Disclaimers Note - I don't own Gundam Wing, or any of the characters therein. All of the unfamiliar characters are my own, but some unfamiliar ones might become familiar, in which case they are not mine, or they may not! You'll have to read this and find out! Any correlation of this story to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental, honest. Phew! The characters of Hayley Reo, Kaia McInrae and Emma Kentley are mine, 'though, all mine! MINE!
**The Original Age Part 8 - Speed
By Espion
**
'All of this seems, I don't know, more arty…' One by one the pilots looked at Quatre, except Heero and Hayley.
'I mean, now mobile suit design is governed by practicality and economy, but then, I mean, having a mobile suit shaped like a horse with a beam sabre as a 'horn', seems unthinkable now…'
'You're right, that's why we abolished the system. The 'Dragon', as you called it Wufei, has a powerful buster weapon in its head, located to shoot out between its jaws. Because it was only intended as a passenger vehicle, that weapon was for self defence only…'
'Who was the pilot?' Duo interrupted. Hayley looked up. Even she didn't know that. Otashki stepped out from behind Dr J.
'We never found one in time, before the Operation was wiped out.'
'Yeah, that reminds me,' said Trowa, looking thoughtful, 'this one-person system, the one which gave Heero such a headache, what's that all about?'
Otashki looked at his student and answered, 'At that time we all considered a one-person system would provide us with more security, should the Gundam ever fall into enemy hands.' Trowa nodded.
*
'Where are you going now?!' Hilde leant out of the window as she saw Relena saddling Suvius. Relena blinked.
'I'm only going for a ride in the mountains, wanna come?' Relena smiled innocently.
'Nuh uh, that ride takes three days! And you shouldn't be riding! Your arm, remember?'
'Come on, Hild' it's the holidays! I'll even let you pick your horse. My arm's better now, anyway.'
Hilde groaned. There was just no arguing with her. 'Alright, I'll come, but have you got everything?'
Relena pointed to the two small bags leaning against the wooden paddock fence.
'Can you tack up Ohki? I'll be right down.' Hilde's face disappeared from the window.
*
'But if the Dragon has the one-person system, then how're we gonna move it?' Wufei asked.
'It has the system, but it was never programmed. We'll be able to control it ourselves, from this base, that is, if no one's gone inside it while it's been lying out there…' The pilots exchanged looks.
'What? No one's been into it, have they?' Trowa wasn't sure, but he thought he'd seen someone jump out of it when they'd first met Kaia. Kaia shifted uneasily in her seat. Hayley turned to her.
'Do you know, Kaia?'
'Even if I did…'
'You must tell us, young lady,' J interrupted her, 'for the sake of the mission…'
Kaia resisted the temptation to say 'Screw you,' and remained silent. Heero glanced at her. She didn't have her head down, and her eyes were still on J, wanting him to break eye contact, not her.
'Miss Peacecraft retrieved a Doc. from the machine,' she said eventually.
'Ah,' said Dr G.
'Oh dear,' said Otashki.
*
'Woohoo!' cried Hilde as Suvius and Ohki thundered neck and neck out of the forest and onto the stony mountain pass.
'Hey, look,' said Relena, slowing her tall grey-white gelding to a halt and turning to look down into the valley. Hilde stopped the Pinto Ohki and looked as well.
'Wow. Big mess,' she said, as she saw the scar Doloria had carved into the forest below, 'I wonder how they'll deal with that.'
'They'll deal with it, and that's all we have to worry about…' Relena turned Suvius a little sharper than she'd intended to, and as the flexible animal sprang round, she fell ungracefully off.
'Ow! Godammit!' Relena grabbed Suvius' bridle and pulled herself up, 'honestly, some days…Hilde?'
*
'How long was she inside?' Kaia backed slightly away from the Doctor as he advanced on her.
'Not long. Three minutes?'
'Long enough,' muttered the Doctor wearily, 'this may be a little more complicated than we previously imagined…'
'Heero, you need to find that Doc. the Peacecraft girl took, and bring it back.' Otashki said.
Heero nodded. 'Mission accepted.' He left the room.
Hayley stared after him.
'Couldn't he've just said 'k'?'
*
'Hilde! Hilde, where are you!' Relena's voice was simply swallowed by the mountains. Suddenly Relena heard Ohki whinny, and turned Suvius towards the noise. It seemed to come from the bush behind her, but also from down in the valley. Relena stuck her head into the bush.
'Hilde!'
'Yeah, we fell in,' came Hilde's voice, sounding strangely refracted.
Relena jumped off of her favourite horse and leant further into the bush.
'Don't lean! You'll fall!' cried Hilde.
'Yaaaargh!' cried Relena as she fell.
*
Sorry this part is short, 'cos I had two exams today. Sorry to everyone about the bugger-up I made on the last chapter. Chapter 7 is now installed!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
I just want to make my opinions about Yaoi clear. I think its cute and perfectly acceptable, but there are het couples in Anime!! I think you should be able to choose whichever you want without fear of having the piss taken outta you.
Felflowne
If anyone's wondering, I am a girl… But you knew that…right?