Chapter Two: Lightning Strikes
Well-behaved women rarely make history.
~Laural Thatcher Ulrich
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of its characters! I am getting
absolutely no money off this story, none, nil, zip! So, please don't sue me.
Author's Note: I will be making a story on Selene's past (Which I shall
be revising soon!!), so just bear with me, (and nagging at me always works, how
the heck do you think I got my stories published, I never wanted to, but two of
my friends, and they know who they are (cough, Atalanta, cough.. A.J. cough)
wouldn't leave me alone. (So nagging works, but too much of it bothers me)
(Enough Yapping let the story begin)
Haft led the new lieutenant down the winding corridors, careful not to make any
comments that Selene might find offensive. He'd learned his lesson from the
first time; this wasn't a girl to mess with. It was an odd feeling to accept,
though, for there was an iota of strong females on the base. He knew in an
instant that her strong willed ways would clash with the conventional among
them who still thought that only a man was fit to be a soldier.
"I have a feeling the soldiers won't be very fond of me," Selene thought
as she followed Haft, "I have to try harder to gain their trust or else
I'll never be able to get the valuable information from OZ we need to fight
them." For once, she wasn't thinking solely for herself, but for the good
of the gundam team. She had to constantly remind herself that the whole mission
was not just for her revenge, but to work as part of a team to bring down an
organization of tyranny. It was hard to accept. She noted as she walked down
the corridors, that the walls were extremely new looking and there was not a
crack in sight. It made her cringe because she knew that there were many
righteous people who didn't even have the daily necessities. She, though, had
lived a rather comfortable childhood despite all the hardship and loss.
"Right here, Lieutenant," Haft staggered, breaking through her
pondering. He pointed to a door with elaborate woodwork depicting an old
Shakespearian tale – Othello. She scrutinized it for a second and then decided
to go in.
"Thank you," Selene answered smiling innocently as she entered the
room. It was quite a nice place, the bed was king sized with decorative lamps
of alabaster porcelain on each side. A white Italian couch next to a cozy
fireplace looked quite welcoming. But, her favorite part was the ivory balcony,
which had a view too breathtaking for words. She gently swept over the couch
closing her eyes and trying to recall better times; then, she laid her head
against the curtains and pretended for a second that she was an innocent little
girl again, living in the Sanc Kingdom happily ever after. When she finally
came out of her trance, she noticed a uniform lying out on the bed. It was a
dark blue that matched her eyes, with gold embroidery and buttons. Her boots
were black and only went halfway up to her knees. What really caught her
attention though, was the golden sheath that went on her belt decked with
sapphires. Whether they were real or fake mattered not to her. Selene picked up
the sheath and pulled out a sword, sharp and deadly. A satisfied grin crossed
her face, even after she left OZ, she would take it with her. Without further
ado, she quickly dressed into uniform, taking her sword and putting it in the
sheath with care. The last touch was to put on the scarlet cape OZ had set out
for her. It flowed down her back like a roaring river and contrasted sharply
with the color of her uniform. Selene looked in the silver trimmed mirror next
to her bed, "I guess this will do," she whispered, "I guess this
will do."
* *
*
"Beaten
by a little girl, Zechs, what do you have to say about that?" Dah, one of
his soldiers commented as he sat down to have some coffee. It was a popular
drink in a place were erratic battles in the middle of the night were all too
common.
"I was tired from the battle that's all," he answered defending
himself, "besides, I let her win, to show her it isn't easy being a
soldier, now, we'll see who is better. She won't even last a week." For
once, he wasn't using his head, for he was soon to be proven wrong. He wrapped his hands around the mug, soaking
up its warmth.
"Tired, eh?" Dah continued, trying not to laugh. Then again, if he
himself had been forced to taken the well-trained gundam pilot, he would not be
in such a position of amusement.
Zechs had had enough; he got up and walked away. It was not that he couldn't
stand the taunting of his own soldiers, it was that he knew that there were
more important things to be done than squander about with a group of fools who
would twist anything he said.
"Running away!?" one of the other soldiers shouted as Zechs was
leaving the room.
"That girl better watch her back," Zechs thought, "she may be
good, but messing with me is one mistake she shouldn't have made." And
time would only prove his thoughts true.
* * *
"You
wanted to see me, Treize?" Selene asked politely as she entered his
office. As soon as she had finished dressing and started to acclimate herself
to the surroundings, she had been summoned.
"I see you have found you're uniform," he commented eyes looking over
what she was wearing as if searching once more for familiarity.
"Ah, yes, and my room was lovely; a very nice place you have here."
She wanted to throw in a comment about how their aristocratic ways could be cut
down and the superfluous money used to help those who needed it, but she
restrained herself for the sake of the mission. And it was saying how important the mission was because she was
usually not so tact.
"Good," Treize answered with a hint of a smile, "you have a
training session tonight with the other soldiers. Colonel Zechs is in charge;
you will be helping him as well as learning the ways of OZ."
"So you teach us to be the scum of the earth," Selene thought to
herself.
"I must warn you though, the other soldiers, they might not receive you
too well," Treize commented, "you may leave, but remember, dinner
will be served at six thirty sharp in the cafeteria, or you may have it sent to
your room if you wish. Practice is an hour after that."
"Thanks Treize," Selene said as she left the door closing behind her.
She paused a second before continuing to walk down the hall.
Treize sighed, "It will truly be interesting to watch Zechs work with her.
I do hope they learn to get along, Zechs needs someone to look out for
him." He then smiled warmly as
thoughts of Une flooded over him.
* * *
Selene
glanced at the silver clock hanging in the hallway, "Only ten past five, I
guess I should take a look around this place since I will be stuck here for
quite a while." She walked down the winding corridor and found herself in
a lounge. There were several Italian couches, like the one in her room,
arranged around a grand piano. "Jackpot," she thought staring at the
glistening black piano. She gently pulled forward the bench and sat at it.
Selene sighed, it reminded her of home, where she also had a piano just like
this one, home, so far away... and it also reminded her of there, the place she
had tried to shut out from her mind, for its memories brought tears flowing
down her cheeks. NO! She wouldn't think of it, it was over and done with, in
the past, she was Selene Lunata now, and whatever she had been before had to be
forgotten. There was nothing to do now but to be strong, and perhaps one day,
she'd be able to make it up to the lost souls. She gently pressed her fingers
on the polished white keys. A tune from long ago played in her head (it's white
reflection by the way), what was that tune, she strained her memory to
remember, but alas it was too faint to recall exactly where she had heard it.
She played the tune over and over again on the keys, somehow striking the right
notes without a music sheet in front of her. For a reason unknown to her, the
tune eased her heart, and brought her inner happiness. Then, she sat on the
couch, laid her head down and fell into a dreaming sleep…
There she was, walking down a hall void of light, except that she was not
herself now, but much younger – at an age of innocence. In her hand she held a
rose, which illuminated her surroundings with a bright light from within. As
she walked, it began to rain, though she was inside. The rose withered and died
in her hands, and the little girl kneeled, weeping bitterly. It continued to
rain, and as it did, the little girl grew into the age she was now. The corridors
were still dark, and without any light, she had to crawl. She still held in her
hand the withered, lightless rose. As more time passed, the rose started to
glow faintly, until finally, miraculously it returned to its earlier form,
rejuvenated…
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" a voice shouted, piercing her
sleep like an arrow; Selene jumped up in horror. Her breath came hard as she looked about her, forgetting where
she was. Everything quickly came back
to her and she shivered as if someone was running ice down her back. Zechs
stood there, clearly angry.
"What's..."
She was cut off by Zechs, "You're late for practice!"
"That's impossible," Selene said calmly, "It was only five ten
about fifteen minutes ago; I couldn't have been asleep more than half an
hour." Though she sounded calm, her
eyebrow was twitching in anxiety.
"Its seven fifteen now!" Zechs shouted.
"I just checked on that clock in the hall half an hour ago I said!"
Selene protested. Zechs began to laugh in a manner that irritated her. He
grabbed her arm and dragged her into the hall.
"What time does that say, lieutenant?" he asked in a voice that
signified victory.
Selene's voice somehow managed to answer, "Five ten."
"And so it has been for as long as I have been at OZ. That clock is
broken, but that is NO EXCUSE for being late," Zechs smiled in
satisfaction. He walked off followed by a highly embarrassed and angry Selene.
"If you thought that was embarrassing *little* girl," he thought,
"you just wait... you just wait!"
Author's Note: That would be the end of this chapter. If you'd like an email every time I update send me a message at ladydemosthenes9@yahoo.com
HAVE A NICE DAY!