Hey everyone, Not much to say, except I'm really proud of this chapter. Please read and enjoy! This chapter is dedicated to Pegasusacc for her help in coming up with names for the Gundam you'll see in this chapter and the other's that will appear in future chapters. If you like the name, give her a shout.
Year: After Colony 233
December 25
Morning
Location: ?
He shook violently, His hand clasping the control of Gundam Andros. Another jolt from a missile and he would crash. His cranked his boosters and flew straight toward an MD, the green glow of the Andros' sword shining on his face as he glared. Anger emitted from his body, and within moments the MD was destroyed. Suddenly his gundam's arms couldn't move. He tried desperately to turn, to see what had him. He shifted the controls and Andros kicked backward, dislodging the MS from it's back. It turned to face the enemy MS. His screen picked up a transmittance from the suit. A dark man with gray eyes sat there grinning at him, a cut on his head bleeding. The man was having trouble breathing.
"You killed them all. They said you were powerful. Those that fought your kind before." The man told him. He watched the blood trickling down his face. "But... they never... never said you were this powerful." He could see the man was dieing. He watching his every mood. The MS moved closer, but he didn't shoot it down. He was mesmerized by the man, listening to his last words. The man raised his arm, revealing a snake tattoo. "It... it wasn't supposed to end this way. I was supposed to have glory. But... but... but if I have to die, then I'm taking you with me."
The MS exploded, and he was knocked back, his head slammed against the back of his seat and he could feel blood trickling down the back of his neck. He opened his eyes and saw the twinkling of stars; they glowed bright in his eyes. Andros' thrusters were gone. It's ability to fly stolen and it plummeted to the colony below, landing on a trash platform on the outside. The glare of the stars was blinding him, but he didn't care. His eyes slowly began to close.
"Ironic... the one time I forget to wear a helmet, I get my skull cracked open." He reached his hand behind his head, and drawing it forward again, he admired the red that coated his entire hand.
"I'm s-sorry I didn't get to say goodbye.... Forgive me."
Year: After Colony 226
July 14
11:50 P.M.
Location: Colony Cluster L1; Colony 75GTY71
A fourteen year old boy sat beside the window. A late night summer storm progressed beyond the pane of glass. He reached his hand up and touched the glass, watching the rain drops that covered the other side. The room was silent, and the lights were off. It was near midnight. One light was on in the house. It came from the crack in the doorway of his father's office. His mother was dead: killed by a murderer two years before. The boy's father had caught him and now the man was dead himself. His older brother lay asleep upstairs. He didn't care. They didn't get along very well. After all, the other boy was five years older than he was. He blinked his blue eyes. A lightning bolt illuminated the sky. The boy began to count the seconds between it and the crack of thunder in a whisper.
"1... 2... 3... 4..." The house vibrated and the power went out.
"Damn it." A voice reached his ears. His father's. A candle flickered on in the office and the man opened the door. His own blue eyes appeared bright in the quivering light, his brown hair was messed. He walked out into the living room. Another flash of lightning and the lights turned back on. He turned swiftly, and despite his facial expression, he was surprised to see his son on the couch beside the window.
"What are you doing awake, Haruko?" He asked, his voice steady. Haru turned and glared at him. He didn't love his father. He resented the fact that he was alive when his mother was dead, but he still respected the man. He knew everything he possibly could about Heero Yuy, which wasn't much since the man rarely spoke to him. Renyu was the one his father paid attention to, not Haru. The boy shrugged. Heero nodded. "You miss her?" He looked out the window as well. Two years ago that night. On a stormy night like this one, his wife had been murdered because she was in the way of a bullet aimed at his heart. Had he loved her? Yes. Did he love his sons? Yes. Did he miss her as much as they did? Maybe.
Haru nodded. "Don't stay up too late." Heero said, attempting to be the perfect father. Haru shook his head. It didn't suit his father. He wasn't the father type. No. He was only the perfect soldier. Nothing more as far as Haru could see.
"I won't."
Heero nodded and walked toward the stairs. His foot touched the first step as the doorbell rang. Heero looked at Haru. The boy was as bewildered as he was, but Haru rose to answer the door, just as the house shook from the thunder again. Heero nodded, his hand on a silver gun at his side, and Haru turned the doorknob. He opened the door wide to find a twelve year old girl standing on the doorstep. Her white night gown clung to her body, soaked, and it had slipped from one shoulder, leaving it bare. Parts of it were stained with blood. Her drenched brown hair hung over her shoulders. Tears mixed in with the rain drops ran down her face. She had a black eye. Shards of glass were in her arms, back, and the back of her skull. A cut on her forehead added blood to the stream on her face. She fell forward into Haru the moment he opened the door, and began sobbing uncontrollably. He held her, bringing her inside as Heero turned the light on and went to the phone. He began dialing child services as Haru rocked Nikki gently back and fourth, trying to calm her, promising to take her away from her hell.
Year: After Colony 232
November 26
12:00 P.M.
Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89
Tarak held her hand as they walked down the side walk of the park. Yul and Kat were behind them in deep conversation. The two had really hit it off, as friends, to Kat's disappointment. Yul seemed to have no interest in her beyond that and it was driving Kat nuts. He also thought her weak. He had told Tarak so just the other night. What a surprise considering who his father was; Tarak shook his head. He knew Kat would teach him a thing or two about a woman's weakness.
"What's wrong?" Ami asked. She gazed up at him smiling. She was determined to spend the day happily despite the fact that the boys were leaving again. She reached up and touched his face, memorizing it.
"Nothing. Just a bit worried about Trevet, that's all."
"What do you mean?"
Tarak pointed toward the lake. Trevet was walking on his knees, pleading to the young woman in front of him. She shook her head, obviously denying him once more. Ami laughed. "I wonder what he did this time." She said as they walked under a tree.
"It's an amazing feat that Bren hasn't killed him yet." Haru said hanging backwards from the tree. Nikki sat on the limb, her back leaned against the trunk, her eyes closed, and her legs stradeling the branch. She cracked one eye and looked at her fiancé and then at Trevet and Bren.
"I told you they were perfect for each other." Haru sat up and gave her a "you're insane" look. She shook her head. "She's refusing him. He's obviously head over heals for her, and like you said, she hasn't killed him."
"Come again?" Ami said, gazing up at her friend.
"Give them time," Nikki said. "He'll become so focused on winning her, that he'll forget the other women, the one thing she doesn't like about him."
Ami frowned. "How come Bren told you that."
"How come I told her what?" Bren said, drapping her arms over Ami's shoulders and smiling. Trevet was still on the ground behind her.
"N-nothing. Um... Bren... I think someone wants your attention."
"I know." Bren said smiling evily. She looked at him. "Will you just get up? It's kinda sad, you know."
"Will you go out with me?" Trevet begged, his violet eyes pooling with fake tears, his lips forming a pout.
"No."
"But..." Bren ignored him and went to find Kat. "Damn."
"What's wrong, Trev?" Haru asked, being nice to the younger man, for once. He was in too good a mood and he sort of felt bad for Trevet.
"I just don't get it. I can't get her to pay attention to me."
"Did you ever think for a minute that she wasn't interested in the type of boy chases every girl he sees?" Tarak asked. He hand his hands draped over Ami's shoulders as Bren had, and he was kissing the back of her neck. She was trying her best not to giggle.
"You think?" Trevet asked leaning against the tree trunk. Haru had returned to an upright position and was tickling Nikki's neck with a leaf, making her squirm. She almost fell out of the tree, but he reached out and grabbed her, pulling him towards her without making the slightest hint that he had been nervous. She looked at him and he gave her a small smile. She turned back to Trevet.
"Why not give it a shot. I mean paying attention to only her?" Nikki suggested.
"It couldn't hurt, right Trev?" Ami added. "I wouldn't want Tarak if he were giving attention to every pretty girl that passed by." Tarak nodded.
"No, as long as they aren't pretty, she doesn't care if I look." He joked, getting elbowed in the stomach and then kissed on the lips. Nikki raised her eyebrows.
"Interesting combination of actions, Ami."
"But I like her second one." Haru said, pulling Nikki back to him. He kissed her lips deeply, still managing to keep them in the tree.
"I DON'T NEED THIS!" Well, they were in the tree until Kat's voice cut through the air. Haru jumped down, pulling Nikki with him; Ami and Tarak sprang apart, and then the five of them ran toward the bench where Kat and Yul had been talking. Yul was on the ground, a bruise on his elbow from the fall. Bren knelt beside him, having watched the whole thing. Kat was no where to be seen.
"What happened?" Nikki asked.
"He... well, he told her that she should address him as sir if they dated." Bren said, as Nikki and Ami glared at him.
"What?" Yul said, rubbing his elbow and standing up. Haru smacked his forehead, Tarak shook his head, and Trevet keeled over laughing.
"Yul, does your mother call your father 'sir'?" Haru asked.
"Not in a million years. But mother is a different type of woman. Not a normal one."
"You're lucky all she did was push you to the ground," Nikki told him. Bren nodded.
"I'm gonna go find her. She's probably really upset." Bren said, shaking her head.
"I'll go with you." Bren turned, surprised. She blinked like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Alright, Trev. You can come." He smiled and followed her in same direction they had seen Kat head off in.
Yul had stood up and was brushing himself off. "You think?"
Ami nodded, rolling her eyes. "DUH!"
Yul shook his head. "No. I know I'm right. And if she can't except the terms, then I just won't date her." He walked off. Nikki and Ami wanted to kill him, but Haru and Tarak held them back.
"Forget them." Tarak told them.
"Today is about you." Haru added. He took Nikki in his arms and kissed her, making her relax and forget about Yul and Kat, and Trevet and Bren. They were big girls, they could work it out.
Tarak nodded, hugging Ami. "What about me?" she protested against the hug.
"Huh?" Tarak asked confused, unsure what she was referring too. Ami tapped her foot on the ground and pointed at the passionate couple, her eyebrows raised.
"Oh." Tarak smiled, and scooped her into his arms, spun her around and deposited her on the ground, pressing his lips against hers.
Year: After Colony 232
November 30
7:00 A.M.
Location: ?
Trowa and Wufei sat on cold metal tables opposite each other, each wearing nothing but a hospital gown. Their "condition" was apparently no better, nor worse, than it had always been. Monte and Jamison stood against the wall, beside the main door. Suddenly the wooden door creaked open and a man wearing a medical face mask and a business suit entered. His hair was long and bright red. His green eyes were unnatural. They were slitted like a snakes, obviously contacts.
"How are they, Doctors?"
"As well as can be expected, sir" Monte said in a militaristic voice.
The General nodded. He would have been an intimidating man had he not been dealing with two former gundam pilots or been barely 5 foot 2 inches. He paced the room, stopping for a moment in front of 03, gripping his chin in his gloved hand. "You think they're ready?" He released Trowa, who kept his face straight.
"No, sir." Jamison began, scratching the tattoo on his arm. "I'd wait another month or so." The general nodded.
"Very well." He clapped his hands twice and a large man entered the room. "Take these useless colonial dogs back to their kennel."
Wufei nearly shot off the table to get at the small man, but Trowa shot him a look and the China man calmed himself before he was noticed, although he was still fuming at the comment. Wufei looked at Trowa, giving him a look that seemed to say "But I want to kill him." Metally 03 answered that he understood but it wasn't a good idea. The large man proceeded to drag them off the tables and back to their room.
The General turned to the Doctors once again. "And patient three?"
"Alive." Monte stated clearly.
"Barely," Jamison grinned evily.
"Excellent. Plans are running smoothly. It won't be long now." The general answered and left the room. Monte followed, Jamison turning the light out as he was the last to flee.
Year: After Colony 232
November 25
11:45 P.M.
Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89
Duo shook his head, trying to make sense of the conversation he had early that morning. He lay in his hotel bed, knowing that it didn't make any sense, that it was impossible, but he wanted to believe it more than anything in the world.
"Duo?"
"But... but... you're dead."
"No. It was faked."
"Why? How? Where are you?"
"There's no time. I can't say. In fact I only have a minute, but Duo?"
"Yes?"
"Don't give up on Heero."
"H-"
"Duo, I have to go. No! No please!"
The feed had died after that, the screaming lingering in Duo's mind. He kept playing it over and over again in his mind. Not dead? Don't give up on Heero? It didn't make any sense. He rolled over to see his computer screen light up. He gazed at the conversation window that had opened.
DJ: Listen Duo. I have information, and you need answers. Meet me in the Lobby of the hotel after the boys leave to get their gundams and fight. They're needed for the war Duo. You've got to find Quatre on your own.
DJ signed off at 11:29:15 PM
Duo rolled over and shut his eyes. "Yeah. Whatever," he whispered.
Year: After Colony 232
November 27
5:45 AM
Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89
"So you leave today?" Bren asked as she sat with Trevet at the dinner in the hotel. Kat was still mad at Yul and had refused to come. Ami was probably "busy" in Tarak's room, and Nikki was off in the lobby with Haru again. She was beginning to feel cold and he wasn't there. Come to think of it, Nikki was always really sad and cold when Haru wasn't around, but she never said why. Bren knew she missed him, but Ami never got that way. Nikki was always weaker and scared when Haru wasn't around. Bren made a mental note to ask about it later.
Trevet nodded. "Yeah. Commander Maxwell wants us to give up our search for-"
"It's alright. You don't have to tell me what you were doing."
"Thanks. But he wants us to fight for the colonies."
"What about the first mission?"
"I dunno. Dad seems to think this is more important."
"Well, then. You had better be careful."
"Aww, Bren. I didn't know you cared." Trevet joked. He fluttered his eye lashes at her.
"I don't." She said, grinning evily. "But lets just say I did. I'd want to know that the man I cared about wasn't sleeping with every girl. I want him to come home a lonely solider."
Trevet blinked. Was she serious? He watched her. She wasn't smiling anymore. She was watching him. There it was. A proposition. If he came back alive and longing for her, he might actually get her. On one condition. He had to stay away from other women while he was away. The blond man ran a hand through his hair. He bit his bottom lip and then nodded. She smiled slightly.
"Well, good luck then." She touched his cheek flirtiously with her hand as she left the table, reminding him what would be waiting for him when he came back. She paused at the door and winked at him. She passed Ayman on the way out and ruffled the boys hair. "You be careful out there, alright?"
Ayman nodded and watched her go. He went to Trevet's table. "I like her. What were you talking about Trev?"
Trevet blinked and looked at Ayman. "An answer to my prayers."
Year: After Colony 232
December 4
8:00 A.M.
Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89
The Kat and Bren walked onto the campus a week after the boys had left. Kat was upset. She hated Yul, but she wanted him. More than anything, and her hate had kept her from saying goodbye. He was out there risking his life. Ami and Nikki joined them, both looking odd. Ami was green and Nikki had no color at all. Each day the big screens around the colony aired live footage of the battles. There was a new one each day; sometimes more. When the screens didn't show battles, they showed a list of the colonists lost the day before. Another day had gone by and The girls didn't see any names they recognized on the lists. They had survived, yet they had watched the five gundams fight and some points had looked very close.
The campus was practically deserted now. The girls knew they had skipped a few classes, and that the some of the students were at funerals for those they had lost. There was definitely a decrease in the amount of males present. Nikki walked as if she was in a trance. She paused every once in a while to watch the screen above the campus. She followed the battle, Haru's gundam always in her sight. The feed blacked and she stood staring.
"Hey, Nikki, Ami, Bren, Kat." Nikki snaped out of it and looked toward who had called her name. Ami threw her arm over Nikki's shoulder.
"Hey Murian." Bren said to a chinese looking girl with blue streaks in her black hair. She wore violet contacts.
"You're wondering why the school is deserted today aren't you?"
"Actually yes." Kat said. Murian handed her a flyer.
"They gave them out early this morning. I'm headed there myself. Maybe I'll see you there. Later, girls." Murian said and ran to catch up with her own group of friends. Kat looked down at the flyer.
WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE COLONIES?
JOIN THE YOUTH SQUADRENTS!
Pilots needed! Training available! All welcome!
They looked at each other. Bren sighed and took the flyer in her hand. "There's a shortage of soldiers to defend the colonies. That can't be good."
"We're not doing any good sitting around and moping, worrying about the boys all the time, are we?" Kat added. Ami shook her head. Nikki just listened.
"I think we should do it. I mean almost everyone else has," Ami added.
"And if everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you?" Nikki claimed. Ami glared at her.
"I'm not just gonna sit by and watch Tarak risk his life to protect me and the rest of us, when I could do something."
"You won't be doing him any good if you're dead!" Tears were streaming down both of their faces. Bren and Kat took them in their arms and let the girls cry.
"You're both right. You won't do them any good if you're not alive, but you can help them in their fight. We just won't lose. Alright?" Bren said.
Nikki and Ami looked at her and after a moment, they nodded. Both girls laughed weakly, hugging each other.
"See, everything is gonna be great." Kat said, coming between them and hugging them both over the shoulders. "Now where exactly do we go?
YAY me! Chapter 8 is the longest one by two typed pages! Go me! Anyway, hope you all enjoyed. Everything is coming together nicely. So go ahead and click the "submit review" button, cause this author is in a really good mood. She gets to see her lil sis tomorrow! YAY me!
