Beta written by Snow Tigra.
Gundam Wing: The First Chapter Part 9
Trowa typed away at the control panel before Heavyarms in the hanger where he had remained working into the early hours of the morning. Heero had retired a few hours prior with the tall pilot's offer to finish the adjustments to his own Gundam. Satisfied with his successful installation of a beam saber in his suit's left arm, he finished putting in the last modifications. His fingers paused over the keys as he slowly brought his right hand up to his lips.
Recalling the night before, he thought to the kiss that he had stolen from those unresponsive lips. Trowa knew that he'd never had a preference for boys or girls. But, there was something about the stoic pilot that he had been associating with the last few weeks that intrigued him. Heero never knew anything of Trowa's actions after he fell asleep. For now, the European pilot figured that was for the best.
Forcing those and any other thought from his mind, he returned to his work at hand and completed the final updates in the system. "That's the last of it," he said to the empty room. Punching in the last key, he crossed his arms, satisfied with what he had accomplished. Gazing up to Heavyarms, he sighed softly to himself. "Now we wait and see what this Zechs has to offer." Standing in attention, his Gundam glistened under the bright hanger lights.
* * * * * *
Lying on the bed where he had collapsed after retiring for the night, Heero stirred slightly when he felt someone sit at the left side of the mattress. His cobalt eyes opened slowly as he blinked once to clear his vision. Trowa sat watching him indifferently as he asked, "Trowa?"
Turning his head away to gaze forward, the tall pilot said simply, "The modifications have been completed on Heavyarms. Noin said that everything should be ready for the fight in an hour." Turning his head back towards his comrade, he peered at him with his green eye. "I hope that you managed to get enough rest," he said quietly. "If that fight in Siberia is any sign of his strength, you'll have your work cut out for you in this condition."
Heero's eyes remained cold as he gave no sign to his own feelings in regards of the situation. Trowa turned his body towards the other boy after retrieving a thick roll of bandaging tape from beneath the bed. Carefully, he removed the old bandages around Heero's left arm. As Trowa went about his work, the Wing pilot broke the silence as he spoke in his monotone voice, "I don't want Zechs holding back because of my injuries. I want a fair fight, regardless of what state I'm in."
As he finished removing the old bandages, Trowa kept his eyes on the wounded arm and he smirked, "I wouldn't worry about that. I happened to see him speaking with Noin when I was making my way here. This won't be a skirmish of strength." Finding a small sense of satisfaction at that, Heero gave himself a firm nod. Closing his eyes as he unraveled the new bandages, the tall pilot continued, "It should prove to be quite a show for those of us watching."
There was a long pause as Trowa began wrapping the Japanese boy's arm before Heero said, "I have a favor to ask you."
His hands pausing at these words, Trowa gazed up as he nodded, "If it's in my power."
"I want you to pilot Wing for me," came the flat response. Trowa's green eyes widened as he snapped his head up to lock with Heero's. The Wing pilot explained in his matter-of-fact tone, "I don't want anything interrupting the fight if you can help it. And if it happens that Zechs outmatches me, I'll self-detonate. You can take Wing and do as you wish afterwards."
Chuckling deeply, Trowa rose from the bed and went back to wrapping the other boy's arm as he closed his eyes and asked, "So ready to face death even after such a narrow escape so recently?"
Pulling his wounded arm back, Heero's eyes narrowed slightly as he finished securing the bandages with his good hand and answered, "Failure is not an option for me. If I cannot defeat Zechs, I'll take him out with me. Is that so hard to understand?"
Trowa frowned and asked, "Is it really that easy for you?" Heero remained expressionless as he sat on the bed, his cobalt eyes empty to any sort of hint to his thoughts. Sighing softly, the European pilot shook his head, "You're something else, I'll give you that." Sitting back on the edge of the bed, he said, "You did say to follow your emotions. Apparently your own have no qualm in carrying this out." He smoothed out the bandages carefully over Heero's left arm as he smirked, "That's unless you never meant a word of that."
At this, Heero turned his head away as he clenched his teeth. "Don't patronize me. I've only followed what I was taught and what I've experienced in my own life. I don't need you or anyone to judge me."
"And that's all you want?" Trowa questioned in a small voice as he lowered his hands. Heero never looked back or responded. Sitting back with a soft sigh, Trowa smirked and nodded once, "Fair enough. I won't judge you. And I'll pilot Wing should anyone try to interrupt the fight."
Turning his head back to the other boy, Heero gave a nod and replied, "There is nothing keeping me here. If this is to be my last fight, so be it. I won't have any regrets." With nothing more to discuss, he rose from the bed, leaving his comrade behind as he walked through the door.
Left to his thoughts over their discussion, Trowa remained on the bed as he stared at the door in silence. Lowering his head, Trowa frowned thoughtfully, "Why do I get the feeling something is keeping you here?"
* * * * * *
A hours later, over the frozen Antarctic wasteland, Heavyarms and Tallgeese stood several yards apart as the pilots within watched their opponent with stern eyes. From where she was observing in the control room a safe distance away, Noin stood before the large windows as she and Trowa gazed on the two suits.
Softly, the young woman lowered her head and whispered to herself, "I don't want to see either of them killed." Quickly, she turned back to the soldiers waiting at the monitors as she shouted, "Patch a call into Tallgeese! I'm going to have this called off!"
"No," came the calm but stern reply from behind her. With a sharp gasp, the lieutenant turned back to lock eyes with Trowa. The young pilot stood with his arms crossed as he frowned at the desperation he saw in Noin's face. His voice said softly, "Let them be. Even if you stop them now, they'll find another time and place to finish this."
Her wide eyes calmed a bit as they filled with sadness. Along with that sadness, Trowa could see that there was understanding in her gaze. Sighing deeply, Noin finally nodded and replied, "You're right. Forgive me."
At that moment, there was a thunderous crash from outside as a blinding flash came through the glass. Turning back quickly with wide eyes, Noin and Trowa watched as Wing Zero and Tallgeese fought feverishly over the snow-covered battleground.
* * * * * *
"Duo! DUO!!!" Quatre's voice cried through the halls of the mansion where they had been hiding. The braided pilot ran in the direction of his the shouts and made his way to the back porch.
The blonde youth was sitting at the table there, his laptop staring back at him before he looked up to meet concerned violet eyes. Walking over to the table, Duo asked quickly, "What is it, Quat?"
Smiling brightly at his comrade, the other pilot exclaimed, "You're never going to believe this!" The American approached the table edge as he gripped the cool marble of the table's edge. Leaning close with curiosity in his eyes, he waited anxiously to know whatever it was that had his friend so excited.
"Find something on the other pilots?" Duo inquired as he could see the blonde practically ready to jump from his skin with the news he received.
Since they arrived at their hideout, the two boys has been trying to hack into any system they could find to try and locate Trowa and the fifth pilot that they met at New Edwards. Up until now, all of their efforts came to no avail.
Gazing back at his computer, Quatre's wide smile remained as he answered, "I was preparing to hack into a new file of OZ reports that I found when I received a message from someone who wanted me to pass a message to you."
His eyes widening at this announcement, Duo exclaimed, "Someone knows that I'm here with you!? Who sent the message!?"
Tilting his head up to the other pilot, Quatre smiled, "Actually it's an update... from Professor G. He said that you would know who he was."
The braided teenager's eyes widened further as he nodded an affirmative. In a faint voice, he asked, "What did he have to say?"
Sitting back in his seat, the Arabian looked at his screen again as he read aloud, "After a tireless search, I am pleased to inform that there have been sightings of Heero Yuy over the course of the last few weeks."
At these words, Duo's gasped sharply, his hands slipping from the surface of the table as shock and disbelief filled his eyes. He stood there, frozen and pale as his mind replayed the message over and over in his head.
Heero was alive. Even after his mind tried to tell him there was no point hoping that the Japanese boy survived the detonation of his Gundam, his heart couldn't believe it. After blaming himself for the death of his friend, he now knew that Heero had pulled through. Finally, a smile spread across his lips as he whispered breathlessly, "He's alive... The guy's amazing."
Quatre chuckled softly as he gazed up at the braided pilot, "Something obviously kept him here for a reason."
Smirking, Duo turned to sit on the edge of the desk as he shook his head at the blonde, "Quatre." He knew exactly what the Arabian was getting at. Believing that Heero was alive was one thing, believing that he had a chance to have the Wing pilot's affection was something all together different.
With a soft sigh, Quatre frowned slightly as he replied, "I'm sorry, Duo. I know that you don't think he'll ever care, but you never know. Maybe if you told him how you feel...?"
Closing his eyes, the American snickered, "Right now, I'm perfectly content knowing that Heero is all right. He's the first best friend that I've had in a long time, even if he doesn't want anything to do with me. I'll do whatever I can to see that Heero makes it through this war without hesitation."
"There is something else in the message that I thought you would be able to understand," the Arabian said quietly. "Professor G stated that somehow, the Noventas are involved in the locations where Heero had been sighted."
"Noventa," Duo repeated quietly as his violet eyes widened in realization. "He's seeking absolution. After what happened at New Edwards, he's finally closing the guilt that he carried from that. He'll finally be free from his nightmares from that day." A wide, relieved smile spread across his face as he turned his head away and sagged where he was seated as he whispered, "Heero's alive..."
Quatre gave a warm, sweet smile in return as he nodded and replied sincerely, "And we'll meet with him again soon, Duo." Somehow, he knew for certain that they would meet again.
* * * * * *
Within their observation room, one of the OZ soldiers stationed at the monitors gazed up at the radar over his station as sirens sounded. Watching the blinking aircrafts that the signal picked up, he turned and shouted to the lieutenant, "A number of attack carriers are rapidly approaching us from three o'clock!" Noin growled deeply to herself as she turned and glared through the large window before her as she heard the young man shout, "I believe they're from the search party!"
"How many?" she asked in a flat tone.
The soldier answered over the sirens, "I've confirmed over thirty, but that's only a portion of their fleet!"
Quickly, Noin turned to her forces and ordered, "Get all the mobile suits ready. Prepare to attack them!"
In the skies near the battlefield where Tallgeese and Heavyarms stood, the Romefeller carriers opened their hatches as the Aires suits within poured from within. As the mobile suits fillied the air, Zechs glared behind his mask and shouted, "They're here!"
"Can you hear me, Heero and Zechs?" asked a voice over the com. Both Gundams gazed up to see Wing atop a high cliff of snow and ice over them. Within the white suit, Trowa advised them, "There are about thirty carries in flight, a hundred if they unload all Aires suits from the carriers." Scanning the small radar before him, he stated, "We should be able to handle... thirty each pretty easily."
"No, wait," Zechs interrupted. Trowa paused with a questioning grunt as he turned to the man's suit. Determination in his voice, the man shouted, "I'll attract them all myself!" The light shined through his monitors as he yelled, "Glory to the Colonies!"
The engines in Tallgeese roared as the impressive suit took to the air as it soared in the direction of the opposing forces. Heero leaned forward in his seat as he shouted after him, "No, Zechs!"
As Tallgeese went on to disappear in the skies, Zechs' voice replied over the Wing pilot's channel, "Heero, we'll meet again to continue our battle."
The Japanese youth frowned to himself as he sat back while Wing landed beside him. "He'll be one tough guy to fight from now on," was all that Trowa could say as they watched the man depart.
"Yea. You're right," Heero replied.
* * * * * *
Several days passed by to find Trowa and Heero hiding in an abandoned cabin they had found after their escape from Antarctica. The tall pilot sat on the living room couch where he and the Wing pilot were watching the television. His cobalt eyes focused on the screen before him, Heero sat in a chair ahead of the sofa. The young female anchor on the screen smiled as she announced, "In the latest developments for peace, Lady Une had been seen leaving an important gathering on Colony Area D."
The image changed to display a young, attractive woman with brown hair that fell just past her shoulders. Her red lipstick shimmered in the sun as she smiled at the camera. Escorted by uniformed OZ soldiers, she walked from the large hall where the said meeting had taken place. The announcer speared on the screen again as she continued, "Along with the continued surrendering of the former Alliance in Space and OZ's aid in destroying space mines, many are anxious to see an actual treaty made and signed between the OZ organization and the Colonies."
Trowa snorted bitterly from the couch, "They're playing their cards perfectly. At this rate, OZ will have the support of every civilian in the Colonies before long." Crossing his arms, he turned away from the screen as his eyes narrowed. "Easier to lead willing sheep than to try overpowering a lion," he remarked quietly.
Heero's eyes remained on the television as he took in his comrade's words. His expressionless face deceived nothing in his mind or heart as he sat in his chair. Just then, the newswoman's voice all but shouted, "This just in! We have received word that two Colony mobile suits have just attacked an OZ base in Central America!" Trowa's green eyes widened as he turned quickly to face the screen again with disbelief in his face at the announcement. The Japanese pilot's eyes lit slightly with interest as he leaned forward in his seat. "We have a visual from a witness at the scene now!" she concluded just before disappearing from the picture.
Just then, an image of Deathscythe appeared as the large, black Gundam sliced its laser scythe through three OZ Virgos. At the sight of the familiar suit, Heero was unable to hold back the sharp gasp that escaped him as his eyes widened in shock. He watched at the Gundam went on to fight without restraint against the large force against him. "Duo," he whispered faintly.
Trowa sat straight and tense, his green eyes still wide as neither of them could take their eyes from the screen. Sand Rock appeared alongside Deathscythe as they battled through their resistance. "They're trying to get into space," he heard himself say softly. "OZ plans on hitting us where they know it would do the most damage to us. Quatre and Duo are meeting them on their terms."
Without making any movement or looking from the television, Heero stated in his monotone voice, "They're doing the right thing... My mission is to wipe out OZ. If they're heading to outer space, I'll follow." At those words, he rose from his seat and walked towards the door in front of the room with determination in his eyes.
"Then this is farewell for now?" Trowa asked. Pausing in his footsteps, the Wing pilot turned his head to the side to peer at him from the corner of his eye. The tall pilot explained, "It would be better for us to take separate routes when going into space. It'll make it more difficult for us to be targeted that way. It'll be a difficult battle, but I'm sensing peace in our five hearts." Heero gave a simple, firm nod but made no move to say anything further before turning and stepping from the cabin.
* * * * * *
With a wide swipe, Deathscythe knocked down a tall, steep tower onto several Virgos as they exploded before the tall Gundam. Panting heavily from the attack, Duo turned to his side monitor as he said to himself, "Let's see." On the screen, several small captions of news reports from every major broadcast signal appeared to show the attack. Seeing that their work paid off, the American smiled, "Good. We made it into the news all over the world."
* * * * * *
In the furthest regions of space, in a large shuttle port as they made their way through the crowd gathered there, Kumi and Sette made their way towards the next terminal on Colony T9. In their passing, they noticed a sizable group standing before the screens displayed in the walls. At the sight of two Gundams attacking on OZ base on Earth, the young woman paused and watched. Just then, on every screen and monitor and screen in the port, the image of a Colony appeared and a man's voice announced, "We wish to publicly announce a decision made by Space Colony Area D." The traveling among the men and women present in the large station came to a halt as all eyes focused on the nearest screen.
Standing at a podium in a brown suit, a young man wearing glasses was displayed as he stated, "Mobile suits known as Gundams are currently going around destroying OZ facilities. These Gundams have nothing to do with Colony Area D." pushing up his sliding glasses, he continued, "We hereby declare that if the Gundams consider OZ an enemy, then we will consider the Gundams ours."
Covering her mouth, Sette gasped sharply as her blue eyes widened in disbelief. The brim of her baseball cap helped shield her shock from those around them as she paled at what she heard. Kumi's cobalt eyes narrowed as her fist around her backpack strap across her chest tightened. "Fools," she hissed under her breath.
The representative went on, "OZ has been fair to us. It didn't take long for OZ and us to work out our misunderstandings toward each other. We hope the Gundams are destroyed in this battle. We also hope the other Colonies will follow in the example we have set with this declaration." As the monitors faded to black at this, there was an eruption of shouts and cheers from all those civilians that stood witness. Many hugged and celebrated as Kumi quickly grabbed onto Sette's wrist, pulling her into an unlocked janitor closet before anyone could notice.
Closing the door behind them and turning on the light, she remained expressionless as Sette shouted in rage, "What the fuck just happened out there!? Can't they see they're doing exactly what OZ wants them to do!?"
Turning back to face her comrade, the silver-haired pilot replied flatly, "When have you known the Colonies not to take the easy way out of a fight?" The tomboy's eyes widened before they closed with a frustrated sigh from the young princess, who was unable to answer. Kumi crossed her arms and shook her head, "Heero and the others are going to have their backs against the wall without the support of all of the Colonies."
Bringing her hands to her face to massage her temples, Sette's eyes remained closed as she snorted, "Fat chance of that ever happening." Looking up at her friend, she pointed at the door and said, "You saw how everyone reacted out there. This is a little more than a small setback in our mission to get rid of OZ out here. You realize we're going to have to take on any and every Colony that gets in our way to convince them we're looking out for them and that is only if we're not killed in the process."
There was a long pause between them. Then, at the same time, the young women smirked wickedly and Sette chuckled deeply, "This is going to be fun."
Shrugging slightly, Kumi added, "We are going to have our work cut out for us. You sure you're up you for it?" Her wicked smirk still in place, the tomboy took hold of her baseball cap's brim and twisted it backwards, her eyes narrowed in determination.
* * * * * *
Back at the base where they had been fighting, Duo and Quatre were pinned down under heavy gunfire from the OZ mobile suits, their Gundams lying on their stomachs as they struggled to stand again. "Damn it," Duo hissed to himself. Lying flat against his front monitor, the braided pilot was only supported by his harness as he lifted his head with a groan of pain. His face was smudged with dirt and sweat and his voice was hoarse as he said softly, "At this rate, we're not going to make it. But I still think that what we're doing is probably a good thing. So why is it we have to die in a place like this?" His eyes slid closed as he moaned and rested his head against the glowing screen."
Several yards off, the fifth Gundam walked through a wall of flames as the Chinese pilot within answered, "Because we are doing the right thing." The OZ Virgos opened fire on the newest arrival as Wufei lowered his head and closed his eyes. Dressed in his white robes, he told himself quietly, "We are right." His eyes opened in a snap as he leaned forward and shouted, "WE ARE!" The dragonhead of his suit snapped forward, catching onto the top of a Virgo as he suspended his opponent into the air, shooting it relentlessly before wiping out another suit with a toss of his shield.
Quatre sat up in his cockpit as he gasped and smiled at the image of the fifth Gundam. Duo's eyes widened slightly as he called, "It's that guy!"
Inside Shenlong, Wufei smirked at the visuals of the fallen suits as he stated, "The ones who are right have to be strong. If this is all you guys can do, so be it. The rest of us will take over from here."
Uncertain if he heard the raven-haired pilot correctly, Duo pulled Deathscythe up to stand as he asked, "The rest of you will take over?"
Turning to face the black suit, Wufei smiled, "That's more like it. You'd have a hard time explaining it to your comrades if you were defeated here."
Gasping softly to himself, the braided pilot turned to his right monitor as he punched in a few commands. On the screen, shots of Wing and Heavyarms displayed and flicked from one Gundam to the other. A wide smile of elation spread across his lips as his violet eyes widened. "They figured out we need help!" he cheered.
His Arabian friend smiled in relief, "They got it! They all understood our message!" He watched in silent awe at his own display of the two suits as they attacked other OZ bases.
Duo's panting calmed as he pulled up a large snapshot of Wing. Having finished off his opponents, the Japanese pilot's Gundam turned to its side and began walking away from the visual that the braided pilot had. Slowly, he placed a trembling hand over the screen as he watched Wing disappear. Faintly, he whispered, "Heero."
As the sun faded over the base, five shuttles took to the skies and out into space. Each split in its own direction as the pilots within prepared themselves for their newest task... fighting OZ on their own territory.
* * * * * *
The administrative dean smiled as she typed away at her computer. Her light green sweater accented her short, curly blonde hair and blue eyes as her fingers flew over the keys. As she printed out the reports, she took hold of a folder as she collected the papers. Turning to the main desk where the newest student was standing alone. His short, unruly hair's bangs fell before his intense cobalt eyes as he waited with two books held under his right arm. He was a handsome kid, she thought to herself the first moment she saw him. Somehow, she couldn't help but think that there was more to him than what she saw before her now.
She smiled warmly, "All of your credits have been transferred over from your last high school. Just looking through these reports, you'll be ready to start your classes here next Monday. It's nice to have you enrolled here, mister...?"
"Duo," he answered without hesitation. "Duo Maxwell."
TBC...
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