A Painful Past

Chapter 8

"Good morning everybody!" Kaylee jogged into the lounge to grab a quick breakfast.


"Good morning, Kaylee! How are you?" Quatre asked.

"Great!" she said. Duo, as usual, had his ass hanging out of the fridge. He passed her the toaster waffles.

"I ate all the pizza rolls," he said.

"This is fine. I'm starving!" Quatre smiled and Trowa managed a small upturning at the corners of his mouth. Heero as usual, had no expression, but Wufei was different. He almost had a look of... respect in his eyes.

"Well, I'm glad everything is o.k. We were curious after last night," Quatre said. Kaylee's eyes glazed over in an attempt to keep her emotions at bay. She prayed they wouldn't ask.

"Oh yes, everything is fine," she said.

"You need to tell us what's going on. We need the whole story," Heero's said. Kaylee sighed. She wasn't getting out of this one. She sat down at the table and folded her arms on top of it. Looking at her hands, she began.

"I was given a mission to destroy a base full of a new design of Mobile Suits on Earth. I didn't want to do it. I don't know why I did it, but I did so I planted the bombs in the base and went to leave. But I was attacked. They ambushed me from all sides. I fought hard but they just kept coming. You see, Dr. J had installed a screwy cockpit system. It took over your mind I had been working with it and thought I had it beat. But it picked that mission to take over me. I couldn't control my actions. The bombs I planted blew up. I started slicing and dicing, destroying everything that came in my path. All of the sudden, one of the suits got to close to the surrounding town. My Gundam was disabled: it's legs blown off. Finally the cockpit system let go of my mind, and I tumbled out and took off running. The Mobile Suit took out an apartment building and set of a domino effect. Buildings crumpled and debris fell in the street. I dodged as much as I could, covering my ears to the screams of children. I saw them holding their dying parents hands. People running through the street with limbs cut off and blood spewing everywhere. I was so scared. I just kept running." Kaylee looked up, a lone tear making a track down her face.

"And it was all my fault." Duo whistled, a low sound. The others just kind of sat there, dumbstruck. Heero was the first to recover.


"It happened to me, too. You have to realize it was the Zero system, not you, who caused that. I know that system because I was the one who replaced you." It was the longest Heero had spoken, the biggest show of emotion.


"I'll KILL him! He was supposed to get rid of that piece of shit! ASSHOLE!" Kaylee slammed her fists on the table.


"Thank you for telling us Kaylee. We can all get through this together." Quatre said.


"Arigatou." Heero, Quatre, and Duo left, but Kaylee stopped Wufei.


"Ummmm... Wufei? Look we got off on the wrong foot and I just want to apologize--"


"Don't mention it," and he actually smiled. Kaylee grinned and gave him an impulsive hug, with which he noticeably stiffened. Kaylee laughed at his reaction and he walked out. Trowa came up to her.


"Do you feel any better?" he asked.


"Strangely yes. I thought I would feel worse if it all came out, but I'm glad I told it. Maybe now it wont happen again."


"I wont ever let that happen to you again. I promise." Trowa said and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before walking out.

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"Wow! I wonder what I'm going to wear!"


"Oh it's going to be so much fun!"


Hilde, Jen a Tracy were talking n the lounge when Kaylee walking in for lunch.


"Nani?" The three girls looked up.


"We're going to Earth to the Sanq Kingdom. The former Queen Relena is hosting a Peace Ball. She has invited all of us to come. And to bring dates! Jen said. "Now, just remember, Quatre's mine!" Jen and Quatre had announced their relationship a few days ago. Kaylee smiled.


"Well, I have Duo!"

"And I have Robert!"

"What about the others?" Kaylee asked.

"Well, Wufei is going with Sally Po as guards for the event. Heero's is with Relena, though grudgingly. He hates these things. You could have Trowa, Kaylee," Jen said with a wink.


"I don't blame poor Heero. I don't like these functions either. I have no need for stuffy people who don't really care about peace but what they can put in their wallets. And besides, I don't do the whole dressy thing. But I hope you have fun," Kaylee said and smiled. The three girls looked at each other, then at Kaylee's jeans a tee shirt. "Shopping Trip!" they said in unison and dragged a protesting Kaylee out the door.

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"Remember, we leave tomorrow morning!" Tracy called as the girls entered their respective rooms. They had just spent all day shopping. Kaylee started taking some things out of her draws and putting them into a suitcase.


"Going somewhere?" Kaylee gave a little jump.


"Don't DO that! And yes. We all are. Remember the dance in the Sanq Kingdom?" Trowa came into the room, making a small face as he did so. Kaylee chuckled.


"Believe me, I know. But we have to go. Do you know what today's date is? I have a bad feeling. It's to close to the date on the note. I think you and the other pilots should take your Gundams."


"We planned on it. That's what I came in here for. We all have something to show you," Kaylee followed him outside and around to a large shed on the side of the base. Kaylee hadn't even known it was there. Jen told her to close her eyes. Kaylee complied and she was led forward. Tracy and Hilde opened the doors to the shed.


"Surprise!" The girls, Quatre and Duo yelled. Kaylee opened her eyes and there stood her Gundam. Well, not, HER Gundam, but a close replica of it.


Kaylee squealed, but then her face fell.


"What's wrong?" Quatre asked.


"Is there a zero system?"


"Nope. And we added leg reinforcements." Hilde said a smiled.

"You guys did all this for me? Why? I thought I would be flying a regular Mobile Suit."


"Well, if you don't want it--" Wufei started to say.

"NO! I mean yes, I mean I do. Thank you all so much. This means a lot to me."


"Whelp I'm going to get a snack and go to bed. We all have a big day tomorrow." Duo said. Hilde laughed. "Duo, I'm going to make you go shopping with all the food you eat!" She linked an arm through his and walked away. The rest followed.


"You coming Kaylee?" Trowa asked.


"No, you go ahead. I'll be in soon." She climbed into the cockpit. Trowa smiled to himself and walked away.