Gundam Wing: Lost Souls Return

By Kurenai Archangel

                                                                                [One]

                Within a number of hours, all equipment from the Preventer Headquarters on Earth was transported to the resource satellite known as MO-2. Lady Une was holding a small conference with the pilots when a young cadet rushed into the room.

"M'am, there is an urgent message from the front desk."

"Bring it through." Suddenly, the videophone activated. Lucrezia Noin appeared upon the other line.

"Miss Une, we have confirmation that several transport ships have begun to enter the Earth's atmosphere."

"Direction?"

"As of yet, unknown." Lady Une closed her eyes, pausing to think. She hesitated at first.

"Pilots, except for Zechs. I want all of you to intercept the transports, and give them the information that they did not clear any re-entry information with the Preventers. If they resist to return to their point of origin, you have clearance to use full force." Heero got out of his chair.
"Gotcha." Walking out of the room towards the Hangar bay, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, and Duo followed suit outside of the conference room.

                Upon entering the Hangar Bay, Heero stood frozen.

// Zero… It's been a while… //

Jumping up in the zero gravity, he entered Zero's cockpit and he seated himself firmly in the padded seat as he buckled himself in. Running his fingers over the console he remembered all the familiar memories… those memories that felt like yesterday. As his fingers danced across the buttons the console began to light up and the pilots began to slowly come back.

"You guys ready?" Asked Quatre, who seemed full of joy to be back in Sandrock. Quickly, he was greeted by a number of let's go's and a bunch of other comments.

"Une, are we cleared for launch?" Questioned Trowa as he set himself up.

"Go, guys. Good luck."

"Roger." Suddenly, the light red trail was blazed through space as the legendary Gundams flew out towards Earth, to meet the re-entry heat. Zechs stood out by a window as he watched the Gundams fly out to engage once again.
"Good luck, boys." He smiled and turned away as he wanted so badly to be back in the Tallgeese.

**

                The buildings stood like monoliths amongst each other, unaware of the time they must have weathered. The creations of modern man, the time taken to put an entire city together. Shrouds of people filled the streets, the sun beamed down upon the buildings and people full force. Many people walking mindlessly, unaware of the time, yet taking in their surroundings. The inner city of Baltimore. Quiet, and peaceful like glass.

                Suddenly an explosion rocked the harbor, flashes of brilliant red and orange came to the eye. The shockwave suddenly wrecked the quietness of the glass and sent shards flying all over. Piercing screams filled the air as many come to realize the truth. More explosions move the harbor as a boat bursts into flames. Several brown humanoid objects land around the harbor, as small units of officers try to match up to the Leo suits. Fighting to no avail, and watching their bullets do nothing but ricochet off of the mobile suits, the invaders began to fight back. Slowly but suddenly the resistance began to realize that their fight was hopeless. Coming into a descent were what looked like Gundams came to a stop. Serpents; are what they were. Again, more and more Leos began to set down around the harbor. The small sparks of resistance still trying to set a fire were easily put out as the Serpents fired upon the weak soldiers. Their small encampment erupted into flames.

"We're done here." The voice paused over the transmission.

"Mission complete. Over." A warning beep abruptly made the soldier jump to attention.

"Sir, there's something in the sky!"

Suddenly, a bright flash of light from the mysterious object flew to the ground. Once the thread of energy reached the ground, a luminescent eruption of light poured out from the glowing sphere of energy, a smirk formed upon the pilot's face as a few other forms of black sped past him to join the fray.

"You never completed your mission." He paused, putting away the Buster Rifle and turning on his Beam Sabers.

"Neither have I."

Amongst the crater left by Wing Zero, a few other Gundams joined the muck.

"The God of Death has returned!" Duo Maxwell yelled as he slashed through a Leo with surprising ease.

"It's a relief to be back, isn't it?" His call was unanswered as Heavyarms, Sandrock, and Nataku blazed through the Leos.

                To his surprise, several more explosions came from nowhere.

"Another mobile suit type?" Quatre asked, his heat shotels glowing in the setting sun.

"Looks like it." Trowa said, raising his gatling up to the approaching ships.

"Taurus dolls and something else." Heero had murmered, preparing for a harder fight. "Watch yourselves guys, they may be harder and from another organization. Those markings have nothing to do with OZ, Romafeller or Preventers."

"Gotcha." Quatre replied, but he was interrupted by a volley of gunfire. Repeatedly, flashes of light came up over and over again as the Tauruses fired repeatedly upon the harbor in hopes of hitting the Gundams. Every miss resulted in another building blown up, and there was fire all over.

"Guys, watch your movements. These dolls have better aim. Maybe better AI."

Deathscythe-Hell was knocked back after being hit twice by a beam blast.

"Damnit!" Duo yelled, after being shook by the shot. Smirking, he looked back. "You think we're losing our touch?" Heero's face came up upon the viewport.

"No. It looks like they've become better." Abruptly, a large number of suits came out of nowhere as the Gundams began to prepare for another fight.

"How'd they come up with so many suits?" Trowa's voice came up, startling Heero.

"Then again, how'd we manage to get our Gundams back?"

"Maxwell, shut up with your rambling and fight!" WuFei yelled, anger increasing in his tone of voice. Trying to hold his stance, WuFei was dueling with the new mobile suit.

"What is this, some kind of new Serpent?"

"Shut up!"

"Fine with me…"

Fighting to no avail, the Gundams were running low on power. Seemingly, Heero and Trowa were holding by a thread. Trying to fire one more time, The gatling guns and missile launchers were exhausted. The Gundam stepped back, aware of it's fate.

"I'm out…"

"What are these things?" More explosions sounded off and interrupted Quatre's statement.

"Should we self destruct?" Duo quietly asked, but his voice became stronger.

"No. Une spent too much money to remake and hide these. We can't just waste these like a piece of gum."

Heero, sitting idly, slowly pulled out his Buster Rifle.

"Two more shots…"

Fighting like hell, the pilots seemed to destroy one but two more would appear in its place.

"They remind me of Mobile Dolls…" WuFei commented, fear in his voice. Suddenly, a yelp came from over the radio.

"I ca..n't figh…t an..ym…ore…" Quatre rasped, as his Gundam was struck down by one of the new mobile suits.

"Quatre!" Trowa screamed, fear in his voice. "Quatre, no… I need to get my hands on a serpent or something…" Anger pouring into his voice, Trowa's eyes focused on the enemy.

"Someone help!" WuFei yelled, his Gundam sustaining heavy fire. As his verniers kicked up to engage the Tauruses in mid air, a energy beam was fired into his back. A scream of pain escaped his lips as his Gundam plummeted to the ground, in a trail of fire.

"S*it…" Heero mumbled as he fought on, trying to hang on against the deadly mobile suit.

"Heero, we can't hold on much longer. We're not like you…" Duo said, fear growing in his voice.

"Hn." Heero grunted as he could not think of a solution to this problem. Suddenly, another warning sign came up in Heero's cockpit as he blasted away from the fray and his gaze floated to the second monitor.

"Another set of mobile suits?" His eyes strained to see the new threat. "Friendly?" Is this a glitch? Another mobile doll?" Heero increased the view onto the 'friendly' object and a small communications link popped up.

"Identify yourself." Heero grunted, ready for another fight.

"I'm a Preventer!" He looked to see the young man's uniform. "Looks like you guys need some help?" Watching the Gundam pull out two beam sabers, Heero thought to himself. The Gundam was many shades of black. In truth, it looked like a cross between Deathscythe-Hell and Wing Zero. "Is it the Tallgeese? No, it can't be…"

"Nani?" Duo asked as he tried to hold off the other mobile suits. "Heero, is that you?"

"It's another pilot…"

"Where's…?" Merian questioned himself, looking around.

"What?" Duo had a confused look upon his face.

"Just fight…" Suddenly a large ray of light had escaped from the new Gundam, which suddenly demolished the Tauruses which were giving air support.

"Don't gawk, just keep fighting!" Merian yelled as his attention drifted back to the mobile suits on the ground. His flares lighting up, he dashed over to Trowa who was fighting off about four mobile suits with a small arm-mounted knife. Slicing two suits in half, he turned to blast the other two. Left there, were two masses of charred metal.

"Are there any more?" Merian turned his head to see Heero and Duo trying to ward off the last of the mobile suits. Both Trowa and Merian went off to back up Heero and Duo.

"Guys get away!" Merian yelled as a giant sphere of energy formed upon the Gundam's wrists.

"Hn?"
"Heero, let's go!" Quickly moving out of the way, a large blast engulfed the confused mobile suits, which set them on fire, and it left them to fall to the ground.

"Is it over?"

"Where is Quatre and WuFei?"

Heero tried to patch into a channel, but the other could still hear his voice.

"Une? Any Preventers?"

"Secure the line, Heero."

"Gotcha."

"Quatre and WuFei are down. We have no idea on their statuses and we're low on power. We need backup."

"Copy that, Heero. ETA of backup is in Two Hours, repeat, Two Hours. Let the new pilot back you guys up for now while you recharge."

"Hn."

"I'm going to search for Quatre and WuFei." Trowa said as his jets lit up and he flew off over the harbor.

                Setting his Gundam down, he opened the exit hatch and he looked outside. Amidst a sea of flames that surrounded him, he looked to see what was left of the smoldering buildings and the craters of fire that lay around the city. A dark deserted area stood now, filled with buildings smashed into pieces, destroyed ships, monuments and half skyscrapers. He paused, tiring to think.

"It looks like hell broke loose." Shielding his face from a strong wind that came from his right, he saw another Gundam landing. "But it [did]." He turned to see Deathscythe-Hell.

// The wings gave it away… //

Stepping back into the cockpit, Merin shut the hatch and he sat in his seat. Closing his eyes, he heard the communication link pop up. It was Duo.

"Hi." Merian opened his eyes and he tried to acknowledge Duo.

"Hey."

"You're a Preventer too?" Duo looked at his uniform, which gave him off." He thought for a second. "If you have a Gundam which to me, does not look anything like a Taurus… Why weren't you at the high security meeting last night?"

"I couldn't make it from Earth in time. All the riots occurring in Neo Tokyo got in the way and I couldn't take off for about six hours. Until then I found out that I had to make a meeting at 18999." He paused. "In other words, I didn't go." Suddenly, a crackling transmission grabbed Merian's attention.
"Pilots, this is 'fire.' I've got the transports." Again, Heero's voice interrupted her.

"Roger. You got us locked on?"

"Yeah."

"Quatre and WuFei too?"

"Mm hmm…" Lifting off, Duo, Merian, Heero and Trowa flew up to the transport to wait for the statuses of Quatre and WuFei.

Several Hours Later

                "How are they?" Duo asked, walking up to Trowa. Merian and Heero were sitting opposite each other in the waiting room. Looking at Duo, Merian saw the hope, the fear in his eyes.

// I don't know what to say… I didn't know them… I got there too late… //

Looking over at Heero, he saw that he was asleep. Moving his gaze back to Trowa and Duo, he tried to listen into their conversation.

"They're okay, right?"

"WuFei and Quatre… both coincidentally are in a coma…" Duo turned around and glared at Heero.

"After all this you're going to sit around and sleep?" Jolting Heero out of his slumber he looked back at Duo who was screaming at him. "Don't you even care about them? Your buddies, which [did] help you throughout the war? And you're going to sleep?" Heero shrugged the previous comments off, and he looked like he was about to say something.

"Quatre… looks weak but he's strong. WuFei is [definitely] a fighter. They'll both, without a doubt make it. I don't know how you can't see that." Taking a glance towards Merian, he reacted quickly.

"You expect me to take a side? I don't know these people!"

Duo did nothing but change his gaze and look back at Trowa.

"Duo. I'm sorry. I understand what kind of position you're in."

Suddenly, Heero's eyes snapped open and he approached Merian. Pulling his gun, he looked at Merian with his cold glare. Shrugging it off, Merian sat down, Heero following him.

"Who are you, why are you here?" Merian returned his glare as his hands quickly moved and snapped the gun out of Heero's grasp. A smirk formed upon his face and he brushed his hair back.

"Now that I know how you act, it seems that I won't feel comfortable with a gun barrel pointed at me, along with the fact that you're on the other side of it." He laughed, bearing a grin. "But since you asked so very nicely, I guess I'll tell you." He leaned back, Heero's glare still locked onto him. Merian pulled the clip out of the gun and handed the gun back to Heero.

"Well, I'm a Preventer… It should have came to you already." Merian pointed towards his Preventers badge. "And it seems to you that I'm just a hotshot pilot."

"You are." His deep voice took him by surprise but he came back.

"Heh, that's all you think about Heero. I've seen you. That nerve you have is come kind of nerve." Heero let his glare do all the talking as Merian continued. "You have some kind of attitude problem, don't you?" Heero's glare began to grow more menacing as Merian continued through the onslaught.

"You must have something wrong with you! Thinking you're the best of the best. You should learn to back down when you're defeated."
"Stop this fighting!" Duo yelled, getting in between the dueling pilots. "Merian, can I talk to you?" Duo looked at him and he moved his head.

"Fine, let's go." Walking outside, Merian leaned against the wall and Duo began talking.

"Look, I know it's hard, but Heero has had a lot of trouble lately." Clasping his hands, he looked back up at Merian. "You know who Relena Peacecraft is, right?"

"Yeah, I do."

"You heard what happened?"

"No, what did?"

"She was killed yesterday at the opening statements of her last few months as leader of the ESUN."

"Yeah?"

"He was planning to marry her." He looked him square in the eyes, proving his seriousness. "She was his fiancé."

"Oh."

"He actually became… normal, for once. It's been since never, since he actually… smiled… or cried."

"He can't take it out on all of us, in particular me, and you know that!" Merian said.

"He can't help it, Merian. That's how he… was. And now, that he's lost that one person that ever made him feel anything, he doesn't know what to do."

"Yeah, Okay."

"Just don't get him pissed off, if you know what I mean."

"What are you trying to do, protect me?" Duo sighed. It looked like he had another 'Heero' to deal with.

"Just don't sit next to him, okay?"

"Fine." They both walked back into the room and Merian sat across the room from Heero. All of a sudden, a glaring contest between them flared up.

Among the side, Duo and Trowa were watching Merian and Heero duel it out.

"Sooner or later this'll explode," Duo said, his eyes focused upon the two. Suddenly, the men turned to look at two young ladies who happened to walk into the waiting room.

"Miss Une?" Merian said, straining his eyes to see.

"You boys have another pilot to help with…" She glanced over to the young blonde.

Owari— For Now… ^_^