CHAPTER TWO: TWO WEEKS THROUGH HELL
"Good to have you back with us, Kimi" Meiran called out as she came running to greet her fellow pilot. "You'll never guess who's here." The sarcasm in her voice and the roll of her eyes told Kimi that the visitor was less than welcomed. She linked her arm through Kimi's and they walked toward the tent city the resistance currently inhabited. Kimi half listened to her companion, her eyes were drawn to the additional Gundums that now stood in the clearing. Above them and far off in the distant sky the sun glared for a split second off of... something... a horrible dread began to fill her soul. Her heart beat increased and her breathing became ragged.
Meiran noticed that Kimi became distant, and followed the brunettes gaze. Not seeing a thing she pinched Kimi in the arm. "Ow."
"Hey, you with me here?" When Meiran received no answer, save for Kimi staring transfixed at the sky she waved her hand in front of Kimi's eyes. "Earth to Kimi!"
"Meiran look." Kimi whispered and pointed to where her eyes were transfixed.
Meiran followed suit humoring her friend, she first saw what appeared to be a swarm of insects. Soon, however, she realized how far away the swarm was and how it grew as it approached. "Oh, hell." She turned and started running toward the main tents. "INCOMING!"
Kimi couldn't move, the fear ran so deep that she was immobile. Her thoughts were at a halt. She started with a jump at the rush of adrenaline that now filled her. From that moment on, only the images were clear. Meiran running towards the Gundums, her mouth open screaming with out sound, her arms flailing, trying to get others attention. Everyone went into a panic, scrambling for weapons. Distantly Kimi saw and felt the impact. Epion began to glow with a white hot fire, everyone froze and it exploded.
Silence followed and Kimi found herself lying face up on the ground. The first aircraft flew over head, dropping mobile dolls. In some part of Kimi's mind they looked like angels when they first came out, and Devils when they touched ground. It wasn't a conscious thought, but it was there. The sound of gun fire crept into the edges of her hearing, the screaming came louder. She lifted her head to watch as blood began to flow over the ground.
She watched as foot troops crowded around the tents. She felt someone grab her arm and begin to haul her away. She was allowed to stand by her dragger when the trees seemed to separate them from the carnage. The leader of the Romefeller corporation crouched near her, watching through the branches. Soon the screaming massacre quieted and Kimi's mind began to work again. She had suffered from shell shock, she knew that now, a state where everything around you becomes as surreal as a dream in which you play no part. She covered her eyes and took a few deep ragged breaths.
At the former base camp crying and moaning drifted from the dying. A man was heard barking orders. Kimi looked through the thick branches and lost the wind she just gained. The OZ soldiers were lining resistance members up. Shoving the captives to their knees in front of what looked to be a firing squad. Kimi heard Trieze make a whimpering sound and saw him tense up more than already was. The white cape he always wore torn and dirty. His elegant clothes sporting blood stains, mud, and holes. She turned back and saw the cause of Treize distress. Une was among those in line.
Kimi also noticed Meiran, Sally, and Zechs. All awaiting their turn at the harmful end of a gun. She placed her hand on Treizes shoulder, as much to steady herself as it was to remind him to stay hidden. The first shot rang out, echoing through the trees. Kimi squinted her eyes closed, not willing to see who was first. Treize drew a breath that sounded like he said Zechs. She forced herself to look. Sure enough, the silver-haired baron lay on the ground, blood pooling throughout his hair. A scream from nearby startled the OZ troops. Shots flew from the place of the scream, and Noin came out running.
She managed to take down three of the enemy before the general in charge lifted his pistol and squeezed the trigger as easily as if it had been a toy gun, he killed Noin. Treize began to cry. Tears silently glistened off his cheeks like dew in morning grass. The general took up position in front of Une, his sidearm pressing into her temple. "Khushrenada! Show yourself now or I kill your lady friend!"
Only the hand on his shoulder and a whispering voice in his ear kept him from revealing his location. "If they want you, they'll keep her alive to use as a bargaining tool." Kimi told him. She prayed that she was right with the assumption. The general gave a count of three, and Kimi was proven wrong. She slapped one hand over Treizes' mouth to keep him from making a deadly sound. Her other went around his shoulders to steady him.
His tears flowed freely and swift. His groans of agony muffled against the flesh of Kimi's palm. She kept hazel eyes on the gruesome scene. The unknown general walked over to Sally Po and Meiran. Looking them over he smiled at each of them with malevolence. He ran a tainted finger along Meirans' jaw line. Promptly and accurately she spit in his face, disgust and hatred burning in her eyes.
She fell back with her cheek reddening from the back handed blow. Sally took the opportunity to jump up and make a charge for one of her captives weapons. It was in her hands when a searing pain ripped through her side. She experienced a moment of hesitation before she spun with the assault rifle, her finger squeezed the trigger. Her faltering cost her as her shot went wide, catching only the generals arm, and his bullet piercing her throat.
Her body was drug aside with the growing mound of newly deceased. Meiran was the only one left, the general turned to the Chinese lady with an icy glare. A young soldier, that seemed to be no older than Kimi, ran into the clearing and frantically whispered to the general. Meiran seemed to be momentarily forgotten during the exchange. A gleam in her eyes shining with deadly malice, before she could act a rumbling motor started. Its ferocious sound reverberating through the clearing, the next thing Meiran knew was darkness. A blow from an enemy behind her and she was rendered unconscious.
Kimi gasped, it was the sound of Heavy Arms engine starting up. She glanced at Treize, questioning his mental stability. He nodded, the look on his face telling her that he would do nothing to jeopardize either of their existences. She returned a single nod then quickly made her way to where the Gundam was parked. Kimi stayed low to the ground, using the undergrowth to cover her movements as she paralleled the general and his men. There was nothing she could do as she watched the general gloat at 'his' find.
The evening passed on, the young brunette returned to the position where she left Treize. The two watched in silence from their hiding place amongst the branches, the OZ soldiers began filtering away. They took with them Kimi's Gundam, and who they thought was the only survivor of the encounter. Conversation passed between the general and an officer, discussing the possible whereabouts of Khushrenada. After a while they gave up, and moved out, dragging a still unconscious Meiran with them.
"Good to have you back with us, Kimi" Meiran called out as she came running to greet her fellow pilot. "You'll never guess who's here." The sarcasm in her voice and the roll of her eyes told Kimi that the visitor was less than welcomed. She linked her arm through Kimi's and they walked toward the tent city the resistance currently inhabited. Kimi half listened to her companion, her eyes were drawn to the additional Gundums that now stood in the clearing. Above them and far off in the distant sky the sun glared for a split second off of... something... a horrible dread began to fill her soul. Her heart beat increased and her breathing became ragged.
Meiran noticed that Kimi became distant, and followed the brunettes gaze. Not seeing a thing she pinched Kimi in the arm. "Ow."
"Hey, you with me here?" When Meiran received no answer, save for Kimi staring transfixed at the sky she waved her hand in front of Kimi's eyes. "Earth to Kimi!"
"Meiran look." Kimi whispered and pointed to where her eyes were transfixed.
Meiran followed suit humoring her friend, she first saw what appeared to be a swarm of insects. Soon, however, she realized how far away the swarm was and how it grew as it approached. "Oh, hell." She turned and started running toward the main tents. "INCOMING!"
Kimi couldn't move, the fear ran so deep that she was immobile. Her thoughts were at a halt. She started with a jump at the rush of adrenaline that now filled her. From that moment on, only the images were clear. Meiran running towards the Gundums, her mouth open screaming with out sound, her arms flailing, trying to get others attention. Everyone went into a panic, scrambling for weapons. Distantly Kimi saw and felt the impact. Epion began to glow with a white hot fire, everyone froze and it exploded.
Silence followed and Kimi found herself lying face up on the ground. The first aircraft flew over head, dropping mobile dolls. In some part of Kimi's mind they looked like angels when they first came out, and Devils when they touched ground. It wasn't a conscious thought, but it was there. The sound of gun fire crept into the edges of her hearing, the screaming came louder. She lifted her head to watch as blood began to flow over the ground.
She watched as foot troops crowded around the tents. She felt someone grab her arm and begin to haul her away. She was allowed to stand by her dragger when the trees seemed to separate them from the carnage. The leader of the Romefeller corporation crouched near her, watching through the branches. Soon the screaming massacre quieted and Kimi's mind began to work again. She had suffered from shell shock, she knew that now, a state where everything around you becomes as surreal as a dream in which you play no part. She covered her eyes and took a few deep ragged breaths.
At the former base camp crying and moaning drifted from the dying. A man was heard barking orders. Kimi looked through the thick branches and lost the wind she just gained. The OZ soldiers were lining resistance members up. Shoving the captives to their knees in front of what looked to be a firing squad. Kimi heard Trieze make a whimpering sound and saw him tense up more than already was. The white cape he always wore torn and dirty. His elegant clothes sporting blood stains, mud, and holes. She turned back and saw the cause of Treize distress. Une was among those in line.
Kimi also noticed Meiran, Sally, and Zechs. All awaiting their turn at the harmful end of a gun. She placed her hand on Treizes shoulder, as much to steady herself as it was to remind him to stay hidden. The first shot rang out, echoing through the trees. Kimi squinted her eyes closed, not willing to see who was first. Treize drew a breath that sounded like he said Zechs. She forced herself to look. Sure enough, the silver-haired baron lay on the ground, blood pooling throughout his hair. A scream from nearby startled the OZ troops. Shots flew from the place of the scream, and Noin came out running.
She managed to take down three of the enemy before the general in charge lifted his pistol and squeezed the trigger as easily as if it had been a toy gun, he killed Noin. Treize began to cry. Tears silently glistened off his cheeks like dew in morning grass. The general took up position in front of Une, his sidearm pressing into her temple. "Khushrenada! Show yourself now or I kill your lady friend!"
Only the hand on his shoulder and a whispering voice in his ear kept him from revealing his location. "If they want you, they'll keep her alive to use as a bargaining tool." Kimi told him. She prayed that she was right with the assumption. The general gave a count of three, and Kimi was proven wrong. She slapped one hand over Treizes' mouth to keep him from making a deadly sound. Her other went around his shoulders to steady him.
His tears flowed freely and swift. His groans of agony muffled against the flesh of Kimi's palm. She kept hazel eyes on the gruesome scene. The unknown general walked over to Sally Po and Meiran. Looking them over he smiled at each of them with malevolence. He ran a tainted finger along Meirans' jaw line. Promptly and accurately she spit in his face, disgust and hatred burning in her eyes.
She fell back with her cheek reddening from the back handed blow. Sally took the opportunity to jump up and make a charge for one of her captives weapons. It was in her hands when a searing pain ripped through her side. She experienced a moment of hesitation before she spun with the assault rifle, her finger squeezed the trigger. Her faltering cost her as her shot went wide, catching only the generals arm, and his bullet piercing her throat.
Her body was drug aside with the growing mound of newly deceased. Meiran was the only one left, the general turned to the Chinese lady with an icy glare. A young soldier, that seemed to be no older than Kimi, ran into the clearing and frantically whispered to the general. Meiran seemed to be momentarily forgotten during the exchange. A gleam in her eyes shining with deadly malice, before she could act a rumbling motor started. Its ferocious sound reverberating through the clearing, the next thing Meiran knew was darkness. A blow from an enemy behind her and she was rendered unconscious.
Kimi gasped, it was the sound of Heavy Arms engine starting up. She glanced at Treize, questioning his mental stability. He nodded, the look on his face telling her that he would do nothing to jeopardize either of their existences. She returned a single nod then quickly made her way to where the Gundam was parked. Kimi stayed low to the ground, using the undergrowth to cover her movements as she paralleled the general and his men. There was nothing she could do as she watched the general gloat at 'his' find.
The evening passed on, the young brunette returned to the position where she left Treize. The two watched in silence from their hiding place amongst the branches, the OZ soldiers began filtering away. They took with them Kimi's Gundam, and who they thought was the only survivor of the encounter. Conversation passed between the general and an officer, discussing the possible whereabouts of Khushrenada. After a while they gave up, and moved out, dragging a still unconscious Meiran with them.