The second airlock loomed before the three teenagers whom which would be the pilots of the destroyer Gerdams and the ones to save the world. That is, if everything planned was successful and every mission accomplished with 100% effort and duty at stake.
Heero pulled on another gas mask, making sure to read the directions carefully at the door. All the information given was vital to staying alive long enough to make it to the hangar stations.
Walking slowly and carefully, Heero led the way through the dark pathways and hallways. Following the illuminated guidelines, they arrived at a blockaded door at the end of a corridor within twenty-three minutes.
Duo turned around and sighed. He looked at the other two and finally spoke. "So, I guess we're here. What do we do now?"
Relena shook her head. "I think we just go in, right Heero?"
"No," he answered, reading an engraved plate embedded into the wall. "We have to go to the other end, flip the switch, turn right, pull the lever down, walk to the end of that hallway, and press the buttons from left to right then the center. Then we must come back here and enter our names into that viewscreen over there," he explained, pointing to the viewscreen as he finished. "Then it'll let us in, depending on if we are accepted. We need to go one at a time, and if you should mess up you are doomed."
He got blank stares from the other two for speaking too quickly. He groaned inside, then repeated it and showed them the plaque. "Ready?"
Duo offered to go first, chuckling for a moment before getting to the point. "See, if I mess up, nothing will happen. My Gerdam isn't done, anyway. I've done without these mobile suits and everything, but Heero, you haven't. You were trained to be a perfect fighting soldier all your life. So you'll learn from my mistakes, right?" He walked away without another word, not even glancing back, not waiting for an answer.
They heard him mutter something from the other end. It seemed that the hallways were interminable and also very deep; they sent echoes with every step and breath. They could hear him breathing; it was rather erratic and not at all the normal breathing one would normally have. They could hear the pit-pat of his steps and the boom-bang when he tripped over his own feet.
Presently he came back, dripping wet and solemn. "I wouldn't ever do that again in my lifetime, not even forwell, what am I saying? I'd do that to save the world!" He smacked himself playfully, grinning. "Hey, good luck! I did it, anybody can! See you in the hangar, Heero, Relena!"
He had entered his codes and his name, and the door opened immediately, shutting the moment his foot left the line of closure. Relena breathed in and out, then began to walk to the end.
To Heero, the fifteen minutes in which it took her to get there and back seemed like an eternity of waiting. He was both nervous and worried, for some odd reason. Why he would be nervous, he did not know. He usually never got nervous. But he supposed that people had to get nervous sometime
Relief seemed to possess him whenever Relena was near. When he saw her, also dripping wet and shivering, he was glad she was alive and pretty much in one piece both mentally and physically. She walked straight past him without uttering a single word, although she looked at him with the sort of look one would have if they felt incredibly ill or felt as if they wished to die. He was a little hurt and shocked, but then he decided something terrible must be within those dark hallways to make both his counterparts so emotionally drained.
He soon found out for himself. The long corridor deepened and became three feet deep in bloody water, then he found himself in a dark, dead graveyard, then the first switch. Then he began his way towards the left, where bones and skeletons lay scattered as harsh, threatening, and boiling hot winds swept invisible sand across the ground. Then flames engulfed the bridge before him and he had to swim a torrentious river before arriving at the end. He pulled the lever down, then began the long journey back through those terrible places. The second half was completely new. First it was the ice crystals that embedded everything that went through it, pinning skeletons and dead bodies askew across rocks and boulders. Then he felt himself falling through space, falling towards a black hole the size of a gigantic nebula. That in itself was frightening to know of a black hole of that size. He fell through, though he did not say a word and did not cry out in fear.
The black hole brought him directly to a grassy knoll in which the three buttons were situated within a dark statue of a great bird. The eyes were buttons, and the beak was a button. Left, right, center. He was in the middle of the corridor going back towards the bolted doorway to the hangar. This time, however, it was filled with five feet of clear water and he had to swim.
Once on the other side, he was greeted by Dr. Jei and the other two who were now dry and in a different change of clothes. He was beckoned into a self-drying compartment, then into a changing station. They had uniforms, which he did not mind. They were not bad, at least, he didn't care much for the style, but it was comfortable and it fit pretty well for his standards.
Black slacks with a belt, and a crisp black polo that buttoned down the entire front. It had two breast pockets and lapels along the shoulders and insigniae across the front. The over-coat was also black; made of fine merino wool, it had cuffs and collars of black in cotton. The New Alliance insignia was embroidered into the back, which all of them thought was very tacky.
Relena, however, was one they had to all feel sorry for. She had slacks, also, but she also had a skirt and shorts for different occasions. Black leggings were also provided for colder weather to wear with the skirt, and she had high-heeled button-up boots. The two boys had to wear plain black brogans, but that was their usual and they did not mind. Had it been a different girl, they would've hated those heeled boots, but Relena was also used to them from years of experience. [though she often tripped on that first day]
Dr. Jei brought them directly to the hangar where the Phoelis Wing-Break was kept within locks and generator shields. Heero undid them; he was the only one who could for they had used brainwave and DNA data to seal it up. Only a sample of his blood could open the seal, and after that fingerprint and brainwave data had to be taken to undo the auto-destruction self-destructing system, the ASDS.
Heero gaped when the shields were lifted. Relena gasped, and Duo just stared. It was even greater in appearance than ever in the pictures. It was smaller than Wing Zero, but not by much. It was white, black, green, and yellow. Small additional parts flashed some strips of blue and red, but the main body was green, gold, and white. It was made to be ever powerful and the extreme best, and best piloted by a one-way mind.
He immediately gripped the handle and drew himself up. Standing in the cockpit, a feeling of exhilaration and elation filled him. He was in his element; he was trained for this since he was very young and it was embedded into his blood.
Relena watched this little scene, happy that Heero was so enthusiastic about all this. The mission itself was extremely difficult, but he seemed not to be pessimistic about it at all. Perhaps this time they could all be optimistic.
The Cylix Arabesque was unlocked already, though a brainwave check had to be taken to reassure the computer system. The Arabesque was mostly white, with lavender, peach, and pale green. Highlights of the palest yellow were seen if one closely observed the panels. If not, then it just looked brighter in certain places than others.
Duo watched as the two climbed into the seats of the cockpits. He felt rather forlorn, having no Gerdam of his own that was completed. He found himself looking at Quatre's finished Gerdam, the Paleau-Candonite. It was blue and white; with platinum silver and black trimmings. There was no green and no yellow, but it was stunning all the same.
Duo's Gerdam was the Opular Sepaque. It had invisibility options and used speed to its advantage, much as Deathscythe had. These Gerdams had been made to match the pilot and also to feel rather much like their Gundams for easier fighting. Mostly deep blue to almost black, lighter blues such as royal and indigo highlighter certain areas. Whitish-silver was patched all over, and the strong shield had yellow and red streaks on black, silver, and blue. It was smaller than the Phoelis for the agility and quickness needed for the disappearance invisibility.
It was almost completed; the only thing needed was the generator shield check-up and two test runs. The most important thing, however, was that the system used in the Os-sepaque (as they called it) had to be installed and re-run to make certain it was functioning properly. If the system, which was named the Oplar, did not function correctly, then major problems could occur within the machinery and also the pilot's mental. [which would be Duo's]
Dr. Jei noticed Duo for the first time since his arrival. [how had he forgotten him???] "Duo, I completely forgot about the Oplar. You will have to make do with the Candonite until it is completed. The adjustment shouldn't be so bad; your short-range fighting isn't all that terrible. The triple cannons use the battery behind" Dr. Jei hurried to explain the features and instructions as Heero and Relena practiced battle on some dummy mobile dolls set up as targets.
Duo was a trifle dismayed about using the Candonite; he hated using cannons. But whatever it took to help the rest of them, he'd be the first to try his best. He defeated all his targets, then he and the other two pilots had to try battle, but they were not allowed to use their weapons, only quickness, strength, and agility to tire the opponent.
Relena quickly pinned Duo down. Duo was at the disadvantage because the Candonite was not his type of mobile suit. Heero quickly took over, then tried to pin the Arabesque to the Candonite then off to the end of destruction. When he almost succeeded, Dr. Jei cut the lights and called to them over comset.
"Now try this in the dark," he said menacingly, then pushed a button. Black mobile dolls came out, ready to kill.
Three groans met his chuckling glance. Would they have to practice this forever?
After the practice session, they were taken to their living quarters. They would have to hide from certain people; they had to stay within the vicinity until time for battle.
It wasn't so bad, they shared a main living area and kitchen, and each had a small bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. It was like a little condominium. There was a half-floor loft which Duo immediately claimed, and two bedrooms side-by-side downstairs and a pullout sofa bed. The other bedroom was across the side-by-side bedrooms, which Heero opted to take. Relena chose the small bedroom with the window across the hallway from Heero's, though it was more diagonal than straight across.
The entire "condo" was carpeted, save for the bathrooms and the kitchen. The loft had three walls and a blacony edge for a fourth wall, and the stairs were steep. It fed directly into a wall, though it stopped about three feet before it. To the left was sliding glass doors that gave a spectacular view, then the shared living room. Turning left twice after the end of the stairwell would set you in a direct path to the front door. To the left about half-way, the kitchen sat with a refridgerator/freezer, microwave, oven, and small table. Going on, on the left were the two smaller bedrooms and on the right the room Heero chose.
"What are we going to eat?" Duo asked, his stomach growling.
Heero opened the fridge. "There's canned stuff, some vegatables, fruit, milk, juice, eggs, bread, cheese, ham, turkey, mayonnaise," he started, then paused, looking throughtfully into the back wall of the fridge. "What's this?" he asked himself out loud, pursing his lips. He reached into the fridge, trying to get something.
Relena and Duo exchanged worried glances. What did Heero find? Obviously it was something strange.
Heero held up a set of knives, metal mini-scythes, and titanium razor discs. He put them on the table, then showed them an envelope addressed to: "The Gerdam Pilots". He ripped it open and read it aloud.
Newly Recruited Gerdam Pilots and Co.-
These weapons are made to specific standards. I am sure you'll know whose is whose. Hope they are helpful.
Noin, Trowa, Quatre
Relena stared at the foreign objects lying on the table. Duo picked up the package of discs, wondering what they meant by knowing whose was whose. Heero put the letter down gently and sat down before the objects, fingering the pistol in his belt.
"So, what do we do?" Duo finally asked after some while. "Which one to take?"
Heero took out his pistol and laid it down next to the other items. He said shortly, "There must be another Gerdam pilot. The pilot to use Trowa's Gerdam."
Duo thought that one over. Heero was right, of course. The Retekar Wasiezl was completed; Trowa's Gerdam was finished before Duo's in an effort to speed up the process. No one would use that particular Gerdam; Duo couldn't, he wasn't compatible to the features. He could barely manage with the Candonite as it was.
Who used knives? Relena didn't; she hated them. She took the discs as Duo set them down, and Duo immediately chose the mini-scythes, remembering Deathscythe. The knives were what was left because Heero had his gun at all times and did not use knives as a main weapon.
"Wufei used a sword," Relena pointed out, fingering a knife. There were six in all.
Duo shook his head. "That's different. He wouldn't use knives in place of his sword. It has to be someone who uses knives already."
"Oh, I guess not," Relena said, looking at Heero.
He noticed both were waiting for an answer and finally said, "We'll have to wait. The originals were supposed to be Hilde, Relena, and us four Gundam pilots. this fourth person is most likely a girl, if they make it. Dr. Jay should explain to us tomorrow."
Relena nodded. "I wonder if we know her."
"We probably have to know her," Duo pointed out. "We need to know the people or we'll end up killing them," he added, looking at Heero. They had often fought before they earned trust and became friends.
Heero agreed. "I guess so."
Who is the fourth person? Or will there be more than four? There are five Gerdams, after all....
Heero pulled on another gas mask, making sure to read the directions carefully at the door. All the information given was vital to staying alive long enough to make it to the hangar stations.
Walking slowly and carefully, Heero led the way through the dark pathways and hallways. Following the illuminated guidelines, they arrived at a blockaded door at the end of a corridor within twenty-three minutes.
Duo turned around and sighed. He looked at the other two and finally spoke. "So, I guess we're here. What do we do now?"
Relena shook her head. "I think we just go in, right Heero?"
"No," he answered, reading an engraved plate embedded into the wall. "We have to go to the other end, flip the switch, turn right, pull the lever down, walk to the end of that hallway, and press the buttons from left to right then the center. Then we must come back here and enter our names into that viewscreen over there," he explained, pointing to the viewscreen as he finished. "Then it'll let us in, depending on if we are accepted. We need to go one at a time, and if you should mess up you are doomed."
He got blank stares from the other two for speaking too quickly. He groaned inside, then repeated it and showed them the plaque. "Ready?"
Duo offered to go first, chuckling for a moment before getting to the point. "See, if I mess up, nothing will happen. My Gerdam isn't done, anyway. I've done without these mobile suits and everything, but Heero, you haven't. You were trained to be a perfect fighting soldier all your life. So you'll learn from my mistakes, right?" He walked away without another word, not even glancing back, not waiting for an answer.
They heard him mutter something from the other end. It seemed that the hallways were interminable and also very deep; they sent echoes with every step and breath. They could hear him breathing; it was rather erratic and not at all the normal breathing one would normally have. They could hear the pit-pat of his steps and the boom-bang when he tripped over his own feet.
Presently he came back, dripping wet and solemn. "I wouldn't ever do that again in my lifetime, not even forwell, what am I saying? I'd do that to save the world!" He smacked himself playfully, grinning. "Hey, good luck! I did it, anybody can! See you in the hangar, Heero, Relena!"
He had entered his codes and his name, and the door opened immediately, shutting the moment his foot left the line of closure. Relena breathed in and out, then began to walk to the end.
To Heero, the fifteen minutes in which it took her to get there and back seemed like an eternity of waiting. He was both nervous and worried, for some odd reason. Why he would be nervous, he did not know. He usually never got nervous. But he supposed that people had to get nervous sometime
Relief seemed to possess him whenever Relena was near. When he saw her, also dripping wet and shivering, he was glad she was alive and pretty much in one piece both mentally and physically. She walked straight past him without uttering a single word, although she looked at him with the sort of look one would have if they felt incredibly ill or felt as if they wished to die. He was a little hurt and shocked, but then he decided something terrible must be within those dark hallways to make both his counterparts so emotionally drained.
He soon found out for himself. The long corridor deepened and became three feet deep in bloody water, then he found himself in a dark, dead graveyard, then the first switch. Then he began his way towards the left, where bones and skeletons lay scattered as harsh, threatening, and boiling hot winds swept invisible sand across the ground. Then flames engulfed the bridge before him and he had to swim a torrentious river before arriving at the end. He pulled the lever down, then began the long journey back through those terrible places. The second half was completely new. First it was the ice crystals that embedded everything that went through it, pinning skeletons and dead bodies askew across rocks and boulders. Then he felt himself falling through space, falling towards a black hole the size of a gigantic nebula. That in itself was frightening to know of a black hole of that size. He fell through, though he did not say a word and did not cry out in fear.
The black hole brought him directly to a grassy knoll in which the three buttons were situated within a dark statue of a great bird. The eyes were buttons, and the beak was a button. Left, right, center. He was in the middle of the corridor going back towards the bolted doorway to the hangar. This time, however, it was filled with five feet of clear water and he had to swim.
Once on the other side, he was greeted by Dr. Jei and the other two who were now dry and in a different change of clothes. He was beckoned into a self-drying compartment, then into a changing station. They had uniforms, which he did not mind. They were not bad, at least, he didn't care much for the style, but it was comfortable and it fit pretty well for his standards.
Black slacks with a belt, and a crisp black polo that buttoned down the entire front. It had two breast pockets and lapels along the shoulders and insigniae across the front. The over-coat was also black; made of fine merino wool, it had cuffs and collars of black in cotton. The New Alliance insignia was embroidered into the back, which all of them thought was very tacky.
Relena, however, was one they had to all feel sorry for. She had slacks, also, but she also had a skirt and shorts for different occasions. Black leggings were also provided for colder weather to wear with the skirt, and she had high-heeled button-up boots. The two boys had to wear plain black brogans, but that was their usual and they did not mind. Had it been a different girl, they would've hated those heeled boots, but Relena was also used to them from years of experience. [though she often tripped on that first day]
Dr. Jei brought them directly to the hangar where the Phoelis Wing-Break was kept within locks and generator shields. Heero undid them; he was the only one who could for they had used brainwave and DNA data to seal it up. Only a sample of his blood could open the seal, and after that fingerprint and brainwave data had to be taken to undo the auto-destruction self-destructing system, the ASDS.
Heero gaped when the shields were lifted. Relena gasped, and Duo just stared. It was even greater in appearance than ever in the pictures. It was smaller than Wing Zero, but not by much. It was white, black, green, and yellow. Small additional parts flashed some strips of blue and red, but the main body was green, gold, and white. It was made to be ever powerful and the extreme best, and best piloted by a one-way mind.
He immediately gripped the handle and drew himself up. Standing in the cockpit, a feeling of exhilaration and elation filled him. He was in his element; he was trained for this since he was very young and it was embedded into his blood.
Relena watched this little scene, happy that Heero was so enthusiastic about all this. The mission itself was extremely difficult, but he seemed not to be pessimistic about it at all. Perhaps this time they could all be optimistic.
The Cylix Arabesque was unlocked already, though a brainwave check had to be taken to reassure the computer system. The Arabesque was mostly white, with lavender, peach, and pale green. Highlights of the palest yellow were seen if one closely observed the panels. If not, then it just looked brighter in certain places than others.
Duo watched as the two climbed into the seats of the cockpits. He felt rather forlorn, having no Gerdam of his own that was completed. He found himself looking at Quatre's finished Gerdam, the Paleau-Candonite. It was blue and white; with platinum silver and black trimmings. There was no green and no yellow, but it was stunning all the same.
Duo's Gerdam was the Opular Sepaque. It had invisibility options and used speed to its advantage, much as Deathscythe had. These Gerdams had been made to match the pilot and also to feel rather much like their Gundams for easier fighting. Mostly deep blue to almost black, lighter blues such as royal and indigo highlighter certain areas. Whitish-silver was patched all over, and the strong shield had yellow and red streaks on black, silver, and blue. It was smaller than the Phoelis for the agility and quickness needed for the disappearance invisibility.
It was almost completed; the only thing needed was the generator shield check-up and two test runs. The most important thing, however, was that the system used in the Os-sepaque (as they called it) had to be installed and re-run to make certain it was functioning properly. If the system, which was named the Oplar, did not function correctly, then major problems could occur within the machinery and also the pilot's mental. [which would be Duo's]
Dr. Jei noticed Duo for the first time since his arrival. [how had he forgotten him???] "Duo, I completely forgot about the Oplar. You will have to make do with the Candonite until it is completed. The adjustment shouldn't be so bad; your short-range fighting isn't all that terrible. The triple cannons use the battery behind" Dr. Jei hurried to explain the features and instructions as Heero and Relena practiced battle on some dummy mobile dolls set up as targets.
Duo was a trifle dismayed about using the Candonite; he hated using cannons. But whatever it took to help the rest of them, he'd be the first to try his best. He defeated all his targets, then he and the other two pilots had to try battle, but they were not allowed to use their weapons, only quickness, strength, and agility to tire the opponent.
Relena quickly pinned Duo down. Duo was at the disadvantage because the Candonite was not his type of mobile suit. Heero quickly took over, then tried to pin the Arabesque to the Candonite then off to the end of destruction. When he almost succeeded, Dr. Jei cut the lights and called to them over comset.
"Now try this in the dark," he said menacingly, then pushed a button. Black mobile dolls came out, ready to kill.
Three groans met his chuckling glance. Would they have to practice this forever?
After the practice session, they were taken to their living quarters. They would have to hide from certain people; they had to stay within the vicinity until time for battle.
It wasn't so bad, they shared a main living area and kitchen, and each had a small bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. It was like a little condominium. There was a half-floor loft which Duo immediately claimed, and two bedrooms side-by-side downstairs and a pullout sofa bed. The other bedroom was across the side-by-side bedrooms, which Heero opted to take. Relena chose the small bedroom with the window across the hallway from Heero's, though it was more diagonal than straight across.
The entire "condo" was carpeted, save for the bathrooms and the kitchen. The loft had three walls and a blacony edge for a fourth wall, and the stairs were steep. It fed directly into a wall, though it stopped about three feet before it. To the left was sliding glass doors that gave a spectacular view, then the shared living room. Turning left twice after the end of the stairwell would set you in a direct path to the front door. To the left about half-way, the kitchen sat with a refridgerator/freezer, microwave, oven, and small table. Going on, on the left were the two smaller bedrooms and on the right the room Heero chose.
"What are we going to eat?" Duo asked, his stomach growling.
Heero opened the fridge. "There's canned stuff, some vegatables, fruit, milk, juice, eggs, bread, cheese, ham, turkey, mayonnaise," he started, then paused, looking throughtfully into the back wall of the fridge. "What's this?" he asked himself out loud, pursing his lips. He reached into the fridge, trying to get something.
Relena and Duo exchanged worried glances. What did Heero find? Obviously it was something strange.
Heero held up a set of knives, metal mini-scythes, and titanium razor discs. He put them on the table, then showed them an envelope addressed to: "The Gerdam Pilots". He ripped it open and read it aloud.
Newly Recruited Gerdam Pilots and Co.-
These weapons are made to specific standards. I am sure you'll know whose is whose. Hope they are helpful.
Noin, Trowa, Quatre
Relena stared at the foreign objects lying on the table. Duo picked up the package of discs, wondering what they meant by knowing whose was whose. Heero put the letter down gently and sat down before the objects, fingering the pistol in his belt.
"So, what do we do?" Duo finally asked after some while. "Which one to take?"
Heero took out his pistol and laid it down next to the other items. He said shortly, "There must be another Gerdam pilot. The pilot to use Trowa's Gerdam."
Duo thought that one over. Heero was right, of course. The Retekar Wasiezl was completed; Trowa's Gerdam was finished before Duo's in an effort to speed up the process. No one would use that particular Gerdam; Duo couldn't, he wasn't compatible to the features. He could barely manage with the Candonite as it was.
Who used knives? Relena didn't; she hated them. She took the discs as Duo set them down, and Duo immediately chose the mini-scythes, remembering Deathscythe. The knives were what was left because Heero had his gun at all times and did not use knives as a main weapon.
"Wufei used a sword," Relena pointed out, fingering a knife. There were six in all.
Duo shook his head. "That's different. He wouldn't use knives in place of his sword. It has to be someone who uses knives already."
"Oh, I guess not," Relena said, looking at Heero.
He noticed both were waiting for an answer and finally said, "We'll have to wait. The originals were supposed to be Hilde, Relena, and us four Gundam pilots. this fourth person is most likely a girl, if they make it. Dr. Jay should explain to us tomorrow."
Relena nodded. "I wonder if we know her."
"We probably have to know her," Duo pointed out. "We need to know the people or we'll end up killing them," he added, looking at Heero. They had often fought before they earned trust and became friends.
Heero agreed. "I guess so."
Who is the fourth person? Or will there be more than four? There are five Gerdams, after all....