyes again, feeling the tears begin to slip down from under her long lashes, starkly black against the pale smoothness of her face, coursing down her cheek and falling gently on her folded hands.

Strong, muscular arms encircled her and held her tightly. Warm breath tickled her ear, caressed her skin. "You don't have to talk about it," the rich, deep voice whispered. "I already know."

Hilde buried her face in his chest, dampening the front of his immaculate uniform with her tears. She allowed herself to cry unabashedly for a few moments before she finally pulled away, wiping her flushed face with the back of her hand clumsily, avoiding Trowa's gaze, embarassed. "I'm sorry," she said softly, running a hand back through her long black hair, working the tangles out of it. She laughed then. "You probably think I'm foolish... I'm not like this all the time, it's just-"

Trowa laid a finger to her lips, silencing her. "Don't speak. You aren't a fool. We're all human; we're entitled to our emotions." He caressed her face gently. "Don't be afraid of Heero. I can tell you now it wasn't him." Trowa looked away then and Hilde was silent, wondering how he could know something like that.

Then, something in her stirred. She was suddenly overcome with a great joy, like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Not Heero. It wasn't Heero. *It's not Heero!*

*But he's still one of them.*

The joy was gone.

*I promised. I'm going to destroy them all.*

"I think we should walk back, Trowa," Hilde suddenly said, standing up quickly. "It's getting late and we start tomorrow."

Trowa looked at her curiously. *Does she know?* "I understand. If you ever want to talk, you can ask me." He stood up also and she took his arm. She forced a smile. He didn't look at her anymore.

Hilde entered her room finally and laid down on the bed, not bothering to change out of her dress. Tomorrow it would all begin; tomorrow she would finally get the chance to talk to Heero Yuy, to find out about him first-hand.

She would find out his weaknesses.

And how to destroy him.

Act III

Hilde straightened her uniform one last time in front of the mirror. Everything had to be absolutely perfect; today the training would start. She smoothed the immaculate white pants over her legs and then started on her hair, twisting it up into a bun. A few long strands fell loose and she couldn't get her bangs to be anything but spiky, but other than that, she thought she would be to Colonel Une's satisfaction.

*And Heero's* a tiny voice whispered teasingly in her mind. Hilde giggled to herself softly before shaking her head, ridding herself of any silliness and reminding herself of what she had promised.

She was going to destroy him. All of them.

Hilde opened her door and stepped out into the brightly lit hall, golden sunlight streaming in through the long windows facing the courtyard on one wall, bathing the austere mansion in a cheerful light. Trowa was just stepping out of his room also and Hilde flashed him a quick smile before descending the stairs. He smiled back, following some distance behind her. Heero wasn't to be found.

Colonel Une met the two young soldiers in the dining hall. She was dressed to perfection, her uniform pressed and the adornments in just the right places, her long, sleek hair pulled back and not a strand out of place. Hilde remembered her own hair and nervously tucked a strand behind her ear, biting her lower lip unconciously and hoping Colonel Une wouldn't notice. But the Colonel only smiled when she saw the pretty raven-haired girl and nodded her approval over the cup of coffee she delicately sipped. Hilde smiled shyly back.

"Good morning, Ensign Schbeiker, Officer Barton," she said. "Please eat quickly. Today we are taking a tour of the mobile suit laboratory and the practice arena; unfortunately, the new suits are still under construction. We had hoped they would have been ready for you today, but it seems there have been some complications." Colonel Une's eyes hardened and her hands tightened around the coffee cup she held, her jaw set. Hilde watched with wide eyes as the Colonel's hands and face relaxed once again, almost in the next moment, and she smiled sweetly. "But there is plenty of time for practice, isn't there?" she said. "Come now, and eat."

Hilde and Trowa both took seats across from each other at the long table, picking absently at the plates of pancakes and fruit in front of them. Neither one was really hungry, each lost in his and her own thoughts. Colonel Une watched them curiously, occasionally taking sips of her coffee, before she finally spoke.

"Where is Mr. Yuy?"

Hilde looked up at Trowa, who stared back at her, expressionless. Soft footsteps echoed down the hall and suddenly a slender figure appeared in the doorway.

"I apologize for my tardiness," the deep, monotonous voice said as the boy walked to the table and took the seat beside Hilde. Of course, he wasn't in uniform as she and Trowa were, opting instead for tight black shorts and a loose green tank top. She moved her body away from his almost instinctively as he sat down, somehow afraid to be so near to him. *Stop it, Hilde, you have to be near him sometime. You're going to be working together.* She allowed herself to relax a little and continued eating, trying her best to ignore the prescence beside her, the well-muscled male body, defined under his tight clothing, the deep cerulean eyes that glanced at her through his long bangs, sidelong, from time to time.

"We don't appreciate tardiness here at OZ, Mr. Yuy," Colonel Une replied as she watched the defiant boy eat slowly, methodically. "Even from a Gundam pilot." He didn't answer, didn't even look up. Hilde watched Colonel Une's face contort and then relax once again, and she almost felt afraid for Heero Yuy. Finally, Colonel Une ignored him and finished her coffee, setting the cup down on the table with a soft thud. "We'll begin now. Please follow me."

Hilde pushed her half empty plate to the center of the table and wiped her mouth delicately before standing up. Heero stood up at the same time, his long, tightly muscled arm brushing against her uniformed one as he pushed his plate to the center as well. Hilde flinched and he averted his eyes, almost shyly.

"Gomen," he murmured, pushing his chair back in and walking out of the dining hall, after Colonel Une.

Hilde stared after him, her mind awash in conflicting emotions once again. She felt branded by his slight touch, burned by it. And yet, that split second of male warmth, the sheer strength she felt emanating from him excited her, aroused her. She wondered how his hands would feel on her entire naked body, how it would feel to be held by those strong arms, to be explored completely with those hands, with his mouth, and she was immediately ashamed, her face growing hot. Hilde touched her arm gingerly where Heero's had lain against it for only a moment and closed her eyes, trying to slow her breath and force down the sick feeling in her stomach.

A different hand touched her this time, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. Trowa. Hilde opened her eyes.

"Are you alright?" She was lost in forest green depths once again, bringing her back to reality, back to where she needed to be. She was grateful to him. Hilde nodded and Trowa smiled; mysteriously, knowingly. Hilde blushed and looked down. "Come on, we don't want to get behind," he said, walking out. Hilde followed, unable to speak.

*Destroy him. It's going to be alright.*

Colonel Une had already reached the doors to the mobile suit laboratory when Trowa and Hilde finally caught up, standing with a hand on one curved hip, an impatient look on her face. Heero stood near her, arms crossed over his chest, only looking bored. Hilde averted both of their gazes and busied herself with the buttons of her uniform, the shiny silver disks suddenly interesting.

"Sorry," Trowa said, bowing. Colonel Une smirked slightly; Officer Barton's courtesy had saved both him and his little darling from the consequences of trying her patience this time. Hilde looked up then and bowed also, graciously. Colonel Une couldn't suppress her smile this time. *So sweet and innocent... She amuses me.*

"Well, then. Let's begin," she said, pushing open the immense metal doors and standing aside for the pilots to enter first. "Walk straight down this corridor and then turn left. There will be another door with a card-key lock there. I'll be with you shortly." Colonel Une turned sharply on her heel and walked back outside, the door slamming almost ominously behind her.

Heero led the way down the hall; no one spoke. Hilde looked around her, wondering where all the doors lining the corridor led. They looked more like prison cells than workrooms for mobile suits. She felt a chill run down her spine at the thought and crossed her arms tightly across her chest. When they stopped in front of the locked metal door, Hilde could hear loud male voices shouting to one another and the heavy clang of mobile suit parts and tools from the other side. The mobile suit lab.

Heels clicked loudly down the corridor then and Colonel Une appeared holding three plastic cards. She handed one to each pilot. "These are your card keys for the mobile suit laboratory and the practice arena as well," she explained. "We already took the labor of putting your pictures on them; the important part is mainly the barcode, though. Each one is specified for each pilot, and they are all different so as to identify you. You shouldn't be needing to come into the lab very often, as you aren't needed there, but you will be spending much time in the practice arena."

Hilde turned the card over in her hands, rubbing her thumb over the barcode printed on the back. She turned it back around and read off the information about herself printed there; the picture wasn't too bad, either, and she smiled. Heero and Trowa barely glanced at theirs, tucking them away into back pockets and waistbands. Hilde placed hers in the right breast pocket of her uniform. Heero watched her do this and she blushed, feeling his eyes on her once again. *I've /got/ to stop that!*

"I will be letting you in today, but please make sure you have your cards with you at all times when you are in the facilities," Colonel Une continued, swiping her card. The small light on the keypad flashed from red to green and beeped once, the door unlocked. She pushed it open and let them inside.

The mobile suit laboratory was immense; it was far larger than the mansion and the grounds outside, plus the large mobile suit hangar combined, the ceiling stretching up to the sky for miles and miles. Two mobile suits, one with a shiny, metallic blue finish and the other with a red one, were propped up on frames against the far wall. Hundreds of workmen perched precariously on the framework, diligently working and reworking the different parts: cockpits, beam cannons, crash shields, planet defensors, beam guns. Hilde watched it all in amazement, her breath catching at the sheer power these mobile suits exuded. *I can't believe I'm going to be piloting one of these!* she thought excitedly, smiling in spite of herself. There were only two suits, though. Hilde wondered how exactly three pilots would work two suits when her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Colonel Une, who cleared her throat loudly.

An old technician in gray coveralls and a grease-stained white apron walked over to the group, saluting sharply to Colonel Une despite the fact that he wasn't a soldier. She smiled softly and waved her hand dismissively, signaling that he could put the formalities aside. The technician smiled gratefully and bowed his head. "Good morning, Colonel," he said breathlessly, lifting his gaze finally to appraise the three pilots before him. "Are these the kids who are going to be test piloting for us?" The man gave a friendly wink to Hilde and she smiled.

"Yes, this is Officer Trowa Barton, Mr. Heero Yuy, and our newest addition, Ensign Hilde Schbeiker," Colonel Une replied, smiling softly at Hilde, who lowered her eyes demurely. *So perfectly lovely!* she thought proudly. She would have loved to make Hilde her little protegee, if Treize would allow it. The child was absolutely perfect for molding into OZ's next phenom; her loyalties and manners were completely concurrent with those of OZ. *She will make a lovely colonel. This project will be good for her.*

The technician bowed his head once again and removed his gray cap for Hilde. "Pleased to meet you all, I'm the head of operations around here," he said. "My name is not important." He smiled again and tipped his cap. "Well, I must get back to work. I hope you find everything satisfactory, Colonel. Nice to meet you again." He winked once more and walked quickly away, over to where a younger technician was sorting through parts with a confused look on his face. Hilde covered her mouth with one white-gloved hand to suppress a giggle.

"Let's keep going," Colonel Une said, and led the group closer to the main work area. Hilde had to bend her head all the way back and stand on tip-toe just to look up at the gigantic suits. Trowa gazed at her and smiled; she really was cute. Heero watched her as well, his head tilted to the side thoughtfully, his dark blue eyes pensive. *It's her* he thought. *She's the one he's been looking for...*

His thoughts were interrupted then by Colonel Une's voice. "The two suits are named the Vayeate and the Mercurius, respectively," she said, gesturing gracefully to the blue suit first and then the red. "They are made from gundanium alloy, just as the original Gundams are. You should feel right at home, Mr. Yuy." Her lips curved in an almost snide smile. Heero ignored it. "However, each has its own special characteristics and features, as you will find out." She kept walking, towards a large door with a bright red, neon exit sign over it. "I will show you the practice arena now. You'll need to get especially acquainted with it since you will be expected to practice for at least eight hours a day." Colonel Une opened the exit door and led the way out, down another similar corridor to another similar card-key locked door.

*Eight hours a day? And I used to think basic training was bad!* Hilde thought with a smile. *Maybe now I'll finally be able to master a mobile suit. Just like Thomas...* She pushed the rest of her thought out of her mind, focusing solely on the mission at hand. Colonel Une had just swiped her card again and unlocked the door to the practice arena.

This room was large as well, although not nearly as big as the mobile suit lab. The entire room was white, giving it an eerie, death-like feeling that only accentuated the stillness within it. There was a line of separate consoles lining one wall; inside was the darkness of a simulation cockpit. There were two seats inside each console as well, indicating that partner missions could be emulated if needed, although each person was free to have their own cockpit. A weight set and other exercise machinery stood in one corner of the room, all white as well. A long, wide mirror stretched across the other wall opposite the consoles, facing the simulators and the exercise area. A switch next to the exit door read "Gravity Level." *That would explain why it feels so still and suffocating in here* Hilde thought, unbuttoning the top two buttons of her uniform jacket to alleviate some of the pressure against her body. Trowa did so as well; Heero only stood still with his arms still crossed over his chest, the air pressure and stillness not seeming to bother him. *Something about him... It's almost not human.* Hilde gazed at him.

"This, of course, is the practice arena," Colonel said, gesturing around the room. "The atmosphere is meant to emulate space, thus the gravity level. The whiteness, however, is meant to enforce total concentration; color is distracting, and even black tends to lend some color to a room. Do not be disturbed by it, although I understand it can be disturbing at first. But as I said before, you all will be spending a lot of time in here." She pointed then to the exercise area. "Of course, we expect all of our soldiers here at OZ to be in top physical condition, and especially the three of you. You will be encouraged to add work-out time into your minimum eight-hour practice schedule." She smiled then, knowing fully that OZ didn't encourage; it expected. The nods she received from each of the three pilots indicated that they understood this as well. She nodded curtly. "Well, then. This concludes our tour of the facilities, I'm sure you all understand the procedure now." They nodded once again. "Official training will begin tomorrow, since the suits aren't yet functional, but please feel free to begin on your own today, if you so choose." She smiled. "The rest of the day is free. I expect to meet you all again at dinner. Come, we will walk back to the mansion now." She opened the door and led the way back out, the three following silently behind her.

Hilde squinted in the bright sunlight that greeted them as they left the darkness of the laboratory and practice arena, holding up a hand to shield her eyes from the harsh rays. The full, orange sun was already high in the clear azure sky, indicating that it was afternoon; the tour had taken longer than she had thought. She watched a feathery white cloud drift slowly across the sky and wondered what she would do with the free time. Maybe she could talk to Trowa again. Hilde glanced over at the tall boy then, but he seemed distant, hands in his uniform pockets, lost in thought as they walked. And Heero... She could never bring herself to talk to him, even though she knew she would have to eventually.

*I'm going to be spending a lot of time with him. I have to get to know him sometime.*

Hilde looked over her shoulder at Heero, walking alone, a little ways behind the group. He looked pensive as well, but when he noticed she had turned around to look at him, his eyes suddenly fixed on hers and she turned away.

*Not yet.*

The four split up when they entered the mansion. Colonel Une walked off to tend to some business with Lieutenant Nickol, who met them at the door; the three pilots walked upstairs together, but when they reached their floor, both Trowa and Heero headed to their rooms without a word, only Trowa glancing over his shoulder to smile softly at Hilde. She was left alone.

Hilde entered her own room and took off her uniform jacket, draping it carefully over the chair at her vanity table. She crawled onto the bed and laid on it on her stomach, dangling her arms over the side of the bed to trace patterns on the blue carpet, lazily. She had forgotten what it was like to have free time, to be completely without obligations or work. *I finally know what it means to be bored* she thought with a smile.

Hilde rolled over onto her back then and gazed up at the ornate ceiling above her, thinking of what to do. She didn't really feel much like talking, she realized. Trowa had seemed oddly preoccupied since their talk last night anyway. Heero was always preoccupied, it seemed, and she still couldn't muster up the courage to speak to him. She remembered his arm brushing against hers then and felt a hot flush run through her body.

*Heero... No.*

Before she could think about him any longer, Hilde stood up, stripping out of her uniform pants and pulling on a pair of loose gray pants instead. She kept on the tight black tank top she had been wearing underneath her jacket and re-twisted her long hair into a bun. *Eight hours of work-out training, I might as well get started now.*

Hilde slipped quietly out of her room, careful not to disturb Trowa and Heero, alone in their own rooms. She made her way down the stairs, outside, and walked quickly across the courtyard to the mobile suit lab and the practice arena. The back door led to the arena and she by-passed the lab area, swiping her new card key in the keypad by the door. The light changed to green and the door beeped, unlocking. Hilde stepped inside and almost fell over, tripping on a loose boot lace.

Suddenly, she was face to face with a broad, powerful chest, bare but for the light covering of green material, her hands, small and pale, splayed across it. Hilde lifted her gaze and met that of deep, midnight blue orbs. Her breath caught in her throat and she was suddenly aware of her breasts pressing achingly against that chest, naked underneath the thin tank top.

Heero.

Act IV

The cerulean eyes narrowed behind his long, dark bangs and his jaw was set, defining the handsome, chiseled features of his face. Hilde could scarcely breathe, her softness pressed against his hardness, the feeling she had gotten when his arm brushed hers earlier intensifying a thousand times. She gazed up at him with wide blue eyes, her teeth catching her lower lip as she felt those large, strong hands upon her body, resting fingertips against her hips. A soft moan escaped Hilde's lips before she could stop herself, feeling wetness between her legs, and she closed her eyes then, ashamed. *What the hell are you doing?* she asked herself angrily, trying to rid her body of the desire it suddenly felt.

Heero's hands pushed gently on her hips then, moving her back into an upright position and away from his body. Hilde opened her eyes at the sudden coldness she felt and stood staring at him for a long moment, regaining her composure and trying her best not to let her eyes travel down to the hard organ straining against the tight black material of his shorts. *It doesn't mean he wants you... He's still just a man.* Hilde crossed her arms tightly over her chest then, protectively, hoping to conceal her hardened nipples, and gazed at him.

She watched his beautiful mouth move then, a thousand ideas running through her mind of what he could do to her with that mouth, as he asked, "Are you alright?"

Hilde looked up suddenly, her gaze having lowered to his nether regions unconciously and nodded quickly, feeling her hair begin to slip down from the pins that held it in place. A long strand fell into her face and she pushed it away, biting her bottom lip nervously. "Yes... Yes, I'm fine," she replied.

*He's a Gundam pilot.*

Hilde felt her body stiffen at that thought and the flush of desire was suddenly gone. She uncrossed her arms, straightening up a bit, and tilted her chin defiantly. "I'm fine," she said again, more to convince herself than Heero, who was staring at her almost boredly.

Heero nodded once and walked back over to the weight set, silently laying back down on the bench and grabbing the bar, weighted down with several heavy steel disks, and beginning his bench pressing all over again. Hilde could only stand and stare at him, the ease with which he lifted and lowered the immense bar amazing her, the taut muscles in his arms and chest contracting with the effort. He stared up at the ceiling expressionless, as if he were in some other world she could never hope to reach. Sweat began to pour down his face, dripping down the contours of his body, and he grunted and moaned softly with the exertion, the deep tones sounding incredibly sensual, almost as if he were in pleasure. Hilde watched him and found herself becoming aroused again, the urge to touch herself becoming almost too much. She turned away and walked quickly over to one of the simulation cockpits on the other end of the room, away from Heero; his body, his sweat, his groans.

*A Gundam pilot.*

Hilde repeated the phrase in her mind over and over, a mantra, slowly coming back to reality, remembering her promise.

*Destroy him. It's going to be alright.*

Hilde turned on the console, a door sliding up from the ground and encasing her within the cockpit, sealing her off from the world. She found a pair of goggles in a compartment next to the pilot's chair and slipped them on, further distancing herself from the boy outside. She wanted to have total concentration, to get lost in the mental game of the battle, to remind herself of why she was here. She pulled the safety belt straps over her shoulders and buckled them tightly. The lights in the cockpit dimmed and the screen before her illuminated with a vision of space. She exhaled slowly, the blackness and emptiness filling her, calming her. Faint white stars twinkled against the ebony background. *I'm alone* she thought, closing her eyes.

Suddenly, a loud siren sounded in her ear, from the earpiece attatched to the goggles. The cockpit was bathed in a deep red light when Hilde opened her eyes, and there before her, on the screen, was the exact image of an Alliance mobile suit, the features of it so realistic she could have sworn she was really in front of one.

All thoughts of Heero, Thomas, and anyone else she might have thought of were immediately gone from Hilde's mind. Her hands tightened around the controls and she leapt into battle, pummeling the Alliance suit with multiple beam rifle shots and dober gun blasts. The suit was obliterated and a numbered score appeared on the side of the screen. 56% accuracy. *I can do better than that.* Hilde narrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth, punching the button to continue the simulation. The computer added four Alliance suits this time, and they came at her with beam rifles blazing. She fought back with a ferocity that scared even herself, boosting her score up to 98% accuracy. She didn't end there.

After the last suit had been obliterated, Hilde tore off the goggles and collapsed over the control panel, exhausted. She hadn't realized how much stress had built up inside her, all of it pouring out as she engaged in the simulation battle. She felt a sense of relief now, of complete calm; a feeling that she hadn't known for some time, not since before she had joined OZ. Her watch beeped faintly in the quiet darkness of the cockpit; time to go back.

Hilde unbuckled the safety belt straps and lifted herself with much effort out of the pilot's chair. A wave of dizziness and nausea suddenly swept over her and she leaned against the chair for support, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She hadn't realized how long it had been since she was last in a mobile suit, even a simulation one, and she smiled, feeling better. The door slid back down into the ground, sensing her departure, and she was once again back in the still white room. Heero was gone.

Hilde finally took the pins out of her hair, the bun slipping completely loose during her battle, and ran a hand back through it. Dinner would be in a few hours and she still needed to shower and find something to wear. *Maybe even talk to Trowa again* she thought with a smile as she exited the practice arena and made her back towards the mansion. He was her only friend now and she was grateful to him for his kindness, although something at the back of her mind told her that Trowa had secrets as well.

The hall where the three pilots' rooms were located was empty. Hilde breathed a sigh of relief as she slipped back into her room, locking the door behind her. She stripped out of her sweaty clothes and stepped into the shower, turning the cold water on full blast and standing under it, letting it chill her completely to the bone, washing away the heat and confusion of the day.

She had just finished zipping up a short black dress when there was a soft knock at her door. Trowa. She knew it before she had even opened it, and came face to face with the tall, handsome boy. He wasn't wearing his dress uniform tonight, but he chose a less formal, dark blue one. Hilde smiled and stepped aside, inviting him inside. Her feelings for Trowa weren't at all romantic, and the boy understood this, smiling shyly as he entered.

Hilde picked up a towel from her bed and finished drying her hair as she spoke. "I'm so excited about this project!" She didn't try to hide her enthusiasm this time. "I've never piloted a mobile suit as big as those before. I wonder if that's really what a Gundam is like." She tossed the towel down and began brushing out the long black tangles, shimmering faintly blue in the dim violet light streaming through the long windows of her room. She gazed at Trowa, wondering if he had ever come across any Gundams before.

The boy stared almost dreamily out the window, his hands absently running up and down the rapier strapped, as always, to his side. "You mean, have I ever seen a Gundam?" he finally asked, shifting his gaze back to Hilde.

Hilde stared at him, wide-eyed. *How did he know that's what I was thinking?* She nodded slowly and sat down at the vanity to apply a little makeup. Trowa watched her with a slight smile, marveling at how this feminine slip of a girl had managed to become a soldier. *She doesn't belong here* he thought again. *But now I know why she's here.* He thought suddenly of Heero.

*She's the one he's been looking for.*

"I've only seen a Gundam twice," he finally replied, trying his hardest not to smile. Hilde would see through his lie if he did. She turned around then, her face afraid and interested at the same time.

"Was it the same one both times? Was it Heero's?" she asked.

Trowa shook his head. "No. The first Gundam I saw was Heero's, but the second..." He trailed off and looked away, out the window once more.

Hilde stood up and walked over to where he sat, perched on the edge of her bed, and sat down beside him. "Whose was it?" she asked again. Her bright blue eyes softened and she tilted her head to the side, gazing at him thoughtfully. *Maybe Trowa...* she thought, unable to believe what she was thinking. *No, it can't be him. He can't be one of them. He's too gentle, too kind.*

Trowa met her gaze evenly then. "Someone I used to know," he replied. "A long time ago."

Hilde lowered her eyes. "Oh," she said slowly. "A friend, then?"

Trowa thought for a moment before nodding once. "Yes, a friend, I guess you could say. A friend that is an enemy now." *The perfect OZ answer* he thought, almost bitterly.

Hilde smiled a little, trying to be cheerful although it was obvious to her she had made Trowa very uncomfortable. "I'm sorry," she whispered, touching his knee gently. He looked up. She blushed, realizing what she had just done, and he laughed softly.

"Hilde... It's ok." He smiled then and stood up, offering his hand. "Come on, dinner should be starting."

Hilde took his hand and let him pull her up, slipping on her black, heeled sandals before they descended the stairs together and entered the dining hall. Heero was already seated and eating, alone at the far end of the table, away from Colonel Une, who sat alone as well at the other end. Hilde and Trowa took seats near Heero and waited to be served.

"It's nice to see you both, Officer Barton, Ensign Schbeiker," Colonel Une said, giving each a nod of acknowledgement. The two pilots nodded back as a servant came and set plates of steaming rice and vegetables in front of them. "I'm sorry that his Excellency Mr. Treize couldn't join us tonight, but he has important matters to attend to. Have you been practicing, or exercising?" She looked over at Hilde as she asked this and Hilde averted her eyes respectfully, nodding once again.

"Yes, Colonel," she replied. "I tried the simulation this afternoon."

Colonel Une smiled. "That's very good," she said. "Although I hope you asked Mr. Yuy to pilot with you while he was there as well."

Hilde blushed, not realizing that Colonel Une had known Heero was there when she was. "Oh," she said softly. "I didn't think to ask him." Heero was silent, engrossed in his dinner. Trowa ate quietly as well, politely staying out of the conversation.

Colonel Une laughed. "I suppose it is my fault, then," she said. "I should have told you that you would be co-piloting with Mr. Yuy. As there are only two mobile suits that Mr. Treize required, one must be handled by two pilots, an experiment that could greatly affect OZ's success in the future. Co-piloting in mobile suits hasn't yet been perfected and if it were to show great progress in battles, we would certainly be ahead of the alliance and any other groups that oppose us." She smiled then and took a bite of her dinner. "We have already taken the labor of pairing you with Mr. Yuy, Ensign Schbeiker. I hope this won't cause any complications." She lifted an eyebrow, almost willing Hilde to challenge her.

Hilde bit her lip and looked down, shaking her head. "No, it will be fine, Colonel," she replied numbly, unable to believe her fate. Somehow, she thought her whole reason for coming to work with OZ's new test pilot project was to be the victim of some cruel joke. OZ knew better than anyone how her brother had died, how a Gundam pilot had murdered him; Thomas Schbeiker had been one of their best soldiers, destined for greatness if not for his untimely death. And now his sister, she herself, was suddenly thrust into a group with a Gundam pilot and forced to become his partner. Even though she knew now from Trowa that Heero hadn't been the one who killed her brother, he was still a Gundam pilot and she still held him in contempt. The very thought of now having to be in the closed space of a cockpit with him sickened her.

And yet... Hilde would be his partner. /His/ partner. She remembered being pressed against him earlier that day, feeling his hardness, his warmth, remembering how she had aroused him as well. Hilde glanced up, across the table to where Heero sat, still silent throughout the entire conversation, as if they hadn't been speaking about him. He continued to eat, slowly, his eyes trained on some point in space she couldn't see.

Feeling her eyes on him once more, Heero finally looked up. Hilde didn't lower her gaze or turn away this time. She faced him evenly, eyes on his, burning every feature of his face into her memory. She would have to know Heero Yuy completely now, as he would her. Facing him without being intimidated was the first step.

*I'm going to find out your secrets, Heero Yuy.*

*I have to now.*

Act V

Colonel Anne Une sat silently at her end of the long dinner table, watching the three young pilots eat. None of them spoke, although from time to time Hilde would glance up at Heero, or Trowa would turn his head slightly to look at Hilde beside him and they would share a private gaze. Hilde had seemed slightly unnerved when Colonel Une told her of her position as Heero Yuy's co-pilot, and this intrigued her. She knew the girl's history; the death of her brother at the hands of a Gundam pilot. But to see the otherwise perfect young soldier so nervous about her duties interested Colonel Une. There was something else in Hilde's large, innocent blue eyes when she looked at Heero besides fear; it was attraction. And Officer Barton seemed to know something about it.

Across the table just then, Hilde stood up, pushing her plate to the center of the table and excusing herself softly before walking out of the room. Heero's eyes shifted briefly in her direction before returning to the plate in front of him. Trowa didn't look up at all.

*Unacceptable. Mr. Treize will hear about this.*

Heero stood up next, whispering his excuse as well before leaving. Colonel Une watched him depart with a soft smile; it seemed the Gundam pilot finally had a weakness. It would be used against him.

*I'll tell Mr. Treize... but not yet.*

Trowa was the last to stand up and depart. "Can I see you for a moment, Officer Barton?" Colonel Une called, standing up as well. Trowa walked quickly over to her, at attention.

"Yes, Colonel?"

Colonel Une tucked an imaginary strand of long, shiny chestnut hair behind her ear before speaking. "As a senior officer and as a peer to the others in our group, I'm counting on you to supervise this project. You hold much authority over young Miss Schbeiker and the rebel Mr. Yuy; I want you to report directly to me if anything out of conduct should happen." She arched an eyebrow and gazed at the handsome officer patiently, awaiting his answer.

Trowa saluted and nodded once. "Of course, Colonel," he replied softly.

Colonel Une smiled and straightened her silver-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose. "Very well then," she said. "I will see you tomorrow. You should begin practice then."

"Yes." The boy turned sharply, saluting once more, and walked away.

Colonel Une watched him leave, smiling softly to herself.

*So many secrets... Mr. Treize will have /much/ to hear about.*

Hilde Schbeiker drove her fist into the hard center of the punching bag, sending it flying back, crashing into the wall of the practice arena with a loud bang, her wrist snapping back painfully.

"Shit!" she cursed softly, pulling the boxing glove off to examine her wrist. The area where the joints connected her hand to her arm were circled in red, the flesh starting to swell, but luckily the bones weren't protruding; it wasn't broken.

Someone chuckled softly behind her and she turned, ready to defend herself with some smart remark she hadn't thought of yet, when she came face to face with Trowa. The curses died on her lips and Hilde quickly bit down on her lower lip, clutching her wrist protectively.

Trowa smiled, arms crossed over his chest, as he walked slowly across the room to stand in front of her. "You shouldn't punch like that. You're lucky your wrist didn't break all the way off," he said.

Hilde opened her mouth to answer when the door to the arena opened once more and Heero stepped through, giving them only a quick glance of acknowledgement before heading to the weight set. Hilde watched him pile the weights on the bar before laying down and taking a firm grip on it, lifting slowly, methodically. Realizing Trowa was still waiting for her to answer, Hilde quickly looked away, pushing her damp hair back with her free hand.

"I wasn't really thinking about my form when I punched," she replied, surprising both herself and Trowa with her sarcastic tone. He arched an eyebrow and smiled.

"I really couldn't tell," he said, matching her sarcasm. Hilde blushed and laughed a little.

"Ok, you win." She sat down on the floor, massaging her injured wrist, trying to work out the soreness. "Colonel Une is going to kill me if I get hurt before we even start." Hilde sighed and looked up at Trowa, standing in front of her. He seemed even taller now, and she could see his face better, since his hair always seemed to conceal half of it; a smooth, handsome face with beautiful deep green eyes veiled slightly by long, black lashes. She looked away quickly.

"She's not going to kill you," Trowa said, sitting down beside her and gently taking her wrist. Hilde lifted her eyes to his, silently giving her permission. He held her wrist in his two large hands delicately, as if he were afraid it might break, and caressed the joint with his fingertips, massaging it tenderly with long, gentle strokes. "She'll just find another test pilot to replace you," he finished, working her wrist carefully. His index finger jabbed into the swollen flesh then and Hilde cried out, tears stinging her eyes.

Trowa gazed at her, concern filling the green depths of his eyes, as Hilde stared back, a shimmery film of tears clouding the soft blue orbs. "Does it hurt still?" he whispered, releasing the pressure of his fingers against her wrist.

Hilde shook her head, fighting back the urge to cry. Her hair was in her face again and she reached up to push it back when Trowa stopped her, tucking the long strands tenderly behind her ears. Hilde could only gaze at him, wondering if Trowa was offering her more than friendship. The hand on her wrist stroked her softly now, almost lovingly. Heero grunted then, the soft clink of metal as he lifted and lowered the bar finally becoming audible in the stifling silence of the room. Hilde pulled away.

*No. I can't let this happen. Not both of them...*

She pushed herself to a standing position, fighting the wave of dizziness that overcame her. She leaned against the punching bag, wrapping her arms around it for support, laying the hot flesh of her forehead against the coolness of the vinyl.

"Are you alright?" Trowa asked, standing up as well.

Hilde closed her eyes. "I'm fine," she whispered, keeping her back turned to him. Her mind was filled with a green vision. Endless green, forever green, until finally the sylvan color began to ebb away, and she was filled with blue now; deep, cerulean blue...

*No. I won't be defeated.*

Hilde opened her eyes and turned back to Trowa, who stood with a look of confusion and concern etched into his handsome features, and forced a smile. "I think I'm going to practice now."

Trowa motioned to her hand, which she still held protectively to her chest, cradling the injured wrist in it. "Your wrist." It wasn't a question.

Hilde nodded and forced her hands down to her sides, flexing the wrist painfully. "It'll be fine," she replied through clenched teeth. "It's fine." She moved quickly past Trowa then, heading for the safety of the simulation consoles and the emptiness of outer space.

She slid into one of the cockpits, her hand fumbling in the darkness for the switch that would transport her into total isolation. A large, cool hand suddenly covered hers, pushing the button down and sending the cockpit into complete darkness.

Heero.

Hilde felt her throat constrict; she couldn't breathe. She closed her eyes, trying desperately to slow the beating of her heart and quell the steadily rising tide of nausea in her stomach. She was alone, in darkness. With a murderer. The urge to scream, to fight, filled her lungs, filled her entire body.

*There's nowhere to go. I'm suffocating. I'm dying.*

The pilot's chair suddenly shifted, throwing Hilde back without warning, a cry escaping her lips; he had extended it to fit himself in behind her. She felt his leg brush against her arm as he positioned himself in the cockpit, then the warmth of his body as it pressed into her back.

*Oh, God, I'm dying...*

Heero shifted slightly behind her, his lower body pushing into the small of her back. She felt his hardness and her center immediately became wet, burning with uncontrollable desire. The long, slender, well-muscled arms came around her, encircling her body, resting strong hands over her small, delicate ones. Warm breath tickled the flesh of her neck, his long, dark bangs falling forward, onto her shoulder. Every part of Hilde's body ached then; her breasts swelled and strained against the tight red material of her tank top, her sex burned, hot and wet, aching for his touch, his mouth, his cock.

*Dying...*

"Start the simulation, Hilde." The deep, emotionless voice next to her ear brought her back down from near hysteria, strangely calming her nerves.

Hilde breathed in deeply, her lungs opening, letting the air rush in and cool the burning blood running through her veins. The nausea faded; she sat in a state of numbness, her hand unconciously finding the button to begin the simulation. The cockpit was suddenly bathed in a calming azure light, the barren landscape of space stretched before their eyes. Hilde continued to breathe.

*Just concentrate on breathing.*

Heero's hands on hers tightened on the controls and the pressure of his warm, muscular body resting against hers comforted her. The screen lit up then with a row of Alliance mobile suits, beam rifles aimed straight at them.

"Listen to me." Hilde felt the moistness of Heero's soft lips against her ear, brushing the barest of kisses on her flesh. A soft moan escaped her lips and she tightened her hands around the controls, bringing pain to her injured wrist and distracting her from the desire coursing through her body. "Listen to me, Hilde, and do exactly what I say."

Hilde nodded slightly, biting her bottom lip to keep from moaning again as Heero's erection rubbed against her lower back, back and forth. Was he shifting that way on purpose?

*Teach me how to murder* Hilde's inner voice taunted, and she suddenly felt sick again.

"Equip the chainrifle," Heero continued, his voice still an uninterested monotone. "Bear to the right and fire; the shot will deflect off that suit to the left and hit the rest." His hands moved over hers, guiding her across the controls. His forearm brushed her left breast. His erection continued to stroke her back. Hilde obeyed his commands silently.

*Teach me how to murder...*

Hilde's hand squeezed the trigger; the shot echoed throughout the cockpit with a loud bang, deflecting as he had said off the mobile suit on the left, shattering into a million fragments and striking the surrounding suits in one hit. Another suit suddenly glided into the screen, beam rifle blazing.

"Bear left, /now/!" Heero crushed her hands in his, bending her wrists down on the controls, making her scream in pain. He thrusted his hips into her back, violently. The arm against her breast pressed harder, putting pressure on her sensitive, aching nipple. Hilde cried out, swerving to the right just as the enemy mobile suit blasted them. Heero's hips crashed into hers one last time, his force thrusting her forwards onto the control panel so that it ground between her legs, sending her sex into an almost painful, sweet agony. Heero grunted loudly in her ear behind clenched teeth, his hands grasping hers painfully. She screamed, lifting her hips and grinding into the control panel, desperate for her release. Heero's arms tightened around her. The siren sounded then and the cockpit was cast in a deep red glow.

Mission failed.

Hilde came back to reality, sinking slowly down into the seat, sweaty, exhausted, and aching dully from the unfulfilled passion throbbing wetly between her thighs.

Heero disengaged his damp limbs from hers abruptly, bringing himself to a standing position beside the pilot's chair. Hilde could only lay back, eyes closed, waiting for her breathing to slow and the ache to fade away. She finally opened them, looking up to see Heero gazing down at her, every muscle in his handsome, sweat-streaked face clenched; tense, almost angry.

"We failed the mission," he said simply. "You didn't obey my commands."

Hilde sat up quickly, pushing a hand back through her hair and biting her bottom lip. Her eyes lowered. "I'm sorry, I tried-"

"Trying won't get us through the pilot test," he interrupted, slamming a fist back to punch the exit button. The door enclosing the cockpit slid back down, returning to its hidden place in the floor of the arena. He turned to leave then, glancing only once behind his shoulder to look at her.

"Obey me next time." He disappeared into the whiteness.

Hilde sighed, dropping back into the pilot's chair and leaning her head against the back of it. *What the hell was that?* She was confused, hurt even, that he didn't even acknowledge what had just passed between them. *What /did/ just pass between us?* She closed her eyes, remembering his wild thrusts, the grunts and moans escaping those soft, beautiful lips, that last, sensual, strained groan, deep in her ear.

*He came. He came all over me.*

Hilde moaned softly at this realization, her hand sliding its way down her body; over the curves of her firm breasts, the smooth, flat plain of her stomach, down to the damp material of her pants between her legs to gently rub her aching center, up and down. *Heero...*

The door to the practice arena suddenly opened. Hilde opened her eyes, forcing her hand away and standing up quickly. Colonel Une appeared at the entrance to the simulation console, a hand on her hip and a look of amusement on her face. Hilde averted her gaze respectfully, saluting sharply.

"Colonel," she said, nodding her acknowledgement.

Colonel Une returned the gesture. "Where is Mr. Yuy?"

Hilde finally looked up. "He just left... I remembered to ask him this time." She smiled a little and looked away quickly.

Colonel Une smiled. "I hope you are getting along well. I know that it's difficult, Mr. Yuy being a Gundam pilot, and you..." She reached out and touched the younger girl's shoulder reassuringly, lifting her chin with the other white-gloved hand. Innocent blue eyes met her own and she smiled again. "I have confidence in you, Hilde," she said, surprising the other girl by using her first name. "I know that a fine soldier such as yourself cannot be and will not be easily swayed, especially by a rebel Gundam pilot."

Hilde felt a hot flush run through her body at the mention of Heero, but she ignored it, nodding at Colonel Une. "Yes, Colonel," she whispered.

*He'll only teach me how to murder.* The flush was gone.

Colonel Une arched an eyebrow at the sudden change in the girl's face; it seemed to harden, and the pale blue orbs of her eyes darkened and narrowed. "Very well then," she continued. "I expect to see you tonight." She nodded once more, turned, and disappeared out the door into the orange and violet blaze of twilight.

Hilde watched her leave before finally exiting the practice arena herself. Somehow she made her way back to the mansion, back to her room, without seeing either of the other pilots. Of this she was glad, although now she was certain that she wouldn't let either of them, especially Heero, have an effect on her. She couldn't allow it; her future as a soldier, if anything else, depended on her success in this project.

*Only for a few more days now... Then he'll be gone.*

She felt better at this thought, showering quickly and changing back into her uniform for dinner. But still, the Gundam pilot remained on her mind. She wanted to know him, to know every part of him, to have him tell her all of his secrets. She wanted him. And then there was Trowa. Beautiful Trowa, whose eyes she felt upon her body almost every moment now, whose prescence comforted her, yet disturbed her all at the same time. Trowa, who held as many secrets as Heero did, only his seemed more elusive.

*But I can talk to Trowa.*

*It's only a few more days now...*

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