3.Beyond the tears of a refugee:
Silence reigned over the room for several long minutes as the little "postman" calmed down in the empath's arms. Eventually, teary haze eyes met cerulean blue, and the sobbing stopped.
"It'll be alright, Rama," soothed Quatre. "Go rest now, we'll talk later."
The little girl nodded and disappeared down the corridor; a moment later Quatre's room was occupied. The blonde sighed, and turned back to face, with little amusement, four dumbstruck pilots. Duo stared from the empty hallway to his Arabian friend, trying to grasp what had happened in the last few minutes. His voice bizarrely deserting him, the braided American shrugged and flopped back on the sofa.
None spoke for a while as different thoughts were brooded over. Trowa studied Quatre carefully; the blonde looked definitely depressed, but there was a strong hint of angry defiance behind those depths of blue. The banged pilot knew that look; the Winner heir was foreseeing the worst, but he was ready to meet it heads-on.
"Quatre," enunciated Heero at last, stressing each word, "what happened?"
"Well –" he began, but the vid-phone rang. The poor thing received four death glares that were capable of blowing it to smithereens over and over again. Dodging Duo's restraining grasp, Quatre got up to answer the persistent rings. The pilots soon heard a familiar voice, though she was not shouting this time.
"What?" asked Samra.
"She's here," replied her brother. "Not a scratch. It seems that it has been done."
A growl came in answer to this cryptic remark,
"Who?" said she.
"I don't know yet; I'll tell you later. Anything new?"
"No, but Rashid's patience is at end. You should speak to him."
"Fine. Let's hope nothing else happens," said Quatre darkly as he cut off the connection. Without a word he returned to his seat and began to answer before the question was asked again,
"A few weeks ago, the communication links with sub-colony 463 were cut off. At first it was thought to be a giant sandstorm; the electromagnetic disturbance tends to hamper incoming and outgoing waves. But three weeks passed without a change, and Samra went to see them..."
"Yes?" pressed Duo as the blonde let his words hang.
"... the residential areas were... completely destroyed. The resources of the colony were not found," continued the blonde, his fists now clenched.
"Bandits?" asked Wu Fei.
"No, a few hours later sub-colony 462 was approached by unknown mobile suits. But Samra and some of the Maganacs were there, and they managed to fend off the attack. There is a design and purpose behind those attacks. All reports confirmed one fact: the resources taken are those which can be used in building an army."
"But what does your sister have to do with all of this?" questioned Heero.
"There were two recruits for the position of Gundam pilot zero four. Professor H trained us both, but Samra was given missions with the Maganacs. She's as able a fighter as any of us," replied Quatre evenly.
"I don't get it," said Duo, "if the colony residents were killed, then how come Rama's here?"
The blonde's gaze darkened as he answered, "A one-passenger ship left the sub-colony just before the connection broke down. The attackers tried to track it down, but it was found empty on L4 main colony. A few days later someone booked a flight to earth under the name of Samra Winner. It was then that Samra called me. I could feel it: Rama was coming here."
Stunned silence echoed his words. Seeing that Quatre had plunged once more in his thoughts Trowa spoke up,
"But how could Rama do all that on her own?"
"Someone could have programmed the plane from 421, but the rest of the events have only one explanation: she was trained," said Quatre between gritted teeth.
"Trained? A nine year old girl? Why - Who?" Wu Fei was on the point of ranting about the injustice for the next few months.
"I don't know,' replied Quatre. "I haven't talked to Rama yet. But it could be anyone..."
"Professor H?" suggested Heero.
"Maybe... he did want more recruits after seeing the initial results of our training. But we refused, and after a lot of argument he agreed if the Winner family continued funding his project."
"But why would any of those idiots want to attack the colonies? I know the scientists are bonkers enough, but not that much..." argued Duo.
"We don't know anything yet, Duo. I have to go contact the Maganacs over a secure connection to find out more about the attacks. I'll be back be lunch," he added, getting up.
"Okay, Quat," said Duo earnestly. "Don't worry, we'll take care of her."
"I know, Duo. I know."
oo00oo
Rama came out an hour after Quatre's departure to find the living room quite still. Blinking in surprise – the room was quite occupied when she first came in, and now it had only a morose Duo at the kitchen table – she made her presence known,
"Hello..."
The braided teenager snapped up from his reverie with a start, then gave Rama one of his "American baka" trademark grins.
"Hello, Rama. Had a good sleep? Do you want something to eat or drink?"
"Do you have some cocoa?" she asked.
Five minutes later found both braided ones sipping hot chocolate at the table, each staring at the steaming dark brown liquid, lost in thought.
"You make a good chocolate drink," said Rama at last.
Duo looked both surprised and pleased by her remark, "I do? Strange... your cousin's the only one who can deal with the kitchen – well, unless someone blackmails Wu Fei into some Chinese food."
"You really like teasing him, don't you, Duo?" she asked with a laugh.
"Well, as a matter of fact – wait a minute, how do you know that? And how come you know my name?"
Rama shrugged at his consternation. "You told me your names when I saw you at Ramda, and you always had some argument or the other with Wu Fei."
"And you still remember that?!" asked Duo in disbelief; their meeting was a very brief one.
"'Course I do. Well, I remember you in particular because my sister used to talk about that competition you had with her."
Duo remembered being beaten in a braiding competition by Maha, Rama's older sister.
"She did?" The question was asked before he could stop himself.
"Yeah... she really didn't mean to offend you... but I guess she didn't have the chance to say so..."
Duo now began to panic; the conversation now was beginning to tread dangerous waters, and he was eager to change the subject. Trouble was that his talking skills deserted him in times of need.
"But I'll say it on behalf of her. She didn't mean it, Duo... she really didn't," continued Rama.
Her sincerity tore at his heart, and Shinigami buried his face in his hands,
"Damn, I'm so sorry, Rama..."
The guilt and shame welled up inside him; Duo inwardly cursed his comrades' one-sided agreement to 'let the baka talk her depression to death' as the Chinese had said. Against the Perfect Soldier, Nanashi and Nataku's pilot, Shinigami was badly outnumbered with no gentle blonde at his back. What was worse that he had promised Quatre to take care of her... Quatre trusted him, but he had betrayed his best friend's trust...
Suddenly a gentle pat interrupted his dark stream of thoughts; Duo looked up to meet confused hazel eyes.
"Sorry about what, Duo?" she asked timidly. "Did I do something wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Rama," repeated Duo. "I shouldn't have talked about – you know what."
The hesitant look was instantly superseded by a comforting smile.
"Oh, don't worry, Duo. I'm not moping or anything."
Raised eyebrows made her go on,
"Well, I know I cried when I came here... but I was just letting out all the things in here." She pointed at her chest. "I – I do miss them but... Maha once taught me something when my pet pigeon died..."
"What thing?" ventured Duo.
"Well, those we love may be far," she began, her words beginning to pick up speed as she got confident, "but if we really love them then we want them to be happy. And they love us and want us to be happy so that they are happy so we must be happy for them and then everyone is happy – Duo, what?" Rama came to an abrupt halt as she noticed that her listener had taken a faraway gaze; Duo did not seem to heed the words that tumbled out at breakneck speed.
"I'm fine, Rama," he finally said. "You're right, we should be happy for those who love us, right?"
"Yeah!
At this realization both braided ones grinned from ear to ear in the empty living room. However silly those grins may have seemed, they held a deeper meaning within...
...Shingami had learned how to repay his beloved ones up above...
...and Rama had her cherished belief confirmed in a time when it was greatly needed.
"Even so," said Duo with a mischievous twinkle in his amethyst eyes, "you can't possibly braid faster than me."
"Oh yeah? We'll see about that!"
oo00oo
The other three pilots were in the garden: Heero trying to type on his laptop, Trowa trying to read a book, and Wu Fei trying to meditate.
All three gallant attempts failed miserably.
Simultaneously they sighed, exasperated, and dropped their endeavours. Wu Fei glanced behind him when a shriek of laughter echoed through the silent house. Eyebrows raised, they noiselessly crept into the house to check on the braided pair.
"That is the fifth time I mess up! HOW do you do that?" came Duo's irked voice, though there was a hint of amusement behind.
"I told you, Duo; concentrate on two strands each time. If you take all three at a time you get it tangled. And experiment on YOUR hair now please; stop messing mine up," added Rama with mock asperity.
"But it still doesn't get right!"
"Use your thumb and index finger only," advised his 'tutor'.
Even Heero's lips quirked at the sight of 02's struggle. Wu Fei rolled his eyes,
"Great, the baka's opened a braiding institution in our living room.
Tying back the band of his now orderly braid, Duo yelled back,
"Just because you have a stump of a pigtail, 'Fei, it doesn't mean that everyone should follow your lead. YOU'RE being an arrogant injustice here."
The immediate reaction was rather interesting.
Not unlike Altron in battle, Wu Fei brandished the nearby broomstick and, with a roar, he took off after the fleeing Duo, thus commencing the customary chase. Shinigami preferred to beat a retreat before the broomstick's wrath than to face Altron's pilot hot on his heels. That explained why Duo was currently on top the refrigerator, cornered by a furious AND armed Wu Fei.
"Someone's going to end up in the cupboard today," remarked Trowa.
"No, tied and hanging from a tree is more probable. Maxwell seems to have violated the highest decree of justice by calling Chang an injustice with a stump of a pigtail," said Heero.
Rama blinked at their casual description,
"Do they do that often?"
"It would be rather outré if they dropped their Tom and Jerry stunt for one day," said Trowa. (Do NOT ask me from where Trowa knows about Tom and Jerry, but he lives in the same house with Duo Maxwell, so it's not that improbable. Besides, 03 is from France (isn't he?) and I guessed it would be normal for him to say outré – I'm not an expert in French, it just hopped by...)
"Quite exceptional..." agreed Heero.
"I will get you Maxwell! Get back here NOW! INJUSTICE!"
...
Quatre trudged back wearily towards the house. His contacting the Maganacs just served to increase his fear, and two days' lack of sleep was not helping at all. Perhaps he had said goodbye to the road a little too soon... Though that did not explain why Rashid wanted ALL of them to come. He knew that nothing short of a 'Gundanium- strengthened house' as Duo had put it would be able to stop his friends if they were not to come. The days had taught Quatre that his people preferred to have their problems solved in between them. But wanting the entire ex-Gundam team to come...
'Allah...' he thought sadly, 'is it that bad?'
As he neared the house he found, at his expense, that the occupants were not being ice-blocks. Powerful emotions charged his heart, and he was thankful they did not mirror his own. Duo's amusement mixed with a little fear, Wu Fei's indignation was not deprived of some humor, and the other three (Heero, Trowa and Rama) seemed struggling not to laugh till tears.
'Well, feeling low about it will not help matters,' he mused as he entered the house in time to save Duo from a day's sentence in the broomstick cupboard.
oo00oo
The midday meal passed smoothly, but the pilots noticed that Quatre said barely a word. Raised eyebrows silently agreed to worm a report out of him after lunch.
But the strategist did not try to escape their questions by any means.
"No other attacks till now, but the Maganacs have become pretty sure of one thing: these people are looking for large resources in the shortest time possibe..." Quatre let his words hang.
"And?" asked Trowa.
"Gundanium alloy."
Tense silence followed this. If there was a battle, then fighting Aries would be no problem, Taurus may be an obstacle – but Gundams... Quatre's silence was now explained .
"But everyone knows the Gundams were destroyed after the war," said Heero.
"And how come they're looking for Gundanium on L4 in particular? These people know a lot more than others," added Wu Fei.
"I know... There are the initial trials of Sandrock. I don't know what happened to them," agreed Quatre.
"But it could be coincidence, after all," said Duo.
"Maybe, maybe not. But the fact is they ARE looking for Gundanium. THAT must be taken into consideration," joined Trowa.
"We'll see about that when we have more data," said Quatre with a sigh before turning to his cousin. "Now Rama, can you tell me what happened?"
"Everyone seemed jumpy that day," she began. "Something was wrong, but no one said anything. Suddenly Maha came into my room and told me to come with her. I never saw her so scared in my life. She took me to the hangar and told me to ride this small ship to L4. She said that something bad was going to happen, and she wanted me to go to Samra or Iria."
"But you went to Earth."
"Some people were after me after I left home. They knew I was heading for L4 main; the ship didn't have much fuel. So I left it and decided to go to you, using Samra's name."
"Rama... you were trained, weren't you?" asked Quatre quietly.
"Yes, that 'summer camp' I went to last year was weird."
"But why didn't you tell anyone, or try to leave?"
"He said it was to help you and Samra and Rashid and all the others save our home."
"He?" questioned the blonde.
"The trainer. He was the strangest thing in that place. Slicked black hair, beady eyes, and a slinky moustache, like the arms of a clock."
Quatre's heart clenched; the answers were coming, and he knew he would not like them at all. Rama's account did not need an explanation.
It was he...
The slinky moustache guy...
Professor H.
--end of chapter three—
Author's Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters do not belong to me. (I do own Rama and Samra, don't I?)
Author's notes:
Many apologies for the long wait. I hope this chapter compensates. (Rama/Duo interaction for you, weissangel24! ) I'll be updating my other fics soon. Tell me what you think of this chapter; your suggestions and what you want to see are most important to me.
In case you've forgotten, sub-colony 463 is where Rama and her family live. If there's anything you don't understand feel free to ask.
Uh... one more thing, was this chapter dark? And yeah... Professor H is an idiot, isn't he? To all those who read/reviewed/are thinking of doing so, thank you very much. See you soon!
Free Skylark. 11 July 2004.
Silence reigned over the room for several long minutes as the little "postman" calmed down in the empath's arms. Eventually, teary haze eyes met cerulean blue, and the sobbing stopped.
"It'll be alright, Rama," soothed Quatre. "Go rest now, we'll talk later."
The little girl nodded and disappeared down the corridor; a moment later Quatre's room was occupied. The blonde sighed, and turned back to face, with little amusement, four dumbstruck pilots. Duo stared from the empty hallway to his Arabian friend, trying to grasp what had happened in the last few minutes. His voice bizarrely deserting him, the braided American shrugged and flopped back on the sofa.
None spoke for a while as different thoughts were brooded over. Trowa studied Quatre carefully; the blonde looked definitely depressed, but there was a strong hint of angry defiance behind those depths of blue. The banged pilot knew that look; the Winner heir was foreseeing the worst, but he was ready to meet it heads-on.
"Quatre," enunciated Heero at last, stressing each word, "what happened?"
"Well –" he began, but the vid-phone rang. The poor thing received four death glares that were capable of blowing it to smithereens over and over again. Dodging Duo's restraining grasp, Quatre got up to answer the persistent rings. The pilots soon heard a familiar voice, though she was not shouting this time.
"What?" asked Samra.
"She's here," replied her brother. "Not a scratch. It seems that it has been done."
A growl came in answer to this cryptic remark,
"Who?" said she.
"I don't know yet; I'll tell you later. Anything new?"
"No, but Rashid's patience is at end. You should speak to him."
"Fine. Let's hope nothing else happens," said Quatre darkly as he cut off the connection. Without a word he returned to his seat and began to answer before the question was asked again,
"A few weeks ago, the communication links with sub-colony 463 were cut off. At first it was thought to be a giant sandstorm; the electromagnetic disturbance tends to hamper incoming and outgoing waves. But three weeks passed without a change, and Samra went to see them..."
"Yes?" pressed Duo as the blonde let his words hang.
"... the residential areas were... completely destroyed. The resources of the colony were not found," continued the blonde, his fists now clenched.
"Bandits?" asked Wu Fei.
"No, a few hours later sub-colony 462 was approached by unknown mobile suits. But Samra and some of the Maganacs were there, and they managed to fend off the attack. There is a design and purpose behind those attacks. All reports confirmed one fact: the resources taken are those which can be used in building an army."
"But what does your sister have to do with all of this?" questioned Heero.
"There were two recruits for the position of Gundam pilot zero four. Professor H trained us both, but Samra was given missions with the Maganacs. She's as able a fighter as any of us," replied Quatre evenly.
"I don't get it," said Duo, "if the colony residents were killed, then how come Rama's here?"
The blonde's gaze darkened as he answered, "A one-passenger ship left the sub-colony just before the connection broke down. The attackers tried to track it down, but it was found empty on L4 main colony. A few days later someone booked a flight to earth under the name of Samra Winner. It was then that Samra called me. I could feel it: Rama was coming here."
Stunned silence echoed his words. Seeing that Quatre had plunged once more in his thoughts Trowa spoke up,
"But how could Rama do all that on her own?"
"Someone could have programmed the plane from 421, but the rest of the events have only one explanation: she was trained," said Quatre between gritted teeth.
"Trained? A nine year old girl? Why - Who?" Wu Fei was on the point of ranting about the injustice for the next few months.
"I don't know,' replied Quatre. "I haven't talked to Rama yet. But it could be anyone..."
"Professor H?" suggested Heero.
"Maybe... he did want more recruits after seeing the initial results of our training. But we refused, and after a lot of argument he agreed if the Winner family continued funding his project."
"But why would any of those idiots want to attack the colonies? I know the scientists are bonkers enough, but not that much..." argued Duo.
"We don't know anything yet, Duo. I have to go contact the Maganacs over a secure connection to find out more about the attacks. I'll be back be lunch," he added, getting up.
"Okay, Quat," said Duo earnestly. "Don't worry, we'll take care of her."
"I know, Duo. I know."
oo00oo
Rama came out an hour after Quatre's departure to find the living room quite still. Blinking in surprise – the room was quite occupied when she first came in, and now it had only a morose Duo at the kitchen table – she made her presence known,
"Hello..."
The braided teenager snapped up from his reverie with a start, then gave Rama one of his "American baka" trademark grins.
"Hello, Rama. Had a good sleep? Do you want something to eat or drink?"
"Do you have some cocoa?" she asked.
Five minutes later found both braided ones sipping hot chocolate at the table, each staring at the steaming dark brown liquid, lost in thought.
"You make a good chocolate drink," said Rama at last.
Duo looked both surprised and pleased by her remark, "I do? Strange... your cousin's the only one who can deal with the kitchen – well, unless someone blackmails Wu Fei into some Chinese food."
"You really like teasing him, don't you, Duo?" she asked with a laugh.
"Well, as a matter of fact – wait a minute, how do you know that? And how come you know my name?"
Rama shrugged at his consternation. "You told me your names when I saw you at Ramda, and you always had some argument or the other with Wu Fei."
"And you still remember that?!" asked Duo in disbelief; their meeting was a very brief one.
"'Course I do. Well, I remember you in particular because my sister used to talk about that competition you had with her."
Duo remembered being beaten in a braiding competition by Maha, Rama's older sister.
"She did?" The question was asked before he could stop himself.
"Yeah... she really didn't mean to offend you... but I guess she didn't have the chance to say so..."
Duo now began to panic; the conversation now was beginning to tread dangerous waters, and he was eager to change the subject. Trouble was that his talking skills deserted him in times of need.
"But I'll say it on behalf of her. She didn't mean it, Duo... she really didn't," continued Rama.
Her sincerity tore at his heart, and Shinigami buried his face in his hands,
"Damn, I'm so sorry, Rama..."
The guilt and shame welled up inside him; Duo inwardly cursed his comrades' one-sided agreement to 'let the baka talk her depression to death' as the Chinese had said. Against the Perfect Soldier, Nanashi and Nataku's pilot, Shinigami was badly outnumbered with no gentle blonde at his back. What was worse that he had promised Quatre to take care of her... Quatre trusted him, but he had betrayed his best friend's trust...
Suddenly a gentle pat interrupted his dark stream of thoughts; Duo looked up to meet confused hazel eyes.
"Sorry about what, Duo?" she asked timidly. "Did I do something wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Rama," repeated Duo. "I shouldn't have talked about – you know what."
The hesitant look was instantly superseded by a comforting smile.
"Oh, don't worry, Duo. I'm not moping or anything."
Raised eyebrows made her go on,
"Well, I know I cried when I came here... but I was just letting out all the things in here." She pointed at her chest. "I – I do miss them but... Maha once taught me something when my pet pigeon died..."
"What thing?" ventured Duo.
"Well, those we love may be far," she began, her words beginning to pick up speed as she got confident, "but if we really love them then we want them to be happy. And they love us and want us to be happy so that they are happy so we must be happy for them and then everyone is happy – Duo, what?" Rama came to an abrupt halt as she noticed that her listener had taken a faraway gaze; Duo did not seem to heed the words that tumbled out at breakneck speed.
"I'm fine, Rama," he finally said. "You're right, we should be happy for those who love us, right?"
"Yeah!
At this realization both braided ones grinned from ear to ear in the empty living room. However silly those grins may have seemed, they held a deeper meaning within...
...Shingami had learned how to repay his beloved ones up above...
...and Rama had her cherished belief confirmed in a time when it was greatly needed.
"Even so," said Duo with a mischievous twinkle in his amethyst eyes, "you can't possibly braid faster than me."
"Oh yeah? We'll see about that!"
oo00oo
The other three pilots were in the garden: Heero trying to type on his laptop, Trowa trying to read a book, and Wu Fei trying to meditate.
All three gallant attempts failed miserably.
Simultaneously they sighed, exasperated, and dropped their endeavours. Wu Fei glanced behind him when a shriek of laughter echoed through the silent house. Eyebrows raised, they noiselessly crept into the house to check on the braided pair.
"That is the fifth time I mess up! HOW do you do that?" came Duo's irked voice, though there was a hint of amusement behind.
"I told you, Duo; concentrate on two strands each time. If you take all three at a time you get it tangled. And experiment on YOUR hair now please; stop messing mine up," added Rama with mock asperity.
"But it still doesn't get right!"
"Use your thumb and index finger only," advised his 'tutor'.
Even Heero's lips quirked at the sight of 02's struggle. Wu Fei rolled his eyes,
"Great, the baka's opened a braiding institution in our living room.
Tying back the band of his now orderly braid, Duo yelled back,
"Just because you have a stump of a pigtail, 'Fei, it doesn't mean that everyone should follow your lead. YOU'RE being an arrogant injustice here."
The immediate reaction was rather interesting.
Not unlike Altron in battle, Wu Fei brandished the nearby broomstick and, with a roar, he took off after the fleeing Duo, thus commencing the customary chase. Shinigami preferred to beat a retreat before the broomstick's wrath than to face Altron's pilot hot on his heels. That explained why Duo was currently on top the refrigerator, cornered by a furious AND armed Wu Fei.
"Someone's going to end up in the cupboard today," remarked Trowa.
"No, tied and hanging from a tree is more probable. Maxwell seems to have violated the highest decree of justice by calling Chang an injustice with a stump of a pigtail," said Heero.
Rama blinked at their casual description,
"Do they do that often?"
"It would be rather outré if they dropped their Tom and Jerry stunt for one day," said Trowa. (Do NOT ask me from where Trowa knows about Tom and Jerry, but he lives in the same house with Duo Maxwell, so it's not that improbable. Besides, 03 is from France (isn't he?) and I guessed it would be normal for him to say outré – I'm not an expert in French, it just hopped by...)
"Quite exceptional..." agreed Heero.
"I will get you Maxwell! Get back here NOW! INJUSTICE!"
...
Quatre trudged back wearily towards the house. His contacting the Maganacs just served to increase his fear, and two days' lack of sleep was not helping at all. Perhaps he had said goodbye to the road a little too soon... Though that did not explain why Rashid wanted ALL of them to come. He knew that nothing short of a 'Gundanium- strengthened house' as Duo had put it would be able to stop his friends if they were not to come. The days had taught Quatre that his people preferred to have their problems solved in between them. But wanting the entire ex-Gundam team to come...
'Allah...' he thought sadly, 'is it that bad?'
As he neared the house he found, at his expense, that the occupants were not being ice-blocks. Powerful emotions charged his heart, and he was thankful they did not mirror his own. Duo's amusement mixed with a little fear, Wu Fei's indignation was not deprived of some humor, and the other three (Heero, Trowa and Rama) seemed struggling not to laugh till tears.
'Well, feeling low about it will not help matters,' he mused as he entered the house in time to save Duo from a day's sentence in the broomstick cupboard.
oo00oo
The midday meal passed smoothly, but the pilots noticed that Quatre said barely a word. Raised eyebrows silently agreed to worm a report out of him after lunch.
But the strategist did not try to escape their questions by any means.
"No other attacks till now, but the Maganacs have become pretty sure of one thing: these people are looking for large resources in the shortest time possibe..." Quatre let his words hang.
"And?" asked Trowa.
"Gundanium alloy."
Tense silence followed this. If there was a battle, then fighting Aries would be no problem, Taurus may be an obstacle – but Gundams... Quatre's silence was now explained .
"But everyone knows the Gundams were destroyed after the war," said Heero.
"And how come they're looking for Gundanium on L4 in particular? These people know a lot more than others," added Wu Fei.
"I know... There are the initial trials of Sandrock. I don't know what happened to them," agreed Quatre.
"But it could be coincidence, after all," said Duo.
"Maybe, maybe not. But the fact is they ARE looking for Gundanium. THAT must be taken into consideration," joined Trowa.
"We'll see about that when we have more data," said Quatre with a sigh before turning to his cousin. "Now Rama, can you tell me what happened?"
"Everyone seemed jumpy that day," she began. "Something was wrong, but no one said anything. Suddenly Maha came into my room and told me to come with her. I never saw her so scared in my life. She took me to the hangar and told me to ride this small ship to L4. She said that something bad was going to happen, and she wanted me to go to Samra or Iria."
"But you went to Earth."
"Some people were after me after I left home. They knew I was heading for L4 main; the ship didn't have much fuel. So I left it and decided to go to you, using Samra's name."
"Rama... you were trained, weren't you?" asked Quatre quietly.
"Yes, that 'summer camp' I went to last year was weird."
"But why didn't you tell anyone, or try to leave?"
"He said it was to help you and Samra and Rashid and all the others save our home."
"He?" questioned the blonde.
"The trainer. He was the strangest thing in that place. Slicked black hair, beady eyes, and a slinky moustache, like the arms of a clock."
Quatre's heart clenched; the answers were coming, and he knew he would not like them at all. Rama's account did not need an explanation.
It was he...
The slinky moustache guy...
Professor H.
--end of chapter three—
Author's Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters do not belong to me. (I do own Rama and Samra, don't I?)
Author's notes:
Many apologies for the long wait. I hope this chapter compensates. (Rama/Duo interaction for you, weissangel24! ) I'll be updating my other fics soon. Tell me what you think of this chapter; your suggestions and what you want to see are most important to me.
In case you've forgotten, sub-colony 463 is where Rama and her family live. If there's anything you don't understand feel free to ask.
Uh... one more thing, was this chapter dark? And yeah... Professor H is an idiot, isn't he? To all those who read/reviewed/are thinking of doing so, thank you very much. See you soon!
Free Skylark. 11 July 2004.