Gundam Apocalypse
by Maria Rocket
***
Author's Notes: I felt I should mention that the Scorpios used in this fic aren't the same as ones in the Battlefield of Pacifist manga. I decided on the name back when I thought there weren't any Scorpio suits. Oh well, guess that's another big oops in this series for the time being. ^_^;
***
Chapter 8
***
A hand caught her wrist, pulling her back. With a gasp, Zara turned around to see someone in a black astrosuit standing there. Through the red sand, and reflection on the surface of his helmet, she barely glimpsed black almond-shaped eyes regarding her in near disbelief.
"What's a child doing down here?"
"Huh?" Zara blinked back the tears that had been threatening to form moments before. Suddenly, she was filled with rage. This had to be one of Falkner's men! "You've killed them!" She cried, hurling herself at him. She managed to punch him once in the gut, and the deep gasp he gave was a strangely satisfying sound.
The stranger lashed out, hitting her hard in the side. With a cry of pain, she fell to the sand. She struggled to move, but it hurt too much. Moving her head, she saw Aleta step up beside him.
"Don't hurt her, Uncle Wufei!"
Wufei looked around in surprise. "Aleta? So you're alive!"
***
Inside the facility, Heero and the others jumped at the sound of an explosion. Trowa winced in pain at the sound. "They've come back."
"Heero, the shuttle!" Quatre cried. In his hands, he gripped the helmet he'd been about to place on Trowa's newly scavenged astrosuit. If he hadn't been occupied supporting Trowa, he would have been running outside now. Zara was calling for him, he could hear her...
He knew he must look as panicked as he felt, because Trowa was watching him curiously. Heero's own eyes widened as the significance of the sound sank in. Then as quickly as the emotion flickered across his face, it disappeared as his eyes narrowed in decision.
"Everyone stay here," Heero ordered. "I'm going to have a look."
Before anyone could argue, he had run off, leaving them all behind.
***
He was in hell.
That's all Solo could think as he saw the burning sparks raining down through the red winds. His body ached from the fall. Wincing, he turned and saw someone nearby, sprawled on the ground.
The helmet was completely cracked open, and there was blood everywhere. A sudden terror overwhelmed him. Shaking, he forced himself up.
"Zara!"
Stumbling over his big clunky astroboots, he scrambled over to the body. It was Officer Rand, staring lifelessly into the storm. Solo's mouth tightened into a grim line. He knew it was wrong to feel relieved, but he was. Zara was still alive.
Behind him, there was a brilliant flash, and more explosions. Standing on weak knees, he squinted into the glare.
In the middle of the blazing remains of the shuttle was a monster. A giant red monster on legs too short for its body, which was hunched and stout. A very long coil extended its body into a slender shape, like an armored snake. A tiny round head turned and scanned the area with burning yellow eyes. Solo held his breath as the Scorpio MD seemed to stare right at him.
Then it turned away and walked two heavy steps before the coils sparked to life. Within moments it was spinning away into the air.
"Solo, is that you!?"
The voice was broken up with static, but Solo spun around instantly. "Zara! Where are you?" He could see her now though, running through the sands. He started running.
He nearly fell over as the girl didn't stop her momentum at all as she embraced him. She was crying and pounding his back with her fist, and he was sure he would pass out again from the abuse any minute if she didn't cool it soon. He was too stunned to move away.
"Who's there?" Over Zara's shoulder, Solo could see two people coming towards them. One in an small astrosuit was obviously Aleta. The other was taller, wearing black. This one, a man he didn't recognize, stopped a few steps before reaching them.
The man was staring at him with wide, shocked dark eyes. "So it is true," he narrowed his eyes as if trying to focus better, and came closer. "You're Duo Maxwell's son, aren't you?"
"Yeah." Solo looked to Zara, who had finally moved away to face their new companion. She had managed to compose herself, but there was nothing she could do to hide the wetness streaking her pale cheeks.
"This is Wufei Chang," Zara explained.
"Gundam Pilot 05," Solo said almost to himself. "What are you doing down here?" He knew the man was now with the Preventers, married to the Preventers Commander even, but anyone who had survived what had gone down on this planet was not above Solo's suspicion.
The man with the obsidian eyes just stared at him for another moment. Then he turned to scowl out at the bloody sands. "I came here at a request from Preventer Barton. He had reason to believe something fishy was going on down here. I was doing reconnaissance of the mountains north of here when we were attacked. I... I just now got back with the dune buggy." He raised an eyebrow. "Now what are you doing here? I've heard some rather unsavory things concerning you. If you have anything to do with this, I'll take you down, no matter whose son you are."
"Wufei!" It was Heero, running towards them in the storm. "So you made it. We found Trowa inside, he's the only one still alive. Anyone still alive out here better follow me before you're all spotted."
"Trowa's alive?" Zara brightened. "Oh, thank goodness. Quatre was so worried."
As if really noticing her for the first time, Wufei looked at Zara. Then he shook his head. "Right. Lead the way Heero." He frowned slightly. "I don't remember the way back too well."
***
Pain blazed through Trowa's leg, despite the medicine Quatre had given him. It was nothing he couldn't handle, though. He had lived through far worse. While Quatre was supporting him, he could stand, and that was good enough for now. He was more concerned about where Heero had gone to. They had to get out while they could still get help.
They all jumped at the sound of boots running in. It was Heero, Wufei, and three kids. He was relieved to see Wufei and Aleta safe, but what was Heero thinking bringing kids down here? Then he realized that the boy could be no one other than Solo. The resemblance to his old friend was just too uncanny. That meant the other girl had to be Zara.
Speaking of resemblances, that girl was definitely one of Quatre's many relatives. But Trowa had a good eye for faces, and she was not any of the many sisters and nieces he had met over the years. Something about her also reminded him strongly of his sister Catherine. It was probably just the hair.
"Wufei, so you're here too?" Quatre said. "What happened out there?"
"Some new mobile suits attacked," Wufei growled. "They just took out your guys' shuttle."
"What!? Then we're stuck here!?" One of the officers yelled.
"Calm down!" Heero warned him. "Wufei tells me there's another way out."
"There's another shuttle pad about a mile off." Wufei told them. "It's hidden away from here, so they probably didn't know about it." Wufei turned to Trowa. "You were right. I found the source in the mountains, just north of here. They were right on top of us."
"That's where the Scorpio went after it attacked us!" Solo jumped in.
"Trowa?" Heero frowned, putting up a hand to silence Solo.
"After you left, Heero," Trowa began, "some sort of signal began interfering with all broadcasts on Luna. It was weak at first, but the signal has grown increasingly stronger. By now, it's probably causing problems throughout the entire Earthsphere. I was able to narrow down the source in the vicinity of Mars, and left with Wufei to investigate. I also attempted to contact you and Quatre, but I wasn't sure if you would receive anything through the static."
"It was enough," Heero said. "So I'm assuming you and Wufei came up here, and found the source of the interference was coming from somewhere in the Martian mountains."
Trowa nodded. "Yes. I suspected from the start that the MS fleet you sighted on the Moon might have something to do with it, but I didn't want to raise alarm." His face twisted. "I should have reacted sooner."
"It wasn't your fault, Trowa." Quatre said softly. "You didn't know."
"But now we know exactly where in the mountains the signal is coming from." Wufei said with a note triumph. "I finally have the coordinates. They're hiding in a valley back there. Big enough to fit several fleets of MS."
"Don't sound so happy about that, Wufei," Quatre said, looking a bit paler.
"At least now we know where to find the bastards," Trowa muttered. "So, now what do we do?"
Solo broke in again. "Maybe if me and Zara used Apocalypse and Persephone, we'd be able to-"
"Absolutely not!" Heero rounded on him. "You two aren't getting back in those suits!" His hard stare was enough to momentarily stun Solo. Then he turned it on Quatre and Trowa. "Wufei and I will check out this valley. You two take the others back to the Preventers ship. You can check back for us in a few hours."
"No!" Solo seemed to gather all his courage to face Heero. "You have to let me help! I need to do something!"
"It's too dangerous. You'll only get in the way." Heero said grimly.
"Please." Solo pleaded. "Give me a chance to make up for what I've done. I- I can't make it right again, but let me do *something*!"
Heero considered him sternly for a moment. Then he shook his head. "Alright."
"If Solo's going, then so am I!" Zara stepped up.
Trowa saw Quatre react as if he were going to protest, but Heero spoke up first.
"No." He said firmly. "I refuse to be responsible for anyone else where we're going. You'll leave with the others, is that understood?"
"Please, Zara. I have to do this." Solo said quietly.
"Zara." Quatre sounded like he might start pleading too. Trowa again found himself wondering just who the girl was. The look of worry she was giving Solo at the moment was one he was just too familiar with.
She glanced from Solo to Quatre, then back again, looking particularly torn. Solo unfastened his helmet, and reached into his suit. He pulled out what looked like a silver chain, and pushed it into her hand. When he let go of it, Trowa could see on the chain, a silver cross.
"Don't give us a hard time. Look, I'll be wanting that back, so keep it safe, would'ya?" Solo glared at her as he refastened his helmet roughly. "God, I think you're starting to get all clingy on me."
Clutching the cross tightly, Zara's emerald eyes flared. "Clingy!?" She marched off and went to help support Trowa's other side. "Well, go get killed for all I care!"
Heero gave his head a half shake as he turned away. "Quatre, six hours, tops. We're just going to have a look around. If possible, send for backup. Tell someone we can trust."
"Roger." Quatre nodded. "Be careful, all of you."
"Don't get killed." Aleta said softly, giving Zara a brief sour glance.
by Maria Rocket
***
Author's Notes: I felt I should mention that the Scorpios used in this fic aren't the same as ones in the Battlefield of Pacifist manga. I decided on the name back when I thought there weren't any Scorpio suits. Oh well, guess that's another big oops in this series for the time being. ^_^;
***
Chapter 8
***
A hand caught her wrist, pulling her back. With a gasp, Zara turned around to see someone in a black astrosuit standing there. Through the red sand, and reflection on the surface of his helmet, she barely glimpsed black almond-shaped eyes regarding her in near disbelief.
"What's a child doing down here?"
"Huh?" Zara blinked back the tears that had been threatening to form moments before. Suddenly, she was filled with rage. This had to be one of Falkner's men! "You've killed them!" She cried, hurling herself at him. She managed to punch him once in the gut, and the deep gasp he gave was a strangely satisfying sound.
The stranger lashed out, hitting her hard in the side. With a cry of pain, she fell to the sand. She struggled to move, but it hurt too much. Moving her head, she saw Aleta step up beside him.
"Don't hurt her, Uncle Wufei!"
Wufei looked around in surprise. "Aleta? So you're alive!"
***
Inside the facility, Heero and the others jumped at the sound of an explosion. Trowa winced in pain at the sound. "They've come back."
"Heero, the shuttle!" Quatre cried. In his hands, he gripped the helmet he'd been about to place on Trowa's newly scavenged astrosuit. If he hadn't been occupied supporting Trowa, he would have been running outside now. Zara was calling for him, he could hear her...
He knew he must look as panicked as he felt, because Trowa was watching him curiously. Heero's own eyes widened as the significance of the sound sank in. Then as quickly as the emotion flickered across his face, it disappeared as his eyes narrowed in decision.
"Everyone stay here," Heero ordered. "I'm going to have a look."
Before anyone could argue, he had run off, leaving them all behind.
***
He was in hell.
That's all Solo could think as he saw the burning sparks raining down through the red winds. His body ached from the fall. Wincing, he turned and saw someone nearby, sprawled on the ground.
The helmet was completely cracked open, and there was blood everywhere. A sudden terror overwhelmed him. Shaking, he forced himself up.
"Zara!"
Stumbling over his big clunky astroboots, he scrambled over to the body. It was Officer Rand, staring lifelessly into the storm. Solo's mouth tightened into a grim line. He knew it was wrong to feel relieved, but he was. Zara was still alive.
Behind him, there was a brilliant flash, and more explosions. Standing on weak knees, he squinted into the glare.
In the middle of the blazing remains of the shuttle was a monster. A giant red monster on legs too short for its body, which was hunched and stout. A very long coil extended its body into a slender shape, like an armored snake. A tiny round head turned and scanned the area with burning yellow eyes. Solo held his breath as the Scorpio MD seemed to stare right at him.
Then it turned away and walked two heavy steps before the coils sparked to life. Within moments it was spinning away into the air.
"Solo, is that you!?"
The voice was broken up with static, but Solo spun around instantly. "Zara! Where are you?" He could see her now though, running through the sands. He started running.
He nearly fell over as the girl didn't stop her momentum at all as she embraced him. She was crying and pounding his back with her fist, and he was sure he would pass out again from the abuse any minute if she didn't cool it soon. He was too stunned to move away.
"Who's there?" Over Zara's shoulder, Solo could see two people coming towards them. One in an small astrosuit was obviously Aleta. The other was taller, wearing black. This one, a man he didn't recognize, stopped a few steps before reaching them.
The man was staring at him with wide, shocked dark eyes. "So it is true," he narrowed his eyes as if trying to focus better, and came closer. "You're Duo Maxwell's son, aren't you?"
"Yeah." Solo looked to Zara, who had finally moved away to face their new companion. She had managed to compose herself, but there was nothing she could do to hide the wetness streaking her pale cheeks.
"This is Wufei Chang," Zara explained.
"Gundam Pilot 05," Solo said almost to himself. "What are you doing down here?" He knew the man was now with the Preventers, married to the Preventers Commander even, but anyone who had survived what had gone down on this planet was not above Solo's suspicion.
The man with the obsidian eyes just stared at him for another moment. Then he turned to scowl out at the bloody sands. "I came here at a request from Preventer Barton. He had reason to believe something fishy was going on down here. I was doing reconnaissance of the mountains north of here when we were attacked. I... I just now got back with the dune buggy." He raised an eyebrow. "Now what are you doing here? I've heard some rather unsavory things concerning you. If you have anything to do with this, I'll take you down, no matter whose son you are."
"Wufei!" It was Heero, running towards them in the storm. "So you made it. We found Trowa inside, he's the only one still alive. Anyone still alive out here better follow me before you're all spotted."
"Trowa's alive?" Zara brightened. "Oh, thank goodness. Quatre was so worried."
As if really noticing her for the first time, Wufei looked at Zara. Then he shook his head. "Right. Lead the way Heero." He frowned slightly. "I don't remember the way back too well."
***
Pain blazed through Trowa's leg, despite the medicine Quatre had given him. It was nothing he couldn't handle, though. He had lived through far worse. While Quatre was supporting him, he could stand, and that was good enough for now. He was more concerned about where Heero had gone to. They had to get out while they could still get help.
They all jumped at the sound of boots running in. It was Heero, Wufei, and three kids. He was relieved to see Wufei and Aleta safe, but what was Heero thinking bringing kids down here? Then he realized that the boy could be no one other than Solo. The resemblance to his old friend was just too uncanny. That meant the other girl had to be Zara.
Speaking of resemblances, that girl was definitely one of Quatre's many relatives. But Trowa had a good eye for faces, and she was not any of the many sisters and nieces he had met over the years. Something about her also reminded him strongly of his sister Catherine. It was probably just the hair.
"Wufei, so you're here too?" Quatre said. "What happened out there?"
"Some new mobile suits attacked," Wufei growled. "They just took out your guys' shuttle."
"What!? Then we're stuck here!?" One of the officers yelled.
"Calm down!" Heero warned him. "Wufei tells me there's another way out."
"There's another shuttle pad about a mile off." Wufei told them. "It's hidden away from here, so they probably didn't know about it." Wufei turned to Trowa. "You were right. I found the source in the mountains, just north of here. They were right on top of us."
"That's where the Scorpio went after it attacked us!" Solo jumped in.
"Trowa?" Heero frowned, putting up a hand to silence Solo.
"After you left, Heero," Trowa began, "some sort of signal began interfering with all broadcasts on Luna. It was weak at first, but the signal has grown increasingly stronger. By now, it's probably causing problems throughout the entire Earthsphere. I was able to narrow down the source in the vicinity of Mars, and left with Wufei to investigate. I also attempted to contact you and Quatre, but I wasn't sure if you would receive anything through the static."
"It was enough," Heero said. "So I'm assuming you and Wufei came up here, and found the source of the interference was coming from somewhere in the Martian mountains."
Trowa nodded. "Yes. I suspected from the start that the MS fleet you sighted on the Moon might have something to do with it, but I didn't want to raise alarm." His face twisted. "I should have reacted sooner."
"It wasn't your fault, Trowa." Quatre said softly. "You didn't know."
"But now we know exactly where in the mountains the signal is coming from." Wufei said with a note triumph. "I finally have the coordinates. They're hiding in a valley back there. Big enough to fit several fleets of MS."
"Don't sound so happy about that, Wufei," Quatre said, looking a bit paler.
"At least now we know where to find the bastards," Trowa muttered. "So, now what do we do?"
Solo broke in again. "Maybe if me and Zara used Apocalypse and Persephone, we'd be able to-"
"Absolutely not!" Heero rounded on him. "You two aren't getting back in those suits!" His hard stare was enough to momentarily stun Solo. Then he turned it on Quatre and Trowa. "Wufei and I will check out this valley. You two take the others back to the Preventers ship. You can check back for us in a few hours."
"No!" Solo seemed to gather all his courage to face Heero. "You have to let me help! I need to do something!"
"It's too dangerous. You'll only get in the way." Heero said grimly.
"Please." Solo pleaded. "Give me a chance to make up for what I've done. I- I can't make it right again, but let me do *something*!"
Heero considered him sternly for a moment. Then he shook his head. "Alright."
"If Solo's going, then so am I!" Zara stepped up.
Trowa saw Quatre react as if he were going to protest, but Heero spoke up first.
"No." He said firmly. "I refuse to be responsible for anyone else where we're going. You'll leave with the others, is that understood?"
"Please, Zara. I have to do this." Solo said quietly.
"Zara." Quatre sounded like he might start pleading too. Trowa again found himself wondering just who the girl was. The look of worry she was giving Solo at the moment was one he was just too familiar with.
She glanced from Solo to Quatre, then back again, looking particularly torn. Solo unfastened his helmet, and reached into his suit. He pulled out what looked like a silver chain, and pushed it into her hand. When he let go of it, Trowa could see on the chain, a silver cross.
"Don't give us a hard time. Look, I'll be wanting that back, so keep it safe, would'ya?" Solo glared at her as he refastened his helmet roughly. "God, I think you're starting to get all clingy on me."
Clutching the cross tightly, Zara's emerald eyes flared. "Clingy!?" She marched off and went to help support Trowa's other side. "Well, go get killed for all I care!"
Heero gave his head a half shake as he turned away. "Quatre, six hours, tops. We're just going to have a look around. If possible, send for backup. Tell someone we can trust."
"Roger." Quatre nodded. "Be careful, all of you."
"Don't get killed." Aleta said softly, giving Zara a brief sour glance.