Phoenix Fire

Prologue -- Ode to a Corpse


Author's notes: This takes place around AC 200, and uses all material mentioned in the anime series, Endless Waltz, Episode Zero (NOT including Preventer 5), and Blind Target.
Story ties in with F.C. Noventa's "Hawks of Peace" and uses her character, Frank, though he showed up as a nameless White Fang member in the series and EW. However, Zeero---devoted member of Heero's fanclub---is © completely to F.C. Noventa. Yes, I did receive permission to use her ideas---she is my mother. This story should still work as a stand-alone, though, especially considering that "Hawks of Peace" is not yet finished.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO READ THIS PROLOGUE! The prologue introduces my main "villain" and original character, codename Phoenix. It explains a lot about him. So if you want to find out about him and look into his psychotic brain a bit, read on! If you want to be surprised during the story, DON'T read this and just proceed directly onto Chapter 1. You can always come back and read this at any time. -_-

Blood dripped and chemicals burned.

But he didn't care.

Electrical wires crackled and lifeless computers sparked.

But he paid them no heed.

The one corpse in the room stared lifelessly at him, shock and accusation still apparent in its eyes.

But he did not deign to even acknowledge this corpse that was--used to be--his creator.

He was a great, fiery wrath: a fury come from the ashes. He had no need to trifle with the destruction he was leaving behind. Still, the insane, human part of his brain needed to think and say some things before he could move on.

"Forget the pain you inflict. Proceed with the Mission." That's what he would say. The youth turned and did deign to look at the corpse. "That's what you would have said. You made me to be a perfect assassin, a killer. Just what you wanted. A ruthless machine you could program into doing whatever you wished. Killing whoever you wished. Well now, you made that machine, didn't you? But you couldn't control it." A humorless, ironic smirk touched his lips. "Pathetic fool. You tried to play god, and look where it got you. Look where it got me." He glared down at himself, then raised his hand to eye level, carefully inspecting it. His gaze turned dispassionate, like that of an automaton. "You made me into this. I suppose I should be both grateful to and hate you for that. However, you never allowed me to bring out my true potential. How blind of you. You always sent me to do the trivial matters. You always said that they were necessary for the Mission. Greedy old fool, you really thought you could use me to solve your own personal problems?" He laughed humorlessly. "Stupidity! Well now," the young man crouched down and grinned ferally at his dead audience, "Let's start reviewing this stupidity at the beginning, shall we?

"You lost your family in the destruction of some space vessel. Very sad. Interesting that you happened to be safe somewhere else at the time though, hmm? Now, this fellow that caused it--I think you called him Zechs Merquise. Or was is Milliardo Peacecraft? Ah well, one in the same. He was the main cause of the death of your family, according to what you preach. One might question exactly how you knew this if you were hiding away in a hospital at the time..." The man clucked disapprovingly, then smiled insincerely at the dead scientist. "But no matter, you thought you could use me to destroy him and those around him. But you didn't do that right away! You sent me after some poor, meaningless little rodents of scientists that had helped to build your enemy's suit." He rolled his eyes. "Like it was their fault. Stupid, revenge-twisted little man. If you had really wanted to get even with those who built that suit that destroyed your family's vessel, you should have gone after Treize--but, alas, he is dead." An almost sympathetic smile stretched across his face. "Well now, you certainly couldn't extract any revenge on him. But why bother destroying the ones who made the suit that destroyed your family? No, your plan to slowly destroy Zechs Merquise, the suit's pilot, was better. But no," he spat the words out bitterly, "you had to make me go up against scientists who, at the time, had no idea what they were doing. Pitiful and wasteful of you. Although I can't say I didn't enjoy killing them, somewhat." His intense pink eyes flashed brightly for a moment and he grinned dangerously again. "Then again, I didn't mind killing you that much, either."

Humans must die. Humanity is a scourge.

He closed his eyes. "I know." The eyes opened again, pupiless now, and he turned them on the corpse once again. "You made one fatal mistake." His voice seemed more monotone now, deeper. "Out of your ashes of defeat and devastation--which is where my name came from, I figure--you made me to fulfil the revenge you were too weak and spineless to do yourself. You genetically altered me to be perfect for destruction, and gave me cybernetic functions so that I could perform better than any human. You made me too perfect in that way, it seems, and made me human enough to know I was being used; human enough to hate being used. It was a foolish, fatal error on your part. Playing with things you shouldn't have. Well now, that's all over and done with. I have my own ideals to pursue now." Standing up, he turned with a flick of his head--swirling his cascading white ponytail back-- and began to walk toward a control panel beside a metal-covered window. The single thing in the whole laboratory he hadn't destroyed. Without hesitating he hit a pattern of keys, then looked up expectantly as the metal plating rose and he could see in through the glass. Slowly, various wrecked and battle-worn pieces of a mobile suit could be seen in the protected room. He spoke to them, specifically the suit's head--or, rather, to something that was fused into his brain.

"You who I call my only true mentor..." He lowered his head for a moment, and when he looked up again his eyes were no longer a pink--they were a vengefully dark shade of red. "I will accomplish what you have asked me to."

Humanity must die. Humanity is a scourge.

"Yes..." With that last hiss, he hit a button to close the window again, then turned and left the laboratory for the last time.

The metal paneling slowly slid shut on the mobile suit parts, only the head of which was still intact.

The head of Epyon.

Humanity must die. Humanity is a scourge.

Its eyes flashed.