Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lean On Me ❯ When The World Crumbles Around You ( Chapter 4 )

Authors Note - Again, I do not own Gundam Wing!! And also again, Riley and Vienna and Katana are mine!!!!

Disclaimer: is this getting boring? No, I don't own it!

Chapter Four

With Vienna in the lead, Heero and Duo ran to see what had happened. Riley trailed behind at the quickest pace she could manage due to her back. Vienna reached the source first and tripped over something in the doorway. With a squeal she fell forwards. "Ouch," she muttered, rubbing her head. She sighed. "This always happens to me."

Heero ignored her. "What happened?"

They were in the lab and Dr. J was standing across the room, staring at Katana who was towering over the fallen Vienna. Katana wore a smug smirk on her face. She lightly kicked Vienna in the side without anyone else noticing. Vienna grunted and sat up. She glared up at Katana.

"Here," Heero offered her his hand and helped her up. She brushed at her shirt irately. Heero looked at Katana.

"What happened? We heard a crash," Duo said.

"Oh, it was just a minor accident," Katana explained. "I was leaving and I accidentally knocked over a cup filled with a strange liquid. I yelled when it almost spilled on me."

Riley walked fully into the room. She looked at Katana and looked her up and down critically. "Is this the non-famous Katana?" she asked Vienna.

Katana glared at her. "Who are you?"

Riley glared back at her. "Riley, the girl who replaced you, you good for nothing mutt."

Katana's left eye began to twitch. "Better watch your mouth, orphan, or I just may have to shut it for you."

Heero frowned. If Katana and Riley had never met before, then how had Katana known Riley was an orphan?

Riley's eyes flared. "Call me orphan again and I swear, you won't be able to walk for days."

Katana stepped towards her menacingly.

Duo looked expectantly at Riley. "Come on Riley, show her what you're made of!"

Riley wanted so much to show this girl a lesson, but something held her back. Something that hit her memory hard…

**~~ FLASHBACK ~~**

"Take your time, Riley," Cathy whispered into the four year olds ear. "Hold the knife steady, and throw!"

Riley threw the knife and it totally missed the target. Riley sighed in frustration.

Beside her, she heard her older brother say, "It's okay Riley. You're getting better."

Riley shook her head angrily. "No, Trowa. I'm getting worse!"

The tent flap behind them was pushed aside, spilling sunlight onto them. Riley ignored the person and glared at the target. "I hate this. Why can't I do it! I'm gonna show that stupid target that Riley Barton doesn't give up that easily." Riley made as if to stomp to the target to retrieve her knife but a strong arm pulled her back.

"No, Riley," she heard a gruff voice say behind her.

Riley turned to face her father. She frowned. "Don't let anger take control of you," he told her. "Anger is just something that accomplishes nothing."

Riley took a deep breath. "All right, Daddy. I'll try."

Her father gave her a big hug. "Okay then. Cathy will keep teaching you, and one day you will be just as good as your Mum and Cathy here."

"No one is better than Cathy or Mum," Riley pointed out. "Trowa is better than me even!"

Trowa, who was only six, shook his head. "You'll be better one of these days. You just aren't there yet."

~~ ** ~~

Riley snapped out of it. She backed off, taking a step away. "There's no point in fighting you. Anger doesn't solve anything."

Katana stared at her. "Are you some nut? That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard. It's just an excuse to get out of a fight that you know you will lose to."

Surprising everyone, Riley leapt at her, grabbed her by the neck collar and pulled her close. "My father was not a wimp." She shoved Katana away from her, knocking the girl off her feet. Riley shook her head and walked back to Vienna.

Vienna looked at her. "I didn't know you still remembered your father. I know you remember your older brother, but-" She stopped and bit her lip. "Never mind."

Riley shook her head, shoving all the emotions welling up inside her down. "I remember them all."

Vienna nodded, noting the disapproving look Dr. J was giving her.

Duo looked from one girl to the other. "You have a brother? Who was he?"

Riley looked at the boys. She noticed that Trowa seemed thoughtful. She only wished she could tell him who she really was, but she knew she couldn't. "He's dead. He died with my parents and sister," she said, making an excuse. It was not a complete lie. She knew that her older sister was alive, but she did not know where, so it seemed as if she was dead, and Trowa was not the Trowa she used to know as a kid. This Trowa was different.

Dr. J cleared his throat. "Riley, you don't need to say anything else."

Riley glanced at the scientist as if hoping he would give her the motion meaning she could tell the complete truth. He only shook his head.

WuFei stepped forward. "It's just like a woman. Weak and too sensitive."

Vienna jumped in his face. "You stay out of this, WuFei. It does not involve you."

He glared at her. "Get out of my face."

"Give me a reason!" Vienna shot back.

"Hold it," Dr. J pushed the two apart. "We don't have time for this. Katana, get out of my face for the time being. Girls, I need to talk to you." He looked to the boys. "Alone," he added, purposely.

Duo nodded. "We gotcha old man, we're leavin'."

Quatre nodded at the girls. "See you guys later." They filed out, WuFei going last. He shot one last glare at Vienna before walking out.

Katana walked by, the anger noticeably centered toward Vienna and Riley.

Dr. J shut the door, shaking his head. He turned to face them. "One of these days, one of you is going to spoil everything. Stop dropping hints. Riley, keep everything to your self. If you have to talk about your family, tell Vienna in private, not within the boys' hearing. And Vienna, quit with the glaring at WuFei. You are not helping the situation any either."

Vienna glared at him. "What is so wrong about telling them who we are?" she demanded. "We aren't hurting anybody."

Dr. J shook his head. "Forget it. Just do as I say and things will work out. In the mean time-"

Suddenly the floor under them shook crazily and things on shelves toppled to the floor. They were knocked off their feet, landing heavily on the floor. Loud blasts could be heard from inside the hangar. Riley gasped. "That sounds like an explosion."

"That's `cause it was, Riley!" Vienna shouted. She got to her feet, but had to grab at a table to keep her balance as the floor shook again. She helped Riley to her feet and they made their way to the door of the lab. "We'll go check it out."

Vienna entered the hangar first and instantly wished she hadn't. The hangar was blown to smithereens, dust and rubble everywhere. Some of the walls were no longer there and many of the items that had been in the hangar were only pieces of charred wood. The entrance to the hangar was no longer there at all, and instead left a gaping hole in the rock to the outside. Another explosion flung them off their feet; Riley hit her head, knocking her out, and Vienna slammed into the wall. She winced, but ignored the pain in her right arm. She had to find out the cause of this and get help. She pushed off the wall and shot across the room, just as another explosion ripped the air. She fell forward but someone caught her, holding her up off the ground. She let out a sigh of relief as the person pulled her back up. She looked up into the face of Heero. She smiled faintly. "Thanks," she said.

"Yeah," he grunted. He looked from her to his surroundings.

She followed his gaze. "What's going on?" she asked him.

"We're being attacked, now come on."

"We have to get Riley," she said.

"Later."

Vienna followed him as he made his way across the rubble and debris that littered the floor. She absently glanced up at the roof and gasped. "Heero, a few more blows and the ceiling will cave in!"

Heero looked up sharply and nodded his agreement. "We have to get out of here." He hoisted himself over a large piece of rock and reached back over to help Vienna over.

"Where are Trowa and the others?" Vienna said.

"The back room."

Another explosion hit. Vienna kept on her feet, looking up to the roof. It was easy to see that one more hit and it would more then certainly fall in on them.

Heero turned to her. "We don't have enough time for this. You have to go back and drag your friend out of here. I'll get the others."

"What about J?"

"He can take care of himself. Just get yourself out of here."

Vienna nodded and ran back the way she came, tripping once and awhile over things, but not falling. She had just about reached her friend when the dreaded final explosion corrupted. This one was harder than the rest, and as she had thought, the ceiling fell. Pieces of the ceiling fell here and there but Vienna kept going. She had to get them out of there. A loud crack came from above her and she glanced up. A large piece of the rock was falling quickly to her.

Duo hit the wall as the final explosion came. He groaned and rubbed his shoulder. "What is going on out there?"

"We're under attack, idiot," WuFei spat. "What else?" He stepped away from the wall to where Quatre was.

Just then a piece of the ceiling fell where WuFei had been standing moments before. WuFei jumped in surprise. Quatre hurried to WuFei. "That could have crushed you!" he exclaimed.

Duo stared wildly at the rock. "We have to leave, now!"

"I'm with Duo," Trowa said. "Let's go."

"What about Heero?" Quatre asked as another rock fell, followed by a chorus of others.

Over the noise, Duo yelled to the blonde, "He's capable of protecting himself!"

The four sprinted for the emergency exit at the other side of the room. Trowa shoved it open and it flew back. They rushed into the fresh air in the early morning of 4 am.

**~~ FLASHBACK ~~**

The rocks rolled to the small group at a fast pace. The six-year-old Riley dug herself deeper into her father's arms. He held her tight. He looked to Cathy. "Come on!" he shouted. Cathy stumbled to her feet and bent down to help Trowa up. They waited for their dad, but he shook his head, letting go of Riley. "No, I can't run. My leg is hurt badly. Take Riley and go."

Cathrine shook her head. "No Dad, you're coming with us."

"No!" their dad thundered. "Get out of here. Take care of Riley. She only has you two now."

Trowa nodded. "Okay, Dad." He took Riley's hand and his older sister's, and they started to run.

Riley glanced back and her mind was then made up. She shook her head angrily. "No!" she shouted. She yanked her hand back from Trowa's and ran back to her father.

"Riley!" Cathrine shouted to her. "Stop!"

Trowa started to run after her, but Cathrine held him back. "Let me go, Cathy!"

"I'm not losing you too."

The rocks were not more than a minute away when Riley dropped down beside her father. He glared at her. "Riley, go back!" He shouted at her.

She shook her stubbornly. "No Daddy."

"Go!"

"I'm not leaving you alone," she stated again.

The rocks were too close for the young girl to make her escape now. Her father threw himself over his youngest daughter, shielding her with his own body as the rocks hit, hard and deadly.

**~~ ** ~~**

Heero heard the ceiling falling apart and stopped. He knew the others would know where to go and do, but Vienna may not. He ran back after her. He came close enough in time to see a large piece of the rock falling down upon Vienna. He sprinted farther and dove at her, pushing her out of the way. The two rolled across the floor away from the rock. Vienna was breathing heavily when she stopped moving. She painfully sat up, holding her head in her hands, her head throbbing.

Heero grunted and sat up. He looked to her. "You okay?"

Vienna nodded. "Fine."

Heero jumped to his feet, pulling her up with him. "Come on. We will be lucky if we get out now."

Vienna shook her head. "Not without Riley."

Heero glared at her. "We can't help her now!"

"I'm not leaving, Heero."

Heero was too angry to deal with her stubbornness right then to care what she thought. He grabbed her arm and pulled her after him.

Quatre hugged himself. "Where are they? They should have been out by now."

Duo shook his head sadly. "I would have thought for sure Heero would make it out." Duo glanced at WuFei; he was looking away from them all. "WuFei, you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, Maxwell," WuFei replied, turning around.

Quatre sighed. "I hope they get out."

"We all do," Duo said.

Suddenly gunfire shot through the air, some barely missing them. The four scattered, hoping to get away. Quatre and Trowa ended up going left and Duo and WuFei right. The bullets licked at their heels as they ran. WuFei ran off the road to the beach, Duo hurrying after him. Trowa and Quatre ran into a rocky outcropping, out of view of their pursuers, wherever they were. Quatre was breathing heavily as he leaned back against the rock surface. He said to Trowa, "Where are they coming from? They seem to be everywhere."

Trowa walked as far out of the outcropping as he dared and looked up into the sky. "Well, I'm not certain, but I think they may be in some sort of machine in the air. It is hard to tell in the dark. We'll just have to wait until dawn."

"That's only an hour or so away. We can wait it out."

Trowa shrugged and sat down beside his friend. "We better hope they won't find us or the others."

Meanwhile, Duo was lying on his back in the sand, under a ledge. WuFei was sitting across from him, his eyes closed. Duo shook his head. "WuFei, what are you doing?"

"Thinking, Maxwell, now shut up."

"Will you stop calling me Maxwell? The name is Duo. My last name is Maxwell."

"Shut up, Maxwell."

"Duo! D-u-o!"

"Maxwell…"

"Argh!"

Heero shoved Vienna out the main entrance just as the hangar caved. Vienna finally yanked her arm away and turned back to the hangar but it was gone, totally filled with rocks and debris. There was no way she could get in there now, let alone to get someone out. Her shoulders sagged and she felt the emotions welling up in her. There was nothing she could do for her friend now. They were gone forever.

"Come on Vienna, let's find the others," Heero said.

She blinked away the tears and turned to face the handsome boy. She gave a nod. "Yeah."

She had just stepped out when Heero pulled her back as bullets rained down on them, forcing them to back away from the opening. They were sheltered by the over hanging rocks, but that did not stop the bullet's from hitting the rocks and slowly making them disintegrate. Vienna looked around frantically. "Have any bright ideas, Heero?" she asked, slightly sarcastic.

"Not exactly," he replied truthfully.

Vienna sighed. "That's great. That's really just great. We will stand here, waiting to be hit by bullets. Oh, what a great idea. I wish I had popped some popcorn for this joyous occasion."

"Not now, Vienna."

"Ha!"

He rolled his eyes and looked up into the dark sky. It was getting lighter out. He could barely see the outline of something in the sky, but he was not certain what it was exactly. A helicopter?

Vienna ranted on, while Heero thought furiously, his mind racing.

"Hey, we got something on radar!"

Lucretzia Noin looked up quickly and made her way to the console where the soldier was sitting. She leaned on the back of his chair and examined the screen. "What? Where?"

The soldier pointed to an area on the screen. "Here on earth, on the coast near the Sanq Kingdom."

Noin straightened and called over her shoulder to some other soldiers standing near the door, "Get a nearby team out there, now!"

The three soldiers scurried off to do her bidding, forgetting to salute her. She overlooked it and turned her attention back to the console. "Move in on that, I want to see the exact location of it."

The soldier, who was named Clarke, pushed a few buttons and the screen focused in on it. She leaned forward past the soldier to get a closer look. She frowned. "That's near the…" she jumped back. "I'm going to my office. Contact me when the team arrives there."

"As you say, Lieutenant."

Noin walked quickly down the hall to her office, idea's running through her mind like flies. She shoved the door open of her office and made her way to the vid phone at her desk. She pushed a button and said, "Get Lady Une on the line."

The screen was blank for a minute and then Une's face appeared. She looked worried. "Is everything all right, Noin?"

Noin braced her hands on the desk. "A reading of an attack near the coast has been discovered."

"Near the coast?"

"Of the Sanq Kingdom. I sent a team down there to check it out." She sighed. "I don't know what to think of this. Miss Relena was attacked only a few hours ago at a dinner banquet, but she managed to get away with the help of someone she says had attended the school for a very short time. This person, who is called Kali Marietta, went along with Miss Relena, as well as her friend, a girl named Diamond Kastle."

Une nodded. "Yes, I remember something like that in the newspaper this morning. It had two photos of two different scenes. One was of a girl and Miss Relena kneeling on the ground and another of a second girl outside, being attacked by a young man."

"What does the second picture mean? It didn't deal with Miss Relena did it?"

"No, that's what is a bit confusing. It could have just been some reporter thinking it would make a good picture, but that is a rough theory."

"That's not all. The attack going at as we speak is where one of the Gundam hangars is. I think that may be the reason why that area is being attacked. I would bet that the boys are in there."

Just then, a soldier rushed into the office, breathing heavily. He saluted the lieutenant and then said hurriedly, "An incoming call from the team, Lieutenant."

Noin nodded. "Thank you, Randy. I'll take it in here."

On the other line, Une said, "Get back to me when you finish getting the update. I'll be waiting." She disconnected the line.

I know this chapter is a bit shorter than the rest, but I figured, `oh what the heck,' so you will just have to wait. Until then, later!

~~ ** ~~ Riley ~~ ** ~~