Disclaimer: When you review for this chapter could you tell me what parts you liked the best, I really like knowing what parts people liked and what they hated. Here's chapter 6 for your reading enjoyment. Please enjoy.
"Speech"
'Thought,'
"Communications"
Freedom, Justice and Wing-Zero.
"Explain to me again why Kira isn't here with us?" I asked the desert wind whipping through my hair as we drove through the large desert town of Banadiya.
"We can't have you and Kira away from the Archangel if ZAFT were to attack," Cagalli answered wedged in between me and Shinobu.
"And why are you tagging alone Shinobu? I thought would have wanted to stay with Kira after what Flay said," I retorted peering at her through my sunglasses.
"I want to buy something for Kira, is that a crime big brother?" Shinobu sneered.
It was just a few short hours after Kira had returned to the Archangel with the remaining resistance fighters, Sahib and Murrue agreed that a small group should go into a nearby town to gather supplies. Sahib, Natarle, Neumann and Kisaka were going to see the regions biggest crime lord while Cagalli, Shinobu and myself would be shopping in the town. Hearing this town was the headquarters of the Desert Tiger I brought alone the authorisation form from Siegel Clyne on a backup disk in case we were accidentally captured. Around my waist I carried a 5 inch knife I could pull from behind my back in an emergency. Dropping us off at a pre-arranged location the look in the eyes of Cagalli's bodyguard Kisaka gave me the impression that he'd do something terrible to me if I didn't bring Cagalli back alive.
"Shinobu, should you really be wearing a short skirt like that?" I asked as our transports drove away.
"I was getting tired of wearing those overalls Heero. And besides my legs need some sun," Shinobu replied noticing the large knife attached to my belt. "And what's with the knife? You're not going hunting for coordinators are you?"
"As much as Cagalli needs protecting this knife it to protect you Shinobu. I lost two friends and everyone we knew and I won't loose you too," I said wrapping her in a light hug.
"Just what do you think you can do against a coordinator's superior abilities?" Cagalli asked sceptically.
"Let me make one thing clear Cagalli. I don't care how strong or fast a coordinator is, if they try to hurt my sister there won't be a thing they can do to stop me," I seethed heading for the small shops.
"Don't worry Cagalli, he's very protective of me which can make him very dangerous when it comes to my safety. He once clobbered the captain of our high school football team three years ago because he slapped me when I wouldn't have sex with him. The school almost expelled Heero for the rest of the year," Shinobu whispered following behind Heero. "The guy had six cracked ribs, bruised kidneys, detached retina, three missing teeth, both shoulders dislocated as well as a broken arm and wrist. All Heero had was bleeding knuckles,"
"What in the hell would make him act like that?" Cagalli gasped.
"It was the Zero System. Heero had been using it for six months before he beat up the football captain," Shinobu answered. "If he thinks we're in real life threatening danger the Zero System will make him super aggressive,"
"How can that happen when he's not inside his machine?" Cagalli asked pausing for a flashback. "So that's how he knew ZAFT was attacking Tassil,"
"That's right Cagalli, the Zero System has formed a permanent link with my mind and only Zero can close that link when there's no longer any need for him," Heero said startling both girls. "So where to first? We only have four hours to do our shopping,"
Little did we know that someone was keeping an eye one us the whole time.
Two hours later.
"Congratulations big brother, you managed to spend two hours shopping with us and I didn't hear you complain even once," Shinobu said feigning praise as we sat at a local café for lunch.
"I'm just worried able what would happen it Tallgeese and Epyon showed up in the next hour. Kira would have to fight them alone but there's a chance that he'll just be a target to them," I explained.
"What do you mean by that?" Cagalli asked.
"Kira's Gundam is equipped with Phase Shift armour which only last as long as the power in the battery. Wing-Zero's armour is an alloy just like Tallgeese and Epyon but those two machines have incredible speed and can stay airborne for as long as they want. The Strikes Aile mode does give it more mobility but from what Zero told me, Kira would only last five minutes against both Tallgeese and Epyon," I answered as a waiter place three plates and two sauce bottles on our table. "What are these?"
"These are Doner Kebabs, oh yes sir! I'm so tired and hungry," Cagalli replied picking up the red tipped bottle. "First add some of this chilli sauce,"
"Hold it, wait just a minutes. How could you stoop to put chilli sauce on your kebab? Now this yogurt sauce is the proper thing to add to such a dish," a man in a Hawaiian shirt sunglasses and straw hat had interrupted us and was holding the bottle of yogurt sauce in his hand. "Or rather say it's the proper thing," he paused for a second. "Right, not adding yogurt sauce to this dish is considered a form of sacrilege against Doner kebabs,"
"You got a screw loose or something!" Cagalli shouted dumping chilli sauce of her kebab. The man with the yogurt sauce still in his hand hung his jaw open in shock. "You've got no right to walk up to strangers and tell them how to eat there food,"
"What a terrible waste," he said looking away in dispar as Cagalli took a big bite and swallowed.
"Delicious," she smirked pointing the chilli sauce bottle at me. "Here you try. Chilli sauce and kebabs were made for each other,"
"Hey, wait just a minute! Don't try and force your bad habits on this guy," the man said pushing the chilli sauce away with the yogurt sauce.
"Just back off!" Cagalli snarled.
"Take a look at what you're doing. Oh damn it all," and with that my kebab was smothered in both chilli and yogurt sauce.
"You want to swap big brother?" Shinobu asked from the stunned silence we were in.
"Be my guest," I replied taking her untouched kebab. "Pass the chilli sauce Cagalli,"
"Sure," Cagalli said passing my the bottle.
"It's too tragic to watch," the man cried turning his face away.
'Geez, what planet is this guy from?' I wondered squeezing what was left in the bottle onto my food. Before I even had a chance to take a bite I saw what looked like someone pointing a bazooka in our direction from the corner of my eye seconds before it was fired.
"Hit the dirt!" the man shouted kicking the table into the air sending yogurt and chilli sauce and tea to land on Cagalli.
The bazooka round exploded in the café followed by the sounds of machine gun fire. All this passed over me as I stared wide-eyed at Shinobu unconscious on the ground with a puddle of blood forming around her head.
"Die you rotten space monsters!"
"For the preservation of our blue and pure world!"
"Those guys are Blue Cosmos!" Cagalli shouted over the gun fire not noticing the yellow glow in my eyes. "Heero! Are you even listening to me?"
"No one hurts my sister and gets away with it!" I shouted leaping over the table and straight into the fight.
The first one was so surprised to see me jumping at him, he never had time to raise his rifle before I smashed him over the head with a chair then drove my knife through his back.
Regular POV.
Waltfeld couldn't believe what he was seeing. This kid was fight at speeds which would match a coordinator's. He seemed like an every day teenager hanging out with his sister's friend for a shopping trip but now he was fighting like a crazed warrior using just his fists and a rifle all on his own. Waltfeld even noticed to way his eyes were glowing bright yellow as he fought, before the attack his eyes were a calm blue colour. Something Waltfeld found admirable was how much he cared for his sister's safety. When it ended Heero stood amongst the corpses still holding the rifle from the man he killed, his bloodied knife in his left hand. What hadn't changed was the yellow glow in his eyes.
"He's unbelievable," Cagalli gasped holding her hand over Shinobu's head wound.
Slowly the glow in his eyes faded away and the angry expression on his face changed to a look of disgust.
"Heero! Shinobu's waking up!" Cagalli shouted.
Heero's POV.
Waltfeld's mansion.
Finding out our mysterious stranger was Andrew Waltfeld the Desert Tiger wasn't as big a surprise for me as it was for Cagalli. As his soldiers cleaned up the mess in town the three of us were invited to his mansion so Cagalli could be cleaned up and Shinobu's injures looked at. When Waltfeld kicked the table up to protect us it inadvertently whacked Shinobu in the jaw making her fall back and hit the back of her head on the ground. Since it was in the heat of the moment I didn't have any reason to hold Waltfeld responsible. Walking inside we were introduced to Waltfeld's lover Aisha who took Cagalli and Shinobu with her down the hall and I couldn't help but follow her hips as she walked.
"Hey, what are you staring at?" Waltfeld asked breaking my trance.
"You are one lucky bastard to get someone like her," I said joining him in his rumpus room. "Do you have the authorisation to access Mobilesuit deployments for Earth?"
"Now why would you be asking me this? You're not an enemy spy are you?" he asked handing me a cup of coffee. "I'm sorry but I can't give classified information to a civilian,"
"I have top level authorisation from chairman Clyne allowing me to access any information I want," I replied handing him the disk. "There are two suits I need to know about, Tallgeese and Epyon. I want to know when they're being sent to Earth,"
"I see, then you must be the one how rescued Miss Lacus from the legged ship," he grinned. "Tallgeese and Epyon are due to be transferred under my command by tomorrow at the latest. You have my assurances this conversation won't go beyond these four walls, pilot of Wing-Zero,"
"What else do you know?" I asked taking a sip of this strange smelling coffee.
"Only what I overheard at the café before I interrupted you," Waltfeld replied. "The question is why are you fighting against them?"
"Tallgeese and Epyon are stolen property. They belonged to my friends before they were killed by ZAFT. I have no intention of fighting against you unless I have to but Lacus did make me promise I'd live with her after I've finished my mission on Earth," I smiled remembering her sweet giggling. "She is after all my girlfriend now, even if I'm only natural,"
"You claim to be a natural yet you fight will the speed and strength of a coordinator. Something tells me you don't know what you really are or you only become a coordinator when you fight," Waltfeld said turning his attention to the door. "But I see Aisha's finished with our young ladies,"
'I so wish Kira was here to see this,' I mused staring at the ladylike version of my sister and Cagalli.
Cagalli was wearing a strapless aqua dress that came down to her ankles with low high heels and her face was coloured scarlet, while Shinobu a very nice pink spaghetti strap dress the same length as Cagalli's dress which showed off a generous amount of cleavage with a thigh slit which ended mid thigh and a nice pair of sandals.
"Well, what do you think?" Aisha asked pushing the girls forward.
"I think this is some of your best work yet Aisha," Waltfeld replied setting his cup on the coffee table. "Wouldn't you agree Heero?"
"My little sister is a woman and Cagalli you should wear dresses more often," I said as she tried pulling her dress up to cover her chest more. "If you were wearing a dress when that scorpion crawled up your leg I wouldn't have needed to pull your pants down,"
"Do you have to tell that to everyone we meet you jackass!" Cagalli shouted balling her fist at me.
At Cagalli's outburst Waltfeld and Aisha promptly cracked in a fit of laughter that had Aisha holding her sides as she tried to stay on her feet, even Shinobu was joining in the hilarity.
"Which dress do you think Lacus would look good in Heero?" Shinobu asked taking a seat beside Waltfeld.
"I'd have to say both and it's a pity she's not here right now," I replied draining the rest of my coffee. "What'd you do with their other clothes?"
"There're being washed, it wouldn't be right to send these ladies home with blood, chilli and yogurt sauce stains," Aisha answered sitting on Waltfeld's opposite side. "My Andy might be a ZAFT commander but killing his enemy or taking prisoners when he's not on the battle field isn't his style,"
'If only other commanders were as laid back as you,' I mentally added.
"Is it your style to burn down peoples homes in the middle of the night?" Cagalli asked adopting a hostile tone. "You must enjoy play sadistic little games with your enemy. Can't attack us directly because we've got the Strike and Archangel protecting us so you make an entire town of people homeless,"
"If you'll be excusing us, Aisha and I have some other matters to attend to," Waltfeld said leaving the room and closing the door.
"What the hell do you know about war Cagalli? Soldiers follow the orders of people safely behind their desks how know little or nothing about actually fighting. In a game of sports you have rules but in war there are no rules. Where I come from I once watched as a battalion of Mobilesuits destroy an entire city, while the people were sleeping. If you want to blame someone for all the bloodshed, blame the people in charge of the military," I said calmly. "The city was destroyed because my friends and I refused to turn over our Gundams. When our time limit was up the enemy commander ordered the troops to open fire, they hesitated but the city was still destroyed. But that war is different from this one. Because there's no such thing as a coordinator the war I fought in was only between us and a large group of soldiers within the military who were trying to take over the current government,"
"So then what are you fighting for?" Cagalli asked. "Why were you fighting in the first place?"
"I'm not interested in involving myself in your war. My only mission is to destroy Tallgeese and Epyon then head up to the Plants so I can be with Lacus. As for why I was fighting doesn't really matter anymore. I was trying to kill the man who murdered our father but now that I'll never get that opportunity I guess I don't have anything to fight for. Zero hasn't shown me where my future in this world lies," I replied staring out the window.
Regular POV.
The Next Day.
Outside Lacus' house in the Plants.
"Recognition number 285002. Athrun Zala of the Le Creuset team, here to see Miss Clyne," Athrun said showing his ID card to the security camera at the gate.
"Identity confirmed, you may proceed," replied to automated voice recording.
Parking his car in the driveway Athrun took a calming breath before exiting with the bouquet of flowers. When on the battle field Athrun was always ready to die if it was his time and he was never nervous about it. But now as he climbed the small flight of steps to the front door he found himself shaking in his well polished shoes. It wasn't everyday an elite soldier was graced with an invitation to Lacus Clyne's house, especially when she was the most popular idol in the Plants. Tugging at his collar to the thousandth time Athrun pressed the doorbell and waited for only a few second as one of the butlers answered.
"Good day sir, Miss Lacus has been expecting you," the butler said taking Athrun's coat.
"Thank you," Athrun replied hearing padded footsteps from the second level. 'This is the second time I've been in Lacus' house. First time was when I was told she and I were engaged, but I only like her as a friend. How am I supposed to marry someone when I don't even love her? I really wish someone would take my place, I just want to be friends with Lacus,'
"Oh hello Athrun, it's good to see you again," Lacus said drawing his attention to the stairs dressed in her casual white dress.
"I'm sorry I'm late, these are for you," he replied handing her the bouquet, noticing she looked a bit flushed and her hair was slightly messy. (A/N: I wonder why.) "Are you all right? You look like you've got a fever,"
"Oh no I'm quite all right thank you," she answered taking the flowers from him, accidentally brushing a hand against his which he also noticed was wet.
"Are you sure you weren't in the middle of something when I arrived?" he asked with a smirk as she hid her face behind the purple flowers trying to hide her blush. "Who were you thinking about?"
"We should go outside so I can explain everything," Lacus replied heading back upstairs. "Could you wait while I freshen up?"
"Take all the time you need," Athrun answered back.
Ten Minutes Later.
"Athrun, I'm afraid I've fallen in love with someone else. Someone who helped me through a hard moment with a girl on the Archangel," Lacus explained sitting at a small table with Athrun now with her hair nice and neat, with a hint of perfume.
"Heero Yuy? You've fallen in love with the natural who brought you back the Vesalius?" Athrun gasped in shock.
"What does it matter that he's a natural? I'm in love with him and that's final. I don't mean to hurt your feelings Athrun but you weren't on the Earth Forces vessel when he defended me from a girl who said she hates all coordinators, that we aren't human, that we should all die. It was so sad to hear those words that I wanted to cry, Heero comforted me held me in his arms as I wept. Heero is a person who looks past the genetic alterations and sees the person for who they really are," she described, a warm smile and blush gracing her face. "He was even kind enough to give me my first kiss in our room. And my second,"
"If you're worried about hurting my feelings you don't have to. I only ever thought of you as a good friend, that's as far as my feelings for you go," he said looking out over the bay. "But if he's with the legged ship then he's become ZAFT's enemy and that means we'll probably have to destroy him,"
"You're wrong Athrun, he's piloting Wing-Zero and I know that even Commander Le Creuset wouldn't be able to destroy him," she replied watching a bird fly past. "Did you know the Tallgeese and Epyon were piloted by friends of his until they were killed?"
"How do you know about those suits?" he asked snapping his head back to her.
"He told me so. I've been keeping in contact with him for the last few days and he's coming to me, once he's destroyed Tallgeese and Epyon. But if you tell anyone else what I've told you, I never want to hear from you or see your face again," she threatened poking his chest with her finger.
"All right I won't tell anyone I promise," Athrun replied putting his hands up in surrender. "I hope you two are happy together,"
"Thank you Athrun, you're such a good friend," Lacus smiled.
Back on Earth.
In the middle of the desert three Mobilesuit carrier plans landed around the Lesseps, opening their doors to unload the six ZuOOTs, the Duel and the Buster. Inside the large carrier commander Waltfeld dropped the report on the suits he was given from ZAFT's Gibraltar base.
"What's up with those guys at Gibraltar? Why are they sending us ZuOOTs? Are they all out of BeCUEs?" Waltfeld asked.
"They said they can't give us anymore. Maybe they think they're doing us a favour by sending those two guys," DaCosta replied looking out the window as the third transport unloaded the Duel and Buster.
"There pilot's battle experience is limited to outer space. I can help but think they'll get tin the way down here," Waltfeld said.
"They are from an elite unit," DaCosta added.
"I don't like the fact that they're from the Le Creuset team. I could never stand that guy," Waltfeld retorted watching two airborne suits land on the Lesseps deck. "Command must really want that legged ship destroyed if they sent us Tallgeese and Epyon,"
"Actually sir, from what I've been told their mission is to destroy or capture a Mobilesuit called Wing-Zero. They said it descended to Earth with the legged ship but they didn't know it's location until two days ago which is somewhere in this region. Its exact position is unknown at this point," DaCosta explained.
"Well then, let's go meet our newest editions," Waltfeld replied heading out of his office.
Outside on the Lesseps deck the Duel and Buster were standing along side Tallgeese and Epyon with the pilots assembled at their feet, shielding their faces from the blinding sand.
"What an awful place. What are we doing here?" Dearka commented trying to get the sand out of his hair.
"They say you can't really appreciate the desert till you live here," came Waltfeld's voice. "I'm Andrew Waltfeld, commander of the Lesseps,"
"Yzak Joule, Dearka Elsman, Scott Becker and Ben Harper of the Le Creuset team reporting as order Commander Waltfeld," Yzak said saluting along with the others.
"When one doesn't have a bad scar removed, some might say it's a sign of your commitment," Waltfeld said smirking as Yzak turned his head away. "Or since you've turned your head away I'd say it's a symbol of you humiliation,"
"Commander Waltfeld, we'd like to know if you have any information on Wing-Zero's battle strength," Becker requested dropping his right hand at his side.
"I'm afraid there's nothing to tell. The only Mobilesuit we've seen from the legged ship in the Strike. Sorry I couldn't be of more help to your mission," Waltfeld answered looking up at the Duel and Buster. "Where will you two be assigned once you'd destroyed it?"
"We'll be stationed at Carpentaria to await the approval of operation Spit Break," Harper replied smiling proudly at Tallgeese. "With these suits we'll destroy those rotten naturals,"
"Don't go letting you egos get in the way of you mission! If you do then you'll be the one who's destroyed by Wing-Zero!" Waltfeld shouted snapping the four pilots to attention. "Now if you'll follow me I'll brief you on the legged ship's current location,"
Heero's POV.
Resistance Base.
After returning from Banadiya yesterday Kira's jaw almost hit the ground when he saw Shinobu in the dress given to her by our gracious host, Cagalli quickly grabbed her regular clothes and went to change. Today was the day we would attempt to break through the ZAFT forces and make our way to the red sea and then to the Indian Ocean. I had spent most of the night and morning modifying the Striker packs which allowed more fight time and less drain on the main battery. At a briefing we were shown video footage of the Lesseps and two escort ships receiving supplies and Mobilesuits including the Buster and Duel. The two that caught my eye were the Tallgeese and Epyon.
"So Heero, what do you plan to do?" Murrue asked.
"I'll launch and wait about ten kilometres from the battle zone, I'll wait till they go past me then alert Tallgeese and Epyon to my position and lure away from the Archangel," I replied frowning at the video screen.
"Won't they detect your approach?" Natarle asked.
"Impossible, Zero has a Hyper-Jammer stealth system which makes it invisible to all forms of electronic sensors. You can't see it unless you look for it with your eyes," Shinobu explained.
"In others words if I were to fly over Banadiya the people would see me. Zero can't disappear from sight like the Blitz can, but the Hyper-Jammers will make sure the Lesseps and its support ships won't get a look at me destroying Tallgeese and Epyon," I added.
"What does it matter if they see you fighting against them?" Shinobu asked.
"I'm going to the Plants to live with Lacus once my business on Earth is finished. And before any of you jump to conclusions I'm not going to fight against the Earth Forces unless you give me a reason, remember this isn't my war," I said seeing the shocked look on Natarle's face. "I've acquired something that'll get me into the Plants without a problem, I hope,"
"But you're a natural, the second the Plants find that out you'll be executed, especially if chairman Zala finds out," Natarle objected.
"I'm not a natural. It turns out I'm a coordinator after all. I had the Archangel Doctor analyse my DNA and he found out I'm a test tube baby," I replied looking over at Shinobu. "I'm still your brother Shinobu, the doctor compared our DNA and we had the same parents, I was just grown in a lab. I'm most likely the only one that was ever created because I read somewhere the experiments were cancelled after the government decided it was inhumane to manipulate a human being's DNA,"
"I'm so sorry Heero," Murrue said placing a hand on my shoulder.
"That must be why Jake and Zack were never able to use the Zero System properly," Shinobu brought up.
"That's right. Tallgeese and Epyon were made to incorporate the Zero System but my friends couldn't control it," I realised.
"Sahib! All preparations have been completed, we're ready to move out,"
"Then let's go. This time we'll finish off the Tiger once and for all," Sahib said grabbing a rifle and running outside to the waiting vehicles along with everyone else.
"Captain Ramius," I called out grabbing her arm. "I think you should know Zero showed me a possible future for the Archangel where you'll be fighting against ZAFT and the Earth Forces,"
"You can't be serious," she demanded.
"I am because Zero also showed I would live happily with Lacus and I trust Zero's predictions. They've never been wrong," I replied releasing her arm. "Don't tell anyone else ok especially Natarle,"
"You have my word," she said running off to the Archangel with me right behind her.
Regular POV.
Lesseps Bridge.
"Commander, we've spotted the legged ship. It's currently on the move to the remains of the factory district,"
"Any Mobilesuit deployment?" Waltfeld asked.
"None what so ever sir,"
"Right then. Becker, Harper, I want you two on stand by in your suits. If you detect Wing-Zero you are authorised to intercept and destroy it. The rest of us will focus our attention on the legged ship, understood," Waltfeld instructed.
"Yes sir," Becker and Harper saluted leaving the bridge.
"What about us Commander?" Yzak asked. "What's the plan of attack?"
"The BeCUEs will launch and attack the Strike. The rest of our forces will attack the legged ship. DaCosta tell the hanger crew to get my LaGOWE ready for launch. Commence the attack once we're in their radar range," Waltfeld ordered leaving the bridge himself. "As for the Duel and Buster, you two will remain on the Lesseps and provide long range covering fire,"
Tallgeese's Cockpit.
"Hey Harper, you got anything?" Becker asked searching for Zero's transponder code.
"Not a damn thing Becker. Wait transponder code located, two kilometres southeast. Let's get him!" Harper cheered transforming Epyon into its mobile armour mode, flying towards the source of the code.
"Be careful Harper, something tells me Wing-Zero has more power than Tallgeese alone," Becker cautioned flying after his team mate.
"Screw that Becker! If you're too afraid then you shouldn't have been given a red uniform," Harper taunted. "There's no way any natural can beat me!"
'I'm beginning to wonder why they gave you a red uniform in the first place,' Becker wondered pulling Tallgeese alongside Epyon. "I'll go in and draw his fire, when he shoots at me you can attack him from behind,"
"I've always wanted to stab someone in the back," Harper replied grinning insanely as Tallgeese shot past Epyon.
Disclaimer: I hope you liked this extra long chapter I've prepared for your enjoyment, it took me a while to decide when to end it. I wanted to play through the battle but we'll get to that in chapter 7 for now you can just leave a review telling me what parts were your favourite.