I.
"Cherry blossoms gracefully bloom o'er the fields that lie," A pretty female voice drifted from the room as the old man made his way in.
"High up is the castle wall, where have warriors gone?" He paused briefly taking in the view of the young Japanese woman sitting on the ground.
"Where is the moonlight that brightly shone up high," In her hands she held a worn doll its hair long ago had fell out. Stroking its now bald head gently she continued to sing her lullaby to it.
"Shone upon the warriors who drained the glasses dry?" He watched as the tears slowly fell down her checks as she continued to sing.
"Yori." He gently called to his student trying to gain her attention.
"White frost o'er the autumn camps freezing the whole night," To his annoyance she continued to sing the doll its lullaby.
"Getsuei shuuen." The old man spoke the command phrase with authority in his voice. His heart fell when he saw his student look up in fear.
"Nanitozo sensei. No hurt." He watched as his student backed away from him. Her doll now forgotten as she curled herself into a little ball. Weeping soon followed.
Sighing softly the old man made his way towards the girl. "Yori my kokoro. Calm yourself. You are se-fu."
He smiled when he saw his student recover and began to stand back up. Whipping away her tears as her training induced fear went away with that simple command phrase. He reached out to hug her only to have his hand slapped away.
"What do you want old man!"
Sighing sadly the old man motioned for his student to take a seat. When she failed to do so he instead sat down on the bench against the wall. "You are the hope for Yamanouchi to regain its honor. You and Kim-sama are our pride. I want you to know that."
"I'm nothing more then a weapon to you old man. Admit it. Any blood ties between us mean nothing to me. I will kill our enemies not for you but for my own honor. As for Kim she is nothing."
Sensei raised his head at the disrespect being showed but said nothing waiting for his student to continue. He watched his grinning student start to pace back and forth her hands waving in the air as if to convey her hidden emotions.
"I do not need you to compare me with that girl old man. I am more then her now. I am perfect. No one can stand against me. You made sure of that!"
"For that I shall burn young one but know this it was necessary. Your sacrifice will build a new world. A better world."
"Lies!" The girl before him turned anger across her face as she screamed at him. Walking forward she stopped before him.
"I will make it all burn Sensei. All your lies and pretenses. That shall be my honor. Only Stoppable-san and I will be safe. That is why I must kill him. I can't let you get your hands on him. No only in me shall he be safe. Together for ever. My love and me." She started to giggle at the end before turning cold again.
"Get out old man! I need to prepare for war."
Standing the old man quietly left the room. Behind him he could hear the slamming of an object against something hard. He passed by one of the guards standing down the hall.
"Send in a doctor in an hour. By then she will be tired. Make sure to clean the blood up after wards."
'Even this is for the future.' The old man quietly walked down the hall.
II.
"You see what I mean Stoppable. She's obviously carrying the play." Ron watched with a slightly amused grin on his face as a nervous seven year old swayed gently on stage. Her face poked out from her cardboard tree costume while her blue eyes scanned the audience nervously. He also noticed she seemed to be chewing on a strand of her black hair.
"Have to talk to her mother about that." The new addition to the crew sat back from the screen a smile still on his face.
"Talk to her about what major?"
"The hair chewing Stoppable. I thought I managed to finally break her of that habit the last time I got shore leave. Seems I was wrong." The older man frowned slightly as he continued to watch the play. Soon even the frown was replaced by a smile as he leaned in closer.
Ron sat back tired of watching the major kid's play. The fact that the man was so excited about it though had surprised Ron. He had taken a look at the major record when he got a chance and what he found had surprised him. He had known the man was Special Forces from some of the pins on his uniform but a look at his record confirmed why.
The major had been in the military for over twenty years and had taken part in the opening actions of the current war. He was 43 years old and lived in a nice little suburb in Virginia. He couldn't place the name at the moment but he recalled the record being very specific. A quick look at the man showed though what the record said as well. He had over three hundred confirmed MS kills but the pin on his neck showed the one that was really noticeable. It was a tradition started a long time ago that when a Mobile Suit pilot managed to take down an ace on the other side they would earn a white skull pin to place on the neck of their uniform. With the creation of the Gundams an additional red G was given to any pilot who managed to successful kill a Gundam in any Mobile Suit other then a Gundam itself. The major wore a red skull on his collar indicating he had killed a Gundam piloted by an ace. A fact that scared Ron to a degree considering the skills it would take to achieve something like that.
"O come on do your job." The older man turned to Ron and pointed to the screen. "Do you believe them allowing some punk ass kid to get in front of my daughter? Now I can't even see her. Guess that's what happens when you have bad parents. Can't even show a little respect."
Grumbling the major turned back to the screen. "Um...Sir can I ask you a question." Ron wanted to know how that man had earned his pin.
"Shoot kid."
"How did you earn that skull on your collar?"
"Killed a Gundam what do you think?"
"How?"
The major at this point turned and looked at Ron. Turning back to the screen he asked a simple question. "Do you know of a kid, about your age actually, named Amuro Ray?"
"Yeah."
"I was assigned to his group."
Ron blinked surprised at this news. He hadn't realized that the command the major had served under previously included the famous ace pilot. The man was legend to this day and if it was not for Liberty's betrayal he would probably have won the war for the UN by now.
"Anyway it was during the battle of Sweetwater. We had the damn colonist on the run and were about to break through their defensive line. An ace on their side though got cocky thinking he could rampage around with his Gundam. Killed a lot of good men before I finally took him down. Simple as that kid."
"How?"
"How do you think? I killed him. End of discussion."
Ron sensing that this was a bad topic decided to drop it. Sitting back he decided to see who would end up saving the princess trapped in the woods. Would it be the handsome prince or the stumbling side kick who had known the princess since they were kids?
III.
"What's your problem Tara? You've had an attitude since you got here. I want to know why." Bonnie leaned forward looking her former friend in the eye. Various crewmembers looked up in surprise across the mess hall.
"Stuff it slut. Wait...that's Stoppable job." Bonnie eyes narrowed at the insult thrown her way.
"Let me guess jealous cause it is Ron's job."
"It's called a crush Bon-Bon. I really don't care what you do with him. I can't believe you still haven't dumped the loser though."
"Ron is not a loser and why would I dump him." Bonnie voice clearly showed her anger as she stared down at the blond who was still eating her food.
"Called a re-bound fling girlfriend. You're supposed to use and dump them. Like what Brick did with you." Bonnie eyes flashed at this point her blood beginning to boil.
"What makes you think...?"
"That he screwed you for a bet. It was the talk of the Prom after you ran away and into Stoppable arms. Poor little Ronnie probably doesn't even know." Tara looked up a vicious grin on her face.
Bonnie looked down at the girl she used to consider her friend her blood boiling as she stared. "I don't even know why I was friends with a stupid airhead blond cheerleader like you!"
"I don't know Bonnie considering we were never friends. I don't make friends with little traitors!"
"Let me guess you got some sob story about why you hate me. You know what Tara screw you!" With that Bonnie turned around and walked out of the mess hall. She failed to notice the tears now forming in Tara eyes as she looked back to her meal in anger.
IV.
Kim hummed softly as she brushed her hair. The brush moving through the long soft red strands. The feeling of the brush moving through each strand always brought a pleasant feel to her. An almost hypnotic state in some ways. She found sometimes her mind could wonder for what seemed like hours as she brushed her hair. Today though she didn't have time to go off into la-la land.
Placing the brush down she moved over to the closet grabbing the clothes she wanted to wear that day. A standard issue military uniform along with a white shirt to wear under. Quickly changing she made last minute adjustment to her uniform. Making sure that medals and pins shinned as brightly as the day that she received them. Satisfied that she looked dead sexy in the outfit as much as possible she made her way downstairs hoping that her mother had prepared her breakfast.
She was not disappointed as the delicious smell of pancakes and bacon hit her nose. Smiling she walked into the kitchen looking for her father. She frowned when she noticed that he was not sitting in his usual place.
"Morning Mom. Where's Dad?" She sat down ready to dig into her meal. Picking up a piece of bacon she looked towards her mother.
"Your father had to head in early dear. He'll be waiting for you thought at the meeting. Now eat up ok."
"Mom I'm a grown woman ok. I don't need you to tell me when to eat." Kim waved the piece of bacon around as she made her point before taking a bite out of it. The juicy crisp piece caused her stomach to send a happy signal to her brain requesting more. Kim complied.
Smiling her mother sat down at the table adjusting her red hair. Her tired blue eyes stared at her daughter just happy to see one of her kids' home. "You know dear if you're so grown up now how about you make your own meals from now on."
Blushing Kim looked up from her meal. "Mom you know what happened the last time I just to make toast."
Kim mother smiled remember the fire department got involved in that one. It brought back pleasant memories though of life before the war. When her family was still around and her kids still in her sight. She had been able to protect them then.
"I know dear. Now hurry up you don't want to be late."
"No worries Mom. Dad already briefed me on it. This next operation will finally end the war. Trust me." Kim smiled up at her mother as she then dug into the pancakes piled on her plate.
"I hope so dear." Anne Possible was no where near as dedicated to the cause they were fighting for as her children. All she could see was the death toll rising each day. All she could do was fear that the next time her door bell rang it would be a military chaplain standing there.
"Don't worry Mom. A year from now it'll all be over. Then I can finally do what I've wanted to do for a long time."
Frowning Anne decided to file that comment away for latter. "Just be careful Kimmie. I don't want you getting hurt on this next mission. When are you leaving anyway for the front?"
"Couple of days from now."
"I see."
V.
Operation Zeus was now under way. The combined UN and US effort to push for victory. The first battle of this new offensive was taking place in front of a small forward command base located on a mined out asteroid. Asteroid Haven would not even be worth the time of day if not for the presence of the colonial forces there. This thought was a bitter reminder of how pointless war could be in Ron mind.
"Monkey you got a squad of Rick-Doms heading your way." Ron quickly looked towards his right noting the purple and black Mobile Suits approaching his lone suit. Performing his duty as a distraction Ron and the major had penetrated deeply into colonial lines while Tara provided fire support. This action was effective in breaking up the once organized lines of the enemy as they attempted to deal with this new threat.
"I see them Sandman." Raising his rifle Ron opened up on the squad. The red beams of light quickly speared all four in the chest ending that particular threat.
Ron turned his attention back to more present threats as he took the Nemesis in a downward dive at the battle ship in front of him. His instincts told him that this ship was probably the enemy flag ship.
Quickly dodging Anti-MS fire Ron dispatched two Zakus as they attempted to intercept him. Their green armored figures disappearing in bright light as their reactor went up. Adding more power to his engines he flew straight at the ship heading for a direct collision course.
With barely enough time to halt his mad dash he fired his breaking thrusters. At the same time he opened up with his rifle on the vulnerable main turrets of the ship. An incessant pinging sound told him that one of the smaller turrets had managed to score a hit. The armor of his suit though easily shrugged it off.
Spinning the suit around his eyes feel upon the vulnerable bridge of the ship. He let lose with his Vulcans killing everyone inside as the cannons in the units head flung hot metal slugs into the ship. Finished with that he again applied forward thrust to his suit shooting four more shoots into the ships rear spearing through the engines and reactor.
"One more kill for the Ron man." He ignored the flash of light that told him the ship reactor had just gone up.
"Hey kid if you're done playing around lets hit that fortress ok." Ron scanned his screen finally noting the position of his commanding officer.
"Yes sir!" With a quick push of a few controls the Nemesis shoot off towards its intended target.
The enemy for its part was falling completely apart at this point. Its commander dead this small force was no match for the superior forces attacking them. Their Mobile Suit line shattered their ships were proving to be easy prey. The last obstacle still providing an effective resistance was the asteroid fortress. Though even this was showing damage as barrage after barrage of missiles slammed into it.
Ron choose to ignore the outer defense though heading straight for the dock he saw. It was still open trying to allow the ships still inside a chance to escape.
Spinning inside Ron opened up with his rifle hitting enemy Mobile Suits, containers of fuel, and various bundles of ammunition. A few shots slammed into the forward fleeing ship which caused its engines to explode. It was effectively dead in the water. Doing a 180 Ron left the remaining ships to die in their fiery grave as the dock quickly went up.
"Sir dock is now neutralized. Heading towards the command center."
"Right behind you Monkey." Ron saw the GM custom drop in behind him and noted that the commander accurate fire taking out any still active turrets along the face of the asteroid.
It was a short flight around the rock until they finally saw the exposed command center. It was a design flaw built in during the time when this rock was used as a pure mining base. It would prove to be the downfall of the defenders. Raising his rifle Ron fired one casual shot into it. The shot easily penetrated the hastily added on armor and left a single gaping hole. In sick fascination Ron watched charred and still living bodies blown out of the center. He turned away not wanting to see what happened next.
"Fortress command is now down sir."
"Good job lets finish this and head home."
The battle of Haven was a resounding though minor success for the gathered UN and American forces. This battle though would mark the beginning of a drive towards the colonies center. It would end in the biggest battle of the war that would decide once and for all who would achieve victory.
VI.
"They intend to do what?" An old man stared back in disbelief at the man in front. His uniform show clearly the four stars on the collar proudly shinning in the room light.
"They are going to take a colony and crash it into the earth. Probably Washington DC from the information we gathered. Hit us hard and all that." The man in front of the room stared calmly back at the gathered assembly. His kind brown eyes held no mirth that day as his neatly combed white hair lacked its usual casual wild look. The five stars on his uniform collar showed why the men in the room gave him the respect they did.
"Isn't that a violation of the Antarctic treaty?" A younger man whose hair was just turning gray piped in at this moment.
"Yes it is. Looks like they really don't give a damn now does it."
"How did we get this information?"
"Spies. The usual."
"Seems a little too easy to me." Another man in the room spoke up his hair still the ginger red it was in his youth. His three stars and numerous medals spoke telling of what he had dedicated his life to.
"Precisely. That's why we are going to spring it for them."
"The Gundam?" The same red hair man smiled as he looked up.
"What else?"
To be continued...
A/N: Well now aren't you lucky. You got two big fights in this chapter. Hope you enjoyed. Anyway expect a release of Mommy Ron next. At any time though I will release the second to last chapter to Heart and Mind. Still working on it though. Trying to get that right feel.
Anyway a few things to address.
Antarctic treaty - This was a concept from the original series. Basically no nukes. Period! I've included colony drops in this. The Zeon forces in the first series seeing losses pile up decided to forget that they signed that document. I'm sure the Feddies in the end replied in kind but I can't recall any cases at the moment.
Yori was humming this children song from Japan. Moonlight on the Ruined Castle. Here are the lyrics.
Cherry blossoms gracefully bloom o'er the fields that lie,
High up is the castle wall, where have warriors gone?
Where is the moonlight that brightly shone up high,
Shone upon the warriors who drained the glasses dry?
White frost o'er the autumn camps freezing the whole night,
Flocks of wild geese cry and pass just below the moon.
Where is the moonlight that might have shone so bright,
Shone upon the warriors' swords gleaming through the night?
Oh, the moon is rising high in the depths of night,
Silent is the ruined site lying on the ground,
Ivies creep o'er the gate in the cold moonlight,
Rustling are the pine trees through the windy night.
To rise and fall is people's fate, the moon shines so bright,
Looking down upon the world lying far below,
How sublime the moonlight o'er the ruined site,
How I love the moon that shines in the depths of night!
Got it off a website. Interesting right?
Japanese phrase. Mind you this is what I think they mean. I could be wrong.
Getsuei shuuen: Moonligh demise.
Nanitozo: Please
kokoro: Heart, Mind, and Soul.
se-fu: Safe.
Anyway since I'm not allowed to reply to reviews in story I'll be replying personally now. Starting now though because I don't want to go back through them all. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to more.
As always read and review. This is brought to you by a happy Surforst celebrating the renewing of KP for a fourth season.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! KP and Gundam are owned by very rich companies that would never stoop to suing a poor college student like myself. Believe me you'll lose money doing it.