Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Burnout ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 7 )

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Chapter six

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Wu Fei gawked at his bike. His mouth hung open in a mix of horror and disbelief. "My bike . . . my beautiful bike!" He repeated mournfully. The once perfect motorcycle was leaned up against the foot of Shenlong. It was no longer the perfect chrome black. It was no longer the perfect non-dented frame. Instead it was painted neon hot pink with bright yellow happy faces on it. From the handle bars hung flashy green streamers and a paperboy's bicycle bell. Balloons of all colors were tied to the seat. And the tires were now spray painted in alternating red and white stripes. "My bike!" He wailed pitifully, "Who. . . MAXWELL!" He snarled with realization. "MAXWELL!!! YOU"LL PAY FOR THIS!!"

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"OH, hey Wu Fei. . ." Duo grinned nervously as the Chinese boy advanced towards him with his katana ready to slice and dice some Shinigami. "I think it looks good. It needed some color. . ." The braided boy ducked as Wu Fei took a wild swing.

"HOW DARE YOU!!" The dark haired boy accused, "My bike - MY BIKE!"

"Well you deserved it!" Duo insisted, "For locking me in the closet for six hours!"

"THAT NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU HADN'T PUT JALAPENEO'S IN MY COFFEE AT FIVE IN THE MORNING!!!"

Duo flashed a grin, "You said you couldn't wake up . . . I was just trying to help you. . ."

"YOU ARE SO FULL OF IT!!!" Wu Fei swung again.

"IT WAS A JOKE, WU FEI, A JOKE!!" Duo pleaded, "IT'LL WASH RIGHT OFF!!!"

"YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAA!!" The Chinese boy began to lunge again, but Sally stepped in between him and the braided boy from out of no where. With a cry of surprise, and fury, Wu Fei abruptly ceased his attack, "BAKA ONNA!" He yelled, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

"That's enough, Wu Fei." Hiiro's voice said evenly. "You have a mission and Duo is needed for its success."

Warily, and a bit grumpily, the Shenlong pilot heeded the order and sheathed his sword. He spun on his heal and headed towards the hanger, pausing for a brief moment in front of the braided boy. "This is not over yet." He warned.

Duo smirked, "Bring it." He dared. The two pilots exchanged glares before heading on their separate ways.

"That was interesting." Sally commented.

"It's just the way they are." Hiiro shrugged, "Though that was a pretty stupid thing to do, Sally."

The woman smiled, "Not really. I knew he had enough skill to stop it."

"But he might not have had the frame of mind." The stoic boy pointed out.

"It would hurt his integrity if he allowed his anger to best him and make him lose control." Sally replied, before leaving the Japanese boy for her own room.

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Two hours later, Duo, Wu Fei and Quatre headed out on their Gundams for the Singapore Space Base, and into one of the hardest battles of their young lives.

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The blonde pilot grit his teeth as Sandrock took heavy damage. `There are so many more than we estimated. . .' He thought, `Is it possible they knew we'd be attacking?'

"This newest OZ base isn't anything like their others!" Duo said anxiously over the radio, "I can't get any closer at this rate!"

"Let's go for the HLV equipped for Mobil suit delivery." Quatre replied, firing on a squad of enemy Taurus suits. Once they were dealt with, he kept his heat shotels poised against a group of Leos to his left, preparing himself to charge forward. Gunfire at the Sandrock's right shoulder caught him completely by surprise. "Uh-ah! AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Sandrock's pilot screamed as the desert Gundam was thrown back, rolling across the ground.

"QUATRE!" Duo called, Deathscythe's energy scythe cutting through an Aries that was about to destroy Sandrock and then using the butt of his scythe to smash the sensors off another Leo.

"Uh. . ." The blonde groaned.

"Don't overdue it, Quatre!" Duo warned.

"It's okay." The smaller boy reassured, "We have to keep fighting so we can all return home." He grimaced as the firing caused more damage.

Shenlong raced, energy spear ready, into the masses of Taurus's. With a warrior's cry he attacked with a vengeance. "YOU WILL NOT DEFEAT NATAKU!"

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On a colony, leaders and delegates watched the Gundams fight on their view screen. Many arguments broke out between the older members and their younger, more foolish representatives.

"So they are the Gundams, eh?" a young diplomat commented, "They are attacking OZ's base on earth."

"It's true that the Alliance militaries oppressed the colonies, Brian." A slightly older man said, "And that OZ was once part of the Alliance. I can understand certain colonies feeling's in wanting to retaliate against the earth."

"Yes." Brian shook his head, pushing his glasses up his nose, "But even as we speak, our peace ways are finally changing opinions with in the OZ organization. We can't continue a display of needless destruction."

Mr. Takinaka sighed, shaking his head in disappointment, "Those Gundams are fighting because they truly believe that they are protecting the colonies by doing so."

"So?" Brian asked smugly. "They're only nuisances to the colony now. We must make our intentions clear to OZ before the Gundams make them uneasy."

"The Gundams love the colonies. The Gundams have chosen to fight because they love the colonies more then anyone else. Those Gundams. . . They're desperate." They are facing their enemies with limited power." The old man slammed his fists onto the desk in frustration, "So why can't we support these Gundams?"

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Duo groaned as he was tossed about violently as his Gundam took damage, "Damn it!" He swore. Quatre's own cries echoed over the radio as the desert Gundam landed and skidded by him. "Quatre, You alright?"

The blonde groaned, not wanting to move. "This was a mistake, Duo. . ."the boy whispered, wiping blood from his face, "We're not ready to go back to space. . ."

"Are you just giving up?" Wu Fei's sharp voice demanded. "What about the colonies? They need us to fight for them!"

"The enemy has gone into space so as soldiers, we must go where the fight is." Duo agreed, pushing Deathscythe to its feet, "I'm not going to be defeated here and now."

"Duo. . . Wu Fei. . ." Quatre's quiet voice murmured. Slowly, and surely, Sandrock shifted and strained to get back to its feet. "You're both right. . ."

"That's it, Quat." Duo grinned, "We'll defeat this trash yet!" The braided boy launched an attack at the Tarsus. "I'LL SEE YOU IN HEEEELLLLLLL!"

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On the colony, Brian was preparing to make a statement to the press. A statement that would be broadcasted to all of the Earth Sphere and each of the colonies. By making his statement, he hoped for everyone to see things his way.

"Ladies, and Gentlemen, Soldiers of OZ. I stand here before you to make a declaration. . ."

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The battle at the Singapore Space Base seemed to come to a halt as a broadcast from space interrupted communication frequencies, forcing everyone to listen.

// . . .declaration against the Gundams. They are at the moment attacking an OZ base. We wish to state that we do not support these rash actions that are a result of a few people. In fact, the majorities of the colonies wish for a chance at peace. OZ is giving us that chance and we wish to take it. We denounce all weapons, including the Gundams. We want them to be captured and stopped. That way, the peace we have will not be in jeopardy.//

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Duo just stared at his monitors. Stunned. "They. . .They can't be serious!" He sputtered.

"Don't they know that OZ is unjust? Don't they know that OZ has no honor?" Wu Fei shook his head.

Quatre didn't respond. He couldn't. The hurt of betrayal was deep, threatening to tear his Space Heart apart. Another entity began to tug at his empathy in a rising panic, but he suppressed it for the time being. "So now what?" he whispered to himself, "Do we continue to fight?"

"Yes." Hiiro's voice cut in over the radio, his image popped up on screen.

"Hiiro?" Quatre shook his head, "We can't. . ."

The Japanese boy glared at the blonde, "Quatre, we're not wrong about this. OZ is evil. Sooner or later, the colonies will come to realize this for themselves."

"We all knew when we set out that we'd be alone in this." Wu Fei's voice said.

"I'm not giving up, even though I know it will be tough to continue on." Duo said seriously. "What about you, Quat? Are you with us?"

"Of course." The blonde responded, Sandrock coming back to life. The battle resuming.

"I'm sending Trowa to help you." Hiiro said, "His ETA is 15 min. Try and last that long."

"We will, Hiiro." Quatre promised; a new determination in his eyes. `Trowa. . . he's coming here. . .' a small smile crossed his face.

"What about you, Hiiro?" Duo asked, hopefully.

The Japanese boy shook his head slightly, "I have objectives I must complete before I can return to space."

Duo's expression fell slightly, "Okay, Hiiro."

"Duo. . ." The violet eyes looked up at the Dark haired boy's image. Hiiro suddenly looked very uncomfortable.

"Hiiro?"

"Take care." Hiiro said in his cold stoic voice before abruptly cutting off the transmission.

Duo blinked, slightly surprised. Hiiro had never shown the least bit of concern for anyone, let alone him, before. "Hiiro. . ." he murmured.

"MAXWELL! WATCH OUT!" Wu Fei called, Shenlong's dragon claw tearing through a mobile suit.

The braided boy snapped out of his thoughts and with a roar of anger, proceeded to make sushi out of the next ten Leo's.

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Quatre couldn't move. He couldn't breath. The pain in his chest was unbearable, and he felt dangerously close to passing out. "You're afraid of dying. . ." He whispered, gasping for air. "You hate so much. . . yet you're afraid to die. . ."

Sandrock's cockpit was beginning to feel cramped, as his Space Heart picked up another set of emotions. These were also filled with hatred and fear, but there was something sadistic and frightening about them. This person seemed intent on making the kill. His target was Quatre. "Oh… oh, Allah. . ."

"Oi, Quatre!" Duo's voice called across the radio, along with a burst of static as he slashed the Taurus that had been closing in on his fallen comrade. "Are you okay?"

He couldn't answer. It felt as if his voice was trapped along with his breath in his throat. The blonde hunched over, as far as the straps would permit. `This has never been this bad! Not when I've been awake!' His thoughts raced, as his sense picked up another person. This one was in immense pain, and was probably in the process of dieing. They were alone, scared, and they grieved for the people they were leaving behind. This new sensation tore at Quatre's heart.

"OI! QUATRE!!!" Duo's voice called urgently, "SNAP OUT OF IT, QUAT!"

"I. . .I can't. . ." He cried softly, "Someone. . .help me. . ."

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He was trapped. No where to retreat to, and no ammunition left to fight with. "Well, I guess the only option left for me is to self detonate." The OZ soldier said hopelessly, preparing for the final act of his life.

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A blank look crossed Quatre's face. His eyes became empty, as if hypnotized. "I guess the only option left open for me is to self detonate. . ." He said exactly as the OZ pilot. As if in a daze, his hand searching for the button.

"NANI!" Duo's voice cried over the radio. "QUATRE! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?"

"Are you insane?" Wu Fei's angry voice demanded.

"I have no choice. . ." The blonde said.

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"QUATRE!" Deathscythe was blown back as an OZ Aries self detonated. "QUATREEE!!!"

"DUO!" a new voice called out to the braided pilot, "What's the matter?"

Deathscythe's head turned and the Gundam Heavyarms appeared on his view screen. "Trowa?" He questioned, "TROWA!" He exclaimed, "TROWA, Quatre's gonna self-destruct!"

"NANI!?" The banged boy's horrified face blipped onto the screen, "WHY?"

"I don't know. . ." Duo frowned, worried, "Trowa, you've got to stop him! He won't listen to me!"

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Trowa didn't know what to do. He just had to get to Quatre and stop him. "QUATRE!" He said sharply, drawing up an image of the blonde. The boy was unresponsive. His expression was dead. "Quatre. . ." He shook his head in disbelief, "What's the matter with you? Quatre!"

Slowly, clarity entered the boy's eyes as he seemed to become aware of where he was. Shaking his head, and rubbing his eyes, Quatre groaned. "T. . .Trowa?" He asked confused, as his cockpit began to radiate with a red warning light. "TROWA!" He cried frightened, "What's going on?"

"You have to stop the self destruct sequence, Quatre! Sandrock is about to explode!"

"WHAT!?" The smaller boy cried, looking around for an abort button, "HOW?"

"I don't know, Quatre." The banged boy grit his teeth in fear of what was about to happen.

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Quatre looked frantically around the cockpit for a way to stop the self destruct, "I. . .I don't see anything. . ." He winced as he felt a twinge of fear and horror coming from his comrades, "Allah. . . what should I do?"

As if answering the question, Sandrock's cockpit hatch slowly opened as its shielded arm rose to protect the entrance from enemy fire.

The blonde boy looked up at the Gundam, "Are you telling me to escape?" He asked quietly, tears in his eyes, "Thank you, Sandrock!"

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Sandrock had started to move towards the enemy mobile suits, in the heavy weighty way of the massive machines. It's warning sirens blared through the humid night air.

"Quatre. . ." Trowa muttered under his breath. His link to the other Gundam had been severed and now all the banged boy saw was static. "N. . .No. . ."

"HE MADE IT!" Duo's happy voice yelled over the radio.

Trowa's head whipped up and he desperately searched all of his monitors, "Where. . ?"

And then he saw him.

The little blonde was descending the Gundam's height by the wire elevator. He fell to the ground and rolled slightly before staggering to his feet. The pilot took one last look at his beloved Gundam as he turned and fled. Trowa's monitors barely picked up the faint, "Thank you, my dear Sandrock. . ." as tears cascaded down the smaller boy's face.

The banged boy heaved a sigh of relief. He heard an echoed one from Deathscythe's pilot. `He's safe.' Trowa told himself. `He'll be alright.'

Moments later, the Desert Gundam was destroyed in a raging ball of fire, taking three enemy suits with it. All the pilots watched in a mix of silent horror and fascination.

"Oi, Trowa!" Duo called, "Wu Fei has a space transport ready for you if you need it."

"Arigato, Duo." Trowa nodded, slightly. He set in an automatic flight plan into his navo-computer before exiting his Gundam. When it arrived at the safe house, Hiiro would hide it for him. Heavyarms would guarantee the failure of his mission if he took it to space.

Hurriedly he dashed to the waiting space capsule that was prepared for take off. He was a little surprised to see Quatre standing near it. "Quatre?"

The smaller boy looked up, "Trowa. . ."

"DON'T YOU EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!" The banged boy ordered, his body shaking with adrenaline and anger.

"I. . .I'm so sorry, Trowa. . ." The blonde whispered meekly, backing away slightly. "I. . .I don't know what happened, really I don't. . ."

"Quatre, you have to get out of here." Trowa frowned, his anger dwindling in view of the blonde safe and unharmed.

"I know." He whispered, looking up at him. "But I wanted to thank you. I. . .I don't know what happened, I. . ." He looked very distraught and even slightly feverish.

The banged boy frowned, and raised a hand to the boy's forehead. The smaller boy blinked in surprise. "Quatre, I want you to see a doctor as soon as you can. You're still sick." The boy nodded, silently promising. "I'll see you again." Trowa promised, "Just. . .Just please stay alive? For me?"

"I will." The smaller boy whispered, "I promise, Trowa. . ." The taller boy offered a small smile.

"OI!" Duo's loud obnoxious voice called from the shuttle next to Trowa's, "I really think you should move out! Wu Fei's on his way and with him will be the rest of the OZ troops. . ."

"Right." Trowa nodded. "Go, Quatre."

"Goodbye, Trowa. . ." The boy said sadly.

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Four pods spun off into the different regions of the colonies. Two carried one of the famed Gundams, the hopes of the future. Each carried a pilot of those famed suits. The last pilot remained behind to secure the remaining suits and to prepare for the next phase of his mission.

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To be continued. . .

Author's note: Gomen ne for taking so long to post this. But it's up now! And I have the next two chapters almost done! They just need to be beta'd and then they'll be up.

^-^

Weissangel24