The time is somewhen during the Gundam Wars.
Seeking to rally the five original Gundam pilots, Terra Zio and Katrina Marquise become entangled in a web of historical danger. Their present enemy and greatest threat, Fea Meroles, has vowed to control and dominate Terra's love and has even pitted Katrina against her father, Zechs Marquise, in order to achieve her goal as well as to change history so OZ destroys the Gundam pilots and takes over the future. With a special virus at her disposal that can incapacitate the bio-Gundams and the full force of early OZ's arsenal backing her up, Fea is determined to capture the Gundam resistance fighters and deliver them into the hands of Treize Kushrenada.
Now Terra and Katrina must rally to themselves the one remaining Gundam pilot, Trowa Barton, and uncover the secrets to time travel technology if they are to successfully rescue their future from certain desolation. With Terra engaging a foe from the dark abyss in Israel and Katrina attempting to escape Romeafeller undetected, events have been thrown into place that could cause history to change irreparably. The secrets to victory may rest within the least expected of this timeless waltz.
The time is somewhen during the Gundam Wars. The future could die at any moment.
From the creator of Team Revelation, Cyber Scouts, Cardcaptors: the Realm saga, and the Tenchi saga fanfics Beyond Belief comes a new, bold story.
OPERATION ARCHANGEL
Act 3
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original ideas, characters, or concepts from the Gundam Wing TV anime. I'll make a list of who and what I do own at the end of the fic.
Chapter 1-Of Trowa, Fea, and Relena
Location: The Romeafeller building, somewhere in Europe
Katrina raced through the night. The fence that marked the edge of the Romeafeller building's multiple acres was now within sight.
Then the unpredictable happened.
"Hold it. One wrong move and you're dead."
Katrina stopped dead in her tracks. For a split second she considered her options. If she moved, she stood a chance of dodging whatever her assailant's weapon was. But the voice didn't sound like that of some wimpy foot soldier. She thought about the handheld phase energy gun she had hidden beneath her OZ uniform, but by the time she reached for it a bullet could easily have found it's way into her chest. With a half-defeated sigh, she held her hands up and slowly turned to see who had uncovered her.
There could be no doubt about who it was that was holding that handgun at her from behind a small cluster of trees.
"The notorious Lady Une. Well, it looks like I'm getting to meet a lot of famous people during this little adventure of mine. Did they feed you the lie about Terra and I stealing two prototypes as well?" Katrina inquired as Une stepped up to her, gun still aimed with skill.
"I know what's really going on here, if that's what you mean, bio-Gundam pilot Katrina Marquise. Now, throw down whatever weapons you've got and remember that one wrong move will get you killed."
There was a long pause, in which neither warrior made a single move.
"Some time today. If you don't mind." Une prompted impatiently.
"Answer me this first. I took every precaution getting into and out of here. How did you even know I was here?"
"A legitimate question." Une stated with a semi-smirk. "Let's just say my instincts are better than Fea's."
"Still, what makes you think you can kill me and get away with it? My father knows who I am; even if you kill me he won't stop until my murderer gets what's coming to them."
"You're Zech's daughter alright. Same strong never-say-die spirit. But it won't save you today."
Location: Somewhere in the Israeli desert
Necros, as ever, was silent. It's one of his most fearful qualities, Terra surmised. Necros, he knew, was the demon fighter known for being 'the silent killer'. True, he and the foul being had once or twice conversed before combat, but Necros's statements and comments were always short and well thought out before hand if any. Terra decided this was not a fight where talking would gain him anything; he'd let his sword and his faith do the talking.
Now, with the hauntingly beautiful almost angelic girl faded away into intractable obscurity, the only figures who stood on this massive sand-swept wasteland of a battlefield for miles were Terra and Necros. The two skilled warriors stared at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. A single ribbon-like gust of wind created a small spiral of sand nearby and then faded into oblivion, and a few stray clouds now began to appear in the once clear sky overhead.
Without a word, it began.
Location: The Romeafeller building, somewhere in Europe
"I'm getting tired of waiting while you test me to see if I'll really pull the trigger, Ms. Marquise. I'll say it again; hand over your weapons and surrender yourself." Une instructed harshly.
"If there's one thing my relatives taught me it's to never surrender no matter what the situation." Katrina retorted.
"Fine. Be that way." Une said. Within a split second, the trigger was pulled. A small explosion burst out from inside the gun's barrel. Almost a full second later, with no chance to evade, a projectile pierced Katrina's upper-left arm.
There was total silence for a long moment, Katrina holding her arm in pain and examining the injury. Une holstered her gun and drew out the, usually no more than ornamental, sword she had at her side. Katrina, eyes wide, continued to look at her wound even after Lady Une placed the tip of the sword under the young girl's chin.
" . . . A dart?" Katrina exclaimed, then pulled the bullet-sized dart out of her upper arm with nothing more than a small cringe. Throwing it to the ground, she looked up the slim sword blade into Lady Une's face. "What's this all about? What was on that dart?"
Lady Une smirked. "A little something that will keep you controllable, Ms. Marquise. Even I would not be so bold as to kill the daughter of Zechs Marquise simply to prevent her escape."
"I know the game you're playing." Katrina returned bruskly. "Fea must have rigged up the bio-agent that dart was tipped with. Mind telling me some specifics?"
"Now why would I want to ruin the surprise? Besides, you'll find out soon enough. Now, hand over your weapons and you won't receive any permanent injuries."
Suddenly, a massive explosion in the not-so-far distance kicked up a force wind that blew both Lady Une and Kat cleanly off their feet. Sirens started going off all over the base as the sound of shell weaponry going off filled the nighttime with it's gut-wrenching roar. Katrina took advantage of the moment, seizing Lady Une's sword with one hand and then spinning to dash off in the direction of the battle.
'What in the world is happening?' Katrina wondered, then suddenly felt her stomach go tight and felt herself tumble headfirst into the ground in front of her. She rebounded quickly, snatched up the sword, but to her shock realized that, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't achieve her regular level of speed. 'And what did that dart do to me?'
But there was no time for asking questions. The battle scene was getting closer by the second. Katrina could now distinguish a large force of Leos, Areses, and a few other assorted OZ mobile suits, many of which she guessed were regular security measures for this building, and the rest from some nearby sources probably.
Location: Somewhere in the Israeli desert
Blades met in swift and daring strikes, Terra's single sword swinging and darting amidst his enemy's counterattacks with such speed that all became just short of a total blur. He was driven by a power he didn't possess, rather, at times guided him when he let it. The reality around him was faded and nearly dreamlike, the edges of his perception strangely blurred and his own actions only half-perceived in his conscious mind. Over time, when he'd had encounters like this, he'd learned to let go, and let his actions be guided by the ultimate 'higher power'. His sword radiated heat wave-like energy, and his every calm swing was countered by an ever-rageful counterstrike by Necros's two deadly wrist blades. In the back of his mind, Terra knew that even with the powers his bio-cell gave him, he stood no chance against Necros, who had been one of the most skilled fighters in heaven before he fell from God's grace into total darkness. Terra, in some soul-felt way, understood that it was, as the Word put it, 'not by power, nor by might, but by the spirit of God' that he was standing in the face of such an adversary.
Each of the strongest, most skilled blows by Terra were accompanied by a thought in a voice not his own that rang through his head. He dodged a leg swipe by Necros with an airborne spin kick; 'No weapon formed against me shall prosper'; Necros hurtled a pair of small Z-shaped energy weapons at him, but Terra shattered both with a swing from his spirit-empowered weapon; 'Take up the full armor of God, that you may resist in the evil day'; with an impossible combo of quick maneuvers he broke past Necros's defenses and sliced open the warrior's side. Necros staggered backwards in pain as another thought made it's way to the forefront of Terra's mind: '... and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.'
Necros's breathing was long, heavy, and forced. The demonic assailant held his bleeding side in pain, black liquid oozing through the injury in the place of red. Then, for the first time that battle, Necros spoke.
The same as the last time we battled. Even down to where you struck me open. He mused, his voice synthesized by the mechanical implant that was encased into his face where his mouth and nose should have been. You have made a fool of me again, Terra Zio, son of Adam. Just as each time we have met against each other.
Terra remained quiet. He knew Necros's strategies well enough by now. Now that the demonic champion had tested Terra's faith for weaknesses, he would attempt to distract Terra long enough to gain the advantage, because if Terra was distracted for even a second so that the Spirit's power left, him Necros would have all the edge he'd need to carve Terra apart. So silence, and in the interim, focusing on what he knew to be true so he could fight the lie known as Necros were his best strategies.
Silence. You know me too well for my own good, human. Your faith is strong and your determination is impressive. Necros almost seemed to grin. But even you have weaknesses, such as your emotions towards the one named Katrina...
Terra fought within himself to stay in the Spirit's power, but he knew he had to address Necros on that.
"What do you mean? In the Name-"
There's no need to invoke the Name; I intend to tell you anyway. You see, your beloved Katrina has fallen into one of my traps, and within moments she'll be in the clutches of the one called Fea.
"... You scum. But you haven't learned anything, have you? All things work towards good for those who are in Christ; no trap that you lay can defy God's eternal plan successfully. Now, return to the Abyss, from whence you came. You are defeated once again, Necros, by His power."
Gladly. You see, victory no longer requires my direct intervention. And, as you shall soon see, not even God can prevent the Council's plans to change the future. Think of it, Terra; imagine it! *We* will prevent the End Times from ever happening, and in it's place create a world kingdom of perpetual glorious darkness. And, with that in place, what's to stop us from destroying every believer everywhere by use of those wonderful weapons called Mobile Dolls? And with His children erased from the face of this planet, there's no reason for God to come back, now is there??
"You mean to tell me you planned all of this??!" Terra exclaimed, stunned.
Of course. Now, Fea will kill the chosen five and all of the other humans who, in the next few years of this minuscule war could have made a difference, and after that, with her in total control of OZ and us in total control of her, we will form our own world, finally free forever of the restraints of the prophecies and the accursed saints of God. Not even you will escape, Terra son of Adam. All beings will fall in line soon enough, both on earth and in heaven. Then, at last, revenge upon God will be ours! Isn't it... marvelous? And to think, you and your pathetic band intended to use the time traveling technology to bring, of all things, *peace*! Oh, but there *will* be peace: peace, silence, darkness, and death.
"It's not going to end like that, Necros. You'll see."
HA! Pray all you want, human, fight as best as you can, cast us out left and right if you manage to, but you can't hold us back anymore than an army of men can hold back the tide with their bare hands. But, for now, I shall depart. I do, after all, have preparations to make. And with that, Necros's form phased out of reality, disappearing from the physical reality altogether. The haunting, maniacal laughter echoed in Terra's ears as strong winds began to kick up sand on his right and left.
But Terra was not a person to act blindly. With the battle concluded, he could feel himself returning to 'normal', but regardless he could still sense the Spirit's prompting.
Dropping to his knees and sheathing his sword, realizing that he could not reach Katrina in time to make a difference, Terra prayed.
Location: The Romeafeller building, Europe
Kat, from behind a small cluster of bushes, got her first good look at the combat scene. What she saw surprised her.
But it was what she heard that made her crack up and break out laughing.
Throughout the history of mobile suits, there has been one single phrase repeated more than any other. A single sentence that was in the vocabulary of every OZ soldier regardless of origin, ethnic lines, or upbringing. One single phrase Katrina had thought had died out almost thirty-five years ago.
It was shouted by a single OZ soldier in a Leo, seconds before a blast of ammunition tore his suit's legs out from under him.
"IT'S A GUNDAM!!"
Katrina, at first, merely smirked. Then a small laugh escaped her lips, and after that she half broke down in total hysterical laughter.
Trowa, piloting the Gundam HeavyArms, swiftly created a blockade of legless Leos in a solid wall about him, allowing his longer-range artillery weapons to shoot down Leos while the wall prevented many of the enemy suits from getting into firing range. Trowa glanced at his damage indicator. Not too much damage at the moment, but with the odds he was up against he didn't want to wait around and find out how much punishment HeavyArms could handle. A squad of Ares came out into the open, but he spotted them and he was able to shoot down most of them before they could get into firing range. Suddenly, a blast from a dobergun got his attention as it hit HeavyArms square in the chest, and he turned to see the Leos making their way over the legless wall like ants crawling over a wall of molasses, sometimes getting caught and falling face-forward, becoming another part of the wall.
"I'm running out of ammunition, fast. I wonder what's taking that pilot so long??" He wondered out loud as he gripped the controls tightly and throttled backwards to dodge another dobergun blast.
Katrina quickly spotted HeavyArms and decided this was her cue to make an escape. With what speed she still had left, she raced towards the giant Gundam with Une's sword still in her right hand. While HeavyArms dealt with the armies of Leos and Ares that were practically everywhere by now, Kat swiftly and skillfully leapt onto HeavyArms's leg, then bounded off of that onto an area near the cockpit catch. A blast of energy from a beam rifle suddenly found it's mark on HeavyArms's wing-like shoulders, and Katrina had to hang on with all her strength so as not to be thrown off.
"He's crazy, taking on OZ headquarters on his own. I just hope he can get us out of here in one piece." She said, quickly making her way over to the hatch by shimming along the edge of the upper leg armor. Once over to the hatch, she knocked on it like she would on any door. That must have gotten Trowa's attention, because a minute or less later the hatch opened up and Katrina quickly got inside.
There was Trowa, sure enough, at the controls. Katrina, looking at him for the first time, had to wonder what had given him the crazy idea to come here and rescue her. Or, perhaps the question was 'who' had given him the idea.
"You must be Katrina, the one OZ is after." Trowa stated the evident. "This is a small cockpit; try to stay clear of the controls or I won't be able to get us out of here alive."
"Works for me. And once we're clear of OZ you can tell me just what in the world you're doing here." She returned, finding her way into one of the cockpit's small corners that was away from the controls.
"And you can tell me what the real deal is with the Phoenix and Omega prototypes." Trowa stated, then turned his attention back to the battle. "Hang on, this could get rough."
His fingers racing over different buttons and controls, Katrina could suddenly feel HeavyArms thruster skyward and leave the ground with a sudden rush. Looking at the screen in front of Trowa, Katrina saw glowing laser beams shoot by, numbering in the hundreds. After a minute or two the beams died down, only to suddenly be replaced by bullet fire. Almost fifty Ares were in pursuit, and Katrina could tell by Trowa's delayed reaction that HeavyArms was running low on ammunition.
If ever, this was a desperate situation.
And Katrina, of course, suddenly had a plan.
"How high up are we? I've got an idea." She said, suddenly getting Trowa's attention. He checked his instruments, then turned back to look at her.
"About ten-thousand feet. Why?"
"Try to get us to fifty-thousand, then open the hatch and let me out."
"You're crazy."
"Maybe I am. Or maybe I know a few things about Omega 07 that'll save our tails."
"Sorry, but I can't let you out of this cockpit on a suicide jump. Besides, I've got a plan of my own."
"Which would be?"
"Outrun them. HeavyArms can pull almost 1 ½ times the speed that those Ares are capable of. I haven't run out of options just yet."
"By the time we could get out of their firing range those weapons of theirs will have chewed us to bite sized pieces. You'll have to do something better than that, hotshot."
"I thought I was the one running this rescue operation."
"Not if you get us killed you won't be. Now, unless you've got any other objections or ideas, I'd appreciate it if-"
Suddenly, Katrina felt all her strength leave her. Her vision went blurry, her head pounded in her ears, and she almost felt as if reality was falling apart all around her. Without any chance to react or stop herself, she suddenly collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Three hours later...
Katrina awoke to the feeling of a warm damp cloth being put over her forehead. Her eyes slowly dialed back into focus as the blurry images in front of her gave way and receded, ever so slowly focusing and solidifying. Above her, looking down on her, were two figures. One she recognized as Trowa. The other was someone she knew with great fondness, but Katrina had never expected to...
"She's coming out of it." Relena stated, her voice considerately low and soft. Trowa nodded in acknowlagement.
Kat felt like as if someone had hit her with the opposite of a pain killer. Her head throbbed and she heard an intense ringing in her ears that refused to go away. Her entire body was sore and she somehow knew with clarity that this was the effects of that dart Lady Une had shot her with. She groaned and began to sit up.
"... What happened? Where am I?" She inquired, forcing herself to sit up slowly despite the pain she was feeling.
"You passed out in the cockpit while we were escaping Romeafeller."Trowa stated. "You've been out for the last three hours, with a fever and constant delirium."
"You're in the Sanct Kingdom now. My name is-"
"Ms. Relena Peacecraft, I know." Katrina said, smiling as best she could at Relena. "I'd seen pictures of you from during the Gundam Wars, but I never expected to actually see you face to face this young."
Relena and Trowa gave her blank stares.
"It's a long story, but I suppose you both have every right to know it. OK, to start with, my name is Katrina Marquise, and I was involved in a top secret operation codenamed ArchAngel..."
An hour or so later...
"I'm sorry, but this is all a little hard to swallow." Relena stated, taking a seat in a nearby chair. "So, if I understand you correctly, you're a bio-Gundam pilot from fifty years in the future, sent back in time to try to stop OZ from rising from the ashes. And what's more is that, in the future, I helped raise you? Forgive me, but this is a little too much."
"It's the truth. I'm the daughter of Zechs Marquise, who in my timeline is killed by Neo-OZ defending a colony in the L4 cluster. My mother died when I was born, and after my father died you took me in, Ms. Relena. In fact, I grew up in this building, with you teaching me and taking care of me. You and the people who lived and worked here were really the only family I ever knew."
"This is all very insightful, but I've got a few quick questions to ask." Trowa interrupted. "So, after Fea caused you and this Terra guy to get sent to this part of the timeline instead of ten years from now, you decided to try to gather the Gundam pilots to stop Fea. I have a hunch OZ put out that news broadcast last night to try to force the rest of the Gundam pilots out into the open. Do you have any idea where they would have gone in hopes of evading OZ?"
Katrina was silent for a long moment, thinking hard.
"To be honest, I don't know where they'd go. Knowing Terra, his first strategy would be to find a place where OZ was having trouble controlling and hide out there for a while, but that's probably what OZ would expect. Come to think of it, they're hands are tied: no matter where they go, OZ can still locate them. If they go somewhere that isn't OZ-allied, that'll only give OZ the excuse it needs to invade, but if they go somewhere that OZ is in control they run the risk of being detected. And they can't stay on Howard's salvage ship for long, or OZ will start looking for them out in the oceans."
"So the only places left would be areas on the globe mostly devoid of life, like the Arabian or Israeli deserts or one of the two poles." Relena concluded.
"Wherever they go, it'll be very difficult to find them without leading OZ to their hideout." Trowa stated. "In fact, it probably won't be long before they find out we're in the Sanct kingdom and try to either capture or destroy us here."
"There must be somewhere we can hide from them." Katrina exclaimed. "I mean, OZ can't possibly have eyes everywhere."
"... Perhaps there is one place you might be able to escape OZ for a time." Relena said after a minute or so. Both Trowa and Katrina looked at her immediately. "Maybe I can make arrangements to send both of you to outer space."
"Transporting HeavyArms is going to be difficult." Trowa stated.
"If I can find out what was in that dart that Une shot me with and come up with a counter agent, I could get both of us and HeavyArms into outer space using Omega 07." Kat stated. "It'll take a lot out of me, but I've done it before."
"Then our destination is outer space." Trowa said to no one in particular.
Chapter 2- The Hunting and the Hunted
Location: The Romeafeller building, Europe
"You mean that Gundam pilot somehow knew we were waiting for them? How?" Fea demanded. On the screen in front of her was Lady Une, and based upon the face Une was making she didn't appreciate being reprimanded by someone who once held a sword to her throat.
"We don't know how, all we know is that somehow the pilot knew about the trap. But I did manage to hit Katrina with the bio-agent before she made her escape."
"I find that reassuring, Lady Une. For a while now I didn't think you could do anything right."
Lady Une appeared to be suppressing an urge to kill Fea as soon as she could, and it showed on her face.
"I'm capable of much more than you give me credit for, Lady Fea. It would be a very big mistake to underestimate me, just as it's a very big mistake to underestimate Kernel Zechs Marquise, who by-the-way told me that he'd like to have a word with you as soon as can be arranged."
"Let me guess, Zechs is peeved that I used him as bait to pull Katrina into the open, right? Don't worry, Lady Une, I saw that coming when I came up with this plan. He's a nuisance, nothing more."
"If I were you, I'd watch who I call a nuisance." Said Zech's voice from behind her. Fea, casually, spun her chair around to see Zechs standing in the shadows behind her, and did not fail to notice that the sliding glass door to her balcony was open. "I thought you were through trying to play me against Katrina, but I can see your tactics of warfare haven't changed much since we last spoke."
"Zechs, chill your jets. She's alive and perfectly healthy; all the virus will do to her is make her feel tired and maybe give her a two hour nap. I haven't done anything to hurt your precious daughter."
"You didn't tell us about those side effects when you showed us the virus the first time. What else are you hiding from me, 'Lady' Fea?"
"Zechs, why would I want to hide things from you?" She inquired with a smirk.
"You tell me." Zechs returned bruskly.
The next day, 0300 hours
Location: Somewhere in the middle of Australia
"This is crazy!" Duo exclaimed. "This is just plain old insane."
Duo, Quatre, Chang, Heero, and Terra stood in the middle of nowhere. The ground for as far as the eye could see was desert land, a few little shrubs every here and there poking up from beneath the caked, dusty, dry ground. The very air seemed as if dead, the wind nonexistent in this barren wilderness. Nearby, intentionally covered in sand for camouflage reasons, were Shenlong, DeathScythe, Sandrock, and Wing, only their cockpit openings visible above the sand-swept desert terrain. It had taken a good deal of time to do, Phoenix 01 blasting up ditches big enough for each of the Gundams to be mostly buried in and then covering each of the mobile suits with handfuls of sand until the ditches were completely filled again with only the entrance hatches to the cockpits visible above the desert landscape. Now, almost two hours after their arrival on the continent, the five pilots could only recognize their Gundams by the colors of the hatches that stuck up out of the ground like pimples.
"But just imagine the element of surprise on our side if we need to make a quick getaway." Heero said approvingly. "OZ won't be able to spot the Gundams until it's too late."
"So where from here?" Quatre inquired. He had a small backpack slung over one shoulder. "I mean, we're going to need to find a place where I can continue my research, otherwise we won't be able to send Terra and Katrina, excuse the pun, 'back to the future'."
"We won't be able to hide out for long, that much is for sure, so don't get too set on studying those nano-probes." Terra stated. "Hopefully, we can find some way while we're here to arrange transportation into outer space for us and the Gundams. Once we're in outer space, it'll be harder for OZ to locate us and then we can start planning on research."
"We should, for the moment, go get some supplies." Chang said, then leveled a semi-cold look at Terra. "I assume even bio-Gundam pilots need to eat."
"Why do you dislike me so much, Chang?" Terra said, turning to face the Chinese warrior. "Don't tell me that someone like you would be sore over losing one battle?"
"I lost to a lesser warrior. I cannot accept that." Chang stated. "The only reason you won was because of the futuristic power of your bio-Gundam. If it had been equal, I would not have lost."
"Chang-" Terra began, but Chang cut him off.
"In fact, if it were not for the power that bio-cell gives you, I believe I would best you in any number of competitions, but because of your bio-cell you have the advantage over me in speed, strength, agility, and endurance. All given to you by a wonder of futuristic science. Without that, I dare say you would be nothing more than a pathetic weakling, you and Katrina and Fea. But even despite that, I intend to find a way to prove that I am, by far, a stronger warrior than you."
"In short," Duo quoted. " 'Anything you can do, I can do better'. C'mon, Wufei, give it a rest."
"If it weren't for that bio-cell, he'd be nothing!" Chang exclaimed. "And, one way or another, I'm going to prove it."
Terra was silent for a long moment, then looked away from Chang's glare and stared off into the horizon.
"So, this is why you and Marco never spoke to each other." Terra mused sadly.
"...What are you talking about?" Chang inquired, not angrily but sincerely curious.
"By now, I guess it doesn't matter if the timeline gets changed this way or not, so I might as well tell you." Terra said, then turned to look at Wufei. "Chang, there was a third bio-Gundam pilot who was supposed to come back in time with Katrina and I, but Fea knocked him away from our group while we were in transit and he fell out past the border of the time warp. Chances are that he's dead."
"... What does this have to do with me?" Chang inquired, fearing the worst.
Terra took a deep breath.
". . . That pilot's name was Marco Wufei, a close friend of mine. Ever since he decided to become a bio-Gundam pilot, the two of you never spoke to each other. He was always trying to get stronger, always pushing the odds, always forcing himself into the most extreme circumstances and most dangerous battles. Early on he earned the nickname 'Bio Red Comet' for taking out an entire Neo-OZ attack fleet on his own after his wingman was shot down. But no matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to be able to gain your approval. Nothing he did seemed to be good enough. And now I finally understand why."
There was a long, strange silence where no one spoke. Even Heero seemed to be surprised at what Terra had just stated. Finally, Chang turned in the direction of the not-yet-risen sun.
"There should be settlements or villages in this direction. I recommend we head out that way."
Location: The Sanct kingdom
"Trowa! I've got it! I know where the others are headed!" Katrina exclaimed, rushing into the room. Trowa and Relena looked up immediately upon her entering.
"You do? Where?" Trowa inquired.
"Think about it: a place OZ is having trouble controlling, somewhere that Quatre and the others can get the resources to keep studying that nano-probe sample. Where else could they go? I don't believe I didn't see it; the answer was right in front of my eyes!"
"Don't keep us in suspense." Relena laughed. "Where are they headed?"
"Outer space! The colonies! There's so many empty zones in space that they could hide almost anywhere and not worry about OZ finding them."
"That's ingenious!" Relena exclaimed. "In that case, we need to get the two of you space bound as soon as we can."
"I don't think it would be wise of us to wait until we can cure Omega 07, though." Trowa stated. "If possible, we should try to arrange for some kind of under-the-table charter service or something. We'd be far too detectable by OZ if we tried to make it out of the atmosphere in our Gundams."
"Speaking of the virus," Relena interjected. "I've had a few acquaintances of mine take a look at a blood sample we took while you were out. Turns out it's a highly altered strain of a known virus, probably modified to prevent you from using your bio-Gundam. The good news is, it should run it's course within a week and you'll be back to normal."
"Still think it would have been a good idea to jump out at fifty-thousand feet?" Trowa inquired, smirking ever so slightly.
"Thank God I didn't get the chance." Katrina exclaimed with a relieved sigh.
"That's one way of putting it." Trowa mused. "So, what's our next move?"
"We need to remember that stopping Fea is our main objective." Katrina reminded herself. "Even if Duo and Quatre can construct the technology nessasary for time travel, there's no way we can just leave Fea here to change history unopposed. But I suppose we should focus on this one objective at a time, huh?"
"Right now, I think you should go be resting." Relena reprimanded gently. "The more you rest, the sooner you'll be able to beat this virus. Let us worry about the next step for now."
Katrina smirked, then smiled warmly.
"I suppose some things never will change. You're still the same caring, compassionate person who looked out for me as a kid. Relena, don't ever change the way your heart thinks; it's one of the best things about you."
A day later...
Location: The Romeafeller building, Europe
"Outer space."
Treize remained calm and appeared unemotional, but behind that guise Fea could almost see the eyes of someone wise and deep in thought. He turned his back to her, looking out into the night sky beyond the wall-sized window that made up a whole wall of the meeting room. For a long, almost chilling moment he stood there, gazing out at the stars that would soon harbor what many considered his worst enemies. Then he turned back to Fea, looking like he'd made up his mind on something.
"You're certain they're going to try go into outer space?"
"Positive. It's the only place they can go where they can truly elude capture now that we've made preparations for any global traveling they might do. Besides, I know Terra intimately. That would be his first thought in this situation." Fea stated.
"What do you propose we do about it?" Treize inquired calmly.
"Leave it to me and Zechs. I plan to allow them to make travel arrangements to outer space, but as soon as they leave the atmosphere I'll EMP the shuttle and then guide them to the nearest OZ space station. And after that, you can do with the Gundam pilots what you wish, sir Treize."
"Clever, but how do you intend to find out when the Gundam pilots plan on leaving Earth and on which ship they'll be?"
"It would make sense that they would choose a charter service of one kind or another, something under-the-table so as not to be noticed. All I have to do, once someone reports the whereabouts of Terra and Katrina, is buy the co-operation of the charter service and then we'll have them right where we want them."
"Assuming, of course, someone reports their whereabouts. What, per say, if no one does?"
"The good news is, someone already has." She stated, smirking. "A man by the name of Gordon Durrarres, pilot for a charter service named 'Sean's Star' in Australia, called in almost two hours ago. His only request was four percent of whatever we buy his boss out for. The Gundam pilots are as good as ours."
"Impressive, I must say. Just make sure you bring them all to me alive. I have special plans for those five Gundam pilots."
"Consider it done, sir Treize."
"You are indeed full of surprises, Fea."
Location: Sean's Star shuttle services, New Torrent city, Australia
"One way trip to the outermost colony ring. If OZ spots us, you're on your own. One-hundred-thousand up front, three-hundred thousand when we get there. Do we have a deal?" Gordon Durrarres inquired, holding out his hand for a handshake. The half-powered electric lights high above in the repair bay shrouded his face and torso in long dark shadows, his arms and legs practically invisible in the darkness. He wore the kind of pilot's uniform that an early WW1 fighter plane pilot might: dark tan leather coat, a pair of round goggles bound by a leather strap onto his head, and a black belt-like holster carrying what appeared to be a homemade weapon of some kind or another slung from shoulder to waist loosely. His short hair was a strangely dark green, his eyes an odd dark steel-blue color, and he had a large scar going from his right temple all the way down to the right side of his chin.
"Odd, you don't seem to me to be the kind of person to run from a fight." Heero stated non-challengingly.
"Hey, I'm just takin' orders from my boss. Do you have any idea how high-risk an op. like this is? I mean, all five O' you are fugitives from OZ, *the* fugitives from OZ. If you ask me, you're all getting a good deal on this little trip. Four-hundred-thousand, total. Take it or leave it."
"Yes,... it does seem like a very good price..." Terra stated, arms folded and eyes closed, leaning against a steel beam that held the ceiling up. His voice was kind of far-offish, and it was hard to tell whether he was sarcastic or truly saying that the price was a good one. Heero and Quatre gave him a quick glance, almost trying to read his expressions, but based upon the non-expressions they gave each other they weren't getting very far below the surface.
"What are the chances of OZ discovering us?" Chang inquired intently.
"I'll try not to lie to you: high. But I've been in this business my whole life, and if anyone can get you star-bound safely, it's me. Me, Peronias, and Deathblow have handled dangerous voyages many times, and I've always managed to get things going safely and I've got the highest client-survival ratio of all my colleagues."
"Peronias and Deathblow would be?" Duo inquired.
"Peronias is my ship, and Deathblow is a little surprise I carry in case of emergencies. It's, in essence, a highly modified version of a Leo with parts and servos from the Ares class, and my own person touch of weapons added in. My cohorts tell me that it's almost the equal to that Tallgeese OZ values so much." He mused with a smirk.
"Rule number one; never underestimate an OZ champion like Zechs Marquise." Heero stated, looking aside slightly. "If you've got a mobile suit that could equal the Tallgeese, you'd have a threat to OZ equal to one of our Gundams."
"Well, maybe not *that* powerful, but I'll tell ya, it's something. Not only that, but it's got weapons no other mobile suit packs."
"Such as?" Chang inquired.
"Heavy-duty tazers, for starts. Delivers dangerously high-charged electrical shocks straight through armor and defenses into computers and tactical weapons tech. In front and back." He said, proudly.
"Impressive, if you can manage to get a hit." Chang noted thoughtfully, clenched hand cradling the tip of his chin. "But any opponent that uses a degree of speed over 130 has a good chance of dodging such a blow."
"Eh, good point, but in tandem with a pair of hyper jammers it could be the best weapon you'll ever see. Now if only I could get my hands on some..." He waved the idea off. "But I'm not here to give ya a lesson on my battle strategies. Do we have a deal or what?"
"... I don't see that we have much choice." Heero stated, shaking Gordon's outstretched hand. "As your boss says: one-hundred thousand up front, the other three once we reach the outer colony rim."
"Alright, then. We have an agreement." Gordon said with a sly smile.
Meanwhile, in the back of the group, Chang and Terra stood next to one another, watching as Gordon filled Heero and the others in on the specifics of how things would go on the trip into space. Both of them seemed to be watching Gordon intently, and both seemed to be having the same thoughts.
"I'm not so sure I trust him." Terra whispered to Chang.
"What makes you think that?" Chang inquired, not in the kind of tone to say he disagreed, but more like he was asking for Terra's reasoning.
"Suffice to say I have a notion he's not trustworthy." He said, then turned to Chang. "And what's your reason for not trusting him?"
"I don't trust anyone I just met. A rule of survival I've picked up throughout life. Any suggestions?"
"We can't do much but watch him. He hasn't stayed alive in this business this long without knowing how to defend himself. I personally won't be able to do anything once we're up in space along the lines of using Phoenix 01, but I would recommend we rig up a remote control for Shenlong's Dragon Fang; we might be able to buy ourselves some time if it appears our Gundams can fight for themselves."
"I'll consider it, but if he's planning to betray us we must consider his every advantage."
"Right."
Chapter 3- How the Mighty Fell
Location: Space shuttle launch station, the Sanct kingdom
Katrina could feel the shuttle's thrusters roar and come to life as the airplane-like spacecraft taxied into position for launch. She wished badly at that moment for a piece of chewing gum to keep her ears from popping as they accelerated and then took off. Trowa was in the seat next to her, looking out the left side window as the shuttle prepared for it's takeoff. HeavyArms was stored safely away in the cargo compartment of the shuttle, and so far everything was going as planned. Katrina braced herself as the shuttle began to accelerate, it's thrusters sending it flying down the runway towards the L-shaped launchway that would point the shuttle skywards and send Trowa, Katrina, and the two pilots Relena had hired for the mission flying into space.
Just then, Katrina remembered that she was prone to getting sick during liftoffs. She quickly glanced at the barf bag on the wall nearby and began silently praying that she could hold her lunch down successfully.
Location: Sean's Star shuttle services, New Torrent city, Australia
Terra, Heero, Chang, Quatre, and Duo all braced themselves in their seats as the space shuttle Peronias shot forward like a speeding bullet towards the take-off ramp at the end of the runway. Peronias wasn't like any shuttle Terra had ever seen, he could tell that on first glance, but then again Gordon was the kind of person who despised fitting into molds. To start with, the ship was a bright neon-green with streaks of red trailing from the nose of the shuttle as far back as the wings; the kind of effect one would see upon trying to enter earth's atmosphere. What's more is that the shuttle was rigged with deployable disc-like remote mines that were hidden under the wings and carried similar remote EMP discs that could be deployed from hidden hatches in the underbelly of the ship. Unlike standard shuttles, the main cabin was somewhat cramped and tight by comparison, and had a door in the back of the cabin leading into the heavy-duty cargo bay, in which were presently stored Wing, DeathScythe, Shenlong, Sandrock, and the mobile suit Gordon had dubbed Deathblow. The interior cabin was unpainted, bare steel struts and bulkheads visible wherever one might chance to look, and the seats appeared to have been scavenged off an old, worn-out school bus.
But it was what they'd paid for, and it was definitely the kind of ship that could hold it's own against a small-scale OZ space force for as long as it needed to. Terra felt the ship angle upward and looked out his small, sparse window to see the world outside the shuttle begin to rotate 90 degrees as the shuttle hit the ramp and took off. Within seconds, artificial gravity generators took over and the five young warrior pilots were free to get up and walk around as they wished.
"About how long'll it take for us to get to the outer colonies?" Duo inquired of Quatre.
"From what Gordon told me, at most three days. It looks like this shuttle is going to be our home for a while."
"In my opinion, home is where the heart is." Terra stated. "Besides which, I'm not entirely convinced of our safety aboard this ship."
"I know what you're saying, and I've been thinking the same thing, but we really have no choice but to trust Gordon. The minute we showed him our faces, there was no turning back, or else he might have sold us out on the spot and handed us over to OZ." Heero stated.
"Well, Terra, since we're going to be here awhile, I figure this is as good a time as any to resolve our... 'differences'." Chang stated.
"Chang, why do you still think you need to prove you're better than I am? There's no point." Terra stated with a sigh.
Chang was unshaken.
"I've given it a good deal of consideration, how you and I can prove ourselves without your futuristic bio-technology giving you an unfair edge."
"Chang-" Terra was quickly cut off by Chang.
"I considered sword combat, but that wouldn't prove anything since that bio-cell of yours gives you enhanced speed. I considered a lot of options, but in the end only a few alternatives would prove anything whatsoever."
"Chang-!" Terra was once again swiftly cut off.
"It finally came to me that the one thing that bio-cell of yours doesn't enhance is intellect. So on a battlefield of pure strategy is where I'll prove the folly of your futuristic bio-enhancers and the power of long hard training done the right way."
From behind a bulkhead, Chang pulled out a rectangular thin-cardboard box. Pulling a nearby crate over to where he stood, he opened the box and began to arrange black and white chess pieces on a black and red checkered board from inside the box.
"Chang Wufei is one person who never says 'die'." Heero stated, glancing at Terra.
"Yeah, I noticed." Terra replied, then turned to Chang. "Alright, let's get this over with."
"What are they doing in there? Do they suspect anything yet?"
Gordon didn't like it when people questioned his reliability, and reward or no reward he figured it couldn't hurt to prove that point to Fea. He sighed, then spoke into the cell phone once again.
"Ms. Meroles, I'm as dependable as the sun rising in the morning. They don't suspect squat, an' by the time they figured out I'm betrayin' em, you and Zech'll be here to take em' into custody. An, if they do manage to retaliate, I got me a little secret weapon I codenamed Deathblow; it's a mobile suit I kinda made myself an' it's got all the works an then some."
"So I'll ask once again; what are they *doing* in there? I want those brats consistently monitored, and that was part of the deal, if you'll remember."
"Yeah, yeah, keep yer shirt on." He said, reaching over and flicking on one of many small screens built into the cramped cockpit. The screen glowed with power, then snapped to an image of the passenger cabin. "Well, whatd'ya know; two of em' are playin' chess, one's sleepin', an' the others look like they're just starin' out the windows. Nothin' to worry about, Ms. Meroles."
"Monitor them carefully, and whatever you do don't underestimate them. What about the girl, what's she doing?"
"Girl? Ms. Meroles, the five I've got are all guys."
"What? You mean that you didn't get all seven of them??"
"How'as I supposed ta know; only five of em' registered as passengers, and there's no way any stowaways got aboard without me knowin'."
"... Never mind, in that case. We'll use these five to draw the remaining two out into the open. In the meantime, make sure you keep your act up so they don't start to suspect; Zechs and I'll be there in six hours."
"Roger that. You just make sure you've got my money with ya when ya get here. Over and out."
Six hours later...
After watching Wufei and Terra's battle of brains for about ten minutes or so, Quatre had decided to rest his eyes for a few seconds and had inadvertently fallen asleep. Before his mind's eye played out strange, but adventurous, dreams of the ancient heroes of his country of origin; brave Arabian knights battling desert marauders in search of ancient treasure, mystic sorcerers conjuring up spells and monsters that put all but the bravest to flight. And there he was, the strongest of all the warriors. His face hidden beneath a golden cloak that whipped about him in the hot desert winds, a pair of long, sharp shotels ready in his hands; he looked like a human version of Sandrock. Then suddenly, strangely, the scene around him altered. Instead of sky he was now looking at the other half of the inside of a colony, the sky above his head truly the ground beneath someone else's feet far above him. Still, the desert sands remained as the ground upon which he stood, but the strangeness of the colony surface above him drew his attention. As he watched, the colony above him faded away, replaced by stars shining amidst the cold darkness of outer space. Now, instead of a vast desert stretching as far as his eye could see, he stood upon the surface of a small asteroid, the edge just inches beyond his left foot. Looking out, he was amazed by the natural beauty of such a scene.
Suddenly, though, a human-shaped darkness blotted out a small cluster of stars. Looking up, he stood frozen as if by some unnatural fear as a creature neither human nor beast of any kind descended from the far distant stars-
"Quatre! Wake up, we're under attack!"
Duo's voice snapped him instantly from his dreaming. He shot awake, realized he was back in the passenger cabin of the shuttle, and immediately looked out the window to his left.
It was faint at first, but then became much clearer and closer. Suddenly, all the lights in the cabin flickered and died out, and Quatre heard the sound of someone unsuccessfully trying to open the rear door which led to the cargo bay and the Gundams. In the darkness and confusion he couldn't tell whether it was Heero or Terra, but based upon the loud slamming whoever it was seemed to be trying to break the door open with their bare hands. Quatre, however, was quickly transfixed by fear as the shadow outside of his window began to blot out a cluster of far-distant stars, it's inky-black form getting closer and closer. Suddenly, Quatre spotted another form coming into view, a form that, even though it was blacked out, it's shape was definitive enough to identify it by. As the forms got closer, the darkness dropped away from both like as if someone stepping out of a shadowy corner.
Quatre could tell at the moment he spotted the two mobile suits that there was no escaping this time.
"Heero, quick! Help me with this door!" Terra instructed. Quatre could hear as the two slammed the door for everything they had, but were unable to get it to budge. Suddenly, one little light source illuminated the cabin and everyone turned to see Gordon's face appear on a small monitor just above the door to the cockpit.
"Hey, how's all my passengers doin' back there?" He mocked.
"You scum! You sold us out!" Duo exclaimed.
"Like I tried to tell ya before; this *is* a one-way trip. Well, we've reached our destination, and now for a word from our sponsor." He laughed. The screen flickered before Fea's voice came over the speakers two minutes later.
"He's got quite a sense of humor, huh Gundam pilots?" Fea mused, then she became serious. "There's nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. I've EMP-ed the shuttle; nothing except reserve power functions now and that's because Gordon and I arranged for it to be shielded. That means the ship's weapons, thrusters, even doors, and also your Gundams, won't function again for almost three hours if you're lucky. Now, do the smart thing and surrender if you value your lives."
"Why should we??" Duo challenged.
"Because it's the same whether you do or don't surrender, except surrendering will probably help you live longer." Fea stated.
"You won't just blast us to space debris while Terra's aboard, and I honestly don't believe you intend to leave us here to rot," Heero said, analyzing the situation. "So where do you plan to take us? Back to earth?"
"Nothing so foolish; you'd all escape far too easily." Fea stated as suddenly the ship lurched and for the first time everyone realized that the artificial gravity had been deactivated as well. Everyone managed to grab onto something just in time to keep themselves from being hurtled into the back wall. "You're coming with us to the OZ military research station 907-B, where you'll get your first chance to meet the great and historic Treize Kushrenada."
"It's not a first for all of us." Chang muttered.
"Be that as it may, you'll all just have to wait around and find out what we've got planned for you when Treize arrives. Believe me, today is a day you won't soon forget, assuming you live through till' tomorrow."
The screen went black and once more the cabin was cast into total darkness. Quatre looked out the window to see the Tallgeese thruster into a position underneath the ship, then braced himself as the ship lurched forward, driven by the thrusters of the Tallgeese and possibly Omega 03 as well, which explained the previous shockwave of motion while Fea was still talking. Quatre looked out towards the stars, feeling helpless and taken advantage of.
"It looks like Fea had both of us in check, Chang." Terra stated amidst the darkness.
"Let's just hope it's not checkmate." Chang responded.
"So when do we broadcast the signal?" Zechs inquired.
"Once we've got these five secured, we can lure the others into the trap. And don't worry, Zechs, the bio-agent should still be effecting your precious Katrina, so she'll be completely removed from any battles."
"And what do we do with them when we capture them? Also, what are you going to do with Terra."
"You just won't let me keep anything a secret, will you, Zechs?"
"I've made that mistake more than enough, so suffice to say I don't trust you."
"Whatever. Alright, once we get the one remaining Gundam pilot and Katrina captured, Katrina is under your jurisdiction but don't let her go loose or someone may hurt her. As for the Gundam pilots, what happens to them is up to Treize, and I think I'll keep my plans for Terra private for the moment."
"You know he'll never surrender to you." Zechs stated firmly.
"He doesn't have to. All I need is a sample of his DNA and I'll have no further use for him."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Zechs exclaimed.
"Duh." She retorted.
Fea could tell Zechs was doing his best to hide his disgust.
"What's wrong, Zechs? You don't like my plan to have Terra all to myself?"
"In a word, no. Besides, where do you plan to get the technology?"
"I'll make it myself if I have to. Nothing will keep me from getting what I've worked so hard for, not now and not ever again. You just make sure you keep Katrina out of the way or she might get hurt, if you catch my drift."
Four hours later...
Location: OZ military research station 907-B
The base personnel had all been prepped in readiness for the shuttle's arrival, and not a single amount of effort was spared. By the time the shuttle had made it's way into the landing bay, huge numbers of OZ-uniformed soldiers had their weapons trailed on it from all over the bay. Nothing could get out of there without being shot down at a moment's notice. The Tallgeese and Omega 03 landed and five minutes later Fea ordered two officers to take energy welders to the primary hatch. Gordon was escorted out of the bay by a group of soldiers, likely headed towards the station's bar and restaraunt to start spending his reward money. It took almost three whole minutes to weld through the first hatch, which opened into the cargo bay, and five minutes to go through the hatch that led to the passenger cabin. Ten minutes later, all five pilots were escorted at gunpoint out of the large shuttle, their weapons confiscated and each locked with manacles on their hands to prevent escape. Fea nodded approvingly, then motioned for the guard watching Terra to bring the prisoner over to where she stood.
"What do you want?" Terra mumbled, glaring at Fea.
Swiftly she took his chin in her hand as if he were a disobedient child, then smirked evilly.
"You have no idea the existence you've denied yourself, Terra, but I think that, after all we've been through together, you at least deserve a second chance. Think of it, Ter-"
"Never." Was Terra's quick, solid response.
"Fine, have it your way." Fea then turned to a nearby guard. "I want DNA samples from him immediately. Take them to the lab and then return to your post after you drop him off in the brig."
"Yes Mam." The soldier responded, then shoved Terra towards one of the nearby doors. Fea then turned her attention on the remaining four Gundam pilots. One by one she pointed to each one.
"Let's see,... DeathScythe, Sandrock, Wing, and Shenlong. That means the only remaining Gundam out there is HeavyArms." She noted to herself, then looked at the soldiers guarding Heero, Duo, Quatre, and Chang. "Take them to the brig and have them watched 24/7. I want double security in that area until Treize gets here, understood?"
"Yes Mam," Was the unanimous reply, and the soldiers led their captives off in the direction which Terra had been taken.
"As for the rest of you," Fea said, addressing the crowd. "Get those four Gundams removed from the cargo bay, repaired, and polished. I intend to give them to sir Treize as a gift, so I want them in perfect condition. Also, in the event that the Gundam pilots try to escape, I want a squad of Leos standing guard at all times around these suits. The Gundam pilots are not to be underestimated, so don't give them the slightest opening to get to those suits."
"Yes Mam." Came the well-overused response from the sea of soldiers. Fea turned and headed towards an exit on the opposite end of the docking bay from where Terra and the others had been taken, Zechs following close behind. Soldiers scattered all over as superior officers gave instructions for the unloading of the Gundams, Fea and Zechs making their exit and heading towards the command room.
"Now it's time to broadcast the signal." Fea said, hinting at Zechs being impatient. "Zechs, you've known Treize longer than I have; what do you think he's got in store for the Gundam pilots?"
"Hard to say. This much I can assume, though; he's not likely to just give the order for their execution. Treize is someone who, long ago, fell in love with the battlefield."
"Well, whatever he does, I hope it isn't quick and painless. Takes all the fun out of things."
"You consider the execution of prisoners something to be made into entertainment??" Zechs exclaimed.
"Lets just say I can't wait to see the old die and the new take root." She said cryptically.
An hour later...
Location: approx. 9 hours outside of Earth's orbit
"Katrina!" Exclaimed one of the two pilots. "We're receiving a spread-spectrum signal from an OZ space station nearby. I think you should come up and take a look at this."
Katrina, after exchanging a questioning look with Trowa, unbuckled her safety belt and made her way up to the cockpit. She'd barely stepped in before she spotted Fea's face on a nearby communications screen inset into the secondary piloting controls. The captain motioned for her to step over to where the screen was and then turned the volume up a notch or two.
It was one single, repetitive message, playing over and over again.
"Katrina Marquise, we have Terra and the others in custody at the OZ military research station 907-B. If you and the one remaining Gundam pilot don't come and surrender to us immediately, you'll never see your precious Terra ever again except at the funeral service. Be prepared to hand over HeavyArms, it's pilot, and yourself without hesitation or we'll simply hunt you down and capture you. You can't hide forever."
The message looped several more times before the captain reached over and turned it off.
"We just intercepted it, and it is coming from 907-B. Lady Relena told us to follow your instructions; what should we do?"
"We don't have much of a choice." Trowa said, suddenly appearing in the cockpit. "If she's broadcasting this, then she must know we're separated from the others, meaning she probably *has* captured Terra, Heero, Wufei, Quatre, and Duo. Chances of a sneak attack succeeding are slim to none, and I don't see how we can possibly go in undetected and rescue them if Fea knows we're coming."
"We can't just give up! If Fea wins, the future will die with us; there has to be a way!" She returned, desperation in her voice.
"... The important thing now is to limit the number of casualties. If we hand ourselves over to them then we stand a chance of keeping everyone alive long enough for us to make an escape. Fea's left us with no other option."
For a long moment, Kat was totally silent.
"... You're right, it is the only way." She stated reluctantly, then turned towards the captain. "Set course for 907-B, and when we get there inform them of our surrender. Follow their instructions and don't put up a fight, but make sure to tell them that the only condition to our surrender is that they let you two go unharmed."
"But Mam-!"
"That's the way it has to be. We keep casualties to a minimum. It's Trowa and me that they're after, so we're giving them what they want and no more. Understood?"
Location: OZ military research station 907-B
"Man, how are we gonna get out of this?" Duo complained. "I mean, even if we could break these manacles off, they've got guards everywhere! I tell ya, this doesn't look good."
"Duo, complaining never got anyone out of a situation like this." Heero stated. "Save your energy in case we find a way out of here."
Suddenly, the cell door unlocked loudly and opened. All four looked up as a trio of guards threw Terra into the large, dark cell and then slammed the door closed behind him. The heavy locks were reactivated with a loud 'thwam', and as Terra struggled to his feet Duo asked the question that had been on everyone's mind.
"Hey, Terra, glad to see you're still alive. What did Fea want with your DNA?"
"Are you always so straightforward, Duo?"
"Usually."
"... Turns out Fea plans to engineer cloning technology sometime soon, and wanted to make me her first test specimen. Seems Neo-OZ also at one point developed it's own cloning technology to provide and adequate number of pilots for the mobile suits they had been producing for years. She's just reproducing the information she's learned from them, bringing future technology into play years before it was originally created."
"If she intends for your clone what I'm assuming," Heero stated. "Then she has a very sick mind."
"You don't need to tell me twice." Terra stated. "... But what still doesn't make sense is how she got like this. She used to fight alongside Katrina and I, but then she got captured by Neo-OZ and switched sides just like that. It doesn't make sense!"
"Any brainwashing technology in the future that you know of, Terra?" Heero inquired.
"Katrina once suggested the same thing to me, but it's hard to confirm whether or not Neo-OZ ever actually did create brainwashing technology that could do this to Fea. Nothing seems to make sense anymore."
"Welcome to our century." Quatre stated with a small, forced laugh.
"Terra," Duo proposed. "Why don't you just go bio-Gundam and break us out of here or something?"
"Duo, if he could have just done that he would have when we landed." Chang stated.
"Yeah, and I did try. Turns out Gordon put some kind of bio-agent in our food and now it's keeping me from being able to activate Phoenix 01."
"Rule number one: never trust airline food." Duo joked. He sighed and sat back against the wall. "So, since we've got no way out of here, anybody got any suggestions for what we can do to keep from dying of boredom?"
"Maybe we can ask the guards for a chess board." Terra proposed, looking at Chang with a joking smirk.
"Just shut up." Chang returned coldly.
Two hours later...
"This is the shuttle Tetrarch calling OZ station 907-B." Katrina said as a soldier's image flashed to life on the screen in front of her. "We are prepared to surrender, but first we'd like to talk directly to-"
From somewhere off screen, Fea suddenly shoved the guard out of her way, to Katrina's slight surprise. Fea gave Katrina one look and smirked mischievously.
"You wanted to talk to me, pest?" Fea inquired.
"Here's the deal, Fea." Kat proposed, trying not to show her anger against Fea blatantly. "It's me, HeavyArms, and Trowa you're after, and we're prepared to surrender so long as you agree to let our two pilots go free and uninjured. Do we have a deal?"
"Depends. Are you going to allow us to do a thorough search of your ship?" Fea returned.
Katrina had expected this, even seen it coming. Fea was trying to use the question to see if Katrina had an ulterior motive in letting the pilots go. Katrina, having nothing to fear, faced Fea with confidence.
"What difference does it make? You seem to be the one calling all the shots, Fea; you'll search the ship whether or not you get our approval."
"Hm, finally an intelligent statement from you, Katrina. Alright, I agree to your terms of surrender. You, HeavyArms, and the pilot known as Trowa Barton become my hostages, and after we search your ship your two pilot friends are free to go. Now, proceed towards docking bay 2 and don't do anything foolish or we'll be forced to defend ourselves. Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it. You just make sure you keep your word."
A few minutes later, the sleek shuttle glided into docking bay 2 under the watchful gaze of hundreds of armed soldiers and two Leos with doberguns. Upon touchdown a small group of soldiers, under Zech's orders, entered the shuttle and escorted Katrina and Trowa out, slapping manacles on their forearms. By this time a large group of engineers had made their way to the shuttle's cargo bay hatch and were now dealing with the task of unloading HeavyArms, much to Trowa's silent disapproval.
"Take the pilot to the brig with the others, but don't hurt him." Zechs warned firmly. "The girl is in my custody, so leave her to me."
"Yes sir!"
After Trowa was lead off by a pair of uniformed guards, Zechs escorted Katrina away from the shuttle bay. Once beyond the loud noises of the bay, Katrina turned to face her father with questioning eyes.
"Why? Why aren't I being put into the brig?" She inquired.
"Katrina, I made a deal with Fea guaranteeing your safety not long after you told me your identity. I'll be taking care of you, but I also can't allow you to escape or do any damage to the base, otherwise I might not be able to protect you."
"A prison guard by any other name." She stated dejectedly. "Father, you've got to see by now that the only chance a future with true peace has is if we can stop Fea and then build the technology to send Terra and I ten years into the future. If you really care about people's lives, if you really do care about peace . . . if you really are my father, you'll help me and my friends escape and put an end to Fea's tyranny while there's still a chance."
"... I wish I could, but it's out of my hands. It'll be up to Fea and Treize Kushrenada to decide the fate of the Gundam pilots now."
"Then the Peacecraft name dies in vain." Katrina stated sadly, to Zech's surprise.
"You know??!"
"That you are also known Millyardo Peacecraft? Yes. Why else would it have been in your will that I be cared for by the Peacecraft family?" She said, not able to look Zechs in the eyes. "I figured it out early on, doing private research on your origins as Zechs Marquise. Relena tried to hide it from me for as long as she could, but eventually the truth came out. That's when I decided to join the New Earth Alliance as a bio-Gundam pilot, so I could fight to keep your memory clean and pure. That's why I call myself Katrina Marquise instead of Katrina Peacecraft, my biological name."
" . . . I, I don't know what to say..." Zechs studdered, then half-hung his head in shame. "For so long that name has haunted me, and now I realize that I've passed it on like a curse to my own daughter. A guise of an emissary of peace hiding a man who brings about bloodshed through negotiations; why must I live a double-natured life, each side irreparably stained in blood?!"
A small drop of water fell to the ground from somewhere inside the helmet as Zechs fought within himself for composure. A tear, Katrina surmised. Inside, she wished painfully that she hadn't brought up Zech's history as a Peacecraft; she had no idea it would have this effect on him. For a long moment, there was total silence between the two.
"... I understand what you must feel now, why someone with your strength hides behind an iron mask. Tell me, you first put it on because you believed it represented the cage of steel on your heart?" She inquired gently.
Zechs looked at her for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Please, but let me tell you what I saw when I looked into your eyes that first time only a few days ago." She pleaded. "It was something so incredible that it made me cry, remember? Father, when I looked into your eyes the first time, I not only saw a man who's courage can move mountains, someone who isn't afraid to fight what he sees as injustice, but I saw something so much deeper that I don't think I'll ever forget. I saw you not for what you are now, not for my father, not for an OZ soldier, not for a legend, but I saw something... somewhere beyond the years of pain and grief. I saw what you can be yet. Even now, despite your mistakes. I saw a man who, like David, searches after God's own heart, a man dead to his mistakes but alive unto the change he can implement, someone who realized he had a destiny and a purpose for living. You've got to believe in that power, just like I know you did once. I'm not asking you to believe in God, although I urge you to make that step for both our sakes. All I want is for you to believe that you are not your mistakes, and that you can make a difference. Please,... dad... for me."
The silence lasted what seemed like an infinity. Katrina's pleading eyes, despite the restraints on her forearms, looking at her father and seeming to say 'if you give freedom, you might find freedom'. Another tear fell from behind Zech's mask, breaking like it was made of hundreds of fine crystals when it hit the ground. Zechs slowly turned and looked away from Katrina, unable to bear her gaze any more.
"... I... am not worthy... to be the father of someone... so pure of heart." He managed to say.
Duo had nearly fallen asleep when suddenly the cell door opened once again. Everyone inside looked up to see Trowa be pushed in by a pair of armed guards. The guards took a brief look around the cell, then closed the door and locked it securely. Once more darkness dominated the room as Trowa's eyes began to adjust to the dark shadow that enveloped him on every side.
"Great. They got Trowa too. Something tells me we're done for." Duo said under his breath.
"And Katrina, although it appears she won't be joining us." Trowa stated in response. "This entire area is heavily guarded, and what's worse is that now they've got HeavyArms."
"That means OZ now has all five Gundams." Terra stated. "With Katrina likely infected with the bio-agent, our chances of escaping aren't looking good."
"Why don't you just go back to your praying; some of us are trying to sleep." Chang said, sounding slightly irritated. "At least that way you weren't continually making chess jokes, Terra."
"Calm down, Wufei. Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere." Heero stated.
"Something tells me nothing short of a miracle is going to get us anywhere now." Terra stated. "And, if you ask me, prayer seems like a good use of all this free time we suddenly have on our hands."
"Nobody asked you, Terra." Chang pointed out.
"Wufei, you have to admire his persistence." Quatre stated.
"No I don't."
"Hey," Duo said, suddenly piping up. "Wufei isn't the only one trying to sleep here. Think we could keep it down a few decibels?"
A day later...
Fea's work in the science labs was interrupted as a soldier came rushing in suddenly and urgently. Fea stood from her computer console and faced the man as he stood at attention.
"This had better be important."
"Mam, sir Treize's shuttle has just arrived. He's requesting that you and Kernel Zechs accompany him to see the Gundam pilots."
Fea's eyes hinted at a smirk.
"Very well. You may report to sir Treize that I'll be with him shortly."
(To be continued...)
—The stuff I own!—
-Concepts-
bio-Gundams in general
Phoenix 01
Omega 07
Omega 03
Spectrum 01
Banshee-class mobile suit
Specter-class mobile suit
The mobile suit Deathblow
bio-cells
-My characters-
Prof. Nexus
Marco
Terra Zio
Katrina Marquise
Fea Meroles
Gordon Durrarres
— Ryan's log, story #3 —
The tension builds and the drama nears the breaking points of human sanity! Whatever you do, DON'T miss the conclusion to this powerful four-part series, or you'll really wish you hadn't. I've got big plans... but you'll just have to wait and find out... hee hee hee!
Seeking to rally the five original Gundam pilots, Terra Zio and Katrina Marquise become entangled in a web of historical danger. Their present enemy and greatest threat, Fea Meroles, has vowed to control and dominate Terra's love and has even pitted Katrina against her father, Zechs Marquise, in order to achieve her goal as well as to change history so OZ destroys the Gundam pilots and takes over the future. With a special virus at her disposal that can incapacitate the bio-Gundams and the full force of early OZ's arsenal backing her up, Fea is determined to capture the Gundam resistance fighters and deliver them into the hands of Treize Kushrenada.
Now Terra and Katrina must rally to themselves the one remaining Gundam pilot, Trowa Barton, and uncover the secrets to time travel technology if they are to successfully rescue their future from certain desolation. With Terra engaging a foe from the dark abyss in Israel and Katrina attempting to escape Romeafeller undetected, events have been thrown into place that could cause history to change irreparably. The secrets to victory may rest within the least expected of this timeless waltz.
The time is somewhen during the Gundam Wars. The future could die at any moment.
From the creator of Team Revelation, Cyber Scouts, Cardcaptors: the Realm saga, and the Tenchi saga fanfics Beyond Belief comes a new, bold story.
OPERATION ARCHANGEL
Act 3
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original ideas, characters, or concepts from the Gundam Wing TV anime. I'll make a list of who and what I do own at the end of the fic.
Chapter 1-Of Trowa, Fea, and Relena
Location: The Romeafeller building, somewhere in Europe
Katrina raced through the night. The fence that marked the edge of the Romeafeller building's multiple acres was now within sight.
Then the unpredictable happened.
"Hold it. One wrong move and you're dead."
Katrina stopped dead in her tracks. For a split second she considered her options. If she moved, she stood a chance of dodging whatever her assailant's weapon was. But the voice didn't sound like that of some wimpy foot soldier. She thought about the handheld phase energy gun she had hidden beneath her OZ uniform, but by the time she reached for it a bullet could easily have found it's way into her chest. With a half-defeated sigh, she held her hands up and slowly turned to see who had uncovered her.
There could be no doubt about who it was that was holding that handgun at her from behind a small cluster of trees.
"The notorious Lady Une. Well, it looks like I'm getting to meet a lot of famous people during this little adventure of mine. Did they feed you the lie about Terra and I stealing two prototypes as well?" Katrina inquired as Une stepped up to her, gun still aimed with skill.
"I know what's really going on here, if that's what you mean, bio-Gundam pilot Katrina Marquise. Now, throw down whatever weapons you've got and remember that one wrong move will get you killed."
There was a long pause, in which neither warrior made a single move.
"Some time today. If you don't mind." Une prompted impatiently.
"Answer me this first. I took every precaution getting into and out of here. How did you even know I was here?"
"A legitimate question." Une stated with a semi-smirk. "Let's just say my instincts are better than Fea's."
"Still, what makes you think you can kill me and get away with it? My father knows who I am; even if you kill me he won't stop until my murderer gets what's coming to them."
"You're Zech's daughter alright. Same strong never-say-die spirit. But it won't save you today."
Location: Somewhere in the Israeli desert
Necros, as ever, was silent. It's one of his most fearful qualities, Terra surmised. Necros, he knew, was the demon fighter known for being 'the silent killer'. True, he and the foul being had once or twice conversed before combat, but Necros's statements and comments were always short and well thought out before hand if any. Terra decided this was not a fight where talking would gain him anything; he'd let his sword and his faith do the talking.
Now, with the hauntingly beautiful almost angelic girl faded away into intractable obscurity, the only figures who stood on this massive sand-swept wasteland of a battlefield for miles were Terra and Necros. The two skilled warriors stared at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. A single ribbon-like gust of wind created a small spiral of sand nearby and then faded into oblivion, and a few stray clouds now began to appear in the once clear sky overhead.
Without a word, it began.
Location: The Romeafeller building, somewhere in Europe
"I'm getting tired of waiting while you test me to see if I'll really pull the trigger, Ms. Marquise. I'll say it again; hand over your weapons and surrender yourself." Une instructed harshly.
"If there's one thing my relatives taught me it's to never surrender no matter what the situation." Katrina retorted.
"Fine. Be that way." Une said. Within a split second, the trigger was pulled. A small explosion burst out from inside the gun's barrel. Almost a full second later, with no chance to evade, a projectile pierced Katrina's upper-left arm.
There was total silence for a long moment, Katrina holding her arm in pain and examining the injury. Une holstered her gun and drew out the, usually no more than ornamental, sword she had at her side. Katrina, eyes wide, continued to look at her wound even after Lady Une placed the tip of the sword under the young girl's chin.
" . . . A dart?" Katrina exclaimed, then pulled the bullet-sized dart out of her upper arm with nothing more than a small cringe. Throwing it to the ground, she looked up the slim sword blade into Lady Une's face. "What's this all about? What was on that dart?"
Lady Une smirked. "A little something that will keep you controllable, Ms. Marquise. Even I would not be so bold as to kill the daughter of Zechs Marquise simply to prevent her escape."
"I know the game you're playing." Katrina returned bruskly. "Fea must have rigged up the bio-agent that dart was tipped with. Mind telling me some specifics?"
"Now why would I want to ruin the surprise? Besides, you'll find out soon enough. Now, hand over your weapons and you won't receive any permanent injuries."
Suddenly, a massive explosion in the not-so-far distance kicked up a force wind that blew both Lady Une and Kat cleanly off their feet. Sirens started going off all over the base as the sound of shell weaponry going off filled the nighttime with it's gut-wrenching roar. Katrina took advantage of the moment, seizing Lady Une's sword with one hand and then spinning to dash off in the direction of the battle.
'What in the world is happening?' Katrina wondered, then suddenly felt her stomach go tight and felt herself tumble headfirst into the ground in front of her. She rebounded quickly, snatched up the sword, but to her shock realized that, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't achieve her regular level of speed. 'And what did that dart do to me?'
But there was no time for asking questions. The battle scene was getting closer by the second. Katrina could now distinguish a large force of Leos, Areses, and a few other assorted OZ mobile suits, many of which she guessed were regular security measures for this building, and the rest from some nearby sources probably.
Location: Somewhere in the Israeli desert
Blades met in swift and daring strikes, Terra's single sword swinging and darting amidst his enemy's counterattacks with such speed that all became just short of a total blur. He was driven by a power he didn't possess, rather, at times guided him when he let it. The reality around him was faded and nearly dreamlike, the edges of his perception strangely blurred and his own actions only half-perceived in his conscious mind. Over time, when he'd had encounters like this, he'd learned to let go, and let his actions be guided by the ultimate 'higher power'. His sword radiated heat wave-like energy, and his every calm swing was countered by an ever-rageful counterstrike by Necros's two deadly wrist blades. In the back of his mind, Terra knew that even with the powers his bio-cell gave him, he stood no chance against Necros, who had been one of the most skilled fighters in heaven before he fell from God's grace into total darkness. Terra, in some soul-felt way, understood that it was, as the Word put it, 'not by power, nor by might, but by the spirit of God' that he was standing in the face of such an adversary.
Each of the strongest, most skilled blows by Terra were accompanied by a thought in a voice not his own that rang through his head. He dodged a leg swipe by Necros with an airborne spin kick; 'No weapon formed against me shall prosper'; Necros hurtled a pair of small Z-shaped energy weapons at him, but Terra shattered both with a swing from his spirit-empowered weapon; 'Take up the full armor of God, that you may resist in the evil day'; with an impossible combo of quick maneuvers he broke past Necros's defenses and sliced open the warrior's side. Necros staggered backwards in pain as another thought made it's way to the forefront of Terra's mind: '... and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.'
Necros's breathing was long, heavy, and forced. The demonic assailant held his bleeding side in pain, black liquid oozing through the injury in the place of red. Then, for the first time that battle, Necros spoke.
The same as the last time we battled. Even down to where you struck me open. He mused, his voice synthesized by the mechanical implant that was encased into his face where his mouth and nose should have been. You have made a fool of me again, Terra Zio, son of Adam. Just as each time we have met against each other.
Terra remained quiet. He knew Necros's strategies well enough by now. Now that the demonic champion had tested Terra's faith for weaknesses, he would attempt to distract Terra long enough to gain the advantage, because if Terra was distracted for even a second so that the Spirit's power left, him Necros would have all the edge he'd need to carve Terra apart. So silence, and in the interim, focusing on what he knew to be true so he could fight the lie known as Necros were his best strategies.
Silence. You know me too well for my own good, human. Your faith is strong and your determination is impressive. Necros almost seemed to grin. But even you have weaknesses, such as your emotions towards the one named Katrina...
Terra fought within himself to stay in the Spirit's power, but he knew he had to address Necros on that.
"What do you mean? In the Name-"
There's no need to invoke the Name; I intend to tell you anyway. You see, your beloved Katrina has fallen into one of my traps, and within moments she'll be in the clutches of the one called Fea.
"... You scum. But you haven't learned anything, have you? All things work towards good for those who are in Christ; no trap that you lay can defy God's eternal plan successfully. Now, return to the Abyss, from whence you came. You are defeated once again, Necros, by His power."
Gladly. You see, victory no longer requires my direct intervention. And, as you shall soon see, not even God can prevent the Council's plans to change the future. Think of it, Terra; imagine it! *We* will prevent the End Times from ever happening, and in it's place create a world kingdom of perpetual glorious darkness. And, with that in place, what's to stop us from destroying every believer everywhere by use of those wonderful weapons called Mobile Dolls? And with His children erased from the face of this planet, there's no reason for God to come back, now is there??
"You mean to tell me you planned all of this??!" Terra exclaimed, stunned.
Of course. Now, Fea will kill the chosen five and all of the other humans who, in the next few years of this minuscule war could have made a difference, and after that, with her in total control of OZ and us in total control of her, we will form our own world, finally free forever of the restraints of the prophecies and the accursed saints of God. Not even you will escape, Terra son of Adam. All beings will fall in line soon enough, both on earth and in heaven. Then, at last, revenge upon God will be ours! Isn't it... marvelous? And to think, you and your pathetic band intended to use the time traveling technology to bring, of all things, *peace*! Oh, but there *will* be peace: peace, silence, darkness, and death.
"It's not going to end like that, Necros. You'll see."
HA! Pray all you want, human, fight as best as you can, cast us out left and right if you manage to, but you can't hold us back anymore than an army of men can hold back the tide with their bare hands. But, for now, I shall depart. I do, after all, have preparations to make. And with that, Necros's form phased out of reality, disappearing from the physical reality altogether. The haunting, maniacal laughter echoed in Terra's ears as strong winds began to kick up sand on his right and left.
But Terra was not a person to act blindly. With the battle concluded, he could feel himself returning to 'normal', but regardless he could still sense the Spirit's prompting.
Dropping to his knees and sheathing his sword, realizing that he could not reach Katrina in time to make a difference, Terra prayed.
Location: The Romeafeller building, Europe
Kat, from behind a small cluster of bushes, got her first good look at the combat scene. What she saw surprised her.
But it was what she heard that made her crack up and break out laughing.
Throughout the history of mobile suits, there has been one single phrase repeated more than any other. A single sentence that was in the vocabulary of every OZ soldier regardless of origin, ethnic lines, or upbringing. One single phrase Katrina had thought had died out almost thirty-five years ago.
It was shouted by a single OZ soldier in a Leo, seconds before a blast of ammunition tore his suit's legs out from under him.
"IT'S A GUNDAM!!"
Katrina, at first, merely smirked. Then a small laugh escaped her lips, and after that she half broke down in total hysterical laughter.
Trowa, piloting the Gundam HeavyArms, swiftly created a blockade of legless Leos in a solid wall about him, allowing his longer-range artillery weapons to shoot down Leos while the wall prevented many of the enemy suits from getting into firing range. Trowa glanced at his damage indicator. Not too much damage at the moment, but with the odds he was up against he didn't want to wait around and find out how much punishment HeavyArms could handle. A squad of Ares came out into the open, but he spotted them and he was able to shoot down most of them before they could get into firing range. Suddenly, a blast from a dobergun got his attention as it hit HeavyArms square in the chest, and he turned to see the Leos making their way over the legless wall like ants crawling over a wall of molasses, sometimes getting caught and falling face-forward, becoming another part of the wall.
"I'm running out of ammunition, fast. I wonder what's taking that pilot so long??" He wondered out loud as he gripped the controls tightly and throttled backwards to dodge another dobergun blast.
Katrina quickly spotted HeavyArms and decided this was her cue to make an escape. With what speed she still had left, she raced towards the giant Gundam with Une's sword still in her right hand. While HeavyArms dealt with the armies of Leos and Ares that were practically everywhere by now, Kat swiftly and skillfully leapt onto HeavyArms's leg, then bounded off of that onto an area near the cockpit catch. A blast of energy from a beam rifle suddenly found it's mark on HeavyArms's wing-like shoulders, and Katrina had to hang on with all her strength so as not to be thrown off.
"He's crazy, taking on OZ headquarters on his own. I just hope he can get us out of here in one piece." She said, quickly making her way over to the hatch by shimming along the edge of the upper leg armor. Once over to the hatch, she knocked on it like she would on any door. That must have gotten Trowa's attention, because a minute or less later the hatch opened up and Katrina quickly got inside.
There was Trowa, sure enough, at the controls. Katrina, looking at him for the first time, had to wonder what had given him the crazy idea to come here and rescue her. Or, perhaps the question was 'who' had given him the idea.
"You must be Katrina, the one OZ is after." Trowa stated the evident. "This is a small cockpit; try to stay clear of the controls or I won't be able to get us out of here alive."
"Works for me. And once we're clear of OZ you can tell me just what in the world you're doing here." She returned, finding her way into one of the cockpit's small corners that was away from the controls.
"And you can tell me what the real deal is with the Phoenix and Omega prototypes." Trowa stated, then turned his attention back to the battle. "Hang on, this could get rough."
His fingers racing over different buttons and controls, Katrina could suddenly feel HeavyArms thruster skyward and leave the ground with a sudden rush. Looking at the screen in front of Trowa, Katrina saw glowing laser beams shoot by, numbering in the hundreds. After a minute or two the beams died down, only to suddenly be replaced by bullet fire. Almost fifty Ares were in pursuit, and Katrina could tell by Trowa's delayed reaction that HeavyArms was running low on ammunition.
If ever, this was a desperate situation.
And Katrina, of course, suddenly had a plan.
"How high up are we? I've got an idea." She said, suddenly getting Trowa's attention. He checked his instruments, then turned back to look at her.
"About ten-thousand feet. Why?"
"Try to get us to fifty-thousand, then open the hatch and let me out."
"You're crazy."
"Maybe I am. Or maybe I know a few things about Omega 07 that'll save our tails."
"Sorry, but I can't let you out of this cockpit on a suicide jump. Besides, I've got a plan of my own."
"Which would be?"
"Outrun them. HeavyArms can pull almost 1 ½ times the speed that those Ares are capable of. I haven't run out of options just yet."
"By the time we could get out of their firing range those weapons of theirs will have chewed us to bite sized pieces. You'll have to do something better than that, hotshot."
"I thought I was the one running this rescue operation."
"Not if you get us killed you won't be. Now, unless you've got any other objections or ideas, I'd appreciate it if-"
Suddenly, Katrina felt all her strength leave her. Her vision went blurry, her head pounded in her ears, and she almost felt as if reality was falling apart all around her. Without any chance to react or stop herself, she suddenly collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Three hours later...
Katrina awoke to the feeling of a warm damp cloth being put over her forehead. Her eyes slowly dialed back into focus as the blurry images in front of her gave way and receded, ever so slowly focusing and solidifying. Above her, looking down on her, were two figures. One she recognized as Trowa. The other was someone she knew with great fondness, but Katrina had never expected to...
"She's coming out of it." Relena stated, her voice considerately low and soft. Trowa nodded in acknowlagement.
Kat felt like as if someone had hit her with the opposite of a pain killer. Her head throbbed and she heard an intense ringing in her ears that refused to go away. Her entire body was sore and she somehow knew with clarity that this was the effects of that dart Lady Une had shot her with. She groaned and began to sit up.
"... What happened? Where am I?" She inquired, forcing herself to sit up slowly despite the pain she was feeling.
"You passed out in the cockpit while we were escaping Romeafeller."Trowa stated. "You've been out for the last three hours, with a fever and constant delirium."
"You're in the Sanct Kingdom now. My name is-"
"Ms. Relena Peacecraft, I know." Katrina said, smiling as best she could at Relena. "I'd seen pictures of you from during the Gundam Wars, but I never expected to actually see you face to face this young."
Relena and Trowa gave her blank stares.
"It's a long story, but I suppose you both have every right to know it. OK, to start with, my name is Katrina Marquise, and I was involved in a top secret operation codenamed ArchAngel..."
An hour or so later...
"I'm sorry, but this is all a little hard to swallow." Relena stated, taking a seat in a nearby chair. "So, if I understand you correctly, you're a bio-Gundam pilot from fifty years in the future, sent back in time to try to stop OZ from rising from the ashes. And what's more is that, in the future, I helped raise you? Forgive me, but this is a little too much."
"It's the truth. I'm the daughter of Zechs Marquise, who in my timeline is killed by Neo-OZ defending a colony in the L4 cluster. My mother died when I was born, and after my father died you took me in, Ms. Relena. In fact, I grew up in this building, with you teaching me and taking care of me. You and the people who lived and worked here were really the only family I ever knew."
"This is all very insightful, but I've got a few quick questions to ask." Trowa interrupted. "So, after Fea caused you and this Terra guy to get sent to this part of the timeline instead of ten years from now, you decided to try to gather the Gundam pilots to stop Fea. I have a hunch OZ put out that news broadcast last night to try to force the rest of the Gundam pilots out into the open. Do you have any idea where they would have gone in hopes of evading OZ?"
Katrina was silent for a long moment, thinking hard.
"To be honest, I don't know where they'd go. Knowing Terra, his first strategy would be to find a place where OZ was having trouble controlling and hide out there for a while, but that's probably what OZ would expect. Come to think of it, they're hands are tied: no matter where they go, OZ can still locate them. If they go somewhere that isn't OZ-allied, that'll only give OZ the excuse it needs to invade, but if they go somewhere that OZ is in control they run the risk of being detected. And they can't stay on Howard's salvage ship for long, or OZ will start looking for them out in the oceans."
"So the only places left would be areas on the globe mostly devoid of life, like the Arabian or Israeli deserts or one of the two poles." Relena concluded.
"Wherever they go, it'll be very difficult to find them without leading OZ to their hideout." Trowa stated. "In fact, it probably won't be long before they find out we're in the Sanct kingdom and try to either capture or destroy us here."
"There must be somewhere we can hide from them." Katrina exclaimed. "I mean, OZ can't possibly have eyes everywhere."
"... Perhaps there is one place you might be able to escape OZ for a time." Relena said after a minute or so. Both Trowa and Katrina looked at her immediately. "Maybe I can make arrangements to send both of you to outer space."
"Transporting HeavyArms is going to be difficult." Trowa stated.
"If I can find out what was in that dart that Une shot me with and come up with a counter agent, I could get both of us and HeavyArms into outer space using Omega 07." Kat stated. "It'll take a lot out of me, but I've done it before."
"Then our destination is outer space." Trowa said to no one in particular.
Chapter 2- The Hunting and the Hunted
Location: The Romeafeller building, Europe
"You mean that Gundam pilot somehow knew we were waiting for them? How?" Fea demanded. On the screen in front of her was Lady Une, and based upon the face Une was making she didn't appreciate being reprimanded by someone who once held a sword to her throat.
"We don't know how, all we know is that somehow the pilot knew about the trap. But I did manage to hit Katrina with the bio-agent before she made her escape."
"I find that reassuring, Lady Une. For a while now I didn't think you could do anything right."
Lady Une appeared to be suppressing an urge to kill Fea as soon as she could, and it showed on her face.
"I'm capable of much more than you give me credit for, Lady Fea. It would be a very big mistake to underestimate me, just as it's a very big mistake to underestimate Kernel Zechs Marquise, who by-the-way told me that he'd like to have a word with you as soon as can be arranged."
"Let me guess, Zechs is peeved that I used him as bait to pull Katrina into the open, right? Don't worry, Lady Une, I saw that coming when I came up with this plan. He's a nuisance, nothing more."
"If I were you, I'd watch who I call a nuisance." Said Zech's voice from behind her. Fea, casually, spun her chair around to see Zechs standing in the shadows behind her, and did not fail to notice that the sliding glass door to her balcony was open. "I thought you were through trying to play me against Katrina, but I can see your tactics of warfare haven't changed much since we last spoke."
"Zechs, chill your jets. She's alive and perfectly healthy; all the virus will do to her is make her feel tired and maybe give her a two hour nap. I haven't done anything to hurt your precious daughter."
"You didn't tell us about those side effects when you showed us the virus the first time. What else are you hiding from me, 'Lady' Fea?"
"Zechs, why would I want to hide things from you?" She inquired with a smirk.
"You tell me." Zechs returned bruskly.
The next day, 0300 hours
Location: Somewhere in the middle of Australia
"This is crazy!" Duo exclaimed. "This is just plain old insane."
Duo, Quatre, Chang, Heero, and Terra stood in the middle of nowhere. The ground for as far as the eye could see was desert land, a few little shrubs every here and there poking up from beneath the caked, dusty, dry ground. The very air seemed as if dead, the wind nonexistent in this barren wilderness. Nearby, intentionally covered in sand for camouflage reasons, were Shenlong, DeathScythe, Sandrock, and Wing, only their cockpit openings visible above the sand-swept desert terrain. It had taken a good deal of time to do, Phoenix 01 blasting up ditches big enough for each of the Gundams to be mostly buried in and then covering each of the mobile suits with handfuls of sand until the ditches were completely filled again with only the entrance hatches to the cockpits visible above the desert landscape. Now, almost two hours after their arrival on the continent, the five pilots could only recognize their Gundams by the colors of the hatches that stuck up out of the ground like pimples.
"But just imagine the element of surprise on our side if we need to make a quick getaway." Heero said approvingly. "OZ won't be able to spot the Gundams until it's too late."
"So where from here?" Quatre inquired. He had a small backpack slung over one shoulder. "I mean, we're going to need to find a place where I can continue my research, otherwise we won't be able to send Terra and Katrina, excuse the pun, 'back to the future'."
"We won't be able to hide out for long, that much is for sure, so don't get too set on studying those nano-probes." Terra stated. "Hopefully, we can find some way while we're here to arrange transportation into outer space for us and the Gundams. Once we're in outer space, it'll be harder for OZ to locate us and then we can start planning on research."
"We should, for the moment, go get some supplies." Chang said, then leveled a semi-cold look at Terra. "I assume even bio-Gundam pilots need to eat."
"Why do you dislike me so much, Chang?" Terra said, turning to face the Chinese warrior. "Don't tell me that someone like you would be sore over losing one battle?"
"I lost to a lesser warrior. I cannot accept that." Chang stated. "The only reason you won was because of the futuristic power of your bio-Gundam. If it had been equal, I would not have lost."
"Chang-" Terra began, but Chang cut him off.
"In fact, if it were not for the power that bio-cell gives you, I believe I would best you in any number of competitions, but because of your bio-cell you have the advantage over me in speed, strength, agility, and endurance. All given to you by a wonder of futuristic science. Without that, I dare say you would be nothing more than a pathetic weakling, you and Katrina and Fea. But even despite that, I intend to find a way to prove that I am, by far, a stronger warrior than you."
"In short," Duo quoted. " 'Anything you can do, I can do better'. C'mon, Wufei, give it a rest."
"If it weren't for that bio-cell, he'd be nothing!" Chang exclaimed. "And, one way or another, I'm going to prove it."
Terra was silent for a long moment, then looked away from Chang's glare and stared off into the horizon.
"So, this is why you and Marco never spoke to each other." Terra mused sadly.
"...What are you talking about?" Chang inquired, not angrily but sincerely curious.
"By now, I guess it doesn't matter if the timeline gets changed this way or not, so I might as well tell you." Terra said, then turned to look at Wufei. "Chang, there was a third bio-Gundam pilot who was supposed to come back in time with Katrina and I, but Fea knocked him away from our group while we were in transit and he fell out past the border of the time warp. Chances are that he's dead."
"... What does this have to do with me?" Chang inquired, fearing the worst.
Terra took a deep breath.
". . . That pilot's name was Marco Wufei, a close friend of mine. Ever since he decided to become a bio-Gundam pilot, the two of you never spoke to each other. He was always trying to get stronger, always pushing the odds, always forcing himself into the most extreme circumstances and most dangerous battles. Early on he earned the nickname 'Bio Red Comet' for taking out an entire Neo-OZ attack fleet on his own after his wingman was shot down. But no matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to be able to gain your approval. Nothing he did seemed to be good enough. And now I finally understand why."
There was a long, strange silence where no one spoke. Even Heero seemed to be surprised at what Terra had just stated. Finally, Chang turned in the direction of the not-yet-risen sun.
"There should be settlements or villages in this direction. I recommend we head out that way."
Location: The Sanct kingdom
"Trowa! I've got it! I know where the others are headed!" Katrina exclaimed, rushing into the room. Trowa and Relena looked up immediately upon her entering.
"You do? Where?" Trowa inquired.
"Think about it: a place OZ is having trouble controlling, somewhere that Quatre and the others can get the resources to keep studying that nano-probe sample. Where else could they go? I don't believe I didn't see it; the answer was right in front of my eyes!"
"Don't keep us in suspense." Relena laughed. "Where are they headed?"
"Outer space! The colonies! There's so many empty zones in space that they could hide almost anywhere and not worry about OZ finding them."
"That's ingenious!" Relena exclaimed. "In that case, we need to get the two of you space bound as soon as we can."
"I don't think it would be wise of us to wait until we can cure Omega 07, though." Trowa stated. "If possible, we should try to arrange for some kind of under-the-table charter service or something. We'd be far too detectable by OZ if we tried to make it out of the atmosphere in our Gundams."
"Speaking of the virus," Relena interjected. "I've had a few acquaintances of mine take a look at a blood sample we took while you were out. Turns out it's a highly altered strain of a known virus, probably modified to prevent you from using your bio-Gundam. The good news is, it should run it's course within a week and you'll be back to normal."
"Still think it would have been a good idea to jump out at fifty-thousand feet?" Trowa inquired, smirking ever so slightly.
"Thank God I didn't get the chance." Katrina exclaimed with a relieved sigh.
"That's one way of putting it." Trowa mused. "So, what's our next move?"
"We need to remember that stopping Fea is our main objective." Katrina reminded herself. "Even if Duo and Quatre can construct the technology nessasary for time travel, there's no way we can just leave Fea here to change history unopposed. But I suppose we should focus on this one objective at a time, huh?"
"Right now, I think you should go be resting." Relena reprimanded gently. "The more you rest, the sooner you'll be able to beat this virus. Let us worry about the next step for now."
Katrina smirked, then smiled warmly.
"I suppose some things never will change. You're still the same caring, compassionate person who looked out for me as a kid. Relena, don't ever change the way your heart thinks; it's one of the best things about you."
A day later...
Location: The Romeafeller building, Europe
"Outer space."
Treize remained calm and appeared unemotional, but behind that guise Fea could almost see the eyes of someone wise and deep in thought. He turned his back to her, looking out into the night sky beyond the wall-sized window that made up a whole wall of the meeting room. For a long, almost chilling moment he stood there, gazing out at the stars that would soon harbor what many considered his worst enemies. Then he turned back to Fea, looking like he'd made up his mind on something.
"You're certain they're going to try go into outer space?"
"Positive. It's the only place they can go where they can truly elude capture now that we've made preparations for any global traveling they might do. Besides, I know Terra intimately. That would be his first thought in this situation." Fea stated.
"What do you propose we do about it?" Treize inquired calmly.
"Leave it to me and Zechs. I plan to allow them to make travel arrangements to outer space, but as soon as they leave the atmosphere I'll EMP the shuttle and then guide them to the nearest OZ space station. And after that, you can do with the Gundam pilots what you wish, sir Treize."
"Clever, but how do you intend to find out when the Gundam pilots plan on leaving Earth and on which ship they'll be?"
"It would make sense that they would choose a charter service of one kind or another, something under-the-table so as not to be noticed. All I have to do, once someone reports the whereabouts of Terra and Katrina, is buy the co-operation of the charter service and then we'll have them right where we want them."
"Assuming, of course, someone reports their whereabouts. What, per say, if no one does?"
"The good news is, someone already has." She stated, smirking. "A man by the name of Gordon Durrarres, pilot for a charter service named 'Sean's Star' in Australia, called in almost two hours ago. His only request was four percent of whatever we buy his boss out for. The Gundam pilots are as good as ours."
"Impressive, I must say. Just make sure you bring them all to me alive. I have special plans for those five Gundam pilots."
"Consider it done, sir Treize."
"You are indeed full of surprises, Fea."
Location: Sean's Star shuttle services, New Torrent city, Australia
"One way trip to the outermost colony ring. If OZ spots us, you're on your own. One-hundred-thousand up front, three-hundred thousand when we get there. Do we have a deal?" Gordon Durrarres inquired, holding out his hand for a handshake. The half-powered electric lights high above in the repair bay shrouded his face and torso in long dark shadows, his arms and legs practically invisible in the darkness. He wore the kind of pilot's uniform that an early WW1 fighter plane pilot might: dark tan leather coat, a pair of round goggles bound by a leather strap onto his head, and a black belt-like holster carrying what appeared to be a homemade weapon of some kind or another slung from shoulder to waist loosely. His short hair was a strangely dark green, his eyes an odd dark steel-blue color, and he had a large scar going from his right temple all the way down to the right side of his chin.
"Odd, you don't seem to me to be the kind of person to run from a fight." Heero stated non-challengingly.
"Hey, I'm just takin' orders from my boss. Do you have any idea how high-risk an op. like this is? I mean, all five O' you are fugitives from OZ, *the* fugitives from OZ. If you ask me, you're all getting a good deal on this little trip. Four-hundred-thousand, total. Take it or leave it."
"Yes,... it does seem like a very good price..." Terra stated, arms folded and eyes closed, leaning against a steel beam that held the ceiling up. His voice was kind of far-offish, and it was hard to tell whether he was sarcastic or truly saying that the price was a good one. Heero and Quatre gave him a quick glance, almost trying to read his expressions, but based upon the non-expressions they gave each other they weren't getting very far below the surface.
"What are the chances of OZ discovering us?" Chang inquired intently.
"I'll try not to lie to you: high. But I've been in this business my whole life, and if anyone can get you star-bound safely, it's me. Me, Peronias, and Deathblow have handled dangerous voyages many times, and I've always managed to get things going safely and I've got the highest client-survival ratio of all my colleagues."
"Peronias and Deathblow would be?" Duo inquired.
"Peronias is my ship, and Deathblow is a little surprise I carry in case of emergencies. It's, in essence, a highly modified version of a Leo with parts and servos from the Ares class, and my own person touch of weapons added in. My cohorts tell me that it's almost the equal to that Tallgeese OZ values so much." He mused with a smirk.
"Rule number one; never underestimate an OZ champion like Zechs Marquise." Heero stated, looking aside slightly. "If you've got a mobile suit that could equal the Tallgeese, you'd have a threat to OZ equal to one of our Gundams."
"Well, maybe not *that* powerful, but I'll tell ya, it's something. Not only that, but it's got weapons no other mobile suit packs."
"Such as?" Chang inquired.
"Heavy-duty tazers, for starts. Delivers dangerously high-charged electrical shocks straight through armor and defenses into computers and tactical weapons tech. In front and back." He said, proudly.
"Impressive, if you can manage to get a hit." Chang noted thoughtfully, clenched hand cradling the tip of his chin. "But any opponent that uses a degree of speed over 130 has a good chance of dodging such a blow."
"Eh, good point, but in tandem with a pair of hyper jammers it could be the best weapon you'll ever see. Now if only I could get my hands on some..." He waved the idea off. "But I'm not here to give ya a lesson on my battle strategies. Do we have a deal or what?"
"... I don't see that we have much choice." Heero stated, shaking Gordon's outstretched hand. "As your boss says: one-hundred thousand up front, the other three once we reach the outer colony rim."
"Alright, then. We have an agreement." Gordon said with a sly smile.
Meanwhile, in the back of the group, Chang and Terra stood next to one another, watching as Gordon filled Heero and the others in on the specifics of how things would go on the trip into space. Both of them seemed to be watching Gordon intently, and both seemed to be having the same thoughts.
"I'm not so sure I trust him." Terra whispered to Chang.
"What makes you think that?" Chang inquired, not in the kind of tone to say he disagreed, but more like he was asking for Terra's reasoning.
"Suffice to say I have a notion he's not trustworthy." He said, then turned to Chang. "And what's your reason for not trusting him?"
"I don't trust anyone I just met. A rule of survival I've picked up throughout life. Any suggestions?"
"We can't do much but watch him. He hasn't stayed alive in this business this long without knowing how to defend himself. I personally won't be able to do anything once we're up in space along the lines of using Phoenix 01, but I would recommend we rig up a remote control for Shenlong's Dragon Fang; we might be able to buy ourselves some time if it appears our Gundams can fight for themselves."
"I'll consider it, but if he's planning to betray us we must consider his every advantage."
"Right."
Chapter 3- How the Mighty Fell
Location: Space shuttle launch station, the Sanct kingdom
Katrina could feel the shuttle's thrusters roar and come to life as the airplane-like spacecraft taxied into position for launch. She wished badly at that moment for a piece of chewing gum to keep her ears from popping as they accelerated and then took off. Trowa was in the seat next to her, looking out the left side window as the shuttle prepared for it's takeoff. HeavyArms was stored safely away in the cargo compartment of the shuttle, and so far everything was going as planned. Katrina braced herself as the shuttle began to accelerate, it's thrusters sending it flying down the runway towards the L-shaped launchway that would point the shuttle skywards and send Trowa, Katrina, and the two pilots Relena had hired for the mission flying into space.
Just then, Katrina remembered that she was prone to getting sick during liftoffs. She quickly glanced at the barf bag on the wall nearby and began silently praying that she could hold her lunch down successfully.
Location: Sean's Star shuttle services, New Torrent city, Australia
Terra, Heero, Chang, Quatre, and Duo all braced themselves in their seats as the space shuttle Peronias shot forward like a speeding bullet towards the take-off ramp at the end of the runway. Peronias wasn't like any shuttle Terra had ever seen, he could tell that on first glance, but then again Gordon was the kind of person who despised fitting into molds. To start with, the ship was a bright neon-green with streaks of red trailing from the nose of the shuttle as far back as the wings; the kind of effect one would see upon trying to enter earth's atmosphere. What's more is that the shuttle was rigged with deployable disc-like remote mines that were hidden under the wings and carried similar remote EMP discs that could be deployed from hidden hatches in the underbelly of the ship. Unlike standard shuttles, the main cabin was somewhat cramped and tight by comparison, and had a door in the back of the cabin leading into the heavy-duty cargo bay, in which were presently stored Wing, DeathScythe, Shenlong, Sandrock, and the mobile suit Gordon had dubbed Deathblow. The interior cabin was unpainted, bare steel struts and bulkheads visible wherever one might chance to look, and the seats appeared to have been scavenged off an old, worn-out school bus.
But it was what they'd paid for, and it was definitely the kind of ship that could hold it's own against a small-scale OZ space force for as long as it needed to. Terra felt the ship angle upward and looked out his small, sparse window to see the world outside the shuttle begin to rotate 90 degrees as the shuttle hit the ramp and took off. Within seconds, artificial gravity generators took over and the five young warrior pilots were free to get up and walk around as they wished.
"About how long'll it take for us to get to the outer colonies?" Duo inquired of Quatre.
"From what Gordon told me, at most three days. It looks like this shuttle is going to be our home for a while."
"In my opinion, home is where the heart is." Terra stated. "Besides which, I'm not entirely convinced of our safety aboard this ship."
"I know what you're saying, and I've been thinking the same thing, but we really have no choice but to trust Gordon. The minute we showed him our faces, there was no turning back, or else he might have sold us out on the spot and handed us over to OZ." Heero stated.
"Well, Terra, since we're going to be here awhile, I figure this is as good a time as any to resolve our... 'differences'." Chang stated.
"Chang, why do you still think you need to prove you're better than I am? There's no point." Terra stated with a sigh.
Chang was unshaken.
"I've given it a good deal of consideration, how you and I can prove ourselves without your futuristic bio-technology giving you an unfair edge."
"Chang-" Terra was quickly cut off by Chang.
"I considered sword combat, but that wouldn't prove anything since that bio-cell of yours gives you enhanced speed. I considered a lot of options, but in the end only a few alternatives would prove anything whatsoever."
"Chang-!" Terra was once again swiftly cut off.
"It finally came to me that the one thing that bio-cell of yours doesn't enhance is intellect. So on a battlefield of pure strategy is where I'll prove the folly of your futuristic bio-enhancers and the power of long hard training done the right way."
From behind a bulkhead, Chang pulled out a rectangular thin-cardboard box. Pulling a nearby crate over to where he stood, he opened the box and began to arrange black and white chess pieces on a black and red checkered board from inside the box.
"Chang Wufei is one person who never says 'die'." Heero stated, glancing at Terra.
"Yeah, I noticed." Terra replied, then turned to Chang. "Alright, let's get this over with."
"What are they doing in there? Do they suspect anything yet?"
Gordon didn't like it when people questioned his reliability, and reward or no reward he figured it couldn't hurt to prove that point to Fea. He sighed, then spoke into the cell phone once again.
"Ms. Meroles, I'm as dependable as the sun rising in the morning. They don't suspect squat, an' by the time they figured out I'm betrayin' em, you and Zech'll be here to take em' into custody. An, if they do manage to retaliate, I got me a little secret weapon I codenamed Deathblow; it's a mobile suit I kinda made myself an' it's got all the works an then some."
"So I'll ask once again; what are they *doing* in there? I want those brats consistently monitored, and that was part of the deal, if you'll remember."
"Yeah, yeah, keep yer shirt on." He said, reaching over and flicking on one of many small screens built into the cramped cockpit. The screen glowed with power, then snapped to an image of the passenger cabin. "Well, whatd'ya know; two of em' are playin' chess, one's sleepin', an' the others look like they're just starin' out the windows. Nothin' to worry about, Ms. Meroles."
"Monitor them carefully, and whatever you do don't underestimate them. What about the girl, what's she doing?"
"Girl? Ms. Meroles, the five I've got are all guys."
"What? You mean that you didn't get all seven of them??"
"How'as I supposed ta know; only five of em' registered as passengers, and there's no way any stowaways got aboard without me knowin'."
"... Never mind, in that case. We'll use these five to draw the remaining two out into the open. In the meantime, make sure you keep your act up so they don't start to suspect; Zechs and I'll be there in six hours."
"Roger that. You just make sure you've got my money with ya when ya get here. Over and out."
Six hours later...
After watching Wufei and Terra's battle of brains for about ten minutes or so, Quatre had decided to rest his eyes for a few seconds and had inadvertently fallen asleep. Before his mind's eye played out strange, but adventurous, dreams of the ancient heroes of his country of origin; brave Arabian knights battling desert marauders in search of ancient treasure, mystic sorcerers conjuring up spells and monsters that put all but the bravest to flight. And there he was, the strongest of all the warriors. His face hidden beneath a golden cloak that whipped about him in the hot desert winds, a pair of long, sharp shotels ready in his hands; he looked like a human version of Sandrock. Then suddenly, strangely, the scene around him altered. Instead of sky he was now looking at the other half of the inside of a colony, the sky above his head truly the ground beneath someone else's feet far above him. Still, the desert sands remained as the ground upon which he stood, but the strangeness of the colony surface above him drew his attention. As he watched, the colony above him faded away, replaced by stars shining amidst the cold darkness of outer space. Now, instead of a vast desert stretching as far as his eye could see, he stood upon the surface of a small asteroid, the edge just inches beyond his left foot. Looking out, he was amazed by the natural beauty of such a scene.
Suddenly, though, a human-shaped darkness blotted out a small cluster of stars. Looking up, he stood frozen as if by some unnatural fear as a creature neither human nor beast of any kind descended from the far distant stars-
"Quatre! Wake up, we're under attack!"
Duo's voice snapped him instantly from his dreaming. He shot awake, realized he was back in the passenger cabin of the shuttle, and immediately looked out the window to his left.
It was faint at first, but then became much clearer and closer. Suddenly, all the lights in the cabin flickered and died out, and Quatre heard the sound of someone unsuccessfully trying to open the rear door which led to the cargo bay and the Gundams. In the darkness and confusion he couldn't tell whether it was Heero or Terra, but based upon the loud slamming whoever it was seemed to be trying to break the door open with their bare hands. Quatre, however, was quickly transfixed by fear as the shadow outside of his window began to blot out a cluster of far-distant stars, it's inky-black form getting closer and closer. Suddenly, Quatre spotted another form coming into view, a form that, even though it was blacked out, it's shape was definitive enough to identify it by. As the forms got closer, the darkness dropped away from both like as if someone stepping out of a shadowy corner.
Quatre could tell at the moment he spotted the two mobile suits that there was no escaping this time.
"Heero, quick! Help me with this door!" Terra instructed. Quatre could hear as the two slammed the door for everything they had, but were unable to get it to budge. Suddenly, one little light source illuminated the cabin and everyone turned to see Gordon's face appear on a small monitor just above the door to the cockpit.
"Hey, how's all my passengers doin' back there?" He mocked.
"You scum! You sold us out!" Duo exclaimed.
"Like I tried to tell ya before; this *is* a one-way trip. Well, we've reached our destination, and now for a word from our sponsor." He laughed. The screen flickered before Fea's voice came over the speakers two minutes later.
"He's got quite a sense of humor, huh Gundam pilots?" Fea mused, then she became serious. "There's nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. I've EMP-ed the shuttle; nothing except reserve power functions now and that's because Gordon and I arranged for it to be shielded. That means the ship's weapons, thrusters, even doors, and also your Gundams, won't function again for almost three hours if you're lucky. Now, do the smart thing and surrender if you value your lives."
"Why should we??" Duo challenged.
"Because it's the same whether you do or don't surrender, except surrendering will probably help you live longer." Fea stated.
"You won't just blast us to space debris while Terra's aboard, and I honestly don't believe you intend to leave us here to rot," Heero said, analyzing the situation. "So where do you plan to take us? Back to earth?"
"Nothing so foolish; you'd all escape far too easily." Fea stated as suddenly the ship lurched and for the first time everyone realized that the artificial gravity had been deactivated as well. Everyone managed to grab onto something just in time to keep themselves from being hurtled into the back wall. "You're coming with us to the OZ military research station 907-B, where you'll get your first chance to meet the great and historic Treize Kushrenada."
"It's not a first for all of us." Chang muttered.
"Be that as it may, you'll all just have to wait around and find out what we've got planned for you when Treize arrives. Believe me, today is a day you won't soon forget, assuming you live through till' tomorrow."
The screen went black and once more the cabin was cast into total darkness. Quatre looked out the window to see the Tallgeese thruster into a position underneath the ship, then braced himself as the ship lurched forward, driven by the thrusters of the Tallgeese and possibly Omega 03 as well, which explained the previous shockwave of motion while Fea was still talking. Quatre looked out towards the stars, feeling helpless and taken advantage of.
"It looks like Fea had both of us in check, Chang." Terra stated amidst the darkness.
"Let's just hope it's not checkmate." Chang responded.
"So when do we broadcast the signal?" Zechs inquired.
"Once we've got these five secured, we can lure the others into the trap. And don't worry, Zechs, the bio-agent should still be effecting your precious Katrina, so she'll be completely removed from any battles."
"And what do we do with them when we capture them? Also, what are you going to do with Terra."
"You just won't let me keep anything a secret, will you, Zechs?"
"I've made that mistake more than enough, so suffice to say I don't trust you."
"Whatever. Alright, once we get the one remaining Gundam pilot and Katrina captured, Katrina is under your jurisdiction but don't let her go loose or someone may hurt her. As for the Gundam pilots, what happens to them is up to Treize, and I think I'll keep my plans for Terra private for the moment."
"You know he'll never surrender to you." Zechs stated firmly.
"He doesn't have to. All I need is a sample of his DNA and I'll have no further use for him."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Zechs exclaimed.
"Duh." She retorted.
Fea could tell Zechs was doing his best to hide his disgust.
"What's wrong, Zechs? You don't like my plan to have Terra all to myself?"
"In a word, no. Besides, where do you plan to get the technology?"
"I'll make it myself if I have to. Nothing will keep me from getting what I've worked so hard for, not now and not ever again. You just make sure you keep Katrina out of the way or she might get hurt, if you catch my drift."
Four hours later...
Location: OZ military research station 907-B
The base personnel had all been prepped in readiness for the shuttle's arrival, and not a single amount of effort was spared. By the time the shuttle had made it's way into the landing bay, huge numbers of OZ-uniformed soldiers had their weapons trailed on it from all over the bay. Nothing could get out of there without being shot down at a moment's notice. The Tallgeese and Omega 03 landed and five minutes later Fea ordered two officers to take energy welders to the primary hatch. Gordon was escorted out of the bay by a group of soldiers, likely headed towards the station's bar and restaraunt to start spending his reward money. It took almost three whole minutes to weld through the first hatch, which opened into the cargo bay, and five minutes to go through the hatch that led to the passenger cabin. Ten minutes later, all five pilots were escorted at gunpoint out of the large shuttle, their weapons confiscated and each locked with manacles on their hands to prevent escape. Fea nodded approvingly, then motioned for the guard watching Terra to bring the prisoner over to where she stood.
"What do you want?" Terra mumbled, glaring at Fea.
Swiftly she took his chin in her hand as if he were a disobedient child, then smirked evilly.
"You have no idea the existence you've denied yourself, Terra, but I think that, after all we've been through together, you at least deserve a second chance. Think of it, Ter-"
"Never." Was Terra's quick, solid response.
"Fine, have it your way." Fea then turned to a nearby guard. "I want DNA samples from him immediately. Take them to the lab and then return to your post after you drop him off in the brig."
"Yes Mam." The soldier responded, then shoved Terra towards one of the nearby doors. Fea then turned her attention on the remaining four Gundam pilots. One by one she pointed to each one.
"Let's see,... DeathScythe, Sandrock, Wing, and Shenlong. That means the only remaining Gundam out there is HeavyArms." She noted to herself, then looked at the soldiers guarding Heero, Duo, Quatre, and Chang. "Take them to the brig and have them watched 24/7. I want double security in that area until Treize gets here, understood?"
"Yes Mam," Was the unanimous reply, and the soldiers led their captives off in the direction which Terra had been taken.
"As for the rest of you," Fea said, addressing the crowd. "Get those four Gundams removed from the cargo bay, repaired, and polished. I intend to give them to sir Treize as a gift, so I want them in perfect condition. Also, in the event that the Gundam pilots try to escape, I want a squad of Leos standing guard at all times around these suits. The Gundam pilots are not to be underestimated, so don't give them the slightest opening to get to those suits."
"Yes Mam." Came the well-overused response from the sea of soldiers. Fea turned and headed towards an exit on the opposite end of the docking bay from where Terra and the others had been taken, Zechs following close behind. Soldiers scattered all over as superior officers gave instructions for the unloading of the Gundams, Fea and Zechs making their exit and heading towards the command room.
"Now it's time to broadcast the signal." Fea said, hinting at Zechs being impatient. "Zechs, you've known Treize longer than I have; what do you think he's got in store for the Gundam pilots?"
"Hard to say. This much I can assume, though; he's not likely to just give the order for their execution. Treize is someone who, long ago, fell in love with the battlefield."
"Well, whatever he does, I hope it isn't quick and painless. Takes all the fun out of things."
"You consider the execution of prisoners something to be made into entertainment??" Zechs exclaimed.
"Lets just say I can't wait to see the old die and the new take root." She said cryptically.
An hour later...
Location: approx. 9 hours outside of Earth's orbit
"Katrina!" Exclaimed one of the two pilots. "We're receiving a spread-spectrum signal from an OZ space station nearby. I think you should come up and take a look at this."
Katrina, after exchanging a questioning look with Trowa, unbuckled her safety belt and made her way up to the cockpit. She'd barely stepped in before she spotted Fea's face on a nearby communications screen inset into the secondary piloting controls. The captain motioned for her to step over to where the screen was and then turned the volume up a notch or two.
It was one single, repetitive message, playing over and over again.
"Katrina Marquise, we have Terra and the others in custody at the OZ military research station 907-B. If you and the one remaining Gundam pilot don't come and surrender to us immediately, you'll never see your precious Terra ever again except at the funeral service. Be prepared to hand over HeavyArms, it's pilot, and yourself without hesitation or we'll simply hunt you down and capture you. You can't hide forever."
The message looped several more times before the captain reached over and turned it off.
"We just intercepted it, and it is coming from 907-B. Lady Relena told us to follow your instructions; what should we do?"
"We don't have much of a choice." Trowa said, suddenly appearing in the cockpit. "If she's broadcasting this, then she must know we're separated from the others, meaning she probably *has* captured Terra, Heero, Wufei, Quatre, and Duo. Chances of a sneak attack succeeding are slim to none, and I don't see how we can possibly go in undetected and rescue them if Fea knows we're coming."
"We can't just give up! If Fea wins, the future will die with us; there has to be a way!" She returned, desperation in her voice.
"... The important thing now is to limit the number of casualties. If we hand ourselves over to them then we stand a chance of keeping everyone alive long enough for us to make an escape. Fea's left us with no other option."
For a long moment, Kat was totally silent.
"... You're right, it is the only way." She stated reluctantly, then turned towards the captain. "Set course for 907-B, and when we get there inform them of our surrender. Follow their instructions and don't put up a fight, but make sure to tell them that the only condition to our surrender is that they let you two go unharmed."
"But Mam-!"
"That's the way it has to be. We keep casualties to a minimum. It's Trowa and me that they're after, so we're giving them what they want and no more. Understood?"
Location: OZ military research station 907-B
"Man, how are we gonna get out of this?" Duo complained. "I mean, even if we could break these manacles off, they've got guards everywhere! I tell ya, this doesn't look good."
"Duo, complaining never got anyone out of a situation like this." Heero stated. "Save your energy in case we find a way out of here."
Suddenly, the cell door unlocked loudly and opened. All four looked up as a trio of guards threw Terra into the large, dark cell and then slammed the door closed behind him. The heavy locks were reactivated with a loud 'thwam', and as Terra struggled to his feet Duo asked the question that had been on everyone's mind.
"Hey, Terra, glad to see you're still alive. What did Fea want with your DNA?"
"Are you always so straightforward, Duo?"
"Usually."
"... Turns out Fea plans to engineer cloning technology sometime soon, and wanted to make me her first test specimen. Seems Neo-OZ also at one point developed it's own cloning technology to provide and adequate number of pilots for the mobile suits they had been producing for years. She's just reproducing the information she's learned from them, bringing future technology into play years before it was originally created."
"If she intends for your clone what I'm assuming," Heero stated. "Then she has a very sick mind."
"You don't need to tell me twice." Terra stated. "... But what still doesn't make sense is how she got like this. She used to fight alongside Katrina and I, but then she got captured by Neo-OZ and switched sides just like that. It doesn't make sense!"
"Any brainwashing technology in the future that you know of, Terra?" Heero inquired.
"Katrina once suggested the same thing to me, but it's hard to confirm whether or not Neo-OZ ever actually did create brainwashing technology that could do this to Fea. Nothing seems to make sense anymore."
"Welcome to our century." Quatre stated with a small, forced laugh.
"Terra," Duo proposed. "Why don't you just go bio-Gundam and break us out of here or something?"
"Duo, if he could have just done that he would have when we landed." Chang stated.
"Yeah, and I did try. Turns out Gordon put some kind of bio-agent in our food and now it's keeping me from being able to activate Phoenix 01."
"Rule number one: never trust airline food." Duo joked. He sighed and sat back against the wall. "So, since we've got no way out of here, anybody got any suggestions for what we can do to keep from dying of boredom?"
"Maybe we can ask the guards for a chess board." Terra proposed, looking at Chang with a joking smirk.
"Just shut up." Chang returned coldly.
Two hours later...
"This is the shuttle Tetrarch calling OZ station 907-B." Katrina said as a soldier's image flashed to life on the screen in front of her. "We are prepared to surrender, but first we'd like to talk directly to-"
From somewhere off screen, Fea suddenly shoved the guard out of her way, to Katrina's slight surprise. Fea gave Katrina one look and smirked mischievously.
"You wanted to talk to me, pest?" Fea inquired.
"Here's the deal, Fea." Kat proposed, trying not to show her anger against Fea blatantly. "It's me, HeavyArms, and Trowa you're after, and we're prepared to surrender so long as you agree to let our two pilots go free and uninjured. Do we have a deal?"
"Depends. Are you going to allow us to do a thorough search of your ship?" Fea returned.
Katrina had expected this, even seen it coming. Fea was trying to use the question to see if Katrina had an ulterior motive in letting the pilots go. Katrina, having nothing to fear, faced Fea with confidence.
"What difference does it make? You seem to be the one calling all the shots, Fea; you'll search the ship whether or not you get our approval."
"Hm, finally an intelligent statement from you, Katrina. Alright, I agree to your terms of surrender. You, HeavyArms, and the pilot known as Trowa Barton become my hostages, and after we search your ship your two pilot friends are free to go. Now, proceed towards docking bay 2 and don't do anything foolish or we'll be forced to defend ourselves. Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it. You just make sure you keep your word."
A few minutes later, the sleek shuttle glided into docking bay 2 under the watchful gaze of hundreds of armed soldiers and two Leos with doberguns. Upon touchdown a small group of soldiers, under Zech's orders, entered the shuttle and escorted Katrina and Trowa out, slapping manacles on their forearms. By this time a large group of engineers had made their way to the shuttle's cargo bay hatch and were now dealing with the task of unloading HeavyArms, much to Trowa's silent disapproval.
"Take the pilot to the brig with the others, but don't hurt him." Zechs warned firmly. "The girl is in my custody, so leave her to me."
"Yes sir!"
After Trowa was lead off by a pair of uniformed guards, Zechs escorted Katrina away from the shuttle bay. Once beyond the loud noises of the bay, Katrina turned to face her father with questioning eyes.
"Why? Why aren't I being put into the brig?" She inquired.
"Katrina, I made a deal with Fea guaranteeing your safety not long after you told me your identity. I'll be taking care of you, but I also can't allow you to escape or do any damage to the base, otherwise I might not be able to protect you."
"A prison guard by any other name." She stated dejectedly. "Father, you've got to see by now that the only chance a future with true peace has is if we can stop Fea and then build the technology to send Terra and I ten years into the future. If you really care about people's lives, if you really do care about peace . . . if you really are my father, you'll help me and my friends escape and put an end to Fea's tyranny while there's still a chance."
"... I wish I could, but it's out of my hands. It'll be up to Fea and Treize Kushrenada to decide the fate of the Gundam pilots now."
"Then the Peacecraft name dies in vain." Katrina stated sadly, to Zech's surprise.
"You know??!"
"That you are also known Millyardo Peacecraft? Yes. Why else would it have been in your will that I be cared for by the Peacecraft family?" She said, not able to look Zechs in the eyes. "I figured it out early on, doing private research on your origins as Zechs Marquise. Relena tried to hide it from me for as long as she could, but eventually the truth came out. That's when I decided to join the New Earth Alliance as a bio-Gundam pilot, so I could fight to keep your memory clean and pure. That's why I call myself Katrina Marquise instead of Katrina Peacecraft, my biological name."
" . . . I, I don't know what to say..." Zechs studdered, then half-hung his head in shame. "For so long that name has haunted me, and now I realize that I've passed it on like a curse to my own daughter. A guise of an emissary of peace hiding a man who brings about bloodshed through negotiations; why must I live a double-natured life, each side irreparably stained in blood?!"
A small drop of water fell to the ground from somewhere inside the helmet as Zechs fought within himself for composure. A tear, Katrina surmised. Inside, she wished painfully that she hadn't brought up Zech's history as a Peacecraft; she had no idea it would have this effect on him. For a long moment, there was total silence between the two.
"... I understand what you must feel now, why someone with your strength hides behind an iron mask. Tell me, you first put it on because you believed it represented the cage of steel on your heart?" She inquired gently.
Zechs looked at her for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Please, but let me tell you what I saw when I looked into your eyes that first time only a few days ago." She pleaded. "It was something so incredible that it made me cry, remember? Father, when I looked into your eyes the first time, I not only saw a man who's courage can move mountains, someone who isn't afraid to fight what he sees as injustice, but I saw something so much deeper that I don't think I'll ever forget. I saw you not for what you are now, not for my father, not for an OZ soldier, not for a legend, but I saw something... somewhere beyond the years of pain and grief. I saw what you can be yet. Even now, despite your mistakes. I saw a man who, like David, searches after God's own heart, a man dead to his mistakes but alive unto the change he can implement, someone who realized he had a destiny and a purpose for living. You've got to believe in that power, just like I know you did once. I'm not asking you to believe in God, although I urge you to make that step for both our sakes. All I want is for you to believe that you are not your mistakes, and that you can make a difference. Please,... dad... for me."
The silence lasted what seemed like an infinity. Katrina's pleading eyes, despite the restraints on her forearms, looking at her father and seeming to say 'if you give freedom, you might find freedom'. Another tear fell from behind Zech's mask, breaking like it was made of hundreds of fine crystals when it hit the ground. Zechs slowly turned and looked away from Katrina, unable to bear her gaze any more.
"... I... am not worthy... to be the father of someone... so pure of heart." He managed to say.
Duo had nearly fallen asleep when suddenly the cell door opened once again. Everyone inside looked up to see Trowa be pushed in by a pair of armed guards. The guards took a brief look around the cell, then closed the door and locked it securely. Once more darkness dominated the room as Trowa's eyes began to adjust to the dark shadow that enveloped him on every side.
"Great. They got Trowa too. Something tells me we're done for." Duo said under his breath.
"And Katrina, although it appears she won't be joining us." Trowa stated in response. "This entire area is heavily guarded, and what's worse is that now they've got HeavyArms."
"That means OZ now has all five Gundams." Terra stated. "With Katrina likely infected with the bio-agent, our chances of escaping aren't looking good."
"Why don't you just go back to your praying; some of us are trying to sleep." Chang said, sounding slightly irritated. "At least that way you weren't continually making chess jokes, Terra."
"Calm down, Wufei. Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere." Heero stated.
"Something tells me nothing short of a miracle is going to get us anywhere now." Terra stated. "And, if you ask me, prayer seems like a good use of all this free time we suddenly have on our hands."
"Nobody asked you, Terra." Chang pointed out.
"Wufei, you have to admire his persistence." Quatre stated.
"No I don't."
"Hey," Duo said, suddenly piping up. "Wufei isn't the only one trying to sleep here. Think we could keep it down a few decibels?"
A day later...
Fea's work in the science labs was interrupted as a soldier came rushing in suddenly and urgently. Fea stood from her computer console and faced the man as he stood at attention.
"This had better be important."
"Mam, sir Treize's shuttle has just arrived. He's requesting that you and Kernel Zechs accompany him to see the Gundam pilots."
Fea's eyes hinted at a smirk.
"Very well. You may report to sir Treize that I'll be with him shortly."
(To be continued...)
—The stuff I own!—
-Concepts-
bio-Gundams in general
Phoenix 01
Omega 07
Omega 03
Spectrum 01
Banshee-class mobile suit
Specter-class mobile suit
The mobile suit Deathblow
bio-cells
-My characters-
Prof. Nexus
Marco
Terra Zio
Katrina Marquise
Fea Meroles
Gordon Durrarres
— Ryan's log, story #3 —
The tension builds and the drama nears the breaking points of human sanity! Whatever you do, DON'T miss the conclusion to this powerful four-part series, or you'll really wish you hadn't. I've got big plans... but you'll just have to wait and find out... hee hee hee!
