Disclaimer: No own, no money, no sue
Only a couple people reviewed the prologue, but I'm still gonna write this anyways...
================
The Scavenger Years- part I
"Prometheus Under Fire"
++++++++++++++++
daddy says the world is
a drum tight and hard
and i told him
i'm gonna beat
out my own rhythm
- "The Drum" by Nikki Giovanni
___________________
I suppose what kept me fighting through those years of peace was the fact that if I didn't, no one else would. Now, let's assume that the war had never ended; would the world still be conflicting with itself and the colonies? No, I doubt it.
There comes a time in every man or woman's life when they realize their mistakes and immediately try to amend them. I can't really blame them, because throughout those long years, I did the same thing myself. I apologized to the world, to my friends... to my family. I made mistakes during that war; I acted like a fool. But unlike most people who would hang their lives up on silly impertinent matters, I did something.
I kept fighting.
It was an indescribably humid day when I was supposed to go to Africa to observe some signing between two opposing countries. It was nothing out of my normal routine at the time; I got out of bed, ate, worked, ate, worked, and then went to bed. On a good day, I'd only have a couple hundred papers to go over, but no place requesting my attendance. Why did I always go?
Because they asked me to.
I find myself unable to refuse such invitations, I feel absolutely awful every time I had to do it because of prior arrangements.
But let's not get sidetracked here... the day I left in my own private plane is still fresh in my mind. I woke up early and kissed my brother and his wife goodbye.
I never knew I wouldn't see them for the next four years.....
============================
"Promise you'll take care of yourself..." Zechs' voice trailed off, his eyes focused into hers.
"Honestly! I'll be gone for a week at the most!" She gave him a playful jab to the ribs, "What could go wrong? My plane crashing onto some deserted island?" (AN: *cough, choke*) Little did she know, but with that statement, she had utterly doomed herself.
"I do... it's just..." I have a really bad feeling about this one, is how he wanted to finish but instead opted for, "I want you to be safe." She gave him a weak smile, "With you around, I don't see how I couldn't."
"Oh? You think that's funny, little sister?" He grabbed her and began to tickle her. "I'm sorry! I'M SORRY!" she screeched.
"Well, aren't we having fun?"
"I'll miss you too Wufei."
"Wha-?"
"Be safe Miss Relena." Sally winked at her after slamming a fist down onto her partner's head. "You never know what kind of diseases lurk over there there's-"
"AIDS, ebola, and a weird disease that makes you turn purple with green stripes, yes, Duo's already informed me." She gave her friend a hug.
"What disease that makes you turn purple with green stripes?" Zechs inquired, looking utterly lost. Sally and Relena both started laughing, "Just... don't ask..."
==================
As soon as I had stepped aboard that plane, I couldn't help but feel an utter sense of dread wash over me. I should have just walked off that plane, I should have refused to go. But never the less, I got on that plane, sat down, and waved to my small group that had come to see me off. After much persuasion from Sally, I added an extra first aid kit and bug spray which I would later thank her for threatening me with.
For the most part, the first four or so hours of the flight were balmy, and my small private jet just seemed to float lazily through the clouds. It was so calm, moreover, that I managed to drift off into sleep.
That didn't last.
I don't know when it happened, after all, how could such a calm day turn so violent in a few hours?
Fate, destiny, call it whatever you wish, but the next thing I knew, the copilot was next to me, shaking me and trying to force something into my hands. I can't for the life of me remember what it was, but I'm assuming that it must have been a parachute of some sort. The captain screamed something, but his voice was deafened by the roars of rain and thunder.
I KNEW I shouldn't have gotten on that plane.
===================
"We're gonna crash! Make sure the Foreign Minister gets out, John!" The pilot called to the co-pilot. He nodded, reached for one of two parachutes to give to her. Apparently, he realized as he made his way into the back cabin area, she had gone unfazed by the whole ordeal, because she was still sleeping.
She was still drowsy when John shook her awake, shoving the parachute into her hands and the plane jerked down in an absolute nose-dive. The captain screamed something, trying vainly to be heard through the radio, trying to get some help. But the only reply he received was the one from the ocean as it crashed through the windows of the plane, sending all three of them out into the ocean. Relena was sent slamming violently back as the water filled her mouth and stung her eyes. The plane jerked again at neck-breaking speed, and her head slammed back onto a side of the plane.
I'm gonna die...
====================================
I woke up, my face in the sand, and the sea at my feet and I realized instantly that I wasn't in my bed. Or anywhere near it for that matter. My arms were so weak that I could barely push myself up, and I found myself dragging myself farther and farther into even more sand before my fingers were lanced by the jagged rocks. Using whatever strength I could muster up, I stood up, my knees shaky and my breath hollow. It took me a few minutes but then it dawned on me:
I was alive.
Among the living and breathing to boot!
Amazed at my miraculous survival, I didn't take notice of my appearance until I tried to walk back towards the beach. My hair was a matted mess, and my Cinq Kingdom uniform, save for the pants and undershirt, where ripped to shreds. My bleeding hands reached down to inspect my swollen and discolored ankle. The gash on my forehead made my whole head ache as I leaned forward. Supporting myself on a tree, I called out in a thin, raspy voice, "HELLO? IS ANYONE OUT THERE?"
Well of course there wasn't, but at the time, I would never admit there was that possibility out there. I screamed, and screamed, and screamed until my voice was gone all together. Then, having no other option, I began to cry. Those tears mingled with my sweat and my blood and in a few minutes, I had to sit down. I buried my face in my hands, trying to figure out what in God's name I could do.
Most people don't understand that up until that time, I had been pampered in an easy lifestyle. But here I was, all alone. I had to hunt, find water, build a fire for crying out-loud without someone there to tell me how to do it. I wasn't scared, no... I was *petrified*...
I was so alone.
======================
"What do you mean, she never arrived?" Zechs was on the edge of mental breakdown.
"It's just what I said, Mr. Milliardo, the organization claimed that she never showed up... do you think something awful has happened to her?" Hilde's eyes looked sad and depressed. He leaned back into his chair, trying vainly to remain calm.
"Nothing better have."
Hilde recognized that tone of voice. The protective older brother had been replaced by the warrior out for vengeance.
"Don't worry... I'm sure our Relena will be just fine, and she'll turn up in a couple of hours!" Hilde tried to be as optimistic as her mood would allow her to be. I'm not even fooling myself...
"Thank you, please keep me informed if you find out anything."
"Will do." Hilde ended the transmission with a sigh.
This was most certainly *not* good.
================
Two weeks later...
The Perfect Soldier sat alone in his dark dorm room, eating an instant cup of noodles (AN: *waves flag and cheers* Hurray for Ramen Noodles!), and watched the news with an utterly bored expression on his face. The man on the television was blabbering on and on and on about Mars and Venus' orbital routes changing. "That's right... keep talking little man..." Heero muttered, shoving another spoonful in his mouth.
"... and in further news, Vice Foreign Minister Peacecraft Darlian," Heero looked up with anticipation, "... has been officially declared missing as of today at noon. Her whereabouts remain a mystery at this time, but we'll be sure to keep you posted-"
Ramen Noodles flew through the air as Heero began to choke.
WHAT?! When did THIS happen? His normally cool features were contorted with anger. It was then that his dorm mate decided to burst through the door, panting wildly as though he had run a marathon.
"LUKE! LUKE!" Scott, the room mate, called using Heero's "name."
"What? What?" Heero found it hard not to mimic his friend.
"THEY'VE GOT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" It took Heero a minute to calm himself. A few weeks prior, he had "discovered" Scott's mild obsession with Relena. Everyday, with every mention of her name, Heero still found himself reaching for his gun, expecting to find it there.
But it never was, and Heero began to sigh.
"I know."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you upset?"
"Y-no."
"Y-no? I think you are..." Scott threw himself onto his bed, nearly bouncing back off with the force.
"No." Was the crisp reply.
"Fine, fine, while you keep denying, I'm gonna study."
"Go right ahead." Another monotonous reply.
"My, aren't we cheery today?"
"Go. Away." Her pronounced each syllable bluntly.
"Fine, fine, just don't forget, we have football practice this afternoon; if you forget, coach fries us both." And with that, Scott got up and stormed out of the room.
Heero released the breath he had been holding and allowed his head to fall back against the wall.
"I promised I'd protect you... I'm sorry..."
================================
"Hilde, you are a brave, brave, woman." Duo called to her, finally crossing the room as her transmission with Milliardo ended.
"No, I'm a sad, sad, woman."
"I know what ya mean." He sat down on her lap (*AN: Yes, HE sat on HER lap) and Hilde wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head against the back of his Preventer's uniform.
"You're going to have to be a lot braver if you're going to tell him." Duo hung his head in defeat at her words, "He's going to kill me."
"He's going to kill whoever took her, and if he doesn't find them, then he'll turn to you to vent his anger." She smiled as his back straightened. His grinning face turned around slowly, and Hilde instantly knew what he was planning.
"Duo..."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sitting on that beach, Relena's head throbbed and her heart ached. She must have been sitting there for at least an hour, because the sun had already began to sink. Finally managing the courage and pride to stand back up, Relena winced as her ankle nearly buckled. Her heart shrank and her breath caught in her throat when she realized just how bad the situation was. As she picked up a sharp rock, she leaned over to a nearby palm tree, slashing into it's bark with a single stroke; and from that day on, she would make the journey to the outer beach, rain or shine, marking every day she was on that island. Leaning back on that same palm tree, she managed to shut her tearing eyes and drift into a light sleep, waking every hour with every noise. When the sun finally did begin to rise, she felt quite triumphant about spending her first night on the island.
Little did she know, it would take more than just sleep to survive what the island had in store for her....
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Okay, that's all for now :) The whole Heero in college thing is paying homage to the absolutely fabulous story "Traitor to the Cause." The Black Rose, you are absolutely awesome; I'm totally enthralled with your story! Okay, anyways... has anyone noticed how many divorce stories between R+H are showing up? It's like one person got the idea and everyone played off of it.....
BTW, there are a few Beta readers for this category over at Writers U, and I'm one of them. I'm supposed to "share" with that with you, and tell you I'll be happy to edit and Beta anything you want me to look over. I've been reading a couple of stories that maybe should've had one...
Please Review and/or email me! Please? Pleaseeeeeeeeeee?
Chibi Acky
http://kiss.to/gyousei
Only a couple people reviewed the prologue, but I'm still gonna write this anyways...
================
The Scavenger Years- part I
"Prometheus Under Fire"
++++++++++++++++
daddy says the world is
a drum tight and hard
and i told him
i'm gonna beat
out my own rhythm
- "The Drum" by Nikki Giovanni
___________________
I suppose what kept me fighting through those years of peace was the fact that if I didn't, no one else would. Now, let's assume that the war had never ended; would the world still be conflicting with itself and the colonies? No, I doubt it.
There comes a time in every man or woman's life when they realize their mistakes and immediately try to amend them. I can't really blame them, because throughout those long years, I did the same thing myself. I apologized to the world, to my friends... to my family. I made mistakes during that war; I acted like a fool. But unlike most people who would hang their lives up on silly impertinent matters, I did something.
I kept fighting.
It was an indescribably humid day when I was supposed to go to Africa to observe some signing between two opposing countries. It was nothing out of my normal routine at the time; I got out of bed, ate, worked, ate, worked, and then went to bed. On a good day, I'd only have a couple hundred papers to go over, but no place requesting my attendance. Why did I always go?
Because they asked me to.
I find myself unable to refuse such invitations, I feel absolutely awful every time I had to do it because of prior arrangements.
But let's not get sidetracked here... the day I left in my own private plane is still fresh in my mind. I woke up early and kissed my brother and his wife goodbye.
I never knew I wouldn't see them for the next four years.....
============================
"Promise you'll take care of yourself..." Zechs' voice trailed off, his eyes focused into hers.
"Honestly! I'll be gone for a week at the most!" She gave him a playful jab to the ribs, "What could go wrong? My plane crashing onto some deserted island?" (AN: *cough, choke*) Little did she know, but with that statement, she had utterly doomed herself.
"I do... it's just..." I have a really bad feeling about this one, is how he wanted to finish but instead opted for, "I want you to be safe." She gave him a weak smile, "With you around, I don't see how I couldn't."
"Oh? You think that's funny, little sister?" He grabbed her and began to tickle her. "I'm sorry! I'M SORRY!" she screeched.
"Well, aren't we having fun?"
"I'll miss you too Wufei."
"Wha-?"
"Be safe Miss Relena." Sally winked at her after slamming a fist down onto her partner's head. "You never know what kind of diseases lurk over there there's-"
"AIDS, ebola, and a weird disease that makes you turn purple with green stripes, yes, Duo's already informed me." She gave her friend a hug.
"What disease that makes you turn purple with green stripes?" Zechs inquired, looking utterly lost. Sally and Relena both started laughing, "Just... don't ask..."
==================
As soon as I had stepped aboard that plane, I couldn't help but feel an utter sense of dread wash over me. I should have just walked off that plane, I should have refused to go. But never the less, I got on that plane, sat down, and waved to my small group that had come to see me off. After much persuasion from Sally, I added an extra first aid kit and bug spray which I would later thank her for threatening me with.
For the most part, the first four or so hours of the flight were balmy, and my small private jet just seemed to float lazily through the clouds. It was so calm, moreover, that I managed to drift off into sleep.
That didn't last.
I don't know when it happened, after all, how could such a calm day turn so violent in a few hours?
Fate, destiny, call it whatever you wish, but the next thing I knew, the copilot was next to me, shaking me and trying to force something into my hands. I can't for the life of me remember what it was, but I'm assuming that it must have been a parachute of some sort. The captain screamed something, but his voice was deafened by the roars of rain and thunder.
I KNEW I shouldn't have gotten on that plane.
===================
"We're gonna crash! Make sure the Foreign Minister gets out, John!" The pilot called to the co-pilot. He nodded, reached for one of two parachutes to give to her. Apparently, he realized as he made his way into the back cabin area, she had gone unfazed by the whole ordeal, because she was still sleeping.
She was still drowsy when John shook her awake, shoving the parachute into her hands and the plane jerked down in an absolute nose-dive. The captain screamed something, trying vainly to be heard through the radio, trying to get some help. But the only reply he received was the one from the ocean as it crashed through the windows of the plane, sending all three of them out into the ocean. Relena was sent slamming violently back as the water filled her mouth and stung her eyes. The plane jerked again at neck-breaking speed, and her head slammed back onto a side of the plane.
I'm gonna die...
====================================
I woke up, my face in the sand, and the sea at my feet and I realized instantly that I wasn't in my bed. Or anywhere near it for that matter. My arms were so weak that I could barely push myself up, and I found myself dragging myself farther and farther into even more sand before my fingers were lanced by the jagged rocks. Using whatever strength I could muster up, I stood up, my knees shaky and my breath hollow. It took me a few minutes but then it dawned on me:
I was alive.
Among the living and breathing to boot!
Amazed at my miraculous survival, I didn't take notice of my appearance until I tried to walk back towards the beach. My hair was a matted mess, and my Cinq Kingdom uniform, save for the pants and undershirt, where ripped to shreds. My bleeding hands reached down to inspect my swollen and discolored ankle. The gash on my forehead made my whole head ache as I leaned forward. Supporting myself on a tree, I called out in a thin, raspy voice, "HELLO? IS ANYONE OUT THERE?"
Well of course there wasn't, but at the time, I would never admit there was that possibility out there. I screamed, and screamed, and screamed until my voice was gone all together. Then, having no other option, I began to cry. Those tears mingled with my sweat and my blood and in a few minutes, I had to sit down. I buried my face in my hands, trying to figure out what in God's name I could do.
Most people don't understand that up until that time, I had been pampered in an easy lifestyle. But here I was, all alone. I had to hunt, find water, build a fire for crying out-loud without someone there to tell me how to do it. I wasn't scared, no... I was *petrified*...
I was so alone.
======================
"What do you mean, she never arrived?" Zechs was on the edge of mental breakdown.
"It's just what I said, Mr. Milliardo, the organization claimed that she never showed up... do you think something awful has happened to her?" Hilde's eyes looked sad and depressed. He leaned back into his chair, trying vainly to remain calm.
"Nothing better have."
Hilde recognized that tone of voice. The protective older brother had been replaced by the warrior out for vengeance.
"Don't worry... I'm sure our Relena will be just fine, and she'll turn up in a couple of hours!" Hilde tried to be as optimistic as her mood would allow her to be. I'm not even fooling myself...
"Thank you, please keep me informed if you find out anything."
"Will do." Hilde ended the transmission with a sigh.
This was most certainly *not* good.
================
Two weeks later...
The Perfect Soldier sat alone in his dark dorm room, eating an instant cup of noodles (AN: *waves flag and cheers* Hurray for Ramen Noodles!), and watched the news with an utterly bored expression on his face. The man on the television was blabbering on and on and on about Mars and Venus' orbital routes changing. "That's right... keep talking little man..." Heero muttered, shoving another spoonful in his mouth.
"... and in further news, Vice Foreign Minister Peacecraft Darlian," Heero looked up with anticipation, "... has been officially declared missing as of today at noon. Her whereabouts remain a mystery at this time, but we'll be sure to keep you posted-"
Ramen Noodles flew through the air as Heero began to choke.
WHAT?! When did THIS happen? His normally cool features were contorted with anger. It was then that his dorm mate decided to burst through the door, panting wildly as though he had run a marathon.
"LUKE! LUKE!" Scott, the room mate, called using Heero's "name."
"What? What?" Heero found it hard not to mimic his friend.
"THEY'VE GOT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" It took Heero a minute to calm himself. A few weeks prior, he had "discovered" Scott's mild obsession with Relena. Everyday, with every mention of her name, Heero still found himself reaching for his gun, expecting to find it there.
But it never was, and Heero began to sigh.
"I know."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you upset?"
"Y-no."
"Y-no? I think you are..." Scott threw himself onto his bed, nearly bouncing back off with the force.
"No." Was the crisp reply.
"Fine, fine, while you keep denying, I'm gonna study."
"Go right ahead." Another monotonous reply.
"My, aren't we cheery today?"
"Go. Away." Her pronounced each syllable bluntly.
"Fine, fine, just don't forget, we have football practice this afternoon; if you forget, coach fries us both." And with that, Scott got up and stormed out of the room.
Heero released the breath he had been holding and allowed his head to fall back against the wall.
"I promised I'd protect you... I'm sorry..."
================================
"Hilde, you are a brave, brave, woman." Duo called to her, finally crossing the room as her transmission with Milliardo ended.
"No, I'm a sad, sad, woman."
"I know what ya mean." He sat down on her lap (*AN: Yes, HE sat on HER lap) and Hilde wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head against the back of his Preventer's uniform.
"You're going to have to be a lot braver if you're going to tell him." Duo hung his head in defeat at her words, "He's going to kill me."
"He's going to kill whoever took her, and if he doesn't find them, then he'll turn to you to vent his anger." She smiled as his back straightened. His grinning face turned around slowly, and Hilde instantly knew what he was planning.
"Duo..."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sitting on that beach, Relena's head throbbed and her heart ached. She must have been sitting there for at least an hour, because the sun had already began to sink. Finally managing the courage and pride to stand back up, Relena winced as her ankle nearly buckled. Her heart shrank and her breath caught in her throat when she realized just how bad the situation was. As she picked up a sharp rock, she leaned over to a nearby palm tree, slashing into it's bark with a single stroke; and from that day on, she would make the journey to the outer beach, rain or shine, marking every day she was on that island. Leaning back on that same palm tree, she managed to shut her tearing eyes and drift into a light sleep, waking every hour with every noise. When the sun finally did begin to rise, she felt quite triumphant about spending her first night on the island.
Little did she know, it would take more than just sleep to survive what the island had in store for her....
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Okay, that's all for now :) The whole Heero in college thing is paying homage to the absolutely fabulous story "Traitor to the Cause." The Black Rose, you are absolutely awesome; I'm totally enthralled with your story! Okay, anyways... has anyone noticed how many divorce stories between R+H are showing up? It's like one person got the idea and everyone played off of it.....
BTW, there are a few Beta readers for this category over at Writers U, and I'm one of them. I'm supposed to "share" with that with you, and tell you I'll be happy to edit and Beta anything you want me to look over. I've been reading a couple of stories that maybe should've had one...
Please Review and/or email me! Please? Pleaseeeeeeeeeee?
Chibi Acky
http://kiss.to/gyousei