The old man walked slowly up the front stoop of the apartment building, looked up through his glasses, his cobalt blue eyes formed a smile. He could hear his charge, a teenage girl, singing to some new popular song, he chuckled as he took out his keys.
"That girl… more musical than Quatre I'd say." He muttered as he opened the door. He picked up the bag, holding a brown paper package tied with a colorful bit of string. He took the stairs slowly, humming some old song that he and his friends listened to when they were the girl's age. He took out the keys and slipped them into the lock, just as the girl opened the door.
"Mr. Maxwell!"
"Scarlet!" he gripped his chest in a mock-heart attack. He grinned at the child… no; she was a young woman. Her blonde hair was in two long braids down her back, reflecting her caretaker's hairstyle. Both braids ended in black bows, lace ribbon. She grinned and leaned against the doorway.
"You need help, old man?" she teased.
"Don't you 'old man' me remember who blacked out when doing those barrel roles in the fighter." He said as he pointed to the bag. "That's for you anyhow." He stretched Scarlet picked up the bag, and bought it in. Mr. Maxwell walked in after her, whistling.
Scarlet, the skinny blonde of fifteen sat in and took the package into her lap. Mr. Maxwell sat down in the wooden chair across from her, and leaned forward on his walking stick, a smile on his face. She opened the first, heavier package…
It was a helmet. Polished to sheen, the red helmet had a silver pentagram painted in the back. Scarlet ran a finger over it.
"It's yours… Scarlet. They've called us to action." He said quietly. She looked up at him.
"No… it can't be! I'm not ready, I still have so much more training to do!" she whispered back. She tore open the other package… a pilot's suit also red with a pentagram on the left breast… over where her heart would be.
"I remembered the stars you wanted." He said softly. "Come on, our shuttle's waiting." He stood. Scarlet stood also, and her blue eyes looked into the glasses of the man who had raised her. She silently nodded.
*~*
"Maxwell… he's late!" Wufei wheezed as he reached the summit base.
"Please Master Chang, allow me to help you." The youth with him said, turning around. He already carried most of the weight of their luggage on his back, though he was many times ten the junior of his master.
"Please master, allow me to… "
"Chen Lian!"
"Yes master…" Lian sighed as he turned back around and started for where he knew the base entrance was.
*~*
"Kiyoshi." Heero Yuy spoke, raising his voice slightly as he turned towards his grandson. Kiyoshi, a youth of nearly seventeen years, turned and looked as his grandfather as they waited inside the base.
"Will they all be coming, grandfather?" Basim asked, turning to an elderly Quatre Winner.
"They will indeed Basim. Be patient." Quatre smiled, and turned to Heero
"It has been a long time since we were all last together, Heero. I hope that we all are still alive… I have not heard from Duo yet."
*~*
Max Barton stood and stretched, as he turned to his still slim-and-trim great Uncle Trowa. Trowa turned his emerald green eyes to Max and nodded.
"We will continue." He said softly. He stood up; years of working the acrobatic routine at the circus had left him somewhat stiff. He looked at Max, who nodded and continued on.
*~*
Wufei and Lian, Trowa and Max met at the summit. Trowa greeted Wufei with a nod; Max greeted Lian with a suspicious look. Both Chen Lian and Chang Wufei bowed a greeting to the other pilots. A door opened, and an elderly Heero Yuy, standing with the use of a cane, greeted them.
"Good evening. Has Duo and his replacement come with you?" He asked. Wufei and Trowa shook their heads, the sunlight growing dim.
"No, we have not seen Maxwell…
"HEY YOU GUYS!" punctuated with a cough and a cry of "Mr. Maxwell!" resounded through the woods as Duo and the replacement grew near.
Heero looked at his old companion; he had aged as well… perhaps better than the others had. His eyesight was going; he wore square glasses and had a kind, grandfatherly look to him. Behind him, with a pack slung over his back was a youth wearing a loose T-shirt and jeans. Duo grinned and stuck his hands in his pockets as he walked over.
"Hey Guys! How's it going?"
Quatre, Basim, and Kiyoshi came out of the base, and for the first time, the five Gundam pilots and their replacements were together.
Kiyoshi stood next to his grandfather, perhaps the spitting image of him, wild hair and Prussian blue eyes.
Max was slim and trim, with the emerald eyes of his great Uncle and the auburn hair of his grandmother Catherine.
Basim, a little on the scrawny side, but well built for his size and weight stood near Quatre, as he looked shyly at the other pilots.
Lian stood a little closer to his Master than he would have thought was comfortable, looking around at the others around… then she stepped into the light.
Scarlet had her hair in two braids still; each tied with a black bow. Her sky blue eyes blinked shyly as they all turned to stare at her, and she shifted to behind Mr. Maxwell.
"Nice of you to bring your granddaughter Duo… where is your replacement?" Wufei asked. Duo looked confused.
"Granddaughter? I was never married! You expect me to just breed grandchildren?" He laughed. "Scarlet here IS my replacement!"
Lian raised his eyebrows at this remark, he had always learned that Women were weak, un-reliable. How could one of the five greatest fighters in history allow a GIRL to join?
"Pardon my saying so, Mr. Maxwell… but… a woman? Women are weak and piteous creatures. Send her back."
Wufei leaned on his staff; a lesson in civility wouldn't hurt Chen Lian.
Scarlet scowled as she stepped over to Lian.
"What… was… that?"
"Women are we…" and Lian never got father than that.
He was too busy howling with pain when her fist made contact with his nose. Wufei raised his eyebrows.
"That was un-expected."
The other replacement pilots agreed, and Scarlet put her fists up
"Anyone wanna re-enforce that statement?" she said. She turned as Duo lay a hand on her shoulder.
"Let's not tempt people on our side who have guns, eh Scarlet?"