"Tell me, Miss Chirus, who is your son?" Relena hoped she wasn't prying.
Sakura Chirus smiled, for the first time in years, "They tell me I'm the mother of a hero."
She shut the door.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Authors Notes: Wow, this is kinda late coming out, huh? Sorry! ^^; A lot of you have sent me some *very* good suggestions, I'll try to add them in! Thank you to: Pilot, athena, Chibi Gypsy, and Polka Dot for reviewing the last part of the story! Please continue to do so, and send me your ideas and comments.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The year is AC 209, a year after the abduction of the Gundam children. President Darlian Yuy has been newly elected into office, leaving her brother, Milliardo Peacecraft, to reestablish their Sanc Kingdom. Gundam pilots Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell have been missing for months, their wives and closest friends are the only ones with knowledge of their whereabouts. There have been several (ten and counting) attempts to capture Cho Bloom and Ling Wufei, so far, none have been successful. Wufei managed to obtain information from a soldier (who he nearly carved to pieces after trying to take his son) about the new Rebel group, "Neo-Gundam Alliance". Dorothy Catalonia Winner and Hilde Maxwell, along with Relena Darlian Yuy, have been doing their own undercover work due to the fruitless searches of their husbands...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"So Relena, you did get my message then!" A small image of Hilde exclaimed from where it was positioned on the screen of Relena's desk.
Relena nodded, "Yes, so you think that that's where they're holding them?" Hilde smiled, "Hon, I know it." Relena bit back a returning smile, "I think that we might be getting ahead of ourselves, have you talked to Dorothy?"
"Yeah, I think she was just a little *too* excited about our plan."
"You know Dorothy, she's always been too big of a fan of war." Relena brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Another image popped up on the corner of her screen.
"RELENA?! RELENA, ARE YOU THERE?!" Sally's frantic voice rang through the small computer's speakers.
"Hilde, I'll get back to you."
"Righty-O, call me back in a few."
Relena clicked out of the message and onto the new one. "Sally, what's wrong?"
"First, they shoot my husband, then they choke Trowa, THEN THEY STEAL THE KIDS FROM THE PARK!!!" She screeched in a tone that Relena had never heard her use before, "THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG!!!"
Relena blinked, trying to clear the ringing out of her ears, "Sally, calm down..."
"I will not calm down! My husband is in the hospital, a shot right through the shoulder, and my only son is gone!" Sally's appearance was frantic.
"Welcome to the club, Sally." Relena said in a bitter voice, "I've been in this situation for a year Sally, I haven't seen my son for a *year*! I missed his birthday! I wonder... I wonder if they threw him a party... if they gave him presents..." She fought back tears, "The best thing we can do right now is this..." She lowered her voice, "Hilde 'found' some information from tracking the message they sent me, she thinks she knows where their hiding place is."
Sally's eyes lit up with hope, "So we're going to do a little investigating then? What about Heero and Duo? And Quatre? Do they know about this?" She then had a mischievous tone in her voice, "Or are we not going to tell them?"
Relena grinned, "Honestly, if we told Duo and Heero where it was, don't you think that they'd be out the next day, ready to blow it up?"
"Probably."
The door flew open and a young female soldier bowed respectfully, "Madam President, we're being hailed by the rebel group, they wish to speak with you!" She turned tail and headed out the door.
Sally must have heard the girl because she responded with, "That's convenient, do you think they know?"
Relena frowned deeply, "I hope not. Contact Hilde and Dorothy... and Catherine... tell them to meet here in my office tomorrow by lunch to discuss further plans. I'll see you later."
"Bye."
^^^^^^^^ "Hello, my dear, it's a pleasure to see you again!" Lord Q cackled.
"Charmed, I'm sure." Relena said evenly.
"I wish to congratulate you on your election, your son seems to be quite pleased." Relena couldn't think of anything to respond with, so she just let him continue to talk, "That is of course when he is not training."
"I want my son back."
"I want a lot of things that I'm not getting, my dear. It seems that two of the Gundam children are newly arrived, their training will begin later today." He leaned forward, "Of course, though, your son has the highest abilities."
Relena gave him a cold stare, "I want my son back. If you do not give him, and the rest of the children back, I will *take* them back."
"Funny how we got so off topic."
"Tell me, sir, exactly what is the topic of this conversation?"
"I wish to have a meeting with you... to discuss certain rights... and such."
"I will do no such thing."
"Then your son and the other children will die." Relena felt as though she had been stabbed through the heart.
"When are we to meet?"
Lord Q grinned, "I'm glad you see it my way... you, and you alone, will come to the coordinates I will send you on your private line. You shall depart tomorrow, claiming it to be a vacation of sorts."
"I don't know how to pilot a shuttle, I'll need at least two people to come with me."
"All you have to do is insert the information I'm sending you, into the main computer of the ship."
Relena raised an eyebrow, "You have this all planned out, don't you? My risk level is quite high, don't you agree? How do I know that you won't kill me the minute I step off my shuttle?"
"You don't know."
"Fine, I'll see you then." Relena switched the line off before they could exchange anymore words.
So her options were pretty much this:
1. She could hide all the other girls, and risk bringing them along with her.
2. She could go by herself, possibly getting killed.
3. She wouldn't go, and then have the blood of five innocent children on her hands.
Guess which one she chose?
*************
"She did *WHAT*?" Duo exclaimed, pacing the room. Noin rolled her eyes towards a silent Heero and Quatre. Trowa rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and Wufei stared straight ahead.
"I told you five times all ready! Relena and the others went to meet with this Lord Q fellow." Noin stood up from her desk at the Peacecraft estate.
"So she brought the others with her?" Heero seemed slightly relieved. Noin licked her dry lips, "In a way..."
"What do you mean by 'In a way'?" Wufei grumbled.
"They weren't supposed to go, they managed to hide themselves efficiently on the shuttle." Noin explained.
"So, while Relena and Lord Q discuss whatever they need to, the other women will attempt to take the children back. Then they'd gather Relena and everyone back onto the ship, and blast away?" Trowa crossed his arms over his chest disapprovingly, "That doesn't sound like a plausible plan to me."
"That's because it's *not* the plan..." Noin corrected, she then proceeded to glance around, "Their plan was to actually leave Relena behind, getting the children away-" she held up a hand to silence the coming outbursts, "That was her plan, and she didn't tell it to me face to face. She left me a note, told the press she was going on vacation, and they were gone. Zechs and I couldn't have stopped her if we tried."
"So, she went, and is planning on dying?" Heero almost seemed angry.
"Don't get mad at me, I would have stopped her if I could! You and Duo have been away so long, it doesn't surprise me that she didn't tell you."
Duo had a guilty look on his face, "So we're supposed to sit back and wait for them to come back?"
"Apparently so." Wufei muttered.
Quatre and Zechs entered the room, "She didn't leave the coordinates to me, would any of the others have left them to you all?"
The all shook their heads, except for Heero.
"You think Relena left you the coordinates?" Noin raised an eyebrow.
"She isn't stupid, or foolish, if they wanted her alone, and then never returned her to us, then she would have left some clue." Heero stood up, walking over to Noin's desk and accessing Relena's private line.
He sat there for a minute and seemed deep in thought.
"What's wrong?" Zechs asked. Heero didn't even bother looking up, "I can't remember the password."
"Oh ho ho ho! I guess he isn't perfect after all!" Duo cried, pointing a finger. Heero did look up this time, sending him the death glare; shutting him up immediately.
Heero typed in the letters H-E-E-R-O-A-D-I-N and waited for the mailbox to load. He skimmed over the letters.
"He sent her the information." He announced. Immediately, there were six people squashed around him.
"Dear lord, that's in Saturn's rings! How did they manage that one?" Quatre cried.
"Shhhhh! She left him a message!" Duo elbowed him in the stomach.
A little image of Relena appeared at the corner of the screen.
"Hi Heero, if you're getting this message, I'm already gone. Lord Q contacted me, wishing to discuss our current situation." She paused, brushing her hair back, "Don't worry, we women can take care of ourselves quite nicely, but just remember this, love, if you do decide to come in Wing they'll kill the children and... well I guess us." A small image of Hilde pushed Relena out of the screen.
"Hilde!" She cried, trying to catch herself on the desk.
"Sorry about that Relena! I'll help you up in a second. Duo, if you are listening, the house is to be SPOTLESS when Ayame and I get back! If I find one speck of dust, I'll ring your neck with a dust rag, okay baby? Bye!" She disappeared and a slightly bedraggled Relena reappeared, adjusting her Earth Sphere United Nation uniform.
Then Sally leaned over the desk too, "Don't even think about it *Wuffy*, I hid every gun and sword in the house, you'll have to wait for our signal. Oh let's see... oh, Trowa, Catherine's coming with us. Don't look so surprised, considering they have Cho-" Trowa raised an eyebrow. "- Okay... oh yeah, Dorothy is with us too Quatre, but we really don't have to worry about her, now do we? She winked at the camera, then gave a small wave.
Relena reappeared, rolling her eyes "They are a little too excited in my opinion. Anyways, Milliardo, Noin, I'm sorry I didn't tell you in person, but if we find out anything, we'll contact you on the private line." She gave the camera a charming smile, "Remember Heero, don't go and blow anything up until I say it's safe to. I love you, bye!" Then the image message died. Heero leaned back in the chair.
Relena...
"So, I say we should all go anyway!" Wufei pounded his fist into the desk enthusiastically.
Trowa and Heero seemed to nod right away too. "Are you sure this is a wise idea? I mean what if what Relena said was true and they would kill all the children?" Quatre reasoned.
"Why don't we just prepare for a battle if the need arises? I wouldn't want an angry Relena, or any women for that matter, hanging over my shoulders." Zechs suggested.
"I totally agree, now that our Gundams are all complete, I think they deserve to be tested out a little..." Duo had that gleam in his eyes.
Heero nodded, throwing a quick glance to Zechs. "Did they reinstall the ZERO system in your Gundam?"
"No, you?"
"No."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Noin questioned. Both men shook their heads.
"Not at all."
"Hello, my dear, what a pleasure it is to meet you in person!" Relena looked up from where she exited her ship. Lord Q was a short man, mostly bald, excluding a few grays strands that hung at the bottom of his scalp. He wore a black suit, and as Relena glance around, she saw all of the people of the NGA (Neo-Gundam Alliance) had on similar ones. Surrounding her were five men, blaster arms, and dirty glares.
Oh boy, I hope the girls know what they're doing...
Relena held out her hand, "I hope we are able to settle our differences and strive towards peace between our two communities."
"I don't think that's possible." Relena looked up quite surprised as he led her down the hall.
"Why, if I may ask?"
"Because our views are too different, you want peace, we want control. You're polluting Earth with your nonsense ideas." They turned a corner on the gigantic ship. The air on it was stale and crisp at the same time, both dull and light. Mostly everything was lined with silver and black, and it seemed to Relena that there were really no warriors on this ship, but scientists. In fact dozens of people swarmed by them with clipboards, muttering out loud about what-not.
"This way-" He opened a metal door for her. They say you should never judge a book by it's cover. Well, Relena should have known better. What looked to be a little room was actually a control room, adorned with hundreds of machines and gadgets. There were about four people in the room, including a middle-aged woman who glanced up when they walked in. "Sir."
"Ahhh... Lieutenant Chirus, this is President Darlian Yuy, Madam President, this is who has been taking care of the Gundam Children." Relena meet eyes with the woman. The older woman's eyes were a deep soulful blue, and her brown hair had started to turn a shade of gray. Relena guessed she was in her early sixties.
Her eyes are so sad, I don't understand why... Relena thought. Lord Q leaned over and pushed a button on the consul. Immediately, florescent light filtered into the room as the metal plated shields were removed from a view portal. Relena couldn't help but gasp.
Inside were five Gundams, each different in every aspect. "Beautiful, aren't they?" Lord Q sighed almost dreamily.
Relena shook her head, "Nothing about a killing machine is beautiful."
Lord Q pretended not to hear her, "See the farthest one to the right? The black one with the maroon striping? We call that Prometheus. That's the suit your son pilots." Relena didn't move an inch.
"Send the children in, begin training in... 3 B formation." He released the button, and immediately, there were five children pushed inside. Relena's eyes teared up, and she pressed herself against the glass to get the best look. His hair was still like it always was, messy and falling into his eyes. He looked to be a couple of inches taller (but that was probably just Relena imagining things) and when his eyes flicked up, they seemed to meet.
He and Heero have the same eyes...
Lieutenant Chirus looked over towards the younger woman. She could understand what Relena was going through.
Adin and Ayame seemed to be emerged in a conversation, while pokey little Ryo dragged his feet behind them. Relena smiled thoughtfully, He has his father's reluctance to fight... All three of them sat in front of a computer, placing what appeared to be a circular crown on their heads.
"Turn on the simulation, I want to see if their scores improve with the ZERO system."
"WHAT?!" Relena shrieked startling everyone in the room. "You're hooking four year olds up with the ZERO SYSTEM that even full grown adults can't handle?!"
Lord Q looked up, "What's you're point?"
"YOU IDIOT! Don't you understand, you're going to make them go insane!" Relena slammed her fists down on the desk.
Lieutenant Chirus looked concerned, "The ZERO system is harmless."
"If you call making the pilot go insane and crazy, *harmless*, then I guess it is." Relena spat, pressing her hands to the bullet proof glass.
"You're familiar with it then?" Dr. Q looked surprised.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. My husband and my brother plus numerous friends have experienced it. I can tell you all of them are not proud of it."
That was all she needed to hear, Lieutenant Chirus leaned over and pressed the intercom, "That's it for now children, report back to your quarters, I'll be up with the results in a moment."
"Okay Grandyma!" All three voices chorused.
"Are Ling and Cho here to play too?" Ayame's innocent voice asked. Relena put a hand to her mouth.
"Yes, sweetie."
"Is mama here?" Adin asked out of the blue.
"I'm-" Relena began but was cut off.
"No." Lord Q cut the transmission.
"DAMN YOU!" Relena cried, almost scaring herself.
"Lieutenant Chirus, please bring the President to where she will be staying." Lieutenant Chirus dragged Relena out of the room before anymore could be said.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"Hurry up Hilde!" Dorothy hissed from where she had hidden their clothes. Hilde waved her off and finished adjusting her black hat.
"You know what? If they hadn't taken Ling, I probably would have felt bad about taking their clothes." Sally straightened her NGA uniform that she had bagged from one of the crew members that had come aboard their ship.
"Oh well, life goes on. It wasn't like we killed them or anything." Hilde indicated the four soldiers they had locked in the storage container.
"How very true." Dorothy commented dryly.
Catherine pulled her knives out of the container, and threw them back in with a *THWACK!* *THWACK!* *TWACK!*
"Please stop!" A voice sobbed from inside.
"Not until you tell us where the children are." Catherine raised her knife for another throw.
"For the love of God, they're on the fourth floor, rooms A2 to A6, just please STOP!" The muffled voice cried.
Each of the four girls grinned, proud of what they had already accomplished.
()()()()()()()()()()()
"What is the ZERO system?" Lieutenant Chirus questioned, as soon as they were out of ear shot.
Relena glared at her, surprised, "You mean, you don't know?" The old woman shook her head, "All this time he told me it was safe... that lying son of a bitch..."
"The ZERO system is complicated, but it enhances the pilots capabilities. From what Heero has told me, I guess it shows you all the possibilities you could have, and their results. He says you can see the other pilot at their death... I'm not sure though..." She sighed.
Both were quiet as they continued to walk, "Madam President, if I had know, I would not have let them use it. I swear, I wouldn't have."
Relena smiled kindly at the other woman, "You know what? I believe you. I get the feeling you've been in my situation before."
Chirus bowed her head, "You could say that. However, you have a chance to take back your son, I was never given that chance." She opened the door for Relena, shooing her inside.
"Tell me, Miss Chirus, who is your son?" Relena hoped she wasn't prying.
Sakura Chirus smiled, for the first time in years, "They tell me I'm the mother of a hero."
She shut the door.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Okay that's it for now. I like the part about Catherine throwing the knives at the poor officers, how about you? What was your favorite part? *grins* This story is getting nowhere fast, I know, but the next part is almost all about the Gundam pilots, I'm sorry I couldn't put them in here more... but what can I say? It was a Gundam women chapter...
luvs and hugs
Chibi Acky
http://minako.bored.org
blacklady.nu
Sakura Chirus smiled, for the first time in years, "They tell me I'm the mother of a hero."
She shut the door.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Authors Notes: Wow, this is kinda late coming out, huh? Sorry! ^^; A lot of you have sent me some *very* good suggestions, I'll try to add them in! Thank you to: Pilot, athena, Chibi Gypsy, and Polka Dot for reviewing the last part of the story! Please continue to do so, and send me your ideas and comments.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The year is AC 209, a year after the abduction of the Gundam children. President Darlian Yuy has been newly elected into office, leaving her brother, Milliardo Peacecraft, to reestablish their Sanc Kingdom. Gundam pilots Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell have been missing for months, their wives and closest friends are the only ones with knowledge of their whereabouts. There have been several (ten and counting) attempts to capture Cho Bloom and Ling Wufei, so far, none have been successful. Wufei managed to obtain information from a soldier (who he nearly carved to pieces after trying to take his son) about the new Rebel group, "Neo-Gundam Alliance". Dorothy Catalonia Winner and Hilde Maxwell, along with Relena Darlian Yuy, have been doing their own undercover work due to the fruitless searches of their husbands...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"So Relena, you did get my message then!" A small image of Hilde exclaimed from where it was positioned on the screen of Relena's desk.
Relena nodded, "Yes, so you think that that's where they're holding them?" Hilde smiled, "Hon, I know it." Relena bit back a returning smile, "I think that we might be getting ahead of ourselves, have you talked to Dorothy?"
"Yeah, I think she was just a little *too* excited about our plan."
"You know Dorothy, she's always been too big of a fan of war." Relena brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Another image popped up on the corner of her screen.
"RELENA?! RELENA, ARE YOU THERE?!" Sally's frantic voice rang through the small computer's speakers.
"Hilde, I'll get back to you."
"Righty-O, call me back in a few."
Relena clicked out of the message and onto the new one. "Sally, what's wrong?"
"First, they shoot my husband, then they choke Trowa, THEN THEY STEAL THE KIDS FROM THE PARK!!!" She screeched in a tone that Relena had never heard her use before, "THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG!!!"
Relena blinked, trying to clear the ringing out of her ears, "Sally, calm down..."
"I will not calm down! My husband is in the hospital, a shot right through the shoulder, and my only son is gone!" Sally's appearance was frantic.
"Welcome to the club, Sally." Relena said in a bitter voice, "I've been in this situation for a year Sally, I haven't seen my son for a *year*! I missed his birthday! I wonder... I wonder if they threw him a party... if they gave him presents..." She fought back tears, "The best thing we can do right now is this..." She lowered her voice, "Hilde 'found' some information from tracking the message they sent me, she thinks she knows where their hiding place is."
Sally's eyes lit up with hope, "So we're going to do a little investigating then? What about Heero and Duo? And Quatre? Do they know about this?" She then had a mischievous tone in her voice, "Or are we not going to tell them?"
Relena grinned, "Honestly, if we told Duo and Heero where it was, don't you think that they'd be out the next day, ready to blow it up?"
"Probably."
The door flew open and a young female soldier bowed respectfully, "Madam President, we're being hailed by the rebel group, they wish to speak with you!" She turned tail and headed out the door.
Sally must have heard the girl because she responded with, "That's convenient, do you think they know?"
Relena frowned deeply, "I hope not. Contact Hilde and Dorothy... and Catherine... tell them to meet here in my office tomorrow by lunch to discuss further plans. I'll see you later."
"Bye."
^^^^^^^^ "Hello, my dear, it's a pleasure to see you again!" Lord Q cackled.
"Charmed, I'm sure." Relena said evenly.
"I wish to congratulate you on your election, your son seems to be quite pleased." Relena couldn't think of anything to respond with, so she just let him continue to talk, "That is of course when he is not training."
"I want my son back."
"I want a lot of things that I'm not getting, my dear. It seems that two of the Gundam children are newly arrived, their training will begin later today." He leaned forward, "Of course, though, your son has the highest abilities."
Relena gave him a cold stare, "I want my son back. If you do not give him, and the rest of the children back, I will *take* them back."
"Funny how we got so off topic."
"Tell me, sir, exactly what is the topic of this conversation?"
"I wish to have a meeting with you... to discuss certain rights... and such."
"I will do no such thing."
"Then your son and the other children will die." Relena felt as though she had been stabbed through the heart.
"When are we to meet?"
Lord Q grinned, "I'm glad you see it my way... you, and you alone, will come to the coordinates I will send you on your private line. You shall depart tomorrow, claiming it to be a vacation of sorts."
"I don't know how to pilot a shuttle, I'll need at least two people to come with me."
"All you have to do is insert the information I'm sending you, into the main computer of the ship."
Relena raised an eyebrow, "You have this all planned out, don't you? My risk level is quite high, don't you agree? How do I know that you won't kill me the minute I step off my shuttle?"
"You don't know."
"Fine, I'll see you then." Relena switched the line off before they could exchange anymore words.
So her options were pretty much this:
1. She could hide all the other girls, and risk bringing them along with her.
2. She could go by herself, possibly getting killed.
3. She wouldn't go, and then have the blood of five innocent children on her hands.
Guess which one she chose?
*************
"She did *WHAT*?" Duo exclaimed, pacing the room. Noin rolled her eyes towards a silent Heero and Quatre. Trowa rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and Wufei stared straight ahead.
"I told you five times all ready! Relena and the others went to meet with this Lord Q fellow." Noin stood up from her desk at the Peacecraft estate.
"So she brought the others with her?" Heero seemed slightly relieved. Noin licked her dry lips, "In a way..."
"What do you mean by 'In a way'?" Wufei grumbled.
"They weren't supposed to go, they managed to hide themselves efficiently on the shuttle." Noin explained.
"So, while Relena and Lord Q discuss whatever they need to, the other women will attempt to take the children back. Then they'd gather Relena and everyone back onto the ship, and blast away?" Trowa crossed his arms over his chest disapprovingly, "That doesn't sound like a plausible plan to me."
"That's because it's *not* the plan..." Noin corrected, she then proceeded to glance around, "Their plan was to actually leave Relena behind, getting the children away-" she held up a hand to silence the coming outbursts, "That was her plan, and she didn't tell it to me face to face. She left me a note, told the press she was going on vacation, and they were gone. Zechs and I couldn't have stopped her if we tried."
"So, she went, and is planning on dying?" Heero almost seemed angry.
"Don't get mad at me, I would have stopped her if I could! You and Duo have been away so long, it doesn't surprise me that she didn't tell you."
Duo had a guilty look on his face, "So we're supposed to sit back and wait for them to come back?"
"Apparently so." Wufei muttered.
Quatre and Zechs entered the room, "She didn't leave the coordinates to me, would any of the others have left them to you all?"
The all shook their heads, except for Heero.
"You think Relena left you the coordinates?" Noin raised an eyebrow.
"She isn't stupid, or foolish, if they wanted her alone, and then never returned her to us, then she would have left some clue." Heero stood up, walking over to Noin's desk and accessing Relena's private line.
He sat there for a minute and seemed deep in thought.
"What's wrong?" Zechs asked. Heero didn't even bother looking up, "I can't remember the password."
"Oh ho ho ho! I guess he isn't perfect after all!" Duo cried, pointing a finger. Heero did look up this time, sending him the death glare; shutting him up immediately.
Heero typed in the letters H-E-E-R-O-A-D-I-N and waited for the mailbox to load. He skimmed over the letters.
"He sent her the information." He announced. Immediately, there were six people squashed around him.
"Dear lord, that's in Saturn's rings! How did they manage that one?" Quatre cried.
"Shhhhh! She left him a message!" Duo elbowed him in the stomach.
A little image of Relena appeared at the corner of the screen.
"Hi Heero, if you're getting this message, I'm already gone. Lord Q contacted me, wishing to discuss our current situation." She paused, brushing her hair back, "Don't worry, we women can take care of ourselves quite nicely, but just remember this, love, if you do decide to come in Wing they'll kill the children and... well I guess us." A small image of Hilde pushed Relena out of the screen.
"Hilde!" She cried, trying to catch herself on the desk.
"Sorry about that Relena! I'll help you up in a second. Duo, if you are listening, the house is to be SPOTLESS when Ayame and I get back! If I find one speck of dust, I'll ring your neck with a dust rag, okay baby? Bye!" She disappeared and a slightly bedraggled Relena reappeared, adjusting her Earth Sphere United Nation uniform.
Then Sally leaned over the desk too, "Don't even think about it *Wuffy*, I hid every gun and sword in the house, you'll have to wait for our signal. Oh let's see... oh, Trowa, Catherine's coming with us. Don't look so surprised, considering they have Cho-" Trowa raised an eyebrow. "- Okay... oh yeah, Dorothy is with us too Quatre, but we really don't have to worry about her, now do we? She winked at the camera, then gave a small wave.
Relena reappeared, rolling her eyes "They are a little too excited in my opinion. Anyways, Milliardo, Noin, I'm sorry I didn't tell you in person, but if we find out anything, we'll contact you on the private line." She gave the camera a charming smile, "Remember Heero, don't go and blow anything up until I say it's safe to. I love you, bye!" Then the image message died. Heero leaned back in the chair.
Relena...
"So, I say we should all go anyway!" Wufei pounded his fist into the desk enthusiastically.
Trowa and Heero seemed to nod right away too. "Are you sure this is a wise idea? I mean what if what Relena said was true and they would kill all the children?" Quatre reasoned.
"Why don't we just prepare for a battle if the need arises? I wouldn't want an angry Relena, or any women for that matter, hanging over my shoulders." Zechs suggested.
"I totally agree, now that our Gundams are all complete, I think they deserve to be tested out a little..." Duo had that gleam in his eyes.
Heero nodded, throwing a quick glance to Zechs. "Did they reinstall the ZERO system in your Gundam?"
"No, you?"
"No."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Noin questioned. Both men shook their heads.
"Not at all."
"Hello, my dear, what a pleasure it is to meet you in person!" Relena looked up from where she exited her ship. Lord Q was a short man, mostly bald, excluding a few grays strands that hung at the bottom of his scalp. He wore a black suit, and as Relena glance around, she saw all of the people of the NGA (Neo-Gundam Alliance) had on similar ones. Surrounding her were five men, blaster arms, and dirty glares.
Oh boy, I hope the girls know what they're doing...
Relena held out her hand, "I hope we are able to settle our differences and strive towards peace between our two communities."
"I don't think that's possible." Relena looked up quite surprised as he led her down the hall.
"Why, if I may ask?"
"Because our views are too different, you want peace, we want control. You're polluting Earth with your nonsense ideas." They turned a corner on the gigantic ship. The air on it was stale and crisp at the same time, both dull and light. Mostly everything was lined with silver and black, and it seemed to Relena that there were really no warriors on this ship, but scientists. In fact dozens of people swarmed by them with clipboards, muttering out loud about what-not.
"This way-" He opened a metal door for her. They say you should never judge a book by it's cover. Well, Relena should have known better. What looked to be a little room was actually a control room, adorned with hundreds of machines and gadgets. There were about four people in the room, including a middle-aged woman who glanced up when they walked in. "Sir."
"Ahhh... Lieutenant Chirus, this is President Darlian Yuy, Madam President, this is who has been taking care of the Gundam Children." Relena meet eyes with the woman. The older woman's eyes were a deep soulful blue, and her brown hair had started to turn a shade of gray. Relena guessed she was in her early sixties.
Her eyes are so sad, I don't understand why... Relena thought. Lord Q leaned over and pushed a button on the consul. Immediately, florescent light filtered into the room as the metal plated shields were removed from a view portal. Relena couldn't help but gasp.
Inside were five Gundams, each different in every aspect. "Beautiful, aren't they?" Lord Q sighed almost dreamily.
Relena shook her head, "Nothing about a killing machine is beautiful."
Lord Q pretended not to hear her, "See the farthest one to the right? The black one with the maroon striping? We call that Prometheus. That's the suit your son pilots." Relena didn't move an inch.
"Send the children in, begin training in... 3 B formation." He released the button, and immediately, there were five children pushed inside. Relena's eyes teared up, and she pressed herself against the glass to get the best look. His hair was still like it always was, messy and falling into his eyes. He looked to be a couple of inches taller (but that was probably just Relena imagining things) and when his eyes flicked up, they seemed to meet.
He and Heero have the same eyes...
Lieutenant Chirus looked over towards the younger woman. She could understand what Relena was going through.
Adin and Ayame seemed to be emerged in a conversation, while pokey little Ryo dragged his feet behind them. Relena smiled thoughtfully, He has his father's reluctance to fight... All three of them sat in front of a computer, placing what appeared to be a circular crown on their heads.
"Turn on the simulation, I want to see if their scores improve with the ZERO system."
"WHAT?!" Relena shrieked startling everyone in the room. "You're hooking four year olds up with the ZERO SYSTEM that even full grown adults can't handle?!"
Lord Q looked up, "What's you're point?"
"YOU IDIOT! Don't you understand, you're going to make them go insane!" Relena slammed her fists down on the desk.
Lieutenant Chirus looked concerned, "The ZERO system is harmless."
"If you call making the pilot go insane and crazy, *harmless*, then I guess it is." Relena spat, pressing her hands to the bullet proof glass.
"You're familiar with it then?" Dr. Q looked surprised.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. My husband and my brother plus numerous friends have experienced it. I can tell you all of them are not proud of it."
That was all she needed to hear, Lieutenant Chirus leaned over and pressed the intercom, "That's it for now children, report back to your quarters, I'll be up with the results in a moment."
"Okay Grandyma!" All three voices chorused.
"Are Ling and Cho here to play too?" Ayame's innocent voice asked. Relena put a hand to her mouth.
"Yes, sweetie."
"Is mama here?" Adin asked out of the blue.
"I'm-" Relena began but was cut off.
"No." Lord Q cut the transmission.
"DAMN YOU!" Relena cried, almost scaring herself.
"Lieutenant Chirus, please bring the President to where she will be staying." Lieutenant Chirus dragged Relena out of the room before anymore could be said.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"Hurry up Hilde!" Dorothy hissed from where she had hidden their clothes. Hilde waved her off and finished adjusting her black hat.
"You know what? If they hadn't taken Ling, I probably would have felt bad about taking their clothes." Sally straightened her NGA uniform that she had bagged from one of the crew members that had come aboard their ship.
"Oh well, life goes on. It wasn't like we killed them or anything." Hilde indicated the four soldiers they had locked in the storage container.
"How very true." Dorothy commented dryly.
Catherine pulled her knives out of the container, and threw them back in with a *THWACK!* *THWACK!* *TWACK!*
"Please stop!" A voice sobbed from inside.
"Not until you tell us where the children are." Catherine raised her knife for another throw.
"For the love of God, they're on the fourth floor, rooms A2 to A6, just please STOP!" The muffled voice cried.
Each of the four girls grinned, proud of what they had already accomplished.
()()()()()()()()()()()
"What is the ZERO system?" Lieutenant Chirus questioned, as soon as they were out of ear shot.
Relena glared at her, surprised, "You mean, you don't know?" The old woman shook her head, "All this time he told me it was safe... that lying son of a bitch..."
"The ZERO system is complicated, but it enhances the pilots capabilities. From what Heero has told me, I guess it shows you all the possibilities you could have, and their results. He says you can see the other pilot at their death... I'm not sure though..." She sighed.
Both were quiet as they continued to walk, "Madam President, if I had know, I would not have let them use it. I swear, I wouldn't have."
Relena smiled kindly at the other woman, "You know what? I believe you. I get the feeling you've been in my situation before."
Chirus bowed her head, "You could say that. However, you have a chance to take back your son, I was never given that chance." She opened the door for Relena, shooing her inside.
"Tell me, Miss Chirus, who is your son?" Relena hoped she wasn't prying.
Sakura Chirus smiled, for the first time in years, "They tell me I'm the mother of a hero."
She shut the door.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Okay that's it for now. I like the part about Catherine throwing the knives at the poor officers, how about you? What was your favorite part? *grins* This story is getting nowhere fast, I know, but the next part is almost all about the Gundam pilots, I'm sorry I couldn't put them in here more... but what can I say? It was a Gundam women chapter...
luvs and hugs
Chibi Acky
http://minako.bored.org
blacklady.nu