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Sapphire Wings: Takeoff Into the Surreal

Chapter 2

Gundanian Fusion : Adventures in (Sur)Reality

"Zzzzzzzz….." sounded from the laboratory of Chief Med. Sally Po Chang. She couldn't help it…dealing w/ the stress of her job and the baby on the way…it was insanity! Reports of possible biological warfare strategies and various chemical agent devices had begun piling up after the assination of Vice Minister Dorlen.

That assassination, it was so peculiar… no one saw the assassin and the murder weapon was beyond comprehension. How could that be?

"Dr. Chang? Dr. Chang?" a mousey intern called.

"Mmm? Oh Octavia so sorry to have kept you I-"

"Actually your husband called for you. Colonel Chang said that you should be taking it easy in your condition, though he knows how valuable you are to the team. Can't have his wife pass out from overwork before him!" she smiled.

"You tell that overbearing man I'm a grown woman…but I will take his advice for the moment." She winked packing her laptop and briefcase.

Even stranger that she could be so much older than her husband and not feel like his mother. Wufei was beyond his age in independence, most 18 year old men can't do their own landury! Nevertheless, she was 2 months along in starting a family and the two couldn't be happier. At home, Wufei was peaceful and serene but well respected among the ranks. Rather odd, huh?

Everyone had also begun to really notice another relationship, that of Barton and Winner. Dorothy seemed to orbit Quatre as if caught in a magnetic field at first. Then she realized what the two were afraid to admit and backed off. Almost always together, they seemed to be the N and S poles of two magnets. Quatre was the one who talked the most even though it wasn't always much and Trowa essentially frightened away any female interested in Q.

"Almost done Colonel Winner." Smiled a technician. "I assume GSWII is brewing."

"Yes, it's a strong possibility. The colonies are suspected for diplomatic reasons. Earth is suspected of setting up the whole thing for similar reasons. Besides, it's very late and an engaged woman shouldn't be up this late…and not thinking of her wedding atleast."

"Oh, such a romantic and sensitive man! Thank you, good night sir!" she saluted and ran off giggling.

//She's so lucky- she can admit her feelings to the one she loves. I try only to clam up and go away fustrated…// Q sighed.

Quatre climbed into the cockpit to savor the missed feeling. He recalled the callouses he received from piloting, the long nights in strange places and the comfort he felt in the ranks if the Maguanac. He was a soldier no matter how much he denied it.

"I'm missed you, my dear Sandrock." He smiled.

'Voice recognition activated.

Subject Neo 4

ZERO program series now initiating

Preparing data link transfer'

Appeared on Sandrock's main viewscreen. It was not noticed by the now sleeping Colonel Winner. He did not see the microthin wires snaking about him either.

"Ogh muy….ggrpjdr…." Colonel Maxwell mumbled. How he sounded every morning before coffee. Colonel Yuy had learned not to get near him until the caffeine set in after an incident involving a chair and Yuy's head.

Enter Colonel Barton. He was never messy or dishevled in the morning. Trowa's uniform was always pressed and creased, his ID and badges were always even. Still, his unibang hair was always in his face.

"Have you seen Quatre?" he asked.

"No. He was in the hanger last I checked." Heero sipped his coffee.

"That's odd." He did a 180 about his left heel and departed.

Siren's blared, stirring those who had the misfortune to sleep in.

"RED ALERT, RED ALERT!" blasted over the PA. "We are under attack, repeat we are under attack. Battle Stations! Battle Stations!" Dorothy screamed.

"Une! 04 just blasted through the D2 hanger. I've attempted to contact Winner both on base and in the cockpit, no response!" Hilde shouted. " What the-?"

SapphireBeta was no longer accepting commands… the computer was displaying 04 contantly, it flashed in every screen. That was impossible…

"Uh, Hilde? Mind opening the hanger door!?" Duo yelled. "We can't fight unless were out there."

"Nothing's responding. We can't even get the coffe machine to work!" Dorothy was frantic. "The manual override won't accept Une's code!"

"Oh, great what now?" Une looked at the flashing keyboard.

"Ummm…ma'am?" a control operator gulped. "The main cannon has engaged and is aiming for the enemy ship."

"WHAT????!!!!"

All of you are in no danger. Cease you efforts to break my hold, they are futile

"Oookay…" Wufei sat up in his cockpit. "Did you all here that?"

"Yep, I can't track it. It sounded like-" Heero gasped.

"Quatre? But how could he do this? Why?" Trowa was bewildered.

"Blonde boy have you lost it?" Duo yelled.

//Hn… something's up. Has it begun?// Zech stared at the moon. //A neo program has intiated.// he turned to see a perplexed Noin by his side.

"My system is overloading." She gasped as her legs gave way. "I feel like I'm gonna shutdown!"

Zechs knelt beside her, and cupped her face in his hands.

"Noin, concentrate. Is it one of the gundams? My net is unable to detect it."

"It's…" she perspired heavily. "04! Winner has fused."

"Blonde boy this isn't funny! Get your ass out of the way."

02, shut up. I was the first to fuse, so this battle is mine. Go away.

The 4 pilots saw a side they thought had died long ago, the ZERO infected Quatre. He destroyed the enemy with no problem and returned to the base. None was prepared for the sight that lay within that cockpit.

"Alright Winner. You have some explaining to do!" Dorothy kicked the base of the cockit entrance.

"NO! I don't want you to see me this way!"

"What way crazy? Open up!"

The hatch slowly gave way adding to the suspense. The only sound heard once it opened were several THUD's and a loud "EEEP!"

Sumimasen! That's it for now. I'm taking suggestions!

TBC!