Reality Check: Anime Weekend Sequel
Disclaimer: I still don't own Gundam Wing or my friends. In fact I don't own much, so don't sue unless you want a dead car.
Notes: Remember the Wars are still occurring so there are some people who should be dead that aren't yet in my story. Like Otto, Alex, Mueller, Dermail, and a few others. All parentheses mean the same things. So anyway without further ado…. Enjoy.
Scene(Crystal, Mae, and Shannon are driving down the highway in the "Tank" ((that's Crystal's car))talking…)
Mae: I can't believe Heero fixed the Tank.
Crystal: I can't believe they've been gone for almost four months now. (the other girls look a little sad. Mae suddenly laughs.)
Shannon: Mae are you ok?
Mae: Did anyone notice what song is on?
Crystal(listening): It's 'Route 66' why?
Mae: And what highway we're on?
Crystal: Route……….. Oh damn, that is too damn weird! (the girls sing the chorus of the song with the radio.)
Shannon: So how much longer before we hit Florida?
Crystal: Another three to five days depending on how often and how long we stop.
Shannon(reading a sign as they pass): "Now entering Kansas, the Sunflower state."
Mae(in perky, cheerful tone, clasping hands): "There's no place like home!"
Crystal: Don't even make me pull over to beat you up. (the girls laugh then continue talking as they drive down the highway.) I wonder what the guys are doing right now.
Mae(looking out the window): We're hopeless. No matter what we do we can't help but think about them. It's been about four months, and we still bring them up in every conversation.
Crystal: You're right. But that's why we're going to Disneyworld. To try to forget about them, right? (the others agree and they continue driving…they're deep in Kansas when they're suddenly blinded by a bright light. When the light subsides, the car has stalled and they look around to find themselves in some sort of shopping district…)
Mae: Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore…(their car is surrounded by a platoon of soldiers who aim their guns at the car)
Soldier: Put your hands in the air!!
Mae(as the girls comply): I didn't do it!!
Soldier: Step out of the vehicle slowly and keep your hands where we can see them!
Mae: Can I get my purse?
Soldier: Fine, but move slowly and don't try anything. (the girls slowly get their purses and step out of the Tank the soldiers arrest them and impound the Tank. As the girls are sitting in a cell…)
Mae: So much for our vacation.
Shannon: Does anyone know exactly where we are?
Crystal: I wish I did. Man I really want to beat the hell out of someone now. (the others inch away from her. The door opens and in walks a soldier they haven't met before.)
Soldier: I'm Lt. Otto; you are to answer all my questions truthfully. Is that understood? (the girls nod) Good, first of all how did you get into the shopping district unnoticed?
Shannon: We don't know.
Otto: What do you mean you don't know?
Crystal: Look all we know is one minute we're driving along minding our own business the next we're surrounded by your goon squad.
Mae(rubbing forehead): Crystal calm down before you get yourself shot.
Otto: Your ID's say that you are from Nevada year 2002. I know that they're fake, so who are you really and where are you from?
Shannon: Those are our real ID's.
Otto: That's not possible.
Mae: Why?
Otto: For one thing there is no longer a Nevada. Second the year is AC 198.
Mae: Whawhawhawhaa?? (the other girls are confused as well.)
Otto: We'll continue this later and you will tell the truth. (he leaves, the girls are still confused. Outside the cell..)
soldier: Is something wrong sir?
Otto(looking thoughtful): I have the feeling I've seen those girls somewhere before.
soldier: Could they be spies, sir?
Otto(snaps): That's where I've seen them.
soldier: Sir?
Otto: Get me Colonel Zechs and General Treize's reports on their surveillance mission.
soldier: Yes sir. (five minutes later the soldier returns with the aforementioned reports. Otto starts looking through them.)
Otto: There, I knew those girls looked familiar. (pulls out a picture of the girls eating at Panda Express.) Get the General and Colonel Zechs immediately.
soldier: Yes sir. (salutes and runs off. A good fifteen minutes later…)
Zechs: This had better be good Lt. Your messenger made it sound rather urgent.
Otto(saluting the two): Sirs, I was interrogating our newest prisoners. And I thought they looked familiar.
Treize: How does this pertain to us?
Otto(handing Zechs the picture): Three of the girls in this picture are the newest prisoners, sir.
Treize(looking at the picture with Zechs): Are you sure?
Otto: Yes sir. In fact you can see for yourself.
Zechs: Treize you don't think...
Treize: I do. Lt. please let those young ladies out.
Otto: Sir?
Treize: We will be taking them into custody.
Otto: Yes sir. (opens the door. The girls look up and their jaws drop)
Treize: Ladies. (bowing) I apologize for any trouble you may have been having. If you would please follow us, Colonel Merquise and I will escort you to some more comfortable quarters. (the girls look at each other shrug and hesitantly follow Treize and Zechs, who escort them to a suite on the upper levels of the base they're at.)
Crystal: Wow! This room is huge.
Treize: Then I assume it will be satisfactory for you while you're here?
Shannon: Yes thank you.
Treize: Then we'll leave you ladies for now. Lt. Noin will be up in a few minutes to see if you need anything. And we shall see you later. (he and Zechs bow and leave.)
Shannon: I don't think we should trust them.
Crystal: You're right, but still…
Mae: What do you think they're planning to do with us? I wonder if maybe... (covers her mouth) Nevermind.
Shannon: Another reason I don't trust them.
Crystal: What do you mean?
Shannon: When we're around them you two act like drooling fools.
Mae: You weren't much better at the Renn Fair. (Shannon blushes, then after a while there's a knock on the door.)
Crystal: I got it. (opens the door.) Yes?
Noin: I'm Lt. Noin, His Excellency, General Treize, has assigned me to look after you. Is there anything you need?
Crystal: A change of clothes.
Noin: Of course, anything else?
Shannon: Do you have a copy of the current news that we could see?
Noin: I'll see what I can do about that. I'll be right back with a change of clothing for you. Ladies. (bows slightly and leaves)
Mae: "His Excellency"? I think I have a headache. (Noin returns about ten minutes later with some clothes and a tailor.)
Noin: His Excellency has requested that you be outfitted appropriately.
Crystal(hands on hips): And what pray tell is wrong with the way we dress?
Noin: Nothing if you were an average citizen, but you are to be guests of His Excellency. Therefore you should be dressed accordingly.
Mae: What about all our stuff that was in the car?
Noin: Your belongings are being brought to you. Tonight you will be dining with His Excellency and some of the heads of Romefeller.
Mae: Romefeller?
Noin: Romefeller is the organization that funds OZ. And pays for all this. (indicating the room) My suggestion is to at least act like your high-bred ladies, at least around anyone from Romefeller.
Shannon: So it will be a formal dinner?
Noin: No, actually it'll be semi-formal. That's why the tailor was brought in to make sure you have something that will definitely be appropriate. (the tailor nods and leaves after measuring the girls)
Mae: Any chance we could get a tour of this place? I mean nothing detailed just a brief tour so we know where we're going when we go anywhere?
Noin: Orders have been given that you Ladies are to have escorts wherever you go. But I'll see what I can do. And here. (hands Shannon a newspaper) This is today's news as you requested. I'll be back in about an hour to escort you to dinner. (bow then leaves)
Shannon(reading the paper): Oh my…… (sits down suddenly) No wonder we get to have escorts where ever we go.
Crystal: What?
Shannon: Listen to this "Gundam Pilots make another strike against OZ. OZ officials declare that such terrorist activity will not be tolerated. Plans are being made to stop the Gundams' terrorist activities."
Mae: You're right, "oh my". What now? (before anyone can answer there is another knock Crystal answers the door to find the tailor and some soldiers with their stuff and their outfits for the evening. The tailor makes the girls try the outfits on to make sure they fit.((:P ok so no real tailor can sew three dresses that fast ))The soldiers set the girls stuff down in the room. Noin then returns to escort the girls dinner.)
Treize(turns to them as they enter): Ladies I'm glad you could join us, you look lovely. May I introduce our other guests, Duke Dermail, General Septem, Ambassador VanLeer, Dorothy Catalonia, my assistant Lady Une, and Col. Zechs Merquise. As I'm not sure of your full names I'll allow you to introduce yourselves.
Shannon(curtsying): My name is Shannon Lawton. These are my friends Crystal Cramer, and Maeleana Sasaoka. (the girls each curtsy in turn.) I'm sure I speak on behalf of the three of us when I say it's a pleasure to meet you all.
Dorothy(curtsying in return): Likewise I'm sure.
Septem: Well Treize are we going to eat or stand around and talk? (they all sit, Noin shows the girls where to sit, then she leaves. ((The seating is as follows: Treize at the head of the table, to his right Duke Dermail, then Lady Une, Shannon and Zechs. At the other end of the table is Ambassador VanLeer; on his right are Septem, Crystal, Dorothy, and Mae. So that has Mae sitting on the left of Treize.)) there are various conversations throughout dinner, shortly after the first course...)
Crystal: Oh no you did not just say that!! You'd better take that back or be prepared to fight!
Shannon: Crystal! What are you doing?!
Crystal: He, (pointing at Septem) just said that women shouldn't be in armies!
Une(eyes narrowing): That wasn't the smartest thing for you to say 'General'. Especially considering your present company.
Septem: What I said was true, women should not be in armies.
Crystal(glaring): And would you care to explain why?
Septem: You're demonstrating my point, women too often act on their emotions making them a liability in battle.
Une(glaring as well): How many of your troops have you lost to careless actions and reckless behavior General?
Septem: My troops were lost to the Gundam menace, not to emotions.
Mae(not looking up): Emotions are your greatest ally, and asset. Without emotions one tends to be mindless, and one can never truly live if one never feels.
Dermail: But on the counter side, if you rely on your emotions and allow them to rule you it will inevitably lead to your destruction.
Mae(looking up): I have to disagree with that point. I've lived my entire existence based on emotion and I have yet to even encounter serious danger, let alone my destruction.
Dorothy: You said your 'existence' not 'life', why?
Mae(smiling): Because technically I don't live. (Crystal and Shannon snicker and giggle)
Septem(annoyed): I fail to see the humor in that statement.
Mae: That's because it's an inside joke, that alludes to my physical existence.
VanLeer: While I'm perplexed by your latest statement, I would agree with your original point, with one argument. Emotions, while being a great asset, can also be turned and used against you.
Shannon: That, Ambassador, can only happen if you allow it. If you allow your emotions to get the better of you and let them be used against you, the blame for that falls on you.
Treize: That indeed is true enough.
Dermail: You've been surprisingly quiet Treize. Care to share your thoughts with us?
Treize: While I'm disappointed that General Septem would voice such an opinion in the presence, not only of these ladies, but of Dorothy and Lady Une as well, I'm fairly impressed with the depth of conversation these ladies can maintain. It's obvious they're of higher intelligence, I'm sure if they so chose they could assume the responsibilities of a diplomat.
VanLeer: I would agree with you on that General Khushrenada, these ladies would indeed be good diplomats. I don't suppose there's any chance I could talk you into joining the embassy ranks?
Crystal: Nope sorry, it's just not us.
Dermail(eye raised): Would it be too presumptuous to ask what you consider "you"?
Shannon: That depends on which of us you're talking to. I'm sure Mae wouldn't find it presumptuous, neither would Crystal, but I do slightly.
Dermail: With no offense intended what kind of career do you consider "you"?
Crystal: I was going to join the military back home before we ended up here. (Septem sneers)
Shannon: I've always seen myself working in the arts, either musically or otherwise.
Dorothy: What about you Miss Maeleana?
Mae: Would you mind not calling me that? It makes me uncomfortable, you can just call me by my name.
Dorothy: Are you sure? That wouldn't be quite proper. (glancing to Treize and Dermail)
Treize: I see no problem with respecting her wish on that matter. (Dorothy nods, he looks toward Mae) You haven't yet answered, what type of career you prefer.
Mae: That's because I'm not sure. I have talents in many fields; I could do just about anything I wanted. I just haven't decided what I want.
VanLeer: I imagine if you have a lot of choices it might be difficult deciding.
Mae: Yes, that's why I haven't as of yet.
VanLeer: General Khushrenada, if it weren't for the fact that I know every politically influential family, I would swear these ladies were part of some royal house.
Mae: See Crystal all those years did pay off.(Crystal snickers)
Septem: Now what amuses you?
Shannon: Our apologies but we just find it humorous to be compared to royalty.
Treize: Not at all. I've been meaning to ask you Ladies if you remembered anything else about your trip here?
Dermail: What are you talking about now Treize?
Zechs: From what we can gather it appears as though our guests do not remember much as to how they came here.
Crystal: Like we've said before, last thing we remember is driving through a corn field, then bam, we're in a shopping district.
Septem(ignoring Crystal): So how do you know they aren't spies?
Zechs: The ladies were questioned, and we find no reason to not believe them. (the main course((it's a roasted beast (roast beef) )) is served)
Dermail: Perhaps we should suspend this until after the main course. (everyone agrees and starts to eat except Mae...)
Treize: Is there something wrong with your food?
Mae: No, but would it be alright if I left the meal early? I...think I need some air.
Treize(signaling one of the servants): Of course not. If you aren't feeling well I can have Lt. Noin summon a doctor.
Mae: I'll be fine, I just need some air, but thank you.
Treize: If you're feeling up to re-joining us, we'll be adjourning to the main parlor after dinner. (Mae nods and gets up to leave when Noin appears.)
Dorothy: I do hope you feel better. (Mae half-curtsies and walks out with Noin.)
Crystal: She'll re-join us in the parlor.
Zechs: How can you be so sure?
Crystal: Because I know why she needed air.
Septem(snidely): I hope you're not implying that the conversation is why she left.
Shannon: No general, Mae left because of the food, no offense to your chefs General Khushrenada.
VanLeer: Oh? I thought she said the food was fine?
Shannon: She did but that's because she's too polite to insult the food, or General Khushrenada's hospitality.
Une: And what did she find wrong with the food?
Crystal: Mae tries to avoid eating red meat, and certain types, like steaks or roasts, make her physically ill.
Dermail: I find that hard to believe.
Crystal: You've never seen her after she's had to eat a steak.
Zechs: Why would she "have" to eat a steak?
Shannon: There are some situations where you can't excuse yourself from the meal, and there are some situations where it's either eat what's presented or go hungry, and Mae is too sensible to make herself go hungry.
Dermail: Well no sense in our not eating...
(meanwhile outside...)
Noin: Would you like me to get a doctor or would you like to retire for the evening?
Mae: Neither actually, I would like to go to a garden if I may?
Noin: Of course. (signals one of the guards) You'll forgive me if I don't personally escort you. Ensign please escort Miss Sasaoka to the garden. (Mae tenses slightly as the ensign is familiar looking.)
ensign: Yes Ma'am. This way Miss. (walks Mae to the garden. Once there, after making sure they are alone, he embraces and kisses her. Breaking off...) What are you doing here?
Mae(smiling): I'm fine thank you, it's nice to see you too Trowa...
Trowa(kisses her again): I'm sorry, but how did you get here?
Mae: We don't know, all we know is one minute we're driving through Kansas, then we get hit by some light and we found ourselves in a shopping district getting arrested by OZ. What about you?
Trowa: I'm here on a mission. You'll have to warn the others...
Mae: Don't worry, (winking) we don't know you. I missed you leo.. (hugs him)
Trowa(hugging her back): I missed you too chou. (they sit on a bench and catch up on everything since they last saw each other.)
Mae: So Mina had to move to Texas. (Trowa nods then stands suddenly)
Trowa: Someone's coming. (Mae nods, then stands as Treize approaches.)
Treize: We were getting concerned, are you well?
Mae: Yes, I'm sorry if I worried anyone I just got caught up in the beauty of this garden.
Treize(nodding to Trowa): You may return to your duties ensign. (Trowa salutes then leaves) I'm glad you like the garden I picked all the plants in it myself.
Mae: It's lovely, I hope I didn't worry anyone too much.
Treize: Only your friends and the Ambassador. And myself.
Mae(looking somewhat surprised): You were worried about me?
Treize: Yes, you are after all one of my honored guests. (takes her hand and kisses it) And a very lovely and intelligent guest at that.
Mae(blushing): Perhaps we should re-join the others before General Septem thinks I've killed you.
Treize(smiling): That is something he would assume. Shall we?
Mae: Of course General Khushrenada.
Treize: Please feel free to use my given name. May I be allowed to call you by yours? (taking her hand and leading her toward the main parlor)
Mae(still blushing): Of course, Gen...Tr-Treize. (they stop outside a door)
Treize: I thought you might want a moment to compose yourself. (she brushes her skirt off lightly and sighs, then after a few seconds they enter, everyone either looks or glances up.) As I said I've brought her with me. (he bows to her) Feel free to mingle as you please. (he joins Septem and Dermail, Dorothy motions her over)
Dorothy: I'm glad you're well. Miss Crystal and Miss Shannon explained that you dislike meat.
Mae: Speaking of those two where are they?
Dorothy: They retired for the evening. I thought I'd remain incase you did return.
Mae: Thank you Miss Catalonia.
Dorothy: Not at all and please, if I'm to call you Maeleana, then you must call me Dorothy.
Mae: I would like that Dorothy. I hope we can be friends. So tell me what did I miss after I left?
Dorothy: You missed General Septem challenging Miss Crystal to go through military training.
Mae(bowing head, resting it against her hand): Oh no...
Dorothy: Luckily, Treize asked that it be a lessened form since the actual training takes so long and is so harsh.
Mae: Did General Septem agree?
Dorothy: Yes.
Mae(smiling knowingly): Did Crystal?
Dorothy(smiling): Reluctantly.
Mae(laughing): She would, I suppose she tried to insist that she take the full training?
Dorothy: How did you know?
Mae: We've been friends for a long time. I'm sorry if this is a personal question, but do you have any close friends?
Dorothy: That is a bit personal, but I don't mind answering. No, I don't. Grandfather has been raising me and with all the traveling that we do I don't have much time to try to make friends, not that I mind.
Mae(thoughtful head tilt): Do you want any?
Dorothy(surprised blink): I've never really thought about it. ...I suppose I would like at least one close friend... possibly...
Mae: Well if you decide you want a close friend I'm a good listener, and secret keeper.
Treize(walking over): I'm glad to see you two getting along.
Mae(not bothering to keep her voice down): We are not getting along, we are discussing the most effective way to kill General Septem. (Dorothy hides face behind hands, Septem starts choking on his wine)
Treize(blinks then laughs): Now Maeleana, dear, I can't allow you to kill General Septem, at least not while he's been seen in my company. (a viciously innocent smile crosses Mae's face)
Author's Note: Well there you go the first chapter of the sequel.
Beytra: and it only took what 3, 4 years?
Mae(whining): It's NOT my fault!! I had to move like 8 times and get a new job 5 times!
Phil: Well at least you'll be in the mood for torture in this fic.
Mae: ...maybe some angst but I don't know about torture..
Beytra: Phil's right, besides it'll give you a reason to re-read your book on Jack the Ripper.
Phil: Which is nicely graphic with crime scene photos and everything.
Mae: ...anyway see you all next chapter.