(Now, for the long awaited chapter!)

Chapter Nine

Familiar Feeling

"GET IN THERE!"

Re was tossed into a cell, his hands hand cuffed behind his back. He hit the wall hard, sliding down till he was sitting. The guards closed the cell door, glaring at Re.

"Damn Zeon Spy..."

They walked off, leaving Re sitting there alone, broken and beaten... his life was over... his honor is gone... everything he knew would change forever... all because they thought he was a spy.

Why... why do they think that...? I have every reason to hate Zeon... they killed my parents! They killed everyone I knew! They... they...!

He bared his teeth, memories rushing to mind.

They ruined my LIFE!

***12 Years ago...***

"Re, hun! You forgot your lunch!"

Re was four years old, wearing a black suit uniform for school, holding a bag to his side. He had sea green eyes and blonde hair...

"Oh, thank you, Mommy!"

He was outside of a two story house, but ran back in to a hallway, his mother standing there with a MegaMan lunch box with the picture of Zero on it. (couldn't help myself.)

She looked like she was in her early 30's, with bright blue eyes and dark brown hair that went down to her back. She had on silk pajamas, wearing an apron over it so she could make Re breakfast and his lunch. She handed him his lunch box with a smile on her face.

"Now, get to school and show all those little ladies how lucky they are to have a boy with such beautiful eyes as you."

Re began to blush awkwardly, looking down to the ground.

"Aww, mom..."

There was a honk from outside, making Re's mother and him jump.

"Oh! That must be the bus! You go off and have fun, o.k?"

Re gave a side smile to her.

"O.k!"

He ran out of the house, then turned around and gave a high wave toward her.

"Bye, Mommy!"

She smiled back at him, waving as he watched rush off to the bus, quickly getting on it.

"C'mon, kid! We don't want to be late!"

The bus drive was in his 50s, already bald and his nose hair already growing out. Re held back his laughter.

"Yes, sir."

He walked to back to the bus, but quickly saw that it was too crowded. He sighed, turning around and quickly seeing that the front had a seat free. He plopped down and looked out the window into the sky. Another kid, about his age, sat down next to him. He had short hair and thick glasses.

"Staring up at the stars again, Re?"

He gave a nod, smiling as he looked at the stares, the view of which only being on a colony can give some one. Another kid, one who was thickly built with really tanned skin and black short hair leaned over the seat above them.

"You are always looking at the stars ever since you got here from Earth. You'll get used to being able to see them soon, I'll tell you that!"

Later in the day, Re was staring out of the window in the classroom, up at the stars as the teacher gave a speech about how math is important to a student who was sleeping. Re sighed quietly, twirling his pencil in his fingers. Soon, the student went back to his seat… when the sirens began to go off. Everyone in the class went dead silent for a minute as they heard it. The intercoms in the school then came on, the principle speaking.

"Everyone, please remain in an orderly fashion while. Evacuate to the nearest shelter immediately."

Every student jumped out of their seats and ran out of the classroom, except for Re, who's eyes were wide from shock. He quickly got up and was about to leave too when he heard chatter on the intercom. He turned to it. He had heard it before, and have even heard the teachers talking about it, that the intercoms sometimes picks up the signals from the GM's radios. He stayed and listened to it the best he could.

"… Attack… damage… Zeon….. Repeat…. Sector…. Yes…Sector 47.…. Heavy damage…. Point of entrance…. Sector 47.…"

Re blinked… Sector 47? His eyes quickly grew wide as it hit him.

"That's… that's where I live!"

He rushed out of the room and out of the building, running down the sidewalk and heading to his house. He stopped as three GMs flew past, holding his arms up as they blasted wind at him, nearly blasting him off of his feet. When the gust was gone, he looked up and watched them off… then heard a huge explosion. He quickly turned… and saw his school was in flames, huge parts of it flying into the air. Re's eyes grew wide as he saw it… all of his friends… his teachers… dead… and if he hadn't heard the intercom picking up the soldier's radio… he would be dead, too.

He turned away, rushing down the sidewalk again. About 30 minutes later, he reached his neigborhood… in flames. Many buildings where either crushed or on fire…or just plain gone. Re gulped, rushing past all of the horror before him to his house. He gasped as he saw a person there…

"D-daddy!"

His father turned to him, his eyes wide. He had on a business suit, which made it uncomfortable for him to turn quickly. He had sea green eyes and blonde hair, which is where Re got them from.

"R-Re! What are you doing here!"

"I… I came here to make sure Mommy's o.k…"

His father gaped a second, then smiled, bending down and hugging him.

"I would prefer you to be in a shelter, but… that's my boy, worrying for other people… I'm proud of you for that, son."

Re gave a slight blush, hugging back. His father stood back up, patting his head with a smile on his face.

"Now, stay here until I come back with Mommy, o.k?"

Re gave a nod, watching him rush into the house. In a window, he saw his mother and father hugging each other, relieved that they are both safe, and saw his father pointing at him, telling her that he was safe, too. Re waved to them, making his mother smile. In a minute, his parents rushed out of the front door, holding a bag filled with the most important paper work they needed, and Re's little sister, Remi… that was when they heard a loud whistling noise, getting louder. Both of his parents' eyes grew wider, running faster… to no avail. A bomb landed on their house, blowing it up. The blast reach to Re's parents and sister, getting them caught in it. Re's eyes grew wide as he cried out for them, a bright light blinding him, and a red liquid hitting his eyes and the blast burning his scalp… as he laid on the ground, darkness taking over him, a voice spoke in his head…

"When trouble arises, a Hero is born. They appear from the ashes and strike down all evil in sight. They fight bravely, even if they know it's impossible. They risk everything to protect their friends and loved ones... But sometimes, the Darkness is too strong, and the Hero falls... from the corpse of the Hero, rises an unexpected ally. One who's destiny is unforeseen.

This is your destiny, that much is sure. Will you fight and be a new Hero, or will you submit, and let all of the Heros who died today die in vain? Will you shoot out into the night sky and to the Stars, or will you chain yourself to the ground?

It's all up to you, Re Hoshi…"

The next thing he knew, he was laying… somewhere… in a bed? He wasn't sure. He had bandages around his eyes and what felt like his head, feeling sheets over him. He moaned, turning his head as he felt something on his finger and on his arm… and IV? He heard high heels walk toward him, a woman's voice speaking to him.

"Don't worry, hun. You're in care now, on a Federation ship to Earth. You've been in a blast, but you've managed to escape from the worst of it. We'll be able to take off your bandages soon, too."

The woman then walked off, leaving Re there to slowly remember what happened. It slowly hit him as he remember… his family… his friends… are all dead. Everything he had, gone, just like that. In no less than an hour, his life was ruined. He slowly began to cry through his bandages, remembering his parents' faces right before they were caught in the blast.

"Hey there… don't cry…"

A man's voice spoke over him. He put a hand on Re's arm, hearing him sitting down in a chair."Who… are you…?"

The man gave a chuckle, patting his arm.

"Me? I found you out cold. I couldn't just leave you there, so I brought you so safety, right before another blast hit that area. What type of person would I be if I just left you there, kid?"

Re was silent, biting his tongue to prevent himself from crying.

"So, kid… what's your name?"

"I'm… I'm Re Hoshi…"

"Re Hoshi? Well, nice to meet you, Lovely Star!"

Re grunted, turning his head to the man, who gave a laugh.

"I think it's a good name for you, Re… a name means a lot, you know. Some cultures say that a bad name, like Hiccup, can prevent any trolls and such from coming near you. Others say that a strong name, like Verdure, will help grow him into a strong person. Your parents obviously wanted you to have a beautiful life in the stars, Re."

He paused for a moment, easily guessing what happened when he mentioned his parents to Re.

"I'm… sorry for your lose, Re… I really am. It's all from this stupid war, all because of Zeon wanting to-"

"Are… are you a soldier, sir?"

"Huh?"

The man was taken back by the question, but then chuckled.

"Yes, I am."

"Then… can you help me in getting into the Federation?"

"What?"

"I… I want to stop anything like this from happening again… I… I want to change things for the better… to stop this stupid war from hurting anyone else!"

"So, you chose to be the Hero and rise to the stars. The deaths will not be in vain then, and you can do much to change the tide of events. Now, from now on, your destiny is a mystery to all. Good luck, Re Hoshi…"

The man was silent for a moment, thinking.

"Yes I can, and I will be happy to take care of you when you're in it, in about five years or so. I doubt they will let a four year old in. And until then, since I was… a bit injured, and I have a few years off to help heal myself, I will be more then happy to train you during that time. We have five years, Lovely Star!"

Re groaned from that again, but then smiled.

"What is… your name?"

Just then, a nurse came in, smiling.

"Alright, time to take off the bandages!"

The man and the nurse helped Re sit up. The nurse then slowly unwrapped the bandages, letting his hair fall now, gasping from something. He quickly began to unwrap the bandages around his eyes.

"My name, kid? Well…"

Re slowly opened his eyes behind his now dark silver hair, looking up at the man with his blood red eyes.

"I'm Richard. Richard Army."

***Present***

Re leaned against the wall, looking down while sitting on the ground. Everything was gone once more, everything he knew was crushed before him… even Lisa believed that he had betrayed everyone.

I… I didn't betray anyone! How could I! How could I betray the man who saved me! The one I trusted most!

"Well, talk about de ja vu, huh, Re?"

Re slowly looked up, then gasped as he saw the person in front of him, who only smiled.

"See? I told you we would meet again."

"G-Gera!"

End of Chapter Nine…