Birth of a New Demon
*AnimeCat is totally surrounded by chibis. not even regular GW ones…just… chibis. lots of weird looking ones because lately AC has been breeding them with her friends and now she has w-a-a-a-a-a-y too many. the weirdest one yet has to be the tenshi AnimeCat called Calypso who never shuts up…God only knows how this happened...*
Tenshi Calypso: K, AC…the psych ward expects you in at 4….
AnimeCat: CALYPSO!!!!!
Tenshi Calypso: What?
AnimeCat: *turns to readers and smiles nervously* Um…..I have no idea what she's talking about…..heh heh heh…
Tenshi Calypso: That's why they keep inviting you back, duuuu~uh…
AnimeCat: CALYPSO!!!
@-------
"What poem did you name DeathsWings after?" Kiane asked as she and Aseka walked to the base. No one noticed them. Aseka looked at her curiously for just a moment, but she didn't ask Kiane to repeat the question.
"Mom and Dad started building DeathsWings when I was thirteen. When she was done, I was allowed to name her." She said.
"'Her'?" Kiane asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Aseka smiled as the door opened. "You'll find, Kiane, that the Gundams are much more than they seem. All of us have ending up talking to our suits and referring to them as 'He' and 'She' rather than 'It'."
"Why…?" Kiane asked.
"It just seems that Gundams have a mind of their own. And the Zero, in most cases, seems to be the one with the greatest intelligence of all."
"But about the poem--"
"Oh, yeah." Aseka remembered. "So, I had to name her. I wanted originally name her Death Star or Space Scythe. But they all sounded pathetic. So I heard this poem once…and there it was. Her name had been chosen."
"What is it?"
"'On great white wings they fly, these demons of the night…' Oh, I don't remember the whole thing…but the ending line was, 'The wings they fly with are deaths wings'. And so my suit had a name."
"Wow."
"Thank you." Aseka smiled. Aseka could hear talking. No big surprise, really, but she had Kiane with her. And not many people knew who she was. And what she'd been hearing rang true. Jay, Marin, and the boy, Jake, came into view. Jay looked very angry. He heard Aseka coming and turned around. His face lit up at the sight of her momentarily, until he saw Kiane.
"What's she doing here? Are you mad, Aseka?" Jay growled. Kiane became alarmed. Out of his back pocket he pulled out a gun. Kiane was cautious, but something inside her told her not to worry. Her mother would protect her.
"Well, what about the boy?" Aseka snarled right back.
"He saved Marin. He's been helping me out. I trust him." Jay replied.
"I trust Kian!" Aseka said loudly. Jake and Marin shot each other very frightened looks. Jay didn't put the gun down. "Jay," Aseka continued icily, "put the damn gun down!"
He lowered it slowly. "You've only known her about a week or so." Jay said.
"I've known this girl all my life." Aseka argued defiantly. "She's my daughter, Kiane."
Kiane looked up at Aseka with awe. She hadn't expected that. But maybe…yes, she had expected it. Aseka had known no other way to prove Kiane trustworthy. Jay dropped the gun. Marin's jaw dropped, and Jake merely backed away into a dark corner.
"Aseka…are you sure?" Jay gasped.
"Yes. It's her." Aseka said boldly. Kiane smiled feebly. Jay's face broke into a wide smile. He let out some sort of loud happy shout.
"That's wonderful! God, Kiane-- no one expected to really see you again!"
"Jay!" Aseka silenced that comment. Jay looked a little abashed, but continued happily.
"Wow! I can't wait till everyone finds out! Man-- we'll have a party or something…you know you gotta take her to the Sanq Kingdom to see Miss Relena and Heero…the old man'll kill ya if you don't. I mean really, she is the heiress to the Sanq Kingdom…"
Marin looked ecstatic. "It's you, Kiane? I was too young to remember you…but wow! I'd wanted to see you really bad!"
Kiane smiled at her enthusiasm. Aseka shook her head.
"We can't introduce her to everyone yet." She said stiffly. Jay seemed to pale.
"What?"
"We can't have this sort of reaction from everyone. Kien agrees with me."
"Aseka!" Jay almost screamed. "This isn't one of your little battle tactics we're talking about…all secret and crap like that… Aseka, this is your daughter we're talking about! They have to know! They're related to her, too, you know!"
"Jay…" Aseka growled. Jay returned it.
"I don't care what the hell you say." He snarled. "I'm telling Lela and Anthony, Miss Relena and Heero, whoever the hell I feel like. She's my niece."
Aseka went pale. Kiane didn't say anything. "All right, then." Aseka gave in. "During Solo's welcome home party tomorrow."
Kiane felt suddenly uplifted. She's be meeting her other grandparents on the same day they'd be finding out about her…wow. What a day that'd be!
"Does Solo know about her?" Jay persisted.
"Not yet."
"That's the first person you need to introduce her to. Her brother."
"We've met." Kiane said softly. "He didn't know who I was…but I have seen him, and he even compared me to my grandmother."
"Oh." Jay said.
"Okay, Little D, I'll take her today during visiting hours." Aseka agreed. Jay smiled again.
"You're rebuilding the Wing Zero, aren't ya? That's why you're here. There's no time for training…so you're relying on ZERO."
Aseka smiled. "You read my mind, bro. We're hoping she can master the system."
"That's a pretty big assumption to make, Big D. Kien couldn't handle it…neither could Dad…he said so himself."
"But she's not just Duo's granddaughter, she's Heero's granddaughter at the same time. I even see a bit of Miss Relena in her."
"Ooo…watch out, sis, she might become a mini Relena Peacecraft. Always preaching pacifism crap."
Kiane keeled over, her head pounding with images. She cried out in pain.
"And I leave it to you, now, to see if I am fit to led the Sanq Kingdom…" Clapping…what are these people applauding her for? Ah…the scene is changing…the same people…different clothes…they assemble themselves before her. "…There was an attempt on my life… Why? Pacifism must no longer be something merely discussed by Aristocrats! It must be breathed, tasted, and felt by our people!"
"Ah!" Kiane screamed. Aseka held on to her tightly for support. Kiane rested her head against Aseka's shoulder and took a deep breath.
"I wish I could take them away from you, Kiane…" She whispered. "Mine hurt, too, well…that was because I sometimes banged my head against things to get them."
Kiane smiled. The throbbing went away slowly.
"What did you see?" Jay asked eagerly. Aseka shot him a dirty look, but Kiane nodded.
"It's okay, Mom, I'll spill." She said and stood up without support.
"Go on." Jay urged.
"I saw a gathering…there were many people there…all dressed up…and I saw myself…I was talking so strange! Something about living by true peace or something…" She trailed off.
Jay grunted.
"Great. A premonition about her and a pacifism cause. I guess I shouldn't have opened my mouth, huh?"
Visiting hour was almost up, and no visitors except for Harmony, but she'd left a few minutes ago. Cedric had been with her briefly, talking about "stashing" Harmony and Sarra safely in the old base until the big battle was over. Solo had merely shrugged. Harmony was his concern, not Sarra. But now Cedric was taking some lost little girl under his wing. Solo didn't get it. Then again, he didn't understand his situation with Harmony, either, so he didn't have a place to say anything. Sarra didn't even seem to like Cedric all that much, but Solo did get the feeling she was willing to let him help her out.
The door opened and a nurse came in.
"Mr. Yuy," She said formally. He couldn't get her to call him anything but. "Your mother is here to see you with a young girl."
Solo nodded, wondering whom she meant. Harmony wouldn't have come with his mother, Marin had school, and Quatrine was with Lela in some pacifist seminar.
His mother came in, smiling and bright, and he waved. Behind her, was a young girl his age. He recognized her instantly from a few weeks before.
"Hey, Mom." He said, surprised. "I've seen you before." He said to the girl.
"Solo…um…I have something very important to tell you." Aseka said seriously. Solo tried not to laugh at her expression. The girl was blushing madly.
"Shoot." He said easily.
The girl stepped forward and put out her hand. He shook it, still slightly surprised. "You're feeling better?" She asked. He nodded.
"Yeah. Thanks." He said, smiling.
"Remember when we first met a few weeks ago? You said I looked like your grandmother."
"Uh…yeah, sure." Solo said. The girl looked very nervous, but put her head up with pride and said boldly,
"That's because I'm related to her. Daye Maxwell, Duo Maxwell, Heero Yuy, and Relena Peacecraft are all my grandparents. As Aseka D. Maxwell-Yuy and Kien Yuy are my parents. My name is Kiane Yuy."
Solo looked unaffected for barely a moment. A strange…awed look came over his face and he laid back on his pillow.
"You're Kiane?" He breathed. He smiled and shut his eyes. "I knew you'd come back…" She heard him whisper. He opened his eyes again. "Come back when I'm not so tired. We gotta talk, sis, we really do."
Lela wouldn't stop hugging her. Heero kept staring at her with a wide-eyed stare his wife couldn't smack out of him. Daye and Duo kept looking at her proudly. Anthony kept shaking his head in amazement. Marin and Cedric had joined in song, while Solo, from his spot on the couch, threw peanuts at them from a dish, laughing the whole time. Quatrine smiled and kissed her cheeks repeatedly. Jay and his wife, Katrina, talked to her constantly about her years away from the family. Kiane had never had so much fun.
Jake was looking sullen. She tried talking to him, but was always dragged away by a family member. She met Lela's father, Anthony's parents, and finally, Harmony, the girl who'd stabbed her brother. She came in unexpected, and the room had froze at the sight of her. But Solo welcomed her in without question, and eventually, the room warmed up to her. Kiane was reluctant to make friends with Harmony, but after talking for just a few minutes with her, she discovered that Harmony wasn't half-bad. Solo had good taste, she noted. She met Sarra, and really liked the girl, despite her cool attitude towards everyone. She must be as alien to this as I, Kiane thought.
She glanced over at Daye and Duo a lot, as Relena tried to explain her pacifism to Kiane. Kiane wasn't really paying attention, but it did sound good enough. Duo and Daye weren't very tall, only an inch or two above herself, and their children were hardly taller. But there was something else about them that made them ten feet tall. Daye could not be called fragile, not even at her age. There was a fierceness in her eyes and a power behind her voice.
Kiane saw it in all of her family. They all seemed ageless, no matter what they looked like. Her other grandmother, Relena, could be called fragile, but even then, she had a passion that kept a light burning within her. She looked to Duo and Heero, who were having a conversation in which Heero couldn't help but smile.
"Admit it, Heero!" Duo laughed. "You had no idea we'd ever live this long! Admit it!"
"Yeah, Duo," Heero sighed, running a hand through his moss green hair only slightly streaked with gray, "I never even dreamed we'd live this long." He looked over to Aseka. "About your daughter--" He said thoughtfully. "Damn, Duo…I don't know how you did it but she was trained good!"
Duo smiled proudly. "Yeah, I know. We went a little overboard, but it was for the best."
Heero met Kiane's gaze. She knew what he was thinking. She'll be piloting the Wing Zero…my Gundam…it's hers now…I hope she can handle the ZERO system…
She smiled at him. He grinned back and turned back to Duo. Kiane looked back to Relena.
"Your father doesn't want the nation…" She was saying. "And Lela wants to remain out here with her family. I don't know what I'm going to do with the institution…but the nation's yours if you think you can handle it…I was fifteen, as well."
"I don't know…" Kiane sighed. Relena nodded.
"It's fine." Relena smiled. "I'm holding on for a bit longer anyway. There's time to decide."
"Grandmother…" Kiane broke in suddenly, looking at Jake.
"Yes?" Relena asked politely.
"I need to talk to Jake. I'll be back in a second." She answered, standing up. Relena nodded and began talking about peace to Sarra, who only looked mildly interested.
"Jake," Kiane started. He smiled a little.
"Kian, it's nice to talk to you, you know, we've both been so busy lately…"
"Jake, please…"
"Kian-- wait, I should be calling you Kiane now, shouldn't I? It is your name."
"Where've you been?" Kiane asked.
"Jay let me stay with him and his family. He's really nice. Marin is great. So is her mother. You've been staying with Aseka, right? This will be your house-- wow. I like it."
Kiane looked over at Marin, who was using a laptop. Her mother was scolding her about bringing it to the party, but Marin looked horrified. She stood up and whistled loudly. Everyone looked to her.
"Everybody…the Tallgeese! It's here! Just a mile from the colony! It's fighting some Gemini as we speak!"
A shudder went through Kiane as the room went deathly silent.
"The Tallgeese was destroyed." Four voices stated coldly. Jay looked suddenly very ashamed. Heero, Duo, Trowa, and Quatre all looked very upset.
"Jay," Daye started icily, seeing the expression on her husband's face. "What are you keeping from us?"
"It's impossible!" Harmony shrieked. "Eef ze Tallgeese 'as already been built, Jeremy Shail died for no reason!"
Sarra looked as if she could die. She'd totally avoided Harmony, and it was only Cedric who kept her from jumping Harmony.
"I thought Marin had made a mistake…that's why I didn't tell! Oh God," He looked freaked. "We have to capture it! We have to find out who the pilot is!"
"And how will we do this?" Heero asked coldly. "The Gundams are in horrible shape."
"DeathsWings isn't that bad off." Aseka muttered quietly. "But it's Solo's, and he can't…"
She looked around the room. "There's no time for someone to just attempt to pilot her."
"Is DeathsWings any match for the Tallgeese?" Kiane asked.
"Yes, if the pilot is experienced." Aseka said, deep in thought. Everyone watched her. "I'll have to do it." She said coldly.
"Aseka!" Kien sputtered. "Alone? I'd go with you, but the Wing Zero…please don't go alone…"
"Oh, Kien." Aseka said impatiently. She turned to everyone. "I can do this. Leave it to me. I'll be back as soon as I can." And she kissed her family goodbye and ran out the door before anyone else could stop her.
The party had come to a terrifying stop. Kien clutched Solo and Kiane's hands with his face pale and sickly. Kiane squeezed his hand in return to comfort him, watching Jake with a weary eye. Relena was muttering something under her breath, and Heero and Marin, who sat next to her, were continuously rolling their eyes. Kiane caught "True peace" among her words along with "Dropping all armaments".
Someone opened the door after a very silent hour. Aseka trooped in, her face sweaty and red, but smiling.
"I haven't had that much fun in years!" She laughed.
"Are you all right?" Kiane leaped up and shouted.
"Never better!" Aseka smiled. She opened the door a little wider. A young woman followed her inside. She bright red hair going a little past her shoulders, a very slight tan, and mahogany-colored eyes. She looked well dressed, in a sleeveless dress with one strap, and a pale blue color splashed with red crescent moons and stars.
"Lady Une?" Five voices chorused in astonished voices. The girl looked up, startled. She gave an amused smile. The resemblance was unmistakable.
"No." She smiled, but her eyes were sad. "Lady Une was my grandmother. My name is Lady Luna Une."
"Aseka…what…?" Duo tried. Aseka shut the door.
"She was piloting the Tallgeese." Aseka stated roughly. Luna looked around the room curiously.
"Now I know why the Deathscythe protected L2. You all are here." She saw Harmony and Sarra, and let out a gasp. "Harmony! Sarra!" She shouted.
"'Ow do you know my name?" Harmony hissed.
"Ditto." Sarra snarled. Luna sighed.
"I had to warn you." Was all she said.
"What?" Everyone said in unison.
"My grandmother was prepared to die for you." She said, glancing at the older pilots. "And I didn't know that I would be fighting you. I loved my grandmother very much. I'm not about to make her turn in her grave and kill your families." She glanced casually around at the younger pilots. "It is apparent to me that you've handed your Gundams down to your children and grandchildren. I didn't know that you all lived on L2. So I'm risking my job to warn you."
"About what?" Heero asked.
"We know about your repairing the Gundams to end the war." Luna sighed. "And believe me, L3 has been doing the same."
"Pardon?" Heero continued.
"We have taken over the Tallgeese and Epyon." Luna said.
"Epyon…?" Heero breathed hoarsely. "Both of them belonged to…"
"Zechs Merquise." Luna said. With a casual look to Relena, she added, "Also known as Milliardo Peacecraft. I have taken over the Tallgeese, and my…friend…, Zeke, has taken the Epyon."
Solo made a sudden choking sound. They all looked at him.
"Zeke?" He shouted. "As in, my cousin, Zeke?"
"What on earth is Zeke doing on L3?" Relena hissed.
"Where do you think Zechs and his wife resided after disappearing? They didn't know there'd be a war. Zeke is merely being a patriot, fighting for his colony. He loves L3 as you all love L2."
"And you?" Solo snarled.
"I was born on L6. I moved to L3 when I was nine. I met Zeke through our parents. It was merely a choice to fight for L3. It's too late for me to turn traitor. I just wanted to warn my enemies."
"How do you know me?" Sarra snapped. Luna looked at her.
"I don't think I should discuss that with you."
"You'll discuss it," Aseka snarled, gripping Luna's wrist, "or there's a possibility that one of the fourteen assassins in this room may have an impulse to kill you."
Jagged glares met Luna. She looked unconcerned. "All right. I just signed my death warrant, didn't I? No matter what I say in the next minute, either my superiors or this little Gundam group is gonna kill me. How exciting! This must be how Grandmother felt when she was a soldier."
"Vell?" Harmony asked. Luna shut her eyes. She gave a very slight, but very notable bow.
"Your highness." She said very stiffly. She repeated the process for Sarra. Harmony went pale.
"Vat do you mean?" Harmony screeched. Sarra gaped at her. Luna, her eyes shut tight, began speaking in a low monotone.
"Harmony Earthe, you are part of the Rouen Kingdom of France. As a child, you were fostered into the Bordeaux estate until you were six." She paused, as Harmony's jaw slowly dropped. "When you visited space during this time…such a fragile age, six…Lady F found you and brainwashed you into believing you were fighting for a cause."
"Vat? I do not understand…" Harmony breathed. "It's impossible! I cannot be zis girl…I am from…er…" She found herself unable to remember.
"You are indeed." Luna said. "Harmony Earthe, princess and heir to the Rouen nation."
"And me?" Sarra snarled. She was filled with insane jealously and she didn't know why. Harmony looked as if she'd been struck by lightning. "You bowed to me, too, you know."
"I do know. You, Harmony, and the lost Kiane Yuy are L3's only true enemies. Not even the Gundams pose as much threat as you three girls."
Kiane hid herself behind her father.
"What?" Sarra breathed. "Me…?"
"Once…the outer space had a nation. In fact…that's what started the war out here in the first place. It's not very well known and it was very private. A nation run by the snootiest of all aristocrats." Luna said. "Ceres, they called it. It was a secret…working on newer and better mobile suits. Known to you as the Planet Type Mobile Suits. But…they were a project worked only on by L3. L2 was more into pacifism…and all the aristocrats of L2 were shocked when they discovered L3's new military power. They declared war on us."
"But what does it have to do with me?" Sarra shouted. Cedric placed his hand on her shoulder. She let it rest there. Luna smiled.
"Who do you think represented L2? Jeremy Shail himself. Commander in chief of the Ceres Space Nation. Went into hiding so his pretty little hippie-chick daughter could be raised without any fear."
Sarra scowled. Cedric silently noted that Luna was right about the "Hippie-chick" thing. Sarra had on a strange lavender and violet suit that seemed to pop straight from the earth hundreds of years before the colonies had even first been built.
"Vell," Harmony said shortly, "vat do ve zree 'ave anyzing to do vith you?"
"Didn't I just…"
"But not vhy ve are your enemies."
"If the lost Kiane Yuy inherited the Sanq Kingdom…L2 would have an instant immense ally. Not good for L3. That country is best if it doesn't have an heir, but we've decided to let Zeke rule as regent there. He has the blood. Rouen Kingdom is a very wealthy nation. If L2 won its favor…another bad token for L3. It too, should have no heir. And you, Sarra Shail, would be able to bring the Ceres nation back from it's ruins here in space if you so desired to."
"And--?"
Luna gave another wicked smile. "But…it has been so arranged that we of L3 have not to worry."
"What?" Sarra shrieked.
"Not any of the nations can be revived without the Sanq Kingdom's little heir…Kiane Yuy. And she isn't here, is she?"
Kiane flared with anger. "Yes." She said coldly. "She is here. I am she."
Luna looked at her straight in the eyes with terror rising all over her face. Aseka stepped away from Luna.
"Go." She commanded. "I don't care if you tell your boss that we know what we know or not. Goodbye."
Luna stuttered a small incoherent sound before turning away slowly and stepping out the door. Everyone turned to the three girls. Cedric and Solo had very strange, almost proud, or triumphant, expressions on their faces. All Kiane, Sarra, and Harmony could do was stare at each other and blink with blank looks on their faces.
"Kiane…" Aseka started. "I think…man this is weird…" She whispered under her breath. "That you should…join the pacifist cause and become leader of the Sanq Kingdom." She looked as if she'd forced every word. Jay made a slight choking noise but no one paid any attention.
"What?" Kiane breathed. "I didn't think I could be both…" She paused for a moment. "If I go to earth and lead the nation…I can't fight. And I've already made my decision about that."
"I know." Aseka sighed. Sarra suddenly looked very proud. She stood up straight and took on a very serious expression.
"I'm doing it. I'll bring my nation back." She said calmly. She turned to Cedric shyly. "You know, Cedric…you can help me…if you want…"
Cedric smiled broadly. "You can count on me!" He shouted enthusiastically. Harmony nodded as all eyes went to her.
"Von't it be difficult to prove I am ze 'eir?" She asked lowly. Aseka shrugged. Relena stood up and put her hand on Harmony's shoulder.
"I know exactly what you're going through, dear. I'll help you." She promised. Harmony looked grateful, but very confused and she didn't smile. Relena looked to Kiane. "I have already abdicated. There are only a few months for me to name my heir. After that…the crown goes to your next of kin, Kiane. That is Zeke."
"Mom!" Kien protested loudly. "What about me or Solo? I know I didn't want to…but I will if I have to…"
"Do you honestly think my people would accept you? You who has never even taken an interest in pacifism? Who at least half the nation knows was a Gundam pilot? Only God knows how any of it escaped the palace… They'll never accept you with your history…and Solo, well, what do you think? They'll figure, and correctly, I might add, that he's the newest addition of Gundam pilots to our family!"
"I'll have to do both." Kiane said suddenly, shocking them all. Her voice sounded as if she didn't believe she was saying it. "I mean…I can pilot a little…I won't be that necessary all the time…and maybe, before you name me your heir, I could learn a little about the pacifism and take over the nation when I'm ready."
Quatre, Lela, Quatrine, and Relena looked like Kiane had just promised to give them a million dollars. They smiled so brightly Kiane wondered if she could use sunglasses to block the glare off their pearly teeth.
Everyone else looked like someone had shot them in the foot. Anthony, Harmony, and Sarra looked as if it didn't really matter to them. Kiane suspected pacifism had been that important to him. He liked it, but never openly supported it.
"My daughter the pacifist." Kien said falsely. Kiane knew he was proud of her, but just wasn't a big pacifist fan. He smiled. Kiane nodded. Harmony stood in front of her, and took a pose like that of a well-raised princess.
"Eef Miss Luna vas correct…and I am a princess, I vill pledge an alliance vith ze Sanq Kingdom." She said reassuringly. Sarra shrugged and grinned.
"You can count on the support of the Ceres nation." She said sweetly.
Kiane nodded. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. Just barely a month ago she was Kian Zachary…little nothing orphan. Now she was Princess Kiane Yuy, representative in chief of the Sanq Kingdom. She already had allies…and she wasn't even ruling yet! What a radical change! But Jake was the same…nothing had changed for him except for suddenly becoming a friend of the "Gundam Family".
Heero appeared to be thinking very hard. When he finally spoke up again, his words silenced everyone and ended the party.
"Sorry to interrupt the birth of a new demon, but we have a lot of work to do."
@-------
Next chapter: Kiane test pilots the Zero…and uses the system….how does she handle it? Did her parents install it improperly…or can she handle it just was well as Heero…?
Solo and Zeke meet….the challenge arises will Solo battle his cousin?
Review!!