Prologue: Future's Ashes
Lisa Golebiewski
A lone figure sat in the darkened room. A pale, single light barely gave that figure enough illumination to read a spread of papers on the desk. Around the person, was deadly calm and silence...
The person brushed back a long strand of hair, long since turned grey from its lively brown. The person's features were feminine, her eyes quivering pools of aqua. It was those eyes that held back tears. So many tears. Tears she wished she could shed, and yet dismiss at the same time.
Before her sat about a dozen folders, each with a photo and piece of paper describing the photo's occupant. Her fingers trailed along the faces of them all.
Finally a tear fell. She pulled her hand back to wipe at her eyes. Now was not the time to be weak. To be what those men expected her to be. But these poor children. We used them all, all of them for our own gain. Not the gain of the colonies or Earth. But for our own, unknowingly, she whispered to the empty room.
She pulled one file to her. A grim looking boy was in the photo, a green tank top and dark shorts was his attire. His cold startling prussian blue eyes stared out at her, unfeeling beneath his unruly brown bangs. Heero Yuy, the perfect soldier. Surely Doctor J was successful in his masterpiece, she said disgusted and closed the file. She did not need to see the rest of his statistics or the Wing Zero's for that matter.
Her hand came to rest on a folder she was quite familiar with. The face that greeted her disheartened her. This poor boy with lively blue-green eyes had been thrown into this mess by accident. His light reddish brown hair was short, framing a slightly fearful face. Pi... Poor, poor Pi. You should've stayed home, she whispered and closed that file as well. And his gundam, a makeshift piece of equipment made by a disgruntled scientist. Oh, he had showed them how well his pilot and the Namerusu worked all too well.
Her eyes found another open folder this one seeming to brighten her heart if only for a second. This boy, he was a true masterpiece. How had Instructor H managed to keep his boy so pure in the face of such a horrible war? I pray that you are safe by the end of this Mister Winner, she said sadly and closed the folder on his indigo-green eyes, framed by pale locks and a smiling face. she didn't want to see the Sandrock's information. She had memorized it all.
The next folder she picked up, she did with a sigh. How had he managed to become a gundam pilot again? Had B's ego become so great that in his grandson he had seen himself? Himself piloting a gundam. The chestnut haired boy with dark brown eyes framed by glasses did nothing to speak for himself. Yorozu Forradare. I pity you. You who thought everything was in your control and he was controlling you the whole time, she said with a dark chuckle. Her fingers closed the folder easily and slipped it with the other three. She did not want to see any of the Knightflare's facts, not at a time like this.
The folder before her now was one that puzzled her. This boy, this man, was not all he appeared to be. A clown in a circus, a boy with no name working with mercenaries and the Barton Foundation. Nanashi... no name, she whispered and turned the page. Trowa Barton, her lips trying to break into a smile. You hide behind that name and behind your masks. And behind Heavyarms as well I suppose. What could Doktor S have seen in you Nanashi? Was it what she saw in you? She closed the folder containing the silent boy that hid behind a bang of brown hair, one green eye unblinking.
She carefully placed it with the other and pulled another closer to her. This one held a haughty looking boy with black hair and cold dark eyes. Wufei Chang. Your precious Nataku is gone and you have no one to guide you in your search for justice. Atlong should be able to help you however, she said and closed that file in turn. Perhaps he was the best choice, of all the pilots so far.
The next file made her nearly weep instantly. How did this get here? How... A smiling face looked out at her. Bright violet eyes, framed by straight black locks. Sevan Letha, how ironic to see your face now, she said to the photo. Then a second later, she had slammed the file shut. There was no point in agonizing over this pilot. No reason to at all.
The next folder startled her to say the least. This one also held the photo of a girl, a girl whose eyes spoke words that she could not begin to imagine. How was she to know this girl's nightmares were real? Lovingly, she traced the girl's face with her index finger. Cinq, Cinq Avenir. For one forced to become something in such a short amount of time, you did better than expected. I'm sure the Reverie appreciates that, she said sadly and softly closed the file on the green eyes girl with brown hair.
A smiling boy was in the next folder, his hair thrown over his shoulder in a long braid. His cobalt eyes beguiling the fact that he was Shinigami... the God of Death. Duo Maxwell, how fitting for you to pilot the Deathscythe Hell. Who else but Death itself could do that, she said and placed that folder with the others.
The next folder she picked up, held the photo of a serious looking boy. That almost brought a smile to her face. From her experience he was anything but serious. The dark blond haired boy held his head high, his amber eyes waiting to tell a story. A story of what? Of this battle? Elf Keefe... I hope you will be able to smile once this is over, her voice trailed off and his folder joined the others.
She hesitated before taking the last folder. This pilot was also a girl. But the girl's mentor... How could C do that to you. J looks like a feminist compared to him. If only I had found you instead of him, her voice soft and light. The girl who filled the photo was serious looking. Her intense grey eyes were hidden behind thick curly black hair. The woman closed the folder of the Heartsblood's pilot.
Wearily she turned in her seat, and got up. Now it was time. Time for the pilots to show their true colors. Who would live? Who would greet eternity in the blackness of space? As the woman stepped towards the door, she fervently hoped her pilot would live. Long enough to at least discover her love...
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Gundam Wing characters (except for the four cels of Trowa and Quatre). They belong to rich animators, writers and companies. Such a pity... However, the following characters and gundams are my creation: Cinq Avenir (Cassandra Polonium ), Mentor L (Lerisa Avenir Sigma), Yorozu Forradare, Benefactor A, Scientist E, Inventor B, Sevan Collyn, Elf Keefe, the Knightflare, the Reverie and the Jamilace. The following characters and gundams I did not create but have permission to use (although Sandra wishes she didn't give me Ennea's future... muwahahaha! Anyway Ennea Calypso, the Heartsblood and Principal C are Sandra Balena's creation. Ask permission from her to use them. Now, Pi Chikyuu and the Namerusu are the creations of Adam Modiano and I have permission to use them as well.
If you want to use any of MY characters e-mail me and ask me first. I won't bite... right Sandra? Anyways, all other comments, constructive criticism and praise go to ZibbelCoot@aol.com.
Author's Notes
Yes, this was somber. Why? I was in a somber mood when I wrote Past's Destruction. That mood didn't lift until I began writing From the Ashes (Section 2). And if you really want to know, this prologue occurs right before the end of the whole story. Why you ask yet again? Because I like writing that way, and besides, isn't it more suspenseful when you know something is going to happen, but you don't know what exactly?