Moments of Time
Prologue
By: JC Maxwell-Yuy
JC: Welcome! Hopefully, this will evolve into a long-winded tale of passion, justice, peace, romance, and some good old fashioned butt-whoopin'.
Duo: HIDE ME!
Heero: But you never hide. You're mine now!
JC: I don't own G Gundam, Gundam Wing, or Gundam Seed Destiny. Would be nice if I did.
Dearka: Not for us!
Dorothy: Enjoy the preview. Tee hee.
End of Gundam Fight 13, Neo Japan
"You see, it requires a woman…" A gunshot sounds, followed by sinister laughter.
Rain's eyes snap open, her mouth wide, ready to scream. Thunder crashes outside in the dark night.
"Rain?" Domon's sleepy voice calls out.
"Domon! I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Rain groped through the darkness for her boyfriend. The bedside light snapped on, dispersing the strange shadows created by the streetlights and rain.
"It's ok Rain. Was it a bad dream?" Domon pulled Rain close.
"Eeh… it was… the devil again." Rain whispered.
"It's over Rain. It's gone. It can't hurt you anymore." Domon said gently. "Now… yawn go get some sleep?"
Rain giggled as Domon switched the light off. "I suppose you're right."
A.C. 198, Preventer HQ, Brussels
"Hurry up, Mariemaia. It's rude to be late for an appointment!" Lady Une said sternly, turning on her heel to make sure the short red-haired girl was still behind her.
"I hate the doctor." Mariemaia whined. "Why do I have to see him?"
"Her." Une corrected. "This time the doctor is a good friend of mine."
The two entered the medical section of the building and sat down in the waiting area. A few minutes later, Sally Po poked her head out of an examination room to wave them in.
"I trust you're adjusting well to your new position." Une said.
"Oh yes." Sally laughed. "With so little fires to put out, it's good to know that I can also do some good as a doctor. Now, let's see the patient."
"Do I have to get any shots?" Mariemaia asked.
"Well, let's see. You had all the shots you needed last year, according to this file. It also says that…" Sally stopped mid-sentence, staring at the paper. "Mariemaia, would you please take off your shirt?"
"Why?" the girl asked.
"Because, I can't do my job properly unless you do." Sally gestured at her stethoscope around her neck.
As the shirt was removed, Sally's eyes scanned the girl's upper body. Surely the report was mistaken. There was no trace of any abnormality ever being there… no trace … except a scar.
"Is something wrong, Sally?" Une asked, taking in Sally's shocked expression as she examined the papers and Mariemaia.
"Do you remember… your upper body being changed into a hard, metallic substance?" Sally asked gently. Mariemaia looked surprised, shocked, her mouth opened, gasping. She then broke down crying.
"What on earth? Explain yourself doctor!" Une gathered the young girl in her arms.
"This report… it says that for a short period of time… her body seemed to be changing into some sort of metal. The condition disappeared after she was shot at the palace." Sally said.
"It… made me hear voices… horrid voices… I couldn't…" Mariemaia buried her face in Une's chest crying.
Cosmic Era 73, Onogoro Island
Kira Yamato surveyed the wreckage that'd once been a cottage. A fragment of the Space Colony JUNIUS SEVEN had crushed it when it broke up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Luckily, he, Lacus, Murrue, Andrew, Malchio and the children had gotten into a shelter just in time.
"Kira!" Lacus called as she joined him, the wind whipping her long hair into her face. The sea roared, drowning out the disappointed and sorrowful cries of the children poking through the house's wreckage.
"The storm… it hasn't passed yet." Kira mused as he stared at the dark clouds moving quickly across the sky. "It feels like it's going to get bigger… much bigger."
Pacific Ocean, ZAFT Battleship MINERVA, somewhere near ORB
"ATHRUN!" Cagalli threw herself at Athrun Zala, half crying. "YOU IDIOT! Don't you EVER scare me like that again!"
"Cagalli…" Athrun murmured. "I… I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me! Don't you DARE!" Cagalli glared at him with anger and relief shining in her tears. "If anything happened to you, I'd… what would I tell Kira?"
"…" Athrun shut up. Cagalli was right. He'd been reckless in going out with the MINERVA's crew to stop JUNIUS SEVEN from crashing into Earth. After the MINERVA managed to break up the falling colony with its TAUNHAUSER weapon, he'd fallen through the atmosphere, awaiting death. If he'd died, Kira would have lost it.
"Would you shut up already?" Shinn Asuka said icily as he walked by them. "You're far too freakin' loud."
Cagalli opened her mouth to retort but Athrun quickly put his arm around her shoulder and shook his head. She sighed. "It's all thanks to him that you're safe."
"Where are you going?" Athrun asked as she pulled free from his arms.
"To speak with Captain Gladys. Maybe she can head for ORB. I really want to thank her and her crew personally for 'saving the world'." Cagalli gave a tired smile and winked.
"Cagalli…" Athrun groaned. Her ulterior motives were sometimes just… too much.
Down the hall, Shinn clenched his fists in frustration. "What does he see in that bitch?"
End Prologue
Act 1, Anna ni Issho Datta no ni. Trust your instincts Gundam!