Assailant Part 10 Reboo Rlw1985@hotmail.com or lngwp@oz.zzn.com A/N:  Sorry this took so long, left hand kept going numb.  Thank-you by the way to Chibi Tsuki for your review it gave me the ideas I needed to start this chapter off.  As always reviews would be wonderful, and thank-you to those of you have reviewed thus far.  “Colt, Kima, come in please.” The old woman said in a sing-song voice.  That voice the men knew could mean their death, and they looked warily at each other before entering. “Take your seats please.”  She said gesturing to the two in front of her desk as she got up and turned back on them.  The mens stomachs churned slightly as they obediently sat down. “This man you’ve taken in along with Karin Gespucci.”  She paused a second still keeping her back towards them.  “Who is he?” Colt shuddered and spoke quiuckly trying to hide his fear.  “We believe he is Zechs Merquise, otherwise known as Milliardo Peacecraft.” “Is he not the same man who was looking for Lucrezia Noin.” She added with a hint of irritation. “Yes ma’am.”  Kima spoke up. “Have you asked him where she is?” “Well no ma’am,” Kima sputtered.  “It didn’t occur to us, to think about it.” “That is obvious, Kima.”  The woman stated, anger now evident in her voice and she turned suddenly and slammed her hands on the table making it shake slightly and sending a horrible noise throughout the room.  Both men jumped slightly in their charis.  This did not seem to good.   “Do you know why we do what we do so meticulously.” She said staring them down. Neither of them were brave enough to speak so she simply took her seat and continued on, folding her hands in her lap and leaning over her desk.  “I guess then I’ll start at explaining what we are doing.” She leaned back and placed her feet on the table, she was enjoying scaring these two.  It was actually quite funny to her. “We are slowly canceling out, and taking over political positions breaking down the current system from the inside out before seizing complete control.  Now you do know we are militaristic.”  They nodded adamantly, yes. “Good.” She smiled, at least they knew something.  “Then you know we don’t like the current rule system.  Truly we are not the one’s gaining power however, this is an assignment from a wealthy businessman.  Jumbles such as the ones you two have made put a severe strain on our system.”  The two gulped and she smiled, this was almost too much fun. “Having someone there at the dinner playing guard means someone is onto us.  They could shut down two major operations.”  She paused again letting this sink in.  “The take over, and the entire assassins network.  Now you see our problem boys.” They nodded emphatically.  “This is why Lucrezia Noin is such a threat.” She continued.  “Noin was trained with us till the age of five3, when her father took her home disregarding our orders.  Given Noin’s military background, if she gets curious she’ll come after us, most likely one by one, the style her father preferred.  This is why she is extremely dangerous, and there’s more as well.  She also holds the key to our mobile suit storage center which has not been opened in fifteen years.  This due to the fact that the hanger is bio scanned and only Antoinne and Lucrezia Noin can open it.  Unfortunately enough the men who killed Antoinne stupidly burned his body.  Still there is more however.  Do you remember that vendetta I spoke of.”  Both men nodded as she left her chair and paced, this subject always unsettled her stomach. “Noin killed my youngest brother Fortunato in hand to hand combat at the age of 14 while my brother was 28, and an instructor at the time.  I do not know exactly what happened, but our Miss Noin is a force to be reckoned with when she so chooses.” Her men stared dubiously at her, she was human and she had shown it for once.  It was an odd site to see.  “Ma’am would you like us to bring him to you?” She responded by nodding her head and waving them out of her office.  She would need a couple of seconds to recollect herself before her new guest arrived.  Sometimes being a hostess was not as easy as it looked. Noin rolled over groggily and opened her eyes.  ‘There still isn’t any damn light in here,’ she muttered under her breath.  She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again.  Man did she ever wish this had just been a nightmare, but unfortunately, no such luck.  Slowly her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she took a sweep of the room.  Zechs was sleeping against the wall not to far away, and she blushed as she faintly recalled his hands on her face earlier.  The slightest of touches could invoke emotions in her she did not normally feel, and they scared her to a certain extent.  Yawning she rolled onto her back and took a good look at the ceiling.  “Office ceiling, huh?” she thought.  That could be their undoing, it was a good escape route only problem was how to get up there without the guards noticing and could they manage it in handcuffs. Her stomach growled loudly and Noin moaned.  “Why didn’t I eat lunch or dinner yesterday when I had the chance.”  Zechs heard this though, as he had simply been closing his eyes.  He let an amused smile play on his lips.  In a time like this she was thinking of food, not about how her injuries were, or an escape route, but food.  Zechs laughed inwardly as he watched Noin, he could see Duo acting the same way, but Noin, it had surprised him.  He was even more surprised however as the door opened and two men came in and pulled him to his feet.  He stared at Noin for a moment and she stared right back at him.  He knew she knew what was going to happen to him, and as he looked at her through the light allowed he could see the silent support in her gaze as he turned and left with the men, most likely to meet the same person Noin had, and he murmured a silent prayer that he not tell anything, as they walked along. Sally woke up mid afternoon feeling much better and jumped out of bed and got dressed.  She was resolved in what she was going to do, she would tell Wufei what she knew, and get his advice on the situation.  “Wufei,” she called leaving her room. “Get back in bed onna,” Wufei yelled over the backside of the living room couch. Sally ignored him and sat in the stuffed chair opposite him.  “There’s something I need to tell you.” “What,” he replied impatiently. “A mission went bad,” she said slowly and deliberately.  Wufei immediately snapped to attention, even he was not one to ignore something like this, so he took in every detail as she spoke. “Call Relena,” he said after she was finished. Sally tilted her head questionably in his direction, so he explained. “Relena, and Noin are close right now.  Probably even more so than with Zechs or you.  They act like sisters.  Naturally Relena might know Noin’s habits better, and that be useful in pulling some ropes when needed.” “Fine,” Sally responded and went to her study to call Relena. Approximately an hour later Relena finally hung up the phone, and leaned back.  She rubbed her temples trying in vain to relieve the stress.  Her brother and Noin, caught, and by some old OZ lackie group.  She’d need to get up and pack, in an hour she had a flight to L4.  Then from there she would be meeting Sally and the gundam pilots.  All the pilots had agreed to find their MIA’s. All of the gundam pilots in fact seemed to be quite fond of Miss Noin, as Quatre called her, which had Relena amused to no end, apparently they had become quite attached to her in a way throughout the wars.  ‘These thought will have to continue later,’  Relena thought as she sat up straight again.  There was work to be done. Zechs dropped to his knees as soon as the guards closed the door.  The old lady could definitely hit hard, and he had to wonder if she was on steroids.  It was unnatural for someone that old to be that strong.  Out of the corner of his eye he could see Noin watching him, but she obviously had something else on her mind.  Slowly and painfully he got up and made his way over to her.  She was gazing at the ceiling, he followed her gaze, obviously she did not want to speak right now, it seemed. “Tonight,” she whispered, “When there’s only one guard at the door.  They’re not going to play nice forever, especially not if this is nice.” She turned her gaze from the ceiling to him, his sharp intakes of breath had brought her attention back to him, and she could not help but stare. Zechs could not stand to stare back in her eyes however, for some reason they appeared to hold too much truth, and too much sentiment.  So he rested his head on her shoulder instead.  He could feel her flinch slightly at his movement, but her muscles relaxed just as quick.  Even in the current tormenting position she still brought him peace, and he found this very amazing, so he dwelt on this as he fell asleep. Noin leaned her head on top of his as she heard his breathing lengthen out, and become softer, he was asleep.  She sighed hopefully her plans would work, and she still had her feminine charms about her, she hoped.  Lucrezia needed to get the lone guard at night, or what she assumed was night to open the door so she could steal his keys.  This plan had to work however, if it did not it could mean the potential loss of a body part, not something very appealing.  She would definitely need her wits about her now.  Relena and Sally sat on the sofa in the large suite, as the guys settled themselves down.  “Any suggestions on what to do,” Relena asked to get the ball rolling. “Infiltrating,” Trowa spoke up, but Sally shot it down, commenting that it would take too long. “Systems hacking, then a team sent in to get them out.” Quatre said looking intently at the wall. “That could definitely work,” Sally agreed. Relena simply nodded, a basic solution had been figured out much quicker then she expected.  “Listen, do you think you could have the logistics done and be ready to go by tonight, I don’t want them in there any longer then absolutely necessary.” The boys nodded in agreement.  “Great,” Relena said and got up and went to the window.  She placed her hand gently upon it, somewhere down there in what looked like a peaceful city, was a group of maniacs running around ready to end her life, and the lives of those she loved.  Inwardly she moaned, some days life just seemed so cruel. Noin was grinding her teeth in anger by the time only one guard was left stationed at the door.  For some reason her blood was boiling, and normally she was a calm person, but now she was not and she had to bite back her anger as she staggered to the door. “Excuse me,” she said in a deceivingly sweet voice.  The guard turned and looked at her through the bars.  “Can you get me a drink?” she asked a fake smile plastered on his face. “Sure,” he muttered and went to get her something to drink.  Technically he was not supposed to do this, but he could not help feeling sorry for her. Noin grinned as the man unlocked the door to hand her a drink, it was strangely ironic that this man’s kindness would be his downfall.  Quickly she reached for his wrist and wrenched him inside. Zechs who had been standing beside the door grabbed the man’s weapon as soon as he hit the ground.  Keys however were not that easily seen.  In a panic the guard instinctively reached for his buzzer on the side of his belt, to alert the building to an escape.  Lucrezia picked up on this however, and knowing that Zechs would not shoot reached down and quickly snapped the man’s neck. She could hear the sickening sound as it happened, and felt the man go limp.  She could not bring herself to pause in her actions however, and began searching for his keys, at the very least it kept her mind off what she had just done. Zechs had heard the sickening sound as it happened as well.  He could not bring himself to believe that she had just done that.  In a way he thought maybe it was necessity, but it could have been avoided.  Still though, his dear, sweet beloved Noin had just killed another human being without a second thought.  He had never seen her act like this before. Even as she undid his cuffs, and he hefted her up to the ceiling he could bring himself to look at her, but when she went to help him up, he had to.  When he looked at her face, he saw no compassion, maybe a hint of hurt in her eyes, but no recollection of what she had just done.  Noin bowed her head, and looked away as she pulled Zechs up, she could tell he was ashamed of her.  ‘Don’t think on it Noin, just keep moving,’ she kept repeating to herself and that’s just what she did, kept moving.  Not to far behind her Zechs followed, but she knew now was not a good time to talk, and in fact she needed to simply find her way out, nothing else compared to that right now.