Hey!
Sorry I'm late, but my granddad died, and my sister is over from Norway. It's fallen to me to entertain her, so chapters will be slow for a while…
On the positive note, my absence has let me work out most of the story and it's concepts, and has now grown into a trilogy. I'm really looking forward to writing this fic!
Now on with the show!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing, and right now I'm too lazy to look up who actually does. I'm just stating that it's certainly not me.
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Part 3: Failure
The war ended with the year AC 196.
AC 197 was a year of change; the year when fighting stopped, the year the gundams were destroyed for good, the first year to begin with peace in a long time.
When Mariemaia fell, people gained hope; a hope for a unified people, a hope for a better future, a hope for peace.
In January AC 197 Lady Une adopted Mariemaia; both are living happily on Earth, and can be found on Sundays visiting the grave of Treize Kushrenada.
Noin and Zechs eloped to outer space. Officially, nobody has seen them since, but according to the former 'Queen of the World', we have it on good regards that they are happy. Unofficially, it is said that they work as freelance-Preventers.
Chang Wufei joined the Preventers with his rebel friend Sally; both are at peace, working well together as partners.
Quatre R. Winner rejoined his loyal Magunacs after making an official appearance to the republic stating that the Winner Corporation would help rebuild the lost colonies. At this moment they are hard at work.
Trowa Barton returned to Catherine and their beloved circus. If you are lucky, you too can see the tall sad clown as they perform their daring knife throwing stunts.
Duo Maxwell went back to L2 to be with Hilde. Why? Because they were friends, and where else could a war orphan go but home? Together they run a salvage yard.
Heero…
January 8th AC 197, The Perfect Soldier, Heero Yuy, was reported missing by Miss Relena Dorlian after he vanished during one of her public speeches. She is still looking for him.
If you look beyond the trivial basic needs of most mammals, the human nature is one of habit. We are social beings that are conditioned by our people and surroundings. No matter how warped our upbringing is or bad our surrounding circumstances are, it is what we know, what we understand, and sadly what we feel most comfortable in.
It is also in the human nature to long for something better. If we've grown up in war we will naturally want peace, because peace brings safety, shelter, warmth and protection; things that we need. Of course, longing for it and getting it are two completely different things.
As stated above, human beings are creatures of habit, and though they may long for something else, they can't always cope with it. If you are conditioned long enough, it will leave scars.
It's amazing how frail the human psyche is…
The beginning of March brought about the reunion of the Gundam pilots, because being children of war, having killed once, no matter where you go, there are some things you just can't forget.
The reunion took place in Lady Une's mansion. Once it was Treize's, but he was dead and now she and his daughter lived there, when Une wasn't too busy running the Preventers.
The reason it took place in Une's home was due to privacy. The identities of the pilots had not been revealed, but some of the people among them were well known celebrities, like for instance Mr. Quatre R. Winner and Miss Relena Dorlian, formerly Miss Peacecraft 'Queen of the World'.
A meeting at the Preventers headquarters might offer more security, but it would also be more official and might alert the media.
"Why should we help you onna?"
"Because he needs help."
Only a snort was her reply.
Though Wufei had become more mellow after the war, there being no need for him to pose as a fierce warrior anymore, he hadn't gone complete 'limp biscuit' either. He still sneered at girls dressed in frilly pink dresses, queen or no queen, and the look he sported at the moment was one of sever disdain.
Slinging his arm over the Asians shoulder, Maxwell entered the fray with the same casual air he approached everything else.
"I'm with Wuffers on this one. He's a big boy, why would-"
"Maxwell," note the tired exasperation, hands rubbing at his temples, "can you not say my name right just once?"
"Sure I can, Wu-chan," chirps the braided boy, ignoring the resigned sigh, "The question however isn't 'Can I', it's 'Will I'."
"What makes you think he needs our help?"
The fact that Trowa opened his mouth at all, is noted, and all other people's attention is shifted back to the girl pleading her case.
Nervous tension radiates throughout the room as the girl gracefully opens a briefcase containing a stack of paper documents, maintaining serious eye contact with him as she shuffles them instead of making up childish excuses. Straightening out her clothes before sitting down, she really does appear as a queen. Looking about the room, she makes sure she has everybody's attention before speaking, cool blue eyes measuring all of them.
"I know you don't approve of me, that I'm just a silly girl with an obsession, and you're probably right…"
Noin and Zechs are family, however distant they are, and certainly disagree with that notion, but remain quiet. Trowa, Wufei and Une remain wisely silent, waiting for the girl to continue. Quatre blushes, looking at his feet, while Duo merely smirks, raising a bemused eyebrow at her.
"However…" she pauses, casting a thoughtful look at her brother. "Milliardo, could you wait outside, please?"
The fact that she sent out her brother removes the last traces of doubt about her sincerity. Giving them all a last searching look, she nods to herself, before continuing.
Looking them deep in the eyes she says, "What I'm about to say will not leave this room. You will not speak of it to others, you will not make any written reports, you will forget you ever knew this if you refuse to help, and you will certainly not joke about it."
Duo is still musing about whether to be insulted or not at that last comment, but the former queen has already moved on.
"January 8th of this year, Pilot 01 of the Gundam Wing Zero, Heero Yuy vanished…
Aurora Mandle had been a teacher at Dawn Academy for five years when her beliefs were shattered…
Dawn Academy is a school for youths which prides itself on its nurturing environment. It was founded by Dawn Mandle, her great-grandmother, about 150 years ago, in Sanq, and is in fact the neighbouring school of the Peacecraft Academy.
The school is surround by a small forest and a large garden, both of which the students have access to, and are in fact encouraged to spend time in. At one time there was a river flowing through the garden, but it has since then dwindled down to a small stream.
It is the tranquillity, as much as the advanced curriculum, which promotes both the pupils artistic sides and computer skills, that lures the many students to the site. The school encourages peacefulness and harmony of the mind, as well as striving to better one selves.
Miss Aurora first noticed the boy when he was enrolled in February. He was led in by the Vice-principle of the school, and introduced as the new student Hiiro Yui.
Hiiro Yui was a quiet boy. He had chocolate brown hair, dark and unruly, giving him a wild look, and the darkest blue eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that would make you shiver as they looked upon you, and made her stutter several times blushing like a schoolgirl, though she herself was way too old for him.
There was no way around it. The dark mysterious Hiiro Yui, who kept to himself, was handsome. A god according to the many girls that swarmed around him, trying to gain contact.
But Hiiro Yui was a loner. However early Aurora showed up, he would still be there, sitting in the classroom, typing on his computer.
The first week of seclusion, she thought he was only shy.
Near the end of the second week, she began to worry as he continued to ignore the other students, answering them with curt one word sentences if he answered them at all.
So she called Jamie to the side, one of the more cheerful friendly boys in her class, enquiring if he would mind trying to befriend the silent boy.
During the next interval between classes, Jamie approached Hiiro.
It all happened nearly too fast to follow. One minute Jamie was slapping Hiiro, who was bent over, back to, trying to pry some books out of his locker, on the back; the next Jamie was slammed into the lockers in the hall, eyes wide open in shock as his feet dangled in the air, hanging up by the force of one single hand connected from his throat to Hiiro Yui, the other fist hovering threateningly near his face.
Hiiro stared a full second into the terrified boy's eyes before letting go, letting Jamie slide to the floor in a puddle. He didn't apologies, simply turned around, ignoring the crowd watching them, and sat back down at his desk.
Strangely enough, the girls weren't frightened away by his display of violence, swarming even more around him after he gained the reputation as a 'bad boy'. They didn't notice that he'd stopped replying at all to their questions.
The third week the class was given an art assignment: 'Paint something that has had a huge impact on your life.'
The assignment was meant to encourage creativity and in some ways function as group therapy; this was after all a war ridden land, and though they were too young to have been soldiers, many of them had to have been affected in some way or other.
It was a great way for the more quiet students to open up, let people get to know more about them.
Hiiro Yui painted a puppy.
"Oh no…"
Only Duo heard the Asian utter that sorrowful note, and as he looked at the faces of his comrades as they tried to picture the 'Perfect Soldier' painting puppies, he couldn't help but wonder, 'What does Fei-chan know that we don't?'
Aurora was pleasantly surprised when Hiiro showed a remarkable talent for painting. He used precise, measured strokes, painting an emotional yet hauntingly lifelike scene of a dead puppy lying on a pile of rubble among the ruins of a city.
At the end of the week, the students projects were put on exhibition to the rest of the class, and were encouraged to share the importance of each scene with the rest of the pupils.
Hiiro's painting came last, as they worked their way alphabetically down the list.
The whole class was curious and excited at this point, as was Aurora, not because of the marvellous piece of work, which it was, but because finally they would know something about the mysterious boy that no one knew.
Holding up a lone disk, Relena looked sorrowfully at her audience. "This is a recording of what happened…"
The pilot's lean in, eager to hear what had happened to their missing comrade.
Chattering and the screech of moving chairs can be heard in the background. A sweet voice speaks up:
"So, Hiiro, that's a beautiful painting you've done. Care to share it with the rest of class?"
A long silence follows, before a low slightly nasal voice speaks:
"No."
An awkward silence hangs in the air before the woman's voice tries again:
"Come on Hiiro, the rest of your classmates have shared their stories. It's your turn now."
Another pause.
"That information is classified," replies the nasal voice, "If I told you, I would have to kill you…"
Nervous tittering can be heard in the background.
"Classified information! You're not a soldier Hiiro," the woman's voice comments, the voice showing signs of irritation.
"…"
"You'll fail your assignment if you refuse to cooperate, Hiiro."
"…"
Other voices and murmurs can be heard in the background as the class grows restless.
"The puppy, Hiiro…"the voice states in a warning tone.
"That is classifie-"
"YOU ARE NOT A SOLDIER HIIRO! THIS IS NOT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION! IF YOU REFUSE TO SPEAK YOU WILL FAIL THIS ASSIGNMENT! And anyway, if you were a soldier, you would have to obey my orders as I'm in command of this classroom. Now I'm tired of trying to wheedle information out of you, Hiiro, and I order you to tell us about the puppy, about yourself!"
A long tense pause.
"Now!"
The nasal voice starts speaking, what little spark of emotion previously there is now gone:
"Specify."
Duo flinched, recognising the 'Perfect Soldier's cold voice. He was furious.
The woman's voice answers, slightly flustered:
"Tell us why the puppy had such a huge impact on you please, Hiiro."
"Year AC 194, August 23rd, subject specimen 01, codenamed Heero Yuy, was ordered to locate and destroy OZ-base 01365-B8. It was the first time after completion of specimen 01's enhancement programming that I was released. During recognisance, I encountered a civilian girl walking her puppy. She asked me if I was lost…"
Softening of voice, "I am always lost…"
"Infiltration of OZ-base 01365-B8 was successful. Hacking into the mainframe computer, as ordered, allowed access to specified schedules. While planting C4-explosives in the underground mobilesuit-factory security was compromised."
"C-compromised?" the faint voice of the teacher repeats.
"Encounter with 6 hostile mechanics working late by order of Lady Une. Logical deduction showed confrontation would lead to gunfire, which would further compromise the mission. Alerting security was not acceptable. Stealth mode was recommended and the mechanics were disposed of silently, their necks snapped for minimum risk of discovery. Cover was still at risk of compromise, so a hasty escape was prioritised. At the specified time, the explosives were activated manually, pressing a remote button."
Horrified silence.
"The mission was a failure. The explosives had been planted inaccurately in haste, and when the factory was destroyed it toppled over onto a civic building, creating a domino-effect. Three civilian buildings were completely annihilated. No survivors…"
"Among the ruins, while searching for survivors, I encountered a puppy. Her puppy. It's was dead… She was dead…"
"The subject is not supposed to be capable of experiencing emotions; Dr J deemed subject specimen 01's programming a failure; recommended alternative: 'Send in for reprogramming'."
"Who are you?" a trembling voice whispers.
"Subject specimen 01, Codename Heero Yuy; Pilot 01, pilot of Gundam Wing and Gundam Wing Zero; Dr J's creation, the 'Perfect Soldier'."
Stunned silence.
The sound of silent scuffling and a sharp snap can be heard.
Pandemonium ensues, as the sound of pain and occasional grunts echoes across the room.
Slowly the sound of screaming voices dies out, as one by one the owners of said voices disappear, leaving a deathlike quiet, a sole pair of footsteps walking across the floor.
"Hi-Hii—HIIRO!"
A soft nasal voice can be heard whispering, his voice full of childlike anguish, "I'm always lost… I failed…"
Click…
When the boy she'd known as Hiiro Yui finished his tale, they all sat stunned staring at him for several moments in horrified disbelief.
During that time Hiiro walked past the teacher's desk, all of the pupils eyes fastened on him as he radiated a professional tense air, turning towards the door, locking it and them inside. He then proceeded to the closest student and snapped her neck.
For the next five minutes, Hiiro managed to take out over thirty students as they panicked, scrabbling for the locked door and windows.
The thing that scared Aurora more than the speed and efficiency she observed as Hiiro Yui mercilessly killed all her students, was the blank emptiness in his Prussian blue eyes as he did it. No emotion leaked through as another life was snuffed out, no acknowledgment was shown towards the few brave souls that tried in vain to protect their classmates; only a soft grunt as a fist struck by pure fluke a vulnerable spot, before he moved on to his next target, ignoring the pain.
He left her for last; she didn't know why.
As he came around the desk, she cowered in the corner, rolling into a protective ball as far away from him as possible.
"Hi-Hii- HIIRO!" she screamed, scrunching her eyes closed as his fist swept towards her face, her arms crossing in front in a feeble attempt for protection.
When nothing happened, she dared to open one eye.
He was standing, shoulders limp, staring at the massacre of dead students with uncomprehending innocence. When his eyes fell upon her, she whimpered, trembling with fear as she tried scooting further into the wall. He flinched…
"I'm always lost…" he softly murmured, eyes trailing down to his half open fists, shivering as he tightened them before looking up, "I failed…"
And he ran out the room, leaving her alive…
"…after he left the school, Miss Mandle resigned from the Academy and committed suicide," Relena finished, watching the faces of her stunned audience, "Nobody has seen Heero Yuy since."
Huge blue eyes pleaded with them:
"Please help me find him…"
Praeceps:
Yes, I was absolutely retched towards our beloved Hee-chan, or at least, it was meant to appear that way. I know this was nothing like how he is in real life (er…), but there is a purpose for it (that I'm not willing to divulge quite yet. We'll be seeing the 'Perfect Soldier' later… The reason for his strange behaviour will be partially explained in the following two chapters…
As we'll be concentrating on Heero for a little while, Usagi's not scheduled for another three episodes.
His actions themselves… to be quite honest, I blame the teacher (she was young cocky and naïve, and she paid for it with her life). He was obviously unstable and she put unneeded pressure on him. I think she realised that and the guilt consumed her, making her commit suicide…
For wrong info, some of it's deliberate, to make it suit my story much better, the rest… hey, I'm human, okay- I'm a Sailor Moon guru(relatively speaking), Gundam Wing one.
Am still thrilled by the amounts of reviews I've received, would it be too much to hope for the same kind of response with this chapter as well? I just loved all the insightful comments you people spouted and am now seriously curious to hear more!
One last note, I'd like to hear what you think of this fic (don't all authors, eh?), and point out beforehand that complaints about OOC-ness and pairings will be ignored. It's going to be a Usa/Heero pairing, but to be honest I thought that was a bit obvious from how I wrote the summary (oh well)…
Thank you for your attention.
Oh! And any spelling mistakes can be blamed on incompetent English teachers, and/or my spell-check program, because I, myself, am PERFECT! ;-P (and when I say I am perfect, I MEAN perfect. My daddy said so ;-P )
If you have any questions about the story that you find unclear, I will do my best to answer them, as long as I deem them of no harm to my present plot-line. I really appreciate all your ramblings (not in any way meant as insulting, just clearing that up), and might use some for inspiration if permitted, but for now I have my own agenda.
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Well that was all, for today at least, toodles! ;-D
