Gundam Wing: The First Chapter Part 14
His black boots fell heavily with every step that he took down the tiled hallway echoing off the white walls. As he walked, there were armed OZ soldiers along either side of the hall. They stood as statues without paying him any mind. Each rise and fall of his feet was done with precision and purpose as the tall man made his way to his destination. Reaching the door at the end of the long hall, the soldier standing guard merely gave a firm nod before opening the door for him. The top of the doorframe was just barely over his head when he entered with the door closing behind him.
The blonde man sitting behind the desk inside smiled up at him, "Good to finally meet you in person, my friend. Your reputation precedes you."
Pausing in the center of the room, the dark-haired man glowered, "As the man in charge of OZ in these far reaches of Space, you hardly seem to need any assistance from the likes of myself. Being hunted down by some of your men and forced here doesn't sit well with me, Commander Dalton."
Sitting up in his desk, the blonde man's smile grew as he nodded, "I admire your boldness, Demetris. And yes, while Treize did leave me in command of OZ's influence over the Colonies beyond Mars's orbit, it seems that I could have use of your... skills." His voice lingered on the last word with a hint of amusement. Demetris' eyes narrowed but his listened nonetheless.
Rising from his seat, Dalton walked towards the muscular man as he smirked ruefully, "That mobile suit of yours that you had stolen, the Capricorn, is quite an impressive weapon. It's been quite the aid in your killing sprees. Once a bounty hunter, the thrill of the kill is still with you. Never staying in one Colony, you pick a nameless person to target as your prey. It was quite the challenge hunting the hunter."
"I still don't see the point of this," Demetris growled deeply. "You wouldn't have gone through the trouble of bringing me here to discuss those hundreds of nameless people I've killed."
Dalton's smile returned as he gazed up at him and replied, "And you would be right in saying so." Folding his hands behind his back, the blonde stated, "You and I could be a great service to each other.
Snorting, Demetris crossed his arms over his gray top as he said, "I'd like to hear how."
Nodding, the Commander became more serious as he frowned, "You see, after that stirring speech given on behalf of Space Colony Area D, more than half of the Colonies that were not aligned with OZ beyond Mars willingly joined with us against the Gundam pilots. Those who did not sign were occupied and forced to join us. We had every Colony beyond Mars, more than three hundred thousand Colonies, under our influence." Demetris' stoic expression never changed and he never hinted to being impressed as he remained still, watching, listening.
Slowly, Dalton's face reddened as his eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched, "Then two Gundam pilots began liberating a small cluster of those Colonies we occupied near Saturn. In turn, those freed Colonies not only sided with them, but they went on to attack our soldiers commanding over other Colonies. Slowly but surely, those damn pilots have been shattering the stronghold of our power in Space."
"And you want me to... dispose of these two pilots," Demetris concluded in a flat tone. Regaining his composure, the blonde nodded, but was cut off before he could say anything further as the dark-haired man raised a hand. "It'll come with a hefty price. Capricorn is not a Gundam, as impressive a mobile suit as it is." He took only a brief moment to consider before stating, "Fifty million. Each pilot."
The sinister grin spread on Dalton's face as he gave a firm nod, "Done." Walking over to the marble wall to the right side of the room, the young leader pressed a remote button. The wall split in the center to reveal a black screen hidden behind it. Walking beside the screen, Dalton addressed, "Allow me to introduce you to your targets."
With the press of another button, four pictures appeared on the screen, two images of two girls taking up the top half of the screen with a captures shot of their Gundams beneath them. Demetris' dark eyes widened for a moment as he gazed in disbelief at the mug shots of the two young pilots. The girl pictured on the left wore a stoic expression as her piercing cobalt eyes gazed forward. Her long hair was pulled pack in a ponytail. Meanwhile, the girl on the right wore a backwards baseball cap over her head of long blue hair that almost matched the shade of her eyes. A playful smile was tugged on her lips.
Fighting the laughter back that filled his chest, Demetris pointed at the screen as he met the Commander's eyes and chuckled, "These girls? They're your threat?"
Unimpressed, Dalton's brown eyes narrowed as he spoke firmly, "If they were so easy to take care of, would I have gone through the trouble I had to find you?" Instantly, the laughter died away as the tall man cleared his throat, giving a nod for the younger man to continue.
Gesturing to the left side of the screen, the blonde said in an informative tone, "Kumi Yuy, otherwise known as pilot One Zero. Beneath her picture is a shot of her Gundam, Excalibur. Completely identical to the Gundam known as Wing with the exception of their colors, both her suit and that belonging to Heero Yuy of operation Meteor were created by their trainer, Doctor J. We have proven that both Kumi and Heero Yuy are of blood relation. From their intense training, at the age of fifteen, Kumi has proven to be a match, if not better than our most experienced soldiers." Taking in the image of the silver-haired girl and her black Gundam with large silver wings, Demetris nodded.
"Princess Sette Devion," the Commander went on as he rested his hand against the right side of the screen. "We learned her father, the king of H7, stole a design of a Gundam suit and created his own. While she has no experience or known training in piloting, Sette has proven to be more than a challenge for my troops. The princess just turned fifteen five months ago. She uses her Zero Seven, otherwise known as Mason as her weapon; her father uses his words in transmitted messages to those Colonies who willingly signed with OZ. We have heard rumors that Sette could have been self-trained for in how to master her Gundam's laser mallet when the suit was completed two years prior to now." Demetris studied the tomboy's smiling face and the facemask etched into the metal face of Mason.
Studying the images of both girls, the hunter's eyes took on a predatory lust. Walking towards the tall man, Dalton's face took on a look of rage as he concluded, "I want them found and disposed of. How you carry out the job is up to you. Just be sure they suffer before they meet their end."
"Oh don't worry," Demetris smirked with a dark, distant voice as he stared at the pictures. "It'll be my pleasure."
* * * * * *
In the back yard of the safe house where he had been staying on L2, Duo knelt among collection of scrap piled along the fences. Lifting a small bolt, his closed one violet eye as he inspected it closely with the other, as a thoughtful hum escaped his throat. As she ran into the yard, Hilde called, "Duo!"
Placing the bolt into a small bag next to him, the braided pilot turned in his friend's direction as he asked, "Any success?"
Stopping herself and panting softly, the girl frowned in disappointment. Shaking her head, she answered, "Uh uh. I couldn't get any information on the new transport plan."
Rising to his feet and placing his hands on his hips, Duo chuckled encouragingly, "OZ isn't that ignorant. They're just being more cautious than before." His fists clenched as he growled, "I'd love to destroy Barge right now." With was soft sigh, he sat on the black table behind him as he shrugged, "But I'll have to put it off for a while."
Concern filled Hilde's eyes as she questioned, "Are you going to keep on fighting alone, Duo?"
"What choice do I have?" he asked when he replied. "I've got no idea where the others are." Smiling, the American looked up to the sky as he stated, "So, I'll just have to go it alone."
The young woman placed a hand over her chest as she smiled, "Let me know if there's any way I can be of help, Duo. I'll do anything."
Knowing Hilde's anxiousness to assist was as sincere as it was an attempt to return to action in the war, Duo hummed to himself as his violet eyes turned to her. "Okay," he said at last. Leaning towards her, he chided, "I wouldn't mind having a juicy steak for dinner."
Hilde folded her arms with a deep scowl as and glared, "Come off it. I'm serious."
Laughing, the braided pilot assured her, "I know. I know. You're doing more than enough already." The air suddenly filled with the loud rumble of engines as the two teenagers looked up and ahead of them in confusion.
The sound of the engines roared all the louder as a large craft flew in their direction. As it approached, it flew over the neighboring houses, soaring lower and closer as it approached Duo and Hilde. Her eyes wide, the girl asked in a sharp gasp, "What is that?"
Running up to her side, Duo's own eyes watched the white craft closely. "Wait a sec," his voice cut through the loud rumble. "It's a Gundam." Filled with shock and confusion, he watched as Wing Zero landed just before the two of them. At that moment, hope filled the braided youth's eyes as his voice whispered in his head. "Heero?"
Suddenly, the white suit raised its Beam Cannon on the Gundam pilot. An unfamiliar voice rang through the intercom to command, "Freeze." Slowly, Wing Zero's cockpit opened as a man in his late twenties stepped onto its platform. With the large gun locked on the American, the brunette smirked wickedly to himself as he stood in his OZ space uniform. He had found who he was looking for.
Commanding certainty in his voice, the man called down to his target, "Duo Maxwell, I demand that you come with me." To be certain that he was not making in the mood for any games, he snapped, "Do it, or you're dead."
Gasping softly, Hilde turned to her friend with fear in her eyes. Duo briefly looked to her before gazing back up at the soldier. Closing his eyes and stretching his arms out, he answered, "Hey, do what you gotta do." Placing one hand on his hip, the braided pilot met the man's piercing stare as he reprimanded, "But, remember the power of that Beam Cannon. You could completely demolish this colony."
Unstirred by that threat, the soldier replied simply, "I don't care." Duo's eyes widened as his arms fell to his side, his only chance at staling the man having no effect. "I have no interest in what happens to this place, kid," that cold voice continued.
Without moving from his post, the young man explained to his prey, "I've got no intention of remaining an insignificant technical officer. Once I've figured out this Gundam's system, Cornel Tsuberov's mobile dolls will a useless tool of the past." His blood boiling, Duo glared threateningly at the officer. The arrogant soldier smiled, "What the new OZ needs is a completely new system." Raising an eyebrow, he stated firmly, "I'll do whatever is required to make that happen."
Narrowing his own eyes, he ordered, "Now come here, Gundam pilot." Seething, Duo's enraged growl grew in his throat as the officer concluded, "You're the only one I want."
* * * * * *
Several miles from the Colony, Duo was sitting in Wing Zero in his own space suit. He gazed to the lifeless Taurus dolls floating in the space around them in anticipation of the drill to come. The officer that had captured him and brought him to the cold heart of space watched from his own Taurus suit at a safe distance. Finally, he gave word. "Right. Commence."
Instantly, the still Taurus mobile suits came to life as they soared after Wing Zero, firing and unleashing their attack. Within the cockpit, Duo managed to dodge the initial attempts made at him as he scanned the field he had to work in. Visualizing his distance from the Colony, he thought to himself, "If I use the Cannon from this position, it'll hurt the Colony..." Bringing Zero's hand to remove its laser blade, he grunted, "So, use this instead!"
The fight took on a new light as the braided pilot cut his way through his opponents with little difficulty. Several minutes passed as the Taurus suits were slowly being taken out. Watching the image of the Gundam pilot on his own monitors, the OZ Lieutenant gazed on the focus in the boy's eyes as he looked from side-to-side, taking in his enemies. "That's it," Trent smiled to himself as he continued to study the screen. "That's the way to fight. Show me exactly everything you see before you."
Never slowing, the American maneuvered the white Gundam to slice through any opponent in his path. In the heat of battle, Duo looked to his left monitor, only to freeze and cry out in shock as his eyes widened in fear. His red scanned was slitting in two, disorienting his vision. "Huh!? What's this!?" he yelled before looking forward.
The red scanner before him in his monitor also began to split. Just then, it faded completely as the image of Deathscythe filled the monitor. Terror stricken, the braided pilot's wide eyes gazed in disbelief as he shouted, "What!? No way!?"
"So you saw it," Trent's voice called through the transmitter. Anticipation filled his gaze as he sat forward in his own seat as he said, "You must tell me. Just what is the Wing Zero trying to show the pilot?"
Frustration rising in his own tone, Duo hollered, "How am I supposed to know what it means!?" Just then, a Taurus from behind him fired, just missing as he pulled out at the last moment. Turning to that target, the American forced himself to gather his bearings as he told himself, "I see. That's my enemy."
Gripping the controls, the Gundam pilot threw himself back into the fight as he continued to cut and tear away at the suits opposing him. As he lost himself to the struggle, Duo suddenly froze as all that appeared on the monitor before him were images of Deathscythe floating up past him. Hundreds of them filled his vision as his breath came in short, raspy breaths. His mouth hung open and his eyes wide in terror, Duo cried out before his eyes closed tightly. Throwing his head back, he loosed a bloodcurdling scream as the cockpit suddenly filled with a blinding, golden glow.
In his own cockpit, Trent's shocked eyes were filled with the same glow in his monitor as he yelled, "What now!?"
Lost in a daze as the Zero System controlled him, Duo felt himself move in slow motion as the remaining Taurus suits fell upon him from every angle. Without blinking, the American raised the Beam Cannon. Where he was and what he was doing no longer mattered. All that he was aware of was that he needed to kill his enemy. Left and right, they were all taken by the blinding golden light fired by the massive weapon.
Making another turn, bound in the Zero system, his eyes widened, falling on Wing as the white suit soared in his direction. "Heero!?" Duo gasped as the white Gundam shot forward.
The Wing pilot gripped his controls within his cockpit as his cobalt eyes narrowed on the twin of his suit. Pushing forward, he sent his Wing soaring forward in a swift charge as he raises the suit's laser beam. Shaking his head, Duo was no longer in his space suit as he sat in priest attire. "Heero! No! I can't stop myself!" he shouted. His cockpit glowed all the brighter as the braided pilot collapsed forward with a cry of pain. Once he opened his eyes and sat up again, he glared on the Gundam rushing towards him. With a threatening growl, Duo raided the Beam Cannon and fired.
Only after the trigger was pulled did Duo realize what he had done. To his horror, he watched with a sharp gasp as the bright beam engulfed Wing Zero before him. The beam continued on, straight for L2. He never realized that Heero had put himself in the direct path of the Colony. The devastating blast ripped through the streets not far from the house that Duo and his friend shared. Hilde turned with terror in her eyes as the force tore its way towards her. Screaming in agony, the young girl was thrown back in the blast of dirt and rubble flying up from the attack. Within a heartbeat, L2 was taken in a massive explosion.
Panting in his seat, Duo's wide eyes leaked tears that ran down his cheeks in rivers as he witnessed it all. The remains of Wing floated before him as he strained to catch his breath. His attempts were taken away with a sharp gasp when he saw Heero's body drift from the shattered shell of his cockpit. Blood flowed from where the Wing pilot's left arm and foot had been... where only stumps remained. His dying, wide cobalt eyes looked on the twin to his won seat as blood ran from his mouth. The Japanese boy's voice was nearly missed as he whispered, "D...uo."
His hands falling from the controls, Duo brought them to his tear-streaked face and shook his head in disbelief as he whimpered. Brokenly, he whispered, "H-Heero... God, Please..." His panting became ragged as his eyes squeezed tightly closed. Throwing his head back, he screamed, "Nooo! Heero, I didn't mean to! God, I didn't!"
Suddenly, with another sharp cry, Duo sat back in his seat. Blinking dry, violet eyes, he took a shaky breath and slouched forward. To his amazement, the American found himself back in his space suit without a tear in sight. Stunned, he whispered to himself, "W-what have I been doing? ...What on Earth have I been doing?" Looking up to the monitor, his eyes widened as he gasped, "Huh!?"
The last of the Taurus suits was before him, directly in his line of sight to L2. The blade of Wing had been driven right through the cockpit of the mobile suit. The tip of the glowing weapon cleared through the back as the only thing supporting the final target. Pulling the sword back, Duo let the Taurus fall away before it exploded.
Lifting the blade to examine it, the braided pilot's faint voice pleaded, "No... No way." Casting his gaze up again, a small gasp left him. All around, debris from the battle floated and filled his screen. Duo could only remember the beginning of the fight. How he managed to accomplish this... he feared to believe that it was possible. "It couldn't be. There's no way," he finally spoke brokenly. "How could a person do this?"
"It's possible," a voice spoke calmly. Looking up, Duo's eyes met Lieutenant Trent's. The OZ soldier had his arms folded over the control panel of Wing as he stood in the opened cockpit. The two suited pilots never looked away from each other as the man smiled, "Believe me, it is. We can do anything with this outstanding system. It's capable of altering human consciousness." Duo's fears took new light at this news. He remained still with his lips parted in shock.
Leaning closer to emphasis his point, Trent whispered, "Anything is possible with this."
* * * * * *
Stepping into the living room of the house, Duo became dizzy again as he had to slap his hand against the wall to support himself. Hilde ran up with concern in here eyes as she shouted, "Duo!" The pale boy grunted in effort as he forced himself to straighten. Reaching her friend, she placed a supportive hand on his arm as she asked softly, "What happened out there? You've been quiet ever since Trent took you with him in Wing."
Forcing a smile, the American chuckled softly, "I'm just a little tired, Hil, that's all. That fight took a lot out of me." He walked towards his room as he closed his eyes and waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing to worry about. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep," he said in a reassuring cheerfulness.
Hilde sighed softly to herself as she kept her place. "Alright," she relied finally. "Just let me know if you need anything."
Pausing in the doorway of his room, Duo lowered his head. "There is one thing," he spoke quietly. Though he never turned to look back at her, Hilde nodded. Taking a deep breath, the braided pilot stated, "Pray that Zero System doesn't fall in the wrong hands." At that, he stepped into the safety of his quarters as the door slid closed behind him.
As he neared his bed, Duo collapsed forward onto the mattress. Closing his eyes, he collected a few shuddery breaths. "A weapon that alters human consciousness," he whispered to himself, fear trailing his tone. Opening a violet eye, he peered out into nothingness as he spoke softly, "A man would be unstoppable with that power."
Duo turned himself onto his back, not bothering anything more than kicking his black boots off as he stared at the ceiling. Closing his eyes, he rested a hand limply over his forehead as he sighed, "It all seemed so real." Slowly, his eyes opened as his frown deepened. "L2 exploding, Wing Zero coming after me..." Biting his lip, Duo's voice cracked as he whispered, "Heero..."
The image of Heero's body came to his vision again. Those wide cobalt eyes of the Japanese pilot as he bled from the stumps there his left leg and arm had been. The memory of it shuddered the braided pilot's body as he wrapped his arms tightly around himself. Sighing softly, he whispered, "It manifested my worst of fears... It altered my mind to see myself killing all those I care about. Ever since I met him, I was afraid to get close to Heero. Everyone I got close to had been killed."
Raising his hand up, Duo peered at his opened hand as he continued to speak quietly, "Heero is the only person that I've ever fallen in love with. But... I would rather keep my distance than let anything happen to him." His hand clenched into a sight fist as he growled, "Damn it, I thought there was a chance."
Thinking to the night that he and the Wing pilot shared that kiss in the OZ cell, Duo felt his lips tingling from the memory. "I let my hopes get up since then," the American frowned. "As much as I tried to keep that from happening, I couldn't help it."
Lowering his shaking fist, Duo stared at it as he pledged softly, "Heero's safety comes first and foremost... Not some foolish dream." With that, he turned the light on the desk beside his bed out and wrapped his sheets around him as he settled himself for sleep.
It was just a foolish dream. How could he have been as stupid to hope that maybe he had a chance with the impossible? He was Death itself. He would just have to deal with what could have been and nothing more. All of these things Duo knew. His own voice repeated this mantra over and over that night.
In his sleep, a single tear slipped down his cheek.
* * * * * *
Kumi's cobalt eyes narrowed on her monitor as she growled deeply. Colony R712 was occupied heavier than they first estimated. What should have been an easy hit turned out to be one of their more difficult struggles. Blood ran from the gash over her right brow as she clutched her controls. Soaring Excalibur through a net of attacking Leos, she sliced with her laser blade through each of them, despite their attempts to take her down. Growling deeply, she called, "How much further, Sette?"
In her own cockpit, the teenage princess finished off a pair of Virgos with Mason's impressive mallet. Wiping some of the sweat coating her face, her breaths were ragged as she scanned the battlefield. Her own hands were cut and bleeding from her efforts as she typed a few commands into her panel. A large number of red spheres blinked on the map on her screen. Panting, she answered, "There's still a shit load of OZ soldiers to go, but Matt's reinforcements should be here any minute."
Before she could answer, the silver-haired pilot fired Excalibur's Beam Cannon to wipe out an oncoming swarm of Aires suits. As the blast glowed in her cockpit, Kumi's deep voice rumbled in a hiss, "The moment I get my hands around that bastard's throat-"
Sette voice immediately cut in as she warned, "First things first, Kumi. We're not out of the woods just yet." With a sharp gasp, the tomboy pulled back on her controls to avoid several beams fired at her. "Damn!" she growled before charging forward, back into the fight.
Continuing to slash through her opponents, the right side of the silver-haired pilot's face was soaked with blood and sweat as she grunted in her attack. Before she could take out another Leo, a rain of beams poured from the sky, taking out all those suits closest to Excalibur and Mason. Closing her eyes in relief, Kumi sighed softly, "Finally."
Looking up, the Gundam pilots watched as an army of the mobile suits filled the skies. While there were thousands present, it was a small handful compared to the forces that were now sided with them against OZ. The remaining armies would be off freeing the rest of their neighbors.
On the small screen to her right, the image of her friend filled the monitor. His blue eyes filled with concern as he shouted, "Kumi! Are you alright!?" Since the time that she met the brave young man, the Japanese girl knew that Matt cared for her as more than a comrade. Perhaps one day... she absently shook her head to rid those thoughts.
"I'm fine, Matt," Kumi replied simply, flatly.
Sette snorted and crossed her arms as the Colony army took the brunt of the fight. "'Bout time you guys showed up," the princess scowled. "We were wondering when you were going to decide to come help." Her glare faded as she smirked and winked at the laughing blonde on her screen.
"Good to see you, too, Sette," Matt winked back with a warm smile. With a wave of his hand, he assured them both, "You two get to the Assembly. We'll handle things here."
With small nods, Kumi and Sette fought their way through what little resistance stood between them and the fortress of Colony R721. When they reached the tall, iron doors surrounding the impressive estate, Sette's eyes narrowed as she sneered, "Should we knock?"
"Why not?" Kumi replied as she raised the Buster Riffle. With one shot, the gates were disintegrated before them as the beam wiped out the front of the stone fortress in a great explosion. Rubble of marble and cement poured from those walls still standing as the their foundations shook from the aftershock. Soaring into the opening of the estate, Excalibur and Mason landed onto their feet in the opened grand hall.
Jumping from their cockpits, Kumi and Sette removed the pistols from their clothes as they reached the cold, tiled floor. Splitting up, they scanned each room as they made their way through the impressive stronghold of the Colony. Everywhere they looked, the place was deserted from any sign of life. The few souls who had been inside when the attack began were found dead, riddled with bullet holes before they were found in the search.
Panting and sweating as she reached the Ambassador's main office, Sette slowly stepped onto the roof. Gently turning the glass knob of the door, she carefully stepped inside as she brandished her gun in her bleeding hands. Her blue eyes widened as she gasped sharply. Instantly, the color in her face drained.
Standing before his wooden desk at the center of the elaborately decorated office was Ambassador Grance, her father's friend and trusted ally at the start of the war against OZ. The entire wall behind him was made of stained glass that glimmered brilliant colors as the sunlight poured through. The distraught man in his late forties held a young man, half his age, with one arm as his other held a gun to his prison's head. "Stay right there, Sette," the Ambassador ordered coldly. His baldhead reflected the colors from the stain glass behind him as his green eyes burned on the pilot. "We don't want anything to happen to Prince Leon here, do we?"
The brunette being held at gunpoint gazed on Sette with terror in his young eyes. She and Kumi were the reason he was in this position. Sette could feel bile rising in the back of her throat as her eyes narrowed. Shaking her head, the tomboy replied, "Prince Leon did nothing wrong, Grance. His colony and yours have been neighbors for years now. Kumi and I sent him here to see about the alliance we thought that you were a part of. You're the bastard who sided with OZ all along. And it's our fault he was sent here before we realized the truth. Let him go and you can take me."
Biting his lip, Prince Leon took a deep, shuddery breath through his fear as he shouted, "Sette, you didn't know! You and Kumi have to finish what you started!" His voice was cut off as the Ambassador wrapped his arm tightly around his throat, leaving the gun in his other hand pressed tightly still at the boy's temple.
Eyes narrowed, Grance shouted, "Drop the gun now!" Nodding, Sette fought the tears in her eyes as she let the gun slip from her hands. With a small thud, the weapon fell to her side. Laughing madly, the bald man shook his head, "One way or the other, I'm dead! Your friends will kill me on sight and OZ will have nothing to do with me after this defeat!" Raising his gun to aim it at the wide-eyes Gundam pilot, Grance stated in a low voice, "At least I get to take one of you bitches out first."
Sette froze in horror as he pulled the trigger. A loud shot rang out and the sound of shattering glass filled the room as sharp, colored splinters flew forward from the stained glass window. The Ambassador's eyes widened as he stiffened with a gasp that had been cut off. His mouth moved as though he tried to say something as both Prince Leon and Sette watched in shock, neither of them scathed. After what seemed an eternity, blood ran from the corner of the Ambassador's mouth before he collapsed to the ground.
Kumi stood on the balcony behind the stained glass wall. The bullet she fired left a large enough hole for her to walk though. Her eyes narrowed on the Ambassador's, she stood with both hands still on her pistol, finally releasing the trigger as she lowered her weapon. Prince Leon fell back a few steps as he gasped for air, leaning against the wooden desk for support. Panting heavily, Sette fell to her knees as she placed a hand over her heard and tried to catch her breath.
Stepping through the hold in the glass, the silver-haired pilot carefully looked over the prince as she asked, "Are you alright?"
Managing a smile at last, the brunette nodded, "Yes. Thank you, Kumi." Nodding back, the pilot looked to her comrade.
Her eyes narrowed, Sette walked towards her friend as she rose to her feet again. "Look, boss, do me a huge favor, okay? Do not ever... " her words began slow and soft before gaining speed and volume she shouted, "ever wait until the last second like that again! Jesus Christ! I almost died of a heart attack back there! " Prince Leon chuckled softly as the Japanese girl smirked and shrugged in response.
Meeting the young Prince's eyes again, Kumi advised him, "Sette and I will escort you back to Colony J41." With a soft sigh of relief, Leon smiled and nodded his appreciation. At that, the tomboy gently took the young man's arm as she helped him walk on his shaky legs. They stepped from the room silently.
The gash over the silver-haired pilot's brow continued to bleed as she readjusted her purple tank top and black sports bra straps. Placing the gin back in her brown spandex shorts, she gazed on the dead body at her feet. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, "Just another day." Closing her eyes, she lowered her head and vowed softly, "I'll never believe in peace."
Stepping over the dead body, she closed the office door behind her as she stepped into the hall. It was just another day.
* * * * * *
"Where... Where is my enemy?" Heero growled. Dressed in his space suit, he sat in the cockpit of Epyon. Hours ago, he had been fighting the OZ soldiers that attacked the Sanq kingdom. He now stood alone on a small hill in the wooded countryside, miles from the mansion and school.
Lost to the Zero System of the suit Treize Khushrenada had given him, the Wing pilot panted as he scanned the empty field around him. He had killed all of his enemies. They were already finished off... No... There had to be more. He needed more.
Lowering his shaking hands from the controls, Heero panted, "No... No more." Shaking, he wrapped his arms around himself as he whispered, "Please don't make me, Epyon...Not again... I can't." Throwing his head back, his eyes squeezed closed again as he screamed, "Goddamn it! I don't want to kill anymore!"
"Heero," a small whisper called to him. Shaking his head, the Wing pilot kept his eyes squeezed closed, afraid to open them as a small whimper escaped his throat. "Heero," the voice whispered again, soothingly, pleadingly.
Slowly, the Japanese boy opened his eyes. They widened as he gasped sharply. Heero found himself kneeling in the same green field where many of his dreams took place. Peeing around, he didn't pay any mind to his naked body as he searched for the source of the voice he had heard. As he gazed behind him, a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. Quickly, he turned his head back to meet the violet eyes he hoped to find. His cobalt eyes widened, as he whispered breathlessly, "Duo."
Kneeling naked before the Wing pilot, Duo gently cupped his comrade's face with his free hand as he frowned, "You're starting to feel fear for the first time." Heero bit his lip as the thumb on his cheek gently rubbed against his skin. Finally, he managed to nod, never breaking their gazes. Smiling sadly, the braided teenager spoke softly, "It's okay to be afraid. You don't want to be because you were never allowed to feel anything like it. Your emotions can't be hidden forever, Heero. You were conditioned to be a weapon, but you're a human being."
Leaning in, Duo gently ran his thumb over his friend's bottom lip as he smiled and whispered, "You're a beautiful human being." Gently, the American tilted Heero's head up with a finger under his chin before tenderly bringing their lips to meet. The Japanese boy's eyes slowly closed as he returned the kiss, sighing softly in Duo's mouth as they held each other. After a long moment, they slowly separated.
Fear suddenly returned in Heero's widened eyes. With a stifled cry, he squeezed his eyes closed as he clutched the braided pilot tightly. Faintly, he whispered, "I was warned I could lose what I take for granted... I don't know what I would do without you, Duo. Promise me you won't be taken away?"
Wrapping his own arms tightly around the Wing pilot, Duo replied, "I sweat it. With everything in me, I won't let anything keep us apart again." Missing the meaning behind the last word vowed, Heero smiled in content as he rested his head against his friend's chest. His eyes remained closed as he felt Duo kiss the top of his head. Allowing himself the warmth and safety he felt in Duo's arms, Heero knew he would eventually have to wake to the world again.
For now... he let himself feel. For the first time he could remember, he felt at peace.
TBC...
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