Twenty years after the end of the long destructive war.
Earth was now a peaceful place in which to live. The relationship between Earth and the Colonies had reached its apogee. All the suspicions between them had vanished.
However, somehow, somewhere... somebody just wanted to ruin that relationship....
"Solo! Stop being perverted and come here!"
Solo Maxwell diverted his glance to his father and gave him a look. Finally he sighed and disappointedly he left behind the painting titled ‘The Birth of Aphrodite' [1] to follow his old man.
The two of them walked in the huge Greek style corridor following the butler of one of the many mansions owned by Winner family. This particular mansion was built in one of the most secluded area on Earth, on a hill of the Himalayan range. The perfect place to have a peaceful rest from the chaos of daily business. The only mean of transportation to the area was a helicopter owned by the Winners.
Father and son arrived in a large living room. The room was decorated in Victorian style; the color blue dominated the furniture and decorations. Mount Everest could be seen from the very large windows, adding to the beauty of the room.
"Duo!" Quatre Raberba Winner, the owner of the mansion, exclaimed.
"Quatre!" Duo Maxwell rushed to his old friend and hugged him. "It has been a long time, huh? I remember we’ve never met again since Marimeia stirred up a little heebie-jeebies in our Christmas party with her present nineteen years ago."
"I believe it was eighteen years ago when somebody decided to take over the Sank Kingdom palace, Duo."
"Oh, yeah. My mistake."
The Sandrock ex-pilot had grown into a thirty-five year old masculine gentleman, losing most of his feminine looks he had had as a teenager. Although some were still there, they only enhanced the man’s beauty.
Duo grinned. "And where is our lovely Queen Relena?"
"Right over here, Duo-kun."
Duo turned to see the former Peacecraft walking into the room from another door. Relena Winner was not a young girl anymore. She now had the aura of maturity, and the word ‘Queen’ looked as if it had been made for her.
"Relena-sama!" The American exclaimed. "You look so beautiful, as ever!"
Relena chuckled. "Flirt."
"Now, Duo. You’re not going to flirt with your friend’s wife, are you?" Quatre teased.
"Me? No way!" Duo clutched at his heart pretended to be offended. "How would I dare? Who am I to do such a low thing?"
The three of them laughed.
"Duo," Quatre glanced at the young boy who was accompanying his old friend. "Is that your son?"
"Bingo!" Duo grinned widely and patted his son’s back proudly. "Solo Maxwell, the Heir of Death."
Solo groaned at the remark.
"He looks like you," Relena marveled at the young boy. Indeed Solo was almost like a duplicate of the fifteen year old Duo Maxwell, minus the black priest clothes and the long rope of braid. The boy preferred a red long sleeved turtleneck, blue jeans, and a white jacket. He also kept his hair short. "I just can’t see Hilde in him at all."
Duo snickered. "If Hilde heard that, she’d kill you."
Quatre gave him a sympathetic glance. "Too bad she can’t hear that, ne?"
Duo just shrugged while Solo looked uncomfortable.
Interrupting the short silence, which was creating a slight uneasiness, a sudden knock on the door was heard. A head with sandy colored hair popped in. "I hope we haven't missed anything yet."
"Sally-san!" Quatre exclaimed.
Sally Po, now known as Sally Chang stepped in, followed by her husband. Chang Wufei greeted them, "Oi!"
"Wu-cha~~~~~~n!! It’s been so long!" Duo caroled.
"It’s Wufei!"
"Aww, you haven’t changed at all." He snickered. Then he noticed the boy who was shyly following the Chinese man. "What do we have here? Chibi Wufei!!"
Sally patted her son’s head. "This is Xiaolong."
The fifteen-year-old Chinese boy straightened his glasses and bowed politely. "It’s nice to meet you all."
"Ah, a polite scholar," Relena commented. "Unlike someone I know."
Duo pretended he didn’t hear anything.
As the others (except the boys who hardly knew the people around them) chattered away in nostalgia, Duo kept pretending to ignore the absence of the two other ex-pilots.
Well, Trowa was probably on his way here. The silent guy would never miss the rare chance of a reunion like this, unless he’s too busy with his circus performances or babysitting his nephews.
While Heero....
The thoughts of the Japanese ex-pilot sent a wave of nausea in his gut.
While the old generation was carrying on with their nostalgia, Solo glanced at Xiaolong. The latter glanced back.
Mutual agreement was reached. They slowly backed out the door and silently slipped out.
"That was absolutely boring!" Solo sighed out loud as they walked on the huge corridor. "While they babbled endlessly about their past, we ended up stuck in the middle of racing chatterboxes waiting to be pinched and punched like two stupid mannequins!"
Xiaolong smiled at the outburst. "It wasn’t that bad. What do you expect from a reunion?"
"Well, you do have a point. At least I didn’t get outta there with sore cheeks. I remember a friend telling me he ended up in a doctor’s office after he went for a visit to his granny’s house. Shucks!!"
As Solo continued to talk, they walked and walked. The corridor led to a vast garden filled with snow.
"Wowwie! Uncle Winner really has taste," Solo whistled at the garden with its Himalayan background before him. "Ain’t this something?"
Xiaolong chuckled.
Solo pouted at the boy. "You’re pretty quiet, aren’t you?"
"You already take care of all the conversation."
"Aww, I can’t help it. I am my dad’s son."
"So I’ve heard. My father told me that Duo Maxwell was a windbag who talks too much."
"My dad told me that Chang Wufei was a justice junkie who had a stick up his ass."
Both of them considered those opinions for a moment and laughed.
Solo commented, "I think they used to hate each other’s guts."
"Papa just likes silence too much while apparently your father hates it."
"Obviously."
Soon, they found out more about each other and quickly became good friends.
"I’m a second year senior in L2. They call me ‘Tornado’ ‘cause I talk too much. I can’t help it, I’m used to it. Hell, Dad even talks far worse than me!"
"I’m a second year too, but I study via long distance classes. I help my parents run Peacemillion. There are never enough people there. My code name is ‘Metal’."
"My mom died soon after I was born. Dad really had a hard time raising me. I tried to be helpful, but I was totally useless until I was ten. But no matter hard it was, he always wants me to be happy. He often told me about his days as a war orphan. He said he didn’t want me to be like him, though he also didn’t want to spoil me too much. That’s why he works so hard."
"Papa told me stories about his childhood too. He also told me about his first wife, Nataku. He said he cared about her so much but he never had the chance to tell her so until she died. That’s why he told me that if I cared about someone, I had to tell her my feelings so if ever something happened, there would be no regrets."
"Your dad is such a philosophic freak."
"I know."
They laughed.
Suddenly something light hit Solo’s face. "What the-?"
It was a piece of paper. A few lines of pencil were scribbled here and there, making up a vague view of the mountain. "Sketch?" He rose his eyebrows.
"Excuse me, Sir. May I have that back?" A light voice made the two youngsters turn their heads. Their jaws dropped.
Not far from where they were, a girl was standing between the snow-covered bushes. She had a pair of beautiful blue eyes and long platinum blonde hair. Her skin was white like the snow around her but her lips was a natural shade of rose.
Solo and Xiaolong blinked simultaneously. Managing to put his jaw back in its place first, Xiaolong pinched Solo’s cheek. "Ouch! What’d you do that for?" The American boy rubbed his sore cheek.
"It’s not polite to gape at a young lady like that."
The girl rose her eyebrows and giggled.
Again the two boys were stunned.
The girl cleared her throat. "May I have my sketch back?"
Solo stammered, "Oh yeah, sure." He walked to her and presented the paper to her. Xiaolong noted in amazement that he walked like a robot.
"Thank you," the blonde girl said. "Sometimes the wind can be quite a lot of trouble, ne?" She smiled angelically.
Managing to behave himself (unlike the other boy who kept gaping at her like there was no tomorrow), Xiaolong introduced himself. "My name is Chang Xiaolong. If you don’t mind me asking, are you one of the children of a Gundam ex-pilot?"
She smiled. "Yes. My name is Vier Ashr Winner."
"Ah, Uncle Quatre and Relena-sama’s daughter!" Solo snapped out from his stunned mode.
The girl called Vier giggled again. "You may say so."
"Uncle Quatre has a very beautiful daughter, hasn’t he, Xiaolong?" Solo praised. Xiaolong nodded in agreement.
Vier waved her hand in the air in denial. "Is not so. You gentlemen are flattering me, Mr. Chang and Mr. Maxwell, am I right?"
"Solo Maxwell, at your service," he bowed gracefully and winked. "And you may call me Solo, Miss Winner."
"It's Vier, so to say. 'Miss Winner' makes me sound old. I'm only fourteen," she smiled, "Solo-san." She turned to the Chinese boy. "And may I call you Xiaolong-san?"
The boy smiled and nodded.
"Well then, Solo-san, Xiaolong-san. I believe it's almost the time for lunch. It won't be polite to let our parents wait, will it?" the half-Arabian girl said as she glanced to her watch. "Shall we?"
As the three of them walked through the corridor, Solo couldn't help but stare at the blonde girl's figure. She wasn't very tall but she was absolutely gorgeous. But he was also wondering. There was something about this girl he couldn't figure out, like... why on Earth she was wearing clothes like a pair of purple riding pants? It wasn't too off key with her silky white frilly shirt, white frilly tie (didn't she have enough frill with the shirt already?), maroon belt, and purple vest. It's just... obviously she hadn't gone riding a horse or something (not in the Himalayas on the middle of winter!) and he had always thought that high-class ladies like her wore skirts or dresses.
Well, she's probably one of those rebels... though she didn't look like one at all. But, then again, he remembered his father had told him that Quatre had been rebellious too in the past.
Oh well, not that he minded. She sure was pretty....
Xiaolong glanced at his friend and stifled a grin. He rummaged into his pocket and took out a handkerchief. "Here, Solo," he offered, "Wipe your saliva off."
The American boy blushed as he realized that indeed he was drooling all over. He blushed even deeper when he heard the girl in front of him giggling softly.
Finally, they arrived at the dining room without Solo embarrassing himself further, and were welcomed by their parents.
"Xiaolong, Solo. Where have you two been?" Sally exclaimed from where she was sitting.
"Out," her son shortly answered as he sat on the seat next to his father.
Solo added, "We just thought the view outside was way too cool to miss so we went sightseeing in the garden"
"That was the most stupid excuse I ever heard to get out and try to find some chicks to ogle at," Duo stage-whispered which earned a glare from his son.
The boy was going to sit on his own seat when Quatre said, "I see you boys have met my son Vier."
Solo tripped on his seat and fell with a loud crash. Xiaolong almost dropped his jaw on the table. "SON?!!" They cried out in stereo.
Quatre, rather surprised by their reaction, repeated, "Yes. My son, Vier Ashr." He stared at his two young guests' shocked expressions and turned his gaze to his own son who was trying to look anywhere but at him. He spoke with exasperation. "Vier, you didn't."
The 'girl' shrugged sheepishly. "It wasn't my fault. They are the one who thought that I was a girl in the first place. I just played along."
Relena scowled at her son, "Young man, I suppose we need to talk later."
Vier just shrugged.
Suddenly a loud laughter was heard from the other end of the large table.
Wufei crossed his arms and snarled. "Maxwell! Haven't you learned how to behave?"
Duo was still laughing. "Wu-chan! *giggle* *gasp* From the look of our sons here *gasp* *giggle* *gasp* I bet they were actually FLIRTING at Vier, thinking that he's a GIRL!!" He gasped and laughed again, almost falling from his seat.
"Not really, Uncle Duo." Xiaolong said with a straight face. "I didn't. Solo did."
"Xiaolong!!" Solo barked in embarrassment.
Now Duo did fall from his chair. He rolled on the carpet-covered floor clutching his stomach and laughing his head off.
Quatre sighed. "Here we go again...." Apparently they would have to postpone the dinner for a few more minutes.
LaGrange Point 2, V08744.
Inside a spaceship, hundred kilometers away from the colony, a figure sitting in a wheelchair was observing some data on the screen of a computer. Another figure appeared and reported, "Dr. I, we are ready."
The old woman scientist, Dr. I, smiled. She leaned comfortably on the back of her wheelchair and said, "Then, shall we?"
"Hai," the other figure, a middle-aged Indian, turned to the communication system and pushed a button. "Wing," he ordered, "proceed with your mission."
A monotone voice was heard replying him through the receiver. "Ryoukai."
In space, the shadow of a mobile suit moved undetected by the radar of the colony's defense system. As the ship where Dr. I and her crew were inside left, the MS aimed its two rifles toward the colony. Energy glowed from the body of the suit and concentrated at the end of the rifles.
In a second, the MS fired. The energy blasted towards the colony, right on its weak spot.
The colony exploded and was reduced to pieces in layers of smoke and light. Nothing was left of it but shattered metal.
The tidal wave of the explosion sent the MS off-balance. It spread its wings and managed to control itself in no time. Staring at the destruction it had made, the pilot of the MS was silent for a moment before silently saying, "Ninmu kanryou."
"I'm glad we managed to have a reunion like this," Quatre commented as he lay back on his sofa.
They had all decided to have a rest after dinner and had gathered in a large family room. Vier had brought out his Playstation set. Soon, the teenaged boys were involved in an MS battle simulation game. The adults were sitting on the sofa set having tea (well, most of them. Duo would have preferred a can of beer, but he finally had to enjoy one of Winner's collection of whisky).
Wufei watched as Xiaolong's player kicked Solo's on the butt and smiled. "I remember the days when we still had to fight."
"Aww, Wu-chan, you're so nostalgic." Earning a glare from the Chinese man, Duo snickered. "Naah, I remember them too. It used to be fun."
Sally made a face. "Yeah, really. Fun."
"Why, Sally. Are you trying to be sarcastic? Because if it was a sarcasm, it's sure worse than the last one."
Wufei retorted. "She's trying to insult you, you idiot."
As the two started brawling like they usually did, Quatre couldn't help but smile. His friends hadn't changed at all. Yes, a bit more mature but still the same.
He paused for a second. What bothered him was the fact that Heero hadn't showed up. Trowa was okay, he knew. He had contacted him to let him know that he had something important to do, so Quatre didn't have to worry over him.
But Heero.... All these years, the Japanese ex-pilot had completely disappeared. No one had ever seen or heard from him again.
To invite him and the others, Quatre had used an old trick. He had made an advertisement on TV, using a code that only the Gundam ex-pilots and the Preventers could understand. The message could be translated as: GUNDAM EX-PILOTS AND FAMILY, HIMALAYAS, WINNER MANSION, AC215/12/23. PWETTY PWEEZE?
Yeah, he knew the message's end was stupid but he couldn't help himself. He really missed his friends. To Hell with being childish. After all, he was only thirty-five.
A knock was heard at the door before it opened. Rasyid walked into the room. "Relena-sama," he notified her, "An urgent call for you."
Relena sighed. "Just when we are having fun." She rose from her seat and left the room with the Arabian bodyguard at her back.
"Relena is quite busy, ne?" Duo commented.
Quatre tilted his head. "It must be something really important. She usually leaves her business to her ministers for vacations like this."
Ten minutes later, the Queen was back. Her face was pale.
Worried, Quatre rushed to her side and asked, "Is there something wrong?"
"Yes," she said. She glanced around at the expectant stares of her friends. "Have any of you heard of the colony V08744 at L2?"
"Hey, that's where I live. Why? What happened?" Duo blurted out.
Relena was hesitant but she answered nonetheless. "It was destroyed."
Duo's eyes had never been so wide before. In the background, Solo was starting to shake. The American stammered, "Destroyed...?"
"Yes," she nodded. "By an MS."
"An MS?!" Quatre was mesmerized. " What kind of MS has the ability to destroy a colony like that?"
The woman tried hard to answer. "They have managed to identify it...," she paused to swallow the lump in her throat, "...as Wing Gundam Zero."
Duo ran to the Japanese pilot. "Heero!" he exclaimed.
The boy stopped in his track and waited for the other to make it to his side before he replied, "What do you want?"
The American boy pouted. "You just show up from nowhere every time a problem occurs and quickly disappear after everything has settled back to normal before I even have a chance to say 'how are you'. Why can't you just stay for a little longer?"
"I'm not interested in a useless conversation," Heero replied shortly before starting to walk away again.
Duo walked along with him. For a few moments, they just trailed along the pavement, oblivious to the beautiful scenery of the Sank Kingdom capital that lay before them. "Relena was happy, you know," he tried to start another conversation. "You saved her ass once again."
The other boy didn't even bother to make a short reply.
Duo sighed, "As talkative as ever, ne? Heero."
Heero still said nothing.
They continued to walk in silence. Duo had no idea how long they had been walking like that. All he knew was that they had finally arrived at a hotel in a forgotten area of the old capital and headed right to the room Heero was renting.
The room was small, worse than the dorm room they used to share. There was only a small bed in a corner, a table and chair in another corner, and a small cabinet to serve as furniture. The odor of fungus hung mildly in the air. Some parts of the wall had lost their paint, showing patterns of the underlying dark brown bricks, hardly noticeable under the dim light of the light bulb above the desk, the only source of lighting in the room.
"Pretty comfy place you got here," Duo commented. "How much did you pay for it? Twenty cents?"
Still no reply. Heero just sat on the chair and started to type away on his faithful laptop.
Duo stared at the boy's back wistfully. Until when was he going to ignore him like this?
"Heero, I love you...."
The sound of typing halted abruptly.
Duo clamped his mouth shut. Aw, shit! He had really done it this time. Now the Japanese boy would turn to him and kill him instantly or insult him as faggot and kick him out of the room thinking that he had had enough of his sick jokes.
Instead, Heero kept silent.
Duo frowned at that.
"You... are serious." It was more a statement than a question.
Duo said nothing. He just bowed his head, not daring to move or do anything else. The sound of the chair being pushed back sent a chill down his spine. He forced himself to look up, only to see a glimpse of those intense blue eyes before Heero took his lips.
A lot of emotions registered in Duo's stunned brain. Surprise was the main one. Later, his brain gave up and his instinct took charge.
He could hear himself moaning as Heero nibbled on his lower lips. His lips voluntarily parted, welcoming the other's intruding tongue. For what had started as a soft touch had turned into a heavy sparring of tongues, and each time Heero's tongue moved, Duo melted.
Heero's hands moved along the line of Duo's body. Duo gasped as he felt them cupping his butt cheeks and lifted him up. He moaned as the Wing pilot withdrew his lips and nibbled at his earlobe.
"Duo...." Heero whispered huskily.
Within his clouded mind, Duo could only manage to whimper his name between panting breaths. "Heero...."
"Duo, forgive me."
Duo tensed. He was going to ask what the other boy meant when suddenly his breath stopped.
Heero's fist had landed squarely on his abdomen.
"Forgive me...." Heero whispered.
One thing crossed Duo's mind as he slipped into oblivion.
//Not again.... //
Duo woke up. He stared at the white ceiling in the dark. After a few moments, he sat up and glanced at the clock on the bedside table.
02:07 AM.
He sighed and got up from his bed. He knew he wouldn't be able to go to sleep again, so it would be useless to stay in bed. He was always like that every time he had that dream....
He put on his robe and sandals. Picking the cigarettes and ashtray on the table, he walked towards the window and opened it, letting the cold wind in.
Duo sat on the window's frame. He lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply. Silently, he observed the smoke he blew out softly.
This was the only way he allowed himself to commit suicide. He knew that smoking was bad for his health, but he couldn't help it. At least it prevented him for doing worse things, like shooting himself with a gun or whatever.
Duo's mind automatically recalled what had happened after that night. He had woken up the next morning alone in the bed. Heero had done nothing to him; in fact, he had left Duo, taking all of his possessions with him.
Heero had left without a word.
Duo had been devastated. He had neglected his work, his friends, even himself. When Hilde had asked him to marry her, he had agreed reluctantly. He knew she had been suffering because of him, he felt sorry for her, but that was the way he had been and who was he to change the past? If there had been anyone to blame, it would have been Heero.
Then Solo was born.
There were times when Duo felt slightly guilty for not being sad over his wife's death. He knew he had been cruel, though he didn't give a damn about it. For him, Hilde had been just another person.
But his son's birth had opened his eyes. He had found a reason to continue living. That was why he had named his son after Solo, the very first person who had given him his life.
Years passed by; his son was now 15. That meant 18 years after that... incident. Not even once had he heard any news of the Japanese ex-pilot. Quatre's invitation had lit a hope inside his heart, of a chance to finally meet Heero again. Yes, he still loved him. After all that had happened between them, he still loved him.
And it hurt so much to see that Heero had not shown up. Not even a message.
It hurt....
Duo was startled to hear a knock at the door. There was a pause before another knock was heard, this time was followed by a voice, "...Dad?"
"Come in, Solo. It's unlocked."
The door opened and the boy's head popped in. "Am I bothering you?"
Duo smiled. "Not at all, son."
Solo slipped in and closed the door behind him. He walked to his father and glanced wistfully at the cigarette in Duo's hand. "You're smoking again...," he accused him.
Duo just closed his eyes and brought the cigarette to his lips, inhaling it again. He breathed the smoke out and opened his eyes. "...Sorry."
The boy sat suit on the window frame. He eyed the messy bed and said, "You had that dream again."
His father said nothing.
"You always get depressed when you have that dream and yet you never told me what kind of dream it is," he continued. "Dad, I want to help, but I can't if-"
"Hush," Duo's finger landed on the boy's lips, shushing him. "That's enough. I can deal with it. It's nothing you ought to know."
Solo said nothing. He knew it was useless to argue, he had tried it so many times, so he just stayed silent.
The full moon was shining over the landscape of the Himalayan Mountains. From where they were, they could see the top of Mt. Everest, the highest summit on Earth.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Solo glanced at his father. Duo was staring at the view before him, his eyes were glazed. The boy followed his gaze and smiled. "Ah."
The two of them just sat and stared at the scenery for several moments. The wind breeze played with the locks of Duo's hair. Solo saw that and smiled. He stood up and went to the cabinet. Waving out a brush, he grinned at his father and asked, "May I?"
Duo smiled softly and nodded.
As his son brushed out the tangles of his knee length hair, Duo recalled the time he had cut his hair short.
On the day Solo had been born, a wave of realization had hit him hard and opened his blinded eyes.
He had been standing in front of his son's carriage, staring at the baby's tiny form. His son, his heir, his own flesh and blood.
He could have killed himself, but never his son.
After making made sure that the baby was asleep, Duo had walked to the bathroom, taken scissors and cut his hair short.
No regrets, no remorse. The past was the past. Even though he had burned it down along with his braid, Solo, Father Maxwell, Sister Helen, they would all be in his heart.
"And this," he had said, "is the beginning of a new life."
"There," Solo said as he finished tying the band around the tip of Duo's braid.
Duo hugged his son tightly. "Thanks, Solo."
Solo returned the embrace, burying his face in his father's chest.
Duo just kept silent and softly caressed the child's short hair. He knew his son well. Just like him, Solo had the knack of hiding all his problems and letting no one know. He also had a joker's mask obscuring his griefs, just like Duo's. However, Solo's heart was far more fragile than his was and Duo knew that the destruction of V08744 had affected him the worst. Duo didn't have to ask why the boy had come to his room this late.
Solo had his own nightmares.
Moments passed by. The shade of dawn started to color the dark sky. Duo carried the sleeping child to the bed. He pulled the blanket over the boy and kissed his forehead. Carefully, so as not to wake him, Duo got dressed in black tight pants and a black turtleneck which sleeves were rolled to his elbows, his everyday clothes in the last 15 years. He got out of the room and walked through the corridor, heading straight towards Quatre's study.
Once he was in the big study filled with books and all the paperwork Quatre had brought along, Duo threw himself in the soft comfy office chair. He rested his left elbow on the chair's arm and used his other hand to activate the communication line.
Quatre's face appeared on the screen. "Winner desu ga."
"Quatre, how's it going?" Duo had put his usual cheery grin back on his face.
The Arabian looked very tired. Long journeys never had that kind of effect on him. Must be the politics. "We are having a long discussion here. The colonists aren't very happy about the destruction."
Duo grinned. "Let me guess. Another brawl?"
"With Relena trapped in the middle between both sides."
"Poor babe. It has been years since she last got into this kind of polemic."
Quatre grimaced. "I'm worried about her."
"Well, you and Relena-sama just handle those windbags for the moment. We'll take care of whomever is behind all of this. Until then, see ya." With that, Duo cut the communication. He spun the chair, coming face to face with his own reflection in the window, an image that was showing his determined look.
"Even if it's Heero...."
Wufei tapped his fingers on the dashboard absently. He had put all the Preventer agents on Earth and colonies on the investigation of the mysterious appearance of Wing Gundam Zero. He had even done one of the last things he wanted to do in his life.
Putting Heero Yuy on the wanted list.
He didn't want to do it but he had no other choice. The Gundam was supposedly Heero's (although Wufei was certain that it had been destroyed during the fight with Dekim Barton) and the Japanese ex-pilot had been missing. Until he showed up and gave an alibi, Wufei could do nothing.
This was getting on his nerves....
Wufei started as a cup of Oolong tea was put beside the keyboard. He looked up to meet his wife's concerned face.
"You look bad," Sally said. "You should get some rest."
He smiled at her. "Can't do it, Woman. I have to finish this report."
"I'll finish it for you."
"It's my job."
"You haven't slept for the last 26 hours."
"I'm strong enough to-"
"Chang Wufei!"
Wufei promptly shut up.
Sally shook her head and sighed. "You. Need. A. Rest. Pe-ri-od. This is going to be ugly and don't pretend you don't know. This is not going to be a one-day mission. Now. Go. To. Sleep."
He gave her a hard glare before he finally gave up. "Alright."
"Good," she nodded in satisfaction. "I don't want you to end up getting shot while riding Shenlong just because you doze off in the middle of a battle."
"Hai, hai." Wufei picked himself from his seat and gave her a peck on the cheek before he got out of the space ship parked in Quatre's underground hangar with his teacup in on his hand.
Sally smiled at her husband's retreating form before she sat down and continued where he had left off.
"Wow...." Solo gaped in awe.
Vier smiled. "Do you like it?"
On the catwalk, Solo stared at the black Gundam standing before him. The Gundam was... cool. He had never seen an MS like it before. He had seen Taurus, Leo, Cancer, but nothing this... this... magnificent. "It's beautiful...."
"Its name is Cyclone," the blonde boy explained. "This is the next generation, if I could say so, of the Gundam Deathscythe Hell. Your father's Gundam."
The American boy blinked. "My dad's?"
"Yes." Vier sat on the catwalk's fence. "I saw the records of the Gundams' fighting years ago. Deathscythe Hell was COOL! I love it so much, I asked my father to rebuilt it. He had refused at first saying that the Gundams were no longer needed in peace."
"But why did he build this one?" Solo asked while his eyes never left the giant MS.
"We had an argument," Vier shrugged casually, "And I won. I told him that history was an endless waltz and we could never know what would happen in the future. He told me not to be so pessimistic, but I said I wasn't being a pessimist. I was just being reasonable and prudent. And I was right, no?"
Solo grinned at him. "Obviously," he said before he looked back to the Gundam.
Vier tilted his head and smiled. "So, Solo-san. Do you like it?"
"Yeah. Definitely."
"Than it's yours."
"Huh?" Solo's head snapped towards Vier. "You've gotta be kidding."
The half-Arabian boy giggled. "Do I look like I am kidding to you?"
Solo studied the other boy's face. Nope, no sign of anything tricky. He blinked twice. "Uh... no?" The other boy giggled again. "But Vier," Solo protested, "Man, a Gundam is a _very_ expensive thing. You can't just give it to me like that. What will your dad say? And I know nothing about riding an MS. Some construction robots, maybe, but not a battle suit like this."
"You can always learn."
"What about you?!"
Vier slid down from the fence and pushed a button on the wall next to him. A door on the end of the catwalk opened. "Mine is over there," he said.
"Huh?" Solo sweat-dropped. He walked to the door indicated by the blonde boy and did a double take. He gaped.
Another Gundam was standing inside another hangar behind that door. This one was dominated by the colors white and silver. Solo noticed that that MS had five long golden tails on its back, arranged like the tail of a peacock.
"Her name is Stardust," Vier said. "She's a beauty, isn't she? I love her very much."
Solo was rendered speechless, half by the beauty of the Gundam and half by.... "Vier.... Why did you build _two_ Gundams?"
The other boy giggled again. "One is not enough?"
Solo gave him a Look.
Vier just continued to giggle.
Meanwhile, somewhere in space.
"How is it going?" Dr. I asked.
Veejay Punjab glanced at the reports in his hand before he replied. "We found out that Duo Maxwell and his son were not in the colony when we did the termination."
The old woman snarled. "Where is he now?"
"According to our source and the satellite scan, they are currently in one of the Winner properties in the Himalayan Mountains...," there was a gleam in the Indian's eyes, "...along with Chang Wufei and his family, and also the son of Quatre Raberba Winner."
"Ah," Dr. I smirked. "Catching two birds with one rock, ne?"
Solo and Vier's heads snapped up as they heard the alarm wailing. Vier hit the intercom and yelled, "What happened?"
It was Abdul who answered, "Intruder alert! A mobile suit has entered into our territory!"
"Any identification?"
"It's Wing Zero!"
Vier gasped sharply. He turned to the stunned Solo and said, "Go to Duo-san and Wufei-san. You heard what Abdul said."
"What are you going to do?" Somehow Solo felt like he wouldn't like the answer.
The beautiful face was hard. "Somebody has to protect the mansion."
The pilot inside Wing Gundam Zero II narrowed its Prussian blue eyes as it saw another Gundam approaching from the direction of the mansion, followed by twenty Leos. However, it didn't seem to quiver. It didn't even show any sign of emotion. Instead, it launched its Gundam forward.
Inside Stardust, Vier's eyes widened as the wings of the other Gundam spread launching missiles towards them. He would be able avoid them easily but that would leave the Maganacs and the mansion vulnerable. From every segment of his Gundam's golden tail, homing torpedoes launched out. Every one of them met Wing Zero's missiles in mid-air and exploded.
Vier tried to talk to whomever the pilot of the other Gundam was through the radio line. "I am sorry, Sir. However, you are not allowed to enter this private area. Please leave at once, I do not wish to kill you."
The answer to his request was the flash of a beam saber.
Vier gritted his teeth and drew out his own.
Duo, Solo, Wufei, Xiaolong and Sally ran out of the building. They watched in fascination as the two Gundams fought in the air.
Duo's face was turning pale. He grasped his son's arm and asked, "Where's the hangar?"
"Dad?"
"Is there any MS left?"
"Well, there's a Gundam...."
"Good! Show me the way!" Solo was about to argue but Duo cut him off. "Vier won't hold out long at this rate. Not at this rate." With that, he half-dragged his son into the house.
"I'll help!" Xiaolong was going to take his Gundam, which he had stored inside his space ship in the hangar when Wufei stopped him. The boy looked at his father in confusion. "Papa?"
"You're not going anywhere." Wufei looked rather pissed off. "It's my turn."
"Fuad!!" Vier screamed as Wing Zero's beam saber slashed off one of the Maganacs' MS. He stared in horror as the MS exploded.
The other Maganacs attacked angrily the enemy Gundam but it was useless. Every time Wing Zero moved its saber, another Maganac would either fall down or blow apart.
"No! Stop killing them!!" Vier frantically lunged at the Gundam as the white MS was going to cut another MS apart. Their sabers collided. The boy yelped as he and his Gundam were thrown back. His eyes widened as the saber of Wing Zero lurched towards him.
The saber almost sent him to Hell when in a sudden a flash of green interrupted.
Vier was surprised. Instinctually he sputtered. "Who on Earth?!" He gasped as he recognized the black Gundam floating between him and Wing Zero.
"Vier, are you okay?" asked Duo from Gundam Cyclone's cockpit.
"Duo-san! ...Yes, I am fine."
"I want you and the Maganacs to retreat."
"No!" Vier refused. "I am not going to retreat!"
"We are not leaving without Vier-sama. It is our duty to protect the Winner family," Rasyid insisted.
Duo said in a dead serious voice. "That's why I told you to put off the fight."
From the direction of the hangar, Gundam Shenlong II thrust to the fighting area and stopped before Wing Zero. "Vier," Wufei said. "There's no way you can defeat Heero Yuy."
Vier and the Maganacs were startled. "Wing Zero doesn't have to have Heero Yuy inside!" Vier exclaimed stubbornly. "I will still-" He yelped as the remaining Maganacs pounced on him. "What are you doing?!" He struggled as they tried to bring him down.
"Forgive us, Vier-sama," apologized Rasyid, who knew the reputation of Heero Yuy well, through the radio line. "But your safety is our priority."
As the Maganacs dragged the protesting Stardust down, Wing Zero stayed unfazed even as its opponent changed.
"Duo," Wufei called. "You know I won't fight an unfair battle."
"Wufei," Duo replied. "This is my fight."
The Chinese man was going to object when he saw his comrade's face on the screen. He promptly shut up and backed off.
"Thank you, Wufei." Duo's voice was cold and monotone.
"Veejay," the old woman called.
"What is it, Doctor?" The Indian looked up from his work.
"Have you found 'him' yet?"
The assistant stared at her before he replied. "No, we haven't. However, we have some leads on 'his' whereabouts."
The woman looked disappointed. "Alright," she said as she turned her wheelchair. "Keep on searching."
Duo cursed as Wing Zero's beam almost cut Cyclone's head off. He swung his scythe to attack.
"Dad doesn't look too good." On the ground, Solo watched the fight warily. "You think he's gonna make it?"
Sally worried her lips. "If the pilot of that Wing Zero is Heero, Duo probably won't stand a chance."
Solo turned his head toward her with a worried expression. "Is Heero Yuy that good?" He knew his old man's ability on MSs and doubted that anybody could outrank him.
"Heero was the best of the Gundam pilots. Everyone admits it," Sally explained. "I'm surprised Duo never told you about him. Duo was supposed to be the closest to Heero as far as I know."
"No." Solo frowned. He had heard the name Heero Yuy in his History class. The first was the colony leader killed by an unknown gunman, whose death had started the war. The second was the Gundam pilot whose bravery had ended the war. He knew that his father had met the Japanese pilot, but he hadn't known that they had been close. Duo had always given him a Look every time he had asked about the other ex-pilot.
Interesting....
His attention was diverted back to the battle in the sky as Cyclone smacked Wing Zero's saber away.
Duo exclaimed to the pilot of Wing Zero. "Heero or whoever you are. Give up! You have no chance to stand against us." As if Heero would have been likely to give up. The American smirked. Heero Yuy would rather die....
He almost screamed as Wing Zero turned back abruptly and pounced on the startled Shenlong. He heard Wufei sputtering before suddenly Wing Zero exploded... along with Shenlong.
"WUFEEEEIIII!!!!"
~tbc~
[1] FYI, according to the Greek mythology, Aphrodite was born by the sea waves in her mature physique, n-a-k-e-d.
Revised with the help of Tyr.
Hime D.
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