He saw his little sister watching him with frightened, yet proud eyes,
before the helmet lowered on to his head. The inside of the circle was
modeled after a cockpit of a mobile suit. He easily destroyed the oncoming
wave of mobile suits on the first level, feeling his mind grasp the
understanding required to pilot a mobile suit. He did extremely well, until
a mobile suit caught him from behind while he was finishing off another. He
flew up with a control and blasted away. In his minds eye he could see
himself as a pilot, flying through outer space towards his home on Earth.
He completed the level, advancing on the training schedule above most of
the others. He was a marvel with suits, and he knew it.
The fifteen-year-old stepped into the artificial lighting of the basement, and went over to the Doctor. He quietly asked to have permission to work on the mechanics lesson. The Doctor agreed, looking at various charts and information graphs. The children proceeded to try out the mobile suit simulator.
The next six people raised up their levels, but not enough to proceed to the next mobile test. Every five levels there was a test, in which something unexpected happened to the suit, and the pilot had to deal with the situation. Zech stayed near the Doctor, until his sister prepared to go into the cockpit. He ran up and gave her shoulder a small pat for luck. She smiled widely at him and clambered into the simulator. Her tiny body was barely held against the seat by the huge seat belt, but she allowed her brother to hook the wires to her head. Her small hands waved him away, and he stepped back. She shut the door with an electronic hiss, and her fingers nimbly set up the level for herself. She eased her hand around the control panel the used flight and movement and said in a steady, yet small voice;
"Simulation on. Code 5z. Sign in: Relena Merquise."
The Doctor stared at the electronic monitor that he held, but he secretly spied on his camera he had installed, watching the young pilot sit in serene calm as she blasted away. That day she passed two tests, and only stopped when the Doctor said it was time for dinner. Her head matted with sweat, but Relena wasn't tired at all. She ran around, jumping on the older kid and running under foot.
The kids shushed her, and made her eat a healthy meal of lean pork, broccoli and bananas. The person who cleaned that night turned out to be her brother, so Relena stayed behind to help him like she usually did. He smiled at her, but underneath he was worried.
Zech had no intention of staying here for very long. He was going to join the army, but Relena. She was a puzzle. She obviously inherited the skill of controlling mobile suits, but she was the one planned to inherit the Peacecraft Kingdom.
Zech sighed, and put away the last dish. He motioned for his sister to follow him, and she did, giggling all the while. Zech pushed open the door, then stealthily walked into the frozen, snowy world. He noticed that it was slowly starting to snow, Zech could already feel the soft white flakes drifting down. He went out into the street, pulling Relena with him. She followed, and finally she said, "Zech! Stop, I want to play in the snow!"
Her older brother did, but regretfully. He sat down on a large wooden crate on the side of the street and picked up his little sister. He put her down beside him, and started to slowly talk to her with his deep voice. At fifteen, he had already developed into the man he was going to be; tall, sturdy, with platinum blonde hair and emotional blue eyes that could be relentlessly cruel, but also amazingly soft.
"Relena, are you sure you want to train to pilot? If you are chosen by the Doctor, which you will if you continue to train, you will have to go to war. I don't know if that's what you want. You're only five years old! How do I expect you to understand?" he burst out the last part, making Relena cringe. She was a trusting, cheerful girl, but didn't know where her brother was going with this conversation.
"Milli-" she started to say her brothers true name, but was cut short.
"Don't ever call me that name again Relena. Milliardo Peacecraft died when the first bomb destroyed the pristine perfection of our late father's dream. Do you understand? From now on my name is Zech Merquise." He said cuttingly, but stopped, horrified at himself when he saw his little sister's shoulders start to heave and shudder.
She was crying.
Belatedly he wondered how many times she had silently cried to sleep remembering their dead parents. She was, after all, still a child. He hesitantly put his hand on the curled up form of Relena, and picked her up. She nuzzled in close to his body and slowly fell asleep, but it was a while before Zech forgot the sight of his sister hiccuping from sorrow. Sometimes he could barely see past the façade that she kept in front of everyone, it was easy to forget she was very young to be alone.
He walked back to the old house and placed her in her bed, careful not to wake up the other younger children. He tiptoed out, then walked steadily to the Doctor's room.
When he reached the heavy oak door, he knocked sharply, and walked in. The Doctor sat on his office chair, reading a report on someone from the training he was putting the children through. Zech paused behind the Doctor, then said loudly,
"My sister is very talented, isn't she Doctor."
From the way he said it, the old man knew it wasn't a question. He swiveled guiltily around and glared at the teenager.
"What are you doing in my room? Get out and go to bed, its already ten o'clock!"
The blonde boy ignored the Doctor and sat in a chair opposite the Doctor.
"So tell me, Doctor Kieler, why are you training Relena to be a Gundam Pilot if she originally came from Earth and knows nothing of the sufferings of the colonists? And why her? Why does she have her ability to completely control her state of mind and the mobile suits?" he asked angrily, almost shaking the Doctor with impatience. The old man sighed.
"She has the same gift as you Zech, but with more potency. The reason she is the candidate for a Gundam is because I believe she could be the best pilot in the world. She has the inner strength of a warrior, and the spirit of a child. She is a perfect choice for Operation Meteor."
"You want her to be a killing machine?! She's a child! She's innocent and pure and-" he was interrupted by the Doctor, who looked at him with pity.
"I know, but these times call for such things. A child trained as a guerilla fighter is hard to believe, and gives us an advantage against OZ. I'm sorry, but I have no other choice. This is her file right in front of me, and I'm going to upgrade her training tomorrow. Will you support me in this decision to try to end this upcoming war, or do I have to sedate you?" he said, looking as hard as granite and just as resolute. Zech nodded, then added his own wild card to the conversation.
"I'm leaving tomorrow for the army. Doctor, I was wondering if you would look after my sister while I'm gone. If your answer is negative, I will take her with me, but I can't see going with her. Please will you care for my sister?" he asked, almost pleaded. The older man nodded, sending a rush of relief through Zech's body. The soon to be soldier nodded as well.
"I'll tell her tomorrow morning, and leave then. Could you."he hesitated before going on. "I know a war orphan shelter near here, I considered it as an alternative home for Relena, but I think the other children would be better off there."
The Doctor considered this and nodded, pleased with Zech's thinking. The trainer needed all his time for Relena, and was running out of money for eight children and an assistant and himself.
"Fine, now go to sleep. Remember to tell her tomorrow so we can get on to training."
"Thank you Kieler."
The white haired teen slipped out of the room, and used his low, husky voice to sing the insomniac children to sleep. He gave a last glance to Relena before setting off for some sleep.
The next morning he told a drowsy Relena he was leaving for the army. There were a few tears, but Relena inexplicably understood his thirst for revenge. Zech now knew that would be one of a few key factors for her fighting. If she agreed to fight, it would be her motivator.
The Doctor watched a tearful goodbye between siblings, then herded the other six children to the assistant, who already knew the plan. The emotional children set off for the orphanage. The old man bent down to the little girl's level of height, and grasped her hands.
"Relena, you have the power to fight for the future. I'm giving you a choice; either to fight the Gundam I am creating, or to run away and pretend you never met me." The old man took off his silver glasses and placed them on top of his head. "You are one of the few people in this world who have the phenomenal chance to create our future, not just sit back and watch others do it for you. What is your choice?"
The Doctor Kieler watched with held breath as the girl slowly thought about her choice. Then, to his surprise, she answered him in a strong voice clear of any trace of mistakes.
"Doctor, I want to pilot your Gundam. If you show me, train me, I hope I will live up to your tut.tut-"she hesitated over the words, then said in her childish voice, "tutelage!"
The Doctor smiled and brought her into the house. There, a young girl grew into a young woman, and became one of the first to pilot one of the mysterious, and dangerous, Gundanium Mobile Suits.
The fifteen-year-old stepped into the artificial lighting of the basement, and went over to the Doctor. He quietly asked to have permission to work on the mechanics lesson. The Doctor agreed, looking at various charts and information graphs. The children proceeded to try out the mobile suit simulator.
The next six people raised up their levels, but not enough to proceed to the next mobile test. Every five levels there was a test, in which something unexpected happened to the suit, and the pilot had to deal with the situation. Zech stayed near the Doctor, until his sister prepared to go into the cockpit. He ran up and gave her shoulder a small pat for luck. She smiled widely at him and clambered into the simulator. Her tiny body was barely held against the seat by the huge seat belt, but she allowed her brother to hook the wires to her head. Her small hands waved him away, and he stepped back. She shut the door with an electronic hiss, and her fingers nimbly set up the level for herself. She eased her hand around the control panel the used flight and movement and said in a steady, yet small voice;
"Simulation on. Code 5z. Sign in: Relena Merquise."
The Doctor stared at the electronic monitor that he held, but he secretly spied on his camera he had installed, watching the young pilot sit in serene calm as she blasted away. That day she passed two tests, and only stopped when the Doctor said it was time for dinner. Her head matted with sweat, but Relena wasn't tired at all. She ran around, jumping on the older kid and running under foot.
The kids shushed her, and made her eat a healthy meal of lean pork, broccoli and bananas. The person who cleaned that night turned out to be her brother, so Relena stayed behind to help him like she usually did. He smiled at her, but underneath he was worried.
Zech had no intention of staying here for very long. He was going to join the army, but Relena. She was a puzzle. She obviously inherited the skill of controlling mobile suits, but she was the one planned to inherit the Peacecraft Kingdom.
Zech sighed, and put away the last dish. He motioned for his sister to follow him, and she did, giggling all the while. Zech pushed open the door, then stealthily walked into the frozen, snowy world. He noticed that it was slowly starting to snow, Zech could already feel the soft white flakes drifting down. He went out into the street, pulling Relena with him. She followed, and finally she said, "Zech! Stop, I want to play in the snow!"
Her older brother did, but regretfully. He sat down on a large wooden crate on the side of the street and picked up his little sister. He put her down beside him, and started to slowly talk to her with his deep voice. At fifteen, he had already developed into the man he was going to be; tall, sturdy, with platinum blonde hair and emotional blue eyes that could be relentlessly cruel, but also amazingly soft.
"Relena, are you sure you want to train to pilot? If you are chosen by the Doctor, which you will if you continue to train, you will have to go to war. I don't know if that's what you want. You're only five years old! How do I expect you to understand?" he burst out the last part, making Relena cringe. She was a trusting, cheerful girl, but didn't know where her brother was going with this conversation.
"Milli-" she started to say her brothers true name, but was cut short.
"Don't ever call me that name again Relena. Milliardo Peacecraft died when the first bomb destroyed the pristine perfection of our late father's dream. Do you understand? From now on my name is Zech Merquise." He said cuttingly, but stopped, horrified at himself when he saw his little sister's shoulders start to heave and shudder.
She was crying.
Belatedly he wondered how many times she had silently cried to sleep remembering their dead parents. She was, after all, still a child. He hesitantly put his hand on the curled up form of Relena, and picked her up. She nuzzled in close to his body and slowly fell asleep, but it was a while before Zech forgot the sight of his sister hiccuping from sorrow. Sometimes he could barely see past the façade that she kept in front of everyone, it was easy to forget she was very young to be alone.
He walked back to the old house and placed her in her bed, careful not to wake up the other younger children. He tiptoed out, then walked steadily to the Doctor's room.
When he reached the heavy oak door, he knocked sharply, and walked in. The Doctor sat on his office chair, reading a report on someone from the training he was putting the children through. Zech paused behind the Doctor, then said loudly,
"My sister is very talented, isn't she Doctor."
From the way he said it, the old man knew it wasn't a question. He swiveled guiltily around and glared at the teenager.
"What are you doing in my room? Get out and go to bed, its already ten o'clock!"
The blonde boy ignored the Doctor and sat in a chair opposite the Doctor.
"So tell me, Doctor Kieler, why are you training Relena to be a Gundam Pilot if she originally came from Earth and knows nothing of the sufferings of the colonists? And why her? Why does she have her ability to completely control her state of mind and the mobile suits?" he asked angrily, almost shaking the Doctor with impatience. The old man sighed.
"She has the same gift as you Zech, but with more potency. The reason she is the candidate for a Gundam is because I believe she could be the best pilot in the world. She has the inner strength of a warrior, and the spirit of a child. She is a perfect choice for Operation Meteor."
"You want her to be a killing machine?! She's a child! She's innocent and pure and-" he was interrupted by the Doctor, who looked at him with pity.
"I know, but these times call for such things. A child trained as a guerilla fighter is hard to believe, and gives us an advantage against OZ. I'm sorry, but I have no other choice. This is her file right in front of me, and I'm going to upgrade her training tomorrow. Will you support me in this decision to try to end this upcoming war, or do I have to sedate you?" he said, looking as hard as granite and just as resolute. Zech nodded, then added his own wild card to the conversation.
"I'm leaving tomorrow for the army. Doctor, I was wondering if you would look after my sister while I'm gone. If your answer is negative, I will take her with me, but I can't see going with her. Please will you care for my sister?" he asked, almost pleaded. The older man nodded, sending a rush of relief through Zech's body. The soon to be soldier nodded as well.
"I'll tell her tomorrow morning, and leave then. Could you."he hesitated before going on. "I know a war orphan shelter near here, I considered it as an alternative home for Relena, but I think the other children would be better off there."
The Doctor considered this and nodded, pleased with Zech's thinking. The trainer needed all his time for Relena, and was running out of money for eight children and an assistant and himself.
"Fine, now go to sleep. Remember to tell her tomorrow so we can get on to training."
"Thank you Kieler."
The white haired teen slipped out of the room, and used his low, husky voice to sing the insomniac children to sleep. He gave a last glance to Relena before setting off for some sleep.
The next morning he told a drowsy Relena he was leaving for the army. There were a few tears, but Relena inexplicably understood his thirst for revenge. Zech now knew that would be one of a few key factors for her fighting. If she agreed to fight, it would be her motivator.
The Doctor watched a tearful goodbye between siblings, then herded the other six children to the assistant, who already knew the plan. The emotional children set off for the orphanage. The old man bent down to the little girl's level of height, and grasped her hands.
"Relena, you have the power to fight for the future. I'm giving you a choice; either to fight the Gundam I am creating, or to run away and pretend you never met me." The old man took off his silver glasses and placed them on top of his head. "You are one of the few people in this world who have the phenomenal chance to create our future, not just sit back and watch others do it for you. What is your choice?"
The Doctor Kieler watched with held breath as the girl slowly thought about her choice. Then, to his surprise, she answered him in a strong voice clear of any trace of mistakes.
"Doctor, I want to pilot your Gundam. If you show me, train me, I hope I will live up to your tut.tut-"she hesitated over the words, then said in her childish voice, "tutelage!"
The Doctor smiled and brought her into the house. There, a young girl grew into a young woman, and became one of the first to pilot one of the mysterious, and dangerous, Gundanium Mobile Suits.