A/N:Hey guys. This is a new story of mine. I haven't gotten as far along it as I would've wanted to, but I'm getting there. This is both the prologue and the first chapter. The prologue wasn't long enough to stand on its own so I just combined the two.
I decided to put it up and get some feedback, so let me know how it is. Constructive criticism is always appreciated. Like all my other stories, it may take a while for me to post up new chapters. I have a lot going on in my life right now and unfortunately writing isn't as high as some of the other things. I'm sorry about that and I'll try to get chapters out as rapidly as I can. Thanks!
I do not own anything related to Gundam SEED or Gundam SEED Destiny.
Strata
"You are a tool of war; a weapon. Nothing but a shadow; a shadow of death."
Prologue
I switched divisions today. Well, switched training programs would be more appropriate. I just spent the past three months perfecting my fire arms and self defense skills, but it looks as if I'll never even get to sit behind the controls of a mobile suit.
I just arrived at Januarias 4 to begin my new training. It's an "experimental" program so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when none of the others in my group were chosen. Most of them were sons of Councilmen or others in authority. One of the fathers threw quite a fit when he found out that his son was among the first to be chosen. The boy was a perfect candidate, but apparently the "pickers" forgot that he was the son of Patrick Zala.
They were obviously lying.
So, I guess to make things short, I was chosen instead of the others, probably because I'm just a runaway. Obviously the fact that I'm a girl caused a huge fuss, but it doesn't matter now.
I'm stuck here.
I don't know what's in store for me, but I'm sure I'll find out tomorrow.
Yikes! Room checks. I swear this is just like a prison.
A girl, no older than fourteen, capped her pen and tossed it, along with her journal, under her bed. She switched off her bedside light, fixed the covers, turned her head towards the wall and shut her eyes.
Her door slid open without so much as a knock by the ZAFT soldier on the other side. He walked through the doorway wearing a green military outfit, took a long look around, and stopped momentarily on the redhead asleep in her bed. He fixed his rifle strap and closed the door. Four short beeps and a loud "click" announced that she was stuck there until morning.
With a sigh she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. "There's no one to blame but yourself, so stop pouting. Just take it one day at a time." A warm tear trickled down her cheek and melted into her pillow. "Just remember that you're becoming stronger. Soon you won't cry like this anymore."
Lunar Eclipse
"Today begins your first day of training." Captain Vindur was a large man with black scraggly hair and a beard that was surprisingly well-trimmed. He stood to be a little over 5'6, but he was obviously not a man to be messed with. No doubt he earned that captain position for a reason. He stood with his legs shoulder-length apart and hands clasped behind his back. He looked cocky standing there, even though this was obviously a demoted position. What high-ranking officer would be the head of such a program? "This won't be anything like you've undergone before. Here is where we teach you all to be weapons of war. For the next two years this facility will be your home, the word "home" used figuratively of course." A smile caressed his lips, almost too sadistically. He seemed to be enjoying himself. "I'd imagine by now you've all realized the strict schedule that you must hold to everyday. Severe punishments will be issued to anyone who disobeys such regulations. None of you are sons of any councilmen or aristocrats so we don't have to worry about any governmental interference.
"All of you will be assigned a codename that you will be refereed to from here on out. You will all most likely be taking this name down to hell with you so you'd better come to like it. Your original name is of no significance now, so I suggest you just forget it altogether. "
"Lexi Rymyr?"
Lexi stopped admiring the split ends of the boy in front of her and looked up at the soldier. Like the one that checked her room last night, this one wore a green uniform. If it wasn't for the circumstances, she may even have found him to be attractive. The long brown hair actually suited his six foot stature and muscular build, but aside from looks he was obviously a private. What commanding officer in his right mind would ask a soldier who she was? Underlings are commanded with orders, not questions.
"Sir."
"Here are your group assignments, training schedules, and facility password. I suggest you memorize them by midday."
"Yes sir." Lexi saluted and grabbed the folder. The private moved on to the boy next to her, offering a half-assed salute on the way. Lexi rolled her eyes and looked at the top of the folder. "Lunar Eclipse," she whispered, liking how it sounded in the air. She looked around the room, wondering how many different codenames her superiors had to come up with, but surprisingly there were only about 30 others like herself. She zoned out so bad during Captain Vindur's speech that she never noticed.
"Alright recruits, this'll be your last ounce of free time for the next two years so I suggest you don't waste it. I want you to meet back here at 12:00 hours. Dismissed." The others saluted and made their way towards the exit. "Oh, Lunar Eclipse," Lexi turned. "I need to speak with you."
She groaned to herself and swam her way back through the crowd, offering a few "Excuse me" statements on the way. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes. I'm sure that by now you figured out that you're the only female among your fellow recruits." She nodded while the captain stroked his beard. "That doesn't mean that you're getting any special treatment though. If anything you'll be treated harsher than the others." The corner of Lexi's eye twitched, but other than that she didn't flinch. Somehow she figured that. "Obviously you have your own room with lavatory and shower. You will not be allowed in anyone's room past 21:00 hours, and no one will be allowed in yours past the same hour. Understand?" Keeping to her "bobble head" demeanor, Lexi nodded again. "Well, now that that's all taken care of, you'll be assigned to some advanced courses as well as the basics."
"Sir? Why is that?"
"Silence. You have been in basic training for the past few months correct?"
"Yes," Lexi said, merely to mix up her responses.
"Obviously you have learned most of the skills that the others haven't so I'd like you to take some more advanced courses. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir. Anything else?"
"Yes. We never wanted you here, Lexi Rymyr, but it seems as if we're stuck with you. Just remember that. Women have no place in this program."
"It seems that we feel the same, sir. In fact I really don't want to be here, but just to prove to you that women are just as good as men, I'll become the top soldier in this facility."
"I'll hold you to that. You are dismissed." Lexi saluted and left without another word.
"We should keep an eye on that one." The Captain filed through some papers sitting on his lap, stopping at Lexi's portfolio. "It says here that she was ranked the lowest in her group, but then again her comrades were among those with the highest potential that we've seen in years." The Captain stroked his beard again.
"She certainly has some fire in her, sir," said the private next to him, taking the papers. "Let's just hope that we can spark that fire into an inferno."
"I'm counting on it."
Lexi closed the door after her, trying to get her breathing under control. Furious at the Captain for holding her up for so long, she ran back to her room once she was clear of the audience hall.
She tossed the folder onto her bed and knelt on the cement floor to look for her journal. Finding the pen first, she grabbed it and tossed it over onto the desk near her window. Returning to the floor, she grabbed her leather journal and walked past her duffle bags to the desk. Pulling out the chair, she sat down, grabbed the pen and opened to her last entry.
Sorry I ended so abruptly last time. It seems as if things are going to be terribly different here than my last training center. Not that I'm surprised, but it'll just take some time getting used to.
As I suspected, I am the only female among the others. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad one. I really enjoy showing up the male population, but that also means that I'm going to be ridiculed to no end, among other things. Well, it'll be interesting to say the least.
I planned on writing some letters to people so I think I'd better get on that before my free time is over.
Lexi paused, staring at the empty space below the entry. She glanced over at the folder on her bed before returning to her journal. Positioning the pen two lines below her last sentence, she signed her name. Lunar Eclipse.
