Gundam Wing, Blind Target: Part 2 [A hidden figure watches the live news broadcast on a large TV screen inside his spaceous office.] Reporter1: The blast is believed to have been caused by explosives. Reporter2: A terrorist boming at the colony summit! What is the current situation? Reporter3: The chances of survival for each of the colony representatives present at the summit are to be regarded as hopeless. [A personal call arrives, and the image of another, dark-haired man, replaces the smoking remains of the skyscraper.] Man1: It looks like everything went exactly as planned, doesn't it? [The face of the second, younger man becomes visible. He answers with a satisfied smile on his lips.] Man2: U-huh. The young heir to the Winner family is also among the casualties. Man1: Is there evidence for his death? Man2: Are you saying you don't trust me? Man 1: That was not my meaning... I am asking because the fate of every one of us is depending on this operation. Man 2: There is no reason for concern. Everything is fine. We have already moved on to the next stage. Man 1: But... Man 2: It is alright if you and your men wait a little longer. That is, until the Gundam is in our hands... *** [Back at the circus, Ralph Kurt is trying to convince Trowa of his cause.] Ralph: Do you remember? That time when we never knew when death could claim up? How we buried our fears and fought, despite all the confusion? He looks intently at Trowa Ralph: But you... Trowa: ... [Trowa has a flashback to a time when he was a young boy of maybe 9, standing amidst the smoke and rubble of a newly-waged war. He is clad in the clothes of a mercenary and stares blankly and uncaringly ahead of him to a younger Ralph with his fellow soldiers, sheltering themselves behind a ruined building. Ralph's eyes mirror those of Trowa's... Then he snaps back to the present] Ralph: There was not a more perfect soldier than you! Trowa: You're wrong. That was only because I had lost something important from all that fighting. Ralph: So you're saying things are different now? Trowa: I've chosen to live not as a soldier, but as one named Trowa Barton. [Ralph's chummy facade cracks, and he smirks.] Ralph: Is that so? Then you no longer need 'that' do you? Trowa: [sensing the superior gleam in his eyes] Ralph? [Ralph stretches out his arm in a dramatic gesture. He obviously enjoys playing the trump card.] Ralph: The Gundam... that 'Heavyarms', hand it to us then! It should be owned by someone who has retained the will to fight! Trowa: [alarmed] What? [Suddenly, Cathrine comes rushing out of one of the tents.] Cathrine: Trowa, something terrible has happened! Quatre is... [notices Ralph] Ah. Ralph: So, news travels fast. When the the federation was under control, news from other colonies hardly ever got around. Trowa: Is this your doing? What the hell is it you're trying to achieve? [Ralph walks away, hands in his pockets.] Ralph: It doesn't concern you, since you no longer care to fight. I'll leave for now. But do me a favour and think about what we've discussed. [Trowa wordlessly looks after him.] Cathrine: Trowa? Trowa: An old associate. [Cathrine grabs his shoulders, desperately trying to persuade him, but he doesn't meet her eyes.] Trowa: Cathrine. Cathrine: Don't! You're going away again, aren't you? Trowa: I'm sorry. [Trowa gently takes her hand. His eyes soften.] Trowa: I don't want to be dragged into it. But I will surely return to you. Because this is where I can come home to. Cathrine: Trowa... [Cathrine watches him leave, her hand tracing the spot on her wrist where his had been just a moment ago.] *** [Back at the spaceport, Duo is watching a group of men disguised as tech personnel skulking around his shuttle. He disappears again, unseen.] *** [A shadowed figure is sitting in a room, the figure outlined by the light falling through the drawn curtains. There is a knock on the door.] Duo: It's me. I'm coming in. [A smirk is on his face as he switches on the light.] Duo: How're you holding up, Mr Spectre? [Quatre gets out of the armchair he'd been sitting in, his face miserable.] Quatre: How mean of you, Duo. I am still alive. [Duo chuckles.] Duo: Sorry. It's just that everyone outside thinks that little Master Winner was trapped and toasted in the blast. Quatre: How is the situation? [Duo peeks through the curtains to check if he's been followed.] Duo: Pretty hopeless. The conference room was completely engulfed in flames. There were no survivors. Quatre: [visibly shaken:] Oh. [Duo tries to lighten him up a bit.] Duo: But man, was I shocked. Even I thought you were inside that building. Quatre: : That was pure luck. We were late because there was trouble with the car. [Flashback: Quatre and his aides walk towards the conference room, when suddenly, an explosion sets off in front of them, flames engulfing the corridor.] Quatre: Had we arrived a split second earlier, I'd have certainly been killed as well. Duo: [still optimistic:] You got the devil's luck. Comes with being a Gundam pilot. Quatre: But who would do such a thing? What are they trying to achieve with such a crime? What? Is it because I am the colony's representative... or because I am the heir of the Winner family...? Duo: Maybe it's because you're a Gundam pilot. Quatre: Eh? [Duo is suddenly serious, stroking his chin in thought:] Duo: I had some ominous company back at my shuttle. Snooping around. I wonder whether I've become a target as well? [Duo's head perks up.] Duo: Oh well.... We'll figure it out after we get a chance to speak with him. Quatre: Duo? Duo: We've got an appointment with that rather uncommon individual. *** [Back at Wufei's colony, his attackers are spread neatly around him. Wufei, it seems, hasn't even broken a sweat.] Man: Guh.... It can't be.... and to such a child... Wufei: Who are you? Why did you attack me? Man: You... Wufei: What about me? Man: Because... you're a Gundam pilot. Wufei: Then I understand. If you want Nataku, and you defeated me, she would fall into your hands. [Wufei dons his jacket once more.] Wufei: But I won't hand over Nataku to someone who is not just. That I swear on my name. [Wufei walks away, thinking...] Wufei: It looks like what he said is coming true. (Heero has apparently contacted him at some point earlier.) *** [Relena's car's speeding along the road. She is sitting inside, lost in thought.] Chris: Relena-sama. Are you feeling alright? Relena: U-huh. Better than before. Please hurry, Chris. We have to get to the colony where the incident happened immediately. Chris: I have arranged for a shuttle to meet us. Please keep calm. Relena: Why did this have to happen? I should have been there at the conference. Chris: It's the one blessing admist this calamity. Should something happen to you, the United Earth Sphere would have been dealt a terrible blow. Relena: But...! [Suddenly, there is machine gun fire, and the car skids to a halt against the crash barrier.] Relena: Uh... [Relena notices armed men getting out of the cars around them.] Man: Relena Darlian, I presume. Get out! Relena: Who are you people!? Man: Shut up and get out! Chris: Relena-sama... [Relena's features harden. Chris tries to hold her back.] Chris: You mustn't! Relena-sama! Chris holds her left side in pain. Chris: ...uh [Relena steps outside the car, unafraid (This is the girl who didn't blink on eyelevel with the mouth of Heero's gun :-).] Relena: What is it that you want? Is it my life? Man: We'd like you to come with us. [Suddenly, another gun fires, and the men drop their guns as they're riddled by bullet fire. Relena is the only one left standing. She turns around to see another car approaching fast, the driver leaning out the window with his gun extended.] Relena: Heero!? [The car screeches to a halt as Heero jumps out.] Heero: Relena! Run! [The three of them keep running into a nearby alleyway. Chris has a hard time keeping up, obviously in pain from her wound.] Relena: Heero, wait! It's Chris... Chris: It's alright, Relena-sama. But where are we going from here? And who's he? [Relena explains, smiling.] Relena: Someone who can be trusted. At his side, we are safe. [Heero just stares at her blankly, turning away in indifference. He punches in a keycode at a neary door.] Heero: We will escape this colony. The plan is to take you to a place where you cannot fall into their hands. [The door slides open.] Relena: Who are they? Why were they targetting me? Heero: You're not the only one who's being targetted. Relena: Eh? Heero: I am also. [The view opens onto a hangar, where a shuttle is waiting in the background.] --- to be continued --- Translation by Sasha and Julie.