Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Resistance is Futile ❯ Apocalypse Rising ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimers & warnings: See prologue

Chapter 1 - Apocalypse Rising

Excited Heero scrolled through the file provided by Dr. J. This data couldn't be correct. Heero frowned and bent towards the computer monitor. Unfortunately the data stayed the same. Heero shook his head disquietingly. What could probably be the meaning of all of this?

It seamed as if something was going really wrong at OZ. Not that he would mind, but his and his colleague's attacks caused in none of the simulations such a behaviour of their enemies. It didn't make sense. Heero really understood the growing frustration of J and his colleagues. How should they react with their small fleet of five Gundams to an enemy that acted totally out of character?

Perhaps this was the new tactic of OZ? To try and confuse them with their absurd movements of their troops to the point it would cause them to make an error. But the efforts they were making seemed almost to be too great. Why had they been removing troops from bases for weeks now, troops that were desperately needed to defend themselves - or to maintain their ruthless grip on the colonies - and increased instead the men on absolutely unimportant posts?

Dr. J had received those data files from different espionage satellites and had analysed them for weeks. But none of the analyses made sense. Heero had recalculated everything - just for good measure - but he couldn't find any flaws. Heero started nibbling nervously on his lower lip. He hated it when something couldn't be explained logically.

The latest intelligence data showed that a whole battalion of OZ soldiers had been sent to the remote base on Gamma-3-Zeta. Since this tiny little base didn't have any strategically value at all, J thought it to be about time to investigate more closely. And Heero agreed wholeheartedly with this.

One of them Gundam pilots - and Heero decided it should be him - was to sneak into the base and investigate everything going on there. After this he and the other pilots would destroy the base. The opportunity was just to good to let it pass. So many OZ soldiers at one place, at one time, and additionally on such an ill-equipped base. It was like killing two birds with one stone.

But to gain this the planning had to be meticulous and without any flaw. Maybe they would discover that it really was a trap set by OZ. Nothing was impossible with them. This enemy didn't know any honour.

Heero reckoned everything and did uncountable simulations on all the possible scenarios to eliminate every imponderability. He worked very concentrated and forgot everything else. This task was too important they weren't permitted to fail.

Suddenly the door opened and smashed with a plaster against the wall, startling Heero from his deep thoughts. The lively pilot of Deathscythe swept into the room.

"Heero, where are you? We are waiting for you to start the meal. Quatre called for you three times already."

Heero really didn't want to be disturbed. He was just about to finish his calculations. Still focused on the monitor he only answered with an monosyllabic "Hn!"

Duo didn't let himself be stopped by the repelling attitude of Heero. "Come on, Heero. Everybody is waiting for you. And your notebook wouldn't walk away."

"I. Have. Something. To. Do." said Heero with calm. With nimble fingers Heero programmed another simulation, hoping that the loud, longhaired annoyance would leave him alone.

Duo approached Heero and tried to peek over his shoulder to find out what the Wing pilot was doing. This made Heero - as usual - pretty edgy. Probably he just couldn't stand to have someone looking over his shoulder. His reaction to this was most probably a result of his battle reflexes. After all, this was confidential data.

Heero was skidding nervously back and forth on the chair. "Duo, go away. I will fetch some nutrition later. After I have finished these calculations."

But the braided youth didn't let himself be stopped. He bowed over Heero - which left him more nervous - and touched his fingers onto the monitor, leaving some fingerprints.

"Hmmm, looks like a really big mission. What is it about? Will we blow up a lot? When do we start?" exited, nearly ecstatic Duo was bouncing up and down behind him. Duo was also eating one of his famous sandwiches and some crumbs landed on Heeros keyboard.

Heero turned around, totally enervated, and spoke louder than he actually wanted to, "Damn you Duo! You are disturbing me in my planning! And you are leaving crumbs on my notebook! I will meet all of you and tell you everything when I am finished. And now leave me alone to work!"

For a moment Heero could see how Duos eyes got dark and the ever present smile on the face of the braided youth faded away. "You know, Heero, I really don't have a clue why I keep on trying over and over again." After saying this the Deathscythe pilot turned on his heels and rushed out of the room.

Heero frowned. Why did Duo get so angry? After all it was his fault, he left crumbs on the notebook. Heero shrugged mechanically. He stopped trying to fathom the enigma Duo Maxwell quite a while ago. He would fix this after the mission was accomplished successfully. Maybe he would watch this movie that Duo so loved with him again. The fighting scenes and the FX weren't half bad. And afterwards everything would be ok again.

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Duo stomped down the staircase angrily. He should have saved his breath. Time and time again he had tried to get trough Heeros thick walls and coax him out of them. Tried to integrate him into the group. But every time his intentions were blocked by harsh words or the icy stare of the Wing pilot. Honestly, why did he bother at all?

`Because you are head over heels in love with him, Baka,' answered Duo his own question. Unfortunately Heero didn't return the feelings. Heero most probably didn't know what feelings were. He wouldn't recognize them, even if they would bite him in his ass. And what a fine, adorable ass it was. An ass Duos wanted to do different things to than biting. But come to think, one little bite now and then wouldn't be too bad…

`Argh, brace yourself Duo!' he called himself for sanity. This would lead to nothing at all. Why did he have to fall in love with Mr. Ice Cube anyhow? Why not fall for someone like Quatre? But no, it must have been Heero. Heero who only pierced him with cold stares. Heero who threatened him with death sentences all the time. Duo rolled his eyes. Deep inside he had to be a masochist, there was no other explanation for this insanity.

Duo entered the kitchen and with a deep sight he fell onto a chair. He began to nip from his meal half-heartedly. Why was it impossible for Heero to be kind to him? Just once in a while a pleasing word and a friendly look, and Duo would have been in heaven.

"Duo?" asked Quatre, "Is Heero coming?"

"No," mumbled Duo and put another bite into his mouth. "New mission. He will explain it later," continued Duo still munching.

"What mission?" asked Trowa curiously.

Duo just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," his reply contained more bitterness than he wanted. "He didn't tell me. He just kicked me out of the room. You know Heero. He wants to be at least 1000% sure before he tells anything. God beware that the Perfect Soldier could make a mistake."

"Duo…," Quatre tried to say something but was immediately interrupted by Duo.

"What? It's only the truth. I bet he thinks we are to dumb to be some help working on the mission plans. After all, we are not perfect!"

Again Quatre tried to throw in a "Duo!" into the monologue, but was drowned out by Duo who had talked himself into some kind of rage.

"I just wonder why he keeps up working with us altogether. We are waaaaay under his level. And we always try to stop him from working. And we throw crumbs on his beloved notebook. And…" finally Quatres widely torn open eyes and Trowas und Wufeis alerting gestures caught Duos attention.

"And.. He is standing right behind me, am I right?" came Duos rueful question.

Quatre nodded.

Duo swallowed, turned around and presented Heero his brightest smile. "Hi Hee-chan," Duo said more cheerful than he was feeling.

Silence.

"Uhm, are you hungry?" he added and presented one of the sandwiches to Heero.

But the Wing Pilot gave him only one of his famous death glares and announced, "We have a new Mission."

Shit, shit, shit. Cursing Duo followed the others towards the living room. Why did something like this always happen to him? And why did Heero have to move without making any sound? Each and everything was conspiring against him. Sighing he threw himself on one of the armchairs, focusing all of his attention once more on Heero.

"There have been a lot of strange movements among the OZ troops," Heero began to speak. "Soldiers are taken away from crucial bases and are moved to irrelevant posts. Our mission is to find out why OZ is doing this. The latest information show that a lot of the troops are now at the base on Gamma-3-Zeta. One of us will infiltrate this base and will find out what's going on there. I will be this person. Your task is to wait outside with your Gundams until I return and then we will destroy this base together. Any Questions?"

"I've got one," shouted Duo, "Why do you have to do this reconnaissance mission on your own? Wouldn't it be better to do it in pairs?"

Heero just gave him an emotionless gaze. "I'll go alone," he said.

"But Heero," Duo was still protesting, "What if something is going to happen to you? If you got caught or injured? Then you don't have any backup, no one to help you out. It's illogical for you to go alone. Especially if there is such an unnatural big bunch of OZ soldiers around."

"We got our orders Duo, and Dr. J had explicitly said that only one of us is needed for this reconnaissance mission. And we will work according to our orders." Heeros tone was absolutely indifferent.

"Fuck Dr. J and his stupid orders! What does he know about real fighting anyhow? He never did anything besides simulations! We are the one with combat experience!" shouted Duo furiously. "Are you always doing everything that Dr. J tells you to? If he orders you to jump off a bridge, will you just do it?"

"Duo," the warning sound in Heeros voice was undeniable. "Dr. J knows what he is doing. I will do the reconnaissance mission alone. I don't want you to follow me or do something otherwise stupid, do you understand me?"

"Fine!" Duo threw his arms into the air. "Do what you want to do! It's what you always do anyway! I will never ever again try to help you!" With this angry words Duo left the room.

An absolute silence laid over the room for some seconds, until Quatre spoke quietly. "Duo is right, you know. Heero you have to learn to trust us and to accept our help. Or we will never really be a team."

"This is only a simple reconnaissance mission," Heero tried to justify himself. "I can accomplish this by myself. I don't need any help. From nobody."

"I hope so, Heero," Quatre answered still quietly. "I really do."