Chapter Four-The Sign of Peace

A.C. 175 July, 17th

Lisa wheeled Doctor J away from the room they had been using for physical therapy. Her life seemed much simpler now. She was given space in the lab for her research, but she found she preferred to be where other people were. The death of Heero Yuy and the torture of Doctor J and her husband had carved a hole in her psyche. Where before she could spend hours, days, even months alone with a project, now she found it draining. Her logical mind told her that people in times of tragedy cling to one another, and that she was just following a pattern, but even working it through logically couldn't stop it. Some things in nature just worked that way.

There were other people who could've helped Doctor J with his physical therapy, but she didn't mind, at least she had company. The five scientists locked themselves away every day. They were working on something big for the resistance. Henry worked like one obsessed, they barely talked. Funny, one of the things that brought them together was their focus on their jobs. Now, she wished he'd focus a little on her. She wasn't dealing well with this war. But she was not the ammunitions and mobile suit expert, so she could not help them. She'd never researched anything that could be used in times of war.

"You seem lost in thought this morning, my dear," said Doctor J as she wheeled him down the hall.

"Sorry, did I miss something?" she asked.

"No I didn't say anything, I was just commenting on your quietness."

"Oh, sorry. This whole thing, it has me worried. You know, I'm such an introvert normally, I never thought I'd say this but I'm not dealing well with begin alone."

"War can change a person," he agreed. "You're from the Mars Colony right?"

She nodded, "My family moved to M1 when they first opened it. My parents are both terra-form biologist."

"You must worry about them."

"I haven't talked with them since before Heero Yuy was murdered. Do you think there's an alliance presence there too?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure of it."

"But M1 is nothing but a staging ground for the terra formation of Mars!"

"Where ever there are people living, OZ wants to subdue them."

She didn't reply to this.

"Oh my dear! I've made you more upset."

"No, you haven't, Doctor J. OZ has."

She pushed open the door to the lab where the five scientists were working. The other four were there. Professor G and Doctor S where pecking at a lap top and arguing at the other end of the large circular table, which dominated the room. Master O and Instructor H were sitting at the drafting table in the corner.

All four were much too far away to prevent her from spotting it.

They all looked at her in various stages of fear, like children caught jumping on a bed.

It was her copy of "Mapping the Zero Interface", book marked and open on the table.

She left Doctor J and walked over to it. What were they upset about? Why did they have her book?

"My book," she said stupidly. "What's it doing here?"

Nobody said anything, but the three scientist who where not her husband looked at him with concern.

She picked up the book and looked at the pages which were book marked--mostly the transmitter and receiver sections. She didn't understand. She looked up questioningly. No one said a word.

"Doctor S?" she asked remembering to use the code name.

He opened his mouth but still didn't speak.

Her eyes fell on to drawings, which were near it on the table. She picked one up.

"This is an interface box," she said. "But it's much too large."

She picked up a second drawing. "Oh I see, it fits into a computer here. Why would anyone want to do that? You'd have to carry it around with a truck. How does it hook to a person? Oh here, a transmitter focused on a seat, but a person would have to sit in it for it to work."

She flipped over another drawing. "It leads to a processor--but why? The human mind is the normal processor for prosthesis."

She turned a drawing. "But this would control..."

She felt detached from the room as if looking through a tunnel. "This room, this room would send and receive thoughts...this processor would..."

She turned to the last drawing. As she held it, her hand began to shake. "A weapon...it's a weapon. `The Zero System'"

The silence stretched in the room.

"You've made a weapon out of my research."

"I..." Doctor S began.

Lisa grabbed a chair from the table. She sank into it.

"I had never considered...I never thought it was possible to use it that way." As the horror of it seeped in her heart reacted. No! I will not allow this! Her heart told her. Methodical she gathered the papers towards her--every last drawing incorporating her research. She clutched them to her chest along with her book. She had to leave! She spun about to face the door. Doctor J was still there in his wheel chair.

He reached up his clawed metal hand to adjust his mechanical eyes. The image stopped her. It was just long enough for the reason center of her brain to take over. She remembered vividly the tortured body she'd healed. She remembered her own husband's wounds--his broken fingers and severed nose. She hated OZ, but did she hate it enough to give it her legacy? She looked down at her book.

She looked back up at Doctor J, her feelings in turmoil. "It's something I never intended." She said lamely

"How do you feel about what we have done, my dear?" said Doctor J taking the initiative. "It's understandable for you to be angry. You must be furious with us."

"I am, well I was...I really don't know," she admitted. "I've always known what Hen...Doctor S does for a living. It never bothered me. But this?" She held up a fist full of drawings.

"How do you feel about war?" Doctor S asked from behind her.

"I don't oppose it, now. I would've told you back before Heero Yuy was shot that I could never kill anyone. That all war was bad. But now, considering what has been done to the colonies, to you two, I would gladly like to see the deaths of your torturers."

"They have already received justice," rumbled the deep voice of Master O.

"But, am I loosing my humanity if I let my legacy be used to kill?" she asked.

"Your legacy will not be a weapon. Your research and book were done for the best of reasons and I am grateful for the result. It is we who have corrupted it," said Doctor J. "You must not think of this as a weapon to kill, but rather to prevent killing."

"To prevent killing?" She asked.

"There will always be people who want killing and war. We must use every tool in our grasp to stop them. To stop this," he raised his mechanical claw, "from happening to others."

It was twisted logic, her heart knew, but her head was now firmly in charge. OZ must be stopped, she believed this to the core of her being. She looked again at the drawings cruppled in one hand, and her book clutched in the other. It was a small price to pay. She turned back to the table and set the drawings down. Slowly she looked up at the four men staring at her.

"Use it." she said in a bone-chilling souless voice.

Silence followed her statement. Doctor S looked worried, and nervous.

"I told you she wouldn't be hysterical. She hates OZ as much as we do." Professor G said. The other men winced at the tactless comment, but he barreled on. "Besides we don't even know if it will work. And I for one am glad this is out in the open. She's the expert. She can tell us if it will work."

"Yes," she said numbly. "I can do that."

She pulled all the drawings of the system towards her. She reached for a near by mechanical pencil and a pad of engineering paper. Her detached feeling faded slowly after a few pages of numbers and calculations. Cold science never demanded an emotional response. It was easier to deal with than real life consequences. She'd always suppressed feelings with it. This was no different. The five other scientists went back to work as well, their fears relieved. Vaguely in the back of her mind, she was pleased to be included, to not have to work alone, and to contribute in some way to the end of OZ and the Alliance's oppression.

"It will work," she announced five hours later.

"That's it! We'll have the ultimate weapon," crowed Professor G.

"We must install it in all of the Gundams," said Instructor H.

"No, you mustn't do that," warned Lisa.

"But you just said..." started her husband.

"This is not a device for every soldier on the field. It's not a device for a soldier at all," she explained.

"Why don't you tell us what you've discovered?" suggested Doctor J.

"The pilot who masters this system will be unbeatable on the battle field. Such a pilot will have the ability to see 360 degrees at once, to anticipate the moves of his opponent. He will be able to act within nanoseconds of any threat. He will never be blind-sided, surprised, or overwhelmed by numbers. He could coordinate an infinite number of other soldier for group engagements."

"That's what we'd hoped," said Master O. "But?"

"But, this sword has a double edge. This pilot must be more than human. He must be perfect. And he must either be a leader or be completely behind his orders."

"Behind his orders?"

"If he is a rank and file soldier with the will only to follow orders...If he had even one doubt, this system will exploit it. In his mind, his doubts will be magnified. What would normally be a little worry suddenly could be become an enemy. Do you see where I'm going with this? If he does not have a preternaturally focused mind, his doubts will cause him to lose control and very likely destroy everything on the battle field--comrades, civilians, trees, buildings, animals...everything."

"So this can only be used by leaders?" asked Doctor J.

"Not just any leader--a visionary leader, one with a driving obsessive goal. Don't you see? No one could control this pilot. This pilot could not take orders he himself did not agree with."

"In a war, soldiers must follow orders," agreed Doctor S.

"We could train a boy, from a very young age to be the type of pilot you describe," suggested Doctor J.

"It would be the only way to use this weapon," Lisa said. "You probably should wait until he's grown and judge for yourselves whether or not to put the system in. Each case will be different, the decision will not be easy." She sighed. "I can devise aptitude tests for it, if you'd like. Also this design has a few flaws, I'll work on it, if you still want it in the design."

"Well, I, for one would still like it in the design. Even if we never use it. Chances are one of us will find that perfect boy," said Doctor J.

The others looked skeptical, but didn't disagree. So Lisa continued the development of the design over the next eight months. She worked closely with Master O, who understood the piece she did not--the code for the strategy computer the pilot's thought would be analyzed by. She could not write code for something she'd never done and she'd never fought.



A.C. 176 March, 20th

Lisa sat on a couch in the lounge, nursing a strong cup of coffee. She'd slept like the dead for the last few days. They'd finally finished a major push these last six weeks, and as usual after going Under, they had to spend time recovering. The Zero System was powerful, dangerous, and the chance was great that it would never be built. But if it was built, at least she and Master O could rest assured that it would work.

On her lap was a small picture in a wooden frame. She'd grab it from her office--it was the only memento other than her equipment she had from before the conflict, chaos, rebellion, or what ever you called the time they were living in now.

Oz had begun production of military mobile suits in earnest the intelligence network had told them. The mobile suits had begun to show up on the colonies supposedly to suppress the chaos in the colonies created by rebellion. The results of this weapon's use on the defenseless peace-minded colonies were devastating. All space colonies were placed under military control, their history was erased, and any communication between colonies became prohibited. The OZ propaganda wheel turned out fliers and posters--it was like Heero Yuy never existed.

"What are you looking at?" asked a familiar nasal voice from behind her. It was funny how she'd gotten used to it. Who ever would've thought she'd love a man with a nasal voice?

"It's the portrait we had taken right after our marriage." She showed him. "We were so idealistic then. It seems like ages ago. So much can change in two and a half years."

"Yes," he agreed as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He sat down next to her and pulled the picture over. "I almost don't recognize myself anymore." He fingered his nose shield.

"We missed celebrating our second anniversary this last year."

"I know. Believe me I would've given anything to be with you on that day." He shuddered involuntarily.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up."

"No, we'll just have to celebrate twice this year." He put his coffee in his other hand to put his arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into his embrace.

They sat that way for a few minutes lost in thought.

"So what happens now?" she asked.

"Well, the design is done. Now the resistance has to figure out how to build them. Most of the other scientists have asked to be returned to their original colonies, but with the Alliance lock down on travel, that might be a while. I imagine they'll hold a few meetings soon."

"In the hands of meetings and bureaucrats even in a rebellion?"

He smiled and nodded. "Professor G and a fellow from the earth resistance want to start work on a battleship while we wait."

"Well, that's something at least."

"Yeah, I'll probably help them. I'm not a meeting type of person."

"God I wish I could speak with my parents!" sighed Lisa.

"I know. The Earth turns a blind eye to everything the Alliance does to the colonies."

"Not all of Earth. There still is King Peacecraft of the Sanc Kingdom. He's a lot like Heero Yuy." Lisa sipped her coffee.

"I don't put much faith in that. Just one country--what could they do?"

"Yeah and we're just one resistance--I guess we're doomed."

"Well, when you put it that way...here's hoping!" He raised his coffee mug. "To the Sanc Kingdom!"

"To the Sanc Kingdom!" Lisa echoed the toast and they drank to hope.


AC 182 December 12th


The Sanc Kingdom did not bring peace to the colonies as Lisa and Henry hoped. King Peacecraft tried his best, but he failed. Lisa shook her head as she thought of the tragedy of the fall of the Sanc Kingdom earlier that year--another pacifist killed before his time. The Alliance had attacked, and the peaceful country fell in one day. For the last six years, Henry and Lisa had been shuffled from hiding place to hiding place. The resistance had decided to spilt the scientists up and send them back to their original colonies. The hope was that each would attempt to build a Gundam separately using the Gundam Wing Zero as the base design. This plan would increase the possibility of one of them succeeding.

The Alliance worked very hard at crushing the resistance. For the last three years, they'd been completely cut off from Doctor J at L1 and Master O at L5. The resistance had been unable to get her to M1 at all. But this year it would happen. The Mars Project had needed scientists. They'd put out job fliers. She qualified and very easily got a job with the Project. Sometimes the direct approach worked. The alliance was now going to pay for her trip to M1, how ironic.

She was never meant to be part of their big operation. The Gundam she would build was to be used to liberate M1 and be back up if the Earth Sphere needed it. The resistance calculated that she had the best chance of successfully completing a Gundam. The Alliance presence at M1 was small. The resistance there was well organized. She would be the trump card.

Henry and Lisa had known about the plan to send her back to M1 for two years now. They didn't really care for the idea, but both had seen the logic in the plan. Secretly they celebrated the failed attempts to get her to M1, but this time would not be one of those. They both knew it.

Henry sat in a chair at the other end of the room watching his wife pack her few belongings. "This is worse than before," he commented.

"We never lived together before you went to Earth."

"True."

"We'll just have to do the same things we did then--get lost in the work."

"Building these Gundams on limited resources and smuggled items will take a very long time. It could be years before we see each other again."

"I know."

"This time there will be no holidays. It takes six months just to get to M1."

"I know that too." She brushed a tear away--no time for that now.

"Of course." He sighed. "To repeat something you said then--How can I bare you being so far away?"

Her eyes glistened over. "Henry, please...don't."

"Have you packed the `Sign of Peace'?"

"I have it right here." She patted the breast pocket where a jewelry box was stored. On the last day they were together: the five scientists, Lisa and Howard, the fellow from the earth resistance, Doctor J had given them each a lapel pin. Each had the word `peace' written in the original language of the person to whom it was for, under that was the designation of each colony. Lisa's was written in Russian, the language of her descent. Henry's was written in German. All of them spoke universal now, but each had a love of the dead language from their ancestors' earth home.

Doctor J called them the 'signs of peace', and gave them out with instructions to wear them to the party after the war to celebrate their victory. His gift was touching and motivational. He was clearly their leader, and they all respected him.

There was a knock on the door. "Professor A?"

"Yes?"

"The car's here ma'am. Whenever you're ready."

"Give me a few minutes."

"Yes ma'am"

The footsteps retreated. Lisa looked at her husband.

"Well," she said.

"Well." He rose and crossed the room to hug her close.

"Oh Henry!" She threw her arms about his neck.

"Now then, my soul," he comforted her. "You and I can never truly be apart." He kissed her gently.

"I wish I believed that," she sobbed. "It hurts so much!"

"That's my proof."

"We will win this thing won't we?" she asked.

"Yes."

"And you and I will grow old together like we planned?"

"Yes."

She stepped back and wiped her eyes. "We really have so much to look forward to."

"Yes."

She breathed deeply to control her sobs. "It makes this separation much easier doesn't it?"

He didn't answer. He couldn't.

"Henry," she breathed and rushed quickly back into his arms.

"I love you, Lisa," he said into her hair. "Never forget that, I don't say it enough."

She sobbed into his shoulder. "I...love...you...too."

"Go on now." He gently broke the embrace and picked up her suitcase. She wiped her face again futilely with her wet hands, and took the suitcase.

She walked away on shaky legs and opened the door. She stood there with the doorknob clutched in her hand. Then with the greatest force of will she'd ever mustered, she walked out the door.

Henry sank to his knees, having used all his strength to keep them from shaking he could no longer stand now. For the first time since he was a boy, tears course down his cheeks.

"Someone, tell me I'm going to see her again."

No one answered.

"Please."

The word echoed in the silent room.