Chapter 3
"Where is he?" Heero murmured, the next day, almost afternoon and Trowa still had yet to return. What on earth is going on? Suddenly, Heero's cellphone rang, he took it out and pressed a button, holding it to his ear he said into the receiver
"Yuy."
"Operation X2 has begun. Time start point, estimation of 0600 hours." A dull click signified that the line had gone dead. Heero stared at the phone ludicrously.
'X2?! Who gave the order to start it?! Only me or one of the other pilots can start it, so who-?!'
"Hey Heero, who was that?" Duo asked looking at him beneath the lashes of his eyes. Dark lines beneath those amethyst orbs signified how tired he was. Solo was still asleep, blissfully unaware. Luna was sitting in her room, thinking, Justin was sitting on the couch next to Delia. Both were silent. Jessica and Zechs were spending some time in the backyard, and everyone else was sitting in the living room, except for Milliardo. Noin had said he'd vanished earlier in the night, then she too had left with Terri, with an apology for not being able to stay longer. Heero turned to Duo, Quatra, Wufei and the others.
"Duo, Quatra, Wufei? I need you to get Solo, Eseno, Luna and Myuki. It's X2." Duo, who had been looking at Heero dazedly with fatigue snapped into life the moment his friend said X2. Duo nodded without question and walked off towards the room that Solo was sleeping in. Wufei went to rouse Eseno while Quatra walked off to confront Luna. Catherine stared at Heero.
"I'll go get Myuki." She said softly, and walked out of the room. The minute she was gone, Relena turned on Heero.
"Alright, what's going on?! I refuse to be in the dark any longer. What are you hiding from me Heero?!" She demanded. Heero glared.
"Don't ask questions." He snapped, she stared at him hurt. Then nodded stiffly and walked out of the room. The minute she was gone Hilde and Sally pounced on the pilot.
"YOU IDIOT! Do you know how much she's hurting right now?! And you're not helping matters one bit!!" Hilde shrieked, Sally had to hold her arms back to keep her friend from ripping out Heero's hair. Though she would have very much liked to do that too. Heero looked at them tiredly.
"Listen, all of us will be gone a few days, don't worry, and take care of Relena for me." He whispered to them. Hilde stopped struggling to stare at him. He walked off. In the foyer of his house, Heero paced quietly. Impatiently. When the double doors opened he snapped his head to glare at the people who entered.
"What took you so long?" Heero growled. Duo proceeded to return the hard glare.
"Listen Heero, don't think that tone is going to make me back down, I know you're hurting, but what you said to Relena was BEYOND reason."
"You have to stop acting so selfish, these acts are going to get you killed." Wufei commented calmly. Heero growled, then yanked on his coat and walked out the door, Duo, Quatra, Wufei and their kids followed. Myuki was mystified.
~~~
"Where do you think we're going?" Solo asked, not really caring. Yuki shrugged.
"Wherever I guess."
"I hope it's not a funeral." Luna whispered. Eseno said nothing.
"What the hell is this anyway?" Solo demanded. Wufei said nothing. Neither did Duo or Quatra. Heero ignored them all. He continued to drive the car. Their destination, unknown.
~~~
"So what's the deal dad?" Solo asked his father. Duo sighed. All of them now stood in what appeared to be an underground base.
"Listen, what we're going to tell you, may be a little hard to believe, I just ask that you stay quiet until we're done." He muttered out to them. Solo nodded, but was a little confused.
"Okay, 16 years ago, right before you were born Solo, we learned of a secret organization, you remember me telling you about MarieMaia?" He asked slightly. All four nodded. Trowa continued.
"This organization was trying to repeat that exact same method, the only reason it didn't work before, was because the Gundams were able to stop it in time. Or specifically, Wing Zero."
"Wing Zero? You mean the pilot of Wing Zero?" Myuki interrupted. Quatra nodded slowly.
"The pilot was able to stop MarieMaia, and in the end, peace was restored, and the Gundams, which were used for war, were finally put to rest. Though this organization brought to our views, that we needed some sort of protection against them. So thus, we began project X2. Xenotion. A word from the old text that means 'prevention'. The Gundams were meant to signify peace for the colonies. X2 is for all space and for Earth as well."
"Now the suits were created to prevent this organization from ever rising were completed about 6 years ago. Though by then, the company had disappeared, evidently, they gave up, though we didn't want to destroy the suits just yet, in case they appeared again. The team that worked with us was dismissed, and ordered never to speak of it again. They agreed instantly. Sad to say, the 5 main workers have now died of old age. And anyone else who helped us is a close friend, how a leak got out is beyond me . . ." Duo trailed off.
"Leak? What do you mean?" Eseno asked softly. Wufei looked his son directly into the eye.
"A leak got out about X2. And the people who were to use the suits." He said staring at Eseno, with an unwavering gaze.
"Us." Solo whispered horrified. "You mean us. We were the ones who were to control the suit." Heero nodded stiffly.
"And what about Kira?!" Luna demanded hysterically. "Was Kira part of this too?! Is that why he died?!" They remained still. She fell to her knees.
"So . . . . . that makes us targets too doesn't it? Because we're the other people who are supposed to use these things." Myuki looked away, hugging herself closely. Then she looked at them, her eyes were dull, as if she were tired.
"And how are you connected to this? I mean, Trowa's a circus worker, Heero's a bodyguard, Duo's go a job doing trash recycle, Wufei is a martial arts trainer. Quatra owns a company, I can see his relationship, but not why he'd want to do this. What is YOUR connection?" She demanded quietly. Heero ran a hand through his hair and looked away.
"Listen, you remember the Gundam Pilots?"
"What? You worked for them? You met them, or were one of their allies?" Solo demanded dully. Duo shook his head.
"Think about this Solo. Five pilots. Five of us."
"I barely got any sleep, my mind is fried. Just spill already." Solo growled out irritated. Duo sighed. Trowa looked at them calmly.
"We're the Gundam Pilots.
Silence.
~~~
"Kira . . ." Zechs murmured. His brother, was dead? How could that be? He walked along the sidewalk, needing to get out of the house which was full of well wishers. He sighed deeply. Slowly crossing the street, a black sedan stopped just as he crossed, he didn't look at the driver. What was the point? He walked on. As the car drove on, he spared a glance at it. Then sighed and was about to turn around and walk on, when something hard was pressed to his chest. He never looked up.
~~~
"It can't be. . ." Myuki stared, her uncle, was always silent about his past, never speaking of how he knew the others, now she knew why. She had always put it to the fact that he was sorrowed about the war, or something of that matter. She had always known he was a soldier, but a Gundam Pilot?! The only other pilots that were just as legendary, and weren't another Gundam Pilot was Treize Kushrenada, and Zechs Marquise. The Lightening Count. Her uncle, was what the soldiers had once described as a, 'Killing machine.'
"Which one." She croaked. Trowa gazed at her calmly.
"Heavy-arms." Duo sighed.
"Deathscythe."
"Shenlong."
"Sandrock."
" . . . . . . . . . Wing Zero." At this, everyone stared at Heero.
"You?!" Solo croaked. "You brought down MarieMaia?! You're the perfect soldier?!" Heero stayed still. Not speaking. Luna was backing away.
"My father? A pacifist, was a soldier? A killer?" She whispered in disbelief.
"Luna . ." Quatra began.
"NO! It can't be! You always taught me that nothing was more important then life, and now I find out that you betrayed your own teachings, and killed?! Not only one man, but thousands?!"
"Luna, I didn't have a choice."
"Of COURSE you did!! You said 'You always have a choice.' You said that yourself, so right then, when you taught me pacifism was best, you were lying to me, AND to yourself?!" She began to attack Quatra verbally, every word she spat at him lashed like a whip. He flinched visibly. Trowa growled.
"ENOUGH!" He broke out. Everyone stared at him.
"Luna Winner! Learn the entire story before you barrage your father with such insults!!" he growled at her. Everyone was silent for a moment. Then Eseno gulped and asked
"Why?" His father remained still for a moment, then began.
"Nataku." He finally murmured. "My first wife." Eseno spluttered at this. "I wasn't always married to your mother Eseno. My first wife, my first marriage, was forced, by the two clans among which we lived. She believed in justice. I ridiculed it, telling her that justice was for the weak. She was the strongest fighter of her clan, and one day, she confronted me on the fact I would not practice martial arts like other husbands. So we fought, she became awed that I could beat her so easily, and the moment I said 'Justice exists, only for one's convenience, a battle grounded upon such a thing is pointless.' She became enraged. But upon that same day, we were attacked by OZ. Nataku, Meilan, she fell in battle. She died to uphold justice, and she died by OZ's hands. The reason I left to fight in the war, was to avenge her, and to uphold justice, just as she would have done." Eseno stood silent.
"So then, you truly loved her, didn't you?" Wufei nodded.
"I loved her, and I loved your mother deeply. When both of them died, I wondered whether to take on another wife, for your sake, then I decided not to, simply because it was obvious I was not meant to have one." Eseno nodded stiffly, his hands clenched. Luna looked at her father.
"And you? What is your story?" Quatra sighed.
"I was born from test tubes, and for 13 years I believed that I was a useless batch of organic compounds. Then, one day, I was escaping to Earth, to show my father that I wasn't to be controlled, but we were boarded by that Maganac corps. It was then, that I learned from their captain, Rashid, that I should have been proud of what I was, rather then ashamed. So, that day, I decided to try out what he had suggested, I captured a traitor on their side, however becoming shot in the process, later, the alliance had already descended down upon us, and I asked to fight by their side. They were hesitant, but allowed me to do so in the end. I was told, after the fight, that I fought like I was born to it. Even with an injured arm, I was still better then most soldiers, I was told I had a knack for fighting in mobile suits. So, 2 years later, when I heard of the true operation meteor, I knew I had to stop it, so, as I took on the job as the pilot of Sandrock, the mission changed, and I was happy to know, that I'd saved over 3 million people." Luna glared at him, trying to figure out if he was lying.
"So, you fought to protect people?"
"One could put it that way. I remember though, the day I left, I put a card onto my father's table. The words still ring true to my ears. 'War brings sorrow, but we must fight to protect our loved ones from that sorrow.' To this day, I would still fight if I had too. Because, I want to protect everyone from ever suffering again. If it took my life to get peace, I would have offered it up at any moment." Quatra finished solemnly. Luna walked forward. Reaching Quatra she stared at him, then broke out into tears before flinging herself into his arms.
"Father, I am so sorry." She whispered. Quatra, was taken aback by this, but slowly put his arms around her.
"Luna, it's alright." He stroked her softly. Like a cat, she quieted slowly, while Solo looked at his dad. He raised an eyebrow.
"Do I even want to know?"
"What can I say? Operation meteor would have killed thousands, so I didn't want any part of it. Unfortunately, while in outer space, we were trapped by the Alliance soldiers, the man who designed one of the suits for X2 was on that ship. He was also the one who designed Deathscythe, he told me to ignore operation meteor, it was easy enough for him to tell the Barton Foundation that it was stolen, so I took it, and went to Earth, to get back at OZ who destroyed the peace of the colonies. That's it, the end. Chapter closed. Unless you want me to tell you about the entire fiasco that took place in the war, which is not really that pretty." Solo sighed.
"Dad, is it too much to ask that you take this seriously?"
"Yes."
"Thought so." Solo sighed again. Heero looked away and began to walk off.
"Hey-! HEERO!!" Heero stopped and turned to face them.
"What?"
"How . . . . . how did you-?"
"Get connected? In the year 175 A.C, a man named Odin Lowe shot Heero Yuy, the colony pacifist. After that time, he wandered around, doing jobs as a mercenary. In the year 188 A.C he traveled to the colony
X-18999. I was with him, as a tool to be used so that people wouldn't get suspicious. He was hired to kill General Septem, but the job defeated him, and instead, he was killed. I became a nameless orphan, and was later found by Doctor J. Another man who worked with us on project X2. He told me that I could be a Gundam Pilot. I was told by Odin, to do as your heart tells you. So, I followed my heart, and became the perfect soldier in charge of Wing Zero, later, I was given the code name Heero Yuy. I was trained to follow orders, and that's it. That's all it took for me to be a pilot." He said calmly, then walked off. Duo and the others followed him.
~~~
"What IS this place?" Solo asked softly. Duo shook his head.
"As from the point on, I'm afraid you can't go by the name Solo Maxwell anymore. We can only call you Solo sadly, that is, if we don't want to put others in danger. You were all trained as you grew up, without your even knowing." Solo stared.
"Trained?!"
"Yes, you were all trained in an ordinary way, making it seem that all we were doing was giving you parental advice. Didn't you ever wonder why we sent you to join so many sports? Soccer, basketball, wrestling, and all that? It's because we were building you up." Solo slumped forward in defeat.
"I guess so." Luna stared.
"So, all those lessons? All those games and sports? They were to . .?"
"Train you up. Sorry Luna." Quatra murmured. She shook her head.
"No, I need this, if I'm going to avenge Kira, then I have to be strong."
"Then your plans are shot." A voice interrupted. Trowa walked over.
"Took you long enough." He declared. Myuki stared.
"Uncle?" Then she sighed. "Okay, what's your story?" Trowa smirked.
Myuki looked at her uncle.
"To put it simply, I was brought up as an orphan, and taught to fight with everything from guns to mobile suits. It didn't bother me much, my parents were killed in the war, so I had no idea what my name was or who I was. A rebel group took me in, trained me, but that faction got killed and I was on the streets once more. Later, I was taken in as a worker for Heavy-arms. The real Trowa Barton was the designated pilot, who intended to go out with Operation M fully. Two men disagreed, and one shot him. Thus Trowa Barton, died. I offered to take his name, as I had been feeling somewhat insecure lately without one. I became Trowa Barton, however, as I told the men, I had no interest in Operation Meteor, so, we changed it, and I went to Earth to destroy OZ." Myuki stared horrified.
"You stole a dead man's name?!" She shrieked. Trowa stared at her calmly.
"Dead people weren't a big deal then Yuki. Everyone died eventually, the war just shortened time spans. If he had lived, Earth would be shrouded in ice, in the middle of a nuclear winter." Myuki stayed silent at that. Trowa shook his head. Luna scowled.
"Going back, how exactly are my plans for revenge shot?!"
"Because the person your avenging doesn't need to be."
"Huh?!" Trowa sighed.
"Listen, I'm about to show you something that seems impossible. But you're going to have to trust me." He said calmly, he never got to go any further. A figure had walked out behind him. He wore a long gray cloak, the sleeves were ripped out but sowed over, it fell down to his ankles, his black pants were simple enough, and around one of his legs he had a leg holster attached. His black shirt was ornamented with tiny gold buttons down the middle and his hands wore biker gloves. His shirt seemed to be a turtle neck, because the collar came up and covered his mouth and nose, and the hood of his jacket was over his hair. He peered at them beneath the hood. Heero glared.
"Who's this?" He demanded. "We weren't to discuss any new candidates yet." He growled out. Trowa shook his head.
"Maybe, you should sit down." Duo folded his arms over his chest and stood still.
"Trowa." He said warningly. Trowa sighed, then nodded. The figure walked up to Heero . . . . . and it hugged him quietly. Heero took a step back, almost shocked, ready to punch the stranger away, the familiar feeling suddenly sank in.
"It can't be . ." He ripped the teen off him, then pulled away the cloth over his face. Luna gasped and began to back away.
Kira.
"My god . . . . . Kira?" Kira laughed wildly.
"What? You thought I was going to be killed that easily?" Heero ignored that remark and crushed his son in a fierce hug, as though if he left go, his son would be lost again.
"Kira." He whispered. As if that name was sacred. Kira hugged his father back, slowly.
"Sorry dad. I didn't mean to scare you." Heero ignored him once again, Duo slowly walked forward, he gaped at the boy in Heero's arms, then laughed and hugged the boy himself. Heero suddenly became aware of the fact that he couldn't breath, he let go and glowered at Duo who laughed like a maniac and began jumping up and down. Quatra, couldn't move, he was smiling like the world had just been granted peace for eternity. Luna didn't know what she was doing, her body simply moved forward, and before anyone could react, she was hugging Kira and crying into his shoulder.
"Uh . . ." Kira flushed heavily.
"I'm so glad you're okay! I thought you were dead . ." He sighed.
"I am." He murmured to her. Everyone stared at him. "I mean, I have to be dead to the world, if I'm not, then the enemy would find out, and if they find out I'm alive again, then they'll try to wipe me out, and they'll be aware of my attack. Let's just say that doesn't fit into my plan." He grinned. Solo sighed.
"And just when I thought it couldn't get any more complicated. Um, hey Kira?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know about . . . . . . well . . . . . . about Mr. Yuy? Your father?" Kira stared at him. Solo sighed.
"About him being a . . . . . well . . . . .his past job, to put it nicely." Kira stared, then his eyes went solemn. Heero was about to shake his head, when Kira stopped him.
"Yes. I'm aware of the fact that my father was the former pilot of Wing Zero." Everyone gaped. Kira sighed. Heero spluttered.
"How did you-?!"
"Know? Well, when I was a child, around 5 or so, I noticed, that you were always quiet, stern and calm. Where as I was always laughing, jumping and loud. One day I just woke up and wondered, 'what am I going to say to my dad today?'. And I had nothing. I couldn't think of anything to talk to you about, that you'd be interested in anyway. I began to think about things, like if I didn't know something you'd like, that you'd hate me." Heero growled at this.
"Now that is not true!" Kira nodded.
"I know, but I was 5 at the time, and let's just say, my thinking skills aren't at their best. And after all, I was your son. So I began to sneak about, trying to find something you liked, somehow, don't ask me how, I noticed without you finding out, that you were interested in the old war, particularly about your interest in the Gundams. So, when you and mom were out one night, I left Jessica and Zechs to the care of the servants, and checked out your study. I went over a few video clips of the Gundams, trying to find some sort of discussion topic that would be safe without revealing I have gone through your stuff. And . . . . that's when I discovered you, coming out of the cockpit of Wing Zero. I just kept thinking 'Why was he in there? Was he a mechanic for the Gundam? Was he a friend? Was he an enemy?' Then, I saw . . . . I saw the detonator in your hand as you came out. When you self detonated, I couldn't help myself, I actually yelled out. That's when a servant stuck their head in and saw me, he explained everything about you, two days later, I went back in there and watched the entire thing. I studied your face, how you showed no fear, how your determination to complete your mission brought you through everything. Then the thought struck me, this is how I want to be. Fearless. Not egotistical, but unafraid of anything. I strived to be like you, before realizing I had a major flaw. It was my very family. I was afraid of them getting hurt, and if I was just as deadly as you with a weapon, then I would have been putting you all in danger, so I stopped doing all those extra things and just did the normal exercises you set out for me. Somehow though, I just always knew that those extra soccer practices, those extra sports, lessons and everything were part of training." He took a deep and shaky breath. "That moment I was shot on stage, I thought at first, I'm dying, before realizing the pain hadn't hit deep enough for a fatal shot, my last thought became, 'this is it.' This is where it starts. This is what I've been training for, this is my test." The entire time he had been talking, he was looking at the floor, then he was suddenly afraid to look up, he didn't know why, he was just afraid. Maybe he was afraid he'd see reject in their eyes. Trowa nodded.
"Kira is right. This is a test, although it has much higher stakes then most. Come, it's time to get you fitted."
"Fitted?" Myuki asked tiredly.
"For the suits. Kira? Care to show them?" Trowa asked calmly. Kira nodded. He showed them his wrists, his ankles and his neck, all were covered with a thin gold band. He took his right wrist, and flipped a switch. His clothes changed, he now wore a pair of simple black jeans and a white shirt, the bands had vanished. He had a sword attached to his belt, but that wasn't what grabbed their attention. It was the wings. Pure white wings ruffled on his back, then set into a relaxed position. They looked entirely real, not some false machinery wings, but real organic made wings. Luna walked up slowly, then reached a hand out and brushed her fingers against it. He smiled at her. Solo gaped.
"Is . . . . is that a hologram?!" Trowa shook his head.
"The suits are like a second pair of clothes on your body, these actually enable you to fly, the scientists really outdid themselves this time. The sword on his side isn't regular, and it's not a beam sword either. The sword is made out of Gundanium Alloy. Also, should in the unlikely event that the blade should break, then the sword becomes a beam sword. Two in one basic concept." He explained dully, as if this was something normal. Solo stared at him as if he were crazy.
"ARE YOU NUTS?? That kind of technology is a 6 year advance break through!" Trowa shrugged.
"Our estimates were around 8 years advanced." He replied just as dully. Solo began to choke. Duo sighed and patted his son on the back while looking at Kira.
"So, I guess it's time to get you guys into the suits to try them out. You should have no problem adjusting, did you Kira?" Kira shook his head.
"Not at all." Duo smiled.
"Then let's get suited."
~~~
"I really think this is a bit much." Luna murmured looking at herself. Her heavily gloved hands were accompanied by elbow guards, she had a pair of tight black pants on, and he shirt was a light blue tank top. Her wings were slightly like Kira's, except one feather was long enough for an entire row, and they were see through, the veins runned with rainbow color. (A/N: Stole the WINGS off of Legend of Dragoon. Check it out!) Her weapon was a simple crossbow. Myuki stared, a simple pair of black gloves that reached past her elbows, tight brown pants and a tight black shirt with brown boots. She observed her gun as her deep blue, dragon like, wings fanned out behind her.
"Bit out of date isn't it?" Solo asked looking down at himself. A white shirt tied up with string at the 'V' collar. A pair of loose brown pants and black boots. His wings were very much like a bat's. His weapon was of course, a Scythe. It was topped off with a curved blade of Gundanium Alloy, and like Kira's, had a beam top hidden in it. Eseno was testing out his wings, they were a deep red, and shaped long and narrow, like a dragon's. He also had, oddly enough, a tail . . . . a pair of creamy white pants, went with his deep blue tunic. Black shoes and in his hands he carried a trident.
"Eseno. Come here." Wufei called out. Sen nodded and dropped down, landing easily. Wufei nodded his approval.
"Well done." Eseno bowed at the compliment. Solo smiled and turned to Kira.
"Want to test out our weapons?" He asked calmly. Kira grinned, guessing what his friend had in mind. He leaped away and pulled out his sword in a swift action. Solo jumped to the side while holding his scythe out an arm's length. Heero raised an eyebrow.
"Kira-?"
CLASH!
The ring of the two weapons rang out as Solo attacked and Kira blocked. Shoving the weight of Solo off him, he quickly rolled to the side and swung his swords at Solo's legs. The teen jumped, flipped in mid air and landed behind Kira taking a swipe, before realizing his blade had slashed at a hologram.
"WHAT THE-?!"
A suddenly cry brought his gaze upward, he rolled off to the side as Kira came crashing down, sword point first. He too rolled away and the two teens circled each other.
"Hey Solo." Kira commented while gasping, and blinking away sweat.
"What?" Solo demanded breathing harshly as well, and wiping sweat off with his sleeve.
"Dodge this!" Kira cried and snapped his hand up, Heero's eyes widened, he dove while yelling
"GET DOWN!" A giant beam of light shot from his hand, much like the beam of the buster rifle. Solo yelped and dove out of the way. When dust cleared, Duo snapped his head up and glared at Kira.
"KIRA! YOU CRAZY IDIOT! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US ALL???" He demanded. Before his voice faltered at the fact that Kira was laughing.
"Sorry Duo." Solo was on the ground shivering.
"What the HELL was that?!" He demanded. Kira smiled. Then offered a hand to Solo who took it.
"That was the special feature of this suit. I believe yours allows you to fire out green fire. Luna can create a blinding light, while Eseno can shoot fire, like a dragon you see. And Myuki can do illusion as well . . . . I think she has, has a . . . . . . missile barrage I think. Not too sure about that." His voice trailed off as he thought. Luna was about to laugh, when a phone rang. Heero, who was chuckling took out his and held it to his ear.
"Yuy."
"Heero! You have to get over here!" Heero's eyes suddenly furrowed.
"Hilde? What is it?" Hilde handed the phone over to Relena.
"H-Heero." Relena croaked. Heero froze.
"Relena! What is it? What happened?!" He yelled. Everyone looked at him.
"It's Zechs . . . . . . he was shot."
The phone slipped from Heero's numb hands.
Disclaimer: I do not own characters.
"Where is he?" Heero murmured, the next day, almost afternoon and Trowa still had yet to return. What on earth is going on? Suddenly, Heero's cellphone rang, he took it out and pressed a button, holding it to his ear he said into the receiver
"Yuy."
"Operation X2 has begun. Time start point, estimation of 0600 hours." A dull click signified that the line had gone dead. Heero stared at the phone ludicrously.
'X2?! Who gave the order to start it?! Only me or one of the other pilots can start it, so who-?!'
"Hey Heero, who was that?" Duo asked looking at him beneath the lashes of his eyes. Dark lines beneath those amethyst orbs signified how tired he was. Solo was still asleep, blissfully unaware. Luna was sitting in her room, thinking, Justin was sitting on the couch next to Delia. Both were silent. Jessica and Zechs were spending some time in the backyard, and everyone else was sitting in the living room, except for Milliardo. Noin had said he'd vanished earlier in the night, then she too had left with Terri, with an apology for not being able to stay longer. Heero turned to Duo, Quatra, Wufei and the others.
"Duo, Quatra, Wufei? I need you to get Solo, Eseno, Luna and Myuki. It's X2." Duo, who had been looking at Heero dazedly with fatigue snapped into life the moment his friend said X2. Duo nodded without question and walked off towards the room that Solo was sleeping in. Wufei went to rouse Eseno while Quatra walked off to confront Luna. Catherine stared at Heero.
"I'll go get Myuki." She said softly, and walked out of the room. The minute she was gone, Relena turned on Heero.
"Alright, what's going on?! I refuse to be in the dark any longer. What are you hiding from me Heero?!" She demanded. Heero glared.
"Don't ask questions." He snapped, she stared at him hurt. Then nodded stiffly and walked out of the room. The minute she was gone Hilde and Sally pounced on the pilot.
"YOU IDIOT! Do you know how much she's hurting right now?! And you're not helping matters one bit!!" Hilde shrieked, Sally had to hold her arms back to keep her friend from ripping out Heero's hair. Though she would have very much liked to do that too. Heero looked at them tiredly.
"Listen, all of us will be gone a few days, don't worry, and take care of Relena for me." He whispered to them. Hilde stopped struggling to stare at him. He walked off. In the foyer of his house, Heero paced quietly. Impatiently. When the double doors opened he snapped his head to glare at the people who entered.
"What took you so long?" Heero growled. Duo proceeded to return the hard glare.
"Listen Heero, don't think that tone is going to make me back down, I know you're hurting, but what you said to Relena was BEYOND reason."
"You have to stop acting so selfish, these acts are going to get you killed." Wufei commented calmly. Heero growled, then yanked on his coat and walked out the door, Duo, Quatra, Wufei and their kids followed. Myuki was mystified.
~~~
"Where do you think we're going?" Solo asked, not really caring. Yuki shrugged.
"Wherever I guess."
"I hope it's not a funeral." Luna whispered. Eseno said nothing.
"What the hell is this anyway?" Solo demanded. Wufei said nothing. Neither did Duo or Quatra. Heero ignored them all. He continued to drive the car. Their destination, unknown.
~~~
"So what's the deal dad?" Solo asked his father. Duo sighed. All of them now stood in what appeared to be an underground base.
"Listen, what we're going to tell you, may be a little hard to believe, I just ask that you stay quiet until we're done." He muttered out to them. Solo nodded, but was a little confused.
"Okay, 16 years ago, right before you were born Solo, we learned of a secret organization, you remember me telling you about MarieMaia?" He asked slightly. All four nodded. Trowa continued.
"This organization was trying to repeat that exact same method, the only reason it didn't work before, was because the Gundams were able to stop it in time. Or specifically, Wing Zero."
"Wing Zero? You mean the pilot of Wing Zero?" Myuki interrupted. Quatra nodded slowly.
"The pilot was able to stop MarieMaia, and in the end, peace was restored, and the Gundams, which were used for war, were finally put to rest. Though this organization brought to our views, that we needed some sort of protection against them. So thus, we began project X2. Xenotion. A word from the old text that means 'prevention'. The Gundams were meant to signify peace for the colonies. X2 is for all space and for Earth as well."
"Now the suits were created to prevent this organization from ever rising were completed about 6 years ago. Though by then, the company had disappeared, evidently, they gave up, though we didn't want to destroy the suits just yet, in case they appeared again. The team that worked with us was dismissed, and ordered never to speak of it again. They agreed instantly. Sad to say, the 5 main workers have now died of old age. And anyone else who helped us is a close friend, how a leak got out is beyond me . . ." Duo trailed off.
"Leak? What do you mean?" Eseno asked softly. Wufei looked his son directly into the eye.
"A leak got out about X2. And the people who were to use the suits." He said staring at Eseno, with an unwavering gaze.
"Us." Solo whispered horrified. "You mean us. We were the ones who were to control the suit." Heero nodded stiffly.
"And what about Kira?!" Luna demanded hysterically. "Was Kira part of this too?! Is that why he died?!" They remained still. She fell to her knees.
"So . . . . . that makes us targets too doesn't it? Because we're the other people who are supposed to use these things." Myuki looked away, hugging herself closely. Then she looked at them, her eyes were dull, as if she were tired.
"And how are you connected to this? I mean, Trowa's a circus worker, Heero's a bodyguard, Duo's go a job doing trash recycle, Wufei is a martial arts trainer. Quatra owns a company, I can see his relationship, but not why he'd want to do this. What is YOUR connection?" She demanded quietly. Heero ran a hand through his hair and looked away.
"Listen, you remember the Gundam Pilots?"
"What? You worked for them? You met them, or were one of their allies?" Solo demanded dully. Duo shook his head.
"Think about this Solo. Five pilots. Five of us."
"I barely got any sleep, my mind is fried. Just spill already." Solo growled out irritated. Duo sighed. Trowa looked at them calmly.
"We're the Gundam Pilots.
Silence.
~~~
"Kira . . ." Zechs murmured. His brother, was dead? How could that be? He walked along the sidewalk, needing to get out of the house which was full of well wishers. He sighed deeply. Slowly crossing the street, a black sedan stopped just as he crossed, he didn't look at the driver. What was the point? He walked on. As the car drove on, he spared a glance at it. Then sighed and was about to turn around and walk on, when something hard was pressed to his chest. He never looked up.
~~~
"It can't be. . ." Myuki stared, her uncle, was always silent about his past, never speaking of how he knew the others, now she knew why. She had always put it to the fact that he was sorrowed about the war, or something of that matter. She had always known he was a soldier, but a Gundam Pilot?! The only other pilots that were just as legendary, and weren't another Gundam Pilot was Treize Kushrenada, and Zechs Marquise. The Lightening Count. Her uncle, was what the soldiers had once described as a, 'Killing machine.'
"Which one." She croaked. Trowa gazed at her calmly.
"Heavy-arms." Duo sighed.
"Deathscythe."
"Shenlong."
"Sandrock."
" . . . . . . . . . Wing Zero." At this, everyone stared at Heero.
"You?!" Solo croaked. "You brought down MarieMaia?! You're the perfect soldier?!" Heero stayed still. Not speaking. Luna was backing away.
"My father? A pacifist, was a soldier? A killer?" She whispered in disbelief.
"Luna . ." Quatra began.
"NO! It can't be! You always taught me that nothing was more important then life, and now I find out that you betrayed your own teachings, and killed?! Not only one man, but thousands?!"
"Luna, I didn't have a choice."
"Of COURSE you did!! You said 'You always have a choice.' You said that yourself, so right then, when you taught me pacifism was best, you were lying to me, AND to yourself?!" She began to attack Quatra verbally, every word she spat at him lashed like a whip. He flinched visibly. Trowa growled.
"ENOUGH!" He broke out. Everyone stared at him.
"Luna Winner! Learn the entire story before you barrage your father with such insults!!" he growled at her. Everyone was silent for a moment. Then Eseno gulped and asked
"Why?" His father remained still for a moment, then began.
"Nataku." He finally murmured. "My first wife." Eseno spluttered at this. "I wasn't always married to your mother Eseno. My first wife, my first marriage, was forced, by the two clans among which we lived. She believed in justice. I ridiculed it, telling her that justice was for the weak. She was the strongest fighter of her clan, and one day, she confronted me on the fact I would not practice martial arts like other husbands. So we fought, she became awed that I could beat her so easily, and the moment I said 'Justice exists, only for one's convenience, a battle grounded upon such a thing is pointless.' She became enraged. But upon that same day, we were attacked by OZ. Nataku, Meilan, she fell in battle. She died to uphold justice, and she died by OZ's hands. The reason I left to fight in the war, was to avenge her, and to uphold justice, just as she would have done." Eseno stood silent.
"So then, you truly loved her, didn't you?" Wufei nodded.
"I loved her, and I loved your mother deeply. When both of them died, I wondered whether to take on another wife, for your sake, then I decided not to, simply because it was obvious I was not meant to have one." Eseno nodded stiffly, his hands clenched. Luna looked at her father.
"And you? What is your story?" Quatra sighed.
"I was born from test tubes, and for 13 years I believed that I was a useless batch of organic compounds. Then, one day, I was escaping to Earth, to show my father that I wasn't to be controlled, but we were boarded by that Maganac corps. It was then, that I learned from their captain, Rashid, that I should have been proud of what I was, rather then ashamed. So, that day, I decided to try out what he had suggested, I captured a traitor on their side, however becoming shot in the process, later, the alliance had already descended down upon us, and I asked to fight by their side. They were hesitant, but allowed me to do so in the end. I was told, after the fight, that I fought like I was born to it. Even with an injured arm, I was still better then most soldiers, I was told I had a knack for fighting in mobile suits. So, 2 years later, when I heard of the true operation meteor, I knew I had to stop it, so, as I took on the job as the pilot of Sandrock, the mission changed, and I was happy to know, that I'd saved over 3 million people." Luna glared at him, trying to figure out if he was lying.
"So, you fought to protect people?"
"One could put it that way. I remember though, the day I left, I put a card onto my father's table. The words still ring true to my ears. 'War brings sorrow, but we must fight to protect our loved ones from that sorrow.' To this day, I would still fight if I had too. Because, I want to protect everyone from ever suffering again. If it took my life to get peace, I would have offered it up at any moment." Quatra finished solemnly. Luna walked forward. Reaching Quatra she stared at him, then broke out into tears before flinging herself into his arms.
"Father, I am so sorry." She whispered. Quatra, was taken aback by this, but slowly put his arms around her.
"Luna, it's alright." He stroked her softly. Like a cat, she quieted slowly, while Solo looked at his dad. He raised an eyebrow.
"Do I even want to know?"
"What can I say? Operation meteor would have killed thousands, so I didn't want any part of it. Unfortunately, while in outer space, we were trapped by the Alliance soldiers, the man who designed one of the suits for X2 was on that ship. He was also the one who designed Deathscythe, he told me to ignore operation meteor, it was easy enough for him to tell the Barton Foundation that it was stolen, so I took it, and went to Earth, to get back at OZ who destroyed the peace of the colonies. That's it, the end. Chapter closed. Unless you want me to tell you about the entire fiasco that took place in the war, which is not really that pretty." Solo sighed.
"Dad, is it too much to ask that you take this seriously?"
"Yes."
"Thought so." Solo sighed again. Heero looked away and began to walk off.
"Hey-! HEERO!!" Heero stopped and turned to face them.
"What?"
"How . . . . . how did you-?"
"Get connected? In the year 175 A.C, a man named Odin Lowe shot Heero Yuy, the colony pacifist. After that time, he wandered around, doing jobs as a mercenary. In the year 188 A.C he traveled to the colony
X-18999. I was with him, as a tool to be used so that people wouldn't get suspicious. He was hired to kill General Septem, but the job defeated him, and instead, he was killed. I became a nameless orphan, and was later found by Doctor J. Another man who worked with us on project X2. He told me that I could be a Gundam Pilot. I was told by Odin, to do as your heart tells you. So, I followed my heart, and became the perfect soldier in charge of Wing Zero, later, I was given the code name Heero Yuy. I was trained to follow orders, and that's it. That's all it took for me to be a pilot." He said calmly, then walked off. Duo and the others followed him.
~~~
"What IS this place?" Solo asked softly. Duo shook his head.
"As from the point on, I'm afraid you can't go by the name Solo Maxwell anymore. We can only call you Solo sadly, that is, if we don't want to put others in danger. You were all trained as you grew up, without your even knowing." Solo stared.
"Trained?!"
"Yes, you were all trained in an ordinary way, making it seem that all we were doing was giving you parental advice. Didn't you ever wonder why we sent you to join so many sports? Soccer, basketball, wrestling, and all that? It's because we were building you up." Solo slumped forward in defeat.
"I guess so." Luna stared.
"So, all those lessons? All those games and sports? They were to . .?"
"Train you up. Sorry Luna." Quatra murmured. She shook her head.
"No, I need this, if I'm going to avenge Kira, then I have to be strong."
"Then your plans are shot." A voice interrupted. Trowa walked over.
"Took you long enough." He declared. Myuki stared.
"Uncle?" Then she sighed. "Okay, what's your story?" Trowa smirked.
Myuki looked at her uncle.
"To put it simply, I was brought up as an orphan, and taught to fight with everything from guns to mobile suits. It didn't bother me much, my parents were killed in the war, so I had no idea what my name was or who I was. A rebel group took me in, trained me, but that faction got killed and I was on the streets once more. Later, I was taken in as a worker for Heavy-arms. The real Trowa Barton was the designated pilot, who intended to go out with Operation M fully. Two men disagreed, and one shot him. Thus Trowa Barton, died. I offered to take his name, as I had been feeling somewhat insecure lately without one. I became Trowa Barton, however, as I told the men, I had no interest in Operation Meteor, so, we changed it, and I went to Earth to destroy OZ." Myuki stared horrified.
"You stole a dead man's name?!" She shrieked. Trowa stared at her calmly.
"Dead people weren't a big deal then Yuki. Everyone died eventually, the war just shortened time spans. If he had lived, Earth would be shrouded in ice, in the middle of a nuclear winter." Myuki stayed silent at that. Trowa shook his head. Luna scowled.
"Going back, how exactly are my plans for revenge shot?!"
"Because the person your avenging doesn't need to be."
"Huh?!" Trowa sighed.
"Listen, I'm about to show you something that seems impossible. But you're going to have to trust me." He said calmly, he never got to go any further. A figure had walked out behind him. He wore a long gray cloak, the sleeves were ripped out but sowed over, it fell down to his ankles, his black pants were simple enough, and around one of his legs he had a leg holster attached. His black shirt was ornamented with tiny gold buttons down the middle and his hands wore biker gloves. His shirt seemed to be a turtle neck, because the collar came up and covered his mouth and nose, and the hood of his jacket was over his hair. He peered at them beneath the hood. Heero glared.
"Who's this?" He demanded. "We weren't to discuss any new candidates yet." He growled out. Trowa shook his head.
"Maybe, you should sit down." Duo folded his arms over his chest and stood still.
"Trowa." He said warningly. Trowa sighed, then nodded. The figure walked up to Heero . . . . . and it hugged him quietly. Heero took a step back, almost shocked, ready to punch the stranger away, the familiar feeling suddenly sank in.
"It can't be . ." He ripped the teen off him, then pulled away the cloth over his face. Luna gasped and began to back away.
Kira.
"My god . . . . . Kira?" Kira laughed wildly.
"What? You thought I was going to be killed that easily?" Heero ignored that remark and crushed his son in a fierce hug, as though if he left go, his son would be lost again.
"Kira." He whispered. As if that name was sacred. Kira hugged his father back, slowly.
"Sorry dad. I didn't mean to scare you." Heero ignored him once again, Duo slowly walked forward, he gaped at the boy in Heero's arms, then laughed and hugged the boy himself. Heero suddenly became aware of the fact that he couldn't breath, he let go and glowered at Duo who laughed like a maniac and began jumping up and down. Quatra, couldn't move, he was smiling like the world had just been granted peace for eternity. Luna didn't know what she was doing, her body simply moved forward, and before anyone could react, she was hugging Kira and crying into his shoulder.
"Uh . . ." Kira flushed heavily.
"I'm so glad you're okay! I thought you were dead . ." He sighed.
"I am." He murmured to her. Everyone stared at him. "I mean, I have to be dead to the world, if I'm not, then the enemy would find out, and if they find out I'm alive again, then they'll try to wipe me out, and they'll be aware of my attack. Let's just say that doesn't fit into my plan." He grinned. Solo sighed.
"And just when I thought it couldn't get any more complicated. Um, hey Kira?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know about . . . . . . well . . . . . . about Mr. Yuy? Your father?" Kira stared at him. Solo sighed.
"About him being a . . . . . well . . . . .his past job, to put it nicely." Kira stared, then his eyes went solemn. Heero was about to shake his head, when Kira stopped him.
"Yes. I'm aware of the fact that my father was the former pilot of Wing Zero." Everyone gaped. Kira sighed. Heero spluttered.
"How did you-?!"
"Know? Well, when I was a child, around 5 or so, I noticed, that you were always quiet, stern and calm. Where as I was always laughing, jumping and loud. One day I just woke up and wondered, 'what am I going to say to my dad today?'. And I had nothing. I couldn't think of anything to talk to you about, that you'd be interested in anyway. I began to think about things, like if I didn't know something you'd like, that you'd hate me." Heero growled at this.
"Now that is not true!" Kira nodded.
"I know, but I was 5 at the time, and let's just say, my thinking skills aren't at their best. And after all, I was your son. So I began to sneak about, trying to find something you liked, somehow, don't ask me how, I noticed without you finding out, that you were interested in the old war, particularly about your interest in the Gundams. So, when you and mom were out one night, I left Jessica and Zechs to the care of the servants, and checked out your study. I went over a few video clips of the Gundams, trying to find some sort of discussion topic that would be safe without revealing I have gone through your stuff. And . . . . that's when I discovered you, coming out of the cockpit of Wing Zero. I just kept thinking 'Why was he in there? Was he a mechanic for the Gundam? Was he a friend? Was he an enemy?' Then, I saw . . . . I saw the detonator in your hand as you came out. When you self detonated, I couldn't help myself, I actually yelled out. That's when a servant stuck their head in and saw me, he explained everything about you, two days later, I went back in there and watched the entire thing. I studied your face, how you showed no fear, how your determination to complete your mission brought you through everything. Then the thought struck me, this is how I want to be. Fearless. Not egotistical, but unafraid of anything. I strived to be like you, before realizing I had a major flaw. It was my very family. I was afraid of them getting hurt, and if I was just as deadly as you with a weapon, then I would have been putting you all in danger, so I stopped doing all those extra things and just did the normal exercises you set out for me. Somehow though, I just always knew that those extra soccer practices, those extra sports, lessons and everything were part of training." He took a deep and shaky breath. "That moment I was shot on stage, I thought at first, I'm dying, before realizing the pain hadn't hit deep enough for a fatal shot, my last thought became, 'this is it.' This is where it starts. This is what I've been training for, this is my test." The entire time he had been talking, he was looking at the floor, then he was suddenly afraid to look up, he didn't know why, he was just afraid. Maybe he was afraid he'd see reject in their eyes. Trowa nodded.
"Kira is right. This is a test, although it has much higher stakes then most. Come, it's time to get you fitted."
"Fitted?" Myuki asked tiredly.
"For the suits. Kira? Care to show them?" Trowa asked calmly. Kira nodded. He showed them his wrists, his ankles and his neck, all were covered with a thin gold band. He took his right wrist, and flipped a switch. His clothes changed, he now wore a pair of simple black jeans and a white shirt, the bands had vanished. He had a sword attached to his belt, but that wasn't what grabbed their attention. It was the wings. Pure white wings ruffled on his back, then set into a relaxed position. They looked entirely real, not some false machinery wings, but real organic made wings. Luna walked up slowly, then reached a hand out and brushed her fingers against it. He smiled at her. Solo gaped.
"Is . . . . is that a hologram?!" Trowa shook his head.
"The suits are like a second pair of clothes on your body, these actually enable you to fly, the scientists really outdid themselves this time. The sword on his side isn't regular, and it's not a beam sword either. The sword is made out of Gundanium Alloy. Also, should in the unlikely event that the blade should break, then the sword becomes a beam sword. Two in one basic concept." He explained dully, as if this was something normal. Solo stared at him as if he were crazy.
"ARE YOU NUTS?? That kind of technology is a 6 year advance break through!" Trowa shrugged.
"Our estimates were around 8 years advanced." He replied just as dully. Solo began to choke. Duo sighed and patted his son on the back while looking at Kira.
"So, I guess it's time to get you guys into the suits to try them out. You should have no problem adjusting, did you Kira?" Kira shook his head.
"Not at all." Duo smiled.
"Then let's get suited."
~~~
"I really think this is a bit much." Luna murmured looking at herself. Her heavily gloved hands were accompanied by elbow guards, she had a pair of tight black pants on, and he shirt was a light blue tank top. Her wings were slightly like Kira's, except one feather was long enough for an entire row, and they were see through, the veins runned with rainbow color. (A/N: Stole the WINGS off of Legend of Dragoon. Check it out!) Her weapon was a simple crossbow. Myuki stared, a simple pair of black gloves that reached past her elbows, tight brown pants and a tight black shirt with brown boots. She observed her gun as her deep blue, dragon like, wings fanned out behind her.
"Bit out of date isn't it?" Solo asked looking down at himself. A white shirt tied up with string at the 'V' collar. A pair of loose brown pants and black boots. His wings were very much like a bat's. His weapon was of course, a Scythe. It was topped off with a curved blade of Gundanium Alloy, and like Kira's, had a beam top hidden in it. Eseno was testing out his wings, they were a deep red, and shaped long and narrow, like a dragon's. He also had, oddly enough, a tail . . . . a pair of creamy white pants, went with his deep blue tunic. Black shoes and in his hands he carried a trident.
"Eseno. Come here." Wufei called out. Sen nodded and dropped down, landing easily. Wufei nodded his approval.
"Well done." Eseno bowed at the compliment. Solo smiled and turned to Kira.
"Want to test out our weapons?" He asked calmly. Kira grinned, guessing what his friend had in mind. He leaped away and pulled out his sword in a swift action. Solo jumped to the side while holding his scythe out an arm's length. Heero raised an eyebrow.
"Kira-?"
CLASH!
The ring of the two weapons rang out as Solo attacked and Kira blocked. Shoving the weight of Solo off him, he quickly rolled to the side and swung his swords at Solo's legs. The teen jumped, flipped in mid air and landed behind Kira taking a swipe, before realizing his blade had slashed at a hologram.
"WHAT THE-?!"
A suddenly cry brought his gaze upward, he rolled off to the side as Kira came crashing down, sword point first. He too rolled away and the two teens circled each other.
"Hey Solo." Kira commented while gasping, and blinking away sweat.
"What?" Solo demanded breathing harshly as well, and wiping sweat off with his sleeve.
"Dodge this!" Kira cried and snapped his hand up, Heero's eyes widened, he dove while yelling
"GET DOWN!" A giant beam of light shot from his hand, much like the beam of the buster rifle. Solo yelped and dove out of the way. When dust cleared, Duo snapped his head up and glared at Kira.
"KIRA! YOU CRAZY IDIOT! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US ALL???" He demanded. Before his voice faltered at the fact that Kira was laughing.
"Sorry Duo." Solo was on the ground shivering.
"What the HELL was that?!" He demanded. Kira smiled. Then offered a hand to Solo who took it.
"That was the special feature of this suit. I believe yours allows you to fire out green fire. Luna can create a blinding light, while Eseno can shoot fire, like a dragon you see. And Myuki can do illusion as well . . . . I think she has, has a . . . . . . missile barrage I think. Not too sure about that." His voice trailed off as he thought. Luna was about to laugh, when a phone rang. Heero, who was chuckling took out his and held it to his ear.
"Yuy."
"Heero! You have to get over here!" Heero's eyes suddenly furrowed.
"Hilde? What is it?" Hilde handed the phone over to Relena.
"H-Heero." Relena croaked. Heero froze.
"Relena! What is it? What happened?!" He yelled. Everyone looked at him.
"It's Zechs . . . . . . he was shot."
The phone slipped from Heero's numb hands.
Disclaimer: I do not own characters.