Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own Gundam. Just Alison.
Also, I should probably put in some author's notes that I really should have put in the 1st part, but was too stupid to think to do it ;O
So I've taken writers' liberties and upped the pilots' ages to about 19; it's still the beginning of the series, though, and there are mainly skirmishes between Earth and the colonies at this point. I know I've made up my own little timeline and whatnot, so just ignore anything that doesn't agree with the series. Also, I'm pretty sure Heero's Wing Gundam isn't called Wing Zero (yet?) but just ignore that, I think it sounds cooler. ;)
I would also like to thank my best friend, who knows who she is if she's reading this, 'cause she gave me the idea and a lot of the ideas for the plot of at least the beginning. I also want to thank anyone who has (or will) reviewed this stuff, because I love getting reviews and it really means a lot that people take the time to do it! Thank you!
The Lost Girl
Part 2
The soft knock on the door was what woke me - I shot up and realized that I had, indeed, fallen asleep on the couch. I got up shakily and made my way slowly over to the door. The floor was a bit tipsy, but much of the dizziness had gone, and I was able to make it across the room all right and opened the door to see a concerned looking Quatre looking at me.
"Hi," he said softly. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah, sure," I said, stepping aside to let him in. He walked in and sat down on the couch; I closed the door and walked slowly back into the living room. I didn't want to push it, even if I was feeling better. I sat on the couch next to him, and he turned to me, concern welling up in his eyes.
"Are you all right?" he asked suddenly. "How are you feeling?" he reached up and placed a hand on my forehead before dropping it back to his lap. "You don't feel like you have a fever."
"I'm feeling better, I guess," I replied. "Still confused. I don't know where this is, and I know I should know who you are, who all of you are, but I I just can't remember."
"It's all right," he said softly. "Don't let Wufei get to you, he just comes off as angry sometimes. He's really not a mean person."
I nodded slowly, and silence fell between us.
"So where's Heero? Wasn't he staying too?" I asked slowly, trying to break the uncomfortable quiet that had filled the room.
"He's talking to Relena," Quatre said. "Um, a friend of ours," he clarified, seeing the confusion on my face.
"Oh."
Silence.
"Quatre?"
"Yes?"
Maybe it would be easier to ask someone else.
"Um Duo um"
Nope.
He cracked a small smile, his eyes glinting a bit. "You're together, if that's what you want to call it. But neither of you will really admit it. You're both too oh, I don't know. Maybe not too proud, but definitely too something to admit that."
"Oh," I said. "It's just I can't remember a thing! It's so unnerving, and I feel bad, like I should remember"
Quatre took my hands in his, turning to look me directly in the face. "Alison, listen. You're my best friend. And it's not your fault. It can't be, think about it. You'll get through this."
I smiled a bit then. "Thanks. You you're a really great friend, even if I can't remember it," I said, and suddenly I was enveloped in a warm hug.
"Remember, soon," he whispered into my ear.
He pulled back and smiled at me; I smiled back. He looked down and his features suddenly darkened.
"Alison, what happened? Oh, did I hurt you?" he asked, indicating the welts running across my skin.
"No," I shook my head. "They're just kind of numb, now. I don't know what happened I had this dream, and in it I was tied up but still it was just a dream."
His eyes narrowed as he studied the red lines. "I don't know either. But you should be careful, for a while. Be on your guard. Just in case."
I nodded. "Yeah, guess so."
"Well, anyway, why don't you go take a hot shower? Relax, get dressed, and then I can fill you in, I guess," he said.
"Sure," I said, and stood slowly. "A hot shower sounds really nice right about now, actually."
"Good. I'll be here when you get back."
* * *
I walked out of the bathroom, feeling much better. The hot water had done me good, and the red marks that traversed my skin definitely didn't hurt quite as much anymore. I'd found some clean-smelling clothes in my room, and something about being clean and dressed made me feel much better. Granted, my memory hadn't kicked in yet, but I was much more hopeful than I had been even a half hour ago.
I walked into the kitchen, where Quatre was at the stove, cooking what smelled like scrambled eggs. He turned around when he heard me come in, and smiled.
"Hey, I figured you might want something to eat. And it's light, so it shouldn't bother your stomach too much. It looked like Duo was making some coffee, but it was cold so I made a fresher pot."
Wow. He was really awesome - so helpful, and very genuinely concerned. I felt terrible that I couldn't remember him, or anything about any of this. It seemed like I had something that wasn't too bad. Duo seemed really nice, too, and if we were something well, maybe that was cool too. I didn't know; I would just have to see.
"Thank you," I said, sitting at the table, where there was already a steaming mug of coffee and a plate of plain toast. I took a piece and began to nibble a bit, my stomach seemingly all right with this development.
Quatre finished cooking the eggs and separated them onto two plates, bringing them over to the table and setting one before me. He sat across from me, grabbing some toast and a mug of coffee before actually taking his seat.
"Hope this makes you feel better," he said, picking up his fork.
"Me too. Thank you, so much," I said, and began eating slowly.
"Hey, what are best friends for?" he asked, taking a bite of toast.
"Well, supposedly remembering each other, at least," I said. "I I really can't remember. Some things seem very familiar - it's like there's this tiny voice in the back of my head that's telling me what's going on, only I can't really hear it. The strangest things seem familiar."
"Like what?" he asked, looking up, his eyes questioning.
"Well" I looked down. "It's stupid things, really. Like Duo's braid. Or the look Heero was giving me. I dunno." I shrugged, then looked back up. "Can you fill me in?"
Quatre sighed, but he was smiling. "Well, it's a little complicated. But I can try. And maybe Heero can help, when he gets back."
I nodded. "So where is this? What are all of us doing here, and what's with these missions? How long have I known you? You know, stupid stuff like that."
Quatre nodded, then took another bite of toast. "Well for starters, we're in an old government complex just outside of Tokyo, on the docks. We've been operating out of here for about a year, ever since the skirmishes between Earth and the Colonies got bad. We were sent from the colonies - well, at least all of us pilots were. You were born here on Earth. You're our mechanic."
"Mechanic?" I broke in. "Pilots? Dude, none of you - of us, I guess - can be much over nineteen, if that much."
"Well" Quatre trailed off, then shook his head slightly. "I suppose you know anyway, it's just strange telling all this classified information to anyone. We're mobile suit pilots, sent from the colonies to keep an eye on OZ. We're the best pilots and we pilot the best mobile suits in existence - nothing can beat us, at least not without a whole lot of effort. They're called Gundams. And you can fix them - faster than any of us, actually, except maybe Heero. You guys have a contest going, kind of a friendly rivalry."
"Gundams." That sounded so familiar. Gundam pilots
"Does any of this sound familiar?" he asked, hope edging his voice.
"A little," I said. "Maybe. But mechanic? I'm not gonna be much good to you for a while, I don't think."
"Maybe then I can rack up some extra points."
We looked up to see Heero leaning in the doorway - I was amazed, I hadn't heard him come in at all.
"Morning," he said, coming over to the table and taking a seat, grabbing a piece of toast.
"Hey," I said. "Impressive entrance."
I thought I saw a hint of a smile play across his mouth.
"What did Relena want?" Quatre asked.
"Just wanted to update me on the colony situation. Seems it's getting worse, and OZ has commissioned a separate party to go out and look for us. We're going to have be careful, especially with this big mission."
Quatre nodded, his eyes a bit darker than before. Heero shrugged, then turned to me.
"So, anything yet?" he asked, taking another piece of toast from the plate, the first slice already gone.
I shook my head. "Not really. Sorry."
"S'not your fault," he said, and I could tell he really meant it. He seemed like he was trying to give off an 'I don't care' attitude, but something inside him was fiercely loyal.
"Thanks. Hopefully it'll come back soon," I said, sighing. "And thanks again for breakfast, Quatre."
"No problem," he smiled. "Glad to be of service. I just wish I could be more helpful in filling you in."
"It's okay, I don't know how to jog a memory, anyway," I said, shaking my head a bit.
"Do you think taking her down to see Zero and Sandrock would help?" Heero asked, leaning forward.
"Maybe," Quatre mused.
Zero "Wing Zero?" I asked, the name popping out of nowhere, just rolling out of my mouth like it was natural.
"Yes! Do you remember?" Quatre asked, eyes a bit wider, looking hopeful.
I squinted. "Kind of not really maybe. It just kind of popped up in my mind."
"Well, that's good. It's there then, you just need to remember it all," Heero said. "You up to visiting the bay?"
"Sure," I said. "Maybe it will help."
He nodded and stood; Quatre and I did the same. I followed them out the door and down the hall - this really did look like a government complex, I noted - and into an elevator at the end. We went down a few floors, then emerged out into what looked like the bay of a warehouse - a *huge* warehouse. It was so large that I could barely see the other end of the room, and that was partly due to the two huge mobile suits lying prostrate on the floor just in front of us.
"Here they are," Quatre said softly. "This one's mine, Sandrock. The other one is Heero's Wing Zero."
I nodded, trying to keep my mouth from falling open, just staring at the huge machines.
I leaned back, looking up at Sandrock, when suddenly a sharp flash of pain shot through my head and I lost my balance, confused.
"Alison!" I heard Quatre call, and someone caught me before I hit the floor.
I looked up through suddenly blurry vision at Heero, who'd caught me in his strong grip and was looking down at me, concerned. Quatre had rushed over as well, and was also looking down at me with a very worried expression.
"Are you all right?" Heero asked, helping me into a standing position but leaving his hands on my arms, gripping me in case I fell again.
"I don't know. My head" I muttered, hands at my temples, trying to make the sharp pain go away.
"We should get you back to your room and let you rest," Quatre said, and Heero nodded. He helped me back into the elevator and back down the hall to my room, where he steered me over to my room.
"Get some rest," he said, looking at me, still concerned. "You look pale."
"I will," I said.
"I'll stay here for a while," Quatre offered.
"Okay," I agreed softly. I was glad that I didn't have to mention how much better I would feel with someone else here.
Heero nodded. "I'm going to go work on that equipment, then, since you're in no shape to do it," he said. "Hopefully you will be soon. See you later," he said, and was gone without a sound.
I laid back in the bed, and before I knew what was going on Quatre had pulled the blanket up.
'There," he smiled down at me. "Kawaii."
I smiled back weakly. "Sorry to be so much trouble. Especially if you guys need me to do stuff for this mission"
Quatre shook his head forcefully. "No, it's not your fault. Don't feel bad. I'll just stay in here and read, okay? You try and get some sleep."
"Okay," I whispered, suddenly aware of how tired I really was.