North Mizuiwa base

Mina and Abbey crouched in the tall grass as they approched North Miz-iwa base. Doris and Quatre were fiddling with the lock on the security system box. Duo and Heero were coming in on the base opposite of Mina and Abbey. "Heero?"

"No! I was talking about Abbey!" Heero glared at Duo, and continued on his way to the base. "Aw, c'mon Heero, it's only obvious you two got chemicals going on between you..." Duo nudged Heero with his elbow and winked. Heero smacked him away and concentrated on the base. He looked through the binoculars hanging from his neck and saw that Quatre was giving the signal.

"No! I was talking about Duo!" Mina glared at Abbey and continued on her way to the base. "Aw, c'mon Mina, it's obvious you two got chemicals going on between you..." Abbey nudged Mina with her elbow and winked. Mina smacked her away and concentrated on the base. She looked through the binoculars that were hanging from her neck and saw that Doris was giving the signal.

"Finally. My arms were getting tired, I thought they were going to fall off!" Doris whispered. The group quietly snuck into the base undetected. The soldiers were running through the halls as Doris and the others scattered through the base. "You guys know the plan..." Heero signaled for Abbey to follow, which left Mina with Duo. "Blast!" She slammed her hand down on the hard floor and tried to remain calm. Keep your head on straight! No distractions! NONE what-so-ever! Duo is...Duo! Nothing else! Think of Sean...NO! What am I doing?!

Duo looked at Mina strangely and smiled. He pulled out a gun and pointed down the hall. "We need to go down there..." Mina stood there, her eyes closed, and head bowed. "Wait..." She stayed like that for a couple of seconds, and pulled out her staff. "Alright, let's go." The two made thier way to the control room and burst through the door. "Aaaahhhhh! What-"

Mina was cut off by the barrel of a gun to her forehead. Trowa tightened his finger around the trigger and focused on the girl in front of him. She looks too young to be fighting... He was about to pull the trigger when Duo interupted. "Trowa?! What are you doing here in Mizu-iwa?" He walked up behind Mina and moved her out of the way. With a slight grin, he closed the door behind them. "Well? Aren't you going to answer me?" He nodded to Mina. "Don't worry, she's not the enemy...just some girl." Duo's head snapped back. "Ouch! What was that for?" Mina pulled him out of her way and proceded to the computer. "Just some girl? Well...I can tell how you treat someone who saved your stinkin' life! You're good for nothing! Baka..." She shoved past him and furiously put the bomb together. "Who's she? She's rude isin't she?" Trowa walked over to where Duo was standing.

Duo snickered and uttered a 'yeah right' while Trowa just stared. "Geez, she IS rude. Where'd she come from?" Duo smiled and muttered. "From the colonies..." "And she's an eavsdropper, too," Trowa retorted.

Mina stood up from finishing the last bomb, no help to the two chattering boys. "Oh please, you're right there. Now come on, the last bomb's set, this place is gonna blow, get a move on!" She was already running down the corridor, her braid flying behind her, as the two boys followed closely behind.

Soon they were joined by the others, all running fiercly towards the nearest exit. A soldier foolishly stepped in the group's path, but Mina, in the lead, merely rammed her elbow hard across his face, shoving him aside, never slowing her pace. Soon they burst through the door, out into the cool air, running full force towards the dock edge. There were all within mere inches of the railing when the base behind them suddenly burst into a brilliant flash of flames, sending the teens flying over the railing, towards the water. They hit the churning water hard before them, firey debris from the base doing the same. One by one they all came up for air, gasping as they broke through the water's surface.

Pausing for a moment, Mina sank into the luke warm water, and headed over to Duo. During some time in the squabble in the base,Mina lost the little band that held her hair in it's so perfect pattern. She slowly came up for air behind him, and with a small yell, she dragged him down into the water. There was some splashing and flailing body parts, the occaisional "What the hell-" and finally the two surfaced. "Now that you two are finally finished, can we go back now?" Abbey was shivering next to Heero, who was staring at Mina and Duo. Those two... There's obviuosly something going on... Heero continued his staring and Abbey began to introduce herself to Trowa. "Hiya! I'm Abbey!" She pointed around in the water introducing as she went. "That's Quatre...the girl trying to drown him is Doris." Mina ducked behind Duo as she went on. "That's Duo, and his little floatation device-"

"Hey! I can introduce my self to him, Abbs." Mina peeked her head over Duo's shoulder. "I'm Mina- and all of these people here are my friends. Amy, Sean, Heero, Abbey, Quatre, Doris myself and of course my life boat, Duo. I'm sure we are all pleased. Now-" A jet ski blasted past them, leaving them all coughing and swearing. Mina looked up just in time to see Hayley look back at them. She wants me to follow, I can tell. Why else would she ride so close to the shore? Well I wouldn't mind a challenge... Mina dove under water and began swimming to where a jet ski was left. All of the others were yelling for her execpt Abbey. "It's alright, guys...she had to go handle something...Let's just go meet her back at home." With little arguement from most of them but Duo (who was complaining the whole ride home) they all left to the school.

I'll settle this once and for all. I will not let her live after this night, so help me... Mina crashed through the waves, her hair trailing after her. She focused on what Abbey said before she left. "Mina, you know what I'm trying to say, don't you?" She slightly smiled and swam the other way. "Of course I do, Abbey...I always know." Closing her eyes, Mina gathered her self and narrowed her eyes on the base.

The base was highly guarded, and Mina felt like she could take them all on, in order to get her hands around Hayley's neck. There were guards around the door and some scattered around the base. She quickly checked her weapons and advanced on the base. She decided not to make a large entrance, so she pulled out her grappling hook and swung it to the roof. She looked around and began pulling herself up. "Hey! You there..." Two soldiers yelled and pointed up to her. Before they could react, she pulled out two guns and fired, letting go of the rope for a biref second. It was wrapped around her legs and creating large rope burns. She gathered the rope and continued up.

As she reached the roof, she looked at her bleeding and blistering hands. The things I do for a fight. Abbey is going to lecture the crap outta me...so is Duo. I don't care! This is more important...for now. Death of a rival now -eternal happiness later. Hayley seemed to be waiting for her, she was sitting on the ledge across from Mina. So close. All I have to do is walk across and just push her. Then that's it, no more Hayley. I can go back to school and live my normal life with Duo and... She slipped her dagger out and walked slowly behind her. The wind was blowing slightly, making her hair fly behind her. Almost...

Hayley sighed and tried not to look behind her. I know you're behind me,Mina. I can tell you now you're going to regret this day... She let the girl creep up on her, waiting for the right moment to strike. The sound of the soldiers below caused a commotion, making Mina rush over to her victim. I'm getting this over once and for all. I won't- She was cut off by a dagger gliding across her face. The two girls ran at eachother, not bothering to honor the fight. Mina jumped into the air and kicked her in the face. The blow pushed her back on the floor, and she stood back up. "Fool. You won't ever win...You can't win this battle." She was cut short with another kick to the stomach. "Why don't you think I'll win? Of course I'll win, you're bad and I'm good. You'll always loose." With a quick snap of her fist, Mina threw a punch and caught her left cheek. Hayley paused and stared at Mina in shock. "You'll be as easy to kill as your "peace-loving" parents."

"What?" Mina stood there in a weakened state. Her eyes started to swell with tears, as she balled up her fists, having a vision of her guardian's death. Her breath quickened, as she began to feel light headed. "You ...killed them...it was..YOU!!" Mina's scream was one of torture and pain, echoing out over the lake. A sinister grin began to form on Hayley' lips. She stood up and advanced on the distraught girl. "Now you see, you will NEVER stop this war...ever." She raised her hand and brought it across Mina's bloody cheek. "I suggest you rest up, so you're not as easy to defeat as they were. You're weak, admit it. Well finish this little fiasco later on- ta." Hayley walked to the door leading downstairs, and with a devilish look, she closed the door behind her.