Gundam wing is not owned by me
Part 1
Chapter 1
~ Kateline Delizabane
After Colony 201: five years later
"Hey Jack! Get yer ass over here. I need you to help me lift this thing." Ralphie Denadar called back to his corpulent supervisor as he spat out a greasy glob of spittle and tobacco onto the sandy pavement and wiped his sweaty brow with a dirty hand.
Jack Lampson looked up from his own messy work, a partially dissembled engine, and smirked at his colleague.
"Can't ya see I'm busy with my own work Ralph, get someone else to help ya." The sounds of heavy machinery and the presence of a large cigar hanging crudely from his mouth fumbled Jack's words. The over worked and under paid engineer glowered as he tossed away an oil-smeared rag he had wiped off his hands.
"Damn it Jackie, there ain't no one else around. They've either gone home for the holidays or are too busy."
"Well, Get Gabe to help ya! I think he is still around somewhere. He's always around." The older man puffed and sniffed.
"No you idiot! Gabe's taking off. Didn't ya hear? He got some letter about his brother and he's gotta go back to the Earth. You didn't even notice he was missing did ya Mister Supervisor."
Jack plucked the stogie from his mouth and scratched his chin with grimy fingernails. His brow furrowed as he sat thinking back for a moment. Ralphie was right. Gabe hadn't been around for a while. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen much of Gabe in a long time. He just hasn't been the same Gabe since the war ended. He was always pretty lively and just became quiet after that."
"That's cuz his brother died in the war. It shook Gabe up pretty bad. He never talked much after he found out. I guess his brother was all the family he had or they were pretty close, or something along those lines."
Jack replaced the cigar in his mouth and shook his head. "Damn, I never knew anything about that. No wonder you stopped callin' him 'His Excellency'. I suppose you can't tease a grieving man."
"Now you even agreed with me that the kid does look like Treize Khushrenada. Gabe always got a kick outta me comparing him to that guy." Ralphie attempted and failed again to lift the engine. Jack laughed to himself.
"You're weak as all hell Ralph. Gabe always did all the lifting for ya. Yeah… It's a shame; we could still really use Gabe around here. One of the best workers I ever had on my team. And boy could that kid drink, I never saw a guy who drink you right into a hole Ralph, But Gabe sure did. A couple of times."
The remark must have stung Ralph, since Jack knew that he judged his manhood on how much he could drink. Jack didn't know whether the redness that spread across Ralphie's face was due to the exertion of trying to lift the engine, or of the Jack's insinuation that Gabe was more of a man than he was. After a moment he regained himself and snorted.
" I let him think he was a match for me, But I could have drank another 5 bottles of that shit, and he would have passed out before he was half way through the first."
"Bullshit" Jack's answer came simple and accompanied by a mocking laugh. Your just pissed cuz you know that kid could out do you with the bottle and with the women… We both know it. So don't try to put one over on me Denader." Ralphie just glowered at the ground.
Jack shifted in his chair and reached out for his employee chart. "Guess I better cross his name off, wouldn't want to keep payin' him for no work. Do me a favor and make sure Duo gets the notice will ya Ralph?"
"Sure thing boss" Ralphie resumed his work trying to take more off the engine to lighten it up a bit. Jack smudged the white paper with his dirty hand as he stretched a finger down the list until he came to the name GABRIEL FRANCIAS. He took up a pen and made a red slash mark through the name. The casually wrote a poorly worded note to his boss Duo Maxwell to hire another worker to replace Gabe.
* * * * * *
In his room the young man clutched the letter and read it again. This was likely the somewhere around the one hundredth time he had read the note. Still, he continued to read it again and again.
Finally someone had remembered him. Finally someone had found him. Finally he was going back to Earth, back home. It had been nearly seven years since Gabriel Khushrenada had gone into space. He had run away from his home on the Earth, determined to show his brother that he was strong and could fight. His older brother Treize had always insisted that he not become a soldier.
"You have far too many other commendable talents to take up the sword. Leave fighting to those of us who know no other way." That's what Treize had always said to him. It hurt; it made him feel weak. In actuality it was Treize's way of protecting his little brother, as he had done all his life. Gabriel wanted to stay with Treize, he always followed his brother's lead; Treize was his hero.
But he was dead, and had been dead for many years now. Gabriel had been in a stupor since Treize's death, not knowing where to go or what to do. So he just kept at doing what he had been doing since he arrived in space. Gabriel worked with the sweepers, who had been commissioned by the Earth Sphere United Nation to disassemble all mobile suits. It was the last place Treize would have looked for him, and Treize did look for him when he learned that Gabriel had run away from the prestigious boarding school in Austria that he had been sent to. The work was tiring and dirty. The perfect disguise and refuge for a fugitive Khushrenada. The grime of a day's work usually hid the elegant features he bore that were so recognized by association with the world nation sovereign. Gabriel loved it. He had been raised as the most proper of gentlemen. With the sweepers he had been exposed to everything he had been sheltered from on earth. Rough language, hard labor, wine women and song, actually beer, bar chicks and heavy metal. It was all a great awakening for a man who could not escape the shadow of his older brother. His perfect older brother Treize, who everyone loved, but who no one could love more than him.
He wanted Treize to find him and to ask him to come home. His only real family, his protector, and his best friend, the man who was to him as a father should be. Gone.
Slowly he read the letter again.
To Mr. Gabriel Khushrenada
I apologize for the extreme lateness of this letter. We encountered numerous problems and a general great difficulty in locating you. I hope that this message finds you well, and I wish to extend an invitation to you to come to Brussels so that we may discuss the matters of your brother's will in person.
Kindest Regards,
Preventor Chief Commander
Lady Une
He knew the name, she had been his brother's second in command and his most trusted subordinate. During the time when she had come to serve Treize he had met her twice but only briefly. He hadn't liked her at first, thinking that Treize might prefer her company over his. Especially when he knew that women were usually disposable commodities to Treize. Still, she was probably the only one left who would have really known his brother. She had been with him during those dark days.
He was going to go; it had already been arranged. It was time that he stopped hiding and acted as himself again. Though he wasn't quite sure what that was now. Was he an elegant gentleman, or a rough sweeper? The only idea he had was that he was a Khushrenada and that was the standard he would hold himself to. No one in the sweepers knew he was the younger brother of Treize Khushrenada, it might have been dangerous for him if they had learned. For so long he had wanted to go back, but was convinced there was nothing left for him. But now there was this lady, she had known Treize; she had made the effort to find him. Perhaps she could point out some path for him.
Gabriel rose from his bed and prepared to leave. Yes perhaps he would find purpose on the Earth. Perhaps this lady could show him the way.
* * * * *
The room was dark. Perfect. The darkness hides the shadows completely and he was a shadow after all. He stole quietly into the shuttle bay. Quiet as usual. The workers were dozing at this hour and security was minimal. His mind raced with the plan. The number flashed again and again in his mind. XZ119 XZ119 XZ119.
He found it without difficulty. Shuttle XZ119 looking as well as always. A well kept shuttle indeed, since it had but two pilots that used it and they were two of the most renowned pilots in existence. Awww too bad He though briefly. All that talent must be sent in to the great beyond.
A worker walked by, the intruder stopped and nodded to the man as he passed. There was no conflict at all. Of course not, it was all as he and his mistress had planned. He carried the precious items in his pocket. The device was small and the disk even smaller.
With cat like silence he entered the shuttle and his target. Engine #9. The device was made of a series of chemicals that would disintegrate its metal components upon detonation. It would take several minutes for the engine to heat up enough to cause the chemicals to heat up to the point of critical mass. Then they would mingle… and boom. Mission accomplished. All traces of the device destroyed by the blast. The disk was for security measures. It was a virus designed to bypass the shuttle's computer so the device would not be detected. The uploading took several minutes, but no matter. The fools had no idea and no suspicions.
"Peace indeed. Peace leaves you open to attack, you are all as good as dead you fools" he muttered silently under his breath. Before leaving he stepped back and admired his work. His mistress was indeed shrewd. The spies on all sides were very reliable and she had judged this the proper time to commence their operation. His mission half complete, he left the shuttle bay and hid himself again in the communications center. The message would come soon. Once his work was done with that he would return home, back to his Mistress and back to earth.
* * * * *
"Oh god am I bored. We never do anything anymore Duo" Hilde Schbieker said in an agitated tone as she gazed out the shuttles window. Her fingers drummed on the cold metallic frame and she sighed repeatedly.
"Aw come on babe, you know its always a blast with me around." Duo Maxwell turned his eyes from the shuttle course track and made to blink but ceased when he realized she wasn't even looking at him. Hilde simply gazed longingly out at the Earth. She rested her head on her hand and swayed her body slightly as if she was recalling a song.
"You really wanna go there don't you Hildre" Hildre… its what he always called her now. She liked it. It was like a pet name. It showed that he cared.
"Yes I do Duo. I have never seen it and I think its time that I did." She turned to face him with a pleading look. He knew that she would never go without him. Sooner or later he would have to give in to her. Duo smiled his devilish smile and ruffled her hair with his spare hand.
"Hey don't worry about it babe. Soon as we finish this next big order, you and I are heading to the earth for some serious down time. Just you and me."
"Oh Duo!" She through her arms around him and kissed his cheek over and over again. Her face was as light as a star, which beat the hell out of the moody depressed expression she was having lately.
"All right, all right. I know I am irresistible but you'll have to wait until we are docked before I can return those kisses." This time she saw his wink, and giggles in response. Just the result he was looking for. Duo grinned his usual grin as he they continued steadily towards the colony.
* * * * *
Out of no where, her name came into his mind making him feel misplaced again. Elizabeth. It had been five years now. Since she had passed from this life and left him alone in the universe. Five years since he had left his daughter in the Isle to be raised. He wasn't ready to go back to her yet. What would he do with her? His life was in space now and she was probably happy with Lady Aria. He couldn't snatch her from her life on earth just so he could take her into space. This TF halfway station was no place to raise a child.
Zechs let it go. That was not what was upsetting him now. But when matters did become difficult, his mind always dwelt upon his lovely Elizabeth and his daughter. What did she look like now? Did she look like her mother and act like me? What a sight that would be!
"How bad is it." It was Noin's comforting voice drawing him out of his reflection and back to the sad matter at hand. He saw the look of concern on her face cracking through her usual expression of complacent bravery. Zechs sat limply in the chair two feet away holding the copy if the communication from earth he had received ten minutes. He shook his head indicating that he didn't know the answer to her query. The ink for the print out was still fresh when Noin took it from his hand. She read the lines that sent Zechs in a state of panic and the helplessness.
Zechs,
Relena dangerously ill, requesting your immediate presence. Please return to Earth.
Sally Po
That was it, no details at all. Noin was suspicious and wondered why sally would send such a sparse message. She must have known that to omit important details and keep it so simple phrased would alarm Zechs horribly. Unfortunately the station was still in the process of being built. They had only the most basic communication capabilities. No visuals were possible as of yet. She needed to get the facts, and to confirm the authenticity of the communication.
" I can get to nearest Colony in four hours and contact Sally or Lady Une visually for verification. You arrange the shuttle for our departure to Earth. If I can verify this message we will leave as soon as I get back."
Zechs eyes gazed up at her. Noin always took care of him and she would have it no other way. No matter what misfortune befell him, this woman was almost always there to see him through it He could hardly understand it, most of the time he didn't question it but instead remained grateful for Lucretzia Noin's presence in his life.
" I wonder where I would be now if not for you Noin." He smiled despite his rather frightened demeanor. Noin looked on him with her usual understanding. Relena was the only family he really had left to her knowledge. If she should die now Zechs would be all alone.
"Try not to worry Zechs, Relena is a strong girl she can pull through anything." Noin knelt down in front of him and held his hand tightly.
"She is your sister, and we have all seen you bounce back from the brink." Her smile was comforting to him and again he gave silent thanks for her.
Zechs squeezed her hand gently and kissed it. Noin rose and gave him a little knock on the cheek before quitting his quarters. He sighed and turned his chair towards the window that would hold the view of Noin's departing shuttle. Guilt was always the first thing that came over him when Noin left his presence. He knew that she loved him. She had told him so in a thousand different ways over the years. Try as he might, Zechs found that he could never return the sentiment, not in the way she wanted. Zechs Merquise, Milliardo Peacecraft could love Noin in every way, but never romantically. Perhaps there might have been a time where such a thing was possible. Elizabeth Langstaff had made that impossible. She had swept away any hope of Lucretzia Noin and Milliardo Peacecraft being intimately involved. Elizabeth, another dark-haired woman who had loved him and whom he had desperately loved in return.
The pain was still fresh, but he had learned to filter it out and live as normally as he could. Noin had never been told about Elizabeth or their daughter. He couldn't tell her. Sometimes he dreamed that Elizabeth was still alive and together with his daughter. It was his favorite dream, to sit in the sunlight with his family, sister, wife, and children. Yes that was his dream, his idea of true peace.
The guilt was that Noin never figured into that dream or that family is what stung Zechs now. It was Fate's cruelty that this excellent woman who deserved happiness and a man who would love her, should love him. Zechs would never lay a hand on her even if she should beg him. That would only hurt them both. Even though he found her very desirable, Noin was sacred, and he would never defile her with his hands.
Zechs had promised Elizabeth that it would not be over for him. That could have meant many things. Do not end your life, continue to live, continue to love. He would love another woman, just not Noin.
Her shuttle came into view making its way towards cluster and nearby colony. Zechs said a silent prayer hoping that upon her return she would have good news. Zechs wouldn't hesitate to return to earth if his sister needed him. They had lived most of their life apart, now he could finally be a brother to her. The panic from Sally's note was beginning to fade now. He was feeling more secure.
Be strong Relena… I will be there soon.
Zechs rose from his chair and reached for the phone to make the necessary journey arrangements. Of course everything would be put on standby until verification of the message was obtained. He hoped that it might prove false, but who would do such a thing….
The thought was completely cut off by the tremendous flash of light and defining sound that came through the window. Zechs turned in enough time to see Noin's shuttle exploding in the distance.
His eyes widened
A great cry grew in his throat but never knew life. It was extinguished before it could reach past his lips. His eyes closed and he fell down to the floor completely unconscious. The reality of what was taking place outside the window was simply too much to endure. His mind and body responded by shutting down. The natural defense left him passed out on the floor of his quarters. Just as a person receiving a horrible wound passes out from pain. This pain was too great. Noin.Noin.
Outside in Space, the rescue crews rushed to the destroyed shuttle. But in vain, Lucretzia Noin had already departed from this life.