DISCLAIMER: None of these characters are mine, with the exception of Kumi and Sette and a bunch of others.
INPORTANT NOTE FOR THIS FIC: Okay, there are going to be A LOT of flashback in this so...when you see @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@, that's the beginning and end of a flashback. this: ********** is the beginning and conclusion of a scene from the present. And just in case there are some of you who decided not to read this, I will also say when I flashback begins and ends so THERE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm so evil! :^) I hope you enjoy this! Love you all! SkyLark
Gundam Wing: The Second Chapter
Episode 5: Ripples in Time
by SkyLark
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(Flashback)
Two teenagers lied in a field one night on Colony L1. They didn't pay mind to the stars too much. They just lied with their eyes closed and enjoyed the fresh air for a change. It was a boy and girl who looked to be about fifteen. The boy had short, unruly dark hair while the girl with him had long, straight and silver hair that fell loose on the grass below. Not a word had been spoken between them since they arrived here hours ago.
Finally, the young woman opened her eyes and looked to her cousin. Quietly, she asked, "Heero?" "Hmmm," the Wing pilot replied as he opened his eyes to her." Their eyes were the same deep blue. Kumi sat up and looked down to him. "Don't get me wrong...I'm glad we finally got to break out from the base for a while. But, why the urgency for you to do so tonight? When you told me we were going to break out earlier, you seemed a little..." She couldn't think of the word she was looking for. "Lost?" Heero asked almost quietly and sadly.
Kumi bit her lip at the word, knowing the connection that it had to a painful experience Heero recently faced. After a long pause, she nodded, "Yea. Is everything all right? You're thinking of that little girl and her puppy again, aren't you?" Heero shrugged, "I'm always thinking about that. It's not the reason why I wanted to get out so bad today. My head's been swimming with stuff since early this afternoon. I was going to go crazy if I stayed in the base all night."
"What's wrong, Heero?" Kumi asked gently. Her cousin continued to lie on his back as he looked to her. "I finally asked Dr. J my question late this morning." Kumi gasped as he eyes widened. "What?" she whispered breathlessly. "I-I can't believe you asked him when you would be able to fall in love. So what happened?" The young girl was not worried about letting her anxiousness show since she was alone with her cousin and best friend. Heero closed his eyes sadly, painfully.
The silence and Heero's facial expressions spoke volumes like none other as Kumi frowned and lowered her head. She sighed deeply, "I didn't think it was going to be anything good. So you asked when you would be able to fall in love and he beat you." "He did worse than that," Heero replied so quietly that she almost didn't catch it. Kumi opened her eyes and turned to him again. "What did he do?" she asked timidly. Heero opened his eyes and sat up, pulling his knees to his chest. "He answered my question," he replied. Kumi frowned and lowered her head, "I see," she replied. Heero shook his head, "He said that I won't be able to fall in love with anyone unless their heart beats perfectly in time with my own."
The girl felt the bottom of her stomach fall out at this, but she wouldn't let it show in her expression. There was a long pause between the two. Their hair was blown by the cool breeze as they sat silently. "Oh Heero," Kumi whispered sadly as she lied back slowly. "I'm sorry." The Wing pilot deadpanned, "It's all right. I should have known it would never be possible. I just couldn't help but ask him. He made us the way we are, after all." Kumi nodded, "Yea." "Do you agree with him?" her cousin asked suddenly, emotionlessly. The girl shook her head, "I don't know. We're not to question anything Dr. J tells us...but..." She didn't know what else to say. Words were never a strong point for either pilot. "Hn," was all Heero could say as he lied back down beside her. They looked up to the sky together.
"All those stars..." Heero said out of the blue. "...There must be two that burn at an equal brightness." Kumi almost felt tears sting her eyes when he said this. 'I know you want to know love so much, Heero,' she thought to herself. 'I do as well, but you were able to have a taste of what love is like at one point. I wouldn't know where to begin since I've lived in the base all my life. You've been cared for by another who taught you to follow your emotions. I don't know any of these things. All I want is for you to know them again, Heero. I want you to fall in love and know what's it's like...Whether or not I ever will.'
Instead of voicing her thoughts, Kumi simply reached out and held Heero's hand. When her hand went in his, she squeezed it for support. Heero felt the gesture and squeezed back gently. "I love you, Heero," Kumi whispered quietly. Heero whispered back, secret tears in his eyes, "I love you, too, Kumi." They lied in silence under the sky.
(End Flashback)
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* * * * * *
In a room decorated with military badges, plaques and statues, two pilots stood before a tall, blonde and infuriated Lieutenant as he stood behind his desk. "WHAT THE HELL WERE THE TWO OF YOU THINKING BACK THERE!?!" he shouted as he stood behind his desk. Heero and Duo were biting their lips to keep from laughing. Duo was the one struggling most a small, quick chuckles left him. "YOU FIND THIS FUNNY, MAXWELL!?! Keiser shouted as he walked in front of his desk. Duo smiled and replied, "Actually, yes I do, sir."
The Lieutenant's saw red as he reached out to pull on the braid that fell over the pilot's shoulder with all his strength. His hand was stopped short by another. He looked to the Wing pilot as he gripped onto the soldier's hand, getting ready to crush it. Heero threatened in a deep voice, "Don't. Even. think about it." "How dare you threaten me, you son of a bitch." Heero reluctantly let go of his hand and took his gaze from the soldier to look forward again as he gave his infamous, "Hn."
"You do realize that purposely ignoring my orders the way that you have is disrespectful and makes me look like a complete fool!?!" Keiser shouted to them. Duo gasped as his jaw fell and eyes widened. "REALLY!?!" he cried. He looked to his lover who gazed back expressionless. "Oh my God, Heero! What were we thinking!?!" Heero laughed loudly at his koi's sarcasm as the Lieutenant's face reddened with rage. He growled, "You little bastards aren't going to have the last laugh. Duo smiled brightly and saluted, "Whatever you say, Lieutenant Asshole!"
Heero bit his lip again and closed his eyes as he shook his head, smiling the whole time. "That's LIEUTENANT KEISER TO YOU!!! I DEMAND RESPECT FROM YOU, YOU LITTLE FUCK!" Duo glared at him coldly and stated calmly, "That's God of Death, to you. And I only give the same respect my friends and I receive." Heero gave a look of agreement to the frustrated man. Keiser shouted and stormed behind his desk again. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE UNTIL I DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH YOU!" he screamed.
Just then, the door opened as a young woman entered with a disgusted look on her face. Keiser's face dropped as he gasped and stood straight and saluted her with a look of shock and fear. "Lady Une. I didn't know that you were-" "That's enough, Keiser," Lady Une said sternly as she never lost her look of anger to him to turn and smile to the Gundam pilots who smiled back. Duo waved vibrantly. She nodded, "You two best leave me with the Lieutenant. I need to have a few words with him. Great work out there today." "Thank you, Lady Une," Heero nodded as he and his lover left the room quietly.
As the lovers walked down the deserted hall back to their room, they laughed loudly. "Oh man!" Duo began. "Did you see the look on his face when she showed up!?!" Heero smiled and nodded as he chuckled, "I thought he was going to piss his pants!" They broke out into laughter again. "I think he did!" the American exploded as they began to pull themselves together. Heero smiled to his partner and pinched his cheek tightly. "Hey!" Duo called. "What was that for?" The Wing pilot smirked and answered simply, "You're bad." The braided pilot wrapped an arm around Heero shoulder and gave a devilish grin, "And you love me for it," he purred. Heero looked to him with a cocked eyebrow.
The American stopped, "Oh come on! Don't tell me you don't like it when I-Mmmph." His words were stopped as Heero pressed their lips tightly together. The Japanese pilot whispered, "You know I love everything about you." "Hmmm," Duo sighed as they held each other. "Hey, race ya to the shower," Duo whispered in the Wing pilot's ear. "Winner gets to wash their lover first." Heero smiled widely, "You're on." With that, they broke off into full sprint down the halls, laughing the whole way.
* * * * * *
When the lovers stepped out of the shower together, Duo sighed, "Well, that's one race I don't mind losing." Heero chuckled deeply. He noticed a small piece of paper that had been slipped under is door and took it into his hand. Duo looked to him with curiosity, "What is it?" Heero read aloud, "Heero and Duo, We're all at the bar to celebrate today's victory! Come on over! Hope to see you soon! Love 'yas Muchly, Sette."
Duo beamed, "YES! I'm game! How about you?" Heero nodded, "I could go for a few drinks, myself. Oh-oh." "What's wrong," the American frowned. Heero found more writing on the back and read out loud, "Heero, please get your workaholic, antisocial, and death-defying cousin out of the hanger. She needs a few cold ones. Thanks, babe! Love ya, Sette." Duo sighed, "Sounds like Kumi still hasn't been able to get past the training Dr. J put the two of you through." Heero frowned and shook his head, "She wasn't as lucky as I was to find someone like you." Duo blushed as he lowered his head meekly. He kissed Heero's cheek and whispered, "You go and talk to her. I'll meet you in the bar."
The short-haired pilot nodded, "Thanks, koi. We'll be there soon." Duo smiled and nodded back before they gently kissed eachother's lips. They walked out of the room and went separate ways.
* * * * * *
In the bar, loud dance music played as the other pilots stood and sat at the bar, drinking and laughing. The bar was pretty full as Preventers also took advantage of the scene to enjoy themselves. The dance floor was the best lit part of the area as colored lights flashed from the spotlights and mirror balls that were strategically placed to work with the music. The pilots were the most relaxed they had been in weeks as they stayed together enjoying the company of eachother.
"I think that I can safely say that we'll get through this whole ordeal just fine," Relena smiled. Dorothy nodded, "I agree. We have been able to show OZ what we're made of. I don't think they'll be showing their faces again too soon." Trowa shook his head, "Don't speak so soon. OZ has never been predictable." Wufei nodded, "He's right. We're doing a great job, but I still think that OZ is holding back a lot of what they have to offer."
Catherine gulped her sip of Vodka roughly at this. She shook her head, "Please don't speak like that. Can we just enjoy the face that we've won a fight today?" Sette looked up from her seat as she spoke to Quatre. She called, "Monkey Girl actually said something I agree with! You all just need to chill and loosen up." Catherine wrinkled her nose at the nickname and took another sip of her drink. The others continued to laugh and discuss much lighter subjects. Soon, Catherine lead the way to the dance floor as her comrades followed.
Sette and Quatre were about to walk to the dance floor when the princess put her drink down for a second. When she did so, of course, a wave of ripples came to the surface of the glass. They spread to the edged of the cup as she looked at the movement of the liquid, almost in awe as a smile crossed her face. Quatre looked to his admirer and smiled himself. "What is it?" Sette looked to him and replied, "The Ripple Effect." Quatre gave her a confused look.
Sette sighed, "Something my Dad told me. I can't help but think about it. Everything we say and do, no matter how small and insignificant it way seem, will somehow effect other lives." She stood straight and looked to the other pilot's eyes. "It's especially the case in war," she continued. "Except, for us, anything we say or do affects millions of lives. Everyone counts on us. That's why it's so important for all of us to be careful when we say or do anything during the war. And everything comes back to the source."
Quatre smiled, "Pretty deep thoughts." Sette laughed, "Well, I hope you enjoyed it! That'll be the last deep thought from me in a while. They only come once in a blue moon from me!" The Arabian laughed and wrapped his arm around the princess's shoulder as they walked to the dance floor. "I think I can handle that," he told her. As they joined their friends, the ripples in the drink continued to grow.
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"THIS WAY!" a braided teenager yelled as he ran down the halls with another young man in a green tank top and black spandex shorts. The long-haired boy tossed a small can at the window ahead of them as they fell and braced for the explosion. They ran as soon as the smoke cleared and jumped from the hole. "GERANAMOOOOOO!!!" the black-clad boy called as they fell quickly. He used his chopper stick to slow his fall as he looked and saw that the other with him wasn't opening his parachute.
The young man who broke him out screamed, "HEY ARE YOU CRAZY!?! HURRY UP AND RELEASE YOUR PARACHUTE!!!" No response from the pilot he freed. "MOVE IT ARE YOU TRYIN' TO KILL YOURSELF OR WHAT!?!" he cried to him. Again, no response. "DAMN I'm gonna have nightmares over this one!" Duo said grimly as all he could do was watch. "They must have jumped off from here," Sally Poe stated as she and Relena looked from the hole the pilots jumped from. "OH MY GOD...HEEROOOOO!!!" the young girl cried. Out of shock at that constant cry, Heero's eyes widened as his hand tugged at the cord against his wish.
He could hear the other young man shout, "IT'S WAY TOO LATE NOW!!!" Removing himself from the parachute, Heero crashed into the side of the cliffs and rolled in pain down the rocks and the beach. "K'so," he cursed in pain as he could feel that his right leg had broken. "He pulled himself to his feet and clenched his fist, "Damn it! I shouldn't have released my parachute."
The other pilot landed safely and walked to him as he removed his cap. "I can see why you would want to take your own life. Buy maybe, just MAYBE you should consider another way of committing suicide, buddy!" he said sternly. To Heero's amazement, he walked to him and lifted his right arm over his shoulder. He spoke again, "Now I'm not asking you to trust me, but right now, I'm the only friend you've got, paly."
(End Flashback)
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(Begin Another Flashback)
Under a dark sky filled with storm clouds, a teenage pilot stood before her suit, her silver locks flowing in the strong breeze. She was clad in a purple tank top- the straps of her black sports bra showing- a pair of dark brown spandex shorts and sneakers. "You're an amazing fighter," the girl with long, dark blue hair smiled as she walked to the pilot of the black Gundam. "Hn," was all the other replied as she looked away from her and walked back to her suit. The talkative pilot stopped her as she ran in front of her. "Hey, you just helped me save my people back there," she began. "Thank you. I didn't know there were other Gundam pilots out there." The silent pilot pushed her aside as she continued to walk to her suit, her left arm slanted strangely.
The young girl called, "Hey, you're arm's still-" she stopped as she watched the pilot take her broken forearm as she slammed it against her knee. The loud, sickening cracks of the bones snapping back into place caused the tomboy to cover her ears and slam her eyes shut as she winced. "Damn. How could you do that to yourself?" she asked in disgust. The silver-haired girl, still with her back to the other pilot, lifted her arm up and made a fist a few times with her left hand, proving that everything was back in order.
The tomboy approached her and tapped her shoulder. The strange girl turned to her, burning a death glare at her. The other smiled, "My name is Sette Devion. I'm the princess of this Colony. And you are..." The quiet pilot looked away and responded, "Hn." "Okay, Hn," Sette laughed, "That's a new one. Now come on! I know you have a name and you can talk." The pilot of the black Gundam, walked away. "I'll be seeing you around. Gundam pilots have to stick together, you know!" Sette called to her. "It was nice meeting you." The black suit disappeared into the sky as the princess watched its departure. Sette shook her head as she looked up to the sky, "Strange girl."
(End Flashback)
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(Begin Another Flashback)
A small blonde sat before an army if servants as they spoke amongst themselves. A man in shade looked down to the young man and asked, "Master Quatre, if anything had happened to you, how would we ever explain it to your father in the Colonies?" Another soldier continued, "Don't you have any confidence in us, Master?" Quatre replied, "No. It's not like that at all." A servant with a thick mustache stated, "Our soul purpose is to protect you, Sir." "Do you understand this?" the man in shades intervened. At the same time, they asked, "Master Quatre?"
Quatre smiled, "Yea." A very tall pilot stood between the young man and the soldiers. "Right, that's enough," he began. "Master Quatre has given us his word that he wouldn't run off un us again." The Arabian vowed, "Yea. I promise." The tall man got the others to leave by saying, "This is no time to be standing around. Go load up the weapons on your mobile suits or something." Grumbling, the other men left the two alone.
The huge man poured tea as Quatre sighed, "Thanks, Rashid." His guard coldly answered, "I'm very upset with you, myself, don't forget it." Timidly, Quatre replied, "Right." Rashid gave a warmer look to his master as he questioned, "So, how was it?" The blonde smiled, "There are five suits in all. I'm pretty sure they're all called Gundams." "They're all Gundams?" Quatre answered, "They're all violent and dangerous, but they're all really nice guys." Rashid was not so certain about this. "How can you be so sure of that, Master?"
The small pilot simply stated, "I'm not sure. The soul of Outer Space tells me." "The Soul of Outer Space?" Rashid speculated. "The Soul of Outer Space," Quatre repeated with his eyes closed and a smile on his face. The Soul was speaking to him again at this time.
(End of Flashback)
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The girl in spandex shorts with long silver hair sat at the edge of a cliff on a Colony far in space. Her legs were crossed beneath her as she sat with her eyes closed. Deep in meditation, she didn't pay mind to the breeze playing with her long, shining locks. The sunlight from the artificial sun sent strings of light dancing through the hair. She had been at this for a while now as she paid no mind to the world around her. She just focused on contacting a friend she never met, someone who had seen Heero. "Trust those pilots," she told the unknown contact through her mind. She almost heard a quite, male voice reply, "I trust them. I don't know why, but I do."
The pilot opened her eyes and smiled, "Good. Heero's not alone on Earth. He'll need all the help he can get, whether he agrees with that or not." Getting to her feet, she looked to the horizon before her as her hair spun all around behind her.
She turned to see that she wasn't alone. The one called Sette stood there as she rested against a tree. "Ready, Kumi?" she asked with a smile on her face. Expressionless, Kumi walked to Excalibur. Sette sighed as she shrugged, "I'll take that as a yes."
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"TAKE COVER!" a woman with braids shouted as she pushed a young pilot and another rebel against OZ to the ground as an Aires swooped down on them, shooting. The older man had been shot in the back as he cried in pain, blood dripping from him. The young Chinese pilot held him as he looked to the shot man in his arms. "You're not hurt are ya, kid," he asked quietly. "Help me...End it for me...Put an end to my misery," he whispered in pain as a groan of pain escaped him. He fell lifeless in the boy's arms.
The woman said quietly to him, "Wars use people's lives as mere playthings. That's why it's important to have a strong sense of our faith." A mobile suit came from the woods in their direction. The woman straightened as she walked slowly to it. "Sally, what are you doing!?!" the small pilot called after her. Sally answered with her back to him, "Wufei, you have everything it takes to help save the weak. I hope you never lose sight of that kind heart of yours." She walked on to have two missiles shot at her as they exploded before her. Only a little shaken, she continued to walk forward.
Wufei shouted, "COME BACK, SALLY! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!?!" Sally replied, still not turning to face him, "I realize that right now healing your heart is more important than my life is. I'm sure of that." She prepared to walk on as Wufei grunted and lifted a missile launcher. He hit the suit perfectly as he shouted, "RUN SALLY!" The woman smiled to him, "Wufei!"
The pilot ran into his suit and said, "Nataku, I've got no right to pilot you. But for now, I'm asking you, lend me your strength." "IT MOVED!" an OZ pilot cried in his suit as the Gundam looked to him. Wufei made quick work of all of the OZ suits.
After the fight, by the rubble left from the struggle, Sally sat beside the pilot of Nataku. She sighed, "I'm sure OZ will come back to try and take over this nation." Wufei looked to her and asked, "Are you going to keep fighting?" Sally looked away and lowered her head, "Justice," she said quietly. "It's become such a cheap word now. The Alliance and OZ said peace and justice were their objectives..." She lifted her head high, "Well, I have my own sense of justice. Everyone have their own sense of justice." She looked to Wufei, "Even you do...You have it."
Wufei lower his head, "Those who are righteous must also have strength. The weak have no right to take advantage of Nataku's strength." The young woman responded, "You were different this time. This time your heart was really in it. What's the point of having strength if you don't have the heart?" She rose to her feet and looked down to the pilot. "Wufei, when you are able to fight with Nataku, I hope you'll come and fight with me again." Wufei looked to her and questioned, "Even though you're so weak, you're still going to fight?" Sally smiled, "The most important thing is that my heart is in it." The young pilot looked to her and gave a warm smile as he gave a soft, "Hn." They turned to watch the sunrise together from where they were.
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The ringmaster of the popular traveling circus stood in the center of the ring, spotlights circling all around. He announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to present our next act. Shown for the first time ever, please welcome our upcoming star, Trowa Barton." At this, the lights shined on a red Gundam, the crowd falling silent in shock before they spoke amongst themselves. The ringmaster looked up in amazement along with a young performer with short, curly red hair. "A mobile suit," he gasped. "What's Trowa doing? What on Earth has he got planned?" The young woman smiled, "Aw. This is going to be the best. A performance like this'll bring the house down, no matter where we take it."
In his cockpit, Trowa said quietly to himself, "Now for my self-detonation show." At saying this, he used Heave Arms to rip through the tent with his guns. Everyone ran and screamed at the display with the exception of the young woman as she looked to the suit in shock, gasping, "Trowa!" The Gundam destroyed all of the OZ carriers taking fuel off to the organization's benefit. No matter where they were, there was no carrier spared.
Trowa told himself in the midst of the destruction, "Next, I'll destroy the storage tank. This is my last mission...No need to worry about running out of bullets." He fired everything he had at the plant as explosions and flamed filled the area. The girl looked to the suit with wide eyes as she asked herself, "Trowa, what's going on? What's gotten into you?" She gaped as she remembered a time when she and the young pilot were performing her knife-throwing routine. "You're planning to die," she whispered hoarsely. Heavy Arms stood in a sea of flames. The pilot closed his eyes and said, "This is the end."
The girl ran before the Gundam and called, "Trowa! What are you doing, Trowa?" The young man replied, "Catherine! Stay away from here. I am going to self-detonate." Catherine cried, "What do you mean, Trowa? Come down here let's talk thing out. Come on, hurry!" An OZ mobile suit that had been shot began to move not far behind the girl. "CATHERINE!" Trowa shouted as the suit fired a beam at her. His sister turned and gasped, she wasn't going to be able to avoid the shot. Just before she was hit, Heavy Arms landed in front of her to block the laser. Trowa shot the suit until there were no bullets left in his Gundam.
The suit looked down to the girl as the pilot warned, "Stay away, Catherine. I've got to go through with this." Catherine got on a cliff that stood not far from the cockpit. She called, "Trowa?" No response. "Trowa!" she shouted again. Finally, the cockpit opened to reveal her brother in his seat. Catherine growled and threw herself inside the suit, landing a strong punch across the pilot's left cheek. Trowa recoiled in shock as he didn't see that coming. He closed his wide eyes and rubbed the bruised cheek.
Catherine's eyes were filled with tears as she asked, "Don't you think your life is a little too valuable, Trowa? Self-detonate!?! What were you thinking? What would your mother and father think about such a selfish and hasty decision? Did you ever give a thought to the people you'd leave behind? You're the most pathetic person I ever met." She stopped to fold over and throw a fist into the controls. "You didn't think about us," Catherine began again. "...The people you'd leave behind. We'd have to go on living in sorrow." She couldn't continue as she just sobbed. Trowa sighed as he leaned forward to rest a hand on her shoulder.
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In Antarctica, a small craft flew before the suit known as the Tall Geese. Heavy Arms lied on his back before the other suit as the craft flew between them. A young woman stood in the doorway, bundled up and wearing a microphone over her head as she called, "Are you Zech Marches?" The pilot replied simply, "Princess, please leave at once. I just take revenge for the death of my men." The princess responded, "I hereby order you, under the name of the Peacecraft family, stop this battle immediately!"
Zechs said to himself, "You've become strong, Relena. That's more fitting for a Peacecraft daughter. See for how dirty and foul battles really are. He proceeded to knock the other Gundam with his sword many times, Heero being wounded couldn't respond the way he normally would. Relena shouted, "No, if you are a true warrior and a true knight of Peacecraft, you couldn't possibly use such play." The young woman's butler called from the pilot's seat, "Relena, there's a call for you from Lieutenant Noin."
Relena entered the ship to look to the communicator. Noin stood saluting with her eyes closed to the princess in the screen. Relena frowned to her, "Miss Noin, I completely miss understood you. I thought you were sincere. How could you just sit by and watch? This is neither a duel nor a match. They're trying to kill each other!" Noin replied as she lowered her hand, but never opened her eyes, "Precisely...I deserve your contempt, but I can't help it...Because I believe in Cornel Zechs. I am not about to interrupt anything he plans on doing." Relena shouted, "Heero, defeat that man! Anyone associated with a foul group such as OZ is an embarrassment to the Sanc Kingdom! Go ahead...Kill him!"
Noin yelled, "Stop it! Relena!" The princess looked to the Lieutenant in confusion. The young woman bent down, resting her hands on the controls and said quietly, "Please stop. Its a fact that he's associated with OZ, and I don't deny that some mistakes were made, either. I'm not going to try and explain in a way with his love for the Sanc Kingdom, though...But Relena," she closed her eyes before continuing, "No matter what destiny awaits you, you must never do anything as deplorable as wishing the death of your own brother." Relena blinked, "Brother...He's my brother?" Noin went on to explain how the princess's brother went on to become the way he had.
Noin concluded by saying, "I'll keep believing in him. I want to stay by his side, no matter what happens or what he searched for." The princess asked quietly, "You're fond of my brother, aren't you, Noin?" The Lieutenant sighed, "Yes...I do love him." Relena replied, Take care of my brother forever." A soft laughter came from the young soldier, "I'm not sure if I'm able. Cornel Zechs can be reckless at times." Relena smiled, "It must run in the Peacecraft blood."
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Heero Yuy was staring at a computer screen reading out loud, "No major incidences have been reported. The records of the leader, Heero Yuy have been deleted...Oz's methods haven't changed one little bit." He sighed as he turned the screen off. His attention was soon taken by the television screen as his classmates stood and watched the report. His eyes widened in shock as he gasped silently, "Duo?"
The American was on the screen, unconscious and being led off by OZ soldiers as the reporter spoke of his capture along with Deathscythe. Heero couldn't breathe, but he put aside his feelings as he thought to himself, "Now would not be the right time for war. From here on in, all negative factors must be eliminated." His gaze never left the image of the pilot who saved him.
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Kumi sighed deeply as she turned the screen off. The image of the braided pilot disappeared as her friend got out of her chair with a look of sadness. "Kumi, we have to get him out of there." Her comrade shook her head, "He's fighting another war all together, Sette." "What does that matter?" the princess cried as she followed her emotionless friend into the hanger. "He's a Gundam pilot, just as we are, and he's in trouble."
The taller pilot never changed her empty expression as she stopped in place, listening to the tomboy's protest. "We're close enough to that Colony that we can get him out of there. His Gundam will be a problem getting out, but-" "We're saying here," Kumi interrupted. Sette's eyes widened, "So you'll just stay here while OZ has their way with him!?! You know they won't let him live long. How can you think staying here is the right thing?" The silver-haired pilot deadpanned, "OZ won't have their way with him for long."
The blue-haired girl gave a look of hope, "How are you sure?" "Heero will take care of the leak," Kumi answered coldly. The princess sighed in relief, "I forgot your cousin's a Gundam pilot, too. He'll get him out of there." "I said he'll take care of the leak," the silent pilot intervened. Sette gasped and shouted in anger, "HE'S GOING TO KILL HIM!?!" Kumi nodded, "He'll do what he has to in order to see that his missions go off well. As Gundam pilots, we're expendable. I'm sure that the captured pilot is aware of that as well."
Sette lowered her head, frustrated. "That poor guy doesn't stand a chance?" she asked sadly. "He won't make it through the night." Kumi shook her head, "No he won't...Unless..." Sette's look of hope returned as she asked, "Unless?" Her partner shrugged, "Unless Heero feels something for him." The princess bit her lip. 'The Perfect Soldiers aren't allowed to feel anything. How could he feel anything for a possible threat to his missions?' she thought to herself.
Kumi left the room and stood before Excalibur. She whispered to herself as she lowered her head, "You were taught to follow your emotions, Heero. If there was ever a time for you to do that, it's now. Listen to your heart and not your trained mind." She thought o the image of the prisoner on the television. Kumi said quietly, "Why do I get the feeling that you need him?"
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Duo pushed himself to sit up against the wall of his cell. He groaned in pain a bit before he removed a band-aid from his nose. "This isn't good," he smiled to himself. The door opened as he watched a young man toss the guard over his shoulder. Looking up to the intruder, he looked into the face of a pilot who should have been dead. His heart skipped a beat as he smiled to him, "What a surprise. Hey, Heero. I guess you are superhuman, huh?"
Heero's heart went out to the other pilot. OZ had hurt him badly. Still, he kept his hurting emotions at bay. He was here to carryout a mission, nothing else. He raised a gun and aimed it at his comrade. Duo replied to the action, "Just in time. They were about to use me and my Gundam for their wicked ways." He struggled, but got to his feet, still smiling. "If I'm gonna die, it'd seem fitting for you to do it." He closed his eyes, "Here go right ahead and shoot me."
The Wing pilot froze. It would have been so easy, the American was practically begging to be killed. Why couldn't he pull the trigger? Heero growled to himself at his hesitation. The other pilot's eyes shot wide open as he said in shock, "Hey! You're really gonna shoot me aren't ya!?!" Heero replied simply, "If that's what you want me to do." His eyes narrowed as he lowered the gun and turned away. "Your right hand's still okay, isn't it?" he asked as he tossed his gun to Duo. Lifting the braided pilot over his shoulder, Heero led him to the door. 'Why can't I stand the thought of him dying?' he thought to himself.
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"I find wars to be beautiful, Miss Relena," a young woman with long blonde hair told the young queen. Relena nodded, "I understand, Dorothy. I look forward to debating about this issue further with you." Dorothy nodded and bowed. "Thank you, Miss Relena."
Walking out to her car, Dorothy looked up to see several Alliance ships flying off. She stopped to watch them. With a smile on her face, she called up to them, "Hurry and go start a war!"
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Wing Zero flew before the piece of Libra that had broken off and began plummeting to Earth. Aiming his Buster Riffle at the material, Heero tried to get a good lock on the target before it destroyed everything on the planet.
Meanwhile, Excalibur was plummeting from the sky straight for the beam of a laser aimed at the suit. Kumi held onto the controls with everything she had as she prepared to bounce the force back at the source of the beam and the source of the whole war in the Colonies. She was close now, too close.
Heero growled, "I will..." Kumi clenched her teeth, "I will..." Louder, Heero vowed, "I will..." Kumi echoed, "I will..." At the same time, their missions were about to come in full circle. Heero locked onto the broken piece of the ship and Kumi was just before the beam as she aimed back, her suit flying toward the laser. "I WILL SURVIVE!!!" they screamed at the same time as they shot their riffles.
The piece of Libra dissolved and the laser was forced back as the huge ship that shot it received the hit and exploded. When the smoke cleared, Wing Zero flew out in it's bird-like form. Excalibur did the same when the explosion subsided. Duo practically jumped in his cockpit as he cheered, "You've done it, Heero!" Sette sighed as she looked from her Gundam, "Way to go, Kumi." Heero and Kumi slowly opened their eyes as they said quietly, relieved, "Mission complete." They flew off in the far reaches of space.
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* * * * * *
In a large sink, a pair long, slender hands went below the surface of the water with in, causing large ripples when they came out bearing some of the liquid. Kumi sighed as she splashed the water in her hands against her face. She heard Heero's words in her head, "I've changed since the first war..." She sighed as she remembered his words. "Something happened that I never thought would...I fell in love," he said. A soft smile came across the pilot's face at this. She dried her face with a towel she left by the sink as the same voice came from behind her. "You look like you need a break."
Kumi turned to see Heero standing there with a warm smile and his arms crossed. His cousin shook her head, "I don't think-" Heero interrupted, "Come on, Kumi. You've been working non-stop since you were sent on you got to Earth weeks ago." He took her arm, "Just take a night to relax for a change." Kumi sighed, then smiled and nodded, "All right. I guess you would know best." The Wing pilot smiled and nodded.
The two of them walked to the bar. Kumi chuckled deeply. Heero gave a confused look to her and asked, "What is it?" "Duo's worked wonders on you," she whispered to him. The male pilot's jaw dropped as he gasped, "Y-You figured it out?" The silver-haired pilot nodded, "I could tell the way you were acting before this morning's meeting...I should have figured it out long before. I always got an odd feeling whenever I saw Duo or heard his name...It was never a bad feeling, just something I never felt before." Heero shook his head and laughed, "I should have known it wouldn't take much for you to realize." She winked to him, "You didn't expect any less did you?" The young man shook his head, "Of course not."
They walked arm-in-arm and Kumi whispered, "I'm glad you didn't take Doctor J's words seriously." Heero closed his eyes and said softly, "I offered my heart to Duo and he accepted, and gave his own heart in return...If that's not love, I don't know what is." Excalibur's pilot smiled when the Wing pilot looked to her again. "I'm happy for you," she whispered. "Thank you," Heero whispered back as they continued to walk down the hall.
Though she would never admit it, Kumi was happy that she was going to have a chance to enjoy herself with her comrades. Only time would tell what OZ would have planned for them. But for now, none of that mattered. It was actually nice.
TBC
INPORTANT NOTE FOR THIS FIC: Okay, there are going to be A LOT of flashback in this so...when you see @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@, that's the beginning and end of a flashback. this: ********** is the beginning and conclusion of a scene from the present. And just in case there are some of you who decided not to read this, I will also say when I flashback begins and ends so THERE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm so evil! :^) I hope you enjoy this! Love you all! SkyLark
Gundam Wing: The Second Chapter
Episode 5: Ripples in Time
by SkyLark
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(Flashback)
Two teenagers lied in a field one night on Colony L1. They didn't pay mind to the stars too much. They just lied with their eyes closed and enjoyed the fresh air for a change. It was a boy and girl who looked to be about fifteen. The boy had short, unruly dark hair while the girl with him had long, straight and silver hair that fell loose on the grass below. Not a word had been spoken between them since they arrived here hours ago.
Finally, the young woman opened her eyes and looked to her cousin. Quietly, she asked, "Heero?" "Hmmm," the Wing pilot replied as he opened his eyes to her." Their eyes were the same deep blue. Kumi sat up and looked down to him. "Don't get me wrong...I'm glad we finally got to break out from the base for a while. But, why the urgency for you to do so tonight? When you told me we were going to break out earlier, you seemed a little..." She couldn't think of the word she was looking for. "Lost?" Heero asked almost quietly and sadly.
Kumi bit her lip at the word, knowing the connection that it had to a painful experience Heero recently faced. After a long pause, she nodded, "Yea. Is everything all right? You're thinking of that little girl and her puppy again, aren't you?" Heero shrugged, "I'm always thinking about that. It's not the reason why I wanted to get out so bad today. My head's been swimming with stuff since early this afternoon. I was going to go crazy if I stayed in the base all night."
"What's wrong, Heero?" Kumi asked gently. Her cousin continued to lie on his back as he looked to her. "I finally asked Dr. J my question late this morning." Kumi gasped as he eyes widened. "What?" she whispered breathlessly. "I-I can't believe you asked him when you would be able to fall in love. So what happened?" The young girl was not worried about letting her anxiousness show since she was alone with her cousin and best friend. Heero closed his eyes sadly, painfully.
The silence and Heero's facial expressions spoke volumes like none other as Kumi frowned and lowered her head. She sighed deeply, "I didn't think it was going to be anything good. So you asked when you would be able to fall in love and he beat you." "He did worse than that," Heero replied so quietly that she almost didn't catch it. Kumi opened her eyes and turned to him again. "What did he do?" she asked timidly. Heero opened his eyes and sat up, pulling his knees to his chest. "He answered my question," he replied. Kumi frowned and lowered her head, "I see," she replied. Heero shook his head, "He said that I won't be able to fall in love with anyone unless their heart beats perfectly in time with my own."
The girl felt the bottom of her stomach fall out at this, but she wouldn't let it show in her expression. There was a long pause between the two. Their hair was blown by the cool breeze as they sat silently. "Oh Heero," Kumi whispered sadly as she lied back slowly. "I'm sorry." The Wing pilot deadpanned, "It's all right. I should have known it would never be possible. I just couldn't help but ask him. He made us the way we are, after all." Kumi nodded, "Yea." "Do you agree with him?" her cousin asked suddenly, emotionlessly. The girl shook her head, "I don't know. We're not to question anything Dr. J tells us...but..." She didn't know what else to say. Words were never a strong point for either pilot. "Hn," was all Heero could say as he lied back down beside her. They looked up to the sky together.
"All those stars..." Heero said out of the blue. "...There must be two that burn at an equal brightness." Kumi almost felt tears sting her eyes when he said this. 'I know you want to know love so much, Heero,' she thought to herself. 'I do as well, but you were able to have a taste of what love is like at one point. I wouldn't know where to begin since I've lived in the base all my life. You've been cared for by another who taught you to follow your emotions. I don't know any of these things. All I want is for you to know them again, Heero. I want you to fall in love and know what's it's like...Whether or not I ever will.'
Instead of voicing her thoughts, Kumi simply reached out and held Heero's hand. When her hand went in his, she squeezed it for support. Heero felt the gesture and squeezed back gently. "I love you, Heero," Kumi whispered quietly. Heero whispered back, secret tears in his eyes, "I love you, too, Kumi." They lied in silence under the sky.
(End Flashback)
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* * * * * *
In a room decorated with military badges, plaques and statues, two pilots stood before a tall, blonde and infuriated Lieutenant as he stood behind his desk. "WHAT THE HELL WERE THE TWO OF YOU THINKING BACK THERE!?!" he shouted as he stood behind his desk. Heero and Duo were biting their lips to keep from laughing. Duo was the one struggling most a small, quick chuckles left him. "YOU FIND THIS FUNNY, MAXWELL!?! Keiser shouted as he walked in front of his desk. Duo smiled and replied, "Actually, yes I do, sir."
The Lieutenant's saw red as he reached out to pull on the braid that fell over the pilot's shoulder with all his strength. His hand was stopped short by another. He looked to the Wing pilot as he gripped onto the soldier's hand, getting ready to crush it. Heero threatened in a deep voice, "Don't. Even. think about it." "How dare you threaten me, you son of a bitch." Heero reluctantly let go of his hand and took his gaze from the soldier to look forward again as he gave his infamous, "Hn."
"You do realize that purposely ignoring my orders the way that you have is disrespectful and makes me look like a complete fool!?!" Keiser shouted to them. Duo gasped as his jaw fell and eyes widened. "REALLY!?!" he cried. He looked to his lover who gazed back expressionless. "Oh my God, Heero! What were we thinking!?!" Heero laughed loudly at his koi's sarcasm as the Lieutenant's face reddened with rage. He growled, "You little bastards aren't going to have the last laugh. Duo smiled brightly and saluted, "Whatever you say, Lieutenant Asshole!"
Heero bit his lip again and closed his eyes as he shook his head, smiling the whole time. "That's LIEUTENANT KEISER TO YOU!!! I DEMAND RESPECT FROM YOU, YOU LITTLE FUCK!" Duo glared at him coldly and stated calmly, "That's God of Death, to you. And I only give the same respect my friends and I receive." Heero gave a look of agreement to the frustrated man. Keiser shouted and stormed behind his desk again. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE UNTIL I DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH YOU!" he screamed.
Just then, the door opened as a young woman entered with a disgusted look on her face. Keiser's face dropped as he gasped and stood straight and saluted her with a look of shock and fear. "Lady Une. I didn't know that you were-" "That's enough, Keiser," Lady Une said sternly as she never lost her look of anger to him to turn and smile to the Gundam pilots who smiled back. Duo waved vibrantly. She nodded, "You two best leave me with the Lieutenant. I need to have a few words with him. Great work out there today." "Thank you, Lady Une," Heero nodded as he and his lover left the room quietly.
As the lovers walked down the deserted hall back to their room, they laughed loudly. "Oh man!" Duo began. "Did you see the look on his face when she showed up!?!" Heero smiled and nodded as he chuckled, "I thought he was going to piss his pants!" They broke out into laughter again. "I think he did!" the American exploded as they began to pull themselves together. Heero smiled to his partner and pinched his cheek tightly. "Hey!" Duo called. "What was that for?" The Wing pilot smirked and answered simply, "You're bad." The braided pilot wrapped an arm around Heero shoulder and gave a devilish grin, "And you love me for it," he purred. Heero looked to him with a cocked eyebrow.
The American stopped, "Oh come on! Don't tell me you don't like it when I-Mmmph." His words were stopped as Heero pressed their lips tightly together. The Japanese pilot whispered, "You know I love everything about you." "Hmmm," Duo sighed as they held each other. "Hey, race ya to the shower," Duo whispered in the Wing pilot's ear. "Winner gets to wash their lover first." Heero smiled widely, "You're on." With that, they broke off into full sprint down the halls, laughing the whole way.
* * * * * *
When the lovers stepped out of the shower together, Duo sighed, "Well, that's one race I don't mind losing." Heero chuckled deeply. He noticed a small piece of paper that had been slipped under is door and took it into his hand. Duo looked to him with curiosity, "What is it?" Heero read aloud, "Heero and Duo, We're all at the bar to celebrate today's victory! Come on over! Hope to see you soon! Love 'yas Muchly, Sette."
Duo beamed, "YES! I'm game! How about you?" Heero nodded, "I could go for a few drinks, myself. Oh-oh." "What's wrong," the American frowned. Heero found more writing on the back and read out loud, "Heero, please get your workaholic, antisocial, and death-defying cousin out of the hanger. She needs a few cold ones. Thanks, babe! Love ya, Sette." Duo sighed, "Sounds like Kumi still hasn't been able to get past the training Dr. J put the two of you through." Heero frowned and shook his head, "She wasn't as lucky as I was to find someone like you." Duo blushed as he lowered his head meekly. He kissed Heero's cheek and whispered, "You go and talk to her. I'll meet you in the bar."
The short-haired pilot nodded, "Thanks, koi. We'll be there soon." Duo smiled and nodded back before they gently kissed eachother's lips. They walked out of the room and went separate ways.
* * * * * *
In the bar, loud dance music played as the other pilots stood and sat at the bar, drinking and laughing. The bar was pretty full as Preventers also took advantage of the scene to enjoy themselves. The dance floor was the best lit part of the area as colored lights flashed from the spotlights and mirror balls that were strategically placed to work with the music. The pilots were the most relaxed they had been in weeks as they stayed together enjoying the company of eachother.
"I think that I can safely say that we'll get through this whole ordeal just fine," Relena smiled. Dorothy nodded, "I agree. We have been able to show OZ what we're made of. I don't think they'll be showing their faces again too soon." Trowa shook his head, "Don't speak so soon. OZ has never been predictable." Wufei nodded, "He's right. We're doing a great job, but I still think that OZ is holding back a lot of what they have to offer."
Catherine gulped her sip of Vodka roughly at this. She shook her head, "Please don't speak like that. Can we just enjoy the face that we've won a fight today?" Sette looked up from her seat as she spoke to Quatre. She called, "Monkey Girl actually said something I agree with! You all just need to chill and loosen up." Catherine wrinkled her nose at the nickname and took another sip of her drink. The others continued to laugh and discuss much lighter subjects. Soon, Catherine lead the way to the dance floor as her comrades followed.
Sette and Quatre were about to walk to the dance floor when the princess put her drink down for a second. When she did so, of course, a wave of ripples came to the surface of the glass. They spread to the edged of the cup as she looked at the movement of the liquid, almost in awe as a smile crossed her face. Quatre looked to his admirer and smiled himself. "What is it?" Sette looked to him and replied, "The Ripple Effect." Quatre gave her a confused look.
Sette sighed, "Something my Dad told me. I can't help but think about it. Everything we say and do, no matter how small and insignificant it way seem, will somehow effect other lives." She stood straight and looked to the other pilot's eyes. "It's especially the case in war," she continued. "Except, for us, anything we say or do affects millions of lives. Everyone counts on us. That's why it's so important for all of us to be careful when we say or do anything during the war. And everything comes back to the source."
Quatre smiled, "Pretty deep thoughts." Sette laughed, "Well, I hope you enjoyed it! That'll be the last deep thought from me in a while. They only come once in a blue moon from me!" The Arabian laughed and wrapped his arm around the princess's shoulder as they walked to the dance floor. "I think I can handle that," he told her. As they joined their friends, the ripples in the drink continued to grow.
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"THIS WAY!" a braided teenager yelled as he ran down the halls with another young man in a green tank top and black spandex shorts. The long-haired boy tossed a small can at the window ahead of them as they fell and braced for the explosion. They ran as soon as the smoke cleared and jumped from the hole. "GERANAMOOOOOO!!!" the black-clad boy called as they fell quickly. He used his chopper stick to slow his fall as he looked and saw that the other with him wasn't opening his parachute.
The young man who broke him out screamed, "HEY ARE YOU CRAZY!?! HURRY UP AND RELEASE YOUR PARACHUTE!!!" No response from the pilot he freed. "MOVE IT ARE YOU TRYIN' TO KILL YOURSELF OR WHAT!?!" he cried to him. Again, no response. "DAMN I'm gonna have nightmares over this one!" Duo said grimly as all he could do was watch. "They must have jumped off from here," Sally Poe stated as she and Relena looked from the hole the pilots jumped from. "OH MY GOD...HEEROOOOO!!!" the young girl cried. Out of shock at that constant cry, Heero's eyes widened as his hand tugged at the cord against his wish.
He could hear the other young man shout, "IT'S WAY TOO LATE NOW!!!" Removing himself from the parachute, Heero crashed into the side of the cliffs and rolled in pain down the rocks and the beach. "K'so," he cursed in pain as he could feel that his right leg had broken. "He pulled himself to his feet and clenched his fist, "Damn it! I shouldn't have released my parachute."
The other pilot landed safely and walked to him as he removed his cap. "I can see why you would want to take your own life. Buy maybe, just MAYBE you should consider another way of committing suicide, buddy!" he said sternly. To Heero's amazement, he walked to him and lifted his right arm over his shoulder. He spoke again, "Now I'm not asking you to trust me, but right now, I'm the only friend you've got, paly."
(End Flashback)
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(Begin Another Flashback)
Under a dark sky filled with storm clouds, a teenage pilot stood before her suit, her silver locks flowing in the strong breeze. She was clad in a purple tank top- the straps of her black sports bra showing- a pair of dark brown spandex shorts and sneakers. "You're an amazing fighter," the girl with long, dark blue hair smiled as she walked to the pilot of the black Gundam. "Hn," was all the other replied as she looked away from her and walked back to her suit. The talkative pilot stopped her as she ran in front of her. "Hey, you just helped me save my people back there," she began. "Thank you. I didn't know there were other Gundam pilots out there." The silent pilot pushed her aside as she continued to walk to her suit, her left arm slanted strangely.
The young girl called, "Hey, you're arm's still-" she stopped as she watched the pilot take her broken forearm as she slammed it against her knee. The loud, sickening cracks of the bones snapping back into place caused the tomboy to cover her ears and slam her eyes shut as she winced. "Damn. How could you do that to yourself?" she asked in disgust. The silver-haired girl, still with her back to the other pilot, lifted her arm up and made a fist a few times with her left hand, proving that everything was back in order.
The tomboy approached her and tapped her shoulder. The strange girl turned to her, burning a death glare at her. The other smiled, "My name is Sette Devion. I'm the princess of this Colony. And you are..." The quiet pilot looked away and responded, "Hn." "Okay, Hn," Sette laughed, "That's a new one. Now come on! I know you have a name and you can talk." The pilot of the black Gundam, walked away. "I'll be seeing you around. Gundam pilots have to stick together, you know!" Sette called to her. "It was nice meeting you." The black suit disappeared into the sky as the princess watched its departure. Sette shook her head as she looked up to the sky, "Strange girl."
(End Flashback)
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(Begin Another Flashback)
A small blonde sat before an army if servants as they spoke amongst themselves. A man in shade looked down to the young man and asked, "Master Quatre, if anything had happened to you, how would we ever explain it to your father in the Colonies?" Another soldier continued, "Don't you have any confidence in us, Master?" Quatre replied, "No. It's not like that at all." A servant with a thick mustache stated, "Our soul purpose is to protect you, Sir." "Do you understand this?" the man in shades intervened. At the same time, they asked, "Master Quatre?"
Quatre smiled, "Yea." A very tall pilot stood between the young man and the soldiers. "Right, that's enough," he began. "Master Quatre has given us his word that he wouldn't run off un us again." The Arabian vowed, "Yea. I promise." The tall man got the others to leave by saying, "This is no time to be standing around. Go load up the weapons on your mobile suits or something." Grumbling, the other men left the two alone.
The huge man poured tea as Quatre sighed, "Thanks, Rashid." His guard coldly answered, "I'm very upset with you, myself, don't forget it." Timidly, Quatre replied, "Right." Rashid gave a warmer look to his master as he questioned, "So, how was it?" The blonde smiled, "There are five suits in all. I'm pretty sure they're all called Gundams." "They're all Gundams?" Quatre answered, "They're all violent and dangerous, but they're all really nice guys." Rashid was not so certain about this. "How can you be so sure of that, Master?"
The small pilot simply stated, "I'm not sure. The soul of Outer Space tells me." "The Soul of Outer Space?" Rashid speculated. "The Soul of Outer Space," Quatre repeated with his eyes closed and a smile on his face. The Soul was speaking to him again at this time.
(End of Flashback)
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The girl in spandex shorts with long silver hair sat at the edge of a cliff on a Colony far in space. Her legs were crossed beneath her as she sat with her eyes closed. Deep in meditation, she didn't pay mind to the breeze playing with her long, shining locks. The sunlight from the artificial sun sent strings of light dancing through the hair. She had been at this for a while now as she paid no mind to the world around her. She just focused on contacting a friend she never met, someone who had seen Heero. "Trust those pilots," she told the unknown contact through her mind. She almost heard a quite, male voice reply, "I trust them. I don't know why, but I do."
The pilot opened her eyes and smiled, "Good. Heero's not alone on Earth. He'll need all the help he can get, whether he agrees with that or not." Getting to her feet, she looked to the horizon before her as her hair spun all around behind her.
She turned to see that she wasn't alone. The one called Sette stood there as she rested against a tree. "Ready, Kumi?" she asked with a smile on her face. Expressionless, Kumi walked to Excalibur. Sette sighed as she shrugged, "I'll take that as a yes."
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"TAKE COVER!" a woman with braids shouted as she pushed a young pilot and another rebel against OZ to the ground as an Aires swooped down on them, shooting. The older man had been shot in the back as he cried in pain, blood dripping from him. The young Chinese pilot held him as he looked to the shot man in his arms. "You're not hurt are ya, kid," he asked quietly. "Help me...End it for me...Put an end to my misery," he whispered in pain as a groan of pain escaped him. He fell lifeless in the boy's arms.
The woman said quietly to him, "Wars use people's lives as mere playthings. That's why it's important to have a strong sense of our faith." A mobile suit came from the woods in their direction. The woman straightened as she walked slowly to it. "Sally, what are you doing!?!" the small pilot called after her. Sally answered with her back to him, "Wufei, you have everything it takes to help save the weak. I hope you never lose sight of that kind heart of yours." She walked on to have two missiles shot at her as they exploded before her. Only a little shaken, she continued to walk forward.
Wufei shouted, "COME BACK, SALLY! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!?!" Sally replied, still not turning to face him, "I realize that right now healing your heart is more important than my life is. I'm sure of that." She prepared to walk on as Wufei grunted and lifted a missile launcher. He hit the suit perfectly as he shouted, "RUN SALLY!" The woman smiled to him, "Wufei!"
The pilot ran into his suit and said, "Nataku, I've got no right to pilot you. But for now, I'm asking you, lend me your strength." "IT MOVED!" an OZ pilot cried in his suit as the Gundam looked to him. Wufei made quick work of all of the OZ suits.
After the fight, by the rubble left from the struggle, Sally sat beside the pilot of Nataku. She sighed, "I'm sure OZ will come back to try and take over this nation." Wufei looked to her and asked, "Are you going to keep fighting?" Sally looked away and lowered her head, "Justice," she said quietly. "It's become such a cheap word now. The Alliance and OZ said peace and justice were their objectives..." She lifted her head high, "Well, I have my own sense of justice. Everyone have their own sense of justice." She looked to Wufei, "Even you do...You have it."
Wufei lower his head, "Those who are righteous must also have strength. The weak have no right to take advantage of Nataku's strength." The young woman responded, "You were different this time. This time your heart was really in it. What's the point of having strength if you don't have the heart?" She rose to her feet and looked down to the pilot. "Wufei, when you are able to fight with Nataku, I hope you'll come and fight with me again." Wufei looked to her and questioned, "Even though you're so weak, you're still going to fight?" Sally smiled, "The most important thing is that my heart is in it." The young pilot looked to her and gave a warm smile as he gave a soft, "Hn." They turned to watch the sunrise together from where they were.
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The ringmaster of the popular traveling circus stood in the center of the ring, spotlights circling all around. He announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to present our next act. Shown for the first time ever, please welcome our upcoming star, Trowa Barton." At this, the lights shined on a red Gundam, the crowd falling silent in shock before they spoke amongst themselves. The ringmaster looked up in amazement along with a young performer with short, curly red hair. "A mobile suit," he gasped. "What's Trowa doing? What on Earth has he got planned?" The young woman smiled, "Aw. This is going to be the best. A performance like this'll bring the house down, no matter where we take it."
In his cockpit, Trowa said quietly to himself, "Now for my self-detonation show." At saying this, he used Heave Arms to rip through the tent with his guns. Everyone ran and screamed at the display with the exception of the young woman as she looked to the suit in shock, gasping, "Trowa!" The Gundam destroyed all of the OZ carriers taking fuel off to the organization's benefit. No matter where they were, there was no carrier spared.
Trowa told himself in the midst of the destruction, "Next, I'll destroy the storage tank. This is my last mission...No need to worry about running out of bullets." He fired everything he had at the plant as explosions and flamed filled the area. The girl looked to the suit with wide eyes as she asked herself, "Trowa, what's going on? What's gotten into you?" She gaped as she remembered a time when she and the young pilot were performing her knife-throwing routine. "You're planning to die," she whispered hoarsely. Heavy Arms stood in a sea of flames. The pilot closed his eyes and said, "This is the end."
The girl ran before the Gundam and called, "Trowa! What are you doing, Trowa?" The young man replied, "Catherine! Stay away from here. I am going to self-detonate." Catherine cried, "What do you mean, Trowa? Come down here let's talk thing out. Come on, hurry!" An OZ mobile suit that had been shot began to move not far behind the girl. "CATHERINE!" Trowa shouted as the suit fired a beam at her. His sister turned and gasped, she wasn't going to be able to avoid the shot. Just before she was hit, Heavy Arms landed in front of her to block the laser. Trowa shot the suit until there were no bullets left in his Gundam.
The suit looked down to the girl as the pilot warned, "Stay away, Catherine. I've got to go through with this." Catherine got on a cliff that stood not far from the cockpit. She called, "Trowa?" No response. "Trowa!" she shouted again. Finally, the cockpit opened to reveal her brother in his seat. Catherine growled and threw herself inside the suit, landing a strong punch across the pilot's left cheek. Trowa recoiled in shock as he didn't see that coming. He closed his wide eyes and rubbed the bruised cheek.
Catherine's eyes were filled with tears as she asked, "Don't you think your life is a little too valuable, Trowa? Self-detonate!?! What were you thinking? What would your mother and father think about such a selfish and hasty decision? Did you ever give a thought to the people you'd leave behind? You're the most pathetic person I ever met." She stopped to fold over and throw a fist into the controls. "You didn't think about us," Catherine began again. "...The people you'd leave behind. We'd have to go on living in sorrow." She couldn't continue as she just sobbed. Trowa sighed as he leaned forward to rest a hand on her shoulder.
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In Antarctica, a small craft flew before the suit known as the Tall Geese. Heavy Arms lied on his back before the other suit as the craft flew between them. A young woman stood in the doorway, bundled up and wearing a microphone over her head as she called, "Are you Zech Marches?" The pilot replied simply, "Princess, please leave at once. I just take revenge for the death of my men." The princess responded, "I hereby order you, under the name of the Peacecraft family, stop this battle immediately!"
Zechs said to himself, "You've become strong, Relena. That's more fitting for a Peacecraft daughter. See for how dirty and foul battles really are. He proceeded to knock the other Gundam with his sword many times, Heero being wounded couldn't respond the way he normally would. Relena shouted, "No, if you are a true warrior and a true knight of Peacecraft, you couldn't possibly use such play." The young woman's butler called from the pilot's seat, "Relena, there's a call for you from Lieutenant Noin."
Relena entered the ship to look to the communicator. Noin stood saluting with her eyes closed to the princess in the screen. Relena frowned to her, "Miss Noin, I completely miss understood you. I thought you were sincere. How could you just sit by and watch? This is neither a duel nor a match. They're trying to kill each other!" Noin replied as she lowered her hand, but never opened her eyes, "Precisely...I deserve your contempt, but I can't help it...Because I believe in Cornel Zechs. I am not about to interrupt anything he plans on doing." Relena shouted, "Heero, defeat that man! Anyone associated with a foul group such as OZ is an embarrassment to the Sanc Kingdom! Go ahead...Kill him!"
Noin yelled, "Stop it! Relena!" The princess looked to the Lieutenant in confusion. The young woman bent down, resting her hands on the controls and said quietly, "Please stop. Its a fact that he's associated with OZ, and I don't deny that some mistakes were made, either. I'm not going to try and explain in a way with his love for the Sanc Kingdom, though...But Relena," she closed her eyes before continuing, "No matter what destiny awaits you, you must never do anything as deplorable as wishing the death of your own brother." Relena blinked, "Brother...He's my brother?" Noin went on to explain how the princess's brother went on to become the way he had.
Noin concluded by saying, "I'll keep believing in him. I want to stay by his side, no matter what happens or what he searched for." The princess asked quietly, "You're fond of my brother, aren't you, Noin?" The Lieutenant sighed, "Yes...I do love him." Relena replied, Take care of my brother forever." A soft laughter came from the young soldier, "I'm not sure if I'm able. Cornel Zechs can be reckless at times." Relena smiled, "It must run in the Peacecraft blood."
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Heero Yuy was staring at a computer screen reading out loud, "No major incidences have been reported. The records of the leader, Heero Yuy have been deleted...Oz's methods haven't changed one little bit." He sighed as he turned the screen off. His attention was soon taken by the television screen as his classmates stood and watched the report. His eyes widened in shock as he gasped silently, "Duo?"
The American was on the screen, unconscious and being led off by OZ soldiers as the reporter spoke of his capture along with Deathscythe. Heero couldn't breathe, but he put aside his feelings as he thought to himself, "Now would not be the right time for war. From here on in, all negative factors must be eliminated." His gaze never left the image of the pilot who saved him.
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Kumi sighed deeply as she turned the screen off. The image of the braided pilot disappeared as her friend got out of her chair with a look of sadness. "Kumi, we have to get him out of there." Her comrade shook her head, "He's fighting another war all together, Sette." "What does that matter?" the princess cried as she followed her emotionless friend into the hanger. "He's a Gundam pilot, just as we are, and he's in trouble."
The taller pilot never changed her empty expression as she stopped in place, listening to the tomboy's protest. "We're close enough to that Colony that we can get him out of there. His Gundam will be a problem getting out, but-" "We're saying here," Kumi interrupted. Sette's eyes widened, "So you'll just stay here while OZ has their way with him!?! You know they won't let him live long. How can you think staying here is the right thing?" The silver-haired pilot deadpanned, "OZ won't have their way with him for long."
The blue-haired girl gave a look of hope, "How are you sure?" "Heero will take care of the leak," Kumi answered coldly. The princess sighed in relief, "I forgot your cousin's a Gundam pilot, too. He'll get him out of there." "I said he'll take care of the leak," the silent pilot intervened. Sette gasped and shouted in anger, "HE'S GOING TO KILL HIM!?!" Kumi nodded, "He'll do what he has to in order to see that his missions go off well. As Gundam pilots, we're expendable. I'm sure that the captured pilot is aware of that as well."
Sette lowered her head, frustrated. "That poor guy doesn't stand a chance?" she asked sadly. "He won't make it through the night." Kumi shook her head, "No he won't...Unless..." Sette's look of hope returned as she asked, "Unless?" Her partner shrugged, "Unless Heero feels something for him." The princess bit her lip. 'The Perfect Soldiers aren't allowed to feel anything. How could he feel anything for a possible threat to his missions?' she thought to herself.
Kumi left the room and stood before Excalibur. She whispered to herself as she lowered her head, "You were taught to follow your emotions, Heero. If there was ever a time for you to do that, it's now. Listen to your heart and not your trained mind." She thought o the image of the prisoner on the television. Kumi said quietly, "Why do I get the feeling that you need him?"
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Duo pushed himself to sit up against the wall of his cell. He groaned in pain a bit before he removed a band-aid from his nose. "This isn't good," he smiled to himself. The door opened as he watched a young man toss the guard over his shoulder. Looking up to the intruder, he looked into the face of a pilot who should have been dead. His heart skipped a beat as he smiled to him, "What a surprise. Hey, Heero. I guess you are superhuman, huh?"
Heero's heart went out to the other pilot. OZ had hurt him badly. Still, he kept his hurting emotions at bay. He was here to carryout a mission, nothing else. He raised a gun and aimed it at his comrade. Duo replied to the action, "Just in time. They were about to use me and my Gundam for their wicked ways." He struggled, but got to his feet, still smiling. "If I'm gonna die, it'd seem fitting for you to do it." He closed his eyes, "Here go right ahead and shoot me."
The Wing pilot froze. It would have been so easy, the American was practically begging to be killed. Why couldn't he pull the trigger? Heero growled to himself at his hesitation. The other pilot's eyes shot wide open as he said in shock, "Hey! You're really gonna shoot me aren't ya!?!" Heero replied simply, "If that's what you want me to do." His eyes narrowed as he lowered the gun and turned away. "Your right hand's still okay, isn't it?" he asked as he tossed his gun to Duo. Lifting the braided pilot over his shoulder, Heero led him to the door. 'Why can't I stand the thought of him dying?' he thought to himself.
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"I find wars to be beautiful, Miss Relena," a young woman with long blonde hair told the young queen. Relena nodded, "I understand, Dorothy. I look forward to debating about this issue further with you." Dorothy nodded and bowed. "Thank you, Miss Relena."
Walking out to her car, Dorothy looked up to see several Alliance ships flying off. She stopped to watch them. With a smile on her face, she called up to them, "Hurry and go start a war!"
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Wing Zero flew before the piece of Libra that had broken off and began plummeting to Earth. Aiming his Buster Riffle at the material, Heero tried to get a good lock on the target before it destroyed everything on the planet.
Meanwhile, Excalibur was plummeting from the sky straight for the beam of a laser aimed at the suit. Kumi held onto the controls with everything she had as she prepared to bounce the force back at the source of the beam and the source of the whole war in the Colonies. She was close now, too close.
Heero growled, "I will..." Kumi clenched her teeth, "I will..." Louder, Heero vowed, "I will..." Kumi echoed, "I will..." At the same time, their missions were about to come in full circle. Heero locked onto the broken piece of the ship and Kumi was just before the beam as she aimed back, her suit flying toward the laser. "I WILL SURVIVE!!!" they screamed at the same time as they shot their riffles.
The piece of Libra dissolved and the laser was forced back as the huge ship that shot it received the hit and exploded. When the smoke cleared, Wing Zero flew out in it's bird-like form. Excalibur did the same when the explosion subsided. Duo practically jumped in his cockpit as he cheered, "You've done it, Heero!" Sette sighed as she looked from her Gundam, "Way to go, Kumi." Heero and Kumi slowly opened their eyes as they said quietly, relieved, "Mission complete." They flew off in the far reaches of space.
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* * * * * *
In a large sink, a pair long, slender hands went below the surface of the water with in, causing large ripples when they came out bearing some of the liquid. Kumi sighed as she splashed the water in her hands against her face. She heard Heero's words in her head, "I've changed since the first war..." She sighed as she remembered his words. "Something happened that I never thought would...I fell in love," he said. A soft smile came across the pilot's face at this. She dried her face with a towel she left by the sink as the same voice came from behind her. "You look like you need a break."
Kumi turned to see Heero standing there with a warm smile and his arms crossed. His cousin shook her head, "I don't think-" Heero interrupted, "Come on, Kumi. You've been working non-stop since you were sent on you got to Earth weeks ago." He took her arm, "Just take a night to relax for a change." Kumi sighed, then smiled and nodded, "All right. I guess you would know best." The Wing pilot smiled and nodded.
The two of them walked to the bar. Kumi chuckled deeply. Heero gave a confused look to her and asked, "What is it?" "Duo's worked wonders on you," she whispered to him. The male pilot's jaw dropped as he gasped, "Y-You figured it out?" The silver-haired pilot nodded, "I could tell the way you were acting before this morning's meeting...I should have figured it out long before. I always got an odd feeling whenever I saw Duo or heard his name...It was never a bad feeling, just something I never felt before." Heero shook his head and laughed, "I should have known it wouldn't take much for you to realize." She winked to him, "You didn't expect any less did you?" The young man shook his head, "Of course not."
They walked arm-in-arm and Kumi whispered, "I'm glad you didn't take Doctor J's words seriously." Heero closed his eyes and said softly, "I offered my heart to Duo and he accepted, and gave his own heart in return...If that's not love, I don't know what is." Excalibur's pilot smiled when the Wing pilot looked to her again. "I'm happy for you," she whispered. "Thank you," Heero whispered back as they continued to walk down the hall.
Though she would never admit it, Kumi was happy that she was going to have a chance to enjoy herself with her comrades. Only time would tell what OZ would have planned for them. But for now, none of that mattered. It was actually nice.
TBC