Chapter 27: The return of the Gundams
Hey! What was up with ff.net yesterday? I had another chapter and everything, and then I get on and nothing worked! So, I spent the rest of the day redoing my first few chapters so they aren't so ugly when they're up. Anyway, here is the next chapter, enjoy!
Zechs P.O.V.
After a very quiet night, Zechs still lay awake in his bed. Memories flashed through his head. The Zero System, the battles, everything. (Which Gundam will she bring me? Will she even bring me a Gundam?) Zechs smiled to himself at the way Pluto had yelled at him for so much as moving around too often. He lifted his head at a small creak from the corner of the room.
"You should sleep." Pluto's quiet voice drifted through the room.
"I couldn't."
"You should try." A faint light through the window illuminated Pluto's face. "The Gundam you will have is the...what was it called? Epyon?" She smiled softly and pulled the covers up over Zechs.
"Thank you."
Pluto looked at him. "For what?"
"For..." Zechs looked away. "Everything. For keeping me alive. For keeping me from hurting myself. For giving me another chance to fight."
Pluto smiled and leaned her head down. "Just don't waste it."
Zechs looked up at her from his bed. "I won't." He met her smile with his own.
The next morning, there was no sign of an attack, so everyone went out and inspected the Gundams Pluto brought. Each of the boys hesitated, but walked slowly up to their respective suits.
"So we meet again, Sandrock..." Quatre put his hands on the massive machine.
"Nataku, we will fight once more together." Wufei whispered fondly.
"You talk to that machine better than how you talk to me..." Mars teased. Wufei looked at her firmly, but softened a moment later.
Heero stopped short of his and looked up at it. Jupiter stood next to him and looked up too. "What do you call it?"
Heero hesitated. "...Wing Zero."
"I heard about that killer system in it." Jupiter looked back at Heero. "You'd better not die out there, or I'm going to be really mad at you."
Heero met Jupiter's eyes and blinked slowly. "Hn."
Laytha went up and patted Trowa's Gundam. "It's pretty."
Trowa looked up at it and smiled slowly. Lying on its back in the mists, the red and orange paint made the machine look as if it were bleeding.
Serenity's voice rang through the courtyard they stood in. "If you boys want to check to make sure everything is in order, there are tools and such next to you, or somewhere around there." She gave a small laugh. "Hope you can find it through this morning mist."
Zechs waved his hand and the mists parted long enough to make out a large, metal box sitting on the ground. "This must be it." Tucking the heavy box under his arm, he sprang up the side of Epyon, smiling as the cockpit opened automatically.
He stopped for a moment as Duo's voice yelled out from somewhere. "Hey! Where exactly did you get them?"
"I went back and took them a few seconds before you destroyed them back in your own time!" Pluto's voice yelled in response.
Zechs smiled. (Being Guardian of Time must be a nice job. To be able to go back and change mistakes...) The smile dropped. (I have a job to do. Stop thinking about things you don't want to change.) Activating the system, he suppressed a smile as the familiar sound reached his ears. He turned on the screen and reached into the box. (They must have one...) Finding the tool, he opened the panel under the screen, and made the few adjustments he needed.
Venus P.O.V.
Venus stood on the ground in the damp mist while Duo worked above her in his Gundam. (Death Scythe... kind of depressing name...) She smiled to herself. (But it suits him somehow.) A few minutes went by and a loud curse echoed from above.
"You okay?" Venus called up.
"Fine!" Duo called back down. "These tools you all have, they're, um, kind of awkward to use!"
"If they're too complicated for you, I 'm sure we have some, um, wrenches, or maybe some screwdrivers in the garage!" Uranus laughed.
Through the mist, Venus could see Duo glaring down at her. Venus laughed and waved up at him.
Over in the Wing Zero, Heero went over all the essentials. (Beam Cannon, full function. Gundam body, full function. Self destruct device...) His thoughts went to what Jupiter had said. (Full function.)
In Wufei's Gundam, the self-destruct device was also on Wufei's mind. (Heero used it. Would he try again? Would I?)
Mars voice sounded from below. "Are you done yet?"
(I will not use it.) Wufei went over everything again. (The left arm is a little weak. I should go check it.) He closed the box and swung it out onto the outside. Jumping to the left arm, he was a bit surprised to see Mars climbing up and down over it. "What are you doing?" He called to her.
"Anything to keep me from dying of boredom down here!" Mars yelled irritably.
"Almost done." He said quietly as he jumped down
"Good, because this is seriously boring."
Opening a panel on the arm, Wufei was suddenly very aware of Mars's eyes on him. "What?" He asked.
"Nothing. It's just..." Mars looked off into the mist.
"What is it? Do you feel them?" Wufei looked at her, tensely.
"No. It's just so strange. We've never really worked with a guy like this before and it feels...odd."
He stopped, and grasped for another tool. "Odd?"
Mars sighed, softly. "Every battle we've been in, it's only been us. Just the Scouts. Now you all are involved." Mars closed her eyes. "I just don't like others getting pulled into our problems."
Wufei pulled out his arm and shut the panel. He stared at it for a moment, but did not answer Mars.
After almost ten minutes of waiting, the six Gundams were fixed and altered to perfection. Heero wiped his hands on his shirt and approached the queen.
"Queen Serenity?"
She looked at him. "Yes?"
"What is our objective? What is the purpose of this mission?"
Serenity smiled. "You sound like Jupiter, only a bit more serious. The objective..."
"To destroy as many of them as we can without killing any of us. They have the number advantage-"
"By a whole lot." Venus interrupted Mercury.
Mercury frowned at her and continued. "Yes, by a vast margin, but we have the skill and power advantage."
"I'll take care of Relena." Jupiter said suddenly from the side. "She made it very clear she wants me dead, so I want to be the one going one-on- one with her."
Neptune stepped forward. "They may have left you alone with her last time to give you time to figure out who she was. They may not let you have such time today."
"Neptune's right." Duo agreed. "If she totally wants you dead, she'll make sure she can make the kill. Remember she was a diplomat, we can't count on her making dumb blond mistakes."
Venus pushed him and Duo stumbled a few paces. "I resent that comment."
Duo looked back at her. "Aw, babe, I didn't mean all blondes are dumb, just that she's had a few slip-ups in the past." He grinned apologetically. Venus gave in to his charm and put her arm around him.
"You're so sweet..."
"We should get going soon. Youmas don't need sleep and whatever was controlling those mobile suits probably doesn't either." Pluto said as she looked out into the fading mist towards the front of the palace. "I doubt they know we have a way to take out their mobile suits and since they saw me figure them out the other day, they'll try to bring them to the front line today to see if they can take us down with them."
"But they can't because the Gundams will take care of them, right?" Saturn looked up at Zechs.
He smiled down on her. "We will."
In the dark crystal~~~~~~~~~
"You called, Lord Diamond?" Relena knelt to the floor.
"Yes. I heard you frightened Jupiter yesterday. Good work. But today you will not destroy her." Diamond took a sip from his wine glass.
Relena looked up. "But sir...why not?"
A soft chuckle reached her ears. Diamond set his glass down and looked to the ceiling. Or where the ceiling would have been. The dim light in the crystal hid the ceiling from view. Diamond chuckled again. "You know it is terrible what love can do to a man..."
Relena looked at him strangely. (What is he implying?)
"Oh, Relena, I'm not referring to your precious Heero, so take that offended look off your face." Diamond laughed again, even softer this time. "I'm sure you noticed how my brother, Sapphire, has been acting of late. You would never believe what he confessed to me last night after the battle." Diamond took another sip of his wine. "He told me of a beautiful woman he had seen in the city." He glanced at Relena and leered. "No, Relena it's not you he spoke of. He told me of a beautiful maiden with long blond hair that shone like the sun. He told me of eyes of a brighter blue than the sapphire crystals he collects. He spoke of a body that made him quiver at the mere thought of it." This time, Diamond threw back his head and laughed. "Do you know of whom he speaks? Of this goddess he has fallen for?" He paused for an answer but continued before Relena could respond. "I will tell you! It is Venus! Yes the Sailor Venus! One of our very enemies!" Diamond's laugh diminished to a small chuckle. "My own brother, fallen for the Goddess of Love herself... Do you know what we must do now, Relena?"
"Mmmm..."
"We must bring them together!" Diamond cried. He smiled mysteriously and closed his eyes. "Yes... What kind of brother would I be if I destroyed his first love? Which is why you will not destroy Jupiter today. No, not yet. Wise man told me of Pluto transporting something very large through the dimensions last night. We must be ready for anything they can throw at us. Since Pluto herself is the one who discovered our hmmm 'secret weapons' she must have something which might work against them. But no matter." Diamond stood up. "The mobile suits will go on the front line and the lemures will take the task of Venus. You, Relena will see to the overall capture. If the other Scouts get in the way, you will stop them, but do not," He turned to put Relena under his glare. "I repeat, do not destroy them. Injury is fine, but destruction is not. Dismissed."
Relena nodded and left the room. (Yes, Sapphire was acting oddly yesterday... Well, so long as I get Jupiter eventually, I have no problem following another's plans.) He black, spike-heeled boots clicking on the black floor, she made her way back to her room.
So...what do you think? I have a big chapter coming up next, so sorry if this one's a little short. By the way...can someone tell me the name of Trowa's Gundam? I was thinking about it the other day, and I can't remember it!!! And I think I spelled Zechs Gundam right, but if I didn't, let me know. Anyway, review me and tell me how you liked this and my other chapter. 'Til next time!!!
Hey! What was up with ff.net yesterday? I had another chapter and everything, and then I get on and nothing worked! So, I spent the rest of the day redoing my first few chapters so they aren't so ugly when they're up. Anyway, here is the next chapter, enjoy!
Zechs P.O.V.
After a very quiet night, Zechs still lay awake in his bed. Memories flashed through his head. The Zero System, the battles, everything. (Which Gundam will she bring me? Will she even bring me a Gundam?) Zechs smiled to himself at the way Pluto had yelled at him for so much as moving around too often. He lifted his head at a small creak from the corner of the room.
"You should sleep." Pluto's quiet voice drifted through the room.
"I couldn't."
"You should try." A faint light through the window illuminated Pluto's face. "The Gundam you will have is the...what was it called? Epyon?" She smiled softly and pulled the covers up over Zechs.
"Thank you."
Pluto looked at him. "For what?"
"For..." Zechs looked away. "Everything. For keeping me alive. For keeping me from hurting myself. For giving me another chance to fight."
Pluto smiled and leaned her head down. "Just don't waste it."
Zechs looked up at her from his bed. "I won't." He met her smile with his own.
The next morning, there was no sign of an attack, so everyone went out and inspected the Gundams Pluto brought. Each of the boys hesitated, but walked slowly up to their respective suits.
"So we meet again, Sandrock..." Quatre put his hands on the massive machine.
"Nataku, we will fight once more together." Wufei whispered fondly.
"You talk to that machine better than how you talk to me..." Mars teased. Wufei looked at her firmly, but softened a moment later.
Heero stopped short of his and looked up at it. Jupiter stood next to him and looked up too. "What do you call it?"
Heero hesitated. "...Wing Zero."
"I heard about that killer system in it." Jupiter looked back at Heero. "You'd better not die out there, or I'm going to be really mad at you."
Heero met Jupiter's eyes and blinked slowly. "Hn."
Laytha went up and patted Trowa's Gundam. "It's pretty."
Trowa looked up at it and smiled slowly. Lying on its back in the mists, the red and orange paint made the machine look as if it were bleeding.
Serenity's voice rang through the courtyard they stood in. "If you boys want to check to make sure everything is in order, there are tools and such next to you, or somewhere around there." She gave a small laugh. "Hope you can find it through this morning mist."
Zechs waved his hand and the mists parted long enough to make out a large, metal box sitting on the ground. "This must be it." Tucking the heavy box under his arm, he sprang up the side of Epyon, smiling as the cockpit opened automatically.
He stopped for a moment as Duo's voice yelled out from somewhere. "Hey! Where exactly did you get them?"
"I went back and took them a few seconds before you destroyed them back in your own time!" Pluto's voice yelled in response.
Zechs smiled. (Being Guardian of Time must be a nice job. To be able to go back and change mistakes...) The smile dropped. (I have a job to do. Stop thinking about things you don't want to change.) Activating the system, he suppressed a smile as the familiar sound reached his ears. He turned on the screen and reached into the box. (They must have one...) Finding the tool, he opened the panel under the screen, and made the few adjustments he needed.
Venus P.O.V.
Venus stood on the ground in the damp mist while Duo worked above her in his Gundam. (Death Scythe... kind of depressing name...) She smiled to herself. (But it suits him somehow.) A few minutes went by and a loud curse echoed from above.
"You okay?" Venus called up.
"Fine!" Duo called back down. "These tools you all have, they're, um, kind of awkward to use!"
"If they're too complicated for you, I 'm sure we have some, um, wrenches, or maybe some screwdrivers in the garage!" Uranus laughed.
Through the mist, Venus could see Duo glaring down at her. Venus laughed and waved up at him.
Over in the Wing Zero, Heero went over all the essentials. (Beam Cannon, full function. Gundam body, full function. Self destruct device...) His thoughts went to what Jupiter had said. (Full function.)
In Wufei's Gundam, the self-destruct device was also on Wufei's mind. (Heero used it. Would he try again? Would I?)
Mars voice sounded from below. "Are you done yet?"
(I will not use it.) Wufei went over everything again. (The left arm is a little weak. I should go check it.) He closed the box and swung it out onto the outside. Jumping to the left arm, he was a bit surprised to see Mars climbing up and down over it. "What are you doing?" He called to her.
"Anything to keep me from dying of boredom down here!" Mars yelled irritably.
"Almost done." He said quietly as he jumped down
"Good, because this is seriously boring."
Opening a panel on the arm, Wufei was suddenly very aware of Mars's eyes on him. "What?" He asked.
"Nothing. It's just..." Mars looked off into the mist.
"What is it? Do you feel them?" Wufei looked at her, tensely.
"No. It's just so strange. We've never really worked with a guy like this before and it feels...odd."
He stopped, and grasped for another tool. "Odd?"
Mars sighed, softly. "Every battle we've been in, it's only been us. Just the Scouts. Now you all are involved." Mars closed her eyes. "I just don't like others getting pulled into our problems."
Wufei pulled out his arm and shut the panel. He stared at it for a moment, but did not answer Mars.
After almost ten minutes of waiting, the six Gundams were fixed and altered to perfection. Heero wiped his hands on his shirt and approached the queen.
"Queen Serenity?"
She looked at him. "Yes?"
"What is our objective? What is the purpose of this mission?"
Serenity smiled. "You sound like Jupiter, only a bit more serious. The objective..."
"To destroy as many of them as we can without killing any of us. They have the number advantage-"
"By a whole lot." Venus interrupted Mercury.
Mercury frowned at her and continued. "Yes, by a vast margin, but we have the skill and power advantage."
"I'll take care of Relena." Jupiter said suddenly from the side. "She made it very clear she wants me dead, so I want to be the one going one-on- one with her."
Neptune stepped forward. "They may have left you alone with her last time to give you time to figure out who she was. They may not let you have such time today."
"Neptune's right." Duo agreed. "If she totally wants you dead, she'll make sure she can make the kill. Remember she was a diplomat, we can't count on her making dumb blond mistakes."
Venus pushed him and Duo stumbled a few paces. "I resent that comment."
Duo looked back at her. "Aw, babe, I didn't mean all blondes are dumb, just that she's had a few slip-ups in the past." He grinned apologetically. Venus gave in to his charm and put her arm around him.
"You're so sweet..."
"We should get going soon. Youmas don't need sleep and whatever was controlling those mobile suits probably doesn't either." Pluto said as she looked out into the fading mist towards the front of the palace. "I doubt they know we have a way to take out their mobile suits and since they saw me figure them out the other day, they'll try to bring them to the front line today to see if they can take us down with them."
"But they can't because the Gundams will take care of them, right?" Saturn looked up at Zechs.
He smiled down on her. "We will."
In the dark crystal~~~~~~~~~
"You called, Lord Diamond?" Relena knelt to the floor.
"Yes. I heard you frightened Jupiter yesterday. Good work. But today you will not destroy her." Diamond took a sip from his wine glass.
Relena looked up. "But sir...why not?"
A soft chuckle reached her ears. Diamond set his glass down and looked to the ceiling. Or where the ceiling would have been. The dim light in the crystal hid the ceiling from view. Diamond chuckled again. "You know it is terrible what love can do to a man..."
Relena looked at him strangely. (What is he implying?)
"Oh, Relena, I'm not referring to your precious Heero, so take that offended look off your face." Diamond laughed again, even softer this time. "I'm sure you noticed how my brother, Sapphire, has been acting of late. You would never believe what he confessed to me last night after the battle." Diamond took another sip of his wine. "He told me of a beautiful woman he had seen in the city." He glanced at Relena and leered. "No, Relena it's not you he spoke of. He told me of a beautiful maiden with long blond hair that shone like the sun. He told me of eyes of a brighter blue than the sapphire crystals he collects. He spoke of a body that made him quiver at the mere thought of it." This time, Diamond threw back his head and laughed. "Do you know of whom he speaks? Of this goddess he has fallen for?" He paused for an answer but continued before Relena could respond. "I will tell you! It is Venus! Yes the Sailor Venus! One of our very enemies!" Diamond's laugh diminished to a small chuckle. "My own brother, fallen for the Goddess of Love herself... Do you know what we must do now, Relena?"
"Mmmm..."
"We must bring them together!" Diamond cried. He smiled mysteriously and closed his eyes. "Yes... What kind of brother would I be if I destroyed his first love? Which is why you will not destroy Jupiter today. No, not yet. Wise man told me of Pluto transporting something very large through the dimensions last night. We must be ready for anything they can throw at us. Since Pluto herself is the one who discovered our hmmm 'secret weapons' she must have something which might work against them. But no matter." Diamond stood up. "The mobile suits will go on the front line and the lemures will take the task of Venus. You, Relena will see to the overall capture. If the other Scouts get in the way, you will stop them, but do not," He turned to put Relena under his glare. "I repeat, do not destroy them. Injury is fine, but destruction is not. Dismissed."
Relena nodded and left the room. (Yes, Sapphire was acting oddly yesterday... Well, so long as I get Jupiter eventually, I have no problem following another's plans.) He black, spike-heeled boots clicking on the black floor, she made her way back to her room.
So...what do you think? I have a big chapter coming up next, so sorry if this one's a little short. By the way...can someone tell me the name of Trowa's Gundam? I was thinking about it the other day, and I can't remember it!!! And I think I spelled Zechs Gundam right, but if I didn't, let me know. Anyway, review me and tell me how you liked this and my other chapter. 'Til next time!!!