Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Worlds ❯ So what did you do over the Holidays? ( Chapter 7 )

NEAR BELLINZONA, SWITZERLAND, 8:45

A fierce snow storm blew around the road. The former OZ officers were uneasy about driving in this weather, but they were told that they had to attend a very urgent meeting. Suddenly the blue car swerved and braked. The driver of the OZ car tried to get to the side of the road to avoid hitting the blue car, but a red car, coming from the opposite direction, also was swerving and crashed broadside in to OZ's car. The side-collision airbags failed to deploy as the side caved in. The blue car pulled over and stopped. Níutíu got out of the blue car to make sure Shopedi was okay in the red car. He was, which was more that could be said for those in the OZ car.

ZIEGELHAUSEN

"<de< Thanks for giving us a ride to the spaceport. >de>" Hilde said to Relena in her room as she packed a few books and several other items in a small carry-on bag. "<de< Hope it is no inconvenience. >de>"

Relena responded, "<de< Oh, no, besides you two yourself have enough inconvenience already with this emergency trip to L2 because of that fresh corpse showing up in your Sweepers junk yard and all.>de>"

"<de< Yeah. By the way, I have to remember to thank Une for getting us that flight even though it is only Space-A.1 Trying to get a commercial flight on such short notice at this time of the holiday season would be almost impossible not mention expensive. >de>

Overhearing the girls in the hallway, Duo said to Heero, "Yeah, and remind me to thank the others on our multi-date, including the limo chauffeur, to avouch our whereabouts that night. It is bad enough I went through this already. I sure don't want Hilde to get dragged through this."

"Don't worry about it," Heero said. "I am sure there will not be any trouble."

"Me too, Heero, but still this is not how I wanted to go back to the old place, checking to make nothing got stolen, damaged, or anything. Nor is it how I wanted to spend the last few days before Christmas. Sure hope we get back in time" Duo said as they made their way into the living room.

"As long as you don't take too long, the cargo pilots will make sure to get you back to Hilde's family in time for Christmas Eve. After all, they want to get back to their families too."

Duo smiled. "Thanks, Heero; that really did reassure me and make me feel better," Duo said sincerely. Duo then looked around to make sure no one else was around then got closer to Heero and spoke in a quiet voice, "Speaking of what we are doing for Christmas, do you get ....?" He saw Heero pat the left chest pocket of his jacket and nod to one side with a wink. Duo nodded back then let out a small breath of relief when he noticed Hilde and Relena joined by Karl and Janna enter the living room. Whew! That was close. Good thing they still don't know.

"Ready to go," Hilde said carrying her small but stuffed bag.

"<de< Now you two take care, and no funny stuff >de>," Karl said.

"<de< Dad! We are just going to make sure the place is secure and that nothing is missing. We are not even going to spend the night. >de>"

"Yeah, don't worry, folks," Duo said with his hand extended to her parents. "I promise she will wear white."

Karl smiled and pointed at Duo, "You better."

They all smiled and said good-bye as Heero, Duo, Hilde and Relena left.

IMPERIAL TRAINING FACILITY, NICHOLSON REGIO,GANYMEDE

Doctor Gigori Tskhra sat in a branch of the medical labs reviewing the results of medical examination he had conducted early in the day. He then heard a tap on the door. "Who is it?" he asked.

"It's Karel, Greg."

"Come in."

Karel walked in a went over to a stack of rat cages. He went over to one of them with a solitary large black and white rat and tapped on the door. He made a clicking noise and talked it a low baby talk tone, "Come on, Sheba." He clicked twice more and opened the door as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a small bag. "Come here, girl." He pulled out a piece of food from the bag which he put between his lips. He put his face up to the cage and protruded his lips. The rat came up and took the food from his lips. He stood back and put his hand inside the cage. Sheba then ran up his arm and onto his shoulder. He then turned toward Tskhra. "So how was your day?"

Gigori grimaced. "Three cases of syphilis and two of gonorrhea. Glad you asked?"

"Ewww. And to think I was complaining about the old hum-drum sorties I have to fly."

"Yeah, I sure am looking forward to getting transferred to another position. Now, what brings you here besides playing with your pet rat?"

"Oh, uh, nothing."

"Really?"

"Uh, well, actually I am having a bit of trouble down...around...up..." Karel said while pointing both forefingers around his pelvis.

Gigori sighed very deeply. "Okay, follow me." He led Karel into an adjacent examining room. "Okay, Karel, drop your pants, bend over, and spread 'em best you can."

Karel did so, bending over an examination table. Sheba walked off his shoulder onto the table. Karel petted her (mainly to keep his mind occupied). "Hey, I appreciate this. Hey, a group of us are having a get together. Want to come?"

"Sure, why not," Gigori said as he put on a pair of rubber gloves. "It would really be nice to get out of the med center."

"Yeah, the gang really wants you come. They really apprec...oooh...woah...uh..." Karel started singing, "Moon River...2"

ABOVE EUROPE

The spaceplane3 was just entering low-earth orbit when Relena turned to Heero and said, "Are you all right, Heero? You seem nervous."

"I am okay," he said. Nervous? Why should I be nervous? Just because I am about to meet your mother who may end up being my mother-in-law because I am going to propose to you? Dang! I am nervous. I never felt so nervous in my life. Why am I so nervous? I never felt this way about my missions. That's it, I'll think of this as a mission. No, I can't cheapen our relationship by-- Relena took hold of his hand-- Oh. Wow, her skin is so soft against mine, and that is just our hands. I wonder what it would be like when the skin our entire bod...

"Excuse me, sir," a flight attendant said to him. "Would you like a cold drink?"

"Yes, please," Heero responded. He selected a seltzer with lots of ice. It's going to be a long flight.

IMPERIAL TRAINING FACILITY, NICHOLSON REGIO,GANYMEDE

Petty Officer First Class Dekatessera Micalopoulos was in the upper hanger repairing a Gemini, when a Sagittarius, in plane mode, came up on the elevator with a figure standing next to it. She sighed. She recognized the figure as Ensign Hyaku Tanaka and the Sagittarius as Ensign Kaksi Tortsen of the 2nd Martian MF Squadron. I know he needs repair work, again, or the fighter would not have been brought up here. She stormed over (louder as Kaksi got out of the cockpit). "Alright, Tortsen! What did you do to my MF?"

"Your MF?" Kaksi defended. "I am the pilot. We are the ones the fly them."

"And I am the one who puts them back together after you break them." She turned to Hyaku. "What did you do?"

"Well, we were doing standard maneuvers in the Ring4, and I hit a rock"

"You hit a rock? This is OMPC #54," the Hellene mechanic said hitting the side of the fighter for emphasis. "How does a rock hurt something made out of OMPC #54?" She turned to Hyaku. "Do you want to fill in the details?"

Embarrassed, the Japanese pilot started, "Well, he was in humanoid mode leaping from rock to rock. He was in the middle of transforming to the fighter, when a rock hit his elbow and got caught...."

Dekatessera finished it, " in the joint and broke up and the little pieces got into the inner workings before the skin closed up and now the joint will not work well, including transformation. Peachy!" She ended with tons of sarcasm. She started off again after she saw the other pilots nod. "Crap. What is it with you, Tortsen? Did you walk under a ladder or something?" She calmed down. "Well, bring it over. I'll get to it. I was just about to take a break." She started to walk off before calling back over her shoulder. "Hey, follow me. Osiem was going to show me something, and I am sure he would be pleased to show you too."

The two pilots looked at each other, shrugged, and followed her. They then saw the two other pilots they were flying against during the botched sortie, Pedwar Gwynedd and Doksan Inonu.

"Hey, Kaksi," Pedwar called out, "You ought to be more careful. Any more of this and the squadron is going to think you are jinxed or something."

"Tanaka, you must take better care of your wing man," Doksan said as they came closer.

"I will," Hyaku said sternly; "You do not need to tell me."

"Hey, guys," Pedwar said, "Let us not take this too personally. I meant no harm, Kaksi. You really are a good pilot. All you guys are."

Hey, guys," Dekatessera called back, "You guys coming?"

"Sure thing, Sera." Kaksi said, "All right if Pedwar and Doksan join us."

"You bet. This way, boys." She led them to where Lieutenant Osiem Jaruzelski was testing a fighter's engine. The small plasma flux drive let out an oscillating hum as he adjusted the controls from a remote console.

He usually worked at the Technical Research Center, but he was visiting the training facility to test their engine. Osiem turned around to his visitors. "Oh, hello. Sera, I see you brought our pilot friends. Just who I wanted to see, except I really wanted to show this to Lieutenant Rabin."

"Sorry, sir, but she is on other duties," Pedwar said.

"Ah, well, " Osiem toned the engine down a bit. He walked up to the engine, bent down under it, and beckoned the others. "Come here. You have to see this." The mechanic and the four pilots got on the floor under the engine with him. Osiem pulled out a piece of paper from the lining of his jacket which he unfolded out on the floor. The others' eyes widened when they saw what was on it.

"Is that what I think it is?" Doksan asked.

"A new propulsion system," Sera said.

"That looks too large to be for a fighter," Pedwar said. "It would have to be for a warship."

"Yes," Osiem said, "It is a new drive. More powerful than anything mankind has ever made."

"But it cannot be in production already," Hyaku said. "Can it?"

"It is in the developmental stage. They have built a few prototypes at the research center, but they have already drawn up blueprints for warships using the drive, including a new super cruiser, the Enforcer class."

"How far along are they from that?" Kaksi asked nervously.

"Not for another year, but when built it would be faster than anything anyone has ever developed before, especially in the Earth Sphere. It would be able to accelerate a cruiser at over thirty-five meters per second per second5 for a duration of over five hours. With this drive, a cruiser could cover one hundred million kilometers in two days."

DARLIAN ESTATE6

Mrs. Darlian was waiting at the steps of the house as Pargan pulled up with the limo.7 As the limo came to a stop, she rushed up and, not waiting for Pargan, opened the door herself to let Relena out. She hugged Relena as soon as she got out. "Welcome home, dear."

"Thank you, Mother," Relena said happily as she hugged her adoptive mother back.

Darlian then noticed Heero who had just let himself out. She let go of Relena. "So, this is the young man you have been telling me about."

"Yes, mother, allow me to introduce to you, Heero Yuy."

Heero turned and faced her. "It is nice to meet you," he said with his hand offered for handshake, which she took only to bring him in to a big embrace. Geez, Mom, what are you doing? Heero thought. Wait, did I just think that?

Darlian let Heero go. "Relena has told me a lot about you. She even explained that the reason she ran out on her fifteenth birthday party was to go see you. Interesting way to start a relationship," she said as she led everyone into the house.

Heero sweat-dropped and whispered to Relena, "You actually told her about that?"

"Don't worry," Relena said back, "I told her you are completely gentle with me. Besides I did not go into too many details, such as you trying to shoot me..." After Heero let a sigh relief she added "...at first."

December 23, AC 199

IMPERIAL TRAINING FACILITY, NICHOLSON REGIO,GANYMEDE

The members of the third squad of the 2nd Martian Platoon were returning to their quarters. They were having "small talk," but trying to keep their voices low.

"Now I forget. Are we supposed to bring presents to the party?" Private Sgohi Thunderhawk asked.

"No," Lieutenant Hrand Kessan emphasized. "We cannot have any gift exchanging. We cannot have the Empire think we are having a religious function. We just have to bring ourselves."

"What about food?" asked Corporal Kinaana Prinsloo.

"And an appetite?" added Sergeant Robong Kriel.

"Well, it is not even supposed to be a party, just a bit of a get together," Kessan protested.

"Aw, come on, Hrand," Private Seitek Calloway teased. "Don't be such a hard a'."

"Okay, fine, but keep it simple."

"As if we have much of a choice," said Private Finf Harris. "It is hard to get food and use communal kitchens."

"Just the same," started Corporal Dezaoito Fernandez, "I have this recipe for a dip that is to..."

"Shhh, we are coming upon someone," Sgohi said.

"Son of a bi***," Kessan fumed. "It is the recruits from the Earth Sphere."

Robong moved and stood in front of Kessan. "Now, easy Hrand. Don't go off the handle. That could really blow things for us. And, if you don't, I'll sock you out if I need to."

Kessan let out a relaxing breath. He knew that Robong could easily punch him out. He also knew that it would do no good for anyone for him to show his true feelings towards to the Earth Sphere and its connection to Mars' occupation. "Do not worry any of you. Watch this." He walked up to the other group. "Good day, gentleman," he started calmly, "I am Lieutenant Hrand Kessan . I am not sure I have had the pleasure."

"Ah, yes. I am Rekard Ett, formerly of OZ," Ett introduce himself. Gerald Panucci and Nak Sibsorng who were with him, also introduced themselves.

"So, what do you think of this setup?" Kessan asked.

"Very impressive," Panucci said.

"Yes; I myself had a little bit of resentment being bossed around by them at first," Ett said, "but now I see that they are superior. It will be great to go back to the Earth Sphere and take it."

"Yes," Sibsorng said, "and take out the Gundams and those traitors Une and Merquise."

Kessan shook Sibsorng's hand. "Yes, I will agree with that."

COLONY L2

Duo and Hilde were just finishing inspecting the house when they got a knock at the door. Duo went to the door and opened it. "Howard!" he said cheerfully as he saw the fellow Sweeper in front of him.

"Hey, Duo," Howard responded. "I heard you were in town."

"Yeah, apparently someone broke into the lot and killed a guy."

"Yeah, I know. I have been keeping an eye on the place, you know."

"I know, and we aren't here because we don't trust your judgment. We just feel better seeing for ourselves that the place is okay."

"Understandable. So how does it look to you?"

"Okay; nothing was stolen from the lot and no entry was attempted on house whatsoever."

"That's good." He saw Hilde come into the room. "Oh, hi, Hilde."

"Hello, Howard." She said, "What have you been up to?"

"Oh, same old humdrum work. And, you?"

"Well, actually," she waved her engagement ring as she walked over to Duo and gave him a kiss. "We just got engaged a few days ago."

"Wow! Well, congratulations."

"Thanks," Duo said. "Hey, sorry. We can't chat much. We have to get going to catch our flight home. Sure, glad you caught us though."

"Sure thing," Howard said, turning to leave. "Bye."

Duo turned to Hilde. "Well, I guess we should head out, but first I want to take one last look at the place." He looked around the rooms. He was looking at his old bedroom for a while. "Hmmm."

"What is it, Duo?" Hilde asked.

He put his arm around her. "I was just trying to imaging the room with a double bed."

She laughed and hugged him. "Why not a queen or a king sized?"

He laughed and hugged her back. "Well, I guess your old room would be the guest room."

"Why not a nursery?" She gave him kiss on the cheek.

"Not for a while." He gave her a kiss back on the lips.

December 24, AC 199

DARLIAN HOME TOWN8, 16:48

Heero walked with Relena along the promenade holding her hand. He led her through the gate down to the beach. As they approached the water he asked her, "Recognize this place?"

It took her hardly any time to answer softly, "This is where we first met...so to speak. This is where I found you lying on the beach." She covered her mouth as laughed. "I will admit it was not the best way to start off a relationship."

He managed a smile. "True. But, still that Darlian who found me did not even give up, even after she became a Peacecraft. You still loved me for more than I saw in myself and taught me to love too. Speaking of which, don't you think it is a bit confusing going between two different surnames?"

"I already decided to take the name Darlian."

"But you still have ties to the Sankt kingdom as well as to your brother. I think I know of a way to simplify things."

"Hmmm, true. Okay, what is your idea?"

"Well," he said gently with a smile but also some what nervously, "How about you take on my last name?"

Oh, my! This is it. Heero is actually proposing to me, she first thought excitedly, but he is kind of beating around the bush. He is not getting off that easily. She then said slyly, "Well, what good would that do? I understand you have gone by several aliases yourself."

Heero was a little bit surprised. "Well, it doesn't matter if we go by Yuy or Lowe or whatever. I would even take on Peacecraft or Darlian, as long as I can be with you for the rest of my life, Relena. Ever since that day we first met, you have been my primary source of happiness, but I never really thought I was worthy of it. These past few years of just dating you, however, have been the happiest years of my life, I know that I have been worthy of it and I am worthy of even more." He got down on his knees. "Will you make my happiness complete by being my wife?" He pulled out the ring. "Will you marry me?"

Took him long enough to get the point. She said with a big smile, "Mission accepted."

"You will?"

"Yes, Heero; I will marry you."

He slipped the ring on her finger and brought her in for a deep kiss. He embraced her tightly, giving in to a few tears of joy. "Aishiteru, Relena."

"I love you, too, Heero," she sobbed back. She broke away, smiling with tears still in her eyes. She then playfully danced the ring-finger on his chest. "Actually, I have fantasized to be called Relena Yuy for a long time, and it was the boy named 'Heero Yuy' I fell in love with. So, I guess 'Yuy' will be the last name I will take, " she said right in his face before giving him a quick kiss.

"You sly little minx," he said with a growl crossed with a smile which broadened before he kissed her back.

She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him along. "Come on. Let's go tell everybody."

ISI HEADQUARTERS, TROS, GANYMEDE

Thromed Peninta walked among the cubicles and desks until he found who he was looking for. "Hey, Fichese, what are you doing?"

Scott looked up from his work a little bit. "Oh, hi, Peninta. I am just going over these reports from the Earth Sphere. How about you?"

"I got promoted to captain."

"Wow, now we are both captains. Wait, I thought you were already a captain." He looked closer at Peninta.

"No, you are still an O-3. I am now an O-6, in the Navy," he said pointing to his ISI/Naval insignia. "I am now the political officer of the Justinian."

"So now you are in charge of keeping tabs on ship. Congratulations."

"Thanks, but what about you?"

"Me?"

"Why have not you had very many promotions?"

"I had two promotions in the last four years."

"Much of that was due to good words from me. We all started out in the same class, Scott, just a few years behind Shtatë, who as you know is already a legend. They say that our advantage over the Earth Sphere has increased ten-fold because of him. I dare say it could increase a hundred-fold if you were in charge."

Scott pointed to himself. "Could you really see me doing the stuff Shtatë has been doing?"

"Okay, so I am exaggerating, but still a lot of the stuff Shtatë has sent us you have processed," Peninta emphasized stabbing his finger into Scott's papers. "I told Hiliada himself that much of what we have accomplished has been because of you. That is the main reason you got your promotion."

"Thank you," Scott answered.

"That and I pointed out that you were the top of your class. No one studies more on espionage techniques more than you. Yet you are still an O-3 desk jockey. You can achieve more than this, Scott. Unlike the Alliance who often promoted due to family status, we always prided ourselves on being promoted solely on merit." He pointed at his rank insignia. "This is mostly a formality so I can be on par with a ship's captain. You don't really need the formality. Aim higher, Fichese."

Scott was silent for a while before letting out a sigh. "Okay; I will go for it. Maybe I will even go for a stint as a political officer," he ended with a smile. The smile slowly faded as Scott saw someone that made his blood turn cold. He did not show it, however, by keeping his expression from turning in to a scowl.

Lieutenant Colonel Varlum Otkhmotsi of Enforcement approached them with a small stack of papers in his hand. "Good day, gentleman," he said to them.

"Good day, Otkhmotsi. How was your day?" asked Peninta.

"Oh, just arrested a bunch of fanatics trying to celebrate some religious event. Fortunately there was no resistance. They were pretty pacifistic about it. They just let us round them up peacefully and haul them off to jail. Shouldn't even need to keep them in for very long, just a few weeks." He lightly batted Scott with the papers. "Not like the old days, huh, Scott?"

Scott tried very hard to retain his composure. "No, I suppose not."

Well, I'll see you guys." He waved the papers. "Gotta go file the arrests." He walked off.

LUXEMBOURG

Milliardo, Lucrezia, and Lucretius were huddled around the vid-phone talking to Heero and Relena.

"That is wonderful," Lucrezia said.

"Yeah, welcome to the family," Milliardo said beside her. "I guess. Did you tell anyone else?"

"Just Duo and the Schbeikers," Heero responded. "He and Hilde just got back from a quick visit from L2."

"We were just about to call the others," Relena said.

"Okay, we will let you get to them," Lucrezia said. "Take care; bye." The others said good-bye and hung up. She hugged her son. "You hear that? Aunt Relena is getting married." She turned to Milliardo. "You seemed to handle that well."

"You know I have gotten over my grudge towards Heero years ago. Besides, it was inevitable."

ISI DORMITORIES TROS, GANYMEDE

Scott walked into his dormitory. I guess Peninta is right. I am not doing much good sitting on my butt. He looked at the picture of his parents on his night stand. Sorry, Dad and Mom. I haven't done much over the years have I? That bastard Sejuta is still not only still at large, but bigger than ever. He then though back to what Otkhmotsi said about the "old days." The memories of the event started to come back. The images of flames. The smell of smoke. The sounds of men, women, and children screaming with occasional gun shots. He lied on his bed covering his eyes as he started to tremble and have trouble breathing. He knew he would have trouble getting to sleep that night.

IMPERIAL TRAINING FACILITY, NICHOLSON REGIO, GANYMEDE

Deep in the bowels of the hangar deck a gathering of pilots, commandos, and others hoped the sound of machinery would drown out their conversation.

"So when do we make our move?" Pedwar asked.

"It will not be for a long while," Deborah said. "We are not ready."

"Ready?" Hrand said. "What do you mean we are not ready? We have been working our butts off for months."

"And we still have much more to learn and work at if we are to exceed the Imperial forces," Sgohi said.

"More than that," Hyaku noted. "We need to do more than just be able fight. We need to be able to train and to teach, especially if we are to use the Earth Sphere's assistance."

"Including flying," Sera said eyeing Kaksi.

"Hey!" Kaksi said.

"Yes," Deborah added. "Plus I am afraid we will need help, especially as they prepare the Enforcer. Our work is not done by a long shot." As small drinking glasses were broken out and each filled with a sparking beverage, she continued. "I appreciate all the help and support you have given, but we need more." She raise a toast and mouthed, "To God and Freedom," then they all drank.