Author's Note: You may notice a change in plot focus this chapter. As the other characters are starting to become more prevalent to the storyline, not every paragraph will focus entirely on Wong (blasphemy, I know, but it's all in the sake of furthering the plot). In your reviews, please tell me what you thought of this variation. As always, a thank you goes to everyone who has read, especially those of you kind enough to leave reviews. Intelligent reviews, mind you.
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The place where Wong Yun Fat calls home has changed considerably since the time we first saw him. For starters, it is now located in the wealthy community known as Pokfulam. The simple two story structure is known a veritable mansion, effectively combining the best of European and Chinese building styles. Normally, it is a vision of wealth and refinement. However, as Wong Yun Fat and his guest Sadira Kreuz entered the estate, an unwelcome sight indeed awaited them.
Valuable artifacts lay in pieces on the floor and furniture had been thrown about the room at random. Wallscrolls had been torn down and even the walls themselves had been punished. In short, the living room appeared as though it had been hit by a natural disaster.
A natural disaster named Domon Kasshu... thought Wong grimly, his sunglasses held in one hand as he surveyed the destruction.
"Umm... Wong?"
Turning around, Wong noticed the woman he had tried so hard to impress looking around in uneasiness. This was her first visit to Wong's home, and it didn't make a good impression. Hoping that they hadn't been destroyed as well, Wong snapped his fingers.
Two machines, about the size and shape of a basketball and light green in color, half-bounced, half-floated in their odd way to Wong at his command. They were Haros, although these versions of the classic children's toy had been modified to be his loyal servants. Over 60 Haros were "employed" in Wong's home, and he knew each of their numbers by heart.
"#17, #49, please escort Ms. Kreuz to the guest room for the night."
He looked at Sadira, his expression apologetic. "I need to talk with my bodyguard about this... attack, and we may be awhile. Try to get some sleep, and we'll talk in the morning, okay?"
Still shaken up by the incident with the car, Sadira nodded. As the Haros escorted her away down a corridor, Wong went to Urube's room. There he found his associate nursing a wound on his arm and scowling.
Wong didn't waste time with formalities; not tonight. "So... what the hell happened?"
Urube shrugged. "I was sunbathing and fell asleep. When I came back again Domon was prowling through your study. Said something about the Ultimate Gundam, then realized who I was. I tried to force him out, but he was too strong for me to do much."
Realizing what he meant, Wong's eyes narrowed. "So, he didn't wreck my house... you both did, with some stupid fight!"
"It wasn't my fault!" retorted Urube defensively. "He was hell bent on tearing this place upside down. You're just fortunate he didn't stick around."
That's when Wong realized why Domon had come after him so blatantly. After coming here on some sort of wild goose chase and finding Urube Ishikawa, he had decided to go straight to the source.
"How did he know where I was then?" demanded Wong.
Urube shrugged again. "That... I don't know. Something weird is going on, though."
"Well, duh." muttered Wong sarcastically.
"So, what now?" asked Urube.
"There's not much we can do, for now at least." acknowledged Wong. "In the morning I need you to see Sadira off for me. I have work to do. With any luck, I can at least get some sort of charge against him, King of Hearts or no."
Urube smirked. "Consider it done."
By the time the sun had finished it's ascent into the sky the next day, Sadira Kreuz was back home; home being her small apartment in the heart of Neo Singapore. Tired from the trip home and the events of the day before, she plopped into the nearest chair. Closing her eyes, she leaned back and thought about what she had seen.
That Gundam Fighter.. Domon Kasshu.. accused Wong of housing a criminal. Why would he do such a thing? Wait... didn't Domon do something like that before?
Rising from her seat, Sadira made her way to her room and flipped through the papers on her desk. When she had first been approached by Wong and his bodyguard a month or so ago, she had done her homework on the man to see what he was all about. Finally, she found what she was looking for – a newspaper article covering Wong's inauguration as mayor of Neo Hong Kong.
The article covered Domon and Wong's argument that day word for word, and Sadira read the clipping three times before she put it down and sat on her bed, deep in thought.
Domon talked about something called the Devil Gundam.. then he accused Wong of trying to steal the information on the Ultimate Gundam, whatever that is.. wait! I've heard of the Devil Gundam before!
Nearly everyone had heard the rumors surrounding the 13th Gundam Fight – that something called the Devil Gundam had disrupted the 13th Gundam Fight tournament; that the city of Shinjuku, Japan, had been attacked by something called the Devil Gundam; that when that Neo Japanese man had tried to pull a coup last year, he had used the Devil Gundam. Of course, both Neo Hong Kong and Neo Japanese officials fervently denied that such a Gundam had ever existed... but the rumors persisted, nevertheless. Scores of eyewitnesses claimed to see green tentacles with Gundam heads on them in both Shinjuku and Neo Hong Kong... and nearly everyone had seen those enormous vines coming from the sky during Neo Japan's brief attempt to rule the universe.
Wong wasn't just Wong when all this was going on, though... he was Prime Minister Wong, ruler of Neo Hong Kong, as well as the entire universe. If that Devil Gundam thing was real, he had to have at least known about it.... but what would Wong have to do with that Urube guy?
Closing her eyes, Sadira tried to picture Urube's face in her mind. She had only seen the Neo Japanese madman once, and that was when he proclaimed himself Dictator of the Universe in front of the entire world. All she remembered about the man was a faceplate that covered the left side of his face.
Domon said Wong was housing Urube Ishikawa... but I've never seen anyone with a faceplate at Wong's house. In fact, the only person I've seen with Wong is his bodyguard, and he certainly wasn't wearing a faceplate...
Summoning her memories of the man she knew as Gunjin Shitajiki, Sadira tried to remember his mannerisms. He bore a passing resemblance to Urube from what she recalled, but he certainly hadn't worn a faceplate any time that she had seen him, but...
In Sadira's mind, the mental image of Gunjin held his hand over the left side of his face as she spoke to Wong in the Paragon Institute.. and again when he and Wong met her to test the Politician Gundam... and again when they were leaving.
So? Maybe he just had a headache or something... it's not enough information to make accusations or anything... still. Nightmarish Gundams, the King of Hearts, a wanted man.. how do they all connect to Wong?
The first, and possibly simplest way to find out would be to contact her half-brother. He was a very powerful man, even more powerful than Wong himself... he would certainly have the connections to put this puzzle together. And yet...
There has to be another way.. he's already given me enough. I can solve this riddle without him.
Sadira was very self-conscious when the subject of her half-brother came up. Most people didn't even know she had a half-brother. Then again, they both spent most of their time hard at work; her in the Paragon Institute, him in the space colonies.
Space colonies... that's it!
When she had awoken this morning, she had heard Wong talking to his bodyguard. Though they were a good three rooms away, the house had been silent enough for her to catch a few bits of their conversation.
Domon and Rain... ...even as we speak.. .. Neo French space colony... .. George ..
Since the exploits of the Shuffle Alliance in the Neo Japan catastrophe were widely known, Sadira knew very well who George' was; George De Sand of Neo France.
They were going to Neo France's colony, so that's where I'll go. I have to get the other side of the story before this'll make any sense.
Picking up her purse from where she had thrown it, Sadira left for the airport.
As Sadira was leaving for the airport to go to Neo France, Wong was on his way home from work. Duty called, and he entrusted Urube with the task of making sure that his home was back in order by the time he returned home.
When he walked into his home, he was pleased to see Urube directing men on where to put new furniture. All the broken home furnishings were gone, in favor of brand new versions of the originals. More men labored at the walls to repair the cracks in them.
Giving Urube a nod, Wong made his way to his own room. He was annoyed, and needed some time to think. Stepping into his personal chambers, Wong knew something was amiss even before he turned on the light.
None of his personal belongings had been touched. His bed was still in one piece, and the portrait over his bed was undisturbed as well. The only thing not right about this picture was the man in red sitting in his chair, drinking his wine.
The man turned to Wong, and set down the glass of wine. "Your taste in wine is exquisite, Mr. Yun Fat."
Wong didn't bother to correct the man's erroneous usage of his name; he merely sat down on the edge of his bed and looked at his visitor.
"What brings you here to my home, Faulkner Essex?"
Faulkner chuckled and looked about the room. "I heard of Domon Kasshu's ridiculous stunt, and wanted to see for myself. I'm satisfied to see that your personal belongings remained for the most part unscathed."
Wong frowned. "Why did Uru... Gunjin let you in? I have always given orders that guests are to wait in the parlor."
Faulkner closed his eyes. "There's no need to hide the truth from me, Mr. Yun Fat. I already know that your bodyguard is the wanted criminal Urube Ishikawa, as I already made clear to you. Don't be angry at him, though... he has no idea that I am even in this house. For that matter, no one does... not even your adorable electronic servants."
Wong's glasses slipped down his nose, and he quickly pushed them back up. "That's absurd. Furthermore, it's impossible."
Faulkner smirked and took another sip from the glass. "I have my ways, Mr. Yun Fat. Let's just leave it at that, shall we? I have more important things to talk to you about, anyway."
Taking a box of pocky from his trenchcoat, Wong opened the package and pulled out one of the biscuit sticks. "Really now?"
"Indeed." replied Faulkner. "You see, I've been watching you ever since our meeting. I am well aware of Giovanni and Karato's motivations... but they are of little interest to me."
"The ruler over Earth and space's plans are of little interest to you... my, you certainly do have things on your mind."
Faulkner chuckled humorlessly. "You are more correct than you realize. You see, Mr. Yun Fat, you are a man in a predicament... and believe me, Prime Minister Karato and Giovanni Lutz are the least of your worries."
"Is that right?" commented Wong as he played with his pocky. "I certainly hope you didn't come all this way just to tell me I should keep my eye on Domon Kasshu."
"Believe it or not..." remarked Faulkner. "Domon is little more than a pawn."
This time when Wong's glasses slipped he didn't bother pushing them back up. "You can't be serious..."
"That's right... Domon Kasshu is a powerful enemy, but he is hardly acting alone. His suspicions are being fueled by your true adversary."
"And just who would that be?"
For the first time since he had met the man, a trace of doubt entered Faulkner's piercing green eyes. "That... I do not know."
Wong finally pushed his glasses back up, surprised once more. "You have all of this information at your disposal, but you don't know who's behind all of this. You're not telling me everything you know, are you?"
Faulkner smiled. "No. Neither are you, Mr. Yun Fat. We both have our secrets. I will say this much though. Your worst enemy is closer to you than you realize."
Dropping all pretense of eating the pocky he had been fingering, Wong lowered his glasses and looked into Faulkner's eyes. "One question still remains unanswered, however..."
"And that is?"
"Why are you interested in what happens with me? It's not as though you stand to lose or gain anything in this situation." asked Wong.
"Maybe..." considered Faulkner. "Maybe not. It would certainly seem that your words are correct, Mr. Yun Fat, and yet..."
Faulkner trailed off, an expression on his face that even Wong could not decipher. He recovered quickly.
"Be that as it may, I must be off. I have other business to attend to."
"Very well." replied Wong. "I doubt this is the last time we will be meeting like this, though."
Again, that enigmatic smile crossed Faulkner's placid features. "You don't have to be a NewType to realize that. Until them, I bid you arrivederci, Mr. Yun Fat."
As Faulkner rose and withdrew, Wong watched him go. Though Urube and a few of the workmen were still in the main room finishing things up, none of them were looking when Faulkner walked past. They didn't even look up when he opened the door and left.
That Faulkner.... what is he?
While Faulkner Essex departed from Wong's Neo Hong Kong home, George De Sand fenced with his ever-loyal butler Raymond. Though George had no intention of fighting in the upcoming 14th Gundam Fight, he still enjoyed keeping his skills in prime condition.
In the middle of executing a stroke that would no doubt disarm his loyal butler, George heard two pairs of footsteps, and saw in the corner of his eye that two people had entered the gym. He was distracted only for a second, but Raymond used that opportunity to render a strike that effectively unarmed him.
Domon clapped from the doorway, Rain at his side. "Nice move, Raymond."
George turned to face the newcomers, surprise in his eyes. After all, Domon Kasshu was the last person he had expected to visit him on this quiet day.. then again, considering Domon..
"Domon Kasshu, what brings you here to see me?"
Domon then grew serious. "I'd like to talk to you about something."
George nodded, leaving Raymond in the gym as he walked Domon and Rain to his private office. As the ambassador of Neo France, George found himself spending more and more time in these four walls than anything else, a fact he was both proud of and annoyed with.
Upon entering, George motioned his two guests to chairs in front of his large desk. He sat down and turned to face Domon.
"Now, what is it you wished to speak to me about, Monsieur Domon?"
"It's about Wong.."
George then understood why Domon had that familiar glint in his eyes. Domon Kasshu was typically a friendly individual (now, anyway..), but there were still a few people who brought out that old anger that George was all too acquainted with.
"Yes, I had heard that the former Prime Minister has been slowly working his way back up the hierarchy, but that isn't relevant to the Shuffle Alliance unless he has another dark scheme in mind..
Domon's jaw tightened. "He does."
George leaned closer, surprised. "What do you think he is planning?"
Rain spoke up. "A couple of weeks ago, an unidentified man tried to break into Neo Japan's vaults and steal the specifications for the Ultimate Gundam... the only specifications in existence. He was thwarted, but escaped in a mobile suit."
"But still..." remarked George. "What makes you so sure it was Wong who sent this man?"
"Who else would know about the Ultimate Gundam and want to revive it?" demanded Domon.
George smiled humorlessly. "I can think of a few people... namely Urube Ishikawa."
"While we're on that subject.." interrupted Domon. "Guess who Wong's bodyguard is?"
George's eyes widened, and he accidentally elbowed a large book off the desk. "You aren't saying that.."
Domon simply nodded.
"Mon dieu..." exclaimed George quietly.
Domon opened his mouth to reply, but was stopped by the sounds of cursing and shouting from outside. All three of them rose in unison and made their way to see what was outside.
A strange sight indeed awaited them. Three Neo French soldiers were on the ground, cursing and moaning, and each one had claw and teeth marks on his face. A fourth soldier was screaming, a brown furry object on his face. Sadira Kreuz was in the midst of the soldiers, and she was using her clipboard to smack a fifth name tag-less soldier. All the while, Raymond stood to the side, with a look of regret.
"Now, Mrs. Kreuz, if we could just... please stop that..." Raymond pleaded.
"That will be all!" shouted George. Everyone froze, save the man with the brown object on his face, who was still rolling around and screaming.. Blushing, Sadira turned to him.
"Satangoose, heel!"
A small, ratlike creature scurried off the man's face and ran up to Sadira. Domon was the first to ask what everyone was wondering.
"Satangoose?"
Sadira smiled at him, although that smile carried a bit of lethality. "My pet mongoose."
Everyone – Domon, George, Rain, and even Raymond – all sweatdropped in unison.
Satangoose stood on his back legs and wiggled his nose at Sadira cutely. He then turned to Domon, and hissed very menacingly, and Domon would've sworn that his eyes turned red. Sadira calmly picked the mongoose up and slipped him into one of the large pockets of her lab coat. For some reason, it was only when she bent over that Domon recognized who she was.
"Hey, you're Wong's girlfriend!"
Sadira blinked. "I would call it more a casual sort of thing.."
George cleared his throat. "Why have you come to my nation... like this?" He was still a bit flabbergasted by the mongoose thing.
Sadira turned to him, and George noted the intense look in her green eyes. This was one woman you didn't want to mess with, even if she didn't have the mongoose from hell to protect her.
"I wanted to talk to all of you." She turned to face Domon. "..But especially you, about Wong."
"That's funny." quipped Domon. "I was going to say the same thing to you."
The two men and two women made their way back into George's office to talk, while poor Raymond got stuck with the job of taking care of the felled soldiers.
Sadira didn't waste time. "I want to know what happened with Wong in the 13th Gundam Fight, and I want to know what the Devil Gundam is."
Rain looked surprised. "You don't even know?"
George turned in his seat to Rain. "Of course she doesn't, she's just a civilian. By all legal truths, the Devil Gundam is nothing more than a myth."
The three 13th Fight veterans proceeded to give Sadira a concise summary of what happened in the 13th Gundam Fight, including Wong's obsession with the Devil Gundam, his exploitation of Allenby, and his plan to rule the universe eternally.
When they finished, Sadira glared at them. "No.. you're all lying.. that can't be true!"
Rain was the most compassionate of the three, knowing all too well the feeling of knowing that someone you care about lied to you. "We have no reason to lie... I'm sorry."
Sadira bowed her head, and when she looked up tears were running down her cheeks.
"But... why? Why would he do such a thing?'
"The only person who truly knows why is Wong himself." said George.
Rain reached out and wiped tears from Sadira's eyes. "I know this is hard for you... but we need to know if Wong may be planning something like this again."
Sadira looked up, determination fresh in her eyes.
"I don't know... but I intend to find out."
Now, dear reader, one more change of scene awaits, a change to a far more dark setting, namely on the distant colony of Neo Italy. A far cry from the ruined Italy of Earth, if one were to look hard enough, one would find a lonely mansion, off to itself amidst the clusters of cities. Constructed of stone just as the castles of old were and replete with fearsome gargoyles, the building seemed to have stepped from the Dark Ages and into the present.
It's master, a man every bit as cold and imposing as the mansion he called home, can be found in what seems to be a control center of sorts. Though the walls in this room are made of stone and tapestries of days long since forgotten hang from the wall, the many television screens that adorn the walls are anything but archaic, and the same can be said of the desk that is the main centerpiece in this room. Though the desk is rife with papers and books, one can easily tell that it is forged entirely out of black onyx. Sitting in a chair that could easily pass for the throne of some medieval king, this mansion's master set down the goblet of wine and looked back up at the video screens. Though each one displayed an image, he concentrated on one in particular.
On the television screen, Wong Yun Fat waved to reporters and cameramen alike. Though he was dressed in much the same garb he wore even today, one could tell that this Wong was a good four of five years younger than the Wong of today. The image came complete with commentary.
... Thus, with Neo Hong Kong's victory in this 12th Gundam Fight, Chairman Wong Yun Fat has become the youngest man ever to attain the position of Prime Minister! For four years, he shall preside over both Earth and the colonies! Though we were not able to get an audience with the new Prime Minister, he has already...'
The man grasped a remote and pressed the mute button, though he still stared at the image of the prosperous Wong waving cheerfully to the crowds as he walked past. He set down the remote and clenched his hand into a fist.
"Wong... you are a fool to think that I have forgotten." he murmured. As he continued watching the video, another man slunk in hesitantly.
"M.. Master Mordred?"
The first man, now with a name, did not even bother to acknowledge the newcomer's existence. For a few moments there was an uneasy silence, until he said calmly: "What is it?"
Not moving an inch, the second man spoke again, his voice fearful. "It's as you thought. Our man has informed us that Faulkner Essex has already spoken with Won... with the mayor of Neo Hong Kong."
"I see.." responded Mordred. "Is that all?"
"Yes, master."
Mordred's right eyed flashed. "Then get out."
The second man did not need to be told twice. He practically ran out of the chambers. Picking up the goblet of wine, Mordred turned in his throne to face a different screen. The silent image was that of a man dressed in red, speaking to a group of other people. Though Wong could be seen here as well, that didn't really matter to Mordred. If one looked at each of the screens in turn, one would find that they all had Wong somewhere in the scenario they were displaying. Instead, he focused his attention on the figure in the red outfit.
"Faulkner Essex.." mused Mordred, rocking the goblet in his hand. "He does not know enough to be truly dangerous yet, but be certainly has the potential to make things difficult. It is not often that one encounters a man like him in this day and age."
He chuckled. "Perhaps it is time I spoke with this Faulkner. I'm sure we can work something out. His resources would be quite valuable to my little endeavor. And, if he doesn't wish to be part of my plans, then there are other options available to me."
Mordred laughed, a cold, mirthless noise. It was the sort of laugh one would expect from a man as frigid as he. As icy as his laugh was, there was not a trace of insanity in it. Perhaps that fact is what made his laughter truly chilling.