Five young pilots dressed in simple black garb scurried along dark alleyways, each carrying satchels, carpetbags, backpacks, and odd packages. It was an odd sight, if one was looking at this queer procession. The four former Gundam pilots and Relena Peacecraft were making their way to the local airport in the small Japanese town.
"This sure is heavy," Duo groaned, heaving a large army sack onto his other shoulder while balancing a carpetbag with the other hand.
Quatre agreed. "Yeah, but we're going to need everything we brought. There wasn't anything we could've taken out."
"Like a Playstation. You definitely couldn't take that out," Relena said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. But soon she was giggling because she was no better, bringing suitcases and suitcases of coats and dresses she would not need and all sorts of "girl stuff" as Quatre and Trowa called it.
Heero was not amused. "You brought the Playstation on a mission?" he asked, not at all surprised at Duo and Quatre. They always brought a source of entertainment, never failing to use any spare time dawdling over some sort of game. No doubt they had millions of computer games and DVDs to use with the laptop.
Duo grinned and looked sideways. He didn't say anything because he knew Heero expected no answer for that particular question. Heero himself joined in most of the time, anyway.
Soon they arrived at the tiny air base. An eight-seating plane plus cockpit sat waiting for them. They were early, however, and had to hide to wait. A forest of bushes and trees took care of that, though they had a mad scuffle tripping over roots and fallen branches in the darkness of the trees. They had to be absolutely quiet and had to take extreme caution in where they stepped and set down their possessions. It was not easy.
"Ooomph!" Relena exclaimed as she bumped into someone. A chorus of "sshhh" came out quite loudly, causing a little uproar of laughter, snorts, giggles, and choking.
Heero decided to become the lead once again. This was not going well. "Be quiet!" he hissed, glaring. Although no one could see him, they knew he had glared and promptly shut up.
As soon as six p.m. rolled around, the five were standing in the open light and were making their way towards the airport entrance. They were greeted by attendants and stewards who checked their baggage and sent them aboard the plane. All five were cautious and watched their every move and where their bags went. There were no mishaps.
Aboard the plane, Heero had the laptop out. He wanted to analyze Relena's training tactics and her military features and techniques. This information was vital to the success of the mission. His everlasting goal was to complete any and every mission he accepted with success.
He stared at the screen with disbelief. In long-distance range battle, she came second only to Trowa himself. The mobile suit she used was called the Cylix Arabesque, and it boasted two auto-missile locks in front, a triple-laser beam on either arm, and a self-retracting revolving razor. The Gundanium alloy shield all five Gundams used was also her source of blocking. A Greek Arabesque was intricately carved upon it, hence the name Arabesque.
Her short-range fighting was also exceptional. She tied with Duo and Quatre, but using both the triple laser and the razor she could beat all of them. She also had something the older Gundams did not have; a cylix-looking double-back shield which could also be used as another device still new to Heero. Her mobile suit was more technologically advanced in many ways, and did not seem at all like the Gundams.
Duo, who sat next to Heero on his right, peered at the screen. "So, you're checking her status, eh? She's pretty good, isn't she?" He nudged Heero, waiting for the answer.
"I guess she is," Heero replied softly, still reading about her techniques. "Though if we had a try at the Arabesque, I'll bet we'd be even better."
"You bet we would," Duo breathed, then paused, unsure whether or not to go on. He took a stab and went on. "We've already tried it. It was we that tested them all out before she even set foot inside the Arabesque," Duo commented, looking out past Heero into the clouds. "There's never been anything like it, nothing that I've seen could compare. The grace and agility it shows is nothing like mecha could ever be. There's something else about it, too. It's seems to be so alive...it's hard to explain."
Heero looked at Duo. So much he had missed in the past two years. "What else do you know about these revolutionary mobile suits?"
Duo asked for the laptop and pulled up a file. It explained the Arabesque in more detail, but then he moved into personal folders. He stopped at Heero's, scanned the screen for something, entered a code and some passwords, and handed it back to him. "This is your own Germanic Gundanium Wing."
Heero again looked as though he did not believe what he was seeing. It could not be possible; he, who hadn't trained for the Germanic Gundam, was given his own. A thought occurred in his mind. "Do all five of us have a Germanic Gundam?"
Duo vaguely motioned towards the others. "Quatre's and mine are still in the process of being finished. The Arabesque was the first, then yours, then Trowa's. Your Gerdam [Germanic Gundam] is Phoelis Wing-Break, and it has much more power than the Arabesque and was made to assimilate with Wing Zero's systems."
Heero took the information in. Duo kept rambling on as he read the screen carefully, but most of the things he said were what was in the file folder. There was no cylix on the back of Phoelis Wing-Break, though it could transform into an all-type compatible [space/air/land/water] craft. It was smaller than Wing Zero, but it was much more powerful, as Duo had mentioned. Heero did not know the extent of its agility and reflex reactions, but he hoped to soon be able to fight with it.
At around eight-thirty p.m., a late dinner was served. Udon tempura, gohan rolls with different types of sushi, and green tea was the meal plan. Not bad, but the cooking wasn't too good. They were as paranoid as ever with the food.
Duo swung a fried tempura in front of Relena's face, watching it twist with disgust. "Relena doesn't like sea food!" he laughed.
Heero snatched it away and put it on the plate, glaring. Duo glanced at him, but he was still laughing.
Trowa ignored them completely, being in a triple bucket seat behind them. Quatre twisted around at the noise, and a small quirk in the corner of his mouth must be noted. He sat just ahead of them.
Soon after that meal, they took turns sleeping. Not all of them could all sleep at one time should something happen while they were asleep. Poisoning, sleep pills, injections, hi-jacking, anything could happen while they drowsed. So Heero and Trowa took first shift, to be followed by Duo and Quatre, then Relena and Heero, and finally Quatre and Trowa. They all took restless naps, however, and none of them really got much sleep.
At eleven a.m. on Thursday morning in America, the plane had landed and the five were standing in the busy airport, waiting for some sort of signal from Dr. Jei. They knew he would make it as inconspicuous as possible and were very vigilant.
Oddly enough, Heero had one of Relena's bags in addition to his own hefty pile of belongings and the laptop plus the accessories. The other three, fortunately for Heero, were much too tired and jet-lagged to notice, though Heero scarcely noticed himself. They could barely keep their watch, but finally a voicemail slid into the laptop and they received the message.
"Baggage claim gate four at Aer Lingus," Dr. Jei's voice crackled through. His image was barely visible on the screen, and soon a little eye appeared and took them all in. A sigh was heard, then, "I'll see you sorry set of pilots there in five minutes. Code-nickname. End."
Heero looked around at his little crew and began to walk, well, actually, more like trudge. They followed doggedly, dragging their bags and satchels along with no grace whatsoever.
Dr. Jei spotted them before they even started looking. "Well, well, well! My four pilots plus a lovely young girl!" He gave Heero a quick once-over, but it was a warm look, not cold. He nodded his approval. He had grown taller, and was still as muscular and wiry as usual.
Duo smiled, but it was a small, tired one. Heero didn't glare for once, Trowa just looked at him, and Quatre yawned. Only Relena wasn't too tired to talk. In fact, she wanted to talk but she knew it was not safe to speak of their mission openly.
She ventured to ask a question. She figured it couldn't hurt to ask a little one of no importance. "When shall we be leaving, Doctor?"
Dr. Jei turned to this fresh young girl. She looked at him with pure innocence and charm. He wondered what Heero actually thought of her, but brushed it off quickly knowing Heero didn't care about such things, only his training and missions. "Soon, very soon, 'Lena." They were speaking on nickname terms, as determined before. Except for Trowa. They would use his last name due to difficulties making a nickname up for him. [example: Trow, Row, Rowa, Barow]
Another large private airplane awaited them at gate G23, the very last gate in the Southwest Airlines section. They were soon on their way to Austin, Texas.
"What kind of food is this?" Quatre asked, a little dubious about the airplane food. He poked at it with his metal fork.
Duo answered between large bites, loud chewing, and gulps of pop. "American food...it's good!" He had to pause while he took a long slug of his Pepsi. "It's not so bad, at least, for airplane food. See, this is a sandwich..." he began to explain.
Heero once again got the window seat, with Trowa next to him, then Relena. Across the aisle sat Dr. Jei, then Quatre, then Duo at the window. Heero stared at the huge, billowy cloud-tops and the sun's brilliant rays dancing across the make-believe towers and castles. What was this meeting for? He felt as if he were the only person in the world who didn't know what was going on in Texas. He had been away for too long...but yet again Duo and Quatre hadn't been with the team all the time, either. Quatre went back to his people for a year, and Duo to America for about eight months. Trowa remained in Japan with Heero, though they were separated almost the entire time. Wufei visited each of the two in Japan twice, then left for China once again to stay.
It couldn't be said that Wufei was traitor. He wasn't, but he didn't come when summoned on mission though he promised when needed he would come like the true soldier he was. And yet he hadn't shown up. He had been replaced by a young and inexperienced pilot, who, in the most grievous of circumstances, would probably be called unworthy and only a girl. But she was better than that, and Wufei wasn't here to protest, anyway.
He had built himself a nice house, and he now had a part time job working in business while juggling school and his swordplay and martial arts practice. If he were normal, within a few years he would probably own the business himself and would not have to go to school. He would grow old and wealthy, and retire a happy man who led a successful life. But this was Wufei. He was trained as a warrior and he would always be one. He would never really settle, and, in actuality, he probably wouldn't be able to with all the traumas of his life so far. Or that was what everyone thought, which of course we'll never know.
Heero's mind was bogged down with all sorts of notions, ideas, piles of information, and of course, Relena. Would he ever rid himself entirely of that girl? He supposed he wouldn't, but what harm could it do? His death, that was for certain.
At the Austin airport, they were picked up by a limo and taken to the Apolex Atrium. A meeting on the peace alliances with the colonies was being held. Heero held his breath while a young man by the name of Koron Buneidinay took the stand. He was the brother of Heero's engineering and mechanics instructor, Teron Buneidinay. His voice reminded Heero distantly of Lady Une, a former enemy.
"Today we are met to discuss a matter of great importance. The space colonies want freedom from Earth's grasp. This is not possible, yet not impossible. I will get right to the point. We need to take action against this rebellion or all of Earth will be crushed and destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of years of hard work will be burnt to a cinder by their wrath. We must do whatever it takes to quiet these angry people! I claim military action is needed for peace." He paused dramatically before concluding his short speech. "That is all I have to say." He saluted, then walked stiffly off the podium and down the steps into the committee. He took his seat.
A woman with short, spiky red hair stood up abruptly. "Peace can be found with no war-like actions!" she called out. Many people cheered in agreement with her, but the majority stayed either neutral or waged war against the colonies. None of the now "Gerdam pilots" said anything, and remained mute and listened closely. Relena was to speak later on.
The meeting went on. Relena's turn came up too quickly. She groaned softly before standing up and walking to the podium. Heero and Dr. Jei accompanied her. The remaining three gave their good luck out to her.
Relena took a deep breath and began. "The colonies are upset at our actions. What is the reason they are upset, my fellow committee? Have we sought to see from their point of view?" She then paused for a breath, and noticing her voice was shaking a little, she steadied it and went on. "They believe we are taking over. Are we really? Have we done anything to help the situation?" Her eyes scanned the hushed crowds of people watching, listening. "I believe that we can reach some sort of agreement, a resolution, if you may, by use of peace," she concluded. Heero gave a curt nod, and the three walked off the stage.
"Wait!" Koron Buneidinay called out. Relena paused, partway down the steps. "How do we know our kindness will be replied in the same manner? We are asking for trouble, seeking peace with such vermin as Monotriese. Is that what we want? Committee? Do you hear? Is that what we want?"
The entire crowd was moved by both speeches. Some were confused. Who was right? Who was wrong? Could both ways be the right way? There was only one way to success. Whom should they follow? Peace or war?
"This sure is heavy," Duo groaned, heaving a large army sack onto his other shoulder while balancing a carpetbag with the other hand.
Quatre agreed. "Yeah, but we're going to need everything we brought. There wasn't anything we could've taken out."
"Like a Playstation. You definitely couldn't take that out," Relena said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. But soon she was giggling because she was no better, bringing suitcases and suitcases of coats and dresses she would not need and all sorts of "girl stuff" as Quatre and Trowa called it.
Heero was not amused. "You brought the Playstation on a mission?" he asked, not at all surprised at Duo and Quatre. They always brought a source of entertainment, never failing to use any spare time dawdling over some sort of game. No doubt they had millions of computer games and DVDs to use with the laptop.
Duo grinned and looked sideways. He didn't say anything because he knew Heero expected no answer for that particular question. Heero himself joined in most of the time, anyway.
Soon they arrived at the tiny air base. An eight-seating plane plus cockpit sat waiting for them. They were early, however, and had to hide to wait. A forest of bushes and trees took care of that, though they had a mad scuffle tripping over roots and fallen branches in the darkness of the trees. They had to be absolutely quiet and had to take extreme caution in where they stepped and set down their possessions. It was not easy.
"Ooomph!" Relena exclaimed as she bumped into someone. A chorus of "sshhh" came out quite loudly, causing a little uproar of laughter, snorts, giggles, and choking.
Heero decided to become the lead once again. This was not going well. "Be quiet!" he hissed, glaring. Although no one could see him, they knew he had glared and promptly shut up.
As soon as six p.m. rolled around, the five were standing in the open light and were making their way towards the airport entrance. They were greeted by attendants and stewards who checked their baggage and sent them aboard the plane. All five were cautious and watched their every move and where their bags went. There were no mishaps.
Aboard the plane, Heero had the laptop out. He wanted to analyze Relena's training tactics and her military features and techniques. This information was vital to the success of the mission. His everlasting goal was to complete any and every mission he accepted with success.
He stared at the screen with disbelief. In long-distance range battle, she came second only to Trowa himself. The mobile suit she used was called the Cylix Arabesque, and it boasted two auto-missile locks in front, a triple-laser beam on either arm, and a self-retracting revolving razor. The Gundanium alloy shield all five Gundams used was also her source of blocking. A Greek Arabesque was intricately carved upon it, hence the name Arabesque.
Her short-range fighting was also exceptional. She tied with Duo and Quatre, but using both the triple laser and the razor she could beat all of them. She also had something the older Gundams did not have; a cylix-looking double-back shield which could also be used as another device still new to Heero. Her mobile suit was more technologically advanced in many ways, and did not seem at all like the Gundams.
Duo, who sat next to Heero on his right, peered at the screen. "So, you're checking her status, eh? She's pretty good, isn't she?" He nudged Heero, waiting for the answer.
"I guess she is," Heero replied softly, still reading about her techniques. "Though if we had a try at the Arabesque, I'll bet we'd be even better."
"You bet we would," Duo breathed, then paused, unsure whether or not to go on. He took a stab and went on. "We've already tried it. It was we that tested them all out before she even set foot inside the Arabesque," Duo commented, looking out past Heero into the clouds. "There's never been anything like it, nothing that I've seen could compare. The grace and agility it shows is nothing like mecha could ever be. There's something else about it, too. It's seems to be so alive...it's hard to explain."
Heero looked at Duo. So much he had missed in the past two years. "What else do you know about these revolutionary mobile suits?"
Duo asked for the laptop and pulled up a file. It explained the Arabesque in more detail, but then he moved into personal folders. He stopped at Heero's, scanned the screen for something, entered a code and some passwords, and handed it back to him. "This is your own Germanic Gundanium Wing."
Heero again looked as though he did not believe what he was seeing. It could not be possible; he, who hadn't trained for the Germanic Gundam, was given his own. A thought occurred in his mind. "Do all five of us have a Germanic Gundam?"
Duo vaguely motioned towards the others. "Quatre's and mine are still in the process of being finished. The Arabesque was the first, then yours, then Trowa's. Your Gerdam [Germanic Gundam] is Phoelis Wing-Break, and it has much more power than the Arabesque and was made to assimilate with Wing Zero's systems."
Heero took the information in. Duo kept rambling on as he read the screen carefully, but most of the things he said were what was in the file folder. There was no cylix on the back of Phoelis Wing-Break, though it could transform into an all-type compatible [space/air/land/water] craft. It was smaller than Wing Zero, but it was much more powerful, as Duo had mentioned. Heero did not know the extent of its agility and reflex reactions, but he hoped to soon be able to fight with it.
At around eight-thirty p.m., a late dinner was served. Udon tempura, gohan rolls with different types of sushi, and green tea was the meal plan. Not bad, but the cooking wasn't too good. They were as paranoid as ever with the food.
Duo swung a fried tempura in front of Relena's face, watching it twist with disgust. "Relena doesn't like sea food!" he laughed.
Heero snatched it away and put it on the plate, glaring. Duo glanced at him, but he was still laughing.
Trowa ignored them completely, being in a triple bucket seat behind them. Quatre twisted around at the noise, and a small quirk in the corner of his mouth must be noted. He sat just ahead of them.
Soon after that meal, they took turns sleeping. Not all of them could all sleep at one time should something happen while they were asleep. Poisoning, sleep pills, injections, hi-jacking, anything could happen while they drowsed. So Heero and Trowa took first shift, to be followed by Duo and Quatre, then Relena and Heero, and finally Quatre and Trowa. They all took restless naps, however, and none of them really got much sleep.
At eleven a.m. on Thursday morning in America, the plane had landed and the five were standing in the busy airport, waiting for some sort of signal from Dr. Jei. They knew he would make it as inconspicuous as possible and were very vigilant.
Oddly enough, Heero had one of Relena's bags in addition to his own hefty pile of belongings and the laptop plus the accessories. The other three, fortunately for Heero, were much too tired and jet-lagged to notice, though Heero scarcely noticed himself. They could barely keep their watch, but finally a voicemail slid into the laptop and they received the message.
"Baggage claim gate four at Aer Lingus," Dr. Jei's voice crackled through. His image was barely visible on the screen, and soon a little eye appeared and took them all in. A sigh was heard, then, "I'll see you sorry set of pilots there in five minutes. Code-nickname. End."
Heero looked around at his little crew and began to walk, well, actually, more like trudge. They followed doggedly, dragging their bags and satchels along with no grace whatsoever.
Dr. Jei spotted them before they even started looking. "Well, well, well! My four pilots plus a lovely young girl!" He gave Heero a quick once-over, but it was a warm look, not cold. He nodded his approval. He had grown taller, and was still as muscular and wiry as usual.
Duo smiled, but it was a small, tired one. Heero didn't glare for once, Trowa just looked at him, and Quatre yawned. Only Relena wasn't too tired to talk. In fact, she wanted to talk but she knew it was not safe to speak of their mission openly.
She ventured to ask a question. She figured it couldn't hurt to ask a little one of no importance. "When shall we be leaving, Doctor?"
Dr. Jei turned to this fresh young girl. She looked at him with pure innocence and charm. He wondered what Heero actually thought of her, but brushed it off quickly knowing Heero didn't care about such things, only his training and missions. "Soon, very soon, 'Lena." They were speaking on nickname terms, as determined before. Except for Trowa. They would use his last name due to difficulties making a nickname up for him. [example: Trow, Row, Rowa, Barow]
Another large private airplane awaited them at gate G23, the very last gate in the Southwest Airlines section. They were soon on their way to Austin, Texas.
"What kind of food is this?" Quatre asked, a little dubious about the airplane food. He poked at it with his metal fork.
Duo answered between large bites, loud chewing, and gulps of pop. "American food...it's good!" He had to pause while he took a long slug of his Pepsi. "It's not so bad, at least, for airplane food. See, this is a sandwich..." he began to explain.
Heero once again got the window seat, with Trowa next to him, then Relena. Across the aisle sat Dr. Jei, then Quatre, then Duo at the window. Heero stared at the huge, billowy cloud-tops and the sun's brilliant rays dancing across the make-believe towers and castles. What was this meeting for? He felt as if he were the only person in the world who didn't know what was going on in Texas. He had been away for too long...but yet again Duo and Quatre hadn't been with the team all the time, either. Quatre went back to his people for a year, and Duo to America for about eight months. Trowa remained in Japan with Heero, though they were separated almost the entire time. Wufei visited each of the two in Japan twice, then left for China once again to stay.
It couldn't be said that Wufei was traitor. He wasn't, but he didn't come when summoned on mission though he promised when needed he would come like the true soldier he was. And yet he hadn't shown up. He had been replaced by a young and inexperienced pilot, who, in the most grievous of circumstances, would probably be called unworthy and only a girl. But she was better than that, and Wufei wasn't here to protest, anyway.
He had built himself a nice house, and he now had a part time job working in business while juggling school and his swordplay and martial arts practice. If he were normal, within a few years he would probably own the business himself and would not have to go to school. He would grow old and wealthy, and retire a happy man who led a successful life. But this was Wufei. He was trained as a warrior and he would always be one. He would never really settle, and, in actuality, he probably wouldn't be able to with all the traumas of his life so far. Or that was what everyone thought, which of course we'll never know.
Heero's mind was bogged down with all sorts of notions, ideas, piles of information, and of course, Relena. Would he ever rid himself entirely of that girl? He supposed he wouldn't, but what harm could it do? His death, that was for certain.
At the Austin airport, they were picked up by a limo and taken to the Apolex Atrium. A meeting on the peace alliances with the colonies was being held. Heero held his breath while a young man by the name of Koron Buneidinay took the stand. He was the brother of Heero's engineering and mechanics instructor, Teron Buneidinay. His voice reminded Heero distantly of Lady Une, a former enemy.
"Today we are met to discuss a matter of great importance. The space colonies want freedom from Earth's grasp. This is not possible, yet not impossible. I will get right to the point. We need to take action against this rebellion or all of Earth will be crushed and destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of years of hard work will be burnt to a cinder by their wrath. We must do whatever it takes to quiet these angry people! I claim military action is needed for peace." He paused dramatically before concluding his short speech. "That is all I have to say." He saluted, then walked stiffly off the podium and down the steps into the committee. He took his seat.
A woman with short, spiky red hair stood up abruptly. "Peace can be found with no war-like actions!" she called out. Many people cheered in agreement with her, but the majority stayed either neutral or waged war against the colonies. None of the now "Gerdam pilots" said anything, and remained mute and listened closely. Relena was to speak later on.
The meeting went on. Relena's turn came up too quickly. She groaned softly before standing up and walking to the podium. Heero and Dr. Jei accompanied her. The remaining three gave their good luck out to her.
Relena took a deep breath and began. "The colonies are upset at our actions. What is the reason they are upset, my fellow committee? Have we sought to see from their point of view?" She then paused for a breath, and noticing her voice was shaking a little, she steadied it and went on. "They believe we are taking over. Are we really? Have we done anything to help the situation?" Her eyes scanned the hushed crowds of people watching, listening. "I believe that we can reach some sort of agreement, a resolution, if you may, by use of peace," she concluded. Heero gave a curt nod, and the three walked off the stage.
"Wait!" Koron Buneidinay called out. Relena paused, partway down the steps. "How do we know our kindness will be replied in the same manner? We are asking for trouble, seeking peace with such vermin as Monotriese. Is that what we want? Committee? Do you hear? Is that what we want?"
The entire crowd was moved by both speeches. Some were confused. Who was right? Who was wrong? Could both ways be the right way? There was only one way to success. Whom should they follow? Peace or war?