A/N: This story is based in Season one. It is slightly AU, though primarily follows the story such as a movie or OVA would.

A few months after the incident with the Trinity siblings…

"Ribbons Sir, we've done as you asked with her," murmured the nurse.

"Good," acknowledged Ribbons, looking down at the unconscious subject laying in the capsule in front of him. "What are the results?"

"Sir," the nurse began. "Regrettably she did not show any signs of becoming an innovator, despite repeated GN particle treatments." Her hands shook slightly as she spoke to the innovator with fearful admiration and sincerity.

"Our experiment has failed then," Ribbons stated smoothly. He glanced at the label on the medical capsule which read, "Leah Anderson". He waved over his shoulder as he turned to leave, "Dispose of her."

"Yes sir," responded the nurse.

"And Miss Miller, I do expect results. I know these things can't be rushed but," Ribbons looked back at the frightened nurse, "use whatever means necessary to make our dream a reality. You understand, don't you Miss Miller?"

"Yes sir!" she answered, stiff with terror and obedience.

"Good." It should not be too long now, thought Ribbons. I know what went wrong with that last one, thanks to the Gundams. Soon I will know exactly what an innovator is, and more importantly… how to create one…

Meanwhile, aboard the Ptolemaios...

"Tieria, I want you to connect with Veda to see what new missions are in store for us," Miss Sumeragi ordered. Tieria nodded on his way out. The door slid shut behind him with a quiet swish.

"Oo," Christina stretched her arms in the air excitedly, "I can't wait to see what new operations we get to carry out!" cried Christina.

"I hope it's nothing too violent," breathed Fedlt as she gazed despondently at her monitor. She frowned, troubled at the thought of the meisters being in danger again.

"Don't worry so much Fedlt. I'm sure they can handle it, no matter what the mission is," Miss Sumeragi comforted her.

"What… What is this?..." Tieria gasped at Veda's new mission report.

Operation to retrieve new recruit for Celestial Being's team of engineers:

Name: Leah Anderson

Location: Norfolk Military Hospital

Personal Data: A former member of the Union forces and revered child genius, she is credited with designing custom mobile suit engines along with various other discoveries in the fields of quantum mechanics and energy emissions. Home town of Cavan, Ireland. Moved to the United States at ten years of age. Family are deceased. She is currently being held at the Norfolk Military Hospital after an attack by the Gundam Thrown Units left her in a coma.

Mission Plan:

…

Tieria floated inside of Veda. He was taken aback. A new member… but we haven't gotten anyone new since Setsuna… I wonder what Veda could be planning, he thought curiously.

Tieria delivered the information to Miss Sumeragi and it was not long before the meisters were heading out on their mission.

"So, a new recruit," Lockon began as he and Tieria headed to their Gundams. "I wonder what could be so important Veda felt we should go back down to Earth, and a Union military base no less, to retrieve this girl."

"Who knows? She is a skilled engineer. She could become important to our cause at some point."

"Yeah, I'm sure it couldn't hurt to have another one around to help Ian. That way, repairs can be done even faster, and we can go on more missions."

"Which means Aeolia Shenberg's plan can be carried out even faster," Tieria spoke determinedly, his eyes drawn to his Gundam with almost as much passion as Setsuna's.

Lockon sighed comically at Tieria's obsession.

The four Gundams broke through the atmosphere with incredible speed. The plan called for a swift reentry of the Earth's atmosphere and then the meisters were to hide their machines among the rocky, forested area behind the hospital. They would not be detected due to the cloaking capabilities of the GN drives.

After landing, they proceeded with the mission. Lockon stayed in his Dynames with a sniper rifle inside the cockpit to watch his comrades' backs as they entered the facility. Tieria kept a close eye on his communicator for information regarding the location of their target, leading them to the room where she was being held. Setsuna shot the few doctors who crossed their path on the way.

Allelujah groaned. "Wait, what the hell? I thought-"

"Yes, we are rescuing her despite her still being in a coma," Tieria said quickly, plugging a cord from his communicator into the capsule.

It unlocked. "Here, I'll take her," stated Allelujah as he pulled the young woman into his arms.

"Guys," warned Setsuna from the doorway. Heavy footsteps approached and they fled down the hallway. The meisters exited the building at top speed with gunfire at their heels. A few shots echoed from Dynames' cockpit as Lockon took aim at their pursuers. Somewhere, an alarm sounded. Returning to their machines, the Gundams returned to the Ptolomaios.

The plan had gone off without a hitch.

Before they reported to Miss Sumeragi, Tieria, Setsuna, Allelujah, and Lockon stood outside Leah's room, listening to her deep breathing.

She didn't look a day over twenty. Allelujah glared at her indignantly, "I don't understand why we had to break a girl like her out of a hospital."

"Veda has plans for her and that's why she is necessary," Tieria answered. "Moreover, I'm positive Veda wouldn't call for a civilian to join our cause if that person didn't have reasons of her own, just as the rest of us do."

"Yeah? Fine, but I don't want to be a part of it," Allelujah spat before storming off as best someone can in zero gravity. If someone innocent like her got hurt, I would never be able to forgive myself… he thought.

Lockon, Tieria, and Setsuna waited for their comrade to leave before any of them would speak again.

"Well then, any plans on how to wake her up, Tieria?" asked Lockon.

"Unfortunately no." Tieria pushed off the wall and into the darkened room, halting next to the bed and peering down at Leah. "It's odd. The report said she was in a coma and yet... she seems to be able to support herself. But this long hibernation, I suppose we are just going to have to take care of her as she is for now, until I can find the answer inside of Veda."

"And who exactly is going to be taking care of her?" Lockon asked accusingly.

Tieria began leaving, "I'll ask Miss Sumeragi what she can do."

Lockon sighed heavily as he watched Tieria disappear down the hallway. "I hope she isn't too mad when she wakes up and finds herself stuck on a space ship with us."

"With us! With us!" squealed Haro as he bumped into Lockon's shoulder.

"Yes Haro," Lockon joked as he and Haro departed, leaving Setsuna alone with the young woman.

Setsuna watched the rise and fall of her chest with curiosity and suspicion as she slept peacefully. Is this really Veda's doing? He couldn't help but wonder…