Arabic Prince
Chapter Five: The Coldest Heart

After flying for what seemed to by forever, the OZ planes finally landed at a base located in Britan. Cassie stepped out first, looking at the cloudy day that greeted her. Walking down the airplane steps, she watched as all 40 of Quatre's bodyguards were unloaded from a neighboring carrier plane.

Cassie stopped in her tracks when they unloaded Quatre. He walked behind all his bodyguards, looking up at Cassie. Cassie just lowered her head as she continued down the steps.

"Ah, Cassie." General Paul replied as he walked up to his daughter, arms open.

"Dad..." Cassie answered, shocked to see him there.

"Good job. VERY good job." General Paul praised as he hugged his daughter. "You have made me, as well as OZ proud! Not only did you find the Desert Gundam, but its pilot as well."

"Father, you told me only to FIND the Desert Gundam." Cassie replied, pulling away from her father. "You didn't say anything about arresting the pilot, his crew and apprehending the Gundam itself."

"That was before your accident my dear." General Pual answered. "I put Ryo in charge and gave him new orders. Not only to find and rescue you, but arrest the ones that attacked you during the sandstorm."

"Attacked me?" Cassie asked, a bit confused. "Father, they didn't attack me! The Guerillas did! They saved me, father! If you need to arrest someone, arrest the guerillas!"

"Cassie, listen to me." General Paul replied, putting his hands on her shoulders. "That Gundam pilot and his men are ruthless killers. You should be glad Ryo found you when he did!"

Cassie watched as Quatre and his men--guided by several OZ soldiers--disappeared into the base's main building.

"What's going to happen to them?" Cassie asked, looking up at her father.

"There's no need to worry, Cassie." General Paul answered. "They shall be dealt with accordingly."

Cassie just pushed her father, as she headed towards the main building.

Ryo walked up to General Paul, watching Cassie walk away.

"I think she's become attached to the Gundam pilot." Ryo spoke softly to General Paul.

"We must sever that attachment quickly." General Paul replied.

"What do you want me and my men to do?" Asked Ryo as he glanced at General Paul.

"I'll take care of Cassie." General Paul answered. "You and your men deal with the Gundam pilot and his men."

"Yes sir." Ryo answered with a bow.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seven-year-old Cassie sat down in the church. Her grandmother sat next to her, a box of tissues in her lap. The tears fell from her eyes as the coffin of Cassie's grandmother was closed. Several male relatives walked up to the closed coffin and lifted it up over their shoulders slowly.

Cassie looked through the crowd, trying hard to find her father. She just sighed in disappointment as her grandmother held her hand and wept. Cassie looked at her mother's coffin that was gently being carried out towards the hearse.

"You have the courage to become anything you want. You have the strength to do whatever you please. Just believe in yourself, and you will go far." Echoed the words of her mother.

Cassie held the silver hairpin close to her heart as she watched them place her mother's coffin into the ground.

Mother...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I say we kill the Gundam pilot first." Spoke an OZ soldier as he cocked his gun.

"No. We'll save him for last." Ryo answered, blocking the soldier with his arm. "Kill his crew in whatever manner you please. But the Gundam pilot is mines. I want him to die a slow and painful death."

"Master Quatre..." Whispered a bodyguard that sat next to him.

"It's all right. No need to worry." Quatre whispered reasuring to his bodyguard.

"We shouldn't have trusted that girl." Spoke binocular man, full of anger.

Two OZ soldiers walked past them as they headed towards the exit. Binocular man looked at Quatre and noticed a distant look in his eyes.

"Master Quatre, I've been meaning to ask you something." Binocular man replied, catching Quatre's attention. "Back when OZ was attacking us...why did you go after her? Why didn't you just let her go?"

Quatre just smiled and leaned up against the wall.

"I know you might find my answer a bit strange, but it's the truth." Quatre replied, looking up towards the ceiling.

Binocular man looked at Quatre, waiting for an answer.

"I felt a need to protect her." Quatre answered. "She has a good heart, a pure soul. She's just in the wrong place."

"Master Quatre..."

"I'm just worried now." Quatre replied, looking down at the ground. "Not about my own safety, but for Cassie's safety. Something's wrong here and I fear that Cassie will have to pay for it with her life..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cassie wore a formal Lieutenant uniform, while her General Paul wore a formal General uniform. One of the servants placed a glass of white wine before Cassie. She just looked at the drink, as General Paul took a sip of his.

"Cheer up, Cassie." General Paul answered as he wiped his mouth. "You've succeeded in your mission and have made me as well as OZ very proud. Celebrate!"

Cassie just looked at her drink before pushing it away. General Paul watched as the cup tipped over and as they wine spilled everywhere. He put his napkin down in this lap and looked up at Cassie.

"What's the matter?" General Paul asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Dad, please re-consider you decision about Quatre!" Cassie begged, looking General Paul in the eyes. "He's innocnet, please father! He doesn't deserve to be treated like this!"

"He is our enemy, Cassie." General Paul answered, looking casually at the table. "And being our enemy, he must pay with his life for going up against OZ."

The servant placed the tray down on the table by the door. As he began to close the door, he locked then shut the door behind him.

"But he's not LIKE the other Gundam pilots, father!" Cassie shouted. "If you just take time to see that..."

Within a blink of an eye, General Paul removed his gun and aimed it at Cassie's head. Cassie slid back in her seat, her eyes full of shock and fear. General Paul just held the gun to his daughter's head, a cold look in his eyes.

"Dad...what are you doing??" Cassie asked, bit afraid.

General Paul just remained silent as he cocked his gun.

"You're too much like your mother." General Paul answered, a cold tone in his voice.

Cassie stared at the cold barrel of her father's gun, full of fear.

"Dad...stop it." Cassie pleaded.

"You weren't suppose to live." General Paul replied, pressing the gun on Cassie's forehead.

"W-what are you saying??" Cassie asked, looking at her father, terrified.

"You were suppose to DIE in that desert." General Paul answered, shocking Cassie.

"Then why...send Ryo for me?" Cassie asked.

"He was suppose to find your body. I didn't anticipate on finding you alive...and with the Gundam pilot." General Paul answered.

Cassie looked at the gun held to her head then at her father's emotionless face.

Gundam Wing © Sotsu Agency, Sunrise and ANB
Arabic Prince - CrystalKeeper 01-02