Pheonix Rising
Pheonix Rising
by Ratha

Part Three:Enter the Pheonix

Eiko gazed at the blue marble of earth through the base's windows, a slightly sad expression on her face. She sighed softly and leaned her forehead against the cool plasti-glass.

"Hey! Can someone hand me the three-quarters wrench?" Duo called from inside his gundam, trying to repair what Eiko hadn't had time to.

Eiko snorted and the said wrench floated from the toolbox on the ground to Duo's outstretched hand.

"Thanks, Eiko!"

She rolled her eyes as she heard some of the technicians working on the Wing Zero mumbling prayers or crossing themselves. Silly human superstitions, she chuckled to herself. We got that a lot when we were developing our powers, didn't we, Id? She smiled slightly as she thought of the only other person who'd known what it was like to be vastly different from other normal people.



"WAAAH! I can't do it right!" Eiko wailed loudly as she dropped the heavy gunblade again. "Why do I have to learn how to use this stupid piece of junk?! My psi powers are ample enough weapons!"

"Quit whining," said a male voice nearby. "It's getting annoying."

"Excuse me?" she said, spinning to face the speaker indignantly. She scowled when she saw a young man with red eyes, pale skin like a vampire's, and long red hair. "Who are you?" she sneered disdainfully. "Don't you know that I'm Eiko Ryushi, the Pheonix?"

He snorted. "I know who you are, Miss Ryushi. But you obviously don't know who I am." He smiled mirthlessly and bowed to her mockingly. "Id Kushrenada, son of Lord Treize Kushrenada."

Her eyes nearly bugged out-not at who he was, but at the immense power she sensed from him. "Holy shit! Your ki is..." She blinked and shook her head violently, then grinned brightly and held out her hand. "Pleased ta meetcha, Id! Is that your gunblade? What's it made out of? Are you training to be an OZ soldier, too?"

He stayed silent, arching an eyebrow at her.

"Not very talkative, I see." She made exaggerated grimaces as she lifted the awkward gunblade she'd been trying to learn how to use. "Can you help me learn how to use this thing, please?"

"I don't think the gunblade is your specialty. You swing it like it's a katana. You should try learning that instead."

"Really? Cool." She dropped the gunblade and dashed over to a rack of swords to grab a katana. "But Lord Treize said I-"

"I'll tell him what I said. He'll agree."

"Thanks, Id! You're cool!"

He smiled slightly in response.



"Hello! Earth to Eiko! Come in!" Duo waved his hand in front of Eiko's face.

She blinked and focused on him. "Hm? What?"

"Wufei's comin' in. Everyone not wearing a space suit's gotta leave the docking bay."

Her eyes lit up. "Wufei? Let's go!" She grabbed Duo by the wrist and dragged him out of the docking bay.

When the Gundam Shenlong was docked and the cockpit opened so Wufei could exit, Eiko was the first one there.

"WUFEI!" she squealed happily, tackling the startled pilot.

"What the-?! Onna, get off me!" Wufei tried to pry the girl off with little success. When she finally let go, he glared at her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

She grinned brightly. "Still haven't changed a bit, you male chauvinist! Didn't Cousin Meiran teach you anything, Niichan?"

He stared at her a moment. "Eiko?"

"In the flesh!" she chirped happily. She let out a shriek of laughter as he suddenly hugged her. "Ack! Try to warn me next time, Niichan!"

"Ehhh, what's going on?"

They looked up to see a very confused Duo watching them. Wufei blushed and tried to hide his face while Eiko fell backwards with laughter.

"I was Wufei's wife's cousin!" she explained. "We were like brother and sister when we were younger!" She grinned and put an arm around the embarrassed Wufei. "Weren't we, Niichan?"

Wufei mumbled something and didn't look up.

"Ah, lighten up, Wufei! The only one of you five I haven't totally embarrassed is Heero, and that's only because he's unconscious!" She yanked playfully on his ponytail.

Wufei scowled at her and jerked his hair out of her grasp. "Whatever. Bakagami, where's Quatre and Trowa?" he asked, looking up at Duo.

"Right here," Quatre replied as he and Trowa approached. "What do you have to report?"

"OZ has been very busy lately. They've just had two mobile suits transported to their main base. It's rumored one of them is another gundam. An old one from an abandoned colony."

"The Gundam Versago," Eiko said, suddenly serious. "Treize mentioned it when they first found it. He said he was saving it for his son, Id Kushrenada. If Id gets a hold of it, not even the Pheonix could stop him. The Versago has a ZERO system much like the Epyon's and the Wing ZERO's. Add that to Id's immense ki powers, and he's unbeatable. And if he manages to-" She stopped, eyes wide with sudden realization. "One of you guys has to take me back to earth to the Toshitada base. Now."

"What?!"

"Are you crazy?!"

"You're suicidal!"

She shook her head. "There's a gundam there. One especially designed for me. We have to get it before Id does. Once the Versago unites with that gundam, we're all doomed."

"That doesn't sound good," Duo grimaced. "I'd take ya, but the Deathscythe's navigational system's shot."

"Sandrock's still being repaired from my last mission," Quatre said.

"Nataku needs to be refueled and repaired," Wufei added ruefully.

Eiko looked expectantly at Trowa.

Trowa sighed heavily. "I'll prep Heavyarms for launch. You'd better know what you're doing, Eiko."

"Gee, I'm stuck with Mr. Happy-face," she said sarcastically. "Don't worry. I know that base inside out. There's no way they could catch me again." And if Id's there, I'll have to kill him. Please don't be there, Id!



Id walked across the catwalk to stand in front of the enormous gundam. It was a dull red, almost resembling the Gundam Epyon in design. He looked at it from all angles, then nodded shortly. "It will do," he said to the soldier standing behind him. "Where is the Gundam Pheonix?"

"The Toshitada base, sir," the soldier responded promptly.

Id nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing. Eiko knows of the Versago's abilities, namely its ability to unite with the Gundam Pheonix. So she'll be heading toward the base. And I'll be there waiting for her. "Prepare the Versago for launch! I'm going to the Toshitada base at once!"

"Yes, sir!"



Eiko sat silently in the seat behind Trowa as the Heavyarms moved toward the base. Neither had spoken since starting out.

"Why did you do it?" Trowa asked suddenly.

"Huh?" She looked at him blankly. "Do what?"

"Defect OZ and join us."

"Oh." She was silent a moment, then said quietly, "I didn't agree with their methods and ideals. OZ wants to use force and conquer the colonies and they don't care how many innocent people get caught in the crossfire. They want to exploit my powers to do just that. I'd rather use my powers to help people, not hurt them. Isn't that why you guys fight?"

He grunted. "We each have different reasons for fighting. But yes, that's basically the reason. You mentioned Id Kushrenada. I didn't know Treize had a son."

She was suddenly silent. When she spoke, it was with obvious reluctance. "Id Kushrenada is the son of Treize Kushrenada and Lady Une. Treize didn't know about Id until recently. That's all I'm gonna say until I get Id's permission."

"You know him?"

"Brilliant deduction, Holmes," she snapped sarcastically. "Now don't ask me anymore about him! I've got enough on my mind as it is! I don't need any more distractions, got it?"

He laughed softly and fell silent.

She sat back in her seat and closed her eyes, letting her memories take her back to another time...



"Strike harder! Don't be afraid to break a nail, Eiko!"

Eiko growled softly and leapt forward, swinging her katana furiously at the smirking red-haired man. "Damn you, Id! You're pissing me off!"

"That's the idea! If your enemy can do that to you, they've already won!" Id laughed as he dodged her attack, firing a ki blast at her.

She shrieked and bolted as the blast chased her around the training room. "No fair! You know I can't deflect ki attacks! WAAAH!"

He snorted as he hovered a few feet above her. "Do you honestly think your enemies will always fight 'fair'? If you have an advantage, use it, no matter how dirty a trick it is. Now quit running and defend yourself!" He fired another ki blast at her from in front of her.

She yelped, vanishing suddenly, and the two blasts collided.

Id arched an eyebrow and looked around for her. "Well, you've learned a new trick, Eiko. You can teleport." He didn't even flinch when he was abruptly grabbed from behind and a katana blade was at his throat. He only smirked. "Congratulations, Eiko. You've finally gotten the better of me."

"You can't fool me this time," she hissed by his ear. "Last time something like this happened, you tricked me and beat me into the floor."

"Indeed," he smiled. "I've finally gotten through that thick head of yours and taught you something."

She snorted and dropped to the floor. "Some teacher."

He laughed and lowered to the floor. "I'm the best kind of teacher for someone of your caliber. We are the only two people who have the kind of power we do. Normal humans can't understand us and our powers. Only we can understand each other. Only I can understand the trouble you have, and vice versa. We need to stick together, then nothing can defeat OZ."

She scowled. "What makes you so sure OZ shouldn't be defeated? Is the success of OZ really worth all the innocent lives that have and will get destroyed? It makes me question its motives."

He put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's not get into that. Father granted me the privilege of training you to use your powers, and that's what the time in the training center is for. Let's not waste it. Now let's continue where we left off."

She nodded silently and lifted her katana. She liked the young soldier, and most of what he'd said was true. She smiled faintly. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, but she always looked forward to her training sessions with Id-



"Eiko?" Trowa's voice brought her back to the present. "We're almost there. Do you sense any enemies?"

Eiko "felt" around, then her eyes flew open. "Holy shit! Id's there! Dammit, why did he have to come?" She pounded her fist against the armrest in fury. "Shit! Trowa, stop here and drop me off."

"What? Are you crazy? You'll be captured!"

"No I won't. I was trained by the best how to sneak into and out of heavily guarded places. There's only one person who could catch me, and I know how to hide my ki from him. Now do it!" But I can't hide my mind from Id. "No need to open the cockpit, I'll teleport out. Seeya later." She abruptly vanished.

Trowa blinked. "Wow. Duo wasn't kidding."



Eiko looked around the base from the shadows by the wall, eyes narrowed calculatingly as she searched for any unfamiliar gundams.

Welcome back, Eiko.

She jumped at the mental voice and froze against the wall, eyes wide. Id, why are you here? You know I'll have to kill you if we face each other again. And you know I don't wanna do that.

I don't see how you could kill me, as I have the Versago and you have nothing.

Wrongo. I've got the Heavyarms nearby.

Oh really. That pilot won't dare face the "Devil God." In fact, he's already running from my last attack on him.

Her eyes flicked toward where the Heavyarms should be and saw the gundam-severely damaged-was retreating. "Shit." You son of a bitch!

We already know what Une is.

If you hurt Trowa, I'll-

Trowa, is it? You're on a first-name basis with them now? Id's tone was dangerously soft and Eiko shivered in slight fear.

Id, please just let him go. He's only a friend. Please! She finally spotted the dark shape of Id's new mobile suit and watched with mounting horror as the gundam turned slowly to go after the Heavyarms. Id! Please don't! I-I'll come back to OZ. Just let him go, please!

Now that's more like it. The Versago turned back to face her and a bright light illuminated her hiding place. Mariemeia's been missing you. It would be a shame to disappoint my little sister, wouldn't it?

Eiko bowed her head in defeat. "Forgive me, Id," she whispered and raised her head, her face completely blank. She raised a hand into the air, palm facing the Versago's cockpit. White energy glowed around her hand, then shot out in a brilliant beam straight toward the cockpit.

What the hell are you doing?!

What I never wanted to do. Killing someone. She teleported away just before an explosion rocked the area.



Id lowered his arms cautiously. He wasn't dead? He looked at the screen and his eyes widened in shock. His red Leo suit was in pieces in front of him, totally destroyed. How had it gotten there?

Id the Leo pilot and partner of the Pheonix is dead. Id the Versago pilot is no friend of the Pheonix. The next time we meet, we will be enemies.

He sat back in his seat, frowning thoughtfully at this turn of events.

Soft laughter filled the cockpit as he saw the irony of the situation. Once again, Eiko had gotten the best of him.



Eiko leaned against the wall of the storage bay, sighing heavily. She hadn't wanted to do that. Id had worked so hard on that Leo suit, fixing it up the way he wanted it. But now he had the Versago and he was her enemy.

Something caught her attention and she looked up.

And up.

And up.

Towering above her was a magnificent mobile suit the color of flames. Enormous feather-like wings flared out behind it in yellow, orange, and red blended together. All in all, it resembled a female version of the Wing ZERO, only colored like fire. This was the Gundam Pheonix.

"Wow," she breathed in awe, eyes wide. Transfixed, she walked slowly toward the enormous mobile suit meant for her. It was...indescribable! She slowly placed a hand on one of the metal panels covering the feet of the gundam.

As if sensing her, the cockpit opened fluidly. She didn't hesitate. She leapt up to grab the cable dangling from the doorway and pulled herself up. She looked around the interior of the cockpit, then climbed into the seat. There were no screens or monitors of any kind. The door closed behind her, engulfing her in darkness. She was silent for a moment, then reached up to grasp the helmet and lowered it to her head. She closed her eyes and seemed to enter a comatose state.

"Preparing to activate systems. All systems on." Her voice wasn't quite a mental voice, nor was it vocal. It was like she was speaking through the computer system.

Console lights lit up the cockpit and the giant machine began humming with power. Her eyes stayed closed, but she could see the readouts of the suit's running systems in her mind, thanks to the suit's ZERO system.

"Holy shit, I can see without monitors or screens! It's all being transmitted directly into my brain! This is-is-damn! I can't describe it! This ZERO system is unlike anything I've ever seen! I-whoa!"

The suit was reacting to her thoughts, moving fluidly like a living being and not a machine. It was like the machine was her body and she was only the brain. It was like she was the gundam itself. It gave her a feeling of...of...

Power. Undefeatable power.

"No. Can't let it go to my head." The gundam shook its head in reaction to her thoughts and she grinned, trying not to laugh out loud. "Now to take this baby out for a test flight!"

She pulled out one of the two beam sabers and fired the thrusters, exploding up through the roof and out into the night air. She let out a wild yell at the thrill of the immense power rushing through her. She flared her wings to slow her upward flight and swiveled to face the Leos that dared attack her. Swinging the beam saber with deadly precision, she sliced the Leos in half before they even knew what hit them.

"Hahah! Take that, OZ!" she hooted, then reacted to a new threat. The Versago was approaching fast. "Not tonight, Id. I'm not in the mood to play with you right now," she snarled at him.

Eiko, calm down! You're letting the system control you! Don't let it control you!

"Shove it, Id! Get outta my way or die!"

Would you abandon your ideals just like that? By doing so, you become nothing more than that which you fight against.

She froze, his words sinking in. "You're right. Now get out of my way before I kill you. Again."

The two gundams stared each other down, then the Versago silently stepped aside.

You win again, Eiko. But I will never give up.

"Nor will I, Id. And next time I won't have Mariemeia in mind when I face you. Thank your lucky stars that you have a little sister to save your sorry ass." She turned and jetted away to find the Heavyarms and return to base. "And don't follow me. Six gundams against one isn't the kind of odds you want to be in, if you're the one."

Id was silent, watching her leave. We will meet again and finish this, Pheonix.

She winced mentally at his use of her codename. Now they were officially enemies.