Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Worlds ❯ Meet the Parents ( Chapter 3 )

May A.C. 197

ACHILLES BASEAchilles is the Trojan asteroids. Along with the asteroids named after Trojan participants of the legendary Trojan War, Achilles is located in the group of asteroids leading Jupiter or a number four Lagrange point while those named after Greeks trailed Jupiter at a number five Lagrange point. Similar to the homes of Quatre Raberba Winner and Chang Wufei, respectively, with two big differences. First of all, these points were points of equilibrium of gravity between the largest sources of gravity in the entire Solar System, one a gaseous planet with more mass than all other non-stellar bodies (planets, asteroids, moons, ect) in the Solar System combined and the other having a mass many over that. The other being that objects in these points are natural, placed eons ago, long before man even dreamed of space travel. In fact, their existence was predicated in A.D.1788 by astronomer/mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange 2 himself and proven when German astronomer Max Wolf discovered Achilles in A.D.1904.

Due to its remoteness yet also somewhat convenience from the more central parts of the Empire, Achilles was chosen as a major shipyard. For these same reasons, it was also chosen as a site of a mining labor prison. Another reason it was used for these purposes was that the Lagrange points had too string a gravity well making them practically impossible to move the asteroids near Earth. Thus it was less likely anyone form Earth would intrude.

The command center was much more busy than usual paying strong attention to the Caligiula and its escorts that were sitting above the asteroid. Commander Dixon asked the flight control officer, "What is their status?"

"Their shuttle has just left the CaligulIa," was the response. "They should arrive in a few minutes."

"Good, I'll head right down to meet them. Notify, the rest of the base," he told the officer on duty with a beaming smile.

"Yes, sir," the OD responded with a Trojan salute.

Dixon returned the salute, did an about-face, and left the command center.

"This is shuttle 1-2-9," the flight officer heard in her headphones. "Requesting permission to land, over"

"Permission granted, proceed to landing bay P-4, over."

"Understood, heading for P-4, out."

The shuttle proceeded with its approach to the landing bay. As it entered the bay, the arresting cables helped bring it to a complete stop. Then the bay doors closed, followed by the bay being pressurized.

The flight officer then turned to the OD, "Inform the commander that the High Command's shuttle has arrived." 3

Dixon entered the now pressurized bay followed by the head of security, ISI Colonel Kutden. Grozny, followed by the others, came down a now attached gangplank. Dixon and Kutden saluted. "Greetings, fellow Party members. I am pleased for your visit."

"Thank you," Grozny said, "Shall we proceed with the tour?"

"Of course, this way."

"I saw quite a bit you have done with the fleet when we were coming in," Tysyacha commented, "How is the progress?"

"Thank you. Fairly well, except with the engine drives. We weren't able to learn a whole lot from the Earth Sphere's engines since we are already so much more advanced than them as I'm sure Seratus already told you. By the way, Seratus, why aren't we constructing Mobile Suits?"

"Yes, I have explained about their inferior drives," Seratus said "and the answer to your question is that simply Mobile Suits are also too inferior of a technology. True, we were able to learn from the Gundams and the other MS's, but when applied to our technology we can surpass them. However, to do that, we need organic material that is not readily available here."

"I see, just the same, I look forward when we can stock my ships with ...whatever we are going to use. Well, as long as we are on the subject, let's start with the shipyard." * * *

COLONY L2

The couple walked up to the house next to the junkyard. The man checked the address.

"This seems to be the place," he said.

"Well, here we go," the woman said.

Duo was lounging on the sofa watching television when the doorbell rang.

"Duo, could you get that?" Hilde called from the laundry room.

Duo got up and opened the door. He saw a middle-aged couple standing before him. The man had short black hair and small round wire-framed glasses. 4The woman, on the man's right, had a blonde ponytail that went down just pass her shoulders.

"Uh, may I help you?" Duo asked.

"Yes," replied the man. "Are you Duo Maxwell?" he asked extending his right hand.

"Yes, I am," Duo said while taking the man's hand in a firm handshake. " And, you are?"

"Oh, forgive me. I am Karl Schbeiker," he responded with his right hand still gripping Duo's and gesturing to the woman with his left, "and this is my wife, Janna."

"Schbei...Schbei...Schbei..." Duo stuttered until he heard Hilde come up from behind to whom he looked back.

"Duo, who is at the door? The voice almost sounded like..." Hilde stopped in mid-sentence when she saw the couple. She then exclaimed, "Mutti! Vater!"

Even after being with Hilde for two year, Duo's German was a bit rusty, but he knew what each of those two words meant. He looked back towards the couple. Karl, still gripping Duo's hand, smiled. Duo's eyes widened, realizing who these people were. Duo let a high pitched, "Eep," before fainting backward.

Duo slowly regained conciseness while he was lying on the couch. He was wondering if what happened was just a dream until he realized he was hearing a conversation in German. He was still too disoriented to make out the words even if he could understand the language. He could barely make the voices, however.

"<de< 5You were on Earth then? >de>, Hilde said with tears in her eyes.

"Ja," Janna response, noticing something seemed to be wrong, "<de< What's wrong, Hilde? >de>"

"<de< It's just that -- sniff -- so often, my friends support me for what I did on Libra, but I never figured it would have helped save my own... >de> --sob--"

Janna hugged Hilde, "<de< There, there, child. It's all over now, and we're back together again. That's all that matters. >de>"

"Ja," Karl said, "<de< And, speaking of friends it seems that this one here is coming around. >de>"

Duo sat up rubbing the back of his head. "Ugh, Hilde, what's going on?" He then noticed the other two. "Uh, hello, again."

Hilde tensed herself and took a deep breath. "Duo, allow me to introduce to you Karl and Janna Schbeiker," she let out another breath, "my parents."

"Eeep! I mean, uh, hello," a very nervous but smiling Duo said extending out his arm. "Nice to meet you, at last."

"Nice to meet you, too, Heir Maxwell," Janna said giving his hand a shake.

Karl shook Duo's hand and then said, "Janna, Hilde, why don't you two go for a walk to have a mother-to-daughter discussion while I talk to junior, here."

Duo's eyes went wide, especially when he saw Hilde give a devilish smile and say, "Okay, dad, but don't be too rough on him. Let's go, Mom." The Hilde left the house with her mother, despite Duo's stuttering protests, leaving him with her father.

"Now then, young man..." Karl started.

"I never touched her!" Duo blurted with panic in his voice, cowering back into the sofa with his arm waving out in front of him, "I never did anything!" Shut up, Duo! He might think I denying stuff as I actually did them. "I never even seen her naked" Oh, smart move, idiot! "...well, maybe a few times accidentally in the bathroom, but it was nothing. It didn't affect me at all...uh...not like she isn't attractive...I...mean...uh, uh...I didn't take advantage of...well, I would never...uh..." Just shut up, Duo " ...I would never do that to any girl. So she didn't do any thing with me...uh, not like she would do it with any other guy. She's not that kinda girl. I mean she's...uh...she's...uh...uh...uh...as pure and innocent as she always has been...although she may have killed a few..." Shut up! Duo, just, shut up! "Oh, please don't hurt me," he finally said, cowering with arms covering his face.

"Calm down, boy! First of all, I am very thankful that you took care of my daughter."

Duo lowered his hands so they were just below his eyes. "Really?" he said with a quite voice.

"Ja, and I am also proud that you were able to control yourself. She told us all about it. She guessed that growing up in a church had a lot of influence on you being chaste and virtuous."

"Yeah, I guess it did," Duo said with a bit more cheerfulness. Whew! When they say "the only safe sex is no sex," it goes way beyond pregnancy and STDs. Wow, who'd ever figure that the God of Death would get so scared over a girl's father? Well, I guess he seems calm enough. "Well, Mr. Schbeiker, you are very welcome," Duo said now calmed down, "and it was a great honor taking care of your daughter. She truly is a wonderful young woman."

"Danke."

"You're welcome. Um, so what happened to you guys? Hilde didn't tell me too much about you, but she did say that you disappeared and she never heard from you."

"Oh, that's right, you were unconscious while we were talking." Karl sat down and faced Duo. "Well, much of it started in the early part if 195. We were living as a family in L2. OZ had taken over the UNSA and, here in the colonies, was pushing recruitment to 'defend the Colonies'."

"Yeah, I remember that. In fact, that's how I met that Hilde. She was regurgitating that same crap on me."

"Yes, and don't apologize for your terminology, that was the same way I saw it too. I didn't really have anything against defending the Colonies, but I didn't trust OZ. Hilde, however, got sucked into it. We tried to talk her out of it, but she is a stubborn girl. Once she makes up her mind on something, there is no point telling her not to do it."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

"Well, as you know, she enlisted in OZ, then got a dishonorable discharge after helping you. By the way, thanks for talking some sense into her. I guess she would listen more to a fellow teenager than her parents."

"You're welcome. Now, much of this Hilde has already told me. After she got discharged, she didn't go home for a while."

"Right. Proud, arrogant girl was too ashamed to come home. Afraid I would give her the 'I was right, you were wrong' treatment."

"Yeah, she eventually got a bit more dignity later after we shacked...I mean, that is...after that friend of her used his contacts to find her the job here at the junkyard as well as this place to stay, and later I came on the scene and helped her get her emotions in order. But again, she tried to contact you, but no one answered, even your email. She went to your house and found the place was abandoned, in fact in some places vandalized."

"Well, we were a bit shocked when we got notice that she was discharged. It was the last word we heard about our little girl for a long time," Karl said with a bit of remorse in his voice. "But word got out that our girl was a 'traitor', and many people took it out on us. Blame the parents. People yelled at us, had demonstrations outside our house, rocked our cars as we commuted, throwing things, I even got swamped with threatening e-mail. It got to the point that we feared for our safety, and since she 'betrayed' OZ, the authorized were of no help. So finally we left. Fortunately, I had some friends on Earth who were able to get us a place to live and work."

"Oh, where?"

"Heidelberg. I mainly work at the EMBL, but I often did stuff at the University."

"The EMBL?"

"The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, I'm a biochemist."

"Oh," Duo said with widen eyes, "So that's where you've been for the past couple of years?"

"Ja."

"So how did you find us?"

"Well, a few weeks ago, I was visiting the Center for Interdisciplinary Scientific Computing at the University, where some grad-students were having a little bit of a problem obtaining data from the computer. One of the students said he remember a dark haired German girl while he was on Peacemillion who he was sure could easily get into the system. This perked my interest, I asked him about the girl, and sure enough, it was Hilde. You should have seen his face when I showed him the picture of her I had in my wallet. She was younger in the picture, about twelve, but he confirmed that it was she. Well, with their help I was able to track her -and you- down to this place, and so, here we are."

"So why didn't you call or something first?"

"I guess we wanted to see our daughter's face first after all this time before we talked to her, have an opportunity to hug her right there. That and I guess we wanted to surprise her," he smiled.

Duo leaned back and crossed his arms. "And..."

Karl smiled, "You are a very perceptive young man. I can't hide much from you. Very well, you see..."

Mother and daughter were walking through the streets having their discussion.

"<de< So you're living in Heidelberg now? >de>" Hilde asked.

"<de< Ziegelhausen, actually. But, yes, your father does work at the EMBL. He's made quite a reputation there, and we've gotten pretty settled there,>de>"Janna said.

"<de< So, you're not coming back to the Colonies any time soon, are you? >de>"

"Sigh, <de< No, maybe when we retire, but not any time soon. >de>"

They stopped walking."<de< O.K. Mom, why are you here?". You're planning of taking me with you? Aren't you? >de>"Hilde said, pointing at her mother.

"<de< Well, you see, again your father's work has made a great contribution to the EMBL and the University. And in appreciation, the University has offered a substantial discount on tuition for any of our children. And, since you are an only child....>de>"

"<de< So you are planning of taking me to Earth. >de>"

Janna sighed and looked in her daughter's eyes. "<de< We can't force you to come. We just want to show you what is being offered to you. Yes, we came in person since it would be to discuss it person...for both parties. >de>"

"<de< O.K. Give your pitch. >de>"

"<de< Fine. This is an opportunity you can't pass up, Hilde. To be able to attend one of the most prestigious universities ever. And, don't you want to go to college? >de>"

"<de< Well, I guess so. I mean I like working with machinery, which I got from you know, but college I suppose will help. Look nice on a resume anyways. >de>"

"<de< And wouldn't 'University of Heidelberg' look even nicer? >de>"

<de< Well, maybe. But this is my home. I'm not sure I want to leave. What's wrong with a local college...right, Heidelberg.>de>"

Janna smiled, "<de< Pretty quick. And billions of young adults leave home to go to college.>de>"

"<de< But they usually leave their parents. This is the opposite. >de>.

"<de< Hmm, good point. But the point is that they leave familiar surroundings to go out into new territory. And, they often do go back after they graduate. It is for only four or five years. Unless you do grad-school, of course >de>" Janna added with a smile.

"<de< I just don't know about leaving....>de>" her voice trailed off, but Janna perceived what she was thinking.

"<de< Him? >de>" Janna crossed her arms

"Was fuer?! Wer?"

"Duo. <de< Your friend with the braid. You don't want to leave him.>de>"

"<de< Well, he did take care of me when I thought I had no one else. He has been like the brother I never had. >de>"

"<de< Something tells me he's been more than just a brother,>de>" Janna said sternly, then her voice be came softy and she laid her hand on Hilde's shoulder, "<de< Do you love him? >de>"

"Was?"

"<de< Do you love him? >de>" Janna said with even more understanding.

"<de< I...I...I am not sure. We've just started developing close feelings toward each other. As I said we haven't been t0o physical. We have kissed a few times but nothing beyond that. But we do care fore each other very much and very deeply.>de>" Hilde sighed very deeply several times. Much of this she was just realizing herself. Funny how she felt comfortable discussing this to her mother who she hadn't talked to in almost two years.

"<de< Well, if you are growing closer, perhaps you should separate for a while. I mean: not live in the same house. You know, it is a proven fact that couples who cohabitant before marriage have a much higher rate of divorce. >de>"

Hilde face-faulted. <de< Marriage?! We haven't got any where near that! >de>"

"<de< I know. That's what I'm saying. Quit while you're ahead. And, I just mean living together. I don't want you to drop him all together. He is a fine boy, >de>" she ended with a smile.

"<de< Well, can we discuss more about this later? >de>"

"<de< Of course, it is a family matter, so it must be discusses with all family members, as well as other involved parties. Let's head back to the boys, and in the mean time we will have a mother-daughter discussion about sex. >de>

"Mutti!" Hilde grumbled

A couple of days later, Hilde was taking a late afternoon walk with Duo. Her parents had stayed with them over the days by Hilde and Duo's insistence that they save hotel rent. Although, Hilde did have some problems with her parents insisting that she leave, she still did love them and enjoyed catching up with time lost. Duo also enjoyed their company. But now, they were trying to spend some moments alone.

"You're parents sure are something." Duo said, "I'm impressed how much help your mother did around the shop."

"Yeah, she taught me all I know." Hilde agreed "She's quite a mechanic, which is more than I can say for Dad."

"Your dad the Biochemistry major."

Hilde laughed, "Oh, yes. Sure, Dad may know a lot about the chemical make-up of solvents, fuels, and some composites, but he doesn't know a whole lot about how a motor uses them, much less a vehicle as a whole. He couldn't fix a car if his life depended on it. 6"

"So your mom worked on the family car."

"Even before that. When they were still dating Dad always asked Mom to work on his car. Actually, that's how they met."

Duo laughed. "They sure do make a nice couple. They're perfect for each other."

"You think so?"

"Sure," he said gesturing to her, "look what came out of them...or out of her I should say."

Hilde blushed and gave him a playful light punch in the ribs. "Stop that. Yeah, they sure are great folks. I guess I really do love them."

"Yeah," Duo said as a loud deep sigh. He stopped walking, stood firm, took a deep breath, and then said with seriousness in his voice, "Hilde, I think you should go with them."

"What?!"

"I said that I think you should go with them."

"Why?" she glared at him.

"Because a lot of what they said makes sense. It is a good idea for you to go to college. I've even looked at those brochures they brought as well as information online and it seems like a really good school."

"Dang it!" she yelled it "Why is everyone telling me what to do? Doesn't anyone care what I think? I can stay here if I want! It's my life!"

"It's my life, too."

"Huh?"

"I said it's my life," he said in a slightly raised tone. "We staying together in the same house affects my life too."

"What are saying?" she said with an angry, hurt tone. "You want me to leave or you'll move out? You don't living together any more?" Her voice died down to a slight sob. "You don't want to be with me any more?"

"No, no. Not quite like that. What I mean is...sigh...what I mean is that drilling your father gave me really made me think. Well, actually I mostly drilled myself, but he did have a long talk with me. Actually, we had several long talks. Your mother discussed stuff with me a lot too. They're impressed that I've been able to control myself all this time, not...um...take advantage of you or...something." He faced her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Now that I look back on it, I'm impressed at myself, since you are the most beautiful girl I've ever met." Hilde gasped as Duo continued. "And you look more beautiful to me every day, especially when I see you nu...I mean accidentally stumble on in the ba....that is... The point is: it's getting harder for me to control myself, harder to resist temptation. I'm afraid we may someday give in and do something we will both regret."

"You don't think I would..."

"It would be as much my fault, if not more so."

"You don't want to call it quits, do you?" she said on the verge of tears.

Duo's eye started to water, too. "Of course not."

"Promise you'll write? And call?"

"I promise. In fact, Heidelberg is only about six and a half hundred kilometers from Brussels. So, I could come by to visit, that way when I go to work for the Preventers, I'll be closer instead of far away."

This made her laugh. Duo smiled. His hands went down her arms. He took hold of her hands and held them together in his. He smiled and said. "And another thing, again I really like your folks. They are almost like the parents I've never had."

"What about Father Maxwell and Sister Helen?" she said more cheerful with smile.

He smiled back. "Well, they were the parents I've never had. They took care of me and made sure I was fed and all. Course they weren't married, being a priest and a nun. So they couldn't exactly have a discussion about sex and stuff like that, at least they didn't tell me anything." Hilde laughed again. Duo smiled then put on a sweet but serious expression. "But, Hilde, I lost my real parents a long time ago, I'm not sure if I remember them. All I do know is that they are gone. I've spent most of my life without my real parents. You lost your parents, but now you've got them back. I wouldn't give up an opportunity to be reunited with my parents, to bond with them again. You have that opportunity. Take advantage of it. They love you, Hilde."

Hilde was quite for a moment looking down at the ground. Then she collected herself and looked back at Duo. "Okay, I'll go. I guess it is for the best. I suppose they do know what's best for me. And your right, they are doing it mainly because they do care for and love me. And, despite our squabbles, I also love them." She said with a smile; Duo smiled back. She them looked in to his eyes, her eyes now full of tears. "And I love you, Duo."

Duo also started to cry. He cupped his right hand in her cheek. "I love you, too, Hilde." He then gently kissed her on the lips. They then held each other in a tearful embrace.

From a distance, Karl and Janna looked on. "<de< It looks like they are saying good-bye. >de>" Janna said.

"<de< It seems so, >de>" Karl said, <de< but don't think in the least we've seen the last of him. >de>"

"<de< I hope not. >de> " she laughed.

"<de< Me neither,>de> mein Schatz 7," he said, with a smile putting his arm around his wife, "<de< me neither. >de>"

A few days later, Hilde was all packed. What she couldn't take on the flight Duo was going to send later. A taxi was now pulled up to take her and her parents to catch the shuttle to Earth. Duo helped pack her things. They were just about to leave. Hilde walked up to Duo.

"Well, this is it," she said.

"Yeah. Now don't go all out on those college boys,' Duo said playfully pointing at her.

"Same with you and those college girls. Or at least college aged. By the way, why don't you go to college? You have caught up academically."

"I think I will. Just want to make sure what field I want to go in, or at least generals. Hmm, you know, I might even try Heidelberg, as I said before it seems like a great school. Of course, I might have to brush up on my German. Then again, I probably have to do that anyways so you and your parents can't talk behind my back."

Hilde laughed, "Idiot. "

Karl walked up. "Hilde, let's go."

"O.K. Dad."

"Oh, and Duo, I know Hilde told me of the strong sentimentality of it," Karl said with a smile, "but as the father of a girl you are this close to, I just have to say: Get a haircut."

They all laughed. Karl gave Hilde a pat, "Make it quick," and left the two adolescents.

"Well," said Hilde, "good-bye, Duo."

"Don't say that, Hilde, you make it sound like it's the end."

"Then, keep in touch."

"Much better." He gave her a quick peck on the lips.

Hilde smiled and then turned around, and joined her parents in to the taxi. Duos watched her get in and drive off. He stood there a good while after the taxi was out of sight before going back inside. He sighed, as the realization that she was gone hit him. Both of remorse and of relief, but also the realization that they really were going to another stage in their relationship.8 She had just left, and already he was already looking forward to seeing her again. I wonder when my next assignment will be? Think I'll contact Heero and Une.

IMPERIAL TRAINING FACILITY, NICHOLSON REGIO,GANYMEDE

"Colonel, " the aid said on the intercom, "The new recruits have arrived."

"The Martian recruits?" Colonel Franjo Pedeset asked back.

"Yes, sir."

"Good, join me at the terminal so we can greet them." He got up and made his way to the terminal, his aid and two security guards in tow. The Martians were standing there also accompanied by enlisted personnel. "Welcome to the Nicholson Imperial Training Facility. I am proud that you have chosen to serve the Empire. You will not regret it. You'll be trained into the best fighters ever. If any of you feel you are not up to it and want to back out, now is the time to do it. You can just get back on the shuttle and go home, and that will be it. "

A young woman with a black ponytail came forward, "No. We are going for it. Not only are we up no it, but we will exceed it. Mark my word, you will not be disappointed in our abilities."