Beyond the War
By TK Date
AN: This is my second Gundam Wing fic and my first that isn't a monologue. Like the summary says it's set about three years after Endless Waltz. There aren't any obvious pairings but as my friend and me said you could hint at quite a few of them, and there might be 'additional' chapters if the demand is enough. Constructive critisism and reviews are always welcome. Enjoy the fic.
Part 1
The halls were empty. Metal beneath him made the familiar muffled clanging sound with each of his footfalls as the familiar tang of oil and steel drifted into his nostril. Hair swept into his eyes, out again, only to be forced back in. He paid it no heed, it was hair. It was a minimal thing in the scheme of his mission.
So he ran.
Dodging fire that he was sure was coming from behind him, he continued dashing, yet he never heard it. A sharp pain sparked up on the rear of his left thigh. 'Ignore it and keep running.' He did as his mind commanded, heedless to the wills of his body.
An exit was within sight. Slamming into it he hacked through the lock in seconds. It opened. Light streamed forth and…
~~~~~
"Have you picked up anything?" the voice came over his intercom, fuzzy as usual.
"Not a thing. I mean you know Heero, if he doesn't want us to find him it's likely that we won't."
"I know…it's just…" the sadness was evident in his voice.
"Don't you start that again on me Quatre. This is not your fault and I'm not letting you go off on one of those 'If only I could've…' speeches. Your actions were perfectly understandable because you wanted to attain peace. He's doing this because it's him, there's isn't any other reason for it," Duo sighed and leaned back in his seat, "There isn't really any other way to describe Heero."
There was a pause, "You're right, thanks Duo."
"Don't mention it."
"I'm heading back to the base. I want to see if Trowa or Wufei have found anything."
"You go do that, though this plane isn't anything like my old buddy I like the feeling of just sitting around in a good piece of machinery."
"I guess that's what you get from being raised in a scrap heap," Winner's voice was almost taunting.
"Yeah…I guess that-hey! You aren't talking bad about the church, are you?!" he was almost glaring at the com.
"Of course not Duo, I was just kidding."
"Sure, kidding," the braided pilot was miffed, "It's not like I go around insulting your sisters, all bazillion of em."
"Duo, you know I only have 29."
"I know that, but still. That's more sisters than I ever had."
"It's more of a family than anyone had I guess…" again there was the tone of grief.
This time Duo chose to ignore it "Cept for Wufei, he had his whole clan to depend on."
"You're right, though he doesn't act like it sometimes…"
"It's because he's Wufei! He's too busy ranting and raving to talk about family, I was surprised when I found out he had a wife!" Duo managed to stop the Winner guilt complex right there.
"That's true, well I'm heading out now. Report in if you find anything."
"Roger."
The line plunged into static moments before Duo reached up and turned it off. With a sigh he leaned back in the comfy cockpit chair, closing his azure eyes.
"Sure is boring around here without any fights. I wonder why Heero wound up going out anyway? And why the hell're we lookin' for him at all. Knowing that guy he'll probably show up in a week without a scratch on him," the brunet yawned, "Yup…just a week."
Slowly he dozed off as his plane on autopilot maintained its course around his search area.
~~~~~
"No, nothing yet. He's not leaving any signs."
The words were brief, but it was to be expected of the ever solemn Trowa Barton. His fingers swept across the keyboard in front of him, almost as deft as the missing person he searched for. Flight records, customs records, anything that would have hinted to what direction the now missing Heero Yuy would have traveled in. Reflections of the screens flickered in his single visible green eye as he occasionally narrowed it on a close trace or widened it, only slightly, on a surprising fact.
Wufei was leaning against the wall beside him. For once his ebony hair was let down from the common ponytail at the nape of his neck. It hung over the sides of his face due to the slight downward tilt of his head. Both black eyes were closed as his arms crossed his chest in a customary stance.
"Well we've got to keep looking. Dr. J and the others want us to find him, it's our mission." Quatre spoke as he slowly moved across the room from his position at the doorway. Glancing over Trowa's shoulder he caught precious snippets of information, silently locking them into his memory.
"Heero wouldn't give up on a mission, so we're not going to give up on him."
"I do not agree with that standard," Wufei's voice was harsh.
"What do you mean?" a slight tinge of worry lace Quatre's voice and eyes as he turned to the Chinese.
He lifted his head to glare at the blonde with narrowed eyes.
"The one called Heero Yuy is hiding. Even if it is our mission I do not see it as just for us to search him out. Rightfully he deserves to have what he wants."
"But we need him Wufei, if not then the world could be in big trouble."
"Only the weak are dependent upon a single person. You are dependent upon him. That shows your weakness. We have defended the earth sphere in the past, there is nothing to say that we cannot do so now."
"Wufei…"
"If we can't find him there is a way that the four of us can be the defense. Heero is not needed. Like the rest of us, he can be replaced. The purpose of this mission is to rally our forces in defense of the foe that Dr. J has spoken of. We are only seeking Heero out because he has posed as a leader in past conflicts. He can, however, be replaced by another," the interruption was firm, almost cold, and to the point.
"What are you saying Trowa?! Heero can't be replaced! He's a living person just like you and me!"
"In the eyes of the battlefield, he is just another nameless soldier."
"But…Trowa…"
"Soldiers can be replaced, we can function as his replacement if necessary."
Silence echoed. A glance was shared between Wufei and Trowa. Wufei's lips pulled slightly upward in a smirk of approval. His post at the wall was resumed as Trowa gave another look to Quatre before continuing with his work. There was still much to be done before the mission could be completed.
"Trowa…"
The blonde left the room quickly. His footsteps were soon covered by the tapping of Trowa's fingers on the keys.
"He won't like what we found."
"It can't be helped."
"I do not accept that he has been involved in this mission."
Trowa glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. A few more swift keystrokes brought up a map of an abandoned military base near the wreckage from some random mobile suit battle.
"We'll need everyone for what we're going to face, whether you like it or not."
~~~~~
Drip
Moisture gathering, it had been humid in the past couple weeks.
Drip
Humidity resulted in condensation, which ultimately lead to precipitation.
Drip
The precipitation gathering on the already rusting metal, bonding together through the power of osmosis it…
Drip
…gained weight and eventually plummeted to the ground, pulled by gravity.
Drip
Just like he had, at that time in the past where the life he knew had ended.
Drip
Gathering sorrow, anguish, pain, he had fallen from his proverbial perch atop the rusted metal throne.
Drip
Now, because of it, he was left alone in this world, without a purpose.
Drip
He was unable to die, death would have been meaningless, a continuation of his lack of purpose.
Drip
No, he would not perpetuate this cycle, he would not let it continue.
Drip
Even though the answer might not be right in front of him like it always was he would find it.
Drip
Slowly cobalt blue eyes glanced upward, a slight tinge of madness in their depths.
Drip
The gun that the water fell onto was showing no wear, it was as good as it had been on the day it was made.
Drip
Just like the perfect soldier.
Drip
Both were gone in an instant.
~~~~~
Preventer headquarters was quiet. All primary agents were off on missions, or taking personal time. Everyone else was taking some well deserved rest now that most conflicts on the earth sphere and within the colonies had been calmed.
The once Lieutenant-Colonel Lady Une was the only occupant of the building. Her fingers moved across the keys of a computer placed at her desk. Despite the fact that there were no conflicts she was still required to keep an eye out for areas that could turn into potential dangers, potential fires.
So far there were no such problems, anywhere. Most of her reports consisted of propositions as to how she should deal with abandoned military bases and the wreckage of mobile suit battles. There were no doubt the easiest of her job. A simply click sent out a pre-written message notifying the filer of the report that bases could be changed into any sort of other building provided all lethal weapons or devices be dealt with. Mobile suit wreckage could be easily melted down to create other sorts of supplies for the now peaceful nations of the earth.
Nearly halfway through all of her reports a noise snapped her attention away from the screen. There shouldn't be anyone else here, why was there movement within the building?
"Who's there?" previous military training kept the fear from her voice.
When no reply was evident she shook her head and continued with the work. It was probably a figment of her imagination. Her mind playing tricks on her, no doubt. The sound of the safety lock being removed on a gun brought her out of it. The stranger's words came before hers, as her hand went for the gun in her desk.
"You have betrayed your men. By forcing them into the unknown you hurl them into lives that they are not ready for," the voice was flat and monotonous, though vaguely familiar.
"Who is it?" her eyes scanned the room, unable to catch sight of anyone.
"You are a contradiction to yourself, a hypocrite. The prevention of battles leads to the destruction of soldiers. Their once lives must be eliminated for your ideals."
"I don't know what you're talking about…" there wasn't even a trace of someone near, or where the voice could be coming from.
"You are a traitor, Lieutenant-Colonel Lady Une," a figure appeared before her.
"You're-" fear froze her body.
The gunshot was sharp and articulate as her body slumped backwards in her chair, blood pooling on the ground.
"Dismissed, Lady Une."
~~~~~
By the time she was found Lady Une was dead. The area was subjected to a thorough search but not a trace of evidence as to who committed the crime.
Every person employed at Preventer headquarters attended the funeral, despite the threat of inclement weather. They had come to know Une as a calm and caring person. She was benevolent as a leader but a harsh mistress when it came to getting the job done.
Also in attendance were four of the five once great Gundam pilots. Having known and fought against Une at times they felt it was only fitting that they should give her their regards. Plus the fact that if any one of them, aside from the still missing Heero Yuy, were to fail to make it to the funeral he would be subjected to the piteous puppy dog eyes and begging of one Quatre Raberba Winner.
With them came the most renowned person in attendance, Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian. It was partially due to her influence that Une's Preventers had been created, plus the two knew each others political tactics and had since began to treat each other as equal, almost friends.
The last notable person to attend was one Mariemeia Kushrenada. Due to highly advanced medical procedures the young girl was now capable of walking on her own without the slightest hint of the injury which had paralyzed her for nearly a year. During that time Une had adopted the youth as a daughter of sorts, considering the woman's love for Mariemeia's father Trieze it was almost close enough to be true.
And so it was Mariemeia who spoke up once it was her turn to take a stand before all those gathered.
"I address the following to all those gathered in memory of the once kind Lady Une. I to grieved once I heard word of her death, and I am still in grievance. However, nothing but sadness can be bred from such things. Once the initial anguish has passed I for one plan to continue the Lady's dreams. I will carry out her wishes to fulfill my father's ideals. I declare today that I, Mariemeia Kushrenada, assume all responsibilities as head of the Preventers Organization."
Despite the somber attitude which blanketed those gathered a small amount of applause was given to the youth. She was mature for her age. Even though she had not been in full control of the assault that had occurred only three years before she still knew more than the average ten year old would know about the world of adults.
Slowly the applause trickled down as Mariemeia gave a slight bow and returned to her seat. The procession continued until its end. It was a space of a few minutes before everyone had finished conversing in small pockets and returned to their transportation.
From the shadows of the nearby trees a figure moved towards the coffin. A variety of white lilies and roses rested upon the finely polished wood. The figure's hand reached out and gently stroked the smooth surface. However, it stopped before even its fingertips could touch the blossoms or stems of the brilliant bouquets. In the distance a low growl echoed through the sky. The beast was raging and was about to unleash its fury upon the world. By the time the sheets of rain began assaulting the soil and grass the figure was gone, and a black rose was left amidst the pure ivory flowers.
