Crash and Burn
Part 10
Author: *huggles Bob the Ewok*
Hi! How are you today? I'm fine, thank you. I'm assuming you're here to read the ficcie? Ah yes. Such a wondrous ficcie it is, too. Especially when we put Mina on the Zero System. How fun it is! Oh, and guess what? I've just received serious head trauma. So now I'm perky! Yup, perky as a pink polyester poodle puppy. Hm…you know they have happy pills. Do they have depressed pills too? Can I have one? I need to stop being perky. Too much perky! Oh no! The perky monster! Eek! Run! Don't own the anime!
-The Perky as a Pink Polyester Poodle Puppy, Nyneve
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I ran to the docking bay. Luckily, it was empty and quiet. Actually, I don't think I was supposed to be in there, because it was locked. But with a piece of wire to open the door, and a heavy bag to smash the security cameras, I was fine. Sighing, I looked out at space. Something so big, and yet, it didn't seem to have a place for me.
I couldn't go back to my flat. No, they'd probably look for me there. Although I usually welcomed company from my comrades, I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts now. At least, I think they were my thoughts. After all, I couldn't help but wonder what the lasting effects of the Zero System would be. What if I ended up being permanently controlled by it? What if it was controlling me that very second, making me think my own thoughts that weren't mine?
Yeah. That's likely. Damn. Just when I thought I got rid of that annoying little voice.
"Shut up. You have no idea how I feel," I told it. "You're just my annoying voice inside my head. You've got no clue how scared I was back there."
And now you're angry that you're scared the voice replied matter-of-factly.
"Well, yeah," I admitted in a very, very quiet voice. But someone heard me.
"Talking to yourself again?" Wufei asked smugly, stepping out of the shadows.
"What do you want?" I muttered, not looking at him.
"Is this what you're going to do every time you meet an obstacle? Run and hide?" he asked, walking over and looking out the window.
"Leave me alone, Wufei. Damn it, you're the one I want to see least of all," I snapped. Suddenly, he reached out and turned my face so I'd look at him. He held it like that while he spoke firmly.
"Listen Aino. You wanted to fight, so you got to fight. You can't run away now. It doesn't matter that you've gotten the others to sympathize with you. No to say you don't deserve pity," he paused and narrowed his eyes. "I'm not going to be so kind. YOU are DeMilo's pilot. And it's your responsibility and solemn duty to pilot her. Even if it kills you."
He let go of me and looked away.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream in anger. I wanted to stand up and walk away, not caring. But I couldn't. Because he was right, as much as I hate to say it. But that didn't mean I was going to do what he said.
I took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'm not you, Wufei. I'm not like you or any of the other pilots. I'm scared. I'm not ready to die. If I were, I wouldn't be here today. You'd have killed me months ago."
This took him aback. He shook his head in disgust. "You're hopeless. I shudder to think what would happen if actual lives were placed in your hands. In case you've forgotten, you're not doing this for yourself. You're doing this for the people about to become slaves to OZ-II. But then again, you are just a child. A little girl who can't handle the fact that sometimes she has to do things for other people, let alone herself. Don't bother coming back. We don't need you anymore."
And with that, he walked away, leaving me alone.
And now, I cried. I screamed in anger. Then, I walked away, not caring. And the annoying little voice didn't have one thing to say about it.
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I wandered the streets of the colony. It was strange. It almost looked like a city on Earth, except there was no one there, because the colony wasn't ready for civilian inhabitation. It reminded me of death. Something told me this was what it would be like when I died. I wasn't nearly angelic enough for heaven, but I wasn't bad enough for hell. So I'd probably end up haunting something as a ghost.
Maybe that wouldn't be so bad. It'd almost be like immortality. Except instead of doing things forever, I'd only be able to watch. Watch people be born, watch them live, watch them die. Not too different from now, really. That's what I could do, instead of going back and fighting on DeMilo. Wufei was right. They didn't need a wimp like me. In the end, what would it matter? We've all got to die sometime…
My morbid thoughts were interrupted as I heard footsteps behind me. Instinctively, I pulled a gun from my bag and ducked into an alley. Trying not to breathe too loudly, I looked for the person following me. But there was no one there. That I could see. Biting my lip so hard that it bled, I clicked off the safety on the gun and fingered the trigger. Warily, I stepped out of the alley.
I looked around. There was no one around. No footprints or anything coming from the direction I'd come from. Was I losing it?
I thought so, until I felt the gun next to my head and the hand clapped over my mouth.
I would've screamed, but I had a gun too, so I was calm.
"Close your eyes," a husky voice ordered. "Or I pull the trigger."
I broke out of his arms the way Heero had taught me. Then, I ducked around the corner of the building and fired at him. He was a soldier dressed in a strange uniform. He was tall and heavily built, but didn't look too bright. He also wasn't too fast or agile, because I managed to hit him a few times. Not in any vital places, though. Got his shoulders, forearm, and finally his leg, which caused him to fall to the ground. While he was still recovering, I put my foot on his chest and pointed the gun at his face.
"Drop your gun, or I fire," I ordered. He tried to lift his arm to shoot me, but it wasn't responding. I squeezed the trigger. "I'm not kidding."
Muttering under his breath, he dropped his gun. I immediately picked it up and pointed it at him. "Do you swear you have no other weapons on you?"
"I swear. Please, you're killing me," he begged. Still keeping the weapons pointed, I moved my foot. But he didn't get up. "Help me…"
"Who are you and why were you following me?" I ordered, not moving.
"Standard patrol, Lady. Orders from the Boss. Please help," he asked again. I wasn't satisfied.
"Who is your 'Boss'?" I asked.
"Help me, and I'll tell you everything," he pleaded. Suddenly, I realized that I was killing him. I had completely disregarded his humanity. In other words, I had "pulled a Professor".
"Yes, I'm sorry. Here, lean on me," I apologized, helping him stand. I let him lean on me as we headed for the medical center.
"What's a girl like you doing alone out here after curfew? And with a gun, no less?" he asked.
"That's not your business," I said calmly.
"Oh, but I believe it is," he said, smirking all of a sudden. I froze and immediately pulled a gun on him.
"Even more proof. You do realize you've committed a crime, attacking an OZ-II Colony Security Official," he said.
"OZ-II?" I whispered. This was gonna end in hell.
"Affirmative," another voice replied. Suddenly, more soldiers stepped out of the alleyways, closed buildings, and some just seemed to materialize.
"You are under arrest for the attack of OZ-II Security Officer Amos Gatton," the voice said.
"Oh…shit…" I cursed as I dropped both the man and my weapons.
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You know how sometimes you get that feeling you've been somewhere before, even if you've never been there? I was going through that. Of course, it probably had something to do with the fact that I was YET AGAIN on the plastic chairs stuck together to make a couch. Except now there weren't any doughnuts or a coffee pot. Now there was only a few other haggard looking people sitting perfectly still, trying not to make any noise. I assumed that they were in trouble for breaking curfew (and did the Professor bother to mention a curfew? Nooooooooo…).
I tried to make eye contact with some of them, so that I might give them a reassuring smile. Or maybe receive one. Because no matter how bad I felt for them, I felt worse for myself. I'm sure none of them had turned around and shot Remus Gatton's son, as it turned out my little friend was.
Damn, I was scared now. Really scared. For the first time in months, I was wishing I'd have never walked into that dorm room after that party. Then, I'd never have started working with the Professor, and I wouldn't have tried to pilot DeMilo, and I wouldn't have gone nuts, and I wouldn't have run away, and I wouldn't have gotten scared and shot Amos Gatton.
Now that I think about it, it wasn't even the party that got me in trouble. No, it was a year earlier. I HAD TO GO OFF BY MYSELF ON THE STUPID FIELD TRIP. I HAD TO SEE THE AMBASSADOR GET MURDERED. I HAD TO RECOGNIZE THOSE…
Idiots? Jerks? Bastards? Or perhaps, Aino, they're your friends? The voice suggested.
No. I could honestly say no. They are not, and never were my friends. Maybe I tried to make them my friends, but that didn't work. No, I was just a nice girl caught up in a bad situation with five guys who have to always be heroes and kill people. Not to mention the Professor, who I was convinced was the Devil.
"You! Come on!" A tall woman with an amazing grip ordered as she seized my wrist and led me into a room. The woman I had noticed at the airport was there. I could see now that she was actually quite pretty, with long platinum blond hair and a pale complexion. But her eyes were heartless, and her mouth was twisted in a cruel smile.
"Well, well, well. So you're the one who shot Remus's brat. I must say I'm impressed. He's a few times larger than you. But a few times stupider as well," she commented.
I said nothing. What was I supposed to say?
"And now it has come to me to decide what to do with you. Any suggestions?" she asked.
Again, I remained silent.
"No? Well let's see…I could kill you," she offered. When she saw me bite my lip, she smiled. "Don't like that plan? Well maybe not. How about imprisonment? I nice cold cell in the Reforms building might do a bad girl like you some good. But I hate to think about someone with your talent going to waste."
"Talent?" I asked suddenly, forgetting my place. I prominently shut up.
The woman's eyes glittered. "Of course. You don't think I haven't had people watching you? I've been monitoring you all day. Aino, Mina Aino, isn't it?"
I sucked in breath. How much did she know? If she knew what I had been doing…
"I'll take that as a yes. After I saw you at the spaceport, I was surprised by how well you tracked Remus. And then when I saw you with those Gundam pilots…oh don't look so surprised. You know, their identities aren't nearly as secret as they wish. Actually, my sister knew them quite well."
"Your sister?" I asked, venturing a question. While this lady had spent her time lecturing, I had been planning. Wufei was right when he said I was no use as a pilot. But as a spy? I think they could use someone like me. Very much so.
"Yes. Dorothy Catalonia," she answered as if it were nothing. "I am Regan Catalonia, head of OZ-II."
"But I thought Remus Gatton was the leader," I commented, trying to show interest without showing too much interest.
"Remus? Head of OZ-II? Ha. In his wildest dreams, maybe. No, right now he's just our front man. Also give us a bit of financial support. But he can barely keep his own political party under control, let alone our organization," she paused, and looked hard at me. "You, on the other hand, seem to have a great amount of potential. Maybe not in leadership, but…"
"But what, Miss Catalonia," Suck-up time. I think she knew what I was getting at, but that was what she wanted.
"There's a good deal of information on you, Mina. Our sources have gathered that you have become an espionage expert. Not to mention you learned to pilot MS in a matter of months. That's quite an accomplishment," she said.
"Thank you," I said, blushing slightly.
"Let's cut to the chase then. Mina, with your skills, I would be more than happy to take you on as a member of OZ-II. You would be of good use, since you can spy on the Gundam pilots easily, not to mention "larger fish", if you get my meaning," she smiled.
I pretended to think hard, running my fingers through my hair. But then, I felt something. Buried in the tangle of blond, there was what felt like a small listening apparatus.
So they've been listening to every word I've said. This was perfect.
"Commander Catalonia, I accept your offer," I declared, smiling. I could almost picture the looks on the guys' faces as they realized I'd "betrayed" them.
Or so they thought
I had no intention of really getting them back. Not like that, no. But in order for me to do my job the best, I was going to have to be believable. That meant telling Catalonia everything. With a little luck, the guys would hear me and run before they got caught.
"Excellent," she smiled.
"And as my first action under you, I have more than enough information concerning the Gundams and Professor Trista Meioh," I said.
"Even more excellent," her grin grew. I shuddered. Her canines were a bit pointed, and she reminded me of a vampire. "But we'll get to that later. I'll send you to Marisse. She'll give you lodging for the night, and a uniform as well. We'll swear you in tomorrow, and then we'll get down to work. Welcome to OZ-II, Cadet Aino."
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I spent the night in a hotel. When I was sure I was alone, I pulled the listening device from my hair and studied it. I figured one of the guys had slipped it in while I was unconscious. So they expected me to run. But I bet they didn't count on me going to OZ-II.
I ran my fingers over it, and then suddenly, it started to make noise.
"That…traitor!" I heard Wufei yell.
"I can't believe Mina would do something like that," Quatre whispered in disbelief.
So, this thing ran two way. I made sure they couldn't hear anything, not even my breathing.
"This is all your fault Wufei! You went and got her mad and now she's going to betray us!" Duo cried.
"I doubt it," Heero said solemnly.
"What? What are you talking about Heero? She said she'd give that Regan lady all the info on us she had tomorrow!" Duo replied.
"Then it's probably faulty information. Or else she'll run off. That's the way she works," he answered.
I growled in anger. How dare he! But I'd made too much noise.
"Uh oh," Quatre said suddenly. "Did you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Duo asked.
I took a deep breath. Showtime. "Hear this, Maxwell," I snarled into the device.
"Mina?" he asked. "Crap…she figured out how to turn it on."
"That and more. And now you're all going to pay for what you've put me through," I said.
"You can't mean that," Quatre said.
"Oh, I mean it Winner. Wufei was right. You guys don't need me. But Commander Catalonia does. And I'm more than willing to help," I threatened.
"Go right ahead," another voice said. I choked, realizing it was the Professor.
"I'm sure you will go ahead and tell. In fact, I bet right now you could kill any of us and feel no guilt. We deserve it," she replied calmly.
"Prof?" Duo asked.
"After all, we've threatened to kill you. We've lied to you. We stole your life. And we almost killed you putting the Zero System on DeMilo. It would be no less than we deserve to be captured by Regan and her organization," the Professor said.
"Um…yeah. Yeah! And I'm not sorry, I hope you know. I was waiting for my opportunity, and I got it. And now you'll all wish you'd let me go when you had the chance," I said.
"Bitch," Wufei snapped.
"Wufei? I hope Regan tortures you a long time before you're executed!" I yelled, and then threw the listening device on the ground, smashing it into little pieces with my foot.
Right then, Commander Catalonia's face appeared on the TV screen. She was smiling.
"Well, Cadet Aino. I had my doubts at first about you. I was sure that you were out to spy on us from your little group. But now that I've witnessed your conversation, I realize how sincere you are," she replied.
"It was no less than they deserve commander. You see, even though they were the ones who made me what I am, it was against my will. I want revenge on them for what they did to me," I explained.
"You poor, dear girl. I feel your pain," she replied, a little too sweetly. "I'll make sure you're promoted, ASAP."
"Thank you Commander," I said.
"Of course, Cadet," her face disappeared from the screen.
I unplugged the TV. Then, I lay on my bed and stared up at the ceiling for the rest of the night.
**************************************************************************************************************************All for now! R+R+R! *huggles Bob the Ewok*