DISCLAIMER: None of these characters are mine except for Kumi Yuy and Sette Devion, along with a bunch of others.
Gundam Wing: The Second Chapter
Episode 12: Beyond the Castle Walls
by SkyLark
With help from Snodin and Traci 14
Narrator: The Gundam pilots had broken apart to take on missions to break the silence barriers between the Colonies and the Preventers. Before they reached their destinations, they each needed to arrive at Preventer crafts to learn the situation of the Colonies that they would be hitting. This was to be similar to the island-hoping strategy that ended World War II against Japan. It would be months before the pilots that left would be reunited with their friends and comrades on Peace Million. The only way they would be able to contact each other was through computers and their own monitors. Everything that had taken place up to now was used as the fuel to the pilots' goal to complete these missions as soon as possible.
* * * * * *
Quatre and Sette met at the Preventer ship where they were to receive their needed status reports on their Colonies in order to know exactly what they needed to do. The Arabian stood before the gathering room where he and his self-proclaimed girlfriend were to meet with the Preventer staff. Sette was late and Quarte was beginning to wonder what had happened to the princess. "Hey handsome," he heard the tomboy call. He turned with a smile to greet her, then froze in his spot as his eye and mouth widened.
Sette stood before him in an elegant white and pale blue dress, topped off by a slender and simple crown that fell more as a headband. Her hair was not in its ponytail that came through the back of her baseball cap as to fell loose to her waist. The blonde pilot stood there in awe for a moment, unable to say anything to the beautiful image before him. The princess smiled and chuckled, "Come on, Quatre. We're going to be late if we stay here." At this, the young man snapped out of is state of shock. All he could do was smile warmly and offer his arm. The princess accepted as they watched into the meeting room.
Inside, the pair found three officers waiting for them. They stood when the Gundam pilots entered to show their respect for the princess and powerful Winner representative. The pilots took their seats along with them and the oldest man of the three informed them, "We are the heads of the three crews that will be offering you backup should anything go wrong at the colonies while you attain the communication channel we need. My name is General Churchill. This is Captain Hazark," The youngest of the three nodded to them. "And this is Lietenant Jacobs," the third nodded. Churchill continued, "On every Colony, there is an underground channel that you need to find. It will take you to the Colony heart where everything is centered. You need to punch in a code at the main monitor. When you do this, every Gundam suit and Preventer ship will be able to intercept and send any and all signals to and from the Colony. Not only this, but the Colonies within fifty miles will be effected the same as well."
Quatre asked, "OZ has a signal strong enough that knocked out the communication channels between us, the Earth and the Colonies. How can we be sure that once we reactivate the signal, they won't do the same again?" Hazark replied, "That's the purpose of the code. It will inform the heart of the Colony that the only signals that can effect the communication channels are the ones that come from us, the Preventers." Sette nodded, "Makes sense. It shouldn't be that difficult. So this is what all of the Gundam pilots who were sent out will be doing?" Jacobs answered, "More or less. We don't know how much resistance your friends will have when they work at the colonies they were sent to, since the communication channel dilemma prevents us from knowing. But every Colony has a center, much like the core of the Earth. The difference is that these cores are manmade."
"Are there any questions as far as what you need to accomplish?" Churchill asked. The pilots shook their heads. "Good," he replied as he handed them small envelopes. "Those are the codes you need to type into the systems. I know that this all might sound easy, but there is a great deal of risk involved. That is why we're here." Quatre shook his head, "Nothing is easy. Thank you for your help." Jacobs informed them, "We will be taking care of your Gundams here. Your colonies are the only ones that we know the status of. No OZ soldiers have been detected near either H7 or L4. And we understand that for many reasons, the sight of your Gundams might do more harm than good when your people see them." Sette smiled, "You guys are good. Thanks for everything."
The meeting was concluded and the door to the room opened. A man of about forty entered the room wearing a brown uniform with metals and ribbons over his right chest. Sette's jaw fell wide open as she gasped and cheered, "Duke Vale!" She quickly went and hugged you man tightly. The Duke smiled and returned the embrace before breaking and saluting, "Hello, Princess Sette. I will be your escort back to Colony H7." Sette was ecstatic, "That's great! Oh! Let me introduce you to Quatre."
The Arabian stood beside her and smiled to the Duke. The princess wrapped her arm around the blonde's shoulder and introduces "Quatre, this is Duke Vale, one of my father's best friends and most trusted advisors." The pilot and Duke shook hands as Sette continued, "Duke Vale, this is Quatre, my fiancee." Quatre gasped loudly and froze with a look of shock. Duke Vale laughed, "He seems pretty surprised by that remark." Sette smiled and replied, "Oh, he always gets like this when he hears the word fiancee." Quatre reacted the same as the first time he heard the title. The Arabian didn't snap out of his shock until the princess kissed his cheek and whispered, "See you soon, beloved."
The blonde pilot snapped out of his daze as he watched Sette head out with Duke Vale. He smiled and waved back to the princess, who turned and winked to him. When they were gone, Quatre sighed and turned to the Preventers. "I should be heading off, too. It'll take about three days to reach L4 from here." Hazark replied, "Once you have regained the signal at L4, it's up to you as to where you want to go from there once you have your Gundam back." Quatre passed in thought then asked, "I thank you for offering to take care of Sand Rock. But, would it be wrong to ask that I fly him to the Colony?" Churchill shrugged, "It's up to you. If you feel that you will be alight taking your Gundam there, so be it." The blonde pilot smiled, "I would feel better taking him there...Thank you for everything, again." The oldest Preventer smiled, "Just be careful out there and good luck." The young pilot walked out of the room.
* * * * * *
Early the next morning, Sette and Duke Vale returned to Colony H7. The small craft they flew in landed inside the castle's hanger. The princess stepped out, lifting her flowing dress as she walked as not to step on the fabric. When she looked to the entrance, she saw two men standing in waiting. One was uniformed and the age of fifty with gray hair and a gray, rough beard. The other was in a business suit in his late thirties with wavy, brown hair and a smooth face. Sette smiled and ran to them. Hugging them, she said with affection, "Representative Frantz. Foreign Minister Kirkland." Frantz smiled and kissed her cheek as he nodded, "Princess." The man in the suit chuckled as he did the same.
The blonde-haired Duke joined all of them and the young woman asked, "How are all of you? It's been a while." Kirkland- the one in the suit- nodded, "Too long, princess. This war has frightened the people here terribly." Sette nodded sadly, "I understand their fear and sympathize. I would like to be here with them, but my duties as a Gundam pilot are preventing that." They walked into the castle and went to a gathering room with a window that overlooked the Colony's capital. Sette went right to the window and looked out. She saw all of the people below, trying to act as though nothing was wrong. But she could sense their fear and confusion as she watched them. Mothers holding their children closely to them as they walked quickly through the streets. "We have to be strong," she thought aloud.
The doors to the room were closed by the three officers and the princess turned quickly, suddenly concerned that something was terribly wrong. The three men sat at the far end of the long table, leaving the seat at the head empty for the princess. Duke Vale smiled and offered, "Please have a seat, Sette." The princess felt a chill go up her spine, but would not allow her fear to show. She gave a nod and walked straight and tall to the empty seat. Once she sat down, she asked sternly, "What is all this about, gentlemen?" Frantz smiled, "Whatever are you talking about? I am sure that a bright young woman like yourself should know that we are your trusted advisors." Sette glared at him, "I am not satisfied with that answer. Now what is going on?"
Kirkland shook his head, "You still believe that you are going to win this war, don't you?" Sette's eyes widened as she asked in anger, "What do you mean? The victory of this war that my friends and I are fighting will benefit you and all of the people of the Colonies. This is not 'our' war or our struggle alone." Duke Vale sighed, "Oh, Sette. You still don't understand. Your people have felt abandoned ever since you agreed to pilot a Gundam suit when you were a child. You are the only child of a loved family of rulers. If something were to happen to you out there, where would the people turn?" Frantz continued, "You of all people should know hw feeble and frightened people become when there is no one to guide them. There is anarchy and terror that comes with not having a leader." Sette shook her head, "My choice to pilot Unit 07 was to keep the people of all of the Colonies safe, the people here included."
Kirkland shrugged and replied sarcastically, "Oh, we're certain that you had the people's best interest at heart." "I don't have to take that kind of tone from you, Foreign Minister," Sette growled. "I never wanted anything more that to see that everyone in the Colonies safe and living in peace. That's why I became a Gundam pilot." "That's not what the people beyond your castle walls believe," Frantz sneered. "They all think you made that choice to go off on some big exciting adventure. They know that you're restless and selfish at times." "People change, Representative," Sette said as she glared at him. "Being a Gundam pilot taught me selflessness and maturity." She stood and said sternly, "This meeting is over, gentlemen." The word 'gentleman' was said in a low growl as she turned back to the window, refusing to look at the members of her council.
"You are right about that, Sette," Vale grinned. Something about the way he said her name sent a chill up the princess's spine. Before the men could blink, she lunged at Kirkland, who was sitting the closest to her and grabbed the guns resting against either hip. She snapped the safety off of each gun and aimed them at the men present. The tomboy's eyes narrowed into thin slits and she stated clearly, "I've had enough of this. I will be out of your hair and I will act like none of this ever happened if you apologize right now." Kirkland laughed, "Oh, Sette, do you really think that you're scaring us?" Instantly, the doors opened as armed guards poured into the room, aiming their guns at the princess.
Sette froze as her eyes and mouth fell open, a sharp gasp escaping her. She shouted, "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?!" Vale clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Now Sette, that is that the way for a lady to be speaking? Especially a person who sees herself a good leader?" Sette shouted, "At least I'll take you out before they get me!" At this, she aimed the gun at the Duke. As she shot the gun, another gun was shot at her and the bullet grazed her hand. This caused her aim to be off as her bulled whizzed just past the Duke's head. Another bullet came directly after that, grazing her left hand. Sette cried out as her grip on the guns was released. Holding her bleeding hands to her chest, she growled and groaned in rage and pain. "Bastards," she hissed at the three men.
A soldier came and knocked the end of his shotgun into the side of the princess's face. Sette went reeling across the room and fell unconscious to the floor on her side. The right side of her face was red from where the gun made contact. Frantz kicked her onto her back and shook his head, "Pity. The crown was almost wasted on such a pathetic soul." Two soldiers took the princess under her arms and walked her out of the room. The three men that brought this treason about watched with smiles and proud expressions on their faces.
* * * * * *
A half-hour later, Sette groaned as she began to regain consciousness in the cell that she was locked in. Her crown was gone and the bruise on her face was black-and-blue. Sette looked around to her surroundings and lowered her head. "Damn it," she snapped loudly as she punched the ground. The pain from her wounded hands came back as she looked to them and sat with her back to a wall. "So much for an easy in, easy out mission," she sighed deeply. Suddenly, she looked to a far corner and saw a large, dark shadows. She didn't need to see him anymore before she knew who it was.
Sette's blood ran cold as she crawled back quickly into the corner furthest from where he stood as she whispered in fear, "D-Demetris." The tall man chuckled deeply, "Very good. And all this time I was afraid you wouldn't recognize me, old friend." Demetris stalked slowly to the frozen tomboy as she shook her head violently and said quietly, "Stay away from me, you monster." Demetris laughed, "Oh and what will you do? You can't fight me and you know it. Otherwise you would have gone after me when we were reintroduced a while back."
The princess shook her heard again and replied, "You're not human...You can't be..." "Aw, Sette," the huge man smiled as he bent down to her. "I'm just as human as you. After saying this, he removed a large blade from his pocket and dug it into his left forearm, cutting a deep gash from the back of his wrist to his elbow. All the while, the tomboy froze in terror as she watched him. Demetris made no sound nor facial expression to show that he felt any pain. Blood dripped down his arm when his work was done. He held the back of Sette's head. She squirmed and fought at first but was soon outmatched. Her head was forced to come just before the wounded arm as he sneered, "See. I bleed just as you do." Sette felt ill and her face turned dreadfully pale as she looked to the wound. Demetris released her head as she fell back into the corner and chuckled deeply at her again. "I like the pain," he sneered as he licked the blood with his long tongue. Sette slapped a wounded hand over her mouth to keep a frightened cry from escaping her. "Blood tastes good, too," he smiled as he licked a few drops from his lips.
The princess was breathing hard as she whimpered and turned her head from the pilot. "Why don't you just kill me and get it over with?" she asked harshly. The giant whispered, "Oh I would, but you see your friends have other plans for you. Besides, you're the one who saved me from your friend years ago. I could never kill the person who saved me like that. Let's just call this returning the favor." He licked the rest of the blood from the wide blade as the tomboy felt ill again. "I wonder what Kumi's blood tastes like," he said quietly as he tapped the blade's tip against his chin, deep in thought.
Sette sneered at him, "You really think that you can kill her? She's more than human, herself." Demetris growled loudly and wrapped one large hand around the princess's throat and began to squeeze, lifting her off the ground. Sette gagged and struggled to breathe as the man whispered with rage, "I am twice the person that little bitch is. I'll have the pleasure of snuffing that fireball's flame out." He released the girl as she fell to the ground breathing in rasps and couching violently.
Looking down to the young pilot, Demetris smiled wickedly as he raised an eyebrow. "This is the first time I've ever seen you in a dress, tomboy." He bend down and caressed the frightened girl's unwounded cheek. She instantly pulled away and backed into the corner again. The giant laughed, "You're not worth it, anyway, you little coward. Some Gundam pilot you are, weak and pathetic thing that you are. It's amazing you've managed to stay alive...Then again, I am more than certain that Kumi's the one responsible for your survival." Sette lowered her head as these words hurt, but they were most likely true. She never wanted to believe it, but hearing the coldness in Demetris's voice, she began to doubt herself. After all, she was too frightened to even look at the monster before her.
Demetris took a deep breath and sighed, "I just wanted to see that you were comfortable before I go off to say hello to Kumi. Don't worry, I'll see you again soon enough. You're to be handed over to OZ as an offering of sympathy for not siding with OZ sooner. In exchange, we will accept the apology and allow Colony H7 to join forces." Sette's eyes widened as she took all of this in. Demetris grinned and bent down to look into the princess's frightened eyes again. "I would deliver you, myself, but as I said, your friends have other plans for you and I don't want to interfere. Besides, I have to pay Kumi a visit on Colony M29."
Sette gave a sharp gasp as she looked to the pilot in shock and disbelief. "W-What?" she whispered breathlessly. Licking his lips, Demetris chuckled and nodded, "Oh, yes...I know that she's there. And your eyes just proved that fact to me." The tomboy fell back as she began to shake. "I thank you, Sette...Once again, I am in your debt. Only this time, I won't bother to return the favor." Demertis smiled as he straightened and brushed back his hair with his hand. As he walked out the door, he turned back and winked, "I'll be sure to tell Kumi that you send your best...I'll see you again, soon." The door slammed behind him as Sette struggled to breathe again. "Oh my God," was all she could whisper breathlessly. "W-What have I done?"
* * * * * *
Back at the Preventer ship, Lady Une typed at a computer with Milliardo, Noin, Sally, Catherine, Relena and Dorothy watching just behind her. She typed a message under the screen name Lady11. She typed: Status of the Gundam pilots? There was a pause before the first response came up. A dark green screen name, Pilot01, responded: No signs of OZ. Approximate time to reach first Preventer drop-off ship four-and-a-half days. The blue screen name, Pilot02, responded: Doin' just dandy, thanks for askin'! It'll be a few days to reach the first drop off for me, too. A brown screen name, Pilot05, wrote: Colony C91 will be reached in about a week, since it falls beyond Venus. Pilot04, a red screen name, typed: Colony H7 is already being handled. I should reach L4 in about three days. Pilot10, in purple, replied, "There is suspicious activity beyond M29. I will be looking into that before actually reaching the Colony. Finally, the teal screen name, Pilot03, typed: I also have heard received word of strange readings beyond my destination. I will report back should anything change.
Lady Une nodded and typed at her computer. Lady11: Very good. Be careful, all of you. Pilot01: Understood. Pilot02: No prob! Pilot03: We'll be careful. Pilot04: Thank you, Lady11. Pilot 10: Understood. Pilot05: Just worry about the Colonies you can reach. At that, the connection was cut off, to avoid the risk of being intercepted by OZ. Lady Une fell back into her seat a bit as she and the others took a breath of relief for a moment.
That relief was short-lived as Noin said quietly with concern, "I'm worried about that strange activity that Trowa and Kumi had been hearing about." Lady Une replied, "The Preventer fleets that they come across have a better way of knowing what is out there. The Colonies that Heero, Duo, Kumi, and Trowa are heading to are past the Milky Way. Transmission between us and the fleets beyond there is difficult to send and receive. Therefore, they need the Preventer fleets out there to rely on as far as what they should expect." Milliardo asked, "Once their missions are complete in channeling a signal through the Colonies, will the transmission between Peace Million and all of the Preventer crafts out there be easier as well?" Une nodded, "Yes. That's why the sooner their missions are completed the better. The Gundam pilot know what they're doing. I know it's hard to sit here and not be able to do anything for them, but that's all we can do."
The three young ladies walked out of the room into the hallway. Relena sighed as she looked to the faint view of the Earth through the window, "At least we know that they're all right for now. It's going to be months before we see them all again." "We've already been fighting for four months now. This war will be the longest that any of us have seen thus far," Dorothy stated. Catherine said quietly, "That's what Kumi and Sette had said from the beginning when we first met them. They knew all along." Relena raised her head with a look of uncertainty. "I wonder how they were able to decipher the nightmares that we had before the ear begun." Dorothy shrugged, "I'd also like to know how they were able to realize that there were three other Gundam suits aside from the seven that fought during the first two wars."
Looking to Catherine, Relena asked, "You don't have any real hard feelings against either of them, do you?" The redhead replied, "I don't appreciate the fact that they came from nowhere are forced us to fight in a war with those suits before he had any choice." Dorothy shook her head, "They gave us a choice, Catherine, many times. You forget that quickly?" The young ex-pilot answered, "Well, if we had said 'no,' what would they have done? I only agreed because the war was coming in a matter of weeks. And I would have been looked at as weak if I didn't accept."
Relena's eyes widened as she replied, "Catherine, you're our friend. Why would we consider you weak? Unit 08 needs a pilot now and we won't be able to find one until the others return." Dorothy nodded, "But what we're most concerned about is the fact that you're not putting the blame of this whole war where it belongs...And that's with OZ." Catherine turned and walked away as she sighed, "As far as I am concerned, I just want this whole war to be over. I don't even care who wins, as long as all of the destruction and death will end."
Before the pilots could say anything, she was gone. Brian walked out and joined the young women. He wrapped his arm around Relena's and kissed her forehead. "Catherine's still having a hard time with all of this?" Relena nodded and sighed deeply, "Yes. I can't really blame her. This is a first for all of us, seeing battle for the first time up-close." Dorothy stated, "She doesn't understand that no matter how bad things get, we are doing the right thing. The lives of millions rest on our shoulders."
Brian asked, "Are you having any doubts about piloting your Gundams?" Dorothy shook her head, "No. And I never will. Rampage is an amazing suit and the chance to fight for the people of the Earth and the Colonies against OZ is something that I have always wanted." Relena nodded, "I, too, have always wanted to fight rather than using only words as my weapons for peace." Her husband smiled and the couple embraced. "I am proud of you, love," he whispered in her ear. His wife smiled warmly in his arms and whispered back, "Thank you, sweetheart."
Dorothy looked to the couple with a warm smile of her own. Waving to them, she said, "I'll see you both later. I better go and check up on Rampage." When she was gone, the king and queen looked to each other. They leaned in and kissed. When the kiss broke Brian held Relena close again. "I know that you're just as concerned about the Earth as I am...And waiting a few months for the other pilots is going to be hard. But, the others will be back and we'll know what to do from there," the king assured his wife. Relena nodded as she held her husband closely, turning her head to look to the very distant planet out the window again. "We'll be back there soon," she said quietly.
* * * * * *
Sette was locked in the dungeon for two days before anyone came to see her again. By then, she was tired and her hopes were wearing thin. The cell door opened as Kirkland, Vale and Frantz walked in. They smiled to the princess, who growled and got to her feet. Kirkland stepped toward her and took her right arm as Frantz did the same with her left. They tightened their grip on the tomboy as she glared to all of them. "What are your plans now?" she asked with venom in her voice. Vale smiled, "You're to address the people and announce the people and inform them that we are allying with OZ." Sette shrieked, "You assholes think I'll actually do that!?! You'll have to kill me before I would ever agree to do such a thing!"
"You'll do as you're told," Frantz growled. At this word, a man was thrown into the cell. Sette looked to the beaten, fallen man in shock, "FATHER!?!" she cried. King Devion groaned as he lifted his blood stained face to his daughter. "S-Sette?" he said weakly. The princess fought free and ran to her father's side, kneeling beside his. She hugged him and fought tears in her eyes. "It's all right, Father. We'll get out of this, somehow," she vowed. "You raised a tough girl, remember," she said with a forced smile as she looked to him.
The king nodded, "You always were like your mother, stubborn and proud." His face fell as he lowered his head. The Duke laughed, "Oh, and does her highness know who her mother is?" Sette's father glared to him and his friends as Sette looked to him in uncertainty. "Father? What is he talking about?" she asked quietly. Minister Kirkland laughed loudly, "My dear, foolish princess, your father has not been the honest man that you've believed him to be." Sette glared, "How dare you say such things. My father is the most honest man I have ever known. My mother died when I was very young." "Oh, that is true," the Minister nodded. "But she is not the woman that your father was married to." Sette shouted, "What!?!" Her father growled, "Enough."
Representative Frantz smiled and looked to the tomboy. "You are part Peacecraft, Sette." The young pilot almost collapsed as her eyes and mouth opened widely. Frantz continued, "Your father had an affair with King Peacecraft's wife a month after Relena Peaceraft was born. The chances of one being able to produce a child so soon after another child is born is slim to none. Your father believed these believed that his actions were...safe." Sette shook her head and whispered in a low hiss, "It's not true." Her father simply lowered his head in shame. Sette turned to him and whispered, with hope in her voice, "Tell me it isn't true, father." "You were a mistake," Vale sneered. "You son of a bitch!" King Devion shouted as he tried to get to his feet, but he stumbled in agony.
Sette kept a gentle grip onto him, but was beginning to shake. "My God...It's true," she whispered hoarsely. "I'm a mistake." Her father shook his head violently, "No, Sette. Don't believe that." Kirkland interrupted, "Your father told your mother of the affair only after Queen Peacecraft learned she was pregnant with you. She hid the pregnancy from the public eye while your father's wife made it as if she was pregnant. When you were born in secret, you were brought here with your father. His wife killed herself after suffering from depression from the ordeal." Frantz shook his head and sighed, "She loved your father terribly, poor girl." "Shut up! I've heard enough from you!" Sette shouted with tears rolling down her cheeks.
The three captors looked down to the king and princess. "Now," Frantz began, "We don't want to keep the public waiting. We best be off." Sette growled and dried her face, though more tears were coming. "I told you...I. Am. Not. Moving." "Not even with your father's life at stake?" Kirkland asked. Two armed guards entered and aimed their guns at the king and his daughter. Sette looked to her father with more tears falling and whispered, "Father...I..." King Devion nodded, "I have been a poor father to you, Sette. I am sorry. It doesn't matter what happens to me." Sette caught her breath and rose as she turned to the three men. "Lay a hand on him and I swear you all regret the day that you were born." Vale waved to the soldiers and nodded, "You heard the princess. The king is not to be harmed. We will return before too long." The guards nodded and stepped out of the room again to stand at the door.
Vale smiled and bowed to Sette as he offered his arm. "Your chariot awaits, princess." Sette glared at him and walked past him. The Duke chuckled deeply as he and his friends followed closely behind her.
The king lowered his head as the door was slammed behind him. "Lord, forgive me of my sins," he said sadly in prayer. "May my poor wife and Queen Peacecraft be at peace." This was the same prayer he would say every night before falling asleep, yet it was the first time that he truly felt the sincerity behind it. The only response to the prayer was the silence and darkness of his cell.
* * * * * *
In the public square of the Capitol City, just beyond the castle, Sette arrived in a black limo to the tall stairs of the massive building. The people of the town quickly gathered as word had spread that their princess would be making an announcement there that would be broadcast around the Colony. Sette walked to the top of the steps, where a podium and television crews were waiting. The three men she once had trusted her life with were beside and behind her. Frantz whispered coldly in her ear, "Just as we have practiced, Sette. Otherwise, you're father will be joining your true mother and his wife." Sette growled quietly, "You know me, I aim to please."
Finally, she reached the podium and her image was spread throughout the Colony on every television and form of communication imaginable on H7. Sette lowered her head and took a deep breath as she whispered to herself, "God, help me." She raised her head and began, "Hello. As you all know, I am Princess Sette Devion. I have missed all of you during my time away fighting. And I am certain that you all know I am here to discuss the situation of the war." The people watched with their breath held and anxiousness in their faces.
There was a long pause as the princess's bottom lip began to quiver. She quickly lowered her head and took another sharp breath. "Damn it," she hissed to herself. "You can do this." Vale, Kirkland and Frantz watched closely with cold faces. Sette raised her head, having fought the tears that were threatening to build and getting her strength back. She stated, "OZ is too strong to be defeated." There was a cry and loud reaction of fear, anger and shock from everyone everywhere. Sette closed her eyes and clenched her fists as she continued, "Please
accept my most sincere apology. I could not defend you and now we are in the middle of a war that we cannot possibly win."
People in the crowd began to riot and fight to get to the princess, throwing things at her that they found from the street. Sette continued, "I know that this is just as difficult for you to hear as it is for me to say it. But we cannot afford to fall apart now. We have to remain stronger than ever if we want to get through this alive." All kinds of angry names and things were being shouted at her. The tomboy shook her head, "I did all that I could to stop OZ." In a small whisper, ahs whispered, "Please forgive me." The riot was increasing and more threatening than ever as they came dangerously close to the podium.
Duke Vale pushed Sette from the podium and announced, "My people, we can still make it though this war as victors. We will ally with OZ. This way, our safety will be guaranteed and we will benefit from all that is won as well." The people did begin to calm a bit at the Duke's words, though they were still enraged and frightened. Those feelings were all being directed to the Gundam pilot they knew of their future queen.
When he saw that he had their attention, Vale smiled and pointed to the tomboy, "And princess Sette will be our offering to them as an apology for not allying with them sooner." A loud cheer and thunderous applause was heard throughout the mob and Sette was immediately taken by three soldiers as she walked off with them, her low in shame. She was hit with rocks and other things that the mob had found as she walked past them. She made no move to dodge the things thrown at her, too distressed to care. Vale smiled as she went off, "My people, Representative Frantz, Foreign Minister Kirkland and myself will lead all of you to victory in this war along with OZ. Surely, no organization of such strength and stamina would steer those who side with them wrong." Again, there was applause and cheers.
Sette listened as the man went off at the podium. She was forced back into the limousine. There was a cut on her right cheek, which looked as bad as the bruise on her left cheek, as it was bleeding from where she had been pelted with a sharp stone. She wiped the blood away as the car sped off back to the castle. She was lost, frightened and alone. "Quatre," she whispered sadly to herself.
* * * * * *
In Sand Rock, Quatre was still a good day away from his colony. His heart wretched in his chest as he took a sharp breath and doubled over. "S-Sette?" he said quietly as he felt that she was in danger. He looked to his monitor and said quietly, "I'm just a day from L4...and two days from H7...If I go on o complete my mission, it'll be too late to save her..."
Quatre closed his eyes and felt Sette's pain again. "Why now, when I'm so close to completing this missing?" he whispered to himself. He took his options in and finally smiled, "Heero always said to follow your emotions." He went to his monitor and called, "General Chuurchill?" The Preventer's face appeared as he nodded, "Yes, Quatre?" The Arabian informed him, "The plan to reach L4 will have to be held back for now. I am steering back to H7." The general looked at him in shock and asked, "When you're so close to you destination?" The blonde nodded, "Yes. I can't explain why, but I have a feeling that Sette is in danger."
Churchill looked to him in uncertainty, then agreed, "All right. Come here before reach the Colony. I will have a crew ready to give back up." "I thank you, General," Quatre replied with a relieved smile. The connection was cut off after the Preventer saluted, "We will be waiting." At this, he turned Sand Rock to head back to H7. Once he got momentum again, he thought deeply, "Hang in there, Sette. I'm coming." His Gundam shot through the stars in a white streak.
* * * * * *
Being led back to the cell where she had been held the last few days, Sette thought back to a night during the first war when she and Kumi had been hiding in the woods of a Colony, awaiting word on when they should attack a base a few miles away from their post.
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Kumi was loading her pistol by the campfire and looking over her preparations for the attack to come. Sette was lying on her back, looking up to the stars. She turned to her quiet friend and asked, "Kumi?" Her comrade looked to her and said nothing. The princess asked quietly, "Have you ever regretted the fact that you're a Gundam pilot? I mean...Neither of us have had a normal childhood because of the fact that we're fighting a war when we're so young...I didn't know if it bothered you."
The silver-haired pilot rested her gun to her side. Looking back to her partner, she shook her head and answered simply, "No." Sette looked to her in shock, then forced a smiled and shrugged, "Me neither." Quickly, she looked back to the stars and ignored her wished to continue the discussion. The question was one that had been bothering the princess for a long time. She really didn't regret the fact that she was a Gundam pilot. Still, she couldn't help but admit the fact that she was scared at times, wishing she had the life of a normal fifteen-year-old had. But seeing that Kumi was anything but willing to say more than three words at a time, she put the discussion aside.
Late that night Sette couldn't sleep and looked to the 'Perfect Soldier' as she slept soundly. "You're the only person I know that can sleep soundly after the bloodshed that we've seen...I wish I had your twenty-four-hour courage," she whispered to herself. The pilot thought about what she had said, then shook her head, "Then again, something had to make you the way you are now...I take it back." She lowered her head again and watched the stars above her.
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Sette was thrown back into the dungeon. She fell before her father as he whispered, "Sette?" The princess got to her knees and flinched from her father's attempt to help her. The king lowered his head and sighed, "You have every right to hate me, Sette. What I've done...Never telling you about-" Sette looked away and replied quietly, "I don't hate you...It's just...I wish that you would have told me." The king nodded, "I know, sweetheart. I was just afraid that you would be ashamed of me."
With a deep breath, Sette shook her head, "It's all right...We all make..." She lowered hear head and whispered sadly, "...mistakes." King Devion's eyes widened and he took his daughter's shoulders and gave her a light shake. When their eyes locked, he said sternly, "You are not a mistake, Sette. You never were. You have to believe that." The princess gave a light nod, though she was still having a hard time taking everything in.
After a long pause, the king's daughter wiped the tears that hadn't fallen just yet and sighed. "So I'll be taken by OZ in a few days. And the Colony will join forces with them because of it." The king fell back against the wall and asked quietly, "How did things ever get this bad?" Sette gave a tired chuckle, "OZ has been playing their cards right, that's how." She leaned against the wall and thought aloud, "After the Mariamaya incident, we were all sure that OZ would never be able to gain their strength to the way it was during the first war. During the five years leading to now, they not only managed to do that, but they've made themselves stronger that they originally were." She lowered her head and said gravely, "And it's more than safe to say that we haven't seen everything that have to offer even now. Between the Holocausts and the Gundam suits that they have, They have to have more up their sleeves."
There was a long pause between the king and his daughter. Finally, the tomboy turned to her father and asked softly, "So I'm the half-sister of Milliardo and Relena Peacecraft?" The king turned to her and nodded, "Yes." Sette thought about it for a moment and gave a small smile, "I always wanted a brother or sister...Now I have both...well kind of." King Devion chuckled, "I remember you always saying that you wished you had someone to talk to other than myself."
The princess smiled, "Well, I met Kumi when we were fifteen and fighting the first war. I always considered her a sister, even though we're nothing alike. I was able to tell her that as we fought the war. But with Milliardo and Relena-" She stopped and lowered her head as her face fell. "I...I don't know if I could ever look at them again knowing what I know...I know the stories of problems in the marriage between King and Queen Peacecraft... I'm the reason their mother and father had so many problems at the end of their lives with their marriage." Her father protested, "Stop it, Sette. I told you that that isn't true. You did nothing wrong. I was the cause of all of this, not you."
"Still-" Sette's words stopped when the prison door slammed opened. Kirkland, Vale and Frantz entered. They smiled to the prisoners and Frantz announced, "Well done, Sette. You came through. You should be proud of yourself." Sette glared at him, holding back the urge to lunge and twist the neck of the smug man. Vale nodded, "The people now know that you're the failure we always knew you were."
Her father's face reddened with rage as he slowly rose and walked to the center of the cell, with the three men. "You bastards have what you wanted. Leave us be," he ordered in a deep growl. Kirkland shrugged, "But your highn-" he laughed at the title and continued coldly, "Gary, after all, you're no longer the king...We're your friends. We want you to be as comfortable as possible. And we wanted to thank you for bringing our chance to rise into the world. Without your daughter, none of this would have been possible."
Looking to the king, Duke Vale smiled, "You don't matter anything to us now. Sette is the one that the people truly hate. And our offering her to OZ will secure our protection during this war." "There is an OZ carrier that has been alerted of this. They will be here by the end of the week to take the offering," Kirkland explained. Sette's eyes widened at this news. But, there wasn't anything that she could do now.
Finally, they began to make their way out of the room. Just before they left, however, Frantz turned his head, "Oh, and here is our gift of appreciation." In the blink of an eye, the three men riddled the formal king with bullets. "FATHER!!!" Sette screamed as she ran to catch her father as he fell back. The three captors stood in the doorway with pleased faces as they watched. Gary Devion's blood was pouring from the many holes that went through his body as he gagged and gasped for air with wide eyes.
Sette held him tightly as she cried, "Father! No! This can't be happening!" Her father looked to her as he fought to speak. His mouth opened and closed several times with no words, then finally, he coughed out, "S-Sette." The tomboy shook her head, tears drenching her face. "Don't talk, father," she whispered hoarsely. He took her hand with a trembling hand of his own and squeezed. He whispered, "You...you have...to fight, Sette...Y-You're strong...p-please..." Sette nodded faintly, then more assured. "I promise," she vowed. Her father smiled and nodded, unable to say anymore. His body slumped in her arms lifeless. The tomboy began to shake and she cried out as she buried her face in her father's chest.
The princess held onto him with dear life as she cried hysterically. She was not allowed much time with her father's body as four guards entered the room. Two held the princess back by the arms as she struggled to hold on and shouted at the men holding her. The remaining two guards took the body from the room. When the body was removed, the blood-stained princess looked to her father's murders and glared at all of them through her tears and red eyes.
"I swear," she vowed in a deep, threatening voice, "You will live to regret this day." The men laughed and left the room. "Just keep telling yourself that," Vale smirked just before leaving the cell. The door was slammed again. Sette lied on the ground and allowed herself more time to sob and let her pain out. Her father's blood was all over the ground and she turned to it before looking up. She whispered, "You will be avenged, father. I promise to keep fighting...somehow." For now, she lied her head down in the darkness and cried herself to sleep. Even in her sleep, her wheels were turning on how she was going to get out of the situation she was in, and stay true to her word.
TBC
Gundam Wing: The Second Chapter
Episode 12: Beyond the Castle Walls
by SkyLark
With help from Snodin and Traci 14
Narrator: The Gundam pilots had broken apart to take on missions to break the silence barriers between the Colonies and the Preventers. Before they reached their destinations, they each needed to arrive at Preventer crafts to learn the situation of the Colonies that they would be hitting. This was to be similar to the island-hoping strategy that ended World War II against Japan. It would be months before the pilots that left would be reunited with their friends and comrades on Peace Million. The only way they would be able to contact each other was through computers and their own monitors. Everything that had taken place up to now was used as the fuel to the pilots' goal to complete these missions as soon as possible.
* * * * * *
Quatre and Sette met at the Preventer ship where they were to receive their needed status reports on their Colonies in order to know exactly what they needed to do. The Arabian stood before the gathering room where he and his self-proclaimed girlfriend were to meet with the Preventer staff. Sette was late and Quarte was beginning to wonder what had happened to the princess. "Hey handsome," he heard the tomboy call. He turned with a smile to greet her, then froze in his spot as his eye and mouth widened.
Sette stood before him in an elegant white and pale blue dress, topped off by a slender and simple crown that fell more as a headband. Her hair was not in its ponytail that came through the back of her baseball cap as to fell loose to her waist. The blonde pilot stood there in awe for a moment, unable to say anything to the beautiful image before him. The princess smiled and chuckled, "Come on, Quatre. We're going to be late if we stay here." At this, the young man snapped out of is state of shock. All he could do was smile warmly and offer his arm. The princess accepted as they watched into the meeting room.
Inside, the pair found three officers waiting for them. They stood when the Gundam pilots entered to show their respect for the princess and powerful Winner representative. The pilots took their seats along with them and the oldest man of the three informed them, "We are the heads of the three crews that will be offering you backup should anything go wrong at the colonies while you attain the communication channel we need. My name is General Churchill. This is Captain Hazark," The youngest of the three nodded to them. "And this is Lietenant Jacobs," the third nodded. Churchill continued, "On every Colony, there is an underground channel that you need to find. It will take you to the Colony heart where everything is centered. You need to punch in a code at the main monitor. When you do this, every Gundam suit and Preventer ship will be able to intercept and send any and all signals to and from the Colony. Not only this, but the Colonies within fifty miles will be effected the same as well."
Quatre asked, "OZ has a signal strong enough that knocked out the communication channels between us, the Earth and the Colonies. How can we be sure that once we reactivate the signal, they won't do the same again?" Hazark replied, "That's the purpose of the code. It will inform the heart of the Colony that the only signals that can effect the communication channels are the ones that come from us, the Preventers." Sette nodded, "Makes sense. It shouldn't be that difficult. So this is what all of the Gundam pilots who were sent out will be doing?" Jacobs answered, "More or less. We don't know how much resistance your friends will have when they work at the colonies they were sent to, since the communication channel dilemma prevents us from knowing. But every Colony has a center, much like the core of the Earth. The difference is that these cores are manmade."
"Are there any questions as far as what you need to accomplish?" Churchill asked. The pilots shook their heads. "Good," he replied as he handed them small envelopes. "Those are the codes you need to type into the systems. I know that this all might sound easy, but there is a great deal of risk involved. That is why we're here." Quatre shook his head, "Nothing is easy. Thank you for your help." Jacobs informed them, "We will be taking care of your Gundams here. Your colonies are the only ones that we know the status of. No OZ soldiers have been detected near either H7 or L4. And we understand that for many reasons, the sight of your Gundams might do more harm than good when your people see them." Sette smiled, "You guys are good. Thanks for everything."
The meeting was concluded and the door to the room opened. A man of about forty entered the room wearing a brown uniform with metals and ribbons over his right chest. Sette's jaw fell wide open as she gasped and cheered, "Duke Vale!" She quickly went and hugged you man tightly. The Duke smiled and returned the embrace before breaking and saluting, "Hello, Princess Sette. I will be your escort back to Colony H7." Sette was ecstatic, "That's great! Oh! Let me introduce you to Quatre."
The Arabian stood beside her and smiled to the Duke. The princess wrapped her arm around the blonde's shoulder and introduces "Quatre, this is Duke Vale, one of my father's best friends and most trusted advisors." The pilot and Duke shook hands as Sette continued, "Duke Vale, this is Quatre, my fiancee." Quatre gasped loudly and froze with a look of shock. Duke Vale laughed, "He seems pretty surprised by that remark." Sette smiled and replied, "Oh, he always gets like this when he hears the word fiancee." Quatre reacted the same as the first time he heard the title. The Arabian didn't snap out of his shock until the princess kissed his cheek and whispered, "See you soon, beloved."
The blonde pilot snapped out of his daze as he watched Sette head out with Duke Vale. He smiled and waved back to the princess, who turned and winked to him. When they were gone, Quatre sighed and turned to the Preventers. "I should be heading off, too. It'll take about three days to reach L4 from here." Hazark replied, "Once you have regained the signal at L4, it's up to you as to where you want to go from there once you have your Gundam back." Quatre passed in thought then asked, "I thank you for offering to take care of Sand Rock. But, would it be wrong to ask that I fly him to the Colony?" Churchill shrugged, "It's up to you. If you feel that you will be alight taking your Gundam there, so be it." The blonde pilot smiled, "I would feel better taking him there...Thank you for everything, again." The oldest Preventer smiled, "Just be careful out there and good luck." The young pilot walked out of the room.
* * * * * *
Early the next morning, Sette and Duke Vale returned to Colony H7. The small craft they flew in landed inside the castle's hanger. The princess stepped out, lifting her flowing dress as she walked as not to step on the fabric. When she looked to the entrance, she saw two men standing in waiting. One was uniformed and the age of fifty with gray hair and a gray, rough beard. The other was in a business suit in his late thirties with wavy, brown hair and a smooth face. Sette smiled and ran to them. Hugging them, she said with affection, "Representative Frantz. Foreign Minister Kirkland." Frantz smiled and kissed her cheek as he nodded, "Princess." The man in the suit chuckled as he did the same.
The blonde-haired Duke joined all of them and the young woman asked, "How are all of you? It's been a while." Kirkland- the one in the suit- nodded, "Too long, princess. This war has frightened the people here terribly." Sette nodded sadly, "I understand their fear and sympathize. I would like to be here with them, but my duties as a Gundam pilot are preventing that." They walked into the castle and went to a gathering room with a window that overlooked the Colony's capital. Sette went right to the window and looked out. She saw all of the people below, trying to act as though nothing was wrong. But she could sense their fear and confusion as she watched them. Mothers holding their children closely to them as they walked quickly through the streets. "We have to be strong," she thought aloud.
The doors to the room were closed by the three officers and the princess turned quickly, suddenly concerned that something was terribly wrong. The three men sat at the far end of the long table, leaving the seat at the head empty for the princess. Duke Vale smiled and offered, "Please have a seat, Sette." The princess felt a chill go up her spine, but would not allow her fear to show. She gave a nod and walked straight and tall to the empty seat. Once she sat down, she asked sternly, "What is all this about, gentlemen?" Frantz smiled, "Whatever are you talking about? I am sure that a bright young woman like yourself should know that we are your trusted advisors." Sette glared at him, "I am not satisfied with that answer. Now what is going on?"
Kirkland shook his head, "You still believe that you are going to win this war, don't you?" Sette's eyes widened as she asked in anger, "What do you mean? The victory of this war that my friends and I are fighting will benefit you and all of the people of the Colonies. This is not 'our' war or our struggle alone." Duke Vale sighed, "Oh, Sette. You still don't understand. Your people have felt abandoned ever since you agreed to pilot a Gundam suit when you were a child. You are the only child of a loved family of rulers. If something were to happen to you out there, where would the people turn?" Frantz continued, "You of all people should know hw feeble and frightened people become when there is no one to guide them. There is anarchy and terror that comes with not having a leader." Sette shook her head, "My choice to pilot Unit 07 was to keep the people of all of the Colonies safe, the people here included."
Kirkland shrugged and replied sarcastically, "Oh, we're certain that you had the people's best interest at heart." "I don't have to take that kind of tone from you, Foreign Minister," Sette growled. "I never wanted anything more that to see that everyone in the Colonies safe and living in peace. That's why I became a Gundam pilot." "That's not what the people beyond your castle walls believe," Frantz sneered. "They all think you made that choice to go off on some big exciting adventure. They know that you're restless and selfish at times." "People change, Representative," Sette said as she glared at him. "Being a Gundam pilot taught me selflessness and maturity." She stood and said sternly, "This meeting is over, gentlemen." The word 'gentleman' was said in a low growl as she turned back to the window, refusing to look at the members of her council.
"You are right about that, Sette," Vale grinned. Something about the way he said her name sent a chill up the princess's spine. Before the men could blink, she lunged at Kirkland, who was sitting the closest to her and grabbed the guns resting against either hip. She snapped the safety off of each gun and aimed them at the men present. The tomboy's eyes narrowed into thin slits and she stated clearly, "I've had enough of this. I will be out of your hair and I will act like none of this ever happened if you apologize right now." Kirkland laughed, "Oh, Sette, do you really think that you're scaring us?" Instantly, the doors opened as armed guards poured into the room, aiming their guns at the princess.
Sette froze as her eyes and mouth fell open, a sharp gasp escaping her. She shouted, "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?!" Vale clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Now Sette, that is that the way for a lady to be speaking? Especially a person who sees herself a good leader?" Sette shouted, "At least I'll take you out before they get me!" At this, she aimed the gun at the Duke. As she shot the gun, another gun was shot at her and the bullet grazed her hand. This caused her aim to be off as her bulled whizzed just past the Duke's head. Another bullet came directly after that, grazing her left hand. Sette cried out as her grip on the guns was released. Holding her bleeding hands to her chest, she growled and groaned in rage and pain. "Bastards," she hissed at the three men.
A soldier came and knocked the end of his shotgun into the side of the princess's face. Sette went reeling across the room and fell unconscious to the floor on her side. The right side of her face was red from where the gun made contact. Frantz kicked her onto her back and shook his head, "Pity. The crown was almost wasted on such a pathetic soul." Two soldiers took the princess under her arms and walked her out of the room. The three men that brought this treason about watched with smiles and proud expressions on their faces.
* * * * * *
A half-hour later, Sette groaned as she began to regain consciousness in the cell that she was locked in. Her crown was gone and the bruise on her face was black-and-blue. Sette looked around to her surroundings and lowered her head. "Damn it," she snapped loudly as she punched the ground. The pain from her wounded hands came back as she looked to them and sat with her back to a wall. "So much for an easy in, easy out mission," she sighed deeply. Suddenly, she looked to a far corner and saw a large, dark shadows. She didn't need to see him anymore before she knew who it was.
Sette's blood ran cold as she crawled back quickly into the corner furthest from where he stood as she whispered in fear, "D-Demetris." The tall man chuckled deeply, "Very good. And all this time I was afraid you wouldn't recognize me, old friend." Demetris stalked slowly to the frozen tomboy as she shook her head violently and said quietly, "Stay away from me, you monster." Demetris laughed, "Oh and what will you do? You can't fight me and you know it. Otherwise you would have gone after me when we were reintroduced a while back."
The princess shook her heard again and replied, "You're not human...You can't be..." "Aw, Sette," the huge man smiled as he bent down to her. "I'm just as human as you. After saying this, he removed a large blade from his pocket and dug it into his left forearm, cutting a deep gash from the back of his wrist to his elbow. All the while, the tomboy froze in terror as she watched him. Demetris made no sound nor facial expression to show that he felt any pain. Blood dripped down his arm when his work was done. He held the back of Sette's head. She squirmed and fought at first but was soon outmatched. Her head was forced to come just before the wounded arm as he sneered, "See. I bleed just as you do." Sette felt ill and her face turned dreadfully pale as she looked to the wound. Demetris released her head as she fell back into the corner and chuckled deeply at her again. "I like the pain," he sneered as he licked the blood with his long tongue. Sette slapped a wounded hand over her mouth to keep a frightened cry from escaping her. "Blood tastes good, too," he smiled as he licked a few drops from his lips.
The princess was breathing hard as she whimpered and turned her head from the pilot. "Why don't you just kill me and get it over with?" she asked harshly. The giant whispered, "Oh I would, but you see your friends have other plans for you. Besides, you're the one who saved me from your friend years ago. I could never kill the person who saved me like that. Let's just call this returning the favor." He licked the rest of the blood from the wide blade as the tomboy felt ill again. "I wonder what Kumi's blood tastes like," he said quietly as he tapped the blade's tip against his chin, deep in thought.
Sette sneered at him, "You really think that you can kill her? She's more than human, herself." Demetris growled loudly and wrapped one large hand around the princess's throat and began to squeeze, lifting her off the ground. Sette gagged and struggled to breathe as the man whispered with rage, "I am twice the person that little bitch is. I'll have the pleasure of snuffing that fireball's flame out." He released the girl as she fell to the ground breathing in rasps and couching violently.
Looking down to the young pilot, Demetris smiled wickedly as he raised an eyebrow. "This is the first time I've ever seen you in a dress, tomboy." He bend down and caressed the frightened girl's unwounded cheek. She instantly pulled away and backed into the corner again. The giant laughed, "You're not worth it, anyway, you little coward. Some Gundam pilot you are, weak and pathetic thing that you are. It's amazing you've managed to stay alive...Then again, I am more than certain that Kumi's the one responsible for your survival." Sette lowered her head as these words hurt, but they were most likely true. She never wanted to believe it, but hearing the coldness in Demetris's voice, she began to doubt herself. After all, she was too frightened to even look at the monster before her.
Demetris took a deep breath and sighed, "I just wanted to see that you were comfortable before I go off to say hello to Kumi. Don't worry, I'll see you again soon enough. You're to be handed over to OZ as an offering of sympathy for not siding with OZ sooner. In exchange, we will accept the apology and allow Colony H7 to join forces." Sette's eyes widened as she took all of this in. Demetris grinned and bent down to look into the princess's frightened eyes again. "I would deliver you, myself, but as I said, your friends have other plans for you and I don't want to interfere. Besides, I have to pay Kumi a visit on Colony M29."
Sette gave a sharp gasp as she looked to the pilot in shock and disbelief. "W-What?" she whispered breathlessly. Licking his lips, Demetris chuckled and nodded, "Oh, yes...I know that she's there. And your eyes just proved that fact to me." The tomboy fell back as she began to shake. "I thank you, Sette...Once again, I am in your debt. Only this time, I won't bother to return the favor." Demertis smiled as he straightened and brushed back his hair with his hand. As he walked out the door, he turned back and winked, "I'll be sure to tell Kumi that you send your best...I'll see you again, soon." The door slammed behind him as Sette struggled to breathe again. "Oh my God," was all she could whisper breathlessly. "W-What have I done?"
* * * * * *
Back at the Preventer ship, Lady Une typed at a computer with Milliardo, Noin, Sally, Catherine, Relena and Dorothy watching just behind her. She typed a message under the screen name Lady11. She typed: Status of the Gundam pilots? There was a pause before the first response came up. A dark green screen name, Pilot01, responded: No signs of OZ. Approximate time to reach first Preventer drop-off ship four-and-a-half days. The blue screen name, Pilot02, responded: Doin' just dandy, thanks for askin'! It'll be a few days to reach the first drop off for me, too. A brown screen name, Pilot05, wrote: Colony C91 will be reached in about a week, since it falls beyond Venus. Pilot04, a red screen name, typed: Colony H7 is already being handled. I should reach L4 in about three days. Pilot10, in purple, replied, "There is suspicious activity beyond M29. I will be looking into that before actually reaching the Colony. Finally, the teal screen name, Pilot03, typed: I also have heard received word of strange readings beyond my destination. I will report back should anything change.
Lady Une nodded and typed at her computer. Lady11: Very good. Be careful, all of you. Pilot01: Understood. Pilot02: No prob! Pilot03: We'll be careful. Pilot04: Thank you, Lady11. Pilot 10: Understood. Pilot05: Just worry about the Colonies you can reach. At that, the connection was cut off, to avoid the risk of being intercepted by OZ. Lady Une fell back into her seat a bit as she and the others took a breath of relief for a moment.
That relief was short-lived as Noin said quietly with concern, "I'm worried about that strange activity that Trowa and Kumi had been hearing about." Lady Une replied, "The Preventer fleets that they come across have a better way of knowing what is out there. The Colonies that Heero, Duo, Kumi, and Trowa are heading to are past the Milky Way. Transmission between us and the fleets beyond there is difficult to send and receive. Therefore, they need the Preventer fleets out there to rely on as far as what they should expect." Milliardo asked, "Once their missions are complete in channeling a signal through the Colonies, will the transmission between Peace Million and all of the Preventer crafts out there be easier as well?" Une nodded, "Yes. That's why the sooner their missions are completed the better. The Gundam pilot know what they're doing. I know it's hard to sit here and not be able to do anything for them, but that's all we can do."
The three young ladies walked out of the room into the hallway. Relena sighed as she looked to the faint view of the Earth through the window, "At least we know that they're all right for now. It's going to be months before we see them all again." "We've already been fighting for four months now. This war will be the longest that any of us have seen thus far," Dorothy stated. Catherine said quietly, "That's what Kumi and Sette had said from the beginning when we first met them. They knew all along." Relena raised her head with a look of uncertainty. "I wonder how they were able to decipher the nightmares that we had before the ear begun." Dorothy shrugged, "I'd also like to know how they were able to realize that there were three other Gundam suits aside from the seven that fought during the first two wars."
Looking to Catherine, Relena asked, "You don't have any real hard feelings against either of them, do you?" The redhead replied, "I don't appreciate the fact that they came from nowhere are forced us to fight in a war with those suits before he had any choice." Dorothy shook her head, "They gave us a choice, Catherine, many times. You forget that quickly?" The young ex-pilot answered, "Well, if we had said 'no,' what would they have done? I only agreed because the war was coming in a matter of weeks. And I would have been looked at as weak if I didn't accept."
Relena's eyes widened as she replied, "Catherine, you're our friend. Why would we consider you weak? Unit 08 needs a pilot now and we won't be able to find one until the others return." Dorothy nodded, "But what we're most concerned about is the fact that you're not putting the blame of this whole war where it belongs...And that's with OZ." Catherine turned and walked away as she sighed, "As far as I am concerned, I just want this whole war to be over. I don't even care who wins, as long as all of the destruction and death will end."
Before the pilots could say anything, she was gone. Brian walked out and joined the young women. He wrapped his arm around Relena's and kissed her forehead. "Catherine's still having a hard time with all of this?" Relena nodded and sighed deeply, "Yes. I can't really blame her. This is a first for all of us, seeing battle for the first time up-close." Dorothy stated, "She doesn't understand that no matter how bad things get, we are doing the right thing. The lives of millions rest on our shoulders."
Brian asked, "Are you having any doubts about piloting your Gundams?" Dorothy shook her head, "No. And I never will. Rampage is an amazing suit and the chance to fight for the people of the Earth and the Colonies against OZ is something that I have always wanted." Relena nodded, "I, too, have always wanted to fight rather than using only words as my weapons for peace." Her husband smiled and the couple embraced. "I am proud of you, love," he whispered in her ear. His wife smiled warmly in his arms and whispered back, "Thank you, sweetheart."
Dorothy looked to the couple with a warm smile of her own. Waving to them, she said, "I'll see you both later. I better go and check up on Rampage." When she was gone, the king and queen looked to each other. They leaned in and kissed. When the kiss broke Brian held Relena close again. "I know that you're just as concerned about the Earth as I am...And waiting a few months for the other pilots is going to be hard. But, the others will be back and we'll know what to do from there," the king assured his wife. Relena nodded as she held her husband closely, turning her head to look to the very distant planet out the window again. "We'll be back there soon," she said quietly.
* * * * * *
Sette was locked in the dungeon for two days before anyone came to see her again. By then, she was tired and her hopes were wearing thin. The cell door opened as Kirkland, Vale and Frantz walked in. They smiled to the princess, who growled and got to her feet. Kirkland stepped toward her and took her right arm as Frantz did the same with her left. They tightened their grip on the tomboy as she glared to all of them. "What are your plans now?" she asked with venom in her voice. Vale smiled, "You're to address the people and announce the people and inform them that we are allying with OZ." Sette shrieked, "You assholes think I'll actually do that!?! You'll have to kill me before I would ever agree to do such a thing!"
"You'll do as you're told," Frantz growled. At this word, a man was thrown into the cell. Sette looked to the beaten, fallen man in shock, "FATHER!?!" she cried. King Devion groaned as he lifted his blood stained face to his daughter. "S-Sette?" he said weakly. The princess fought free and ran to her father's side, kneeling beside his. She hugged him and fought tears in her eyes. "It's all right, Father. We'll get out of this, somehow," she vowed. "You raised a tough girl, remember," she said with a forced smile as she looked to him.
The king nodded, "You always were like your mother, stubborn and proud." His face fell as he lowered his head. The Duke laughed, "Oh, and does her highness know who her mother is?" Sette's father glared to him and his friends as Sette looked to him in uncertainty. "Father? What is he talking about?" she asked quietly. Minister Kirkland laughed loudly, "My dear, foolish princess, your father has not been the honest man that you've believed him to be." Sette glared, "How dare you say such things. My father is the most honest man I have ever known. My mother died when I was very young." "Oh, that is true," the Minister nodded. "But she is not the woman that your father was married to." Sette shouted, "What!?!" Her father growled, "Enough."
Representative Frantz smiled and looked to the tomboy. "You are part Peacecraft, Sette." The young pilot almost collapsed as her eyes and mouth opened widely. Frantz continued, "Your father had an affair with King Peacecraft's wife a month after Relena Peaceraft was born. The chances of one being able to produce a child so soon after another child is born is slim to none. Your father believed these believed that his actions were...safe." Sette shook her head and whispered in a low hiss, "It's not true." Her father simply lowered his head in shame. Sette turned to him and whispered, with hope in her voice, "Tell me it isn't true, father." "You were a mistake," Vale sneered. "You son of a bitch!" King Devion shouted as he tried to get to his feet, but he stumbled in agony.
Sette kept a gentle grip onto him, but was beginning to shake. "My God...It's true," she whispered hoarsely. "I'm a mistake." Her father shook his head violently, "No, Sette. Don't believe that." Kirkland interrupted, "Your father told your mother of the affair only after Queen Peacecraft learned she was pregnant with you. She hid the pregnancy from the public eye while your father's wife made it as if she was pregnant. When you were born in secret, you were brought here with your father. His wife killed herself after suffering from depression from the ordeal." Frantz shook his head and sighed, "She loved your father terribly, poor girl." "Shut up! I've heard enough from you!" Sette shouted with tears rolling down her cheeks.
The three captors looked down to the king and princess. "Now," Frantz began, "We don't want to keep the public waiting. We best be off." Sette growled and dried her face, though more tears were coming. "I told you...I. Am. Not. Moving." "Not even with your father's life at stake?" Kirkland asked. Two armed guards entered and aimed their guns at the king and his daughter. Sette looked to her father with more tears falling and whispered, "Father...I..." King Devion nodded, "I have been a poor father to you, Sette. I am sorry. It doesn't matter what happens to me." Sette caught her breath and rose as she turned to the three men. "Lay a hand on him and I swear you all regret the day that you were born." Vale waved to the soldiers and nodded, "You heard the princess. The king is not to be harmed. We will return before too long." The guards nodded and stepped out of the room again to stand at the door.
Vale smiled and bowed to Sette as he offered his arm. "Your chariot awaits, princess." Sette glared at him and walked past him. The Duke chuckled deeply as he and his friends followed closely behind her.
The king lowered his head as the door was slammed behind him. "Lord, forgive me of my sins," he said sadly in prayer. "May my poor wife and Queen Peacecraft be at peace." This was the same prayer he would say every night before falling asleep, yet it was the first time that he truly felt the sincerity behind it. The only response to the prayer was the silence and darkness of his cell.
* * * * * *
In the public square of the Capitol City, just beyond the castle, Sette arrived in a black limo to the tall stairs of the massive building. The people of the town quickly gathered as word had spread that their princess would be making an announcement there that would be broadcast around the Colony. Sette walked to the top of the steps, where a podium and television crews were waiting. The three men she once had trusted her life with were beside and behind her. Frantz whispered coldly in her ear, "Just as we have practiced, Sette. Otherwise, you're father will be joining your true mother and his wife." Sette growled quietly, "You know me, I aim to please."
Finally, she reached the podium and her image was spread throughout the Colony on every television and form of communication imaginable on H7. Sette lowered her head and took a deep breath as she whispered to herself, "God, help me." She raised her head and began, "Hello. As you all know, I am Princess Sette Devion. I have missed all of you during my time away fighting. And I am certain that you all know I am here to discuss the situation of the war." The people watched with their breath held and anxiousness in their faces.
There was a long pause as the princess's bottom lip began to quiver. She quickly lowered her head and took another sharp breath. "Damn it," she hissed to herself. "You can do this." Vale, Kirkland and Frantz watched closely with cold faces. Sette raised her head, having fought the tears that were threatening to build and getting her strength back. She stated, "OZ is too strong to be defeated." There was a cry and loud reaction of fear, anger and shock from everyone everywhere. Sette closed her eyes and clenched her fists as she continued, "Please
accept my most sincere apology. I could not defend you and now we are in the middle of a war that we cannot possibly win."
People in the crowd began to riot and fight to get to the princess, throwing things at her that they found from the street. Sette continued, "I know that this is just as difficult for you to hear as it is for me to say it. But we cannot afford to fall apart now. We have to remain stronger than ever if we want to get through this alive." All kinds of angry names and things were being shouted at her. The tomboy shook her head, "I did all that I could to stop OZ." In a small whisper, ahs whispered, "Please forgive me." The riot was increasing and more threatening than ever as they came dangerously close to the podium.
Duke Vale pushed Sette from the podium and announced, "My people, we can still make it though this war as victors. We will ally with OZ. This way, our safety will be guaranteed and we will benefit from all that is won as well." The people did begin to calm a bit at the Duke's words, though they were still enraged and frightened. Those feelings were all being directed to the Gundam pilot they knew of their future queen.
When he saw that he had their attention, Vale smiled and pointed to the tomboy, "And princess Sette will be our offering to them as an apology for not allying with them sooner." A loud cheer and thunderous applause was heard throughout the mob and Sette was immediately taken by three soldiers as she walked off with them, her low in shame. She was hit with rocks and other things that the mob had found as she walked past them. She made no move to dodge the things thrown at her, too distressed to care. Vale smiled as she went off, "My people, Representative Frantz, Foreign Minister Kirkland and myself will lead all of you to victory in this war along with OZ. Surely, no organization of such strength and stamina would steer those who side with them wrong." Again, there was applause and cheers.
Sette listened as the man went off at the podium. She was forced back into the limousine. There was a cut on her right cheek, which looked as bad as the bruise on her left cheek, as it was bleeding from where she had been pelted with a sharp stone. She wiped the blood away as the car sped off back to the castle. She was lost, frightened and alone. "Quatre," she whispered sadly to herself.
* * * * * *
In Sand Rock, Quatre was still a good day away from his colony. His heart wretched in his chest as he took a sharp breath and doubled over. "S-Sette?" he said quietly as he felt that she was in danger. He looked to his monitor and said quietly, "I'm just a day from L4...and two days from H7...If I go on o complete my mission, it'll be too late to save her..."
Quatre closed his eyes and felt Sette's pain again. "Why now, when I'm so close to completing this missing?" he whispered to himself. He took his options in and finally smiled, "Heero always said to follow your emotions." He went to his monitor and called, "General Chuurchill?" The Preventer's face appeared as he nodded, "Yes, Quatre?" The Arabian informed him, "The plan to reach L4 will have to be held back for now. I am steering back to H7." The general looked at him in shock and asked, "When you're so close to you destination?" The blonde nodded, "Yes. I can't explain why, but I have a feeling that Sette is in danger."
Churchill looked to him in uncertainty, then agreed, "All right. Come here before reach the Colony. I will have a crew ready to give back up." "I thank you, General," Quatre replied with a relieved smile. The connection was cut off after the Preventer saluted, "We will be waiting." At this, he turned Sand Rock to head back to H7. Once he got momentum again, he thought deeply, "Hang in there, Sette. I'm coming." His Gundam shot through the stars in a white streak.
* * * * * *
Being led back to the cell where she had been held the last few days, Sette thought back to a night during the first war when she and Kumi had been hiding in the woods of a Colony, awaiting word on when they should attack a base a few miles away from their post.
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Kumi was loading her pistol by the campfire and looking over her preparations for the attack to come. Sette was lying on her back, looking up to the stars. She turned to her quiet friend and asked, "Kumi?" Her comrade looked to her and said nothing. The princess asked quietly, "Have you ever regretted the fact that you're a Gundam pilot? I mean...Neither of us have had a normal childhood because of the fact that we're fighting a war when we're so young...I didn't know if it bothered you."
The silver-haired pilot rested her gun to her side. Looking back to her partner, she shook her head and answered simply, "No." Sette looked to her in shock, then forced a smiled and shrugged, "Me neither." Quickly, she looked back to the stars and ignored her wished to continue the discussion. The question was one that had been bothering the princess for a long time. She really didn't regret the fact that she was a Gundam pilot. Still, she couldn't help but admit the fact that she was scared at times, wishing she had the life of a normal fifteen-year-old had. But seeing that Kumi was anything but willing to say more than three words at a time, she put the discussion aside.
Late that night Sette couldn't sleep and looked to the 'Perfect Soldier' as she slept soundly. "You're the only person I know that can sleep soundly after the bloodshed that we've seen...I wish I had your twenty-four-hour courage," she whispered to herself. The pilot thought about what she had said, then shook her head, "Then again, something had to make you the way you are now...I take it back." She lowered her head again and watched the stars above her.
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Sette was thrown back into the dungeon. She fell before her father as he whispered, "Sette?" The princess got to her knees and flinched from her father's attempt to help her. The king lowered his head and sighed, "You have every right to hate me, Sette. What I've done...Never telling you about-" Sette looked away and replied quietly, "I don't hate you...It's just...I wish that you would have told me." The king nodded, "I know, sweetheart. I was just afraid that you would be ashamed of me."
With a deep breath, Sette shook her head, "It's all right...We all make..." She lowered hear head and whispered sadly, "...mistakes." King Devion's eyes widened and he took his daughter's shoulders and gave her a light shake. When their eyes locked, he said sternly, "You are not a mistake, Sette. You never were. You have to believe that." The princess gave a light nod, though she was still having a hard time taking everything in.
After a long pause, the king's daughter wiped the tears that hadn't fallen just yet and sighed. "So I'll be taken by OZ in a few days. And the Colony will join forces with them because of it." The king fell back against the wall and asked quietly, "How did things ever get this bad?" Sette gave a tired chuckle, "OZ has been playing their cards right, that's how." She leaned against the wall and thought aloud, "After the Mariamaya incident, we were all sure that OZ would never be able to gain their strength to the way it was during the first war. During the five years leading to now, they not only managed to do that, but they've made themselves stronger that they originally were." She lowered her head and said gravely, "And it's more than safe to say that we haven't seen everything that have to offer even now. Between the Holocausts and the Gundam suits that they have, They have to have more up their sleeves."
There was a long pause between the king and his daughter. Finally, the tomboy turned to her father and asked softly, "So I'm the half-sister of Milliardo and Relena Peacecraft?" The king turned to her and nodded, "Yes." Sette thought about it for a moment and gave a small smile, "I always wanted a brother or sister...Now I have both...well kind of." King Devion chuckled, "I remember you always saying that you wished you had someone to talk to other than myself."
The princess smiled, "Well, I met Kumi when we were fifteen and fighting the first war. I always considered her a sister, even though we're nothing alike. I was able to tell her that as we fought the war. But with Milliardo and Relena-" She stopped and lowered her head as her face fell. "I...I don't know if I could ever look at them again knowing what I know...I know the stories of problems in the marriage between King and Queen Peacecraft... I'm the reason their mother and father had so many problems at the end of their lives with their marriage." Her father protested, "Stop it, Sette. I told you that that isn't true. You did nothing wrong. I was the cause of all of this, not you."
"Still-" Sette's words stopped when the prison door slammed opened. Kirkland, Vale and Frantz entered. They smiled to the prisoners and Frantz announced, "Well done, Sette. You came through. You should be proud of yourself." Sette glared at him, holding back the urge to lunge and twist the neck of the smug man. Vale nodded, "The people now know that you're the failure we always knew you were."
Her father's face reddened with rage as he slowly rose and walked to the center of the cell, with the three men. "You bastards have what you wanted. Leave us be," he ordered in a deep growl. Kirkland shrugged, "But your highn-" he laughed at the title and continued coldly, "Gary, after all, you're no longer the king...We're your friends. We want you to be as comfortable as possible. And we wanted to thank you for bringing our chance to rise into the world. Without your daughter, none of this would have been possible."
Looking to the king, Duke Vale smiled, "You don't matter anything to us now. Sette is the one that the people truly hate. And our offering her to OZ will secure our protection during this war." "There is an OZ carrier that has been alerted of this. They will be here by the end of the week to take the offering," Kirkland explained. Sette's eyes widened at this news. But, there wasn't anything that she could do now.
Finally, they began to make their way out of the room. Just before they left, however, Frantz turned his head, "Oh, and here is our gift of appreciation." In the blink of an eye, the three men riddled the formal king with bullets. "FATHER!!!" Sette screamed as she ran to catch her father as he fell back. The three captors stood in the doorway with pleased faces as they watched. Gary Devion's blood was pouring from the many holes that went through his body as he gagged and gasped for air with wide eyes.
Sette held him tightly as she cried, "Father! No! This can't be happening!" Her father looked to her as he fought to speak. His mouth opened and closed several times with no words, then finally, he coughed out, "S-Sette." The tomboy shook her head, tears drenching her face. "Don't talk, father," she whispered hoarsely. He took her hand with a trembling hand of his own and squeezed. He whispered, "You...you have...to fight, Sette...Y-You're strong...p-please..." Sette nodded faintly, then more assured. "I promise," she vowed. Her father smiled and nodded, unable to say anymore. His body slumped in her arms lifeless. The tomboy began to shake and she cried out as she buried her face in her father's chest.
The princess held onto him with dear life as she cried hysterically. She was not allowed much time with her father's body as four guards entered the room. Two held the princess back by the arms as she struggled to hold on and shouted at the men holding her. The remaining two guards took the body from the room. When the body was removed, the blood-stained princess looked to her father's murders and glared at all of them through her tears and red eyes.
"I swear," she vowed in a deep, threatening voice, "You will live to regret this day." The men laughed and left the room. "Just keep telling yourself that," Vale smirked just before leaving the cell. The door was slammed again. Sette lied on the ground and allowed herself more time to sob and let her pain out. Her father's blood was all over the ground and she turned to it before looking up. She whispered, "You will be avenged, father. I promise to keep fighting...somehow." For now, she lied her head down in the darkness and cried herself to sleep. Even in her sleep, her wheels were turning on how she was going to get out of the situation she was in, and stay true to her word.
TBC