Chapter 38

"So, how has dishwashing duty been?"

"Don't even MENTION that to me! I really don't see why everybody couldn't just
use plastic!" Giselle muttered under her breath.

Riko tilted her head. "Mmm...because it's bad for the environment?" then giggled as
Giselle shot her one of her mother's patent glares. Patting her friend on the head, she
said, "Oh, look on the bright side: You're out of the doghouse for a LITTLE bit!"

"Yeah, because Heero-jiisan's actually finally finished his new Xero system or
something...What took your dad so long anyway?"

Riko bit her lip. "I'm not sure...I could've SWORN I he had finished a few months ago...
but you know Tousan: He won't do anything until he knows that it's PERFECT."

Though Riko knew she spoke with conviction, she sighed and glanced at her father and Duo,
standing stiffly next to one another. The two had stopped speaking to one another a few
months ago, much to the perplexity of everyone else. For a while, Duo had really been the
only one that could even engage Heero in any sort of conversation; now, it seemed to be
that Heero was unable to squeeze even a word out of his apparently ex-best friend, let
alone a sentence.

Finally, Riko shrugged and turned her attention back to the scene around her. Today was
the first major offensive that the Preventer forces would be launching against the
Neo-Rommefeller: An attempt to take back all the colonies of L1. Four Gundam pilots would
be sent out: Jerry, Rayan, Wuten, and Geoffry, while the rest stayed behind as defense.
Also going with the offensive team were Riko and Jake, each with a wing of Preventers in
the newly modified Tauruses. Having thought of the modified suits, Riko glanced up at one,
then poked Giselle. "I never understood what it was that we altered in the Tauruses."

"Oh, yeah, that. Um, well, apparently, the suits the Neo-Rommefeller used had
parts of my suits combined in...another suit. So we incorporated the same idea. Now all
the Tauruses have parts similar to mine in design, as well as those from that...OTHER
suit."

"Other...suit?"

"Er, yeah. There are templates available for two other Gundams, but they've
never been used."

"Why?"

Giselle sighed. "Okay, because when my mom and aunt were little, they, along with two
other sick and perverted boys, were trained to be heartless killers. Let's just say that
the other two took advantage of that and had their way with them. The templates available
are for their suits, but they've never been used, because the memories are still painful."

"Oh..." Riko said sheepishly, mentally kicking herself. "Smooth...just break
Diplomat Rule Number One: Asking an embarrassing question." Then she frowned. "But why
the combination of your suit with that one?"

"There is a quality of Seraphim that not even my aunt was aware of. Seraphim, or
more specifically, some of Seraphim's parts are able to be mass produced, thereby giving it
the ability to be fixed quickly...or make it so many Seraphim's can be made. The only
reason that's not practical is that X-Gundamium is extremely difficult to manipulate;
however, use it with neo-titanium, for example, and you can mass produce my suit, just a
slightly weaker version. Apparently, Neo-Rommefeller's caught onto that, but they've added
parts of the other suit. Why, I'm not too sure, though I wouldn't be surprised if it were
deliberate: That suit, the Wyvern, belonged to the guy who tormented my mother. By
combining it with Seraphim, it's an insult to my aunt, and it also serves to open up some
old wounds in my mother."

"What happened to those two?"

"They're dead," Giselle said harshly. "They, along with their suits, were blown to
pieces, and good riddance I say."

Riko winced at her friend's sudden violent mood swing, but kept her mouth shut. She
certainly wasn't able to make the same mistake again. Instead, she glanced down self-
consciously at her new flight suit. "First battle today, Mariko Yuy," she whispered to
herself. "Think you've got the stomach for it?"

Up above the group milling around on the ground level, Yuri and Will, along with their
Preventer escorts, stood looking down. As Will surveyed them, he jerked in surprise when
he saw Riko. Turning to Yuri, he said, "Hey, Yuri. Isn't that Heero and Relena's
daughter?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So? She's a pacifist, for crying out loud! What is she doing there?"

"What does it look like? Didn't you know? She's going out today. She and some
other Preventer are helping the other pilots, and they've each got a group of fifteen of
the top Preventers under them. Where have you been anyway?"

"Washing dishes in the kitchen..." Will grumbled, leaning over the railing for a
better look. "Damn...she's pretty cute..." he murmured to himself, leaning over even
further to see better.

"Will! Baka, you're going to fall over!" Yuri said in an annoyed voice as he and
some other Preventers lunged forward to pull him back up. "What were you thinking
anyway-OH, I see," he smirked as his gaze landed on Riko. Shaking his head, he said,
"Give it up. She's way beyond your reach," he said, trying to put it as nicely as
possible.

Will shrugged. "Yeah, I know. But a guy can dream, right? Speaking of which, how are you
and Aelis doing?"

Yuri sighed helplessly. "Cold, at best. She still doesn't really talk to me."

Will winced. "Ouch...Wow, I'm really sorry. Didn't know she had it in her to hold a
grudge."

"Oh, she definitely does. Trust me, she does."

Their conversation was cut short as Zechs strode to the front. "Okay everyone, you have
five minutes before you go out. Offensive team: Your goal is to surround LaGrange point 1
and destroy the defense of each colony. Don't leave them any room to escape. Our sources
in L1 have already been contacted; they will attack from the inside. Defense team: Your
mission is to protect this base. As this is obviously a much larger task, there are more
members here than in space. It is predicted that the Neo-Rommefeller has an idea of our
plan; they may attempt to infiltrate us while we are attacking. Don't let this happen.
Surround the planet at the established points and keep careful watch over your area. Stay
there until you receive orders from Lady Une to be dismissed. Is everyone clear? Fine,
you are all dismissed."

After Zechs left to get himself ready, Wuli nudged Thomas. "Think we'll get any action
today?"

"Yeah. Neo-Rommefeller's not just going to sit there while we pummel 'em out in
space. They're going to try something," Thomas said grimly.

"What are our chances of succeeding in liberating L1 today?"

"From what I've heard, pretty good. Dad tells me that we've been in contact with
many of our members in there for a long time. This operation's been worked on for a long
time; it should work. Anyway, your dad's the one that's high up in the Preventers. What
does he say?"

"My dad's not the most optimistic of people," Wuli said drily. "He refuses to
really say anything, but from what I've heard, we should do pretty good today." Then he
grinned. "Anyway, I'm tired of sitting around here! It's time we got some action! Right,
Giselle?" he called over. "Tired of washing dishes yet?"

"Shut up Wuli," Giselle growled, tossing her head and storming over to Seraphim.
"If you know what's good for you, you'd keep your mouth shut and get yourself in Phoenix.
We've got two minutes before this whole thing starts."

Wuli laughed at his cousin's irritation, but turned to Thomas and said, "She's right, I
guess. See you soon!" he called as he ran off to Phoenix.

"Yeah! Wouldn't want them to start the party without us, right?" Thomas called
back, turning to head over to Wing.

many hours later...

Rayan winced as he cut through yet another mobile suit. "My God...Why does this hurt so
much?" he gasped. Remembering the conversation he had had with his father, he smiled
grimly. "It's because I'm an empath, I suppose. I really wonder how my father survived
this..."

*flashback*

"Rayan, I need to speak to you."

Rayan looked up from his book. "What is it Father?"

Quatre sighed and sat down in another chair. "Rayan, have you noticed anything...strange
recently?"

"Um, I'm not too sure what you mean."

"Remember the time when our food was poisoned? Did you feel anything interesting?"

"Interesting...?"

"Rayan, the reason why I'm asking is because, well, I'm an empath." Noting his
son's blank look, Quatre continued. "That means that I have the ability to sense what
others feel. Actually, I can feel whatever they feel. Pain, anger, sadness, joy, any
emotion. Of course, they have to be within a certain range, but otherwise..."

"So...you mean...You know, that day, I was up playing basketball with the other
guys. And I could've SWORN I knew Clare was running up to tell me something was wrong
BEFORE I even saw her. But I just wrote it off as coincidence..."

"No, Rayan. It was not coincidence. You felt her anxiety and knew she was
coming. It's especially strong among people you're close to, such as friends and family."

"Can Kaasan do this...empath thingy too?"

Quatre hesitated, then said, "No...she is not an empath..."

"Clare?"

"I don't think so. I believe you have inherited my genes, while your sister
inherited your mother's. But there's another reason why I'm telling you this. You are
aware that your Uncle Heero has been working on an enhanced Xero system?"

"Yes..."

"Rayan, the Xero system, as well as its predecessor, is able to enhance one's
senses, and it has been known to drive people insane. I...was one of those people. Your
grandfather, my father, had just been killed, and in my grief, I was not able to withstand
the effects of the Zero system." As Rayan sat there dumbly, he continued, "When I once
again used the Zero system, I discovered that because of my empath abilities, I was able
to feel the emotions and feelings of those I was fighting. Actually, I had always been
able to do this. But with the Zero system, not only could I feel the emotions of those I
was engaged in direct combat in, I was able to feel the emotions of those controlling, for
example, the mobile dolls."

"Control?"

"Yes. Mobile dolls can be controlled. With the correct setup, a person in a
remote place can control their actions. In fact...that was how I met your mother. I
suppose I had seen her before, in the Sank Kingdom, but I had never really spoken to her.
But later, she joined with the White Fang. I won't bore you with history lessons, but it
so happened that she was the one controlling the dolls that day. And with the Zero
System, combined with my empath abilities, I could detect her emotions."

"Father...if you could the emotions of those that you fight, then does that mean..."

"That I can feel their pain? Yes, Rayan, yes I can. I could feel their fear,
anger...and pain and terror as I killed them. That's why I wanted to speak to you. I was
hoping that your abilities would not awaken until after the war, but now that they've
manifested themselves, you must be aware of what they mean. I'm sorry, but you will have
to be strong; you will have to learn to ignore their cries in your head as you kill them."

*end flashback*

"Father..." Rayan gasped, gripping his head as another scream tore through his
mind. "Father, it's so hard...How did you survive this?" he moaned as his heat shorters
tore through another group of mobile suits. "I can't take this anymore...Wuten!"

"What?"

"Please...take care of these mobile suits for me. I'll go for the dolls."

"Roger that!" Wuten said, understanding. "You've done your best, my friend."

"You...you know?"

"Yes. Well, your father, um, asked me to watch your back because of your...
talents."

"Oh. I'm sorry, I'm just a liability-"

"Oh shut up already. Go clean up the dolls," Wuten called, jabbing his trident
into the nearest suit. "Don't worry about being a liability. If I were in your position,
I'd probably have already broken down. You've got your own strength. Don't
underestimate them. Now move!"

"Okay..." Rayan sighed, dejected despite his friend's encouragement.

elsewhere...

A little girl, no more than five, sat strapped to a chair. Feeling a new presence, she
whimpered. A scientist near her noted her uneasiness and said coldly, "So, the empath's
son must be near. Well, you know what to do, Jaasalin. Remember, for each doll he
destroys, the more pain you will feel. Now do your job and eliminate him!"

"Yes...sir," she whispered, then began promptly sending commands to the dolls.

back in space...

"What is this?!" Rayan said in frustration as the dolls suddenly changed formation.
"Doesn't matter...at least these things won't scream," he thought morosely, then plunged
into the fray.

elsewhere...

The little girl screamed as the dolls were systemically destroyed. With trembling fingers,
she quickly keyed in more commands.

in space...

Rayan jerked in his chair. "What...is that screaming?" he wondered. Hesitantly, he
raised his heat shorters and sliced another doll in half.

elsewhere...

"What shall we do, sir?" the assistant said uneasily, watching the girl writhe in
agony. "Should we turn down the pain a little? It's obvious she can't even key in
commands anymore-"

"Doesn't matter. She obviously isn't fit for this job. If she dies, we can create
another to take her place."

in space...

"I...I..."

"Rayan! Look out!" Wuten cried, destroying the last of the suits and then rushing
over to his friend, who seemed to have frozen. "Rayan! What are you doing?!"

"I can't! Wuten, I can't do this anymore! I can't I can't I CAN'T!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Wuten...Don't you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"The little girl...screaming. Everytime I-"

"Rayan, take it easy. Come on, we're almost done here-"

"NO! Watch...everytime I destroy a doll, she screams. She feels the pain that they
don't...See?" and Rayan thrust through the last of the dolls.

elsewhere...

The girl gave out one more pitiful wail and stopped struggling, unconscious.

in space...

"NO!!! Didn't you feel that, Wuten? Didn't you?"

"Rayan! They're just dolls!"

"No Wuten! There's a little girl...she was controlling them-"

"Look Rayan, just breathe. There is no little girl controlling them. Be
reasonable! How can a child control so many dolls?"

"You don't understand! I don't know how she did it, but she did! She was...
strapped to a chair. She was scared, frightened...I can't take this anymore!!!"

"Rayan!"

many hours later...

Though it took many hours of intense fighting, by the end of the day, all the colonies of
L1 had been liberated. Though the colonies had been well fortified, the skill of the
Gundam pilots, as well as their meticulous planning, finally succeeded, and the Neo-
Rommefeller forces were overwhelmed. After their victory, the Preventers were reinstated,
and a stiff defensive force was set up to protect it further.

Mariko sighed as she lifted her face to the steaming water in the shower. "It feels good
to be back," she thought as she turned the water off. Stepping out and drying herself, she
reflected on what had happened.

*flashback*

"Rayan! RAYAN!!!"

"NO! Don't touch me! Leave me alone!" Rayan screamed, struggling against the
combined efforts of Wuten and his father. "No! You...you don't understand! Leave me
alone!"

"Rayan! Listen to me! You have to control yourself!" Quatre said desperately,
trying to bring his son back to his senses. "I understand what you're feeling, but-"

"NO! You don't! There was a little girl, she-"

"Will you stop rambling about the little girl already?!?!" Wuten howled in agony
and frustration. "LISTEN TO ME! SHE DIDN'T EXIST! SHE WAS A FIGMENT OF-"

"NO NO NO!!! She was there! She was screaming...I MADE her scream! No! Don't
touch me! Where are you taking me?!" Rayan howled as Wuten and Quatre were forced to
surrender him to medical personnel. "No no no!" he wailed as he was dragged away.

*end flashback*

"Poor Rayan," Riko murmured, wrapping herself up and preparing to open the door.
"I have to go visit-EEK!"

"What the-?!"

"Will! What are you doing here?!"

"Er, I uh, um...I didn't expect you to walk out like THAT!" he sputtered, trying
to make a not-so-smooth exit but unable to tear his eyes away from Riko's rather
scantily clad body. "Um, I heard that your hair had gotten in the way during the fight,
so I, uh, got you something...yeah, that's right. Um, okay, so I'll-"

"Get out!" she shrieked, blushing furiously, realizing that he was staring. "I
appreciate the gift, but now please leave!"

"Uh, right! Sorry, very sorry," he said weakly, scrambling out of the room.

outside...

"YURI! Bastard, you set me up!!!"

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "I take it that it didn't go well?"

"Hell no! You didn't tell me she was taking a shower!"

"Idiot, you heard the shower running; you CHOSE not to leave!"

"Yeah well, how was I supposed to know she'd come out wearing nothing but a towel?!"

"A towel huh? No wonder you're so...excited," he said wryly, glancing down.

Will stared, then looked down. "Oh crap! When did that happen?!" he wailed in
embarrassment.

inside...

Riko blushed even more as she listened to the boys' conversation. "Oh great...Why is it
that guys get turned on so easily?" she moaned as she went over to the box Will had placed
on her desk. Picking it up, she opened it. Inside was a scarf. "Thought you would like
this," Riko read the note that came with it, then blushed again. "Horny bastard..."

"Give it up, girl. You know you're flattered," a voice in her head sang.

"Shut up!" Riko told her conscience angrily. "He had no business seeing me almost
naked-"

"You know you wanted it!"

"Grr..." Riko gave up in her fight against her mind, then sighed. "Damn it," she
murmured, walking over to the mirror with the scarf.

elsewhere...

Thomas hesitated by Clare's room as he walked down the hall. "I wonder how she's coping,"
he muttered, remembering. Clare had not taken it very well when she saw her brother only
half-sane and being dragged off to who knows where, still screaming and crying. She had
stood there mutely, eyes wide with horror, before turning and racing off to her room.
Last time he checked, she had been sobbing, and had refused to see anyone, including her
parents and Giselle. Thomas doubted he would have much better luck, but he pressed his
ear against her door. "Well, at least she's not crying anymore-Whoops!"

The door suddenly opened, and Thomas tumbled in. Looking up, he said sheepishly, "Oh,
sorry Clare. I wanted to see if you were okay or not..." he trailed off uncertainly.

Clare stared down at him, eyes blank and emotionless. Suddenly, she closed the door.
Thomas blinked in confusion. "...Clare?"

"Thomas...make me forget. Please," she whispered, still staring down at him with
her dull eyes. "Make me forget it all..."

"Clare, I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"Do it. I don't care how. Just do it," she said. Suddenly, she began taking off
her clothes. "Do it, Thomas. I don't want to feel anymore..."

"Shit, Clare! What the hell?!" he sputtered, scrambling to his feet. Backing
away slowly, he said, "Oookay. I know you're upset. But um, Clare, hehe, this REALLY
isn't what you want. Trust me. If we do...THAT, it'll be the stupidest thing either of
us has ever done. Look, I respect you, heck okay, I kinda like you a bit more than as a
friend, but the LAST thing-"

Clare laughed harshly, cutting him off. Removing her last pieces of clothing, she stood in
front of him completely naked. Gesturing, she said, "Thomas, don't you want this? I
know you do..."

"Clare, please! Don't tempt me!" he pleaded, trying not to look. "I already told
you, I RESPECT you, Clare! Don't tempt me like that!"

Clare's eyes filled with tears. "Thomas, why won't you help me?" she cried. "My brother's
gone mad, Thomas! I can feel it! I'm going to snap soon, and I know it! You're the only
person I can turn to!"

"Clare, having sex DEFINITELY is not the answer! And look, how old are we?
Fifteen? Come on Clare, don't be like that...Don't cry," he soothed, going over to Clare,
who had started to cry softly. "Clare-HEY!" he sputtered as Clare suddenly grabbed him
and yanked him to the floor. "Clare, stop it!" he said weakly, his resolve weakening.
He struggled to get off of her, but she buried her face in his chest. "Thomas...please,"
she whimpered, shoulders shaking. "I know this is wrong, but..." and she looked up at
him with tear-filled eyes. Thomas sighed. "Damn me and my hormones," he swore before
finally succumbing.

Dorothy paused, her hand on the doorknob, as she heard the noises coming from inside her
daughter's room. Hesitantly, she opened the door a crack and peeked in, then sighed and
closed it again. Leaning against the wall, she murmured, "Oh Quatre, I KNEW we should
have told her. Clare...what have you gotten yourself into?" she sighed, eyes downcast.
"Your life's going to be permanently changed from now on..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: This (rather long) chapter is dedicated to Jaasalin, who asked to have a character
named after her. Hey, I told you I'd get around to it (eventually)! More's to come!