1 Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. As with any fanfiction author, I am
only borrowing the Gundam Wing characters. The Wakari are my own creation,
so if the name bears a similarity to that owned by somebody else, it is not
intended, merely a coincidence.
2
3 Author's Note: Uploading to Fanfiction.net disrupts the format. Forgive me if it doesn't look very neat, without the indentations, italics and all. (the instruction says save as HTML to preserve formatting, but the results are even more screwed up)
4 On The Wings of War
5
6 Chapter 1 – The New World
7
8 *****
9 AC 208 – December 8
10
11 Mission log 5849-08
I can't sleep. Too many of the enemy around.
Two days in this hell hole. Nothing to eat. Two companions are asleep.
Information retrieved. However, it is unclear how we would manage the return to base.
Footsteps. Might be enemy soldiers. Heero Yuy out.
*****
Heero put down his digital recorder. He slowly picked up his gun and flipped the safety off. He heard the sounds draw closer, almost as if something was moving in the passage to his left. His cold gaze turned toward the bend in the ventilation tunnel. As soon as his eye caught something, he quickly raised his gun and prepared to fire. But no bullet was launched.
"Just a rat. Kuso It must be the hunger…" he whispered to himself as he lowered his weapon. He glanced sideways and saw that his sudden movement had awakened the blue-haired girl whose head was on his shoulder.
The girl yawned. "Mmm…wha…what happened Heero?"
"Nothing. Go back to sleep."
Their other companion began to stir as well. He woke up with a start, and reached for the gun he had been using as a pillow.
"Fell asleep…you should've woke me Heero," he said.
"You should get all the rest you can, Trowa," he replied. "Our escape would require us at our optimum condition."
~~~
AC 205 – January 6 (Three Years Earlier)
General Zechs Marquise, Supreme Adjutant of the newly-founded United Federation of Nations Armed Forces, looked on from the balcony of the UFNAF war room. He watched as small spacecraft bearing diplomats airlifted from the parking lot and sped off towards the outer reaches of Earth's atmosphere.
"Foolish sister…" he grumbled. "The Federation has been alive for only five years and she's already negotiating with alien life forms. She didn't even wait for the full consolidation of our power. I swear, she'll be the death of humanity at this rate…"
Five years ago, after much rebuilding from the ruins of recent wars, Earth found itself forming another global alliance. This time, the unified kingdoms and nations formed a Federation, a system that would grant more local control and give less reason for nationalists to rebel against an oppressive central government. But getting the kingdoms and nations to accept another universal body was exhaustive diplomatic work, especially in the Colonies. The far-flung space superstructures had the potential to be very alienated, and accepting a controlling government from the surface was no easy thing. But the leaders of the Colonies were reasonable, and would eventually sign on with the Federation. But consolidating the monopoly of the legitimate use of force by the Federation is yet to be completed fully.
During the year AC204, four years after the formation of the Federation, one of the UFNAF scout ships on a test run for a new engine managed to reach several hundred light years outside the solar system on a successful mission. It was intercepted by strange, unknown vessels. Its pilot, Lt. Commander Heero Yuy, was captured by a sentient alien race. The event was since known as First Contact, and was considered by the UFN to be quite the historic event. The alien race, who called themselves the Wakari, returned the captured pilot. After a year of "cultural exchanges", they signed a mutual cooperation treaty.
It was that treaty, negotiated between UFN external affairs minister Relena Peacecraft and Wakari Shino Ubri Kan ( High Military Chief) Kan Ber'kul, that bothered General Marquise. The treaty negotiated by his sister exposed the Earth to the wiles of a powerful alien race before its nations were fully united. It could be one-sided and easily abused by the Wakari, and the humans did not have the military capability to make sure it is enforced. With the Gundams destroyed, the Earth would be virtually defenseless against the monstrous Wakari space cruisers.
His sister turned a deaf ear to his caution. Relena considered the treaty her brainchild, and had pushed and lobbied for the treaty in the World Parliament. The idea, coupled with Relena's popularity as external affairs minister, quickly gained ground. General Marquise had tried to secretly lobby against his own sister, and a little bit of arm-twisting bore fruit in an opposition movement against the signing of any treaty. There was a long and bitter debate on the issue, but after the smoke had settled, Relena's faction had won by a slight majority.
Relena had been excited by the prospects. The Wakari were a beautiful people. The looked almost identical to humans, except for their silvery hair, elongated ears and the short, slender horn that protrudes out of their foreheads. The cultural exchange revealed an advanced society that spanned many planets. Their technological advances could be useful to Earth, and could open up humanity to a greater universe out there.
Zechs watched, vexed, as Relena stepped out with the Wakari general. The tall, handsome general was talking animatedly, making pompous gestures in the air as he talked. Relena looked fascinated, and laughed when the general did.
"Go on, fawn over him like a two-dollar whore…" he muttered angrily. "Let's see how you smile when his missiles are trained at your home, annihilating your progeny…"
"Sir!"
General Marquise, startled out of his thoughts, turned and saw a young officer with a crisp salute. He returned the gesture, and walked to his table, tossing his cap onto it.
"I didn't even hear you come in." Zechs remarked, smiling wryly. "You've gotten better at your job. I pray nobody commissions you to come after me, Lieutenant Commander Heero Yuy."
"Sir, you asked for me? sir!" Heero asked, his voice dispassionate.
"Ah, yes." Zechs pulled up a chair and sat down. He beckoned Heero to come closer. Heero complied.
"Have you and my sister been communicating?" Zechs asked.
"No, sir. I do not have any R&R scheduled for the next three months." Heero replied coldly. "I do not intend to contact Minister Peacecraft while on base."
"Ahhh, ever the Spartan…" Zechs said. "She talks about you a lot, you know?"
"I wouldn't know, sir."
"Well, she does." Zechs said. "She also gets that sparkle in her eye whenever she mentions your name. I, for one, do not know how my sister could have fallen for a….machine like you."
Heero did not flinch. The description was not new to him. He had gotten used to being called a machine over time. Even the Wakari were impressed by his inhuman resilience and fortitude, as well as amused by his Stoic silence.
"She obviously has some feelings for you." Zechs continued. "Do you have feelings for her?"
Heero showed no emotion still, despite the highly personal question. "Sir, feelings are irrelevant in my line of work. She is not important in the accomplishment of any mission. I communicate with her only when necessary, or when she initiates. Other than that, I give no importance to her. Sir."
Zechs smiled. "Impressive. If only all UFN soldiers were as dedicated to their duties as you are. Now, for your assignment."
Zechs picked up a remote control unit and turned on a projection machine. On the wall to his left, a picture of a woman flickered on the canvas screen.
"Do you recognize this woman?" General Marquise asked Lt. Commander Yuy.
"External Affairs Minister Relena Peacecraft, sir," he replied.
"Now, for your mission…" General Marquise paused. "I must warn you, its not going to be what you're used to."
"I'll innovate, adapt and overcome, sir." Lt. Commander Yuy snapped quickly.
Zechs turned off the machine. "Very well, commander."
He stood up. "Commander Yuy, I want you to give Relena Peacecraft what she wants. You are to spend time with her, get closer to her….the works."
Heero's eyebrows twitched. "How do I do that, sir?"
Zechs smiled. "You will be assigned to her security detail. Tactical Security Squadron Eagle. That means you'll be her personal bodyguard. That should make it easier for you. And with your R&R coming up…let's just say, you'd be in good position."
"To what end, sir?" Heero asked.
"Questioning orders, Commander?" Zechs asked, amused. "That is quite unbecoming of Tactical Command's deadliest human weapon. But I'll oblige you. After all, I'd have to tell you eventually. Do not worry, I do not want you to assassinate her. After all, she is my sister. But after this new treaty with the Wakari, I have to do something. I want you to give me information on Relena's plans, before she sells out again to these blasted aliens. You know, like I do, the foolishness she has done in negotiating with the Wakari. She even had military spending compromised so we wouldn't seem so "hostile" to these aliens. She's left the earth vulnerable. I want you to help me keep that from happening again…"
"Understood. Ninmu ryokai…" Heero said. He saluted and walked out the door.
As soon as Heero left, Zechs dropped back to his seat and glanced at a chessboard he kept near his desk. He had been playing a game against himself. This time, he moved the black pawn within striking distance of the white queen…
~~~
Zechs pulled his car into the driveway of his two-story Victorian home. It was quite the sight, especially amongst the rest of the houses within the military compound. He stepped out of the car and walked across a beautiful garden to reach the doorstep. He rang the doorbell, and the door was promptly opened by a servant He stepped inside and asked, "Where's my wife?"
"She is on the balcony, sir," she replied.
Zechs headed up the stairs towards the balcony. His breath caught when he spotted her there, gazing into the horizon. He stood there, staring at her through the glass doors…
Her long, blue hair fluttered, caught in the gentle summer breeze. She had on a simple yellow sun dress, rendered gold by the rays of the setting sun. It seemed as if she was clothed in the fleeting light, and Zechs stood spellbound. Slowly, he turned the knob of the glass door and eventually had it open.
"Honey, I'm home…" he said, half-joking.
She didn't turn, as if she never heard. Zechs walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder.
"You know, I miss having you run up to me whenever I said that," he whispered in her ear.
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "After four years, I thought you'd be tired of being hugged and kissed whenever you came through the door."
"What?" Zechs asked, with mock surprise. "I haven't changed that much. I'm pretty sure I'm still the man I was when we got married."
She covered his hand with her own. "What do you mean? You cut off your long platinum blonde hair…that hair I loved to run my hands through."
Zechs ran his hand through his shortened locks. "I didn't think it made me look bad. Do I look ugly with my hair short?"
She leaned into him, her head resting on his chest. "Not really. I've seen the looks the younger female lieutenants give you. But do they don't know that you snore loudly when you sleep? That you keep losing your keys in the morning? Or that you are grumpy whenever the newspaper comes in late?"
"What are you saying Lucrezia?" he said, surprised. "That I wasn't what you expected? That I wasn't the man you had hoped to marry?"
"You don't have to be so melodramatic, Zechs," she said, gently elbowing his ribs. "But, from dashing rogue to stiff general…I can't help but look for Milliardo Peacecraft from time to time."
Zechs winced at the mention of his old name. Upon hearing of the creation of another powerful union of nations, he abandoned the Mars terra-forming project and returned to Earth. He had wanted to be part of the new beginning, and hoped to help make it right this time. When he decided to join the ranks of the newly formed Federation army, he had his name officially changed to the alias he had been using. He had wanted to distance himself from his sister to prevent suspicions of nepotism, and the name change also signaled a new start. It was also then that he cut his long hair short The new Zechs Marquise was the anti-thesis of the rogue Peacecraft. Living with an alias and a rebel cause no more, he became a model officer. Within a year, he was made Supreme Adjutant of the UFNAF and Commander of the Army, with the four-star designation of any member of the High Military Council along with the rank of full general. It was also then that he was married.
"People change…" he said. "…or rather, perspectives change. That old me is gone. Is that the thing that's been bothering you?"
"No, its not that its bothering me." she said. "Although I do miss that side of you sometimes. The last time I saw it was that night you proposed. And that was quite a long time ago. I did expect a roller coaster ride once, thinking you'd be like that forever. But I did settle down, didn't I?"
"Who would have thought you would make such an excellent military wife," he said, resting his cheek on her head. "From a tough, tomboy Colonel to the sweetest woman any man could ask for…"
Lucrezia Noin had risen quickly through the ranks as well. She had been in the military while Zechs was still a rebel. She had planned to go to Mars to join the terra-forming project, but was wooed back by the military. After the wars that plagued Earth and the Colonies had ended, she was promoted over several ranks to become a full Colonel. It was a brilliant soldier's career, matched only by few. And one of those few happened to be Zechs Marquise, who was chosen over her for promotion to general. And not only to the rank of lieutenant general, but to that of full general with an official position in the Council. She had been angry at the military, angry at the bureaucracy, angry at her superiors, but most of all, angry at him. He was a former prince, a member of the elite class and a son of the patriarchy. After trying to make it in the boys' military and matching the achievements of any gifted male officer, they had to choose him. She knew he was good, but in her mind he was chosen only because he had been one of them. She did love him, and their hot-and-cold relationship had been going on for years. But having him promoted over her was too much. The day he was promoted, the generals had thrown him a party, which was ironic since he was a former rebel who nearly destroyed the Colonies. She had planned to go to the party and beat the tar out of him, even if it meant being dishonorably discharged for attacking a senior officer. She had gone in, prepared to give General Marquise the most humiliating experience of his career. But then, in the middle of the ballroom, he proposed…
After their well-attended banquet of a wedding, she slowly released herself from the trappings of military life. She sought a desk job and got one as one of her husband's staff members. From up close, she witnessed the demanding amount of work her husband had to endure. Not only was he preoccupied with military planning and tactical deployment, he was also made head of the Logistics Department, busy with allocating the money allowed to them by the World Parliament to form a cohesive budget. On top of that, he was almost constantly tapped as the unofficial resident diplomat, having to charm his way through the many political circles in order to get them to support military spending. Both of them ended up very tired, especially Zechs, who rarely spent an hour awake at home. After six months, she sought an honorable discharge despite his recommendations. She spent most of her time at home, taking care of her over-worked husband. She let her hair grow long, and her muscled, somewhat masculine body eventually filled out and softened into a more feminine figure. She had also learned how to garden, sew and cook food other than emergency rations. As time went on, Zechs' workload slowly began to ease up, and he began spending more time at home. They had been very happy. After spending most of her young life in the hustle of the military, she adjusted well to the peace and quiet her new lifestyle had to offer.
"I changed for you, you know," she said to him. "I knew you needed a wife, not another staffer."
"And I appreciate what you did," he replied. "But I didn't ask you to change."
"You were just too politically correct to ask," she said, smiling at him again. She slowly turned to face him. "After being with you for so long, I know many of the things you want. You're just too scared to say it."
"You have done so much for me, I know…" he said. "But what is it that you'd want of me?"
"I don't really know…" she said. "I suppose I cannot ask for the old Zechs back. I've even come to fall in love with this side of you as well…even your little quirks and habits. I'm not a very demanding person, I suppose all I can want from you at the moment is that you remain faithful. And that you just be you. Any more changes might give me a heart attack."
"I always have been faithful," he said. "Besides, no other woman can put up with me the way you do. I can't imagine being with anybody else."
"That's why I love you…" she said, drawing him closer. They kissed as the setting sun disappeared over the distant horizon, its dying embers fading as the sky grew dark.
"So…." Zechs said after breaking the kiss. "…when are we going to have kids?"
Lucrezia simply smiled at him and kissed his nose. "Let's go inside honey. Dinner might get cold."
~~~
Lt. Commander Heero Yuy lay quietly on his bed, his mind a reminiscent distance away. His officer's quarters was in disarray. Several gun parts and rounds of ammunition were piled haphazardly in every corner of the room. On his desk lay several papers, including those for his latest assignment. On one hand, he held a picture of Relena. On his other hand, he held the two-pip insignia, symbol of his rank equivalent in the Army. Tactical Security Squadron Eagle was under the Army's jurisdiction, and he was to change rank from Lt. Commander to Lt. Colonel. He knew it was part of the job. There was a word among generals for multi-purpose soldiers like him. "Swiss Knives"…versatile men who could be shifted to any military branch and perform any task required. It wouldn't be the first time he jumped between Space Fleet and Army.
After the destruction of his Gundam Wing Zero, he disappeared for four years. He spent his time jumping from mercenary group to mercenary group. When he learned of the formation of a new order, he decided to resurface. Besides, there was someone he'd like to see. He came to Relena's home in the dead of night, saying he was seeking shelter from bounty hunters. Relena had been all too happy to oblige. Of course, there were no bounty hunters, he had just wanted to see how she was after four years of absence. He was about to leave again, but this time she stopped him. It was that night that she convinced him to join the Federation Army.
Despite being used to working alone, Heero immediately adjusted. He quickly distinguished himself as an army officer. He participated in three consecutive campaigns, putting down revolts and uprisings in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. In the Battle of Sandoval Pass, he single- handedly killed 300 separatist rebels while holding a strategic pillbox by himself. The act earned him a Silver Star and a promotion to the rank of Captain. During the Tanganyika Campaign, he led a company of the 7th Ranger Division (known as the Panthers) in a night raid of the heavily-fortified compound of rebel General Mokele that resulted in the capture of the rebel leader and the eradication of his elite guard unit. Captain Heero Yuy, in formal military dress and the division's trademark black beret, was awarded the Legion of Honor and the Golden Fang, the kingdom of Tanzania's highest military honor, in an elaborate ceremony attended by General Marquise and Relena herself.
He rarely saw Relena while in service, but she had always been there when he was being honored. Every night after such events, she would go out of her way to spend with him, until either she or him were called to duty. He enjoyed those times, though he never told her. He preferred feigning indifference. The last time they were together, she fell asleep in his arms while they were stargazing in the African savannah. A week after, she was appointed minister of external affairs. They rarely ever saw each other after that, sometimes no longer than a conversation on the comlink. He was also drawn into his next assignment in Southeast Asia.
He was promoted to the rank of Major on base in the kingdom of Cochin China. Then, he participated in the quelling of the Red Cobra rebels to the kingdom's north. During Operation Mongoose, he commandeered an enemy mech- hunter hover-chopper and saved his regiment from annihilation in the northern highlands of the kingdom. Then, he regained command and led a bayonet charge that broke through enemy lines on their flank and cut off a supply route for pirated mech parts. After the destruction of the Red Cobra, Heero was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel and received the Parliamentary Medal of Honor, the UFN's highest military honor, for leading the last bayonet charge in modern combat to the present date. At that point, his reputation as a Swiss Knife soldier had peaked, and generals vied to take him under their wing. He would eventually fall under the command of General Marquise, who kept the best secret tactical ops program of all the generals. As a tactical operator, he had been re-integrated to the cloak-and-dagger style he was more used to. He carried out assassinations, espionage and sabotage.
The Space Fleet of the UFNAF had been advancing the cause of expanding to uninhabited, yet habitable, planets. They had developed a new way for space travelling known as "Super Stream". The SS engine utilized revolutionary anti-matter boosters and specialized matter conversion technology to create a "super stream conduit" that allowed the space vessel to enter sub-space, or bent space, and cover distances that amounted to light years in a short amount of time. The technology cut journeys that could have taken 10 years to 10 minutes. The technology was unstable, but the hardy scientists pushed through with the first test drive. Due to his experience with the Zero system, Heero was immediately volunteered. He assumed the rank of Lt. Commander and was made test pilot. He was supposed to pilot the ship from Earth to Pluto and back, a journey with an estimated time of twenty minutes. The technology proved unstable, and when the ship finally dropped out of SS drive, Heero found himself stranded far outside the solar system, somewhere near an unknown planet. The ship's controls were heavily damaged, and he had no means of repairing it. It was then that he first encountered the Wakari…
Wakari…Heero thought. According to the scientists, he spent two weeks with the Wakari. Strangely, he could not remember anything after the accident. His next memories were waking up on a hospital bed in Bradley Air Base. The doctors told him it was just a side effect of the SS drive. But he didn't buy it. He kept his doubts to himself.
He had watched the signing in the World Parliament building. Relena looked so happy, so triumphant. He knew of the internal politics that surrounded the treaty. As a soldier, he knew he wasn't supposed to have an opinion. Personally, he had sided with the Armed Forces. He didn't trust the Wakari. Yet he didn't want to ruin Relena's moment in the sun. Rarely had he seen her so radiant…he felt pangs of guilt when he learned that General Marquise would soon move him against her. It was inevitable though. He was a soldier first. His instincts, and his commander, dictated his course.
Now, he is to spy on her. Get close to her. The assignment still astounded him. He wasn't used to this kind of espionage. So used was he to hiding himself that revealing it to her, even for the purpose of espionage, was a frightening prospect. At least, as her bodyguard, he could watch over her. Maybe he could do the job without letting out too much. In the end, he must still maintain himself. And that includes his walls, his masks, his persona. A soldier first, before anything else.
"More challenging than another damn merc job, at least," he muttered to himself, before putting the items aside and going to sleep.
~~~
2
3 Author's Note: Uploading to Fanfiction.net disrupts the format. Forgive me if it doesn't look very neat, without the indentations, italics and all. (the instruction says save as HTML to preserve formatting, but the results are even more screwed up)
4 On The Wings of War
5
6 Chapter 1 – The New World
7
8 *****
9 AC 208 – December 8
10
11 Mission log 5849-08
I can't sleep. Too many of the enemy around.
Two days in this hell hole. Nothing to eat. Two companions are asleep.
Information retrieved. However, it is unclear how we would manage the return to base.
Footsteps. Might be enemy soldiers. Heero Yuy out.
*****
Heero put down his digital recorder. He slowly picked up his gun and flipped the safety off. He heard the sounds draw closer, almost as if something was moving in the passage to his left. His cold gaze turned toward the bend in the ventilation tunnel. As soon as his eye caught something, he quickly raised his gun and prepared to fire. But no bullet was launched.
"Just a rat. Kuso It must be the hunger…" he whispered to himself as he lowered his weapon. He glanced sideways and saw that his sudden movement had awakened the blue-haired girl whose head was on his shoulder.
The girl yawned. "Mmm…wha…what happened Heero?"
"Nothing. Go back to sleep."
Their other companion began to stir as well. He woke up with a start, and reached for the gun he had been using as a pillow.
"Fell asleep…you should've woke me Heero," he said.
"You should get all the rest you can, Trowa," he replied. "Our escape would require us at our optimum condition."
~~~
AC 205 – January 6 (Three Years Earlier)
General Zechs Marquise, Supreme Adjutant of the newly-founded United Federation of Nations Armed Forces, looked on from the balcony of the UFNAF war room. He watched as small spacecraft bearing diplomats airlifted from the parking lot and sped off towards the outer reaches of Earth's atmosphere.
"Foolish sister…" he grumbled. "The Federation has been alive for only five years and she's already negotiating with alien life forms. She didn't even wait for the full consolidation of our power. I swear, she'll be the death of humanity at this rate…"
Five years ago, after much rebuilding from the ruins of recent wars, Earth found itself forming another global alliance. This time, the unified kingdoms and nations formed a Federation, a system that would grant more local control and give less reason for nationalists to rebel against an oppressive central government. But getting the kingdoms and nations to accept another universal body was exhaustive diplomatic work, especially in the Colonies. The far-flung space superstructures had the potential to be very alienated, and accepting a controlling government from the surface was no easy thing. But the leaders of the Colonies were reasonable, and would eventually sign on with the Federation. But consolidating the monopoly of the legitimate use of force by the Federation is yet to be completed fully.
During the year AC204, four years after the formation of the Federation, one of the UFNAF scout ships on a test run for a new engine managed to reach several hundred light years outside the solar system on a successful mission. It was intercepted by strange, unknown vessels. Its pilot, Lt. Commander Heero Yuy, was captured by a sentient alien race. The event was since known as First Contact, and was considered by the UFN to be quite the historic event. The alien race, who called themselves the Wakari, returned the captured pilot. After a year of "cultural exchanges", they signed a mutual cooperation treaty.
It was that treaty, negotiated between UFN external affairs minister Relena Peacecraft and Wakari Shino Ubri Kan ( High Military Chief) Kan Ber'kul, that bothered General Marquise. The treaty negotiated by his sister exposed the Earth to the wiles of a powerful alien race before its nations were fully united. It could be one-sided and easily abused by the Wakari, and the humans did not have the military capability to make sure it is enforced. With the Gundams destroyed, the Earth would be virtually defenseless against the monstrous Wakari space cruisers.
His sister turned a deaf ear to his caution. Relena considered the treaty her brainchild, and had pushed and lobbied for the treaty in the World Parliament. The idea, coupled with Relena's popularity as external affairs minister, quickly gained ground. General Marquise had tried to secretly lobby against his own sister, and a little bit of arm-twisting bore fruit in an opposition movement against the signing of any treaty. There was a long and bitter debate on the issue, but after the smoke had settled, Relena's faction had won by a slight majority.
Relena had been excited by the prospects. The Wakari were a beautiful people. The looked almost identical to humans, except for their silvery hair, elongated ears and the short, slender horn that protrudes out of their foreheads. The cultural exchange revealed an advanced society that spanned many planets. Their technological advances could be useful to Earth, and could open up humanity to a greater universe out there.
Zechs watched, vexed, as Relena stepped out with the Wakari general. The tall, handsome general was talking animatedly, making pompous gestures in the air as he talked. Relena looked fascinated, and laughed when the general did.
"Go on, fawn over him like a two-dollar whore…" he muttered angrily. "Let's see how you smile when his missiles are trained at your home, annihilating your progeny…"
"Sir!"
General Marquise, startled out of his thoughts, turned and saw a young officer with a crisp salute. He returned the gesture, and walked to his table, tossing his cap onto it.
"I didn't even hear you come in." Zechs remarked, smiling wryly. "You've gotten better at your job. I pray nobody commissions you to come after me, Lieutenant Commander Heero Yuy."
"Sir, you asked for me? sir!" Heero asked, his voice dispassionate.
"Ah, yes." Zechs pulled up a chair and sat down. He beckoned Heero to come closer. Heero complied.
"Have you and my sister been communicating?" Zechs asked.
"No, sir. I do not have any R&R scheduled for the next three months." Heero replied coldly. "I do not intend to contact Minister Peacecraft while on base."
"Ahhh, ever the Spartan…" Zechs said. "She talks about you a lot, you know?"
"I wouldn't know, sir."
"Well, she does." Zechs said. "She also gets that sparkle in her eye whenever she mentions your name. I, for one, do not know how my sister could have fallen for a….machine like you."
Heero did not flinch. The description was not new to him. He had gotten used to being called a machine over time. Even the Wakari were impressed by his inhuman resilience and fortitude, as well as amused by his Stoic silence.
"She obviously has some feelings for you." Zechs continued. "Do you have feelings for her?"
Heero showed no emotion still, despite the highly personal question. "Sir, feelings are irrelevant in my line of work. She is not important in the accomplishment of any mission. I communicate with her only when necessary, or when she initiates. Other than that, I give no importance to her. Sir."
Zechs smiled. "Impressive. If only all UFN soldiers were as dedicated to their duties as you are. Now, for your assignment."
Zechs picked up a remote control unit and turned on a projection machine. On the wall to his left, a picture of a woman flickered on the canvas screen.
"Do you recognize this woman?" General Marquise asked Lt. Commander Yuy.
"External Affairs Minister Relena Peacecraft, sir," he replied.
"Now, for your mission…" General Marquise paused. "I must warn you, its not going to be what you're used to."
"I'll innovate, adapt and overcome, sir." Lt. Commander Yuy snapped quickly.
Zechs turned off the machine. "Very well, commander."
He stood up. "Commander Yuy, I want you to give Relena Peacecraft what she wants. You are to spend time with her, get closer to her….the works."
Heero's eyebrows twitched. "How do I do that, sir?"
Zechs smiled. "You will be assigned to her security detail. Tactical Security Squadron Eagle. That means you'll be her personal bodyguard. That should make it easier for you. And with your R&R coming up…let's just say, you'd be in good position."
"To what end, sir?" Heero asked.
"Questioning orders, Commander?" Zechs asked, amused. "That is quite unbecoming of Tactical Command's deadliest human weapon. But I'll oblige you. After all, I'd have to tell you eventually. Do not worry, I do not want you to assassinate her. After all, she is my sister. But after this new treaty with the Wakari, I have to do something. I want you to give me information on Relena's plans, before she sells out again to these blasted aliens. You know, like I do, the foolishness she has done in negotiating with the Wakari. She even had military spending compromised so we wouldn't seem so "hostile" to these aliens. She's left the earth vulnerable. I want you to help me keep that from happening again…"
"Understood. Ninmu ryokai…" Heero said. He saluted and walked out the door.
As soon as Heero left, Zechs dropped back to his seat and glanced at a chessboard he kept near his desk. He had been playing a game against himself. This time, he moved the black pawn within striking distance of the white queen…
~~~
Zechs pulled his car into the driveway of his two-story Victorian home. It was quite the sight, especially amongst the rest of the houses within the military compound. He stepped out of the car and walked across a beautiful garden to reach the doorstep. He rang the doorbell, and the door was promptly opened by a servant He stepped inside and asked, "Where's my wife?"
"She is on the balcony, sir," she replied.
Zechs headed up the stairs towards the balcony. His breath caught when he spotted her there, gazing into the horizon. He stood there, staring at her through the glass doors…
Her long, blue hair fluttered, caught in the gentle summer breeze. She had on a simple yellow sun dress, rendered gold by the rays of the setting sun. It seemed as if she was clothed in the fleeting light, and Zechs stood spellbound. Slowly, he turned the knob of the glass door and eventually had it open.
"Honey, I'm home…" he said, half-joking.
She didn't turn, as if she never heard. Zechs walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder.
"You know, I miss having you run up to me whenever I said that," he whispered in her ear.
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "After four years, I thought you'd be tired of being hugged and kissed whenever you came through the door."
"What?" Zechs asked, with mock surprise. "I haven't changed that much. I'm pretty sure I'm still the man I was when we got married."
She covered his hand with her own. "What do you mean? You cut off your long platinum blonde hair…that hair I loved to run my hands through."
Zechs ran his hand through his shortened locks. "I didn't think it made me look bad. Do I look ugly with my hair short?"
She leaned into him, her head resting on his chest. "Not really. I've seen the looks the younger female lieutenants give you. But do they don't know that you snore loudly when you sleep? That you keep losing your keys in the morning? Or that you are grumpy whenever the newspaper comes in late?"
"What are you saying Lucrezia?" he said, surprised. "That I wasn't what you expected? That I wasn't the man you had hoped to marry?"
"You don't have to be so melodramatic, Zechs," she said, gently elbowing his ribs. "But, from dashing rogue to stiff general…I can't help but look for Milliardo Peacecraft from time to time."
Zechs winced at the mention of his old name. Upon hearing of the creation of another powerful union of nations, he abandoned the Mars terra-forming project and returned to Earth. He had wanted to be part of the new beginning, and hoped to help make it right this time. When he decided to join the ranks of the newly formed Federation army, he had his name officially changed to the alias he had been using. He had wanted to distance himself from his sister to prevent suspicions of nepotism, and the name change also signaled a new start. It was also then that he cut his long hair short The new Zechs Marquise was the anti-thesis of the rogue Peacecraft. Living with an alias and a rebel cause no more, he became a model officer. Within a year, he was made Supreme Adjutant of the UFNAF and Commander of the Army, with the four-star designation of any member of the High Military Council along with the rank of full general. It was also then that he was married.
"People change…" he said. "…or rather, perspectives change. That old me is gone. Is that the thing that's been bothering you?"
"No, its not that its bothering me." she said. "Although I do miss that side of you sometimes. The last time I saw it was that night you proposed. And that was quite a long time ago. I did expect a roller coaster ride once, thinking you'd be like that forever. But I did settle down, didn't I?"
"Who would have thought you would make such an excellent military wife," he said, resting his cheek on her head. "From a tough, tomboy Colonel to the sweetest woman any man could ask for…"
Lucrezia Noin had risen quickly through the ranks as well. She had been in the military while Zechs was still a rebel. She had planned to go to Mars to join the terra-forming project, but was wooed back by the military. After the wars that plagued Earth and the Colonies had ended, she was promoted over several ranks to become a full Colonel. It was a brilliant soldier's career, matched only by few. And one of those few happened to be Zechs Marquise, who was chosen over her for promotion to general. And not only to the rank of lieutenant general, but to that of full general with an official position in the Council. She had been angry at the military, angry at the bureaucracy, angry at her superiors, but most of all, angry at him. He was a former prince, a member of the elite class and a son of the patriarchy. After trying to make it in the boys' military and matching the achievements of any gifted male officer, they had to choose him. She knew he was good, but in her mind he was chosen only because he had been one of them. She did love him, and their hot-and-cold relationship had been going on for years. But having him promoted over her was too much. The day he was promoted, the generals had thrown him a party, which was ironic since he was a former rebel who nearly destroyed the Colonies. She had planned to go to the party and beat the tar out of him, even if it meant being dishonorably discharged for attacking a senior officer. She had gone in, prepared to give General Marquise the most humiliating experience of his career. But then, in the middle of the ballroom, he proposed…
After their well-attended banquet of a wedding, she slowly released herself from the trappings of military life. She sought a desk job and got one as one of her husband's staff members. From up close, she witnessed the demanding amount of work her husband had to endure. Not only was he preoccupied with military planning and tactical deployment, he was also made head of the Logistics Department, busy with allocating the money allowed to them by the World Parliament to form a cohesive budget. On top of that, he was almost constantly tapped as the unofficial resident diplomat, having to charm his way through the many political circles in order to get them to support military spending. Both of them ended up very tired, especially Zechs, who rarely spent an hour awake at home. After six months, she sought an honorable discharge despite his recommendations. She spent most of her time at home, taking care of her over-worked husband. She let her hair grow long, and her muscled, somewhat masculine body eventually filled out and softened into a more feminine figure. She had also learned how to garden, sew and cook food other than emergency rations. As time went on, Zechs' workload slowly began to ease up, and he began spending more time at home. They had been very happy. After spending most of her young life in the hustle of the military, she adjusted well to the peace and quiet her new lifestyle had to offer.
"I changed for you, you know," she said to him. "I knew you needed a wife, not another staffer."
"And I appreciate what you did," he replied. "But I didn't ask you to change."
"You were just too politically correct to ask," she said, smiling at him again. She slowly turned to face him. "After being with you for so long, I know many of the things you want. You're just too scared to say it."
"You have done so much for me, I know…" he said. "But what is it that you'd want of me?"
"I don't really know…" she said. "I suppose I cannot ask for the old Zechs back. I've even come to fall in love with this side of you as well…even your little quirks and habits. I'm not a very demanding person, I suppose all I can want from you at the moment is that you remain faithful. And that you just be you. Any more changes might give me a heart attack."
"I always have been faithful," he said. "Besides, no other woman can put up with me the way you do. I can't imagine being with anybody else."
"That's why I love you…" she said, drawing him closer. They kissed as the setting sun disappeared over the distant horizon, its dying embers fading as the sky grew dark.
"So…." Zechs said after breaking the kiss. "…when are we going to have kids?"
Lucrezia simply smiled at him and kissed his nose. "Let's go inside honey. Dinner might get cold."
~~~
Lt. Commander Heero Yuy lay quietly on his bed, his mind a reminiscent distance away. His officer's quarters was in disarray. Several gun parts and rounds of ammunition were piled haphazardly in every corner of the room. On his desk lay several papers, including those for his latest assignment. On one hand, he held a picture of Relena. On his other hand, he held the two-pip insignia, symbol of his rank equivalent in the Army. Tactical Security Squadron Eagle was under the Army's jurisdiction, and he was to change rank from Lt. Commander to Lt. Colonel. He knew it was part of the job. There was a word among generals for multi-purpose soldiers like him. "Swiss Knives"…versatile men who could be shifted to any military branch and perform any task required. It wouldn't be the first time he jumped between Space Fleet and Army.
After the destruction of his Gundam Wing Zero, he disappeared for four years. He spent his time jumping from mercenary group to mercenary group. When he learned of the formation of a new order, he decided to resurface. Besides, there was someone he'd like to see. He came to Relena's home in the dead of night, saying he was seeking shelter from bounty hunters. Relena had been all too happy to oblige. Of course, there were no bounty hunters, he had just wanted to see how she was after four years of absence. He was about to leave again, but this time she stopped him. It was that night that she convinced him to join the Federation Army.
Despite being used to working alone, Heero immediately adjusted. He quickly distinguished himself as an army officer. He participated in three consecutive campaigns, putting down revolts and uprisings in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. In the Battle of Sandoval Pass, he single- handedly killed 300 separatist rebels while holding a strategic pillbox by himself. The act earned him a Silver Star and a promotion to the rank of Captain. During the Tanganyika Campaign, he led a company of the 7th Ranger Division (known as the Panthers) in a night raid of the heavily-fortified compound of rebel General Mokele that resulted in the capture of the rebel leader and the eradication of his elite guard unit. Captain Heero Yuy, in formal military dress and the division's trademark black beret, was awarded the Legion of Honor and the Golden Fang, the kingdom of Tanzania's highest military honor, in an elaborate ceremony attended by General Marquise and Relena herself.
He rarely saw Relena while in service, but she had always been there when he was being honored. Every night after such events, she would go out of her way to spend with him, until either she or him were called to duty. He enjoyed those times, though he never told her. He preferred feigning indifference. The last time they were together, she fell asleep in his arms while they were stargazing in the African savannah. A week after, she was appointed minister of external affairs. They rarely ever saw each other after that, sometimes no longer than a conversation on the comlink. He was also drawn into his next assignment in Southeast Asia.
He was promoted to the rank of Major on base in the kingdom of Cochin China. Then, he participated in the quelling of the Red Cobra rebels to the kingdom's north. During Operation Mongoose, he commandeered an enemy mech- hunter hover-chopper and saved his regiment from annihilation in the northern highlands of the kingdom. Then, he regained command and led a bayonet charge that broke through enemy lines on their flank and cut off a supply route for pirated mech parts. After the destruction of the Red Cobra, Heero was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel and received the Parliamentary Medal of Honor, the UFN's highest military honor, for leading the last bayonet charge in modern combat to the present date. At that point, his reputation as a Swiss Knife soldier had peaked, and generals vied to take him under their wing. He would eventually fall under the command of General Marquise, who kept the best secret tactical ops program of all the generals. As a tactical operator, he had been re-integrated to the cloak-and-dagger style he was more used to. He carried out assassinations, espionage and sabotage.
The Space Fleet of the UFNAF had been advancing the cause of expanding to uninhabited, yet habitable, planets. They had developed a new way for space travelling known as "Super Stream". The SS engine utilized revolutionary anti-matter boosters and specialized matter conversion technology to create a "super stream conduit" that allowed the space vessel to enter sub-space, or bent space, and cover distances that amounted to light years in a short amount of time. The technology cut journeys that could have taken 10 years to 10 minutes. The technology was unstable, but the hardy scientists pushed through with the first test drive. Due to his experience with the Zero system, Heero was immediately volunteered. He assumed the rank of Lt. Commander and was made test pilot. He was supposed to pilot the ship from Earth to Pluto and back, a journey with an estimated time of twenty minutes. The technology proved unstable, and when the ship finally dropped out of SS drive, Heero found himself stranded far outside the solar system, somewhere near an unknown planet. The ship's controls were heavily damaged, and he had no means of repairing it. It was then that he first encountered the Wakari…
Wakari…Heero thought. According to the scientists, he spent two weeks with the Wakari. Strangely, he could not remember anything after the accident. His next memories were waking up on a hospital bed in Bradley Air Base. The doctors told him it was just a side effect of the SS drive. But he didn't buy it. He kept his doubts to himself.
He had watched the signing in the World Parliament building. Relena looked so happy, so triumphant. He knew of the internal politics that surrounded the treaty. As a soldier, he knew he wasn't supposed to have an opinion. Personally, he had sided with the Armed Forces. He didn't trust the Wakari. Yet he didn't want to ruin Relena's moment in the sun. Rarely had he seen her so radiant…he felt pangs of guilt when he learned that General Marquise would soon move him against her. It was inevitable though. He was a soldier first. His instincts, and his commander, dictated his course.
Now, he is to spy on her. Get close to her. The assignment still astounded him. He wasn't used to this kind of espionage. So used was he to hiding himself that revealing it to her, even for the purpose of espionage, was a frightening prospect. At least, as her bodyguard, he could watch over her. Maybe he could do the job without letting out too much. In the end, he must still maintain himself. And that includes his walls, his masks, his persona. A soldier first, before anything else.
"More challenging than another damn merc job, at least," he muttered to himself, before putting the items aside and going to sleep.
~~~
