Here's something from the scifi area of my brain. Enjoy y'all.
*DEM*
"Operation Meteor is a collaborative effort between several nations to understand and utilize the discoveries of extraterrestrial origin made at the dawn of the A.C. era. Mankind's quest to colonize space did not arise from a United Sphere. They are part of the solution to overpopulation as well as serve as a cover for the construction of stable laboratories outside of the Earth atmosphere. In order to conduct experiments done by combining human and alien DNA. The recreations of the advanced supercomputer known as ZERO discovered at the impact site off the northeast coast of Australia kcan only be operated by specific brain wave patterns found in less than .25% of humanity. An age of engineered super soldiers integrated with this technology is on the horizon." Sally Po regarded the documents in front of her with more than a great deal of wariness. More along the lines of barely restrained panic attack. What had she gotten herself into?!
Two days ago, her life was just fine Promising, stable career as a military doctor. Though dealing with her family trying to marry her off to some rich schmuck who couldn't even explain how his grandfather became wealthy wasn't that great. That derp had no concept of anything other than living a life of privilege. His little sister ran rings around him and many others in the intelligence department so it was obvious who'd be running the estate once grampa kicked off. His grandchildren being his sole living heirs.
Still, she was pretty content.
She fully blamed record keeping by someone who clearly sucks at their job, a complete lack of attention to security detail and HR for not coding her access card correctly. Yep, that had to be it. If not for those things, instructions to retrieve blood samples in a sector she'd never heard of would have been moot because the door would have denied access. She didn't have the clearance to be in the same wing as what she initially thought was a sick, lost child. She would not have seen the hall flooded with guards brandishing electric batons, tasers and guns. She wouldn't have heard them demand for Subject 01 to stand down and disengage from the ZERO interface. With his back to her, she could not see Subject 01's face but his body language did not suggest he had any interest in doing what they asked. In fact he made no sign of even hearing the orders barked. His stance resembled a marionette with just enough slack to stand upright while also appearing limp. Arm hanging loosely at his side. Legs apart, one slightly ahead of the other, both knees slightly bent. Head bowed so low his chin probably touched his chest.
One guard, nervous beyond rationale ("He's a teenager for god sakes. I could take him out! Why are you so heavily armed?!" She puzzled.) saw the boy clench his fists and opened fire. In predictable fashion this set off a chain reaction. Like any sane person she hit the deck; her only option in the enclosed space. Gunfire erupted as she covered her head. It seemed to go on forever until nothing but empty clicks could be heard.
For a moment she did not open her eyes. Too afraid to see the boy's bullet riddled corpse. Only when she heard frantic shouting did she dare look.
Subject 01 remained upright and unharmed. Before him a literal wall of bullets just floating there as if stuck in invisible jello. The guards were just as terrified as her. But while her fear rooted her to the tile floor, most of them threw down their weapons and turned to run. The teen's head snapped up...
And the white clinical hall turned red.
What happened was beyond all logic. The fleeing men seemed to just fucking explode! Crimson and body parts splattered the walls, floor and whatever shield stood before him. Oh dear god that was a lung caught in the ventilation grate right above the scene. Portions of the other one and what probably had been a heart at some point dangled from the ceiling like a macabre mobile.
He turned to face her. She barely registered the loud wet clattering of spent rounds and suspended blood falling to the floor. No, her attention was drawn to his eyes. They flared and pulsed an unnatural gold while they studied her. Cold and calculating; trying to assess if she was a threat. A look she'd heard stories of from the front lines in wars past.
She almost didn't hear a pop and low whistle or 01's grunt of surprise. So certain she was going to die, her mind suddenly went blank and she slipped into oblivion.
Only to awaken later with 01's face inches from hers. A scream arose in her throat but her mouth would not open to release it.
/Do not scream. Such noise is unpleasant./
What the fuc- that was in her head!
/I am merely curious about you; your response to the events two hours ago as 'abject horror' produced a curious reaction. Most humans would have fled as an act of self preservation. Instead your nervous system overloaded first causing paralysis then unconsciousness./ 01 continued telepathically with a cold detached monotone. /I am also somewhat amused you chose to compare the the experience to a scene from a retro animation motion picture before going under./
That...that wasn't a dream? Or rather a nightmare? Was he going to kill her too?! Those people-
/Responded to my reasonable request to enter a nearby lab with a hail of bullets. I hold no regard for the lives of those who hold none for my own./ He tilted his head. /One of us is ill, in pain. It is natural to be drawn to him./
Um...
/We will not harm you woman. Unless you give us cause to./ Another mental voice spoke. Cultured and clipped if slightly condescending.
Realizing she was on a cot, she shot up and blinked owlishly at her surroundings. Still in the hospital but this room looked more like a lab out of scifi than a patient area. Behind 01, around another bed stood two other young men, one clearly of asian with fierce eyes the other Caucasian with a long chestnut braid. On the bed a small blonde boy lay unresponsive, drenched in sweat but breathing evenly. A fourth boy lay beside him tucking the sickly one's body into his own as he stroked his hair absently with eyes closed.
Were they like 01? Monsters in the guise of children?
/Yeah but don't call us that lady./ A third voice snapped hotly. Sally winced at the wave of pressure that briefly assaulted her. /We didn't ask to be like this. We have names and they for damn sure ain't Monster./
/Is she really worth the effort of an explanation?/ A fourth voice asked. His tone hovering somewhere around mild indifference. Like he simply could not be bothered to care either way.
/You saw what they did when Heero merely twitched. Only our promise to not cause further...incidents and wipe her mind in exchange for being here keeps them at bay./ An older, deeper voice responded. "I apologize Dr. Po. We are not used to interactions other than with the scientists who created us. I'm Zechs though my official designation is 06 Epyon. 01 Wing is Heero you met first. 05 Shenlong is named WuFei...who called you woman. The one who snapped at you is 02 Deathscythe on paper but prefers Duo. 03 HeavyArms is Trowa, the one curled around our sickly one 04 Sandrock, Quatre. He's the one who does not seem to care for your well being."
That voice had been aloud. Parialy. Opposite her cot sat a very tall man with long platinum hair. He looked perhaps 10 years older than these young men. They were each wearing white capris and a white nursing uniform top. White slippers on their feet save for Quatre.
"Created you?"
"Yes. We are the result of testing done to the debris that fell to the Earth Sphere approximately 195 years ago."
No. Fucking. Way.
She'd only heard rumors in med school. That the Alliance was head hunting promising medical personnel and researchers for some top secret project. It had been said that several of those in the prior 30 graduating classes had vanished under mysterious circumstances at her Academy alone. Not too many to cause a panic but not too few for there not to be some worry. So this is where they ended up. Probably sworn to secrecy and forced to live on base or something. But the likelihood of all of them coming to work here wasn't practical. They'd have thousands of doctors and scientists by now.
/Those who have laid eyes on a child of ZERO shall not live to tell about it./ The bored voice, Trowa, spoke again. /You are correct. Of those solicited only an approximate 41% accepted. Of those a further 39% were culled. A net result of only 16 out of each 100 reaching full employ on the Gundam aka Children of ZERO project./
"C-culled? Oh god..."
Did that mean Shelia and Lu Tsu's parents were right to fear them dead instead of running off together?! Or were they of the lucky few?
/Your classmates are both dead. Shelia Xiang refused to be apart of the project. Lu Tsu Peng was deemed unfit after 4 months. / Trowa mentally replied. From his tone, he was enjoying the panic and fear the information inspired in the strawberry blonde. Though his facial expression had not changed. His eyes didn't even open.
"Frightening her is unnecessary. Yes the Alliance has sanctioned unspeakable acts in the interest of 'progress'. However, you do not have to fear such a fate Dr. Po." Zechs rolled his eyes. "In fact your presence in hallway L-10DC was no accident."
"So I was set up to be brought into to this horror show?! Why?! Anyone with half a brain knows my ethics wouldn't permit me to be apart of it! Especially after seeing what they made you into! I have every reason to be afraid of getting my brains blown out to keep me from blabbing it to the world!"
/You were there to witness it./ Heero sat down at the foot of Quatre's bed.
"It was a test. We intend to erase your memory. A rather new technique used to alleviate suspicion and avoid messy loose ends. When you leave this room, you shall have no recollection of the events immediately following leaving your office."
So what was up with the explanation? Are they just toying with me?
/Read between the lines woman./ Wufei snorted. /After all, a good way to exploit an enemy's weakness is to give them a false perception of advantage./
The teens will not speak verbally. Nothing Zechs is saying aloud could not be spoken telepathically. Unless...it's an act. You have no intention of doing that do you?
/Nope! Order of the Zodiac Laboratories seems to think they know the extent of our abilities./ Duo's voice was smirking despite the scowl on his lips. /They don't know jack shit./
/The arrogantly assume they have us under control./ Heero concurred. /I allowed that grunt to sedate me./
/It's time the Alliance learn they are playing with fire. They have no idea of the Pandora's box they've opened./ This voice was new. Soft and calming. Quatre it seems isn't as sick as he appears. /You and several like you will help us with that./
Me? You're not giving me a choice are you? What can I possibly do?
/Were we? For starters, when the Duke's grandson finally asks for your hand, do say yes./ Zechs smiled. /If it's war that family wants, it's war they'll get./ Zechs chuckled.
From there a blank. She found herself sitting at a cafe half a mile from the base. Apparently enjoying almond Biscotti and a cappuccino.
"Will that be all ma'am?" A server stood beside her. The woman's long dark bangs combed rather uniquely to the right side of her face and partially obscuring her eye. A bit unusual seeing as her hair as a whole had been styled in a pixie cut.
"Um, no thanks. I'll just be leaving." She tripped over such a simple sentence.
"Alright. Here's your bill. You may pay up front on your way out. Have a wonderful day." With a quick bow she left to flit about other tables.
With a confused sigh, Sally groped for her purse. She looked at the half finished snack deciding to just pay and leave.
/You really ought to finish your coffee first Sally. You're going to need it. Instructions are in your car but don't worry about being traced. Welcome to the sisterhood./
She dropped the check on shock. Across the patio, the waitress met her eyes with a knowing smile before jotting down a man's order.
All of that happened two days ago. And two days ago the files on the data stick hanging from her rearview mirror looked like gobbledegook at first then was suddenly clear as day. Even though still a mass of foreign symbols she could read it just as easily as Common. The entire endeavour into space was a lie. The Alliance planned to use the colonies to create super soldiers with a nearly endless array of psionic abilities. Then use those new enforcers to rule space and the Earth Sphere. War was nigh.
She'd had two days to accept her new reality.
She was jolted from her thoughts by a text from her mother.
# He'll be at the gala tonight dear. Wear that fetching ball gown I sent you and surely you'll catch his eye.#
Well, if she was going to be putting her neck on the line, she may as well enjoy the perks of the job. She thought to herself as she stood to get ready. Her laptop closed without so much as a touch. Her closet door sliding open on it's own as she approached it. Removing said dress she frowned.
"I am not wearing this yellow monstrosity, mother. Olive and red are more my colors."
In response to her thoughts, the frilly canary colored gown melted off the hanger. To reform as a nice red cocktail dress draped over her arm. Long green netting attached at the waist by a gorgeous black rhinestone sash.
"Alright Dermail. Here comes your future bride."
*DEM*
To clarify:
Overall I am taking great liberties with the Gundam-verse concept of New Types. Not like the definition hasn't changed forty billion times since the original series...
Sally is the first major Alliance character who encounters 01 (granted he's half dead at the time), that's why I chose her.
Yes Sally's intro to Heero was a nod to Akira. The scene where Tetsuo wakes up crazy in the lab and proceeds to murder nearly everyone he encounters for the remaining hour of the movie. I will borrow and acknowledge ideas I use from other works. Outright stealing isn't cool.
I modified the "Those who have laid eyes on a Gundam shall not live to tell of it." line. Trowa's the one who say it in the anime too.
I know Dorothy is an only child. I totally made up her older brother.
That was not Hilde at the cafe.
I have no explanation other than a weekend spent reading wicked awesome GW fanfics from around the web. What do you guys think? Could this be a story? At some point?
Reviews are like hugs! Sirensoundwave out!