11:24 PM
A very weary, tired-looking Aston Huit returned to the house that night, followed closely by a young man in a thick beige sweater and slightly wrinkled dress pants. His sandy hair was slicked back save for a few strands that fell errantly forward over his forehead, and he wore square-rimmed spectacles. Even after having been gone for nearly two years, Kiya would know that face anywhere. " Basil, " she breathed. " Basil Verdun. What are you doing here? "
Basil gave Kiya a tired smile. " What, you want me to leave already? "
" That's Doctor Basil Verdun to you, Katharine, " Aston said resignedly. " The two of you may have grown up together, but he's here on strictly business matters. He's checking up on that pilot you found last night. And we found some very interesting information on that boy. "
" What is it? " Kiya asked.
" Come. " They went into the living room while Dr. Verdun went into the spare room upstairs to check on the pilot, who was asleep once again. " The scientists at the lab were examining that boy's suit, " Aston continued. " It's made of Gundamium alloy, which is relatively close to being indestructible. The armaments on that suit are enough to power more than fifteen Leos. The design is like no other suit that's ever been created by OZ; not even the suits that the Specials use. " Aston paused for a moment. " And the suit isn't even his. "
Kiya's eyes widened in shock. " What? "
" The suit's flight recorder was still intact, " the Resistance commander continued. " Parts of the recordings are garbled, but they can be fixed. The recording of one of the very first battles that this suit was in is still intact. The pilot's stated name was Trowa Barton. But that's impossible, since I knew Trowa's father from some colonial government work… Trowa Barton died five years ago. He would have been about twenty-five now, while this boy is at least ten years younger. "
Kiya couldn't believe what she was hearing. " So that means he must have stolen this suit. "
" Precisely. But these facts just don't add up. This boy is an OZ soldier. Yet the Barton family has direct ties to the Romefeller Corporation and OZ. Wouldn't he have a higher rank than a volunteer private? What is he doing with a suit that firstly does not belong to him and secondly was not created by OZ? "
" So then if he isn't Trowa Barton, then who is he? " Kiya asked
" I don't know, Katharine, I really don't know. " Aston heaved himself out of his chair just as the young doctor was starting down the stairs. " So, Doctor, how is he? " he asked.
" He's fractured two of his lower ribs, has many minor lacerations and bruises around his body, sprained his left wrist, and is sustaining a mild concussion, " Basil answered. He shot a smile towards Kiya. " Katharine's done an excellent job of setting those breaks, though; that pilot's in good hands. Although I really don't understand why you haven't thought of letting her go to medical school yet, Mr. Huit – "
" That's a matter between myself and Katherine, " Aston said tersely. He nodded to Basil, barely remembered to acknowledge his daughter, and headed upstairs.
When the footsteps died away, Kiya smirked. " Ooh, you must have gotten Father very, very upset about something. "
" It's always my fault, isn't it, Kiya? " Basil asked mockingly. " Well, granted I showed up a little earlier than expected, and I know how much your father hates unexpected happenings – "
" Unexpected? You're four days early, Bas. It was Father's job to make sure OZ didn't sweep you up the moment you arrived. You know the train station's always swarming with soldiers until the end of the week. "
" Okay, okay! I get it. But in all seriousness, your father's got his hands full as it is with the appearance of your mystery pilot. He was running around like crazy today thinking that OZ was going to storm the labs at any given moment. Luckily that crash happened at the same time that some of our people cut the power to the OZ base and everyone was scrambling to fix it. That kid's caused our band a lot of trouble. And he's got more holes in his story than Swiss cheese. "
Kiya nodded absently. " I guess I can't blame him for lying to me, but it's still a bit of a shock. "
" You mean you talked to this guy? " Basil let out a low whistle. " Your father's not going to like that. "
" My father doesn't like anything I do, " Kiya retorted. " Not that he lets me do anything in the first place. At least you get to work down in the labs, if not become a field medic now that your training's over. That's what I want, Bas. You know that. I've wanted that ever since we were kids. And even if I can't do that, I just want to do something meaningful with the Resistance. But no, I'm stuck here playing nurse with a guy my father would much rather have seen dead. It's so pointless. "
Basil nodded. He'd known Kiya since they were toddlers, and he knew just how headstrong she could be. " You never know, Kiya. Maybe in your own little way you are doing something for this war by helping that pilot out. Maybe there's more to him than what we know – or what we don't know. "
Kiya sighed. " I hope you're right, Bas. "