You're back!!! I'm sooooo happy!!! ^_^ Well, this chapter should be pretty interesting. Hell, all the chapters are!! So let's not delay and get on with the show!!!
Rivalry
Noin closed her eyes and concentrated carefully. This was a part of the exercise, and it wasn't easy.
Her mind became clear. Her body tensed in the seat, poised for anything. Then she felt it. Someone else's presence.
She grabbed the controls and spun around, firing her gun. The enemy Mobile Suit went down. She sighed in relief.
"Excellent Noin!!" said the lieutenant over the intercom. Your response time was impeccable!!"
"Thanks, sir," Noin said, beaming as the door beside her slid open. She stepped out of the simulator onto shaky legs. The exercise gave her a good feel of what it was like on a battlefield.
This is great! She thought. I feel so ready!! And I wonder how 'Mr. Perfect' did. Probably not as good...I hope.
She walked to the monitor and looked at the time results.
Noin..............6.7 sec.
Marquise..............3.4 sec.
Zechs's response time was quicker by three seconds.
Noin held back the urge to scream in rage. There was no denying the fact he was better than her. But it was so Goddamn irritating!!! Not once had she been able to beat him. And it nagged her.
Can't I beat him at ANYTHING?!?! Must I always be second?!?!
"You almost did it," said a voice behind her. "You almost beat me."
Noin spun around. "Shut the hell up!!! And don't mock me!!!"
Zechs shrugged. "Damn, you take things too seriously."
"Damn right I do!! I was the best until YOU showed up!!!"
"What's wrong with being second? Being first isn't everything."
"Easy for you to say!! You've got the top marks!!"
Noin turned and walked away. Why did she have to have such an arrogant asshole as her rival? Why not someone who gave a damn about the exercises?!
"I heard things are going well for you there," said Treize.
"Well, I have the top marks in everything," said Zechs.
"That's expected of you, Zechs. No one else can match your skill."
"That's not quite true...there's someone here who's equally talented."
"Really? As talented as you? I really must meet them. What is their name?"
"I think its Lucrezia Noin."
"Noin? Ah, she must be the daughter of Lieutenant Noin of OZ. Very interesting."
"I think she would like to meet you, but she seems to hate me."
"That's a surprise. Women usually can't resist your charms."
"Well, I'll bring it up to her, if she's not screaming in my face."
"Thank you."
"Noin, you've been studying nonstop," said a trainee. "You'll ace the test tomorrow."
Noin didn't answer as she tried to conjure up the right words to say for the verbal exam. No doubt Zechs will say something that will impress the superiors, so she had to think of the right things to say.
Just you wait, she thought. Tomorrow, I will beat you!!
Next day...
Noin held a smirk as she read from a book. The superiors had been very impressed with everything she said. No doubt they loved it.
Now I just have to wait until they post the results, she thought. And I'm gonna laugh in his face when he sees them!!
Zechs stood off to the side of the board. People were crowding fast.
I don't care about all this, he thought. I already have enough to graduate at the top. So...
"I did it!!!!!" someone screamed. He saw Noin elbow her way to him. When she got to him, she was grinning happily. "100!!!!"
"You got a hundred?" he asked.
"Yes! And you got a 99!! I finally beat you!!" she cheered and waved her arms.
Okay...-_-; "Um, I have a question."
Noin stopped and turned to him. "What?"
"Are you going anywhere over the break?"
"No...why do you want to know?"
"I spoke with Treize about this place. He wants to meet you."
"WHAT?! His Excellency wants to meet ME?!?!"
"Yes. He seems to have an interest in you, since you do so well here."
"I'll meet him!! And he'll see I'm better than you!!"
Zechs sighed. So she still loathes me. Oh well. I can deal with it.
The break...
The doors opened. Noin felt butterflies in her stomach as she followed Zechs to Treize's office. The hallway was long, and it nicely portrayed the wealth of the house.
Oh my God, I'm gonna meet His Excellency!! I wonder how I look? Will I say the right things? Ooh, I'm so nervous!!
They reached a door and stopped. Zechs knocked once, and a voice called out. "Come in."
He opened the door and went inside. Noin followed, trying to hide the nervousness from her features.
Treize sat at a desk, sitting straight up in the chair. He wore an eloquent uniform, and his hair was well kept. Next to the desk stood a young woman. Her hair was in braids and she narrowed her eyes at them from behind her glasses.
"That is all, Lady Une," said Treize, his gaze still on them.
"Yessir," said Lady Une. She saluted and walked out, her eyes narrowing even more at Noin.
"So this must be Lucrezia Noin," said Treize. "I can see your tou-san's strength in your eyes."
"Thank you, your Excellency," said Noin, giving a slight bow. She prayed he wouldn't see her shaking in her boots.
"Don't worry about it. Have a seat, you two. I hope you weren't planning on leaving soon."
"You're too formal, Treize," complained Zechs as he sat down on a nearby couch. "I AM your friend, after all."
Treize laughed. "I guess it's in my nature to be too formal. Well, have a seat, Noin. This should be a nice afternoon."
When it was time to leave, Noin almost wished she didn't have to go. Treize was very easy-going, and wonderful to talk to. Zechs wasn't kidding when he said Treize was a friend. They were so casual together; you almost wouldn't believe that Treize was the head of OZ.
She was able to understand both men a lot better, as well. Neither discussed their personal life, but when Treize mentioned the Sanc Kingdom, Zechs visibly winced. That puzzled her. The Sanc Kingdom was a kingdom that had its devotion completely to world peace. Zechs didn't look like he had an association with the Sanc Kingdom, but it made her wonder.
Noin climbed into the plane, watching Treize and Zechs share a few words from the window. It was none of her business, but she couldn't help but think about what they were saying.
"She's a nice girl," said Treize.
"Well, she usually screams in my face," said Zechs. "The way she acted today must have been her real attitude."
"Must have been. And Zechs...I'm sorry for-"
"Don't worry about it. She probably won't ask about it. I don't look like the type of guy that would come out of the Sanc Kingdom."
"Well, she's a good person. Not that many people like that these days. Make sure you don't get on her bad side so often."
"Boy, don't I know."
Noin watched Zechs climb into the plane. Soon, he took a seat across from her.
"Um, thanks for letting me meet His Excellency."
"No problem. It was good to introduce someone who has the qualifications to be a soldier to Treize."
"I see...by the way."
"...Yeah?"
"I'm not giving up!! That verbal exam was one thing, but I'm hell-bent on beating you!!!"
"..." So much for staying on her good side...
Whoo, I'm done!!!! How was the ride? Bumpy? Smooth? Well, things are only just beginning!!! Anticipating the next installment? I am!!! Stay tuned!!!!! ^_^
Rivalry
Noin closed her eyes and concentrated carefully. This was a part of the exercise, and it wasn't easy.
Her mind became clear. Her body tensed in the seat, poised for anything. Then she felt it. Someone else's presence.
She grabbed the controls and spun around, firing her gun. The enemy Mobile Suit went down. She sighed in relief.
"Excellent Noin!!" said the lieutenant over the intercom. Your response time was impeccable!!"
"Thanks, sir," Noin said, beaming as the door beside her slid open. She stepped out of the simulator onto shaky legs. The exercise gave her a good feel of what it was like on a battlefield.
This is great! She thought. I feel so ready!! And I wonder how 'Mr. Perfect' did. Probably not as good...I hope.
She walked to the monitor and looked at the time results.
Noin..............6.7 sec.
Marquise..............3.4 sec.
Zechs's response time was quicker by three seconds.
Noin held back the urge to scream in rage. There was no denying the fact he was better than her. But it was so Goddamn irritating!!! Not once had she been able to beat him. And it nagged her.
Can't I beat him at ANYTHING?!?! Must I always be second?!?!
"You almost did it," said a voice behind her. "You almost beat me."
Noin spun around. "Shut the hell up!!! And don't mock me!!!"
Zechs shrugged. "Damn, you take things too seriously."
"Damn right I do!! I was the best until YOU showed up!!!"
"What's wrong with being second? Being first isn't everything."
"Easy for you to say!! You've got the top marks!!"
Noin turned and walked away. Why did she have to have such an arrogant asshole as her rival? Why not someone who gave a damn about the exercises?!
"I heard things are going well for you there," said Treize.
"Well, I have the top marks in everything," said Zechs.
"That's expected of you, Zechs. No one else can match your skill."
"That's not quite true...there's someone here who's equally talented."
"Really? As talented as you? I really must meet them. What is their name?"
"I think its Lucrezia Noin."
"Noin? Ah, she must be the daughter of Lieutenant Noin of OZ. Very interesting."
"I think she would like to meet you, but she seems to hate me."
"That's a surprise. Women usually can't resist your charms."
"Well, I'll bring it up to her, if she's not screaming in my face."
"Thank you."
"Noin, you've been studying nonstop," said a trainee. "You'll ace the test tomorrow."
Noin didn't answer as she tried to conjure up the right words to say for the verbal exam. No doubt Zechs will say something that will impress the superiors, so she had to think of the right things to say.
Just you wait, she thought. Tomorrow, I will beat you!!
Next day...
Noin held a smirk as she read from a book. The superiors had been very impressed with everything she said. No doubt they loved it.
Now I just have to wait until they post the results, she thought. And I'm gonna laugh in his face when he sees them!!
Zechs stood off to the side of the board. People were crowding fast.
I don't care about all this, he thought. I already have enough to graduate at the top. So...
"I did it!!!!!" someone screamed. He saw Noin elbow her way to him. When she got to him, she was grinning happily. "100!!!!"
"You got a hundred?" he asked.
"Yes! And you got a 99!! I finally beat you!!" she cheered and waved her arms.
Okay...-_-; "Um, I have a question."
Noin stopped and turned to him. "What?"
"Are you going anywhere over the break?"
"No...why do you want to know?"
"I spoke with Treize about this place. He wants to meet you."
"WHAT?! His Excellency wants to meet ME?!?!"
"Yes. He seems to have an interest in you, since you do so well here."
"I'll meet him!! And he'll see I'm better than you!!"
Zechs sighed. So she still loathes me. Oh well. I can deal with it.
The break...
The doors opened. Noin felt butterflies in her stomach as she followed Zechs to Treize's office. The hallway was long, and it nicely portrayed the wealth of the house.
Oh my God, I'm gonna meet His Excellency!! I wonder how I look? Will I say the right things? Ooh, I'm so nervous!!
They reached a door and stopped. Zechs knocked once, and a voice called out. "Come in."
He opened the door and went inside. Noin followed, trying to hide the nervousness from her features.
Treize sat at a desk, sitting straight up in the chair. He wore an eloquent uniform, and his hair was well kept. Next to the desk stood a young woman. Her hair was in braids and she narrowed her eyes at them from behind her glasses.
"That is all, Lady Une," said Treize, his gaze still on them.
"Yessir," said Lady Une. She saluted and walked out, her eyes narrowing even more at Noin.
"So this must be Lucrezia Noin," said Treize. "I can see your tou-san's strength in your eyes."
"Thank you, your Excellency," said Noin, giving a slight bow. She prayed he wouldn't see her shaking in her boots.
"Don't worry about it. Have a seat, you two. I hope you weren't planning on leaving soon."
"You're too formal, Treize," complained Zechs as he sat down on a nearby couch. "I AM your friend, after all."
Treize laughed. "I guess it's in my nature to be too formal. Well, have a seat, Noin. This should be a nice afternoon."
When it was time to leave, Noin almost wished she didn't have to go. Treize was very easy-going, and wonderful to talk to. Zechs wasn't kidding when he said Treize was a friend. They were so casual together; you almost wouldn't believe that Treize was the head of OZ.
She was able to understand both men a lot better, as well. Neither discussed their personal life, but when Treize mentioned the Sanc Kingdom, Zechs visibly winced. That puzzled her. The Sanc Kingdom was a kingdom that had its devotion completely to world peace. Zechs didn't look like he had an association with the Sanc Kingdom, but it made her wonder.
Noin climbed into the plane, watching Treize and Zechs share a few words from the window. It was none of her business, but she couldn't help but think about what they were saying.
"She's a nice girl," said Treize.
"Well, she usually screams in my face," said Zechs. "The way she acted today must have been her real attitude."
"Must have been. And Zechs...I'm sorry for-"
"Don't worry about it. She probably won't ask about it. I don't look like the type of guy that would come out of the Sanc Kingdom."
"Well, she's a good person. Not that many people like that these days. Make sure you don't get on her bad side so often."
"Boy, don't I know."
Noin watched Zechs climb into the plane. Soon, he took a seat across from her.
"Um, thanks for letting me meet His Excellency."
"No problem. It was good to introduce someone who has the qualifications to be a soldier to Treize."
"I see...by the way."
"...Yeah?"
"I'm not giving up!! That verbal exam was one thing, but I'm hell-bent on beating you!!!"
"..." So much for staying on her good side...
Whoo, I'm done!!!! How was the ride? Bumpy? Smooth? Well, things are only just beginning!!! Anticipating the next installment? I am!!! Stay tuned!!!!! ^_^