Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Magicians of Gundam Wing ❯ A Blast from the Past ( Chapter 11 )

Quote of the Day (from Riyo): I can't think in English, I'm doing math!

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Chapter 11: A Blast from the Past

Three sprites stood in front of Heero with serious expressions on their little gray faces, listening to him explain the purpose of terra-forming.

“You want to make the plants grow?” one of the sprites asked.

“That's right,” Heero replied. “But Earth plants won't grow here because there isn't enough food in the soil and the air is too thin.”

“And that's why you put the rock-eaters in the ground?”

“Yes. The microbes break down the rock and release oxygen. That helps the lichen grow.”

“Wouldn't big plants be better?”

“The soil needs to be richer to support larger plants. It's also very cold and there's no water. And the air is still too thin.”

The sprites nodded gravely. They exchanged several quick chirps and then looked up at Heero with big smiles.

“We can make the little plants grow.”

“This is a very delicate process,” Heero said worriedly. “If you mess it up, they'll have to start over. That would be very bad.” He fixed the sprites with a stern glare.

“We understand, Man with Many Faces,” the sprites replied in unison. “We will help the little plants grow. We like plants. We would never hurt plants.”

The three sprites vanished.

“This could be a complete disaster,” Heero said. He looked at Wu-Fei, who had watched his exchange with the sprites.

Wu-Fei shrugged. “Your sprites are forest spirits. I think they may do exactly what they said.”

“I hope so. We better tell Quatre what I've done. You two will need to be ready with an explanation if the growth rate of the lichen suddenly accelerates.”

“We should probably tell Zechs, too. It's his project.”

“Do we have to?” Heero groaned. “If we tell him this, we'll have to start explaining all kinds of stuff.”

“He's already heard most of it, I suspect. He may as well hear the rest.”

“This is ridiculous,” Heero grumbled. “Pretty soon there's going to be a documentary about us. We haven't managed to keep one thing secret.”

“Sure we have. A lot more happened to us in the past than people know about.”

“Yet.” Heero amended darkly.

Wu-Fei laughed. “It's not like your secrets are embarrassing. I have scales growing on my butt.”

Heero grinned. “Good point.”

“Anyway, I'll tell Quatre on our way over to the school. We have an appointment this morning to talk to the principal about Roku.”

“Ok. I'll go get Duo up. I can't believe he's still asleep.”

“I can. He was fucking me all night.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“He says the scales on my butt turn him on.”

“They are kind of neat.”

“Go to work!” Wu-Fei rolled his eyes and went to look for Quatre.

Quatre was on his way out the front door with Roku. “We better hurry, Fei. We only have about twenty minutes before school starts.”

“Right”.

The three of them headed for the school. When they arrived, Roku dashed off to play with the other children. Miss Allen greeted the two Gundam pilots with a nervous smile.

“Good morning, Mr. Winner. Good morning, Mr. Chang. I'm glad you could meet with me. Why don't we go into my office?”

Miss Allen's office was in the back of her classroom. Like every principal's office everywhere, she had a wide desk with three chairs in front of it, where a child could sit between two parents during a conference. When they were all seated, Miss Allen leaned forward with her arms folded on the desk in front of her.

“First of all, I want to assure you that there is no problem with Roku's prior education. I am, however, a little… dumbfounded by the range of his home-schooling. His instruction is nearly at the college level in some areas.” She blinked at them expectantly.

Wu-Fei cleared his throat. “Well, we were traveling quite a bit when Roku was growing up and we had a lot of time for lessons.”

Miss Allen was silent a moment, clearly expecting to hear a little more. When no more explanation was forthcoming, she said, “I see. Are you trained as an educator, Mr. Chang?”

“No, but I was a scholar in my youth.”

“In your youth?” Miss Allen didn't seem to think Wu-Fei was old enough to refer to himself that way. “Well,” she continued, “I'm afraid Roku's education exceeds the capabilities of the teachers here in many areas. He is missing instruction in history and some social sciences, but that's about it. So he can attend Mr. Brooks' class, and Mrs. Levin can give him instruction in English and French literature, but I'm afraid he's beyond my curriculum for math and science. I was hoping to get your permission to have Roku attend Mr. Yashita's class in place of mine. Mr. Yashita has offered to teach Roku art.” She smiled at them hopefully.

“Art?” Quatre said. He looked at Wu-Fei. “Why not? Roku would probably enjoy that.”

“I'm sure he would,” Wu-Fei agreed.

Miss Allen looked relieved. “Very good! We'll start this afternoon.” She stood up. “Thank you again for taking the time to discuss this with me.” She shook hands with both of them.

Outside, Roku bounded up to them. “Do I get to take art with Mr. Yashita?”

Quatre patted Roku on the head. “How did you know that's what we were talking about?”

Roku grinned. “I guessed, `cause Mr. Yashita asked me if I ever had an art class before.”

“It's still a lesson,” Wu-Fei said, “so pay attention and follow directions.”

“Yes, Papa Wu-Fei.”

“Have a good day, sweetie.”

“I will, Mama.”

“That didn't take too long,” Wu-Fei said as they left. “If we hurry, we can probably catch the others at the train station.”

On the train, Heero spoke to Quatre and Zechs quietly. “Quatre, you remember that theory Trowa had about asking the sprites for help?”

“Yes,” Quatre said.

“Well, this morning, I sort of explained terra-forming to the sprites and they said they would help the lichen grow.”

“You did what?”

“They're forest spirits! How bad could it be?”

“Heero…”

“Excuse me,” Zechs interrupted. “I think I need a more lengthy explanation.” He smiled charmingly at Heero.

“Well…” Heero began, somewhat hesitantly. “You see… I… ah… have a relationship with these little gray forest spirits called sprites. They can be a little troublesome, so Trowa suggested giving them something constructive to do.”

“Would these sprites by any chance be responsible for our recent spate of accidents?”

“Yes,” Heero admitted with a sour expression. “We're trying to put an end to that.”

“By having them help with the terra-forming?” Zechs did not quite keep all the skepticism out of his otherwise smooth tone.

“They ARE forest spirits!” Heero repeated, a little defensively. “And they seemed to understand what we're trying to do. I think it will work.”

“You don't sound that confident,” Quatre said.

“I am!”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

Quatre sighed. “Well, Zechs, there's nothing we can do about it anyway. Sprites will obey Heero up to a point, but they will still do pretty much whatever they please most of the time.”

“I can't recall ever having seen or heard of anything like this on Mars before. Did you bring the sprites with you? Like Trowa's mechanical snake?”

“Sort of,” Heero mumbled.

“The sprites are not bound to a physical plane, being largely spiritual creatures,” Quatre explained more fully, “but they have an affinity for Heero, so they can go wherever he goes.”

“I see.” Zechs laughed softly. “So my entire project has been jeopardized because Une sent you here to quell trouble in the colonies. First Wu-Fei tries to set fire to the colony; then you set a tiger and a snake loose in the dome; and now you have turned the most intricate scientific part of the whole process over to a group of willful, mischievous spirits. I am not looking forward to making my next report to Earth.”

“Boy, it sounds a lot worse when you put it like that!” Duo said cheerfully. “Lighten up! Trowa can always summon a great spirit to keep the sprites in line, if necessary.”

Zechs lifted an eyebrow. “A great spirit?”

“Yeah. Sprites are lesser spirits and they'll obey a great spirit.”

Zechs looked around at the five Gundam pilots. “I think we should all dine together tonight. I believe I need to hear the complete details of how you came to possess this rather eccentric set of abilities. I have the distinct impression that there is a good deal more I should know, as head of this facility.”

Five sets of shoulders slumped and five heads nodded in unison. “Of course, Count Merquise,” Quatre said for all of them.

That night, everyone was a little on edge in anticipation of explaining everything to Zechs Merquise. Trowa kept wandering in and out of the kitchen looking perplexed until Quatre snapped at him.

“Dammit, Trowa! Either help or stay out of the way!”

“I'm sorry, but I can't find my damn staff again. I thought I straightened it, but it's not where I left it.”

“Why worry about it now? It'll come back. Now go set the table.”

“I'll help you, Papa Trowa,” Roku offered. In a whisper, he added. “Mama's a little annoyed because he burned part of our dinner.”

“Oh. Let's get the dishes.”

Duo suddenly popped into the kitchen. “Did anyone hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“I think I just heard Noin scream.” He frowned. “There it is again! Something about a snake…”

“Oh, shit!” Trowa exclaimed. He dashed for the door. Duo took off after him. Roku started to follow, but Quatre clamped a hand on his young shoulder.

“You stay right here and set the table.”

“Yes Mama,” Roku said in a disappointed tone.

At Noin's house, Trowa and Duo burst in without knocking.

“Is someone there?!” Noin cried from the bathroom. “Help! There's a giant snake in here!”

Trowa flung the bathroom door open. Noin was cowering in her bathtub, pressed against the far wall with her towel clutched in front of her. Trowa's staff was coiled in a neat pile in the corner, its head lifted about waist high, staring at her with glittering eyes.

Trowa glared at the snake. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” he hissed.

“She is a beautiful woman, is she not?” the snake replied dreamily. “I've been watching her change clothes through the window, but I just had to get a closer look.”

“You're a damn peeping tom!”

“We all have weaknesses.”

Trowa marched up to the snake and grabbed it below the head. He lifted it into the air, grabbed its tail and jerked it straight with a sharp snap.

“Ouch!” the staff hissed.

“Serves you right!”

Noin stared. “What's going on?”

“I'd like to know that, too,” added Zechs.

Duo and Trowa whirled around with guilty expressions.

“Um… Well…” Trowa stammered.

“That thing was watching me bathe!” Noin cried accusingly. “Was it recording me?” Her towel slipped a little, revealing an intriguing amount of bosom.

“No!” Trowa said quickly.

“You said it was mechanical,” Zechs reminded him.

“Well… it's hard to explain,” Trowa said. “It's kind of… magical… and… well… it's sort of alive.”

“It IS a snake!” Noin squealed.

“Sort of,” Trowa said quickly, “but not really. Anyway, it wasn't recording you. It just has this… thing… for pretty women, so…”

Noin blushed and her eyes flicked to Zechs. Zechs wasn't looking at her and a disappointed look flitted across her face. Duo watched her curiously.

“Anyway,” Trowa continued, “I won't let it happen again. I'll keep it locked up.”

The staff sighed sadly.

“It's your own fault,” Trowa hissed at it.

“Why don't we let Noin get dressed?” Zechs suggested. “She can join us for dinner. As my second-in-command, I think she also needs to hear what you have to tell me.”

“Of course,” Trowa smiled weakly.

Duo, however, was looking speculatively from Zechs to Noin and back again. As they walked back to their own house, Duo leaned close to Trowa and whispered, “Noin is totally hot for Count Merquise there, but he is completely not interested. That's weird, isn't it? Noin's pretty hot.”

Trowa glanced at Zechs. “Maybe he's interested in someone else.”

“Could be, but I'm not picking up anything.”

“I thought you didn't read people's minds on purpose.”

Duo flushed slightly. “I don't, but usually when you're standing there looking at a practically naked woman, you start thinking about the person you wouldn't mind seeing like that. Zechs wasn't.” Duo grinned. “I sure was!”

Trowa chuckled. “But you're always thinking about sex. Not everyone is like you.”

They entered the house and Trowa went to lock his staff in the closet.

“Oh good, you're back,” Quatre said. “Dinner's almost ready.”

“If you don't mind, I'd like to wait for Noin,” Zechs said. “She should hear this, too.”

“Of course,” Quatre managed to sound like he thought it was a good idea.

They did not have to wait long. Noin arrived a few minutes later with Sally in tow. She looked around with round eyes. “That snake's not around, is it?”

“No,” Trowa assured her. “I locked it in the closet.”

“Thank goodness! I want to know what's going on!”

“That's why we're here,” Zechs said. He looked expectantly at the Gundam pilots. “Why don't we get started?”

“Um… Well…” Quatre began. “You see, it's like this…” He proceeded to describe the shuttle accident and their excursion into the past. He glossed over several details, except every now and then, Zechs would drag him back to a particular topic and ask dismayingly pointed questions. All five pilots were squirming uncomfortably by the end.

“Well,” Zechs said when Quatre was finished. “That's very interesting. Time travel…” he trailed off with a thoughtful and rather sad expression on his face.

“That's it!” Duo suddenly shouted and then clapped a hand over his mouth.

“What's it?” Heero demanded.

“Nothing!” Duo said quickly.

“Out with it!” Heero growled.

“He's thinking about Treize Kushranada, that's all,” Duo whispered to Heero and Trowa

“Treize?!” Trowa exclaimed aloud. He tried hard not to look at Noin.

“What about Treize?” Wu-Fei asked. He suddenly looked very sad, too.

“Who is Treize?” Roku asked. He regarded Wu-Fei's sad expression worriedly.

Wu-Fei sighed. “Treize Kushranada was the leader of the Earth Sphere Alliance two wars ago. I… killed him in battle.” Wu-Fei sighed sadly. “I really regret that. I shouldn't have won that fight, but I think he wanted to die.”

Zechs put his hand over his face and sighed quietly.

“Oh,” Roku said. He stood up. “Can you help me with something, Papa Wu-Fei?”

“Of course, Roku.”

Wu-Fei stepped over to Roku as Roku reached under his left arm. Roku felt around for a moment with an intent expression. Then his face cleared. He pulled something from under his arm. “Take this, Papa Wu-Fei. Help me pull it out.”

Puzzled, Wu-Fei reached forward and grasped the object. It was a human hand. “What the…?!” Wu-Fei exclaimed. He pulled on the hand as Roku tugged on the wrist.

Treize Kushranada, former leader of the Earth Sphere Alliance, Commander of Oz and one-time President of the Romafeller Foundation, slid stark-naked out from under Roku's arm and landed on his knees by the young wizard.

Everyone stared in complete shock.

Treize looked around with a faintly surprised expression. “This is not how I had envisioned heaven. Or hell, for that matter.”

“Treize…” Zechs whispered. Then he leaped over the table, knocked Treize to the floor and began kissing him urgently.

Duo stared in alarm. “Uh… Zechs, should you be doing that? Treize was dead a minute ago. Zechs? Are you listening?” Duo's eyes widened in alarm. “Ok, I think we better leave them alone.” He started herding everyone toward the door.

Noin was staring with her mouth open. “What's going on here?”

“Sally, take Noin home right now!” Duo ordered. His eyes were getting a little wild. “Heero! Wu-Fei! I need you in the bedroom! These mental images are getting way too graphic for me! Quatre! Take Roku to Zechs' house this instant.” When no one moved, because they were all too busy staring at Zechs tearing off his own clothes, Duo started shouting. “Everybody do as I say! Right now!” He reinforced the command with a psychic compulsion and everyone scattered. Duo stumbled after Heero and Wu-Fei, just as Zechs was straddling Treize.

“I missed you, Treize,” Zechs moaned.

Treize could only groan in response.

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Hee-hee! I love Treize and Zechs. Their relationship in this story is based on another story I wrote, Victoria Base Affair, which Riyo posted for me. (AmethystWolfDragon on ff dot net and Riyo Dragon on mm dot org.) That story is canon and provides the back-story for why Treize and Zechs act the way they do in the Gundam Wing TV series. In fact, I am in the process of writing an Extended Edition version of Victoria Base Affair, because it was the first fan fiction story I ever wrote and I didn't do the best job on character development. I'll start posting the re-write later this year.