O Aijo Katsute O Aijo Itsumo des
By Sagitta
A/N: Er, I'm posting up reviews here, so if you reviewed, look here. . .
D-CHAN: Yup, angst! Me luv angst tooo. . .*smacks herself on head* Alright, too much of Jar-jar Binks. Yeah, it's Yamagi/Roose. But I'm focusing on Zero and Hiead. . .
SARASI: It's summer break for me, but I gotta piano competition, so I might update once a week. Actually, that's pretty good for me. . .~_^
GUNDAMESCA: Great to see ya, 'esca. I think you're talking a bit weird though. Are you sure you haven't been sucked into your little fantasy world in 'The Miscreant'? (Btw, keep writing that one!)
SONG: I luv Heero and Duo too! Whoo-hoo! But Hiead and Zero are definitely going together here. Yes, something is gonna happen to Erts. . .*cringes as Erts-lovers throw paper cans at her*
~_^: Um, thanks, I guess. . .
POETISA: Thanx! I can tell from your review you're prob quite a writer. See ya, and here's Chapter Four.
Chapter Four: Silver and Gold
1 I am Silver and You are Gold
Make new friends but keep the old
When all's done and all's told,
I am still Silver and You are still Gold.
The next morning was uneventful. Hiead packed as Zero waited on the veranda, his eyes never leaving the crashing waves and the seagulls above. Koritsu was to remain on the colony until they could send another shuttle to pick her up, since the shuttle they were leaving on was too public, with too many passengers. Zero had to admit she was quite impressive; after two years of battling with Ernn Laties, he knew enough about Ingrids to know the Angel had the same EX and general format, just with a few touch-ups on weaponry and power, and a few notable new attacks.
But, as he had felt before, there was so much of Hiead inside Koritsu. . .perhaps that was why he felt a strange magnetism to the looming figure, a distant strength he had felt a twinge of when he first set foot on the shore and wondered if Hiead was there.
He raised his hand in silent goodbye to the seagulls that circled above the waves as they prepared to leave to the shuttle car. Unbeknownst to Zero, Hiead watched him through the window, sensing how much Zero wanted to remain and surprisingly understanding. It wasn't the clandestine beauty, but rather the feeling of isolation, of finding oneself in the loneliness after so much searching. Koritsu. . .I've named you well.
The drive was monotonous. Zero asked a few scenery questions and Hiead answered in monosyllables. At last Zero decided to shut up and just stare vacantly outside as they passed through the city, Hiead completely ignoring him even though his thoughts were screaming at him to say something. When they arrived at the spaceport, the silence stretched on. The uneasiness between didn't go away, but just accented itself between them, taunting Hiead to make a move.
At last, as the shuttle began to pierce into the fabric of darkness that was outer space, Hiead spoke. "Zero?"
Zero turned to see him from where he was standing, next to the huge transparent screen that revealed the half of the colony in light and concealed the other in shadows. "Yes?"
Hiead stood up and walked over next to him; he was silent for a few moments as he stared out beyond the colony, before he finally noticed something in the distance. Probably my eyes are just playing tricks on me. . "What's that?"
"What's what?" Zero looked at him.
Hiead pointed to distant red specks that pulsated with energy, flashing red and then white and then red again. "Those things."
Zero's eyes narrowed for a moment, and then he gasped so sharply that Hiead looked at him, alarmed. "Victim Enforcers!"
Hiead grabbed the front of Zero's shirt. "You sure?" His voice was low and intense. Zero nodded numbly. Hiead let go of him and rushed past the other passengers in the shuttle, causing some of them to lift their heads and raise an eyebrow at the commotion. Zero bolted after him.
"Hiead, where are you going?"
Hiead calmly took out a computer chip and ran it through the mainframe. With a click, the mainframe confirmed the identity and the first door opened. "To the cockpit. We have to contact the other Goddesses to intercept them."
Zero grabbed his arm. His eyes were wide and pleading. "Hiead, it's too late. . .you don't understand how fast they move. We can't save the colony."
"If we can't save the colony, at least we can save the shuttle," Hiead muttered savagely, pulling his arm away as he went into the pilot's chamber. Zero sighed.
If you'd seen the battles I've seen. . .what makes you think they want us, Hiead? "What makes you think they want to attack the shuttle?" he voiced out loud. Hiead turned to look at him.
"Because they can sense our EX power," Hiead said coolly. "Combined, we're too big of a target to miss."
"They don't care about our EX," Zero argued. "They're looking for the colony to destroy and force us to move another base. It's the way they work; toward a single goal. When we were in the Ingrids, they never attacked us until we struck at them."
"Then they didn't need to attack, since you'd come to them." Hiead hacked into the second door, decoding the security mainframe while Zero cast a surreptitious glance around for any curious attendants. "Why waste energy when your enemy could burn fuel instead?"
"But. . .I don't think they can sense EX," Zero said helplessly.
Hiead snorted. "Trust me; they do. They're sensing Koritsu right now, and that's why they're heading toward the colony; I think they're going to split forces. One to attack us and absorb our EX and the other to destroy her."
Zero's eyes widened. "You have to save her then!"
Hiead tossed Zero a gun and pulled out a tracker. "That's why *you* have to go contact the Ingrids and hold the shuttle here while I contact Koritsu on the tracker. She's not entirely ready for a battle yet, but I can hold them off until you can get the Ingrids to arrive."
Zero stared at the gun as if it were a foreign object to his hands. "Very well then," he said quietly. He watched as Hiead donned a pilot suit that had been hanging on the rack. "Be careful, Hiead."
Hiead's eyes made contact with his, and then a smirk appeared on the former's face. "I'd be more worried about you." Zero scowled at him before stepping through the doorway. Cocky bastard. .
The pilot was relaxed and totally unprepared for the shadowy figure that mysteriously emerged from behind her. A hand suddenly clamped on her mouth and a soft voice whispered in her ear, "Keep the shuttle here in a radius of ten meters. There is a force of Victims coming this way to destroy us. . .and the colony."
The pilot stopped struggling for a moment and stared at the hidden figure with questioning eyes, uncomprehending. "You might think it's suicide staying here. . .but it's suicide going to GOA. If we keep the shuttle near the colony, help may come soon enough. Otherwise they'll kill us anyway if help doesn't." He motioned to the com. "Drop me a link to the GOA pilots. I need to speak with them."
The pilot shook her head, obviously thinking the attacker was a terrorist. Zero sighed. "Very well then. . ." With a lightning fast twist of his hand, the pilot fell to ground in an unconscious heap. He pushed her in a corner and swiftly typed in some commands to the com. "Come on. . .hurry up. . ."
He heard a muffled scream meaning that one of the attendants had seen Hiead in the docking bay, and then a dull thump. Hiead had no time for pleasantries, evidently. Zero made a mental note to stay away from Hiead's bad side. . .wait, Hiead was always in a bad mood.
Erts's smiling face appeared on the screen. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Zero and the smile vanished. "Zero! What's wrong?!"
Zero cursed the fates that his boyfriend had to be the one to receive his message; Erts would probably go berserk. "There's a troop of Victim Enforcers coming this way to the colony," he said hastily. Erts gasped. "No, it's not as bad as it sounds; Hiead's taking out the Angel –"
"*Hiead*?! Hiead Gnr?!?"
Zero suddenly realized that Erts didn't know about Hiead. "I don't have time to explain right now," he snapped quickly. "Erts, I need you and the other to take out the Ingrids and get here quickly. The coordinates are –"
"There's not enough time!" Erts looked like he was going to panic. Zero gritted his teeth.
"Just trust me, Erts! The coordinates are at Guardia Kalli, F987, B48. Just come as fast as you can, and prepare for battle. Got it?"
Erts nodded. "Okay. But. . .be careful, alright?"
Zero forced a smile and swallowed a lump in his throat. I might never see you again, Erts. . "Sure. Just . . . hurry!"
The last thing he saw before the com link broke was Erts's ashen face turning to Yamagi; and then black. Zero collapsed in the pilot's seat. He pushed himself, even though it seemed as if all his energy had faded with the V-Es's arrival, to clutch the gear and set the fuel level to minimal. They had to stay as close to the colony as possible; Zero wasn't sure if Koritsu could fly at 100% capacity since she wasn't completely finished. Done, his head sank into his hands. "Hiead. . ."
Outside, Hiead was waiting in the docking bay for the Angel to arrive. He had never tested her flight before except in short distances, and now he could only hope. He could already make out the outlines of the V- Es, huge beasts with gigantic wingspans that flashed like Christmas tree light bulbs. "Koritsu. . ." He willed himself to draw her to him, to feel her EX inch nearer to his. But every time he thought of her, his thoughts would drift to Zero and then he would start wondering if he would see Zero again. . .
There were at least three V-Es. . .
Goddess, he probably wouldn't survive. Clay had said it usually took four Ingrids to take down one weak V-E. He would have to throw everything he had into lasting as long as he could, using the last reserves of his EX. His fingers tightened around the tracker that was a communicator to her and the pilot that would soon be inside.
A faint glow was breaking from the colony's domed spaceport. . .
Throwing down the tracker, Hiead rushed closer to the window. Yes, he was right; it was Koritsu, coming at supersonic speed towards the shuttle. But in the moment he was waiting for her, the V-Es had covered at least half the distance. His fist clenched and unclenched. *Come on. . .*
The entrance opened. "Hiead?" Zero came into view. He took in a delighted breath at the glow. "Is that her?" And then suddenly he was next to Hiead.
Hiead nodded and then ordered reluctantly: "Go back to the cockpit, Zero. You're needed more there."
Zero shook his head. "Iie, Hiead. It's automatic. I'd rather stay here." He turned to watch as the V-Es drifted nearer with each wingbeat. "I wonder. . .how can there be wind in space?"
"Those wings aren't relying on wind," Hiead found himself saying. "They absorb EX particles in the dark matter when they beat their wings, and this powers them. I think it's how they get their energy – from absorbing EX."
Zero looked curiously at him. "How do you know so much, Hiead? I've been fighting against them for two years, and I didn't even know that there are EX particles!"
"Working with Koritsu," Hiead said quietly, "has taught me more than I want to know. The powers of EX are literally unlimited. . .and I'm not even close to discovering its secrets." He took a deep breath. "But I will. Someday."
They watched in silence as the race against time continued, and then Koritsu's looming, graceful figure appeared next to the shuttle. Zero could hear passengers screaming in the distance, and knew that they had not only seen her, but the V-Es. He stared helplessly after Hiead as the boy went in the Angel's cockpit and finally gave in to the flutter in his heart. "Don't die on me, Hiead. ." He looked at the ground, almost ashamed of his momentary weakness, and then noticed the black gadget lying on the floor.
"Hiead, you left your tracker," Zero whispered, picking up the discarded link.
Hiead's voice came in from inside the Angel. "That might be a good thing; I haven't put in the visual aids yet, so the screen is clouded. The only visual I have is the coordinate map to direct missiles."
"K'so," Zero muttered. This was going to be hard. . .
He watched as one of the three V-Es broke off from the rest, and came directly at Koritsu as the Angel primed for battle. Shaped like a dragon, with a fearsome snout containing metallic teeth and a bludgeon on its tail, it sailed the EX wind and neared for a charge. "It's coming right at you, Hiead. The other two have branched off – I think. . .I think they're going for a triad-pincer formation!"
Hiead leveled the glowing saber, charged with energy. Zero was close enough to see the electric EX sparks dance on the light blade, and then suddenly Koritsu moved in a split second so that all was a distant blur. Zero looked desperately around to find her, and it seemed that the Victim Enforcer was confused too, as it swung its midnight blue head in a radial turn –
And then suddenly Koritsu dropped from above the shuttle and scored a hit! Zero's breath caught as he watched the V-E scream in pain as its wing and part of its tail disintegrated like spacedust, then as it lashed out with deadly claws. The eyes started glowing with an eerie concentration. "Watch out, Hiead! It's preparing a telepathic EX reaction!"
"Shields up." Hiead came in, and Zero could hear the exhilaration in his voice; here was one born to pilot. "They should absorb the attack, so I can come in close range while it's preparing. ."
With a roar, the V-E let loose a telepathic wave of EX at Koritsu, and Zero felt the shock in the ground as he fell to floor and skid to the other wall. The EX encountered a dome that negated its effect, but the strength and force was enough to send Hiead crashing into the shuttle; a tiny crack appeared in the transom. Zero shakily grabbed the tracker that had fallen in the wave. "Hiead, try to turn away from the shuttle, but stay close enough so that I can see you."
"Affirmative." Koritsu started gliding to the other side of the V-E, the back side, and hit the scales with a physical barrage of missiles that exploded like fireworks. The V-E turned in annoyance, the missiles more like a dent than a serious threat to it. Zero bit his lip.
"Missiles won't be able to penetrate the shield, Hiead," he said worriedly. "Concentrate most of your power in the laser; we'll have to try to get to its core, right in the abdomen. . ."
"Crap," Hiead muttered. Zero could hear static and frantic button pushing in the background. "The visuals are out. Some EX did go past the shield –"
"Hiead! It's going for a ram!" Zero screamed into the tracker, his white- knuckled fingers clutching the small device like a lifeline. Hiead blocked the attack too late with the saber, and the force instead was diverted to his legs. Zero could see the V-E's jaws around the leg, thrashing it like a broken doll. . .
Then the monster was suddenly pushed back, almost all the way to the shuttle. A fierce light was emitting from the electric wires in the Angel, an EX shock that had made it let go, jaws numbed. "All right, it's about twenty meters forward, 5-degrees to the left."
Hiead raised the saber and prepared for an EX attack, concentrating on obliterating the target. "Alright, I have the scanner back on now, but not the main screen."
"Hiead! *Behind you*!"
With lightning speed, the saber whipped behind him and blindly slashed; at such a close range, the scanner didn't work. Hiead was lucky; it scored a hit on the neck, forcing the second V-E to retreat. The EX reaction concentrated on Koritsu's hand, and, turning the attention back to the first, was released as a massive spear of energy. Zero clasped his hands together, praying that it was dead, that it had annihilated everything to the core. . .
As the light faded, he saw that there was nothing but dust.
Zero breathed a sigh of relief as he scanned the darkness for the other one. There was a fiery red one, the second one he had just seen, and a multicolored one with a jade-green head yet to appear on the stage. His eyebrows knitted in concentration as he spread his EX; where was the damned thing?! "Shoot, maybe it went. . ."
"Koritsu's scanner shows that it's somewhere underneath me, but it's not coming up. I think it's going right. . .to the shuttle."
"Can you drive the offensive then?" Zero didn't like the sound of what Hiead just said. He's keeping something from me. . .
"I don't want to waste EX energy, and besides, there's the still the other one coming from my left," Hiead's neutral voice was driving Zero insane. "I think the one on the bottom is playing bait so that the other can attack the shuttle."
Zero looked to Hiead's left, and he could see a faint outline of where the V-E was staying. "Why aren't they going to the colony?"
"There's no EX to absorb there anymore. Guardia Kalli's a small colony, and not worth attacking." Hiead moved Koritsu closer to the shuttle. "They're going for a pincer attack! Do you see the Ingrids yet?"
Zero frantically looked to the left, where the Ingrids were supposed to be appearing from. "Goddess, they're slow!"
Hiead's voice was grim. "One's preparing an EX attack while the other goes in for the charge, since I can't put two shields up at the same time. I'll have to move farther from the shuttle in case we hit it." Zero bit back his protest as Koritsu drifted farther. Something felt wrong to him. . .
A red blur!
Koritsu barely moved fast enough to dodge the attack, but Hiead's clairvoyant EX ability had already anticipated the move; missiles sliced at the V-E's vulnerable head. But then an EX charge from seemingly nowhere crashed Koritsu onto a small asteroid nearby, and Zero could hear Hiead's grunt of pain. "Hiead! You okay?"
"My left arm's out. The EX core's leaking fast." Hiead's voice was as neutral as ever as he countered a slash. But the V-E had predicted he couldn't see moves at such a close range, and the tail rammed onto the other arm. Meanwhile Zero could see a glow emanating from the Angel, and with a cold shock, released that the V-E was *drinking* the EX flowing from it.
Koritsu struggled from underneath the heavier bulk, and then forced some of the last remnants of the EX in a shockwave toward the V-E. It was too strong by now and, eager at its first taste of the psychic energy, charged again. The energy was driving it mad with desire, and Hiead had to battle fiercely to drive it away. Zero felt useless as Hiead kept driving it back. Sooner or later the V-E would figure out that the EX shield-absorbers were gone, and would launch an EX attack. "Where are the Ingrids?!" he exploded finally, unable to take the tension anymore. Hiead wasn't going to last long. .
And then suddenly Hiead's voice broke through the static in the link, and for the first time Zero heard genuine panic. "Zero, a V-E is coming for the shuttle!"
Zero's eyes snapped back to the window as slowly, a huge, monstrous beast emerged from space, its head facing the shuttle screen. Glossy green scales reflected a hidden light, rippling with energy. Its jade green eyes were multi-faceted, glimmering with power and EX, and Zero felt trapped as he stared back. I'm going to die now. . He could vaguely hear Hiead struggling to get to the shuttle, and the screams of the passengers were in the faded background.
Time froze. . .
The Victim Enforcer opened its jaws, and Zero could see curved fangs and electric wires inside the pitch-black cavernous mouth. Goodbye, Hiead. . .
A small pinpoint of silver light burned in the darkness, growing ever larger and gathering more energy. . .
Zero closed his eyes.
So you are the One.
His eyes flew open at the voice, and then a golden streak went crashing into the V-E, pushing it away from the shuttle!
"Hiead!" The name tore from his throat unbidden as he shielded his eyes from the light. He felt Hiead's pain lance through their bodies simultaneously, and then he was floating in darkness.
Zero space.
Golden light gathered at his fingertips and he held up his hands in wonder; then golden threads emptied out of him into the Beyond.
Somewhere in that Beyond, Hiead lifted his head, and silver mixed with gold.
He pooled his energy into Koritsu as she rose up, a whole being once more, the strength and verdict of the Goddess behind her. The Victim Enforcer shrieked in agony as the bright light gathered force, and the darkness turned to light, and the saber slowly lifted. . .
They struck together.
~*~
Zero's Thoughts
Two days later. .
What happened that day? I'm still confused. My head is a hopeless whirl of Victim Enforcers, EX powers, and Hiead. The damn bastard wouldn't tell me what happened, even when I woke up in the infirmary a day later.
Erts gave me the reason they arrived so late. A score of Victim Enforcers launched an attack on GOA, and under siege, they were unable to leave. It wasn't until multiple casualties and injuries later that Erts was finally able to pull out to find us. Poor Erts was worried to death; his face is still drained of color.
What I heard there when I was about to die wasn't Hiead; it was a female voice, distant and yet near, so hauntingly familiar. . .in fact, the voice is just within my reach, but I can't make the connection. I don't even remember if I actually heard it. Maybe it was just my imagination.
And Tune. . .
You see, after Hiead and I collapsed onboard the shuttle, with Erts, Yamagi, and Roose escorting us, we left; only Hiead saw what happened later, because he was in the hangar. A V-E came after the ones we fought and took revenge on what we did, and Guardia Kalli is there no more.
I'm still thinking of that windswept sea and sky, and wondering if Tune is with Ernest now. And how close I came to being with them.
Strange, though, when I thought I was going to die, I thought of Hiead. Not of Erts, like I thought I would. Hiead. His face appeared to me like a dream, and there was something I never thought I would see in Hiead's eyes that was there.
Fear. Desperation.
Looks like Hiead was thinking of me too.
By Sagitta
A/N: Er, I'm posting up reviews here, so if you reviewed, look here. . .
D-CHAN: Yup, angst! Me luv angst tooo. . .*smacks herself on head* Alright, too much of Jar-jar Binks. Yeah, it's Yamagi/Roose. But I'm focusing on Zero and Hiead. . .
SARASI: It's summer break for me, but I gotta piano competition, so I might update once a week. Actually, that's pretty good for me. . .~_^
GUNDAMESCA: Great to see ya, 'esca. I think you're talking a bit weird though. Are you sure you haven't been sucked into your little fantasy world in 'The Miscreant'? (Btw, keep writing that one!)
SONG: I luv Heero and Duo too! Whoo-hoo! But Hiead and Zero are definitely going together here. Yes, something is gonna happen to Erts. . .*cringes as Erts-lovers throw paper cans at her*
~_^: Um, thanks, I guess. . .
POETISA: Thanx! I can tell from your review you're prob quite a writer. See ya, and here's Chapter Four.
Chapter Four: Silver and Gold
1 I am Silver and You are Gold
Make new friends but keep the old
When all's done and all's told,
I am still Silver and You are still Gold.
The next morning was uneventful. Hiead packed as Zero waited on the veranda, his eyes never leaving the crashing waves and the seagulls above. Koritsu was to remain on the colony until they could send another shuttle to pick her up, since the shuttle they were leaving on was too public, with too many passengers. Zero had to admit she was quite impressive; after two years of battling with Ernn Laties, he knew enough about Ingrids to know the Angel had the same EX and general format, just with a few touch-ups on weaponry and power, and a few notable new attacks.
But, as he had felt before, there was so much of Hiead inside Koritsu. . .perhaps that was why he felt a strange magnetism to the looming figure, a distant strength he had felt a twinge of when he first set foot on the shore and wondered if Hiead was there.
He raised his hand in silent goodbye to the seagulls that circled above the waves as they prepared to leave to the shuttle car. Unbeknownst to Zero, Hiead watched him through the window, sensing how much Zero wanted to remain and surprisingly understanding. It wasn't the clandestine beauty, but rather the feeling of isolation, of finding oneself in the loneliness after so much searching. Koritsu. . .I've named you well.
The drive was monotonous. Zero asked a few scenery questions and Hiead answered in monosyllables. At last Zero decided to shut up and just stare vacantly outside as they passed through the city, Hiead completely ignoring him even though his thoughts were screaming at him to say something. When they arrived at the spaceport, the silence stretched on. The uneasiness between didn't go away, but just accented itself between them, taunting Hiead to make a move.
At last, as the shuttle began to pierce into the fabric of darkness that was outer space, Hiead spoke. "Zero?"
Zero turned to see him from where he was standing, next to the huge transparent screen that revealed the half of the colony in light and concealed the other in shadows. "Yes?"
Hiead stood up and walked over next to him; he was silent for a few moments as he stared out beyond the colony, before he finally noticed something in the distance. Probably my eyes are just playing tricks on me. . "What's that?"
"What's what?" Zero looked at him.
Hiead pointed to distant red specks that pulsated with energy, flashing red and then white and then red again. "Those things."
Zero's eyes narrowed for a moment, and then he gasped so sharply that Hiead looked at him, alarmed. "Victim Enforcers!"
Hiead grabbed the front of Zero's shirt. "You sure?" His voice was low and intense. Zero nodded numbly. Hiead let go of him and rushed past the other passengers in the shuttle, causing some of them to lift their heads and raise an eyebrow at the commotion. Zero bolted after him.
"Hiead, where are you going?"
Hiead calmly took out a computer chip and ran it through the mainframe. With a click, the mainframe confirmed the identity and the first door opened. "To the cockpit. We have to contact the other Goddesses to intercept them."
Zero grabbed his arm. His eyes were wide and pleading. "Hiead, it's too late. . .you don't understand how fast they move. We can't save the colony."
"If we can't save the colony, at least we can save the shuttle," Hiead muttered savagely, pulling his arm away as he went into the pilot's chamber. Zero sighed.
If you'd seen the battles I've seen. . .what makes you think they want us, Hiead? "What makes you think they want to attack the shuttle?" he voiced out loud. Hiead turned to look at him.
"Because they can sense our EX power," Hiead said coolly. "Combined, we're too big of a target to miss."
"They don't care about our EX," Zero argued. "They're looking for the colony to destroy and force us to move another base. It's the way they work; toward a single goal. When we were in the Ingrids, they never attacked us until we struck at them."
"Then they didn't need to attack, since you'd come to them." Hiead hacked into the second door, decoding the security mainframe while Zero cast a surreptitious glance around for any curious attendants. "Why waste energy when your enemy could burn fuel instead?"
"But. . .I don't think they can sense EX," Zero said helplessly.
Hiead snorted. "Trust me; they do. They're sensing Koritsu right now, and that's why they're heading toward the colony; I think they're going to split forces. One to attack us and absorb our EX and the other to destroy her."
Zero's eyes widened. "You have to save her then!"
Hiead tossed Zero a gun and pulled out a tracker. "That's why *you* have to go contact the Ingrids and hold the shuttle here while I contact Koritsu on the tracker. She's not entirely ready for a battle yet, but I can hold them off until you can get the Ingrids to arrive."
Zero stared at the gun as if it were a foreign object to his hands. "Very well then," he said quietly. He watched as Hiead donned a pilot suit that had been hanging on the rack. "Be careful, Hiead."
Hiead's eyes made contact with his, and then a smirk appeared on the former's face. "I'd be more worried about you." Zero scowled at him before stepping through the doorway. Cocky bastard. .
The pilot was relaxed and totally unprepared for the shadowy figure that mysteriously emerged from behind her. A hand suddenly clamped on her mouth and a soft voice whispered in her ear, "Keep the shuttle here in a radius of ten meters. There is a force of Victims coming this way to destroy us. . .and the colony."
The pilot stopped struggling for a moment and stared at the hidden figure with questioning eyes, uncomprehending. "You might think it's suicide staying here. . .but it's suicide going to GOA. If we keep the shuttle near the colony, help may come soon enough. Otherwise they'll kill us anyway if help doesn't." He motioned to the com. "Drop me a link to the GOA pilots. I need to speak with them."
The pilot shook her head, obviously thinking the attacker was a terrorist. Zero sighed. "Very well then. . ." With a lightning fast twist of his hand, the pilot fell to ground in an unconscious heap. He pushed her in a corner and swiftly typed in some commands to the com. "Come on. . .hurry up. . ."
He heard a muffled scream meaning that one of the attendants had seen Hiead in the docking bay, and then a dull thump. Hiead had no time for pleasantries, evidently. Zero made a mental note to stay away from Hiead's bad side. . .wait, Hiead was always in a bad mood.
Erts's smiling face appeared on the screen. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Zero and the smile vanished. "Zero! What's wrong?!"
Zero cursed the fates that his boyfriend had to be the one to receive his message; Erts would probably go berserk. "There's a troop of Victim Enforcers coming this way to the colony," he said hastily. Erts gasped. "No, it's not as bad as it sounds; Hiead's taking out the Angel –"
"*Hiead*?! Hiead Gnr?!?"
Zero suddenly realized that Erts didn't know about Hiead. "I don't have time to explain right now," he snapped quickly. "Erts, I need you and the other to take out the Ingrids and get here quickly. The coordinates are –"
"There's not enough time!" Erts looked like he was going to panic. Zero gritted his teeth.
"Just trust me, Erts! The coordinates are at Guardia Kalli, F987, B48. Just come as fast as you can, and prepare for battle. Got it?"
Erts nodded. "Okay. But. . .be careful, alright?"
Zero forced a smile and swallowed a lump in his throat. I might never see you again, Erts. . "Sure. Just . . . hurry!"
The last thing he saw before the com link broke was Erts's ashen face turning to Yamagi; and then black. Zero collapsed in the pilot's seat. He pushed himself, even though it seemed as if all his energy had faded with the V-Es's arrival, to clutch the gear and set the fuel level to minimal. They had to stay as close to the colony as possible; Zero wasn't sure if Koritsu could fly at 100% capacity since she wasn't completely finished. Done, his head sank into his hands. "Hiead. . ."
Outside, Hiead was waiting in the docking bay for the Angel to arrive. He had never tested her flight before except in short distances, and now he could only hope. He could already make out the outlines of the V- Es, huge beasts with gigantic wingspans that flashed like Christmas tree light bulbs. "Koritsu. . ." He willed himself to draw her to him, to feel her EX inch nearer to his. But every time he thought of her, his thoughts would drift to Zero and then he would start wondering if he would see Zero again. . .
There were at least three V-Es. . .
Goddess, he probably wouldn't survive. Clay had said it usually took four Ingrids to take down one weak V-E. He would have to throw everything he had into lasting as long as he could, using the last reserves of his EX. His fingers tightened around the tracker that was a communicator to her and the pilot that would soon be inside.
A faint glow was breaking from the colony's domed spaceport. . .
Throwing down the tracker, Hiead rushed closer to the window. Yes, he was right; it was Koritsu, coming at supersonic speed towards the shuttle. But in the moment he was waiting for her, the V-Es had covered at least half the distance. His fist clenched and unclenched. *Come on. . .*
The entrance opened. "Hiead?" Zero came into view. He took in a delighted breath at the glow. "Is that her?" And then suddenly he was next to Hiead.
Hiead nodded and then ordered reluctantly: "Go back to the cockpit, Zero. You're needed more there."
Zero shook his head. "Iie, Hiead. It's automatic. I'd rather stay here." He turned to watch as the V-Es drifted nearer with each wingbeat. "I wonder. . .how can there be wind in space?"
"Those wings aren't relying on wind," Hiead found himself saying. "They absorb EX particles in the dark matter when they beat their wings, and this powers them. I think it's how they get their energy – from absorbing EX."
Zero looked curiously at him. "How do you know so much, Hiead? I've been fighting against them for two years, and I didn't even know that there are EX particles!"
"Working with Koritsu," Hiead said quietly, "has taught me more than I want to know. The powers of EX are literally unlimited. . .and I'm not even close to discovering its secrets." He took a deep breath. "But I will. Someday."
They watched in silence as the race against time continued, and then Koritsu's looming, graceful figure appeared next to the shuttle. Zero could hear passengers screaming in the distance, and knew that they had not only seen her, but the V-Es. He stared helplessly after Hiead as the boy went in the Angel's cockpit and finally gave in to the flutter in his heart. "Don't die on me, Hiead. ." He looked at the ground, almost ashamed of his momentary weakness, and then noticed the black gadget lying on the floor.
"Hiead, you left your tracker," Zero whispered, picking up the discarded link.
Hiead's voice came in from inside the Angel. "That might be a good thing; I haven't put in the visual aids yet, so the screen is clouded. The only visual I have is the coordinate map to direct missiles."
"K'so," Zero muttered. This was going to be hard. . .
He watched as one of the three V-Es broke off from the rest, and came directly at Koritsu as the Angel primed for battle. Shaped like a dragon, with a fearsome snout containing metallic teeth and a bludgeon on its tail, it sailed the EX wind and neared for a charge. "It's coming right at you, Hiead. The other two have branched off – I think. . .I think they're going for a triad-pincer formation!"
Hiead leveled the glowing saber, charged with energy. Zero was close enough to see the electric EX sparks dance on the light blade, and then suddenly Koritsu moved in a split second so that all was a distant blur. Zero looked desperately around to find her, and it seemed that the Victim Enforcer was confused too, as it swung its midnight blue head in a radial turn –
And then suddenly Koritsu dropped from above the shuttle and scored a hit! Zero's breath caught as he watched the V-E scream in pain as its wing and part of its tail disintegrated like spacedust, then as it lashed out with deadly claws. The eyes started glowing with an eerie concentration. "Watch out, Hiead! It's preparing a telepathic EX reaction!"
"Shields up." Hiead came in, and Zero could hear the exhilaration in his voice; here was one born to pilot. "They should absorb the attack, so I can come in close range while it's preparing. ."
With a roar, the V-E let loose a telepathic wave of EX at Koritsu, and Zero felt the shock in the ground as he fell to floor and skid to the other wall. The EX encountered a dome that negated its effect, but the strength and force was enough to send Hiead crashing into the shuttle; a tiny crack appeared in the transom. Zero shakily grabbed the tracker that had fallen in the wave. "Hiead, try to turn away from the shuttle, but stay close enough so that I can see you."
"Affirmative." Koritsu started gliding to the other side of the V-E, the back side, and hit the scales with a physical barrage of missiles that exploded like fireworks. The V-E turned in annoyance, the missiles more like a dent than a serious threat to it. Zero bit his lip.
"Missiles won't be able to penetrate the shield, Hiead," he said worriedly. "Concentrate most of your power in the laser; we'll have to try to get to its core, right in the abdomen. . ."
"Crap," Hiead muttered. Zero could hear static and frantic button pushing in the background. "The visuals are out. Some EX did go past the shield –"
"Hiead! It's going for a ram!" Zero screamed into the tracker, his white- knuckled fingers clutching the small device like a lifeline. Hiead blocked the attack too late with the saber, and the force instead was diverted to his legs. Zero could see the V-E's jaws around the leg, thrashing it like a broken doll. . .
Then the monster was suddenly pushed back, almost all the way to the shuttle. A fierce light was emitting from the electric wires in the Angel, an EX shock that had made it let go, jaws numbed. "All right, it's about twenty meters forward, 5-degrees to the left."
Hiead raised the saber and prepared for an EX attack, concentrating on obliterating the target. "Alright, I have the scanner back on now, but not the main screen."
"Hiead! *Behind you*!"
With lightning speed, the saber whipped behind him and blindly slashed; at such a close range, the scanner didn't work. Hiead was lucky; it scored a hit on the neck, forcing the second V-E to retreat. The EX reaction concentrated on Koritsu's hand, and, turning the attention back to the first, was released as a massive spear of energy. Zero clasped his hands together, praying that it was dead, that it had annihilated everything to the core. . .
As the light faded, he saw that there was nothing but dust.
Zero breathed a sigh of relief as he scanned the darkness for the other one. There was a fiery red one, the second one he had just seen, and a multicolored one with a jade-green head yet to appear on the stage. His eyebrows knitted in concentration as he spread his EX; where was the damned thing?! "Shoot, maybe it went. . ."
"Koritsu's scanner shows that it's somewhere underneath me, but it's not coming up. I think it's going right. . .to the shuttle."
"Can you drive the offensive then?" Zero didn't like the sound of what Hiead just said. He's keeping something from me. . .
"I don't want to waste EX energy, and besides, there's the still the other one coming from my left," Hiead's neutral voice was driving Zero insane. "I think the one on the bottom is playing bait so that the other can attack the shuttle."
Zero looked to Hiead's left, and he could see a faint outline of where the V-E was staying. "Why aren't they going to the colony?"
"There's no EX to absorb there anymore. Guardia Kalli's a small colony, and not worth attacking." Hiead moved Koritsu closer to the shuttle. "They're going for a pincer attack! Do you see the Ingrids yet?"
Zero frantically looked to the left, where the Ingrids were supposed to be appearing from. "Goddess, they're slow!"
Hiead's voice was grim. "One's preparing an EX attack while the other goes in for the charge, since I can't put two shields up at the same time. I'll have to move farther from the shuttle in case we hit it." Zero bit back his protest as Koritsu drifted farther. Something felt wrong to him. . .
A red blur!
Koritsu barely moved fast enough to dodge the attack, but Hiead's clairvoyant EX ability had already anticipated the move; missiles sliced at the V-E's vulnerable head. But then an EX charge from seemingly nowhere crashed Koritsu onto a small asteroid nearby, and Zero could hear Hiead's grunt of pain. "Hiead! You okay?"
"My left arm's out. The EX core's leaking fast." Hiead's voice was as neutral as ever as he countered a slash. But the V-E had predicted he couldn't see moves at such a close range, and the tail rammed onto the other arm. Meanwhile Zero could see a glow emanating from the Angel, and with a cold shock, released that the V-E was *drinking* the EX flowing from it.
Koritsu struggled from underneath the heavier bulk, and then forced some of the last remnants of the EX in a shockwave toward the V-E. It was too strong by now and, eager at its first taste of the psychic energy, charged again. The energy was driving it mad with desire, and Hiead had to battle fiercely to drive it away. Zero felt useless as Hiead kept driving it back. Sooner or later the V-E would figure out that the EX shield-absorbers were gone, and would launch an EX attack. "Where are the Ingrids?!" he exploded finally, unable to take the tension anymore. Hiead wasn't going to last long. .
And then suddenly Hiead's voice broke through the static in the link, and for the first time Zero heard genuine panic. "Zero, a V-E is coming for the shuttle!"
Zero's eyes snapped back to the window as slowly, a huge, monstrous beast emerged from space, its head facing the shuttle screen. Glossy green scales reflected a hidden light, rippling with energy. Its jade green eyes were multi-faceted, glimmering with power and EX, and Zero felt trapped as he stared back. I'm going to die now. . He could vaguely hear Hiead struggling to get to the shuttle, and the screams of the passengers were in the faded background.
Time froze. . .
The Victim Enforcer opened its jaws, and Zero could see curved fangs and electric wires inside the pitch-black cavernous mouth. Goodbye, Hiead. . .
A small pinpoint of silver light burned in the darkness, growing ever larger and gathering more energy. . .
Zero closed his eyes.
So you are the One.
His eyes flew open at the voice, and then a golden streak went crashing into the V-E, pushing it away from the shuttle!
"Hiead!" The name tore from his throat unbidden as he shielded his eyes from the light. He felt Hiead's pain lance through their bodies simultaneously, and then he was floating in darkness.
Zero space.
Golden light gathered at his fingertips and he held up his hands in wonder; then golden threads emptied out of him into the Beyond.
Somewhere in that Beyond, Hiead lifted his head, and silver mixed with gold.
He pooled his energy into Koritsu as she rose up, a whole being once more, the strength and verdict of the Goddess behind her. The Victim Enforcer shrieked in agony as the bright light gathered force, and the darkness turned to light, and the saber slowly lifted. . .
They struck together.
~*~
Zero's Thoughts
Two days later. .
What happened that day? I'm still confused. My head is a hopeless whirl of Victim Enforcers, EX powers, and Hiead. The damn bastard wouldn't tell me what happened, even when I woke up in the infirmary a day later.
Erts gave me the reason they arrived so late. A score of Victim Enforcers launched an attack on GOA, and under siege, they were unable to leave. It wasn't until multiple casualties and injuries later that Erts was finally able to pull out to find us. Poor Erts was worried to death; his face is still drained of color.
What I heard there when I was about to die wasn't Hiead; it was a female voice, distant and yet near, so hauntingly familiar. . .in fact, the voice is just within my reach, but I can't make the connection. I don't even remember if I actually heard it. Maybe it was just my imagination.
And Tune. . .
You see, after Hiead and I collapsed onboard the shuttle, with Erts, Yamagi, and Roose escorting us, we left; only Hiead saw what happened later, because he was in the hangar. A V-E came after the ones we fought and took revenge on what we did, and Guardia Kalli is there no more.
I'm still thinking of that windswept sea and sky, and wondering if Tune is with Ernest now. And how close I came to being with them.
Strange, though, when I thought I was going to die, I thought of Hiead. Not of Erts, like I thought I would. Hiead. His face appeared to me like a dream, and there was something I never thought I would see in Hiead's eyes that was there.
Fear. Desperation.
Looks like Hiead was thinking of me too.
