AN: I took liberties with some of the dialogue (again) and very slightly re-wrote one scene from the series (not significantly, but it fit my story better), but I didn't tweak too much. It still reflects the intent of the original scene. I also skipped over quite a bit, so you might want to refresh your memory as to the events of the chapters listed below, either by watching the episodes or reading a summary of episodes 9 through about 13. Consider this complimentary material for all of the scenes I omitted.
As you read the first paragraph of this chapter, imagine the narrator from the series speaking…on second thought, he always sounds like he sucking on a cough drop when he speaks, so never mind…
Episode reference: episodes 9 through, uh 13?
Still Grows the Lilac Part II of The Lilac Princess trilogy Chapter 14 The Price of RevengeIn the year A.C. 195, the organization known as OZ staged a devastating coup against the tyrannical Earth Sphere Alliance. The coup was led by the charismatic young general, Duke Treize Kushrenada, who operated ostensibly under the orders of the Romefellar Foundation. OZ, a group made up of displaced nobles and the remnant of the once powerful aristocracies of the world, worked for decades to acquire the resources and power necessary to take back what they believed to be rightful theirs. The ambition of Romefellar knew no bounds, even going so far as to curry favor with the Alliance by providing mobile suits. Lulled into a sense of arrogant complacency and overconfidence, the Alliance leadership fell quickly.
The last major target to fall was the Alliance's European headquarters in Luxembourg, the homeland of Duke Treize and the former sanctuary of his young protégé, Zechs Merquise. Although battles were still being waged across the planet, the primary targets were secured within forty-eight hours. Several key Alliance complexes were still unclaimed, however, and continued to mount counter offensives against the new leadership of the Romefellar Foundation. One of these pockets of resistance exists in the coastal regions of Northern Europe, in the area once known as the Cinq Kingdom. Liberating this forgotten kingdom became the driving motivation for one young OZ officer, Lieutenant Zechs Merquise. It was the lieutenant's intention to use the newly restored Tallgeese mobile suit in his effort to finally reestablish the once influential Peacecraft monarchy. Tallgeese, though originally designed and constructed twenty years prior, proved to be superior to any suit in operation at the time…with the exception of the Gundams.
Lieutenants Merquise and Noin of OZ's elite Mobile Suite Corps stood staring at the massive twenty-year old suit as it's temporary caretaker, Otto Weir, was carried to the infirmary. Lieutenant Otto had been personally responsible for the last few repairs to the mobile suit as well as its first test pilot. Otto's efforts had provided invaluable information on the suits capabilities, but almost at the cost of his own life. According to Otto, the suit's acceleration was too much for him and he was unable to take an accurate measurement of Tallgeese's speeds. It was, apparently, a beast of a machine, designed with only performance and victory in mind, with little regard for the human pilot's well-being. This last fact was of particular interest to Zechs Merquise.
The machine would have no trouble withstanding a standard attack. Zechs seriously doubted anything short of a Gundam could defeat his Tallgeese. It would take a strong pilot to handle such a beast. Otto seemed to think that Zechs himself was the only pilot capable of such a feat. Zechs, on the other hand, had doubts. That very idea sent a jolt of frightful excitement through the young man. He was not an arrogant man by nature, but he was confident in his abilities as a pilot. There was not a mobile suit or fighter craft in use that he had not mastered, but now he was faced with the challenge of taming Tallgeese. That suit, so much like the Gundams themselves, was deadly, not only for its enemy but also for its pilot. Tallgeese could very well kill him…or it could set him free. There was only one way to find out.
"Noin," Zechs called to his comrade, all but forgotten as such thoughts raced through his mind, "Have the mobile suit troops ready to leave at once. It's time."
Noin turned to him a bit shocked. "Cinq Kingdom?"
Zechs met her gaze, his posture and tone emphasizing his determination. "I'm taking it back. Any objections?"
"No Sir!"
Satisfied, Zechs returned his attention to his new weapon. "I'm taking the Tallgeese."
"Without so much as a test flight? That's too dangerous!"
"I'll take my chances. I can't stop now, Noin. Not when we are so close to Cinq." After a moment of silence, Noin nodded. Zechs let out a breath he had not realized he was holding. He half expected her to protest his decision and was relieved that she seemed to understand. Then again, Noin always seemed to understand. "Don't worry, Noin. I won't do anything too reckless."
"Of course you won't," Noin smirked. Just behind the sarcasm, however, lay the merest hint of anxiety. Zechs couldn't help but be anxious himself, but unlike Noin, he reveled in the novelty of uncertainty. For the first time in a long while, he felt challenged. With his family avenged and his country on the verge of freedom, the challenge of taming Tallgeese seemed to be all that the young pilot had to spur himself on, the only reason to keep fighting. Taming Tallgeese and dueling the Gundams. There was honor in that. Honor he didn't find in killing his father's murderer.
Zechs absently rubbed the palm of one gloved hand with the thumb of the other as he plotted his next move. The lieutenant turned to speak but stopped when he caught a glimpse of his companion's concerned expression. She was looking at his hands when he turned and this prompted Zechs to do the same. Finally noticing what he was doing, he dropped his hands, fisting them at his sides and said, "As soon as the relief troops arrive to take over here, we will move out."
Noin schooled her expression and executed a crisp salute. "Yes, sir!"
Zechs turned and left her to her own thoughts, unwilling to share anymore of his own. He needed time to prepare, to will himself the courage to accept his responsibilities as pilot of Tallgeese. He needed time to quell the uneasy feeling rising inside of him now that he was so close to Cinq. Thirteen years. That was how long it had been since his world was rent asunder by the Alliance. Thirteen years since he witnessed his father's execution and his mother's sacrifice. Thirteen years of blood and pain with only the occasional reprieve from nightmares and loneliness. He left that country a broken, angry boy. He returned an empty, blood-tainted soldier. He had no hope of redeeming himself enough to carry on his father's work. In truth, he could not bring himself to believe in his father's teachings anymore than he could bring himself to believe in the childhood myths he had once loved. He was too cold, too callused to bring the ideals of pacifism back to life. No, he would not take the place of Stefan Peacecraft, but he would pave the way for the one more worthy and pure. Cinq would soon be resurrected and lead the way, not through a king, but through its queen.
Within two hours of the arrival of Tallgeese, Zechs and a division of mobile suits led by Noin, were in the air en route to the Cinq border. Three mobile suit carriers escorted by seven standard fighter planes crossed into Alliance airspace thirty minutes after take off. As expected, the isolated Alliance base had been put on full alert as soon as the communications blackout occurred. The battle for Cinq would be neither easy nor quick, but it would succeed. Zechs was determined to see his homeland breath free air once more. But not at the expense of civilians. His last order before launching Tallgeese was to remind his troops to attack only the military targets and avoid any attack upon the city itself. His tone of voice was such that every pilot in the unit was certain of the underlying threat to their physical well being should they make mistakes and cause damage to the city.
"All suits are away." Noin's voice crackled over the intership communications unit. "I'll back you up. Concentrate on your mission, Lieutenant Zechs and leave the rest to me."
"I'm completely focused."
"I've sent the suits to key points and we will divert the ground forces, but a few land-to-air missiles are bound to get past us."
"If Otto's assessment of this suit's speed is correct, I should be able to outrun them."
"Good luck."
A few moments later, all mobile suits were airborne, racing towards the target. As Noin and her men dodged a barrage from the Alliance stronghold, drawing fire away from their commanding officer, Tallgeese was hurled from the carrier. Zechs steeled himself for the expected jerk once the suit left the larger craft, but was unprepared for the bone-jarring jolt as he felt the full weight of the mobile suite. Zechs realized why the vernier rockets were so vital to the suit's operation. It would be all but impossible to maneuver such a massive machine without the additional lift of the rockets. Still, Zechs believed he could handle it. There was, after all, no suit in existence that he had not mastered.
It took only five minutes for the young pilot to realize he was way over his head. He heard Noin's demands to the Alliance commander in charge of the enclave, but rather than surrendering peacefully, the base revealed a dozen laser canons and fired. The OZ troops scrambled to avoid the blasts while Zechs struggled to bring his suit under control. A struggle he was losing. His frustration began to take over. On one hand, he was beginning to realize that he was completely unprepared for the realities of piloting Tallgeese and that he should turn back. On the other, his home was right in front of him, waiting for his return. After thirteen years, he was within sight of the land he had been born to lead. His feet ached to walk on his native soil, his eyes instinctively turned towards the port city in which he had been born.
Zechs was wrenched from his thoughts as one of the laser blasts cut right past him. He was barely able to avoid an attack which should have been nothing to him. He felt like a first year again. An incompetent first year at that. All he had to do was increase the speed and he was certain to gain control, but the speed was overwhelming as it was, could his body handle the acceleration? Damn it! Why was he hesitating? Why, with his home right in front of him, why couldn't he do what was needed for victory?
"Damn!" Noin's voice blared over the commlink, "They're bringing out more laser cannons! Everyone fall back!"
"Noin!" Zechs broke in, "Order a retreat."
"I'm sorry, sir. I had no idea that they had so many weapons at this base, but, we can handle this!"
"No. We'll have to retreat for now and reorganize our tactics. Go back to where you landed the cargo planes."
"Yes, sir!"
When he issued the order, Zechs had every intention of following, but his eyes were locked on the view of Cinq. Suddenly, he was filled with disgust. He hated himself for his cowardice. All that time, all the bloodshed and destruction, he justified all of that for the moment when he could return home. He was in that moment, but, to his horror, he found himself to afraid to act. He was certain Tallgeese could handle the Alliance outpost without support. The machine was designed to withstand such barrages. The problem was not with the suit, but with its pilot. More specifically with its pilot's inferiority.
Was that it? Was that all he was capable of? The great Lightning Count, the best pilot in OZ, was no more than a weak-willed coward, unable to fully accept the chance Tallgeese offered. He angrily sped the suit up again, cursing himself and his hesitation. He was so close. His homeland was right in front of him. Right the hell in front of him! He couldn't back down now. If he did, then his life had been wasted. All the death and destruction, all the pain he caused, his efforts to turn himself into an emotionless killer, it would all be for nothing. The image of his father's broken body filled his mind accompanied by the fear. The terror of a five-year-old child, raised in love and kindness, finally seeing the realities of the cruel, cold world beyond the walls of his golden castle. Milliardo Peacecraft died that day and now was his chance to avenge the slaughter.
But he couldn't.
"Why? Why am I so afraid?"
His body was beginning to feel the effects of the suit's incredible speed. Zechs felt his limbs begin to grow numb and heavy with the strain of controlling Tallgeese. Control might not be the right word. He was barely holding his own against the behemoth. He wasn't fighting the Alliance, he was fighting Tallgeese. Struggling for domination and, at the moment, losing. It was resisting him, denying him the ability to tap into its full strength. Zechs grunted in pain as he pressed the suit forward, questions screaming in his brain.
Why was Tallgeese turning on him? Was he unworthy of being its pilot? Were his objectives impure? Then, in one instant of clarity, Zechs understood. He knew his mistake, he knew why Tallgeese was rejecting him. Just as Tallgeese began its rapid decent, plummeting Zechs into darkness and death, he suddenly understood everything…
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Otto struggled with the last few brass buttons on his heavy wool shell coat. Fumbling for his cap, the lieutenant stood and walked cautiously towards the infirmary exit. His legs were still unsteady and weak, but Otto was determined to join his comrades on the battle field. He had overheard a hazy report that Lieutenant Zechs' attempt to liberate the country of Cinq had failed, but he had trouble believing it. Zechs Merquise simply did not fail. Their information was obviously sketchy and Otto was determined to find out the truth and resume his duties.
His escape from the infirmary was a close call, but once at a safe distance from the persistently concerned medical staff, Otto easily made his way to the motor pool where he 'borrowed' a jeep. He felt every bump in the road as he drove out to his squad's camp on the edge of the Cinq border. Every hole in the road jarred the injured man to his bones, but he grit his teeth and drove faster. He had been hurt far worse than this in the two decades since he joined the military. Of course, he hadn't joined by choice. What eight year old has the capacity to choose a life of constant battle? But he had been good at it. Even in those early days, as part of the Alliance military machine, he had taken pride in his abilities. He had been trained not to consider the consequences, simply to follow orders and fight well. He did both with exceeding expertise. That is until Cinq.
The massacre in which he had been forced to participate still haunted his dreams. Otto was sure he would always carry that guilt and accepted this as his punishment for his crimes. That day, that so called battle, changed him forever. Before, he could easily shut out the wanton destruction, the bloodshed, the wholesale slaughter. How? He was too busy to take notice during the battle and was on the move by the time it was over. He never had to stay behind and see what he and his comrades had done. He never had to see the faces of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, never had to bury the children who had been killed by stray bullets. At Cinq, though, he saw it all.
It wasn't a battle, even his commanding officers hadn't tried to convince them of that. It was a mass execution. They all knew that. The rest of his squad carried out their orders with deadly precision. Business as usual, but Otto couldn't bring himself to perform his duty with the same casual obedience. He had tried at first. It was his gun that took the life of that elderly gardener and his young protégée. The silly old man had taken up a shovel in a vain attempt to protect the boy, but all that did was make his ultimate death more painful. Otto's first shot, intended for the old man's left eye thereby providing an instant death, instead caught the old man in the shoulder. There was a struggle between the three, but despite being outnumbered, Otto easily overpowered them both. They died by his pistol, by his hand, but they had not gone quietly or easily. For the first time in his life, Otto understood the consequences of his actions.
He had bolted away then, running as fast as he was able, running from the truth. He collapsed on the edge of the hedge maze, near a group of pristinely white statues, standing mute over the carnage. He slumped against one of the sculptures, breathing heavily, the screams and gunfire echoing across the manicured lawn. Smoke bellowed from on end of the mansion, weighing down the air with the stench of blood and burning flesh. Otto gave himself over to a wave of disgust and doubled over, vomiting. He wretched violently, his body trying to physically force out the evil Otto felt inside himself. When the waves of nausea passed, he stood straight only to find himself being watched by two sets of wide eyes. A little boy, a baby girl.
The knowledge that children were in the castle almost sent the young soldier reeling to his knees again, but his comrade's shout roused him enough to fight back the sickness. Otto let that little boy and the baby escape that day. Perhaps he was a monster, but he would not become a monster capable of slaying children. Those two sets of eyes haunted him for years afterwards. Even after he left the Alliance and joined OZ, long after he found purpose for his life again, his dreams were troubled by those two sets of frightened, accusing eyes. He would never forget those eyes.
As Lieutenant Otto Weir arrived, he heard the truth about the unsuccessful attempt to liberate Cinq. Their preliminary reports had been faulty and the division met with more resistance than expected. Worse still, Lieutenant Merquise had evidently failed to master the Tallgeese as quickly as he had hoped and instead sustained serious injuries. It was this last bit of information that concerned Otto the most. He had hoped to have a longer discussion with the lieutenant about Tallgeese and the suits unusual abilities. Evidently Lieutenant Zechs found out the true nature of Tallgeese the hard way.
The older officer made his way to the medical tent to ask after the lieutenant's condition. Just before he announced himself and entered the tent, Otto heard voices and stopped. Lieutenant Noin was speaking to Lieutenant Zechs and Otto was not inclined to interrupt them. The two had precious little private time together as it was and he did not wish to intrude upon such a moment. There were all sorts of rumors about the two officers, ranging from the plausible to the absurd, but Otto didn't pay much heed to such things. His opinion of their relationship was based upon his own observations. It was obvious, to him anyway, that the two had a great deal of admiration and respect for each other that reached far beyond their ranks and positions. There was a real connection there, something perhaps indefinable yet tangible. In a world of constant conflict and strife, connecting with another human being was a rare and valuable thing. Otto saw it as one of his unofficial duties to protect that connection and the two who shared it.
He stayed just outside the tent flap, waiting for the chance to enter. It wasn't his intention to eavesdrop, but Otto found himself latching on to the voices drifting from the tent. Through the thin space between the flaps, he caught the occasional glance at the two higher-ranking officers. He was not surprised to see that Lieutenant Zechs was wearing his mask, despite the serious injuries he had sustained.
"Surprise I came back alive, Noin?" It was obviously meant to be a flippant remark, but did not produce the desired effect. Otto glanced at the young woman hovering over the hospital bed and noted a worried scowl. Noin leaned forward, gently resting her clenched fists on the edge of his hospital bed.
"Zechs, what happened?"
Lieutenant Merquise sighed, "I underestimated Tallgeese, but I understand now. That machine was designed without any consideration for human limitations. It's an ambitious design, with its own logic towards warfare."
"Ignoring human limitations?"
"It's possible to defeat any kind of enemy in any possible combat scenario. That was my analysis. Even I was scared. As I tried to increase its performance, I wound up pushing myself to the edge of death. I kept asking myself, 'Is this really all you can do?'"
There was a long pause as both officers—as well as the one outside—considered the implications.
"Tallgeese isn't intended for ordinary combat. It's a 'dueling' suit. Unless you're ready to die, you can't handle the machine effectively. Tallgeese is for suicide missions. It's only weakness is the pilot. I understand now."
"You're saying you think you failed because your will to live is too strong?" Lieutenant Noin's expression was as incredulous as her tone of voice. Lieutenant Zechs, on the other hand, replied quite calmly.
"Yes."
Lieutenant Noin remained silent. Otto felt a stab of sympathy for her. She was an excellent pilot in her own right, but she was also one of those rare officers who actually valued life over victory and such a person could never fully understand a suit such as Tallgeese. Otto looked away with a frown. Yes, he could finally see what eluded him when he made his own test flight. Tallgeese was meant for suicide missions. It's full potential lie in the pilot's willingness to risk anything for victory, even death. Tallgeese was just like the Gundams. That explained everything. The Gundams continued to win because they were always ready to die. They had been searching for a battle worthy of their own deaths.
"I failed because I was unable to commit to that idea." Zechs paused, his breathing becoming labored momentarily. He breathed into the oxygen mask a few times before continuing. "I was overwhelmed by fear… and revealed myself as a coward. Now that I know my mistake, I can correct it and I will be able to overcome my own limitations. I have to get back to Cinq Kingdom."
"You can't go back! It's a miracle that you came back alive in the first place! I'll go to the Cinq Kingdom. You stay here!
"I can't stand being this close to Cinq and not doing anything. I wanted it to be over, Noin, that's why I pushed for this mission. It was too soon, I realize that now, but once I liberate Cinq, I know the nightmare I've been living will finally be over."
"I know. I understand." Noin sighed sadly. Otto thought it an oddly unsettling sound coming from someone like Lieutenant Noin. When she spoke again, he noticed her voice held a touch of defeat, also unusual for the young woman. "I should have tried to stop you."
"You did."
"Not hard enough. I was anxious, too. I want this to be over as well. We have plenty of time to regroup. The outpost has no hope of reinforcements. If we wait them out a few days, their supplies will begin to run low and we can…whoa, what the hell are you doing?"
"Getting up so we can go back.
"Oh no you don't.
"Oh yes I wi—ahhg."
"Damn it. You are the most stubborn…," Noin's voice drifted out as she helped ease her friend back into the safety of his hospital bed. "Zechs, I know how difficult it is for you to stay here with your homeland so close, but you have got to get some rest. We will liberate your country, but not until you are well."
"But, I was so damned close!" Zechs shouted. Otto had never heard such forceful desperation in his commander's voice. Otto gasped softly as he recalled something Lieutenant Noin said. His country. Zechs Merquise was from Cinq. This mission was not simply about learning to use Tallgeese, it was about using Tallgeese to liberate his homeland. The man peered in again, watching as Lieutenant Noin all but forced Lieutenant Zechs to lie back. She loomed over him, adopting that motherly attitude her men knew not to argue with, and insisted her comrade stay put.
"I understand what the Cinq Kingdom means to you. It means as much to me and I want to see it free of Alliance scum as much as you do. God knows how much we both want to restore your family to the throne, but at this moment, you have to listen to me. You are not going to do Cinq any good if you die in that damned suit. Long-lost prince or not, you aren't going anywhere tonight, so just lay back and rest.
"We will depart tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes, sir," she said with a crisp salute and a breath of relief.
Otto stood outside the tent, dumbfounded. Zechs Merquise, the Lightning Count, was the heir to the throne of Cinq? How could that be? It was widely reported that the entire royal family had been annihilated, so how…? The image of a tow-headed six year old and honey-haired toddler sprang into his mind. Those children. Otto's look of shock softened into one of determination as he started off towards the landing strip. Thirteen years ago he allowed two children to escape a holocaust and in doing so he had unwittingly saved the last surviving members of Cinq's royal family. It was all he could do then, but now, after all this time, Otto had the opportunity to atone for his sins. He could never hope to make up for the slaughter he participated in, but he could do this one thing. He could ensure that Zechs Merquise took his rightful place as the king of Cinq.
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The Commander frowned as he watched the attacking force slink back the way they came. They obviously had been unprepared for the extra weapons the outpost possessed and it showed. Where the hell did they get their information anyway? Sloppy. It was too damned sloppy all way round. Rushed, unorganized and a major failure. The Commander was pitifully disappointed. Lucretzia Noin knew better than to fly off half cocked. She was better than that. He trained her didn't he? Whatever possessed that girl to jump into a situation without the right information?
He let out a sound, half amused and half angry. He had a good idea who was really responsible for the fiasco. Zechs Merquise was not known for his patience. And Lucretzia Noin was well known for her loyalty to her former classmate. A tender heart and her fierce loyalty to her friends—hell, her desire to have friends—made her completely unsuited for the life she was living. Others would disagree with him of course, but he knew better. He spent twenty years playing this game, manipulating the players behind the scenes, all for one purpose and he was on the verge of seeing that purpose fulfilled.
He just hoped there weren't too many Lucretzia Noin's in the world to muddle things up.
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"I had another dream."
"Same one?" Noin asked, leaning forward on the edge of the cot her friend occupied. She had been watching over him, making absolutely certain he didn't try to do something stupid.
"Yes," Zechs confirmed, "The same. Always the same."
Noin nodded, unsure as to whether she should press him for details. It had taken him months to admit he was having nightmares at all. She suspected the only reason Zechs told her at all was because she woke him from one of those awful dreams, mid terror, one night shortly after the incident with O'neguil. That was how she thought of O'neguil's death, the incident. She could not quite bring herself to accept what it truly was. Murder.
Noin knew, if not for a fact at least through the instincts born of long association, that the dream had increased in frequency since the incident and that Zechs' stress level was beginning to push limits. She glanced at her friend's hands as he made fists in the blanket. His gloves lay discarded on a nearby table with the rest of his clothing and this afforded Noin the very rare opportunity to see the man's hands. He inherited the long fingers and graceful shape from his mother, but where Mrs. Katrina's hands were flawlessly smooth and silken to the touch, Zechs' hands were chapped and red, blistered in a few spots. It might be easy for someone else to dismiss the condition of his hands, attribute the damage to too much manual labor or something, but Noin knew better. She knew he washed his hands almost constantly now and that left his hands raw and rough. She also knew the cause of such behavior and thought perhaps it was time to talk to him about it.
"Tell me about the dream."
There was a long silence. She hadn't really thought he would answer, just that she should at least try. After a few moments, Noin felt that Zechs had either chosen not to respond, or perhaps allowed the drugs in his system to lull him to sleep, but eventually, he did respond.
"I walk towards him, draw my pistol and shoot him. He falls and…"
Zechs began to rub his fingers together. That was the first sign.
"And I look down to see blood on my hands. I turn to leave…only to be stopped…"
The young officer unclenched his hands and began rubbing his palm. Sign two. Noin suddenly regretted having brought the matter up. "Zechs, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
But Zechs, surprisingly, would not be deterred now that the door had been opened. "I turn…only to be stopped by my father. He looks just as he did that day…after O'neguil murdered him. I can taste his blood in my mouth and I look down. I'm wearing a white suit, covered in his blood…that's when I realize it isn't the general's blood on my hands…its…"
"…your father's blood." He was wringing his hands now, the last sign before he started to look for a faucet. Noin put her hands over his, staying the movement. "Zechs, don't do this to yourself."
Noin was interrupted by a rushing noise followed by a flurry activity outside the med tent. She turned to the communication relay and called the night watch commander.
"What was that?!…oh, hell…" Turning to Zechs she said bluntly, "Otto just took Tallgeese."
"What?! He struggled to sit up and this time Noin didn't try to stop him. Instead she eased his arm around her shoulders to help steady him as he activated the commlink to Tallgeese.
"Otto, what are you doing?! Come back here now!"
"Tallgeese is strong enough to liberate Cinq…I should know…"
"Stop and return at once before you get yourself killed."
"I would be honored to sacrifice my life for you, Lieutenant. Please allow me to assist you in liberating your country. I want to do this for you, sir, not OZ!"
"Otto…"
"I will liberate your country so that you may rule as you were intended."
The communications link shut off abruptly. Zechs slammed his fist into the offending machine as though abusing it would stop the inevitable. "Noin, get a helicopter ready. We have to stop him."
Noin called in the order and helped Zechs back to the cot. She retrieved his clothes and helped him dress as quickly as possible. There was no way she could convince him to stay now, so she accompanied him to the waiting helo. They were airborne and in hot pursuit in moments, but it was useless. By the time they caught up with Otto, it would all be over.
"Patch me in to Tallgeese! Now!"
The co-pilot handed headsets back to the lieutenants and set up the link.
"Otto! Stop this nonsense and return at once!"
"Don't interfere with me... I won't last too long, anyway."
"Hurry!" Zechs growled to the pilot before doubling over in pain.
"Yes, sir!
Zechs, at Noin's insistence, leaned back against the seat, murmuring "If I had been able to handle Tallgeese, this wouldn't have happened."
"Long live King Zechs!"
It was the last transmission from Tallgeese before the mobile suit slammed into the fortress below. The remaining suits sped past the slower helicopter and proceeded to secure the base. By the time the helicopter landed, it was all over. Zechs, rejecting Noin's assistance this time, limped over to the Tallgeese just as Otto's body was lowered from the cockpit. He looked relatively undamaged and, had it not been for the previous injuries, the older man might have survived.
With some difficulty, Zechs knelt by the body, looking at the face of the man who saved him twice. Otto would never know that he had restored, not only Cinq, but also the world's chance at peace. In saving Milliardo and Relena Peacecraft, Otto Weir had saved the future. Zechs was the sword to sweep the path clean, Relena the leader to guide the survivors to the ideal their father died for.
He stood and ordered a jeep and driver just as Noin walked up.
"You going where I think you're going?"
He didn't answer, but that was
answer enough. She commandeered an Alliance motorcycle and followed. As they
flew down the ancient road, Noin was overcome with memories. There was a time
when she knew every curve and bump in that road. Another mile down and they
would reach the entry drive leading towards the Peacecraft mansion. Five more
miles and they would reach the orphanage. Just off that side was another road
that led to the school, then the cathedral in which Zechs' parents had been
married, then the main road into the city. Thirteen years and she still
remembered it all.
Soon they were standing
outside the once grand structure, the home of the Peacecraft family for six
hundred years. The once manicured lawns were unkempt and choked with weeds, the
façade was crumbling and still bore signs of the fire that almost destroyed it.
Still, it was there and if one looked hard enough, its beauty and grandeur
could still be seen. Zechs took a step forward, then halted.
"Zechs…?" Noin stepped up behind him and whispered, "Do you want me to go with you?"
He seemed to consider that for a moment, never taking his eyes off the abandoned mansion, but in the end he shook his head and continued on. Noin's first instinct was to follow him anyway, but decided against it. Unlike Zechs, Noin's memories of this building were happy and she had no desire to ruin them with a vision of destruction. She turned away and walked slowly back to her motorcycle. She sat there for a long time, waiting in much the same way she had waited while Zechs took his revenge on General O'neguil. There was nothing else for her to do then, but this time was different. This was her home, too. She had a place to revisit, a past to mourn. Starting up her bike, she issued a few curt orders to her men and sped off down the road.
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He still couldn't understand why he was there. It wasn't as though she was unique, there were others. Others more valuable than her. She was rendered useless the moment she was taken in by civilians. For some reason he just couldn't let it go, so he followed her. Perhaps it was because she had grown up under such chaotic circumstances. The others were controlled, conditioned, trained from the moment of consciousness. She grew up wild, subject to vastly different circumstances and uncontrollable environments…and in the end, she was the only one who truly reminded him of the past. They were so much alike, that young girl and the woman he lost. The physical resemblance was expected, of course, but he had not imagined the girl's personality being the same as well.
The Commander decided to leave the analyzing to the psychiatrists. Whatever the reason, he was there. He waited on that ridge all evening, expecting the Specials to return and destroy the outpost once and for all. He wasn't disappointed, but things did not go exactly as planned. Instead of the entire division, only the Tallgeese showed up. It moved in the same hesitant, beleaguered manner as earlier, but at the last moment, it accelerated sharply. The sudden burst of speed straightened the suit's course and, just before it plowed into the outpost, the Commander glimpsed the true potential of the ageing suit. It was a beautiful sight, graceful and fierce. In that last moment, the Commander could see the intent of the Tallgeese's original designers. The doctor's had designed a suit capable of reflecting the honor and bravery of its pilot.
In this case, the pilot died. A few moments after the Tallgeese destroyed the Alliance headquarters, the rest of the division showed up. There was little left to do other than round up the survivors and secure the area. He trained his binoculars to the helicopter that landed last and noted both Lucretzia Noin and Zechs Merquise emerge from the craft. Merquise's posture suggested serious injuries, which did not surprise the Commander. Young Zechs obviously flew the Tallgeese during the aborted mission earlier and found that he could not handle the suit. Lucretzia, of course, was not about to allow her comrade to fly off alone in his condition.
It did not take their troops long to secure the area. Soon, Merquise and Noin were on their way south, one chauffeured by a young enlisted man, the other speeding ahead on a motorcycle. He had a good idea where they were both headed and decided to follow. Again, he didn't know what possessed him, but he was there already and decided to go with it. The group stopped at the royal residence, but only one went in. Shortly after, Noin took off on her motorcycle and headed further south. Again, the Commander followed.
========================
It was an odd experience, begging a portrait for forgiveness, but then the whole experience was odd. Zechs had expected to be overwhelmed by emotion, but he felt strangely numb. He walked aimlessly through the halls, further and further from the portrait of his father, and tried to sort out what he was feeling. Stepping into that library again…he expected to be driven to his knees by the memory of his father's execution, but there was nothing. Walking past the balcony from which his mother fell…still nothing. The dusty marble halls where he played as an indulged child, Rena's nursery, his mother's chamber. The further he walked, the less he felt. The marble and stone surrounding him seemed to sap his warmth and emotion, the cold encroaching on his soul with icy fingers, squeezing out the last bit of feeling.
At length, he found himself in Damon Pallidino's office. Surprisingly, it was relatively in tact. There were signs of intruders. The computer was gone, the drawers empty, the filing cabinets…
The filing cabinet.
Zechs turned towards the thick tapestry hanging behind Damon's desk and gave it a tug. It pulled loose at one corner and fell off to the side, revealing what looked like a perfectly blank wall. Nothing special unless you knew what you were looking at and Zechs certainly did. Playing in the secret passages of the mansion had been one of his favorite past times. Getting caught at it was one of the surest ways of getting grounded. Zechs reached out and felt for the release mechanism. With a click and a creak of neglected springs, the panel swung open.
There was a rush of stale air smelling of mold and decay. Zechs cleared his throat to force back a grimace of disgust as he stepped through the old, familiar passage door. Just inside was a steel filing cabinet. Damon Pallidino was not a big believer in computer security, with good reason, and kept his most important files safely locked up in that filing cabinet.
Zechs tried one of the drawers, but it didn't budge. He reached into his pockets searching for something to use to jimmy the lock, but his pockets were empty. As a child, Milliardo Peacecraft always had full pockets. String, pen knives, chewed gum wrapped in paper for a later, the remnants of a candy bar, flashlight, lucky charm, all the things important to the life of a budding explorer. The grown and mature Zechs Merquise couldn't be bother with such clutter.
Stepping back into the office, he rifled Captain Damon's desk until he found a letter opener. The blade was a little too flexible, but with a little work, Zechs was able to finesse the lock and the drawer slid open. He absently thumbed through the contents, not really looking for anything in particular as he doubted anything in the file cabinet held any importance so many years later. In the back of the drawer he discovered a small bottle of brandy. Checking the date, Zech nodded in approval and slipped the thin bottle into his coat. Twenty years in storage. That stuff was bound to be smooth as silk.
After a minute of browsing through the papers lining the drawer, his fingers brushed upon a file marked LP with a smiley face drawn next to it. Remembering the captain's sense of humor, Zechs was curious to see the contents. Pulling it out, he leafed through the pages as a light smile played at his mouth. "LP" evidently referred to Noin, or as Zechs had called her then, the Lilac Princess. There were crayon drawings signed "Luie" in a childish hand, a few stray papers which Zechs took to be the initial reports on her origins, a picture of the girl, and handwritten notes probably made by Captain Damon. He perused the notes, frowning now and then in understanding as he came across such references as, "memory loss," "possibly abandoned," and the like. Lucretzia Noin's past summed up with a few stray notations in a file folder. One of many children made homeless and orphaned by the Alliance.
Shaking his head, Zechs closed the file and shoved it back in the drawer without regard to where he placed it, then turned to walk through the dark passageway. He had been so caught up in his own emotions, he forgot her. He lost his family that horrible day, but so had she. Her life had been fraught with tragedy from day one and her pain was no less important than his own. Yes, Noin had suffered right along with him, but for some reason, where he found hate and vengeance his saviors, Noin had maintained her compassion and capacity for love. The years of conflict had hardened her, to be sure, but it had not torn her soul out. She would never let such a thing happen. Way too stubborn that one.
He on the other hand, offered up his soul with little resistance, willing to damn himself to hell on the mere chance that he could avenge the wrongs committed in the name of the Alliance. He had that revenge and believed it would be enough. It never occurred to him what he should do after his revenge was complete. He felt empty now, a hollow shell that existed out of habit with no soul to guide it. He had not purpose any more. His family's murderer was dead, his country was free, his sister would soon assume their father's place on the throne and fulfill his ideals. What was left for Zechs Merquise?
=========================
She spent at least a half hour simply standing there staring. The house was gone. Burnt to the ground, with only a stone foundation and a few stray beams littering the ground. It hadn't even occurred to her, not for an instant, that the house would not be there when she arrived. It was the palace she had been worried about, the symbol of the Peacecraft line. Seeing it standing and relatively untouched, Noin had been utterly relieved. She never thought that her own home would be the one in ruins.
Noin backed up, thinking she should just get on her bike and go back, leave all this behind, but instead her feet carried her around the scorched remains of the orphanage and around to the garden. It was overgrown, naturally. Neglected for years, all but reclaimed by the forest next to it, but there were traces of it's old beauty still remaining. The rose bushes managed to creep up along the fence and survive the encroachment of weeds. The area that had once sported a vegetable garden still smelled of green onions and Noin saw the occasional tomato stalk. She smiled sadly, recalling the countless hours she spent in this place, talking to the flowers, helping Marguerite tend to the vegetables. She had been so happy when she could finally water those flowers herself, with no help. As she remembered this, Noin caught sight of a glint of metal peeking out beneath the wild bushes.
At first glance, it was simply a hunk of rusted metal hidden among the tangle of weeds. Upon closer inspection, Noin found this bit of decaying tin bore traces of paint, a name, carefully painted in a childish had. Luie. The young woman traced the faded letters with her fingertips. It was her watering can, the present Zechs had made for her. She lost it the same day she received it. In those first few terrifying moments after she spotted the planes, Luie had dropped the can and run for Marguerite. There the can stayed for over a decade.
The tears came unbidden, as always, but Noin was not able to force them back. She sobbed openly for a few moments, feeling certain she was alone in this place and safe from prying eyes. She spent the past few months concentrating on Zechs. His goals, his needs, his healing. But standing among the ruins of her childhood, her own pain pressed forward and blocked out all else. It wasn't fair, damn it! Why had she spent so many years in the military, biding her time, waiting to free the world? Why? So that she could finally go home. Well, she was home. Only home wasn't there.
With a humiliated grunt, Noin forced herself to calm down. She pushed the anger away, forced the tears to dry. This wasn't who she was. She was stronger than this. It was just a house, after all. It was the people who mattered. Those she lost, she mourned for long ago. Those who survived were still part of her life. The past couldn't be changed and the future held promise. No tears. Not anymore.
Determination replaced grief and Noin turned to leave. She halted with a surprised gasp as she spotted a figure at the far end of the garden, just on the edge of the woods. The presence of another person in this secluded area was shocking enough, but he was staring right at her. Noin's hand moved to the hilt of her pistol and she held the man's gaze. Violet eyes stared back at her, intense and searching. She was about to demand the man's name when a familiar dizziness washed over her. Violet eyes. The man's face shifted in her vision, now looking back at her with something akin to sadness. Then the voices started.
"Arrivederci, amor mio."
"Arrivederci, Lucretzia."
The dizziness became a painful burst of light and then Lucretzia Noin passed out.
===========================
Zechs turned a corner in the secret passageway and found himself in total darkness. Turning back around he retraced his steps back towards Captain Damon's office. A few steps back the way he came, Zechs kicked something. Squatting, he felt around for the object until his hands brushed against something smooth. He picked it up and continued back to the passage entrance and stepped through. Zechs sealed the passage and set the object on Damon's desk. It was a flat box, wooden with what looked to be brass fixtures, but it was difficult to tell with the amount of tarnish dulling the metal. Zechs flipped the lid open and gasped softly at the contents.
Chess pieces.
He stared for a long time, mute and frozen in shock as the memory replayed in his mind. This was the last birthday present he received from his father. They were to have had a game when …when…
Zechs slammed the lid shut, grinding his teeth. He had still been clutching that chess set when Damon rescued him from certain death. He had been clutching it when O'Neguil put that gun to his father's head and pulled the trigger. Zechs brushed the layer of dust from the lid and noted several dark spots across one end. Blood stains. His father's blood on the box, in his hair, in his mouth. There were nights when he still awoke with that putrid taste in his mouth. Nights when sleep was impossible and forgetting unimaginable.
But there were also nights when he was lulled back to sleep by the presence of a friend. Sometimes she sang that song of hers, lilting and full of the memory of a mother's love. Other times, particularly when he was younger, it was the steady sound of her breathing. The regular pattern was comforting. One breath in, heartbeat. One breath out, heartbeat. Continuous, dependable, comforting. As long as he could hear her breathing, he knew he could survive the night.
Zechs tucked the small chess set under his arm and left the building. His injuries still pained him a great deal, but he did manage to make back to the jeep without having to resort to calling for help. Once settled, he asked after Lieutenant Noin and was told she went further down the road. Zechs nodded and ordered the driver to follow.
===========================
She awoke with a jolt, scrambling to her feet and immediately taking up a defensive posture as her mind cleared. It had been a long time since she had one of her 'spells' and it was always disconcerting, but this time there was something else. Something different. She spun to face the spot where the man had been standing. No surprisingly he was gone.
"Noin?"
She let out a startled squeak and whirled to find Zechs approaching from the drive way. He stopped at her reaction.
"Are you all right?"
"Uh, yeah," she said, forcing her heart to slow back to normal, "just don't sneak up on me like that."
She couldn't see his eyebrow raise behind the mask, but she knew it did.
"Okay. Sorry." He turned and ordered the jeep to return, saying he would ride back with the lieutenant. As the jeep started off Zechs, glanced at the ruins of the orphanage house, then returned his attention to his friend.
"Are you all right?" he asked again, his voice soft.
Noin nodded, looking down at the watering can still clutched in her hand. She smiled and held it up. "Remember this."
"Is that…?"
"Yep."
Zechs chuckled and took the rusted can, inspecting his handiwork. Noin joined him, feeling the unsettling emotions fade away once again. The laughter died down and they walked back to Noin's bike.
"I took the liberty of organizing a relief detail before we left, sir. I didn't tell them where, of course, just to be ready to leave on a moment's notice. They are due to arrive in a couple of hours."
Zechs looked at her and smiled, "Good. But Treize won't be pleased that you pulled OZ troops away from their battle posts."
"It's a civilian organization, sir, neutral. I, uh…I called Sister Marguerite.
Zechs said nothing, merely nodded. Noin smiled a little. The fact that he hadn't gotten angry was a good sign. "She's due to arrive with a whole squad of nuns anytime now. I was wondering if you might…
"No."
"But…"
"I thought we settled this, Noin. I am Zechs Merquise. Zechs Merquise has no connection to Cinq other than as one of its liberators. He grew up in Luxembourg under the guardianship of Treize Kushrenada." With that, he walked away, leaving Noin to watch his retreating back.
"No connection to Cinq, Zechs? Not even one?" She whispered sadly.
===========================
Lieutenant Une opened a new bottle of wine for her commander, Duke Treize Kushrenada and refilled his goblet. He took the proffered glass with a nod and continued to study the report in his hands. Cinq was liberated, a relief team had been set up and everything was running smoothly. All very nice, but Une was hard pressed to figure out what significance a patch of dirt like Cinq could possibly hold for His Excellency. The country held no strategic importance, nor was it politically viable. Why then had Zechs Merquise—she refused to apply his new rank, lieutenant colonel, until the promotion papers had been signed—why had the young man spent so much effort on gaining control of a country no one wanted? More importantly, why was Romefellar impressed enough to grant him a two rank promotion as a result? She had accepted long ago that his insolence would be rewarded as long as he brought honor to Romefellar, but what could possibly be gained from this pathetic country? Twenty years ago, perhaps capturing Port City would have been a quite a feat, but the death of it's monarchy a decade ago left the ruined country powerless.
Une eased into a seat, staring out at the landscape below. Cinq, once a great seafaring power, had in recent years, settled into a more agrarian society. There were still fishing villages along the coast, but most of the citizens were farmers as evidenced by the lush green fields below. They were well organized, she would give them that. The plots were well laid out, uniform and properly rotated. She watched the changing landscape through the light scattering of clouds. Their were different crops growing in neighboring plots, common practice for farmers. Rotating the crops helped maintain the soil's chemical balance. From that height, though, the land took on the look of a patchwork quilt. A variety of colors stitched together in random beauty…soft, warm, comforting…
Her eyelids fluttered. Somewhere, far away, there was music playing…
"Letitia, where are the blue pieces? I want my quilt to have blue blocks."
"Here, Aneke. My, you have a lot of fabric. How big are you planning to make your quilt?"
"Queen size. It's to be for my wedding trunk. As soon as I'm finished with this, I shall begin on my trousseau."
"You're only twelve! Don't you think you're a little young to be collecting your trousseau."
"Mamma says it's important for a lady to have her wedding trunk filled before she is married."
"Lady?"
Une turned, blinking in surprise. "Hm? Yes, Mr. Treize?"
The duke smiled. Une was confused by the expression on the man's face, even more so as he stood and joined her at the window. After a moment studying her face, Treize spoke, "This land is beautiful isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," Une nodded with a blush. Mr. Treize was giving her the most extraordinary look, one that suggested he knew something she did not. It was vaguely unsettling, but, she had to admit, not unpleasantly so.
"Have you ever visited Cinq?"
"No, I never had the privilege," she paused as Treize raised an eyebrow. Why was that surprising? "I'm looking forward to seeing it though. I understand the port city is quite beautiful."
"Yes," Treize agreed heartily, "yes, it is indeed."
He rose from his seat and stood looking down at her, smiling that enigmatic smile. "You should go without your glasses more often." Une's hand flew to her face to confirm what he suggested. Treize chuckled and returned to his paperwork. "You shouldn't hide yourself behind glass, Aneke. It doesn't suit you."
The remainder of the trip was silent and they arrived without incident. As they disembarked, His Excellency caught sight of the mobile suit referred to as Tallgeese. Une scowled as she joined the duke in front of mobile suit. His Excellency was obviously impressed with the design and magnitude of the suit. The technical specifications were impressive, Une could admit that, but she could see no great advancements in technology in that suit any more than she believed the Gundams were superior to OZ's arsenal.
"So that's the Tallgeese... It looks extraordinary, indeed. Now I understand why Zechs is the only one who can pilot that machine."
Back to Zechs Merquise. And since his promotion had been approved by His Excellency during the plane trip, she now had to use the younger man's new designation. "Sir, if I may say, you always make Colonel Merquise out to be exceptional."
"I'm simply treating an outstanding officer accordingly," He said with a mild smile. "Is there a problem with that?"
Une wanted to say yes. She wanted to say that the stuck-up little ass was getting too full of himself and needed to be taught respect and discipline. She wanted to say that. Instead she said, "I'm just concerned that any favoritism will encourage inappropriate behavior."
"Lady, this is not the kind of thing you should worry about. I'd rather you worry about more important issues."
Une had no response for that. Particularly when His Excellency turned to her with a confident smile.
"Yes, sir."
============================ End Chapter 14 ======================
Thank you for all of you who continued to review and to the new readers who've discovered this fic. You guys are so great!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Okay, all I asked for my stinking birthday was the copyright to Gundam Wing. Did I get it? NoooOOOoooooo. Stiffed again by the birthday wish fairy! Just like at Christmas! Those stinking elves never listen to me! Oh, well. I did get an industrial size can of Lawyer Repellant! Bwahahahaaa!! Die bloodsuckers!!!!! [evil cackle faded into distance as Dante chases parasites…uh, lawyers… into the night]