Standard Disclaimer
*****
Tobias stared at the wall a second, preparing his mind for the task at hand. Slowly, carefully, he lowered his fingers onto the piano in front of him and struck a note, a deep mournful sound that resonated across the room. He struck a second note, this one higher and lilting, hovering in the air. He continued, his nimble fingers dancing across the keyboard, pressing the keys and playing a dark, brooding nocturne. The mood in the room darkened as the piece continued, the very air seeming to become dark and thick with the grim melody.
He stopped at the end of the piece and paused a moment, taking a deep breath before beginning the second piece in his practice schedule, this one faster, angrier. The music ripped open the room, exposing the darkness inherent to all the objects within. His mind wandered as his fingers plucked the keys to this music he had so long ago memorized. He did not realize someone was knocking on his door until he finished the piece.
Slowly his eyes opened, the darkest taint disappearing from them, returning to their normal silver-gray. He shook his head once, erasing all memories of his practice for the morning and stood to answer the door. "Come in. It's open."
The double doors slid open with a silent hiss and Vick entered the room. The black man grinned. "Playin' again, boss? You should really get it recorded."
Tobias smiled grimly. "And actively warp the future of this world? Sounds like fun. Maybe after the war. Now what did you come here for?"
"Trouble in the scrapyard. Seems Seth brought in a frame for the new girl and Rynn staked a claim to it. They've almost pulled their guns."
His eyebrow rose slightly. "Be interesting to see how that turns out. But to save Rynn, gotta stop this now."
"Don't have faith in his ability to fight?"
"Don't trust him not to pull a gun in this situation. Him and her got off on the wrong foot yesterday and they don't really seem to get along that well."
"Let's go then, eh boss?"
Tobias grabbed his shirt and followed Vick into the hangar, where Robyn and Rynn were in each other's faces. He smiled in amusement to see the short, redheaded girl on her tiptoes, yelling at him with the same ferocity he had as he looked down at her. Behind them stood the scrap shuttle and the dirty remains of an Aries Mobile Suit. It gleamed dully in the morning sun and both newcomers were surprised to see that the only problem was a large, fairly obvious hole where the cockpit should have been. The rest of the squadron was staring at the confrontation and did not care about the damaged Suit. They approached and listened a second.
"I don't care if it was promised to you, I got here first and I claimed it as my own!"
"But isn't one of the values of this squadron treat the others like family? By putting yourself above the others you only prove you disowned yourself!"
"That doesn't matter. One of the accepted rules of this 'family' is first come, first serve."
"Where is that rule written?"
"It's an accepted rule. It doesn't need to be written!"
"I'll believe this rule when I see it. Where is it written?"
They glared at one another before Tobias interrupted them. "You're both right and wrong at the same time. You," he pointed to Rynn, "I promised her that frame as a start of her own Mobile Suit. My word is final, just like your unwritten rules exist. And you," he pointed to Robyn, "He's right on this, like it or not. However, your point about the squadron is family is correct. And families share, don't they Rynn?"
Rynn muttered under his breath a second while she grinned triumphantly.
"And if any more complaints come up, bring them to me before making a spectacle for everyone."
They both nodded before she eagerly climbed into the hole in the Aries and began tinkering. Rynn stood dejectedly, his head drooped and his blue eyes burning. He slowly turned around and stalked into the scraps.
*****
She hummed happily as she jumped from one frame to the other, clutching wires in her mouth as she flew, grabbing some protrusion at the last second and settling gracefully to attach the wires to some new function. She pressed the button next to where the wires trailed and waited a second. There was a sputter as power tried to enter the defunct suit before a single spark arced through the air.
"Dammit! I don't know how to do this!" She kicked this suit angrily. After a second there was a burst and power entered the system, coming on- line and staying so. She blinked and began to laugh gleefully. I guess all I need to do this is a little know-how. Laughing at her joke, she leapt back to the other suit and grabbed another handful of wires.
*****
A knock interrupted Tobias's meditation. He opened his eyes and stared at the door. He blinked several times before standing and opening it to find an excited Robyn before him. She bounced up and down, rocking on her heels as she waited for him to answer. When she looked again she jumped and grinned. "I found something I think you should see. She held up a small video memory unit, the type used in Mobile Suit cameras.
Slowly he took, his thoughts mixed on what this was. He hesitated a second. "Thank you. I'll take a look." After a short pause, "If you want to, you can too."
She glanced around once before slowly walking into his room, surprised by how dark it was. She was about to say something when he flipped on a light in the corner and stuck the memory unit into a projector.
At first the screen was a blur of static, but slowly a picture revealed itself. It seemed the camera was on the Aries frame and it was making a strike on a...Gundam? He hit pause and stared at the image. It was several minutes before he spoke again. "I know where that is. That's Philadelphia, in the United States."
"But what's that odd Mobile Suit?"
"Gundam 02."
"Gundam?"
"They are the terrorists who we fight. Without them the world would be a more peaceful place. But they insist on making life living hell for those unlucky enough to get in their way. They seem driven to eliminate our organization. That's why we exist. To track down the Gundams and either capture or destroy them."
"So you've seen them before then."
"Once. A Gundam fired upon the colony where my wife and daughter lived. The colony was obliterated."
There was silence.
He spoke again after a while. "What would a Gundam be doing in Philadelphia?"
"Isn't there supposed to be some big event coming up?"
Tobias's eyes widened. "The American Super Bowl. It's the once a year championship game they hold for their football league. Our OZ commanders are supposed to attend it this year as guests of honor. It must be an assassination attempt on our top officials."
"How long until the Super Bowl?"
"It's tonight. We can make it if we hurry. Is your Suit ready?"
She blushed slightly, the color a shade deeper than her hair. "Not yet. The basic systems are up but I have no weapons."
"Find Vick. We call him the Armory because he always has a lot of spare weapons lying around. I'm sure he'll lend you a couple."
She straightened up and nodded once before disappearing through the door. He turned to the comm unit to spread the code red.
*****
Vick was on his computer when the girl ran up to him. His eyebrow raised as he watched her pant for a second before talking. "What's the rush, lil' lady?"
She started at the words "lil' lady" and bristled. Her anger dissipated at his laughter. "What's so funny?"
"You. I ain't never seen take so much offense at such a well-intended compliment. So what can I do for ya?"
"I need some weapons for my Mobile Suit. We're leaving on a mission to Philadelphia."
He leaned back in his chair and looked at her thoughtfully before jumping up. "I can help you, ya?"
He led her into a smaller area where large lockers sat lined along the walls. He turned to her. "So whatcha think your Suit can use? Got lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight weapons. Just depends on your fighting style." His shoulders shrugged.
She looked down the lockers before stopping on a long thin rod. It was made of titanium and had a single split along one end. She eyed it for a minute before pointing. "I'll take that."
"You sure bout that? I ain't figured out what it is yet."
"Then maybe I will. If you'll set it out please, I can grab it on exit."
The black man grinned at her. "You sure got a knack for planning, eh? Maybe you can be Log."
She smiled at him, the first person she was truly comfortable with. "Maybe, huh?"
He looked down at his waist. "Whoa, we got a code red. I'll set your thingie out so you can grab it on the way out." Then he was gone and she turned to leave to her own Suit. The conflict was beginning.
*****
Tobias stared at the wall a second, preparing his mind for the task at hand. Slowly, carefully, he lowered his fingers onto the piano in front of him and struck a note, a deep mournful sound that resonated across the room. He struck a second note, this one higher and lilting, hovering in the air. He continued, his nimble fingers dancing across the keyboard, pressing the keys and playing a dark, brooding nocturne. The mood in the room darkened as the piece continued, the very air seeming to become dark and thick with the grim melody.
He stopped at the end of the piece and paused a moment, taking a deep breath before beginning the second piece in his practice schedule, this one faster, angrier. The music ripped open the room, exposing the darkness inherent to all the objects within. His mind wandered as his fingers plucked the keys to this music he had so long ago memorized. He did not realize someone was knocking on his door until he finished the piece.
Slowly his eyes opened, the darkest taint disappearing from them, returning to their normal silver-gray. He shook his head once, erasing all memories of his practice for the morning and stood to answer the door. "Come in. It's open."
The double doors slid open with a silent hiss and Vick entered the room. The black man grinned. "Playin' again, boss? You should really get it recorded."
Tobias smiled grimly. "And actively warp the future of this world? Sounds like fun. Maybe after the war. Now what did you come here for?"
"Trouble in the scrapyard. Seems Seth brought in a frame for the new girl and Rynn staked a claim to it. They've almost pulled their guns."
His eyebrow rose slightly. "Be interesting to see how that turns out. But to save Rynn, gotta stop this now."
"Don't have faith in his ability to fight?"
"Don't trust him not to pull a gun in this situation. Him and her got off on the wrong foot yesterday and they don't really seem to get along that well."
"Let's go then, eh boss?"
Tobias grabbed his shirt and followed Vick into the hangar, where Robyn and Rynn were in each other's faces. He smiled in amusement to see the short, redheaded girl on her tiptoes, yelling at him with the same ferocity he had as he looked down at her. Behind them stood the scrap shuttle and the dirty remains of an Aries Mobile Suit. It gleamed dully in the morning sun and both newcomers were surprised to see that the only problem was a large, fairly obvious hole where the cockpit should have been. The rest of the squadron was staring at the confrontation and did not care about the damaged Suit. They approached and listened a second.
"I don't care if it was promised to you, I got here first and I claimed it as my own!"
"But isn't one of the values of this squadron treat the others like family? By putting yourself above the others you only prove you disowned yourself!"
"That doesn't matter. One of the accepted rules of this 'family' is first come, first serve."
"Where is that rule written?"
"It's an accepted rule. It doesn't need to be written!"
"I'll believe this rule when I see it. Where is it written?"
They glared at one another before Tobias interrupted them. "You're both right and wrong at the same time. You," he pointed to Rynn, "I promised her that frame as a start of her own Mobile Suit. My word is final, just like your unwritten rules exist. And you," he pointed to Robyn, "He's right on this, like it or not. However, your point about the squadron is family is correct. And families share, don't they Rynn?"
Rynn muttered under his breath a second while she grinned triumphantly.
"And if any more complaints come up, bring them to me before making a spectacle for everyone."
They both nodded before she eagerly climbed into the hole in the Aries and began tinkering. Rynn stood dejectedly, his head drooped and his blue eyes burning. He slowly turned around and stalked into the scraps.
*****
She hummed happily as she jumped from one frame to the other, clutching wires in her mouth as she flew, grabbing some protrusion at the last second and settling gracefully to attach the wires to some new function. She pressed the button next to where the wires trailed and waited a second. There was a sputter as power tried to enter the defunct suit before a single spark arced through the air.
"Dammit! I don't know how to do this!" She kicked this suit angrily. After a second there was a burst and power entered the system, coming on- line and staying so. She blinked and began to laugh gleefully. I guess all I need to do this is a little know-how. Laughing at her joke, she leapt back to the other suit and grabbed another handful of wires.
*****
A knock interrupted Tobias's meditation. He opened his eyes and stared at the door. He blinked several times before standing and opening it to find an excited Robyn before him. She bounced up and down, rocking on her heels as she waited for him to answer. When she looked again she jumped and grinned. "I found something I think you should see. She held up a small video memory unit, the type used in Mobile Suit cameras.
Slowly he took, his thoughts mixed on what this was. He hesitated a second. "Thank you. I'll take a look." After a short pause, "If you want to, you can too."
She glanced around once before slowly walking into his room, surprised by how dark it was. She was about to say something when he flipped on a light in the corner and stuck the memory unit into a projector.
At first the screen was a blur of static, but slowly a picture revealed itself. It seemed the camera was on the Aries frame and it was making a strike on a...Gundam? He hit pause and stared at the image. It was several minutes before he spoke again. "I know where that is. That's Philadelphia, in the United States."
"But what's that odd Mobile Suit?"
"Gundam 02."
"Gundam?"
"They are the terrorists who we fight. Without them the world would be a more peaceful place. But they insist on making life living hell for those unlucky enough to get in their way. They seem driven to eliminate our organization. That's why we exist. To track down the Gundams and either capture or destroy them."
"So you've seen them before then."
"Once. A Gundam fired upon the colony where my wife and daughter lived. The colony was obliterated."
There was silence.
He spoke again after a while. "What would a Gundam be doing in Philadelphia?"
"Isn't there supposed to be some big event coming up?"
Tobias's eyes widened. "The American Super Bowl. It's the once a year championship game they hold for their football league. Our OZ commanders are supposed to attend it this year as guests of honor. It must be an assassination attempt on our top officials."
"How long until the Super Bowl?"
"It's tonight. We can make it if we hurry. Is your Suit ready?"
She blushed slightly, the color a shade deeper than her hair. "Not yet. The basic systems are up but I have no weapons."
"Find Vick. We call him the Armory because he always has a lot of spare weapons lying around. I'm sure he'll lend you a couple."
She straightened up and nodded once before disappearing through the door. He turned to the comm unit to spread the code red.
*****
Vick was on his computer when the girl ran up to him. His eyebrow raised as he watched her pant for a second before talking. "What's the rush, lil' lady?"
She started at the words "lil' lady" and bristled. Her anger dissipated at his laughter. "What's so funny?"
"You. I ain't never seen take so much offense at such a well-intended compliment. So what can I do for ya?"
"I need some weapons for my Mobile Suit. We're leaving on a mission to Philadelphia."
He leaned back in his chair and looked at her thoughtfully before jumping up. "I can help you, ya?"
He led her into a smaller area where large lockers sat lined along the walls. He turned to her. "So whatcha think your Suit can use? Got lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight weapons. Just depends on your fighting style." His shoulders shrugged.
She looked down the lockers before stopping on a long thin rod. It was made of titanium and had a single split along one end. She eyed it for a minute before pointing. "I'll take that."
"You sure bout that? I ain't figured out what it is yet."
"Then maybe I will. If you'll set it out please, I can grab it on exit."
The black man grinned at her. "You sure got a knack for planning, eh? Maybe you can be Log."
She smiled at him, the first person she was truly comfortable with. "Maybe, huh?"
He looked down at his waist. "Whoa, we got a code red. I'll set your thingie out so you can grab it on the way out." Then he was gone and she turned to leave to her own Suit. The conflict was beginning.