Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Hating a Phoenix ❯ Chapter 15.0 ( Chapter 15 )

Hating a Phoenix

Chapter 15

By Firey Angelwings

 

 

***Hey....how are you all doing? This is chapter 15 (as if you didn't know) but it IS the last chapter, only to be followed by the epilogue in Hating a Phoenix. I think...that after the epilogue I will write a short teaser for the sequel, which I have already mostly mapped out. Agh, I'd better shut up! Leave the talking `til the end!

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing (unless my family is running some sort of a hidden, secret covert operation, but somehow I doubt that...) or its characters which I use in the story. I only own my own (few) made up characters and the principle of a race called Phoenixes, so if you steal them, I'll steal your money.

 

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     Nightfall. The group sat reunited in several spacious couches and armchairs. It was a bit of a change of scene, for they always held their meeting in or near to the hangar, where there tended to be little to no furniture.

 

     All in the past, however, as they were silent in the comfortable salon. For the most part, their gazes were fixed on one person in particular. She was unperturbed at the attention, staring almost haughtily back at them in a clear act of defiance.

 

    Her basic body language read that she (she being Relena Peacecraft, of course) didn't want to engage in a topic of conversation, no matter how eager the others may be.

 

     Relena ignored their various subtle hints, meaning...several clearing of the throat, a couple of well-placed glares, a few signs in that area. She simply looked away in a picture of innocence, almost seemingly reverting to her former passive self.

 

     Eventually frustrated into complete bluntness, Wufei declared in complete characterization of himself, “Well? Are you going to explain yourself or will we have to force it out of you?”

 

     Rolling her head lazily from the opposite side to level her stare with the outspoken man, Relena inquired playfully and ignorantly, “Who are you addressing exactly?”

 

     The entire gathering of people seemed to let their shoulders slump at exactly the same time. Wufei wasn't intimidated, as he normally wasn't and snapped back, “Of course I'm addressing you. Don't be coy.”

 

     An impish grin crossed on her features; the grin of a triumphant cat over a mouse, or that of a single individual who knew information desired greatly by others. Which was, of course, exactly what was going on.

 

     Stretching her hand out closely to her scarlet eyes, Relena examined her nails as she answered finally, “Well...”

 

     Noticing that everyone was leaning forward obviously in their seats, she grinned once more before hopping lightly off the table on which she had been sitting and stood in the center of the room. “So I'm back. Although....you all can see that.”

 

     Ignoring their annoyed stances throughout the room, Relena continued in a more serious tone, “Heero gathered enough information to deduce easily that Pavey is prepping for an immense-scale attack on Earth itself, probably within the next couple of hours.”

 

     The assembled group was finally quiet as this declaration sunk in. Most of them turned to see Heero, who was leaning against the far wall with his eyes closed, to give an affirmation on Relena's words. He nodded his head slightly.

 

     When she had their attention held once more, Relena stated, “That's basically the situation. Though...I should inform you that I won't be able to fight in the inevitable battle for Earth, because Dr J--”

 

     Most of the heads in the room snapped up at the mention of that name. Relena dipped her head. “Yes, I have been in communication with him, it was he who identified the Lazuria in the first place, anyways. So he has had me informed that he needs to do a lumbar surgery in an attempt to remove the infected areas in my spinal cord.”

 

     Milliardo visibly winced at the idea of his sister in an operation with sucha man. She noticed and turned a bit towards him, reassuring. “It's not like I'd be any help in the battle, what with my constant seizures every once in a while. It's pretty much my only chance to not have to live with the disease for the rest of my life. A life which would be pretty short, considering that the inevitable outcome is a deep coma and then death.”

 

     Silence fell once more, as the room's occupents reflected on the dark words of Relena, which had been spoken with such lighthearted cheerfulness. Noting the depressed air, Relena rolled her eyes exagerratedly and slumped. “Oh, come on you guys. Stop it. You've got a huge battle to plan for. Starting...now! So...start, y'all.”

 

     Each gave a weak but appreciative smile as Relena took her seat once more. But, when none said anything more, Sally Po stood and said, “Well, we shouldn't worry about the ratio of their troops to ours.”

 

     Duo hung his head at this statement, but shook his hands in the air a few seconds later. He hopped up and challenged, “What are you, insane? Think of how many people we are here. Now think of how many people that we face in a normal fight with Pavey. NOW think how many times bigger his troops will be for this battle. Where is your logic?”

 

     Smiling at Duo's lack of confidence, Sally motioned politely for him to sit down. He took the hint and did so as she elaborated her first statement. “What I mean is, that the Preventors have been anticipating such a battle coming to pass. I have as well. Therefore, in preparation for such an outcome, I previously asked your very own Wufei...” She gestured to the man with her left hand, “If he would lead the SUBSTANTIAL amount of readied Preventor troops when the time came.”

 

     A couple of jaws dropped as they all swung their sares over to the silent Wufei, whoi was doing a fairly accurate Heero-silent impression. Hilde looked immensely relieved and called out from the back, “Way to go, Wufei!”

 

     The man in question seemed to wake up at this small excalmation and he caught Sally's eyes quickly. He spoke in a soft but firm tone. “I'll leave right now.”

 

     Not waiting for anybody else to challenge him or direct him, Wufei strode from the room, exuding an air of supreme but not cocky confidence.

 

     There wasn't much to say then, until Milliardo stood slowly from his chair and rubbed his hands together in anticipation of the upcoming battle. He ordered sternly, “OK. We shouldn't waste any time. Let's get to the hangar and prep from there. Come people, every second counts here...”

 

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     Far away from Mars and the scrambling group was the tiny, cloaked yet gleaming colony of Dr J and his associates. It contained more people then usual; for it was normally very sparsely populated, except for the constant presence of a select few scientists.

 

     The gathering researchers, scientists and what not had all been alerted to the important detail that later that day, the Dr J would be the first human to ever be given the opportunity to operate on a member of the Phoenix race.

 

     The man could hardly contain his excitement; he gave up concealing it a few hours ago when all the flattery started. He didn't intend to tell ninety percent of the gathering anything about what he learned about Phoenixes during the operation, but they didn't have to know that.

 

     For what seemed to be the hundredth time, the older man checked over his assembled tools and equipment. He couldn't allow his excitement to overcome him too much, for performing surgery on the lumbar spinal cord was a very risky business, having to navigate around several major arteries and nerves endings.

 

     Dr J was up for the challenge, despite the many obstacles. His quest for more and more knowledge fueled him so that he would have no fear.

 

     Picking up the medium sized blade scalpel and holding it to the light, he checked the point for its sharpness. He wouldn't allow himself to lose this chance. He would be successful.

 

***************

 

     Returning back to glance in on what was passing at the residence of Dr J's thoughts: the group had made their arranged rendezvous in the hangar once they had made some last minute preparations.

 

     Wufei had not returned yet, so they quickly made the decision to meet with him in the midst of the upcoming battle, at whatever time he was ready. That meant, of course, that the select pilots were forced upon the task of holding off the numerous troops of Maxwell Pavey and the rest of the Purifiers until the Preventors were prepared to engage in battle.

 

     They didn't have good odds. They refused to be told by how many they were outnumbered. But....they were Gundam pilots, were they not?

 

     Standing in front of his corresponding machine, Death turned to face his supposed `muse' and took her hand. He massaged her knuckles lightly yet firmly with his long, strong fingers.

 

     Hilde smiled in spite of the situation. Just looking upon Duo's face always lightened the load on her heart, however heavy it may be. He grinned back confidently, tipping his head forward and speaking in a hushed murmur. “I'll be seeing you after this SMALL obstacle.”

 

     Nodding eagerly, Hilde answered swiftly. “I know you will. I won't even notice that you're gone.”

 

     Chuckling lightly, Duo scratched the base of his braid with his free hand. “I don't know how to take that. Should I be flattered or offended?”

 

    Pulling her hand away from him playfully, maintaining the light mood, Hilde asnwered coyly, “Neither. Don't think on it too much.”

 

    Duo touched his released hand to his brow briefly, saluting, though it wasn't meant in a mocking style. He looked aroun the hangar for a moment, then inquired intimately, “Are you staying here?”

 

    Shaking her head, feeling a bit more serious, Hilde informed him of her plans. “I'm going with Relena for her surgery. She'll need the moral support. Or...I will, at least.”

 

     Duo smiled reassuringly and touched the very tips of his fingers to her cheek, whispering, “She'll be fine and so will you. Don't worry your pretty head about it, babe.”

 

     He leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to the space between her eyebrows, before jumping back rapidly and waving just before her disappeared into the Deathscythe.

 

     Opposite the parting couple was Relena, shooing her brother away to his own mobile suit. “Yes...I'll be fine. I--I know! Won't you just GO??”

 

     Finally, laughing deep in his chest, Milliardo took his leave of his sister and of Noin, jogging leisurely to his own suit.

 

     Not wasting a moment of the seemingly precious time, Relena whirled to the person who was passing by her nonchalantly. A small smile crossed her features before disappearing like a candle extinguished. She touched her hand to Heero's shoulder as she leaned forward and whispered close to his ear, “I'll pull through if you'll pull through.”

 

     Keeping his appearance of relaxation, Heero nonetheless regarded her from the corner of his eye, his mouth twitching upward ever slightly. He answered seriously, “Don't waste your time thinking about me. I'll be fine. Focus on yourself this once.”

 

     She looked away, her platinum hair streaming in front of her face. She answered in the same tone, though it had an undercurrent of something more, the same as his. “What do I have to do? It's you who'll be doing the strenuous activity while I'm sleeping. It's not like I'm operating on myself.”

 

     His mind turning to Dr J, Heero narrowed his eyes and growled, the picture of the word `threatening'. “If he screws up in ANY way I'll make sure that--”

 

     Relena placed her index finger lightly over his lips for a brief second, but it did stop his words. She shook her head lightly and said casually, “I'll meet you here then.”

 

     He raised his hand up, a supposedly affirmative action before her headed back to his own respective Gundam.

 

**************

 

     Not so far away, Maxwell Pavey, the instigator of all these tragic events walked proudly and very pompously across the bridge of his battleship. He had prime seats for the battle that would unfold very soon.

 

     Before him was a huge sheet of glass that stretched in a full three hundred and sixty degrees, for the best view of the fight, no matter where it went. His troops of Taurus suits were assembled before the battleship like pawns on a chessboard, if there were multiple thousand more pawns in a chess game.

 

     He was counting fully on the efficiency of the Gundam pilots surveillance of his activities. This battle would hold absolutely no amusement if they didn't show up, of course, but there was absolutely no doubt in his mind that they would.

 

     His cousellers were a bit more skeptical, but they held their tongues in check, recalling the way that Pavey lashed out physically at whatever annoyed him.

 

     Not caring who heard him, Pavey spoke with passion, “Come out and play, you silly soldiers.”:

 

**************

 

     The enormous titanium door that held no design and was completely and utterly nondescript with the exception of its sheer size opened with a hiss. From behind it walked two females, alone.

 

    One of them strode with more confidence and self-assurance; this was Relena Peacecraft. The other was Hilde, of course, who took her time, doing her best to map out the research colony. Her eyes were half filled with wonder, half filled with anxiety.

 

     A young man enthusiastically offered to lead them to the operating theater, but Relena felt no need to talk, as she already knew where she was going. She walked down the twisting hallways at an alarmingly fast rate, leaving the young man behind.

 

     Hilde jogged to keep up with her friend, taking note of the way Relena's jaw was stiffly set. She surmised that Relena wasn't very fond of being in this place, but for what reason, Hilde did not know.

 

     Come to think about it, she realized that she herself wasn't that comfortable on this colony either. Every person that the duo passed seemed to examine them with an undiscribable intensity, as though they were seeing even beneath their skin.

 

     Shrugging off her shivers, Hilde straightened her shoulders and did her best to have an air of confidence and perhaps bit a bit intimidating. She wasn't sure if it had any effect, but it made her feel better nonetheless.

 

     Relena quickly turned in to a room through another set of large, titanium double doors. Inside was the small, exceedingly mad scientist known as Dr J. Hilde shivered again.

 

     He motioned for them to sit down on the chairs provided. They did.

 

     Clearing his throat, Dr J didn't wait for any pleasantries that he wasn't going to receive anyways. He spoke swiftly and assuredly. “Basically, the surgery is in the lumbar spinal area. It involves cutting the epidermis just above the area, as well as a few of the lower discs. Simply put, I'll use a small beam of radiation for a few minutes on the specific infected areas. When those areas are exposed to high amounts of oxygen, which I will do using a small little device, they shrivel into smaller, compact shapes. From there, it is simply a matter of removing those neutralized infections with a knife from where they are embedded in the spinal cord. I must warn you--”

 

     Relena stood suddenly, looking very stiff but completely without fear. She towered over the scientist. She interrupted, “Don't care. Don't want to know. Just do it. Now.”

 

     Without waiting for his consent, the Phoenix woman vaulted onto the gurney, flipping onto her stomach. She cradled her head on her arm as she pulled up the hem of her shirt just so.

 

     Rolling his eyes, though it wasn't visible to them through his heavy glasses, Dr J shrugged carelessly and turned to the prepared rolling table behind him. He drew a syringe from a pan.

 

     He approached Relena and took her wrist, saying softly, “This is the anaesthetic. You'll be unconscious in a matter of seconds. After hat, I'll inject a temporary paralyzing ingredient to keep you from seizing during the operation.

 

     Relena said nothing. She showed no emotion as he injected the syringe's contents into her vein. True to the doctor's word, she lost consciousness after about four seconds.

 

***************

 

     For the last few minutes, space had been as silent as ever. And it remained so, for sound doesn't carry over the lack of air. But if there had been the air, the noise would have been deafening.

 

     From seven different areas came instantaneous explosions as a seven small sets of Taurus suits were destroyed.

 

     For a few moments, Pavey could see nothing from his inpenetrable `fortress', but he soon made out the familiar outlines of those he'd been expecting: the Gundams, Milliardo Peacecraft and Lucrezia Noin.

 

     All were skilled fighters, though in very different areas of expertise. The Purifier's army was slightly disorganized and disoriented as they located whom they were fighting.

 

     But they made perfect use of their advantage, which was their great numbers. Skill may be all fine and well, but thinking of a metaphor of rats: a group of rats can overcome any one rat, however strong it may be.

 

     They did their best to live up to this example, though it may be displeasing to the mind.

 

     Heero made his way on the offensive, as he never saw himself on the defensive. Now was definitely not the time to start. He made a pattern: slash left, slash right, slash right, slash back, rifle.

 

     When his enemy started to sense the pattern, he'd change it to their immediate disadvantage. Explosion after explosion resulted around him.

 

     There was a blip on his screen, but Heero paid no attention to it. After a number of rough minutes where his patternwas disrupted briefly and he was shaken up a bit, the blip started again.

 

     This time, an image materialized on the screen. He recognized the face of Maxwell Pavey, but it made no difference to him.

 

     There was laughter. Loud, irritating laughter, almost as if it were coing from a horse noisily eating its food. Finally Pavey spoke. “Fighting for your woman, Yuy?”

 

     There was no response from Heero; in battle, he never concentrated much on verbal sparring with his enemy. It had always seemed a bit pointless, because it would never esult in anything. It wasn't as if his opponent would suddenly realize the errors of his ways. Where was the logic?

 

     “I liked the feel of the Phoenix's wings. The feathers, their softness...it's like the most precious silk.”

 

     Heero understood the attempt for him to become angered and lose his reason during battle. That was always the fatal mistake in any fight. He murmured under his breath, “Been there. Done that.”

 

***************

 

     The hunched figure of Dr J over Relena's body was an eerie sight. Hilde had moved out of the actual operating room, as she wasn't `sterile' enough to be there. She had wanted to tell the `good doctor' to go to hell, but thought better of it.

 

     She was indeed trusting Relena's very life to him. She might as well stay in his good books, lest he get a bit nasty.

 

     Dr J himself was in the very last stage of the surgery. He had removed about eighty percent of the infection, but he had only recently discovered a more deeply embedded infection. It was covered by multiple veins and arteries and to say that he was having a bit of trouble was a great understatement indeed.

 

     His eyes dilated and widened a bit when he snagged the last bit and drew it away carefully. He breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the tension was finished.

 

     The colony moved. He let out a cry of alarm: the work he was doing was so precise, so fine, what was happening--

 

    ----The incision in Relena back went crimson in a matter of seconds. It pooled with blood and there was a spurt from within the depths.

 

     He swore. Loudly.

 

     Hitting an artery wasn't ever good.

 

**************

 

     It seems as though the rat analogy was correct.

 

     The group of seven were completely surrounded. They communicated to each other through their secret frequencies, but none could draw up a sufficient plan fast enough.

 

     Duo shouted in frustration. “Dammit! If we die out here, it's all on Wufei's irresponsible head!”

 

     As he said so, the advancing troops stopped, and stilled any threatening action. They stood at attention.

 

     On the screen of all of their mobile suits appeared the face of Maxwell Pavey. To say that he looked like the happiest man ever wasn't hyperbole. He chuckled haughtily, taking his time. Eventually, he siad very little. “Ever wonder why your Relena developped Lazuria?”

 

     This wasn't what they had been expecting. There wasn't a sound until Pavey's voice pierced the still and uncommon air within the cockpits. “Twas an ingenious little project known simply as Operation Lazuria. When she was in my custody, we concocted a beautiful strain of the disease and injected her with it. A worthy end for such a despicable being.”

 

     Milliardo snapped to attention, his blonde hair flying back from his face. His eyes had amurderous rage, but he also seemed distracted. His fingers flashed on the screen swiftly.

 

     As all the jaws of the other pilots hung from their mouths, Milliardo shot up into the deepness of space, taking advantage of the stillness of the surrounding Taurus suits. He was gone before any of them could do anything.

 

     With Pavey's laughter in the background, the remaining pilots shouted out their disgust. Duo seemed to be in a frenzy. “Coward! I hope you die from guilt at being such a pansy-ass!”

 

     He would have continued, but there was a sudden distraction. From the very back lines of the Taurus troops was a multitude of explosions. Another face appeared on their screens.

 

     There was nothing they could have been happier to see. Wufei smiled in a half-arrogant manner before commanding the following Preventor troops to start the battle anew. This time, with better odds.

 

************

 

     Relena had never been so pale. When one looked at her, it was as though she was transparent, as though one was looking through a mere shell of her former vibrant self.

 

     She wasn't dead, or at least...not yet. But she hung by the very cliched thread over the canyon of death. She was stuck in a coma. The other doctors decreed that she would never wake up without the required amount of blood.

 

     And where to resolve this problem? Her blood was like no one else's, evidently.

 

     Hilde sat beside the bed with her head in her hands. She had never felt despair such as this. Imagine, to sit at the bedside of one's best friend, just waiting for the dreaded moment when that faint heart moniter would finally go dead, signalling the stop of the weakened heart.

 

     Dr J was at a loss for words. He was disappointed in himself for botching th operation so badly. This would never do! But what to do? What to do...

 

     With a hiss, the infamous doors slid open. Neither regarded the person who entered the room, until a smooth, deep voice flowed to their ears. “I just had this feeling that you'd need a special blend of blood. “

 

     Hilde looked up and was gratified beyond words to see the flash of the icy blue eyes and the lustre of the long, pale hair from that tall frame.

 

**************

 

     For the first time in the entire battle, which never seemed to end, there was nobody attacking Heero.

 

     He took the moment to catch his breath. He whirled his powerful machine around and focused on the large battleship which remain unscathed throughout the entire fight.

 

     The corner of his mouth went up as he made the Wing Zero draw its beam saber. In a moment of superb power, the Gundam raced from its spot faster then the human eye can track.

 

     He drew a long cut along the forefront of the fortress. Smaller explosions resulted, but this wasn't his aim.

 

     Heero pulled back on the controld and shot in the opposite direction, away from the warship. He drew the large and intimidating rifle and aimed it easily at the unmoving, large target.

 

     It was almost too easy as he pulled the trigger and watched the powerful beam travel to the ship.

 

    For a few seconds, the blackness of space became white and he couldn't see. But when all resumed its former darkness, the explosion was spectacular as the fire spread quicker then the wildfire on Earth. It engulfed the large ship and in that moment, Heero would have done almost anything to hearMaxwell Pavey' final cries.

 

     He stayed where he was for a few seconds, before turning to finish off the remaining straggling troops.

 

     And after that? The thrilling feeling about it all was that he....he actually had someone to go back to, now that it was done. Glorious.

 

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AN::

 

   YEAH!!! It's done! Everyone be immature for a bit and do a little dance/cheer. Well, it you want to be completely technical there still is the epilogue to finish off some loose ends and add a lighthearted finish, but that's just the icing on the cake.

 

OK PEOPLE>>I understand shyness, but this is the END of Hating a Phoenix. If you have an opinion of any sort, mail me. Be a bit appreciative, I've put a lot of work into this and the only thing that you have to (SHOULD) do is review it.

 

Got it?

 

Good.

 

Cheers everyone. Nothing can ruin my good mood.

 

~~Firey