Chapter 8
The café had a homely air to it, with it's warm lights and cheery atmosphere, and it was decidedly an improvement from the chilling rain that had been pouring on them for quiet a while. Several hot drinks were quickly ordered, as they all piled up into one of the larger corner boots. They were all impatient for the information they knew they would pump out of Howard, but the older man seemed to think he owned time (hell, he even flirted with the waitress!!!) and that they had nothing better to do than wait for him.
In the end, Wufei's gun poking his side told the old man just how impatient they were, and he immediately sent the girl on her merry way.
-"Well, damn. Twitchy, are we??? Ok, what is it that you kids need so desperately??"
Quatre had been appointed speaker, so he quickly launched into an edited version of their story. Howard listened attentively (or at least seemed to) and refrained from asking questions. Duo couldn't help but smile, after all, Howard was as much of a chatterbox as himself, and he knew that the lack of details had to be eating the old man inside out.
-"So you want my help in finding a new pilot for Zero? And you only have a week to do so?? Is that boss of yours still sane, or is she on her way to the loony bin??"
-"I believe the lady's mental health isn't in question, right now. The real question is whether or not you're willing to help us on our quest."
-"Don't go political on me, boy. I ain't a worker in your little company. As for helping you, you still haven't told me what exactly you want with me. You say you need a pilot, and if that's true, why do you need my help?? I'm pretty sure you could find an acceptable replacement for Yuy."
Howard didn't catch Duo's wince, as the braided one was standing behind him, but the others did and sympathized with his feelings.
-"We're not looking for a replacement for Heero, per se. we just need someone responsible and good enough to take Zero into battle, along with the rest of us."
-"And that's not a replacement??"
-"Stop making it difficult for Quatre, old man. It ain't his fault that this is happening."
Howard's eyes turned to Duo, and for the first time he realized the pain his words had caused the American. Violet pools of ill-concealed pain were looking straight into his soul, almost as if they were trying to read its secrets. The older man broke eye contact as fast as he dared, not willing to face that pain.
-"I'll listen."
-"We're not looking just for any pilot, Howard. It's come to our knowledge that there were others. others that were destined to pilot the Gundams, and to which we were only replacements."
-"Ah, so you've heard about the Omegas, haven't you?? Fine lot of kids, that one. J's pet project, right along with Wing. Too bad he was never able to really see them in action."
Hopeful eyes fixed on him, as they all held their breaths. If this meant what they hoped. if at least one of the originals had survived. their quest would be over, and they would be able to deal with the threat to peace all the faster. They owed to Heero to protect peace. The blue-eyed boy had given away so much for it. they wouldn't allow that dream to fade.
-"Can you tell us about them???"
-"It depends on what you want to know. No one, except J, knew the whole story about the omegas, or how he managed to make the program work. What the change required from the person undertaking the procedure. the strain it set on the body. was so extreme that most of J's subjects died. Only five survived, and of them only four were stable enough to be any good."
-"Stable??? Wufei said O5 didn't look completely sane, is that what you mean by that??"
Zech's question had obvious approval, as all eyes returned to Howard.
-"I should probably start at the beginning, shouldn't I?? It'll probably clear up most of your doubts, and then you'll really understand what the war was about. And what the other people involved in it with you sacrificed and the sins they committed to insure it's ending."
The café had a homely air to it, with it's warm lights and cheery atmosphere, and it was decidedly an improvement from the chilling rain that had been pouring on them for quiet a while. Several hot drinks were quickly ordered, as they all piled up into one of the larger corner boots. They were all impatient for the information they knew they would pump out of Howard, but the older man seemed to think he owned time (hell, he even flirted with the waitress!!!) and that they had nothing better to do than wait for him.
In the end, Wufei's gun poking his side told the old man just how impatient they were, and he immediately sent the girl on her merry way.
-"Well, damn. Twitchy, are we??? Ok, what is it that you kids need so desperately??"
Quatre had been appointed speaker, so he quickly launched into an edited version of their story. Howard listened attentively (or at least seemed to) and refrained from asking questions. Duo couldn't help but smile, after all, Howard was as much of a chatterbox as himself, and he knew that the lack of details had to be eating the old man inside out.
-"So you want my help in finding a new pilot for Zero? And you only have a week to do so?? Is that boss of yours still sane, or is she on her way to the loony bin??"
-"I believe the lady's mental health isn't in question, right now. The real question is whether or not you're willing to help us on our quest."
-"Don't go political on me, boy. I ain't a worker in your little company. As for helping you, you still haven't told me what exactly you want with me. You say you need a pilot, and if that's true, why do you need my help?? I'm pretty sure you could find an acceptable replacement for Yuy."
Howard didn't catch Duo's wince, as the braided one was standing behind him, but the others did and sympathized with his feelings.
-"We're not looking for a replacement for Heero, per se. we just need someone responsible and good enough to take Zero into battle, along with the rest of us."
-"And that's not a replacement??"
-"Stop making it difficult for Quatre, old man. It ain't his fault that this is happening."
Howard's eyes turned to Duo, and for the first time he realized the pain his words had caused the American. Violet pools of ill-concealed pain were looking straight into his soul, almost as if they were trying to read its secrets. The older man broke eye contact as fast as he dared, not willing to face that pain.
-"I'll listen."
-"We're not looking just for any pilot, Howard. It's come to our knowledge that there were others. others that were destined to pilot the Gundams, and to which we were only replacements."
-"Ah, so you've heard about the Omegas, haven't you?? Fine lot of kids, that one. J's pet project, right along with Wing. Too bad he was never able to really see them in action."
Hopeful eyes fixed on him, as they all held their breaths. If this meant what they hoped. if at least one of the originals had survived. their quest would be over, and they would be able to deal with the threat to peace all the faster. They owed to Heero to protect peace. The blue-eyed boy had given away so much for it. they wouldn't allow that dream to fade.
-"Can you tell us about them???"
-"It depends on what you want to know. No one, except J, knew the whole story about the omegas, or how he managed to make the program work. What the change required from the person undertaking the procedure. the strain it set on the body. was so extreme that most of J's subjects died. Only five survived, and of them only four were stable enough to be any good."
-"Stable??? Wufei said O5 didn't look completely sane, is that what you mean by that??"
Zech's question had obvious approval, as all eyes returned to Howard.
-"I should probably start at the beginning, shouldn't I?? It'll probably clear up most of your doubts, and then you'll really understand what the war was about. And what the other people involved in it with you sacrificed and the sins they committed to insure it's ending."
