Birth of a New Demon, chapter 7

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Solo woke up without the usual pain in his side, so he took it as a sign that he was getting better. The only person in there with him was his grandfather, who was staring out his window.

"Hey, Grandpa, what's up?" He wheezed. Duo turned to him and smiled.

"Hey, Solo." Duo said happily. "Daye went to the cafeteria for some lunch. She'll be back in a bit."

"Good. I want to talk to you, anyway." Solo shrugged. Duo sat down on a chair and looked attentive.

"Shoot." He said.

Solo got comfortable and looked Duo straight in the eyes.

"What attracted you to Grandma?" He asked seriously. Duo looked stupefied for a moment.

"Huh? What kind of question is that?"

"A simple one." Solo said. Duo shrugged.

"All right." He said. "Why?"

"Because I'm confused about what I'm feeling for Harmony, and I hardly know her. Not to mention the fact that she stabbed me and punctured my aorta."

"I see where this is going. Okay, I'll tell ya." And he leaned back. "I met her on this colony years ago, and she figured out I was a Gundam pilot. We arranged a meeting to discuss it, and I found out she was an assassin. Then-- she went insane." Duo grinned, but then when he resumed the grin faded. "I guess I wanted to protect her, but not really. I thought she was psycho. I started to like her because she understood me, beyond anyone else did. I don't know why she liked me, because she never wanted anyone to understand her. She hardly understood her own emotions. I tried to help her with that."

"If that was it…why didn't you guys go on a few dates then end it? That doesn't sound like the foundation for an almost forty year marriage."

"That's not it. She disappeared for two years, and I held on to the only picture I had of her and her silver cross like I was obsessed. People with just crushes don't do that. Like your father," He almost sneered, "he followed your mother like a sick dog after they met like once. When we met again, we started dating. We were…eighteen? No, seventeen. Then she disappeared again just when we were getting close, this time for three years. And when we were twenty, we moved in together. Three years later, your mother and uncle were born. We got married six months later, because after Quatre had Lela, marriage was something I was convinced was the right thing to do."

"The question was-- what attracted you to her?" Solo tried to remain patient.

"She was cool!" Duo smiled. "Naw-- I'm kidding." He paused. The second was agony for Solo. "She needed me." He said, no longer smiling. "And I needed her. I protected her from her insanity by giving her a good, normal life, and she gave up three years of that willingly so I wouldn't have to fight in a war that I would risk my life in."

"Oh." Solo breathed. That explained what he was feeling. Everything had a place. And apparently, history repeats itself. An assassin and a Gundam pilot…

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"What's the ZERO system?" Kiane asked. Aseka shot a cruel look to Kien, who turned red over the brim of his coffee cup.

"Yes, Kien, what is the ZERO system?" Aseka asked roughly, pointing her fork at him. Kiane nibbled her toast absently, watching them. She'd spent the entire night with them, asking questions about her family, and now, at breakfast, she wanted to know what the ZERO system was.

Kien took a deep breath. "ZERO system-- a cockpit system that immediately calculates battle data, pushing the pilot to his limits…almost to the point where he doesn't even fear his own death, helping him to gain absolute victory." Again as if he'd practiced.

"And you expect me to use it?" Kiane asked curiously.

"You'll have to. There's no time for training. And anyway…the instructions for rebuilding the Wing Zero that I made years ago include the ZERO system."

"Who else uses it?"

Kien didn't meet her gaze. "Er…no one. The Epyon has a version of the ZERO system…but no one's seen the Epyon in years. It was my uncle's."

"And the Wing Zero?"

"My father's. He piloted it better than anyone could." He paused, glancing at Aseka. "But I bet if your mother had piloted it, she could have done just as good."

Aseka smiled proudly. Kien cheered in his head. He'd made up for bringing up the ZERO system. Kien looked back to Kiane. "I'm claustrophobic…so the cockpit was never my place."

"Or she could use DeathsWings." Aseka prompted. "Solo would like the Wing Zero."

Kien shook his head. "Even DeathsWings is too complicated. It's as strong as the Wing Zero, remember?"

"But she'll be piloting the Wing Zero Customs. It's stronger than DeathsWings!"

"We've practically got to rebuild them all, anyway! You saw what happened to the Deathscythe!"

"Kien--"

"It's okay!" Kiane said loudly. She didn't want them to fight, not at all. "I'll handle the ZERO system." Then she paused. "Even if it kills me."

She wondered if Aseka and Kien would freak about a statement like that. But Aseka gave her a wry smile and said,

"Isn't that just how Gundam pilots should think?"

Kien was shining with pride. "With a little training…she's be a regular little Demoness." He said, a very strange smile stuck on his face. "Dad would've like to hear that. Shame I can't tell him who said it."

Kiane felt her heart lift up. Then Aseka looked right at her.

"Jay told me that your friend, Jake, is at his house."

"Jake?" Kiane asked. "I have to see him!"

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"A Gundam attacked." She repeated. Luna nodded. No other sounds.

"Ma'am?" Luna asked. The woman opened her eyes.

"Nothing. Just lost in memory." The woman sighed. "It doesn't matter. I'm sorry to say this…but don't worry about the Gundams."

"But…my grandmother…I can't just…"

"You'll have to, Lady Luna." The woman almost rose her voice. Luna went silent.

"How goes F?"

"Her little assassin got rid of our only obstacle in using the new mobile suits. Told the girl he was a traitor. She is very obedient. Lady F says that her poor training will backfire on her soon enough."

"Why is that good?" Luna questioned.

"The girl, like Shail's little girl, is extremely important to the world and colonies. Once she's out of our hair, we can draw the earth sphere back into the battle."

"Yes?"

"She doesn't know it, naturally, but still…there's always that chance that she'll find out. The Shail girl was going to be executed along with her father…but she disappeared somewhere. Harmony is gone, too. I'm beginning to worry."

"Probably both killed by the Gundam pilots. They both are a risk to them, too."

"But more to us." The woman paused. "On another note, I heard that Relena Peacecraft is finally handing down the crown to her successor. There's a rumor that it might not go to her son…like we thought... He might decline it. The same with the institution. It might not go to Winner's daughter. That's why I'm wondering if someone else knows about Earthe and Shail."

"But who would it go to?" Luna asked, a little nervous.

"I don't know. Peacecraft's grandson is the right age…but he doesn't have leadership capabilities."

"Yes…but then,"

"Your friend Zeke would also be an ideal leader, I suppose. This way…we could very easily drag the earth sphere back into the battle. He does have the Peacecraft blood."

"But he's a Merquise, I don't think he'd be accepted." Luna said, shaking her head.

"No. He's a Peacecraft by blood. Merquise is only the name his grandfather used in battle. Zeke can convert his name."

"I suppose."

"But our main threats still remain. Harmony Earthe, Sarra Shail…and Kiane Yuy."

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Next chapter: Kiane's visions show a future like none she had even imagined…

Harmony and Sarra's past and futures are also laid out, why are the three girls L3's true enemy? Does it have anything to do with three very important nations…such as Rouen, Ceres, and Sanq?

The plans become clear: Kiane Yuy must pilot a Gundam! The birth of a new Demon is coming!