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"What are these for?"
Duo Maxwell pondered on his current situation. He was inside the cockpit of the Wing Zero Gundam and he had his head connected to some equipment, evidently to test his brain activity.
"You are not in the position to ask such questions," answered Trant Clark, a Romefeller Foundation scientist, "Do only as you are told." He finished the adjustements to the various apparatus inside the cockpit.
"Yeah, whatever," Duo muttered to himself after the scientist returned to his observation shuttle.
He did not personally volunteer to do this. He only agreed when Trant, who piloted Wing Zero whe he "visited" Duo, pointed the Twin-Buster Rifle at him and threatened to destroy the colony if he did not abide. Many people had reasons to seek him out was because he was a Gundam pilot, one of the best and most feared Mobile Suit pilots around, and the scientist was one of those.
"Get ready for simulation," Duo heard Trant's voice through the communicator. Duo became a bit uneasy though he did not know why. He had a terrible feeling that something would go wrong.
"Begin simulation"
Four Taurus activated and attacked the Wing Zero at all sides. As they approached, Duo began to feel the effects of the Zero System, the mysterious computer system of the Wing Zero. His senses heightened. It was as if he could predict his enemies' next moves.
The first Taurus was easy. Some few Vulcan cannon rounds turned the million-dollar war machine into scrap metal.
The Zero system's side effects began at the second Taurus, and Duo was caught off guard. When he began to aim at his target, instead of seeing a Taurus, he saw his own Gundam, the Deathscythe. He could not believe his eyes. At first, he could not fire at it. He treated his Gundam like a brother.
He shook his head and tried to break through the illusion. "Stop it!" he said to himself. He regained his link to reality and fired his cannons at the now-real Taurus. Turning around, he saw the thrid Taurus rushing towards him with guns blazing.
Calmly, he fired the only armed weapon in his arse- nal, the Twin-Buster Rifle. The beam easily engulfed and disintegrated the Taurus.
He did not see the Space colony behind his adversary.
To his horror, the large particle-beam pierced the outer hull of the colony. The resulting explosion on the city inside created a massive shockwave that destroyed everything: toppling buildings, breaking property and killing people in its path. In his mind's eye, he saw a certain purple-bereted girl get caught in the shockwave.
"HILDE!" He screamed in desperation. Hilde Schbeiker was a young OZ recruiting officer who helped him get to the OZ Moon Base once. Just a few weeks ago, he met her again and became good friends. She was always willing to help him in any way she could. Until now, that is, since she is obviously dead along with the other inhabitants of the destroyed colony.
"What have I done?" He cried in anguish as he regretted his lack of
thinking which resulted to the demise of his friend.
*****
Duo came back to his senses. He was relieved to know that it was all an illusion. He didn't use the Twin-Buster Rifle, but instead he used the Beam Saber to smite the foe.
When he saw the last Taurus, he shook his head again to check if he was seeing right. He re-checked if there was nothing behind it and prepared to fire the enormous particle cannon. "I can't afford to make any mistakes this time," he thought before firing.
The blast struck the enemy craft and it exploded.
Another vision came, as if triggered by the explosion. Unlike the first, which was continuous, multiple scenes flashed in his eyes. Each scene was quick, lasting only about 2 seconds.
*****
<...a purple Taurus exploding, exactly like the last Taurus, from a large laser blast at the torso...>
<...two vaguely familiar mobile suits: one red, the other, blue; both are similar to the MS Virgo...>
<...charred remains of the Taurus' pilot, curled up in fetal position, protecting something within his body...>
<...a data disk inside the remains, safe from the blast...>
<...the body's heat-resistant dog tag bearing a name...>
<...SCHBEIKER, HILDE...>
*****
Everything he saw seemed real, like a distant memory. Even still, he could not take anymore of this insanity. He quickly disembarked from the cockpit.
***
Trant took and used the Wing Zero to stop the Rommefeller Foundation squad who arrived to retrieve the Gundam. Empowered by the Zero System, he quickly dispatched them easily. Duo was surprised when Hilde arrived with Deathscythe Hell. He fought with the deranged scientist. Duo didn't have much of a problem because the Zero System ate away most of his foe's sanity.
***
Duo pondered on his last vision on the way home. "There's something different about that illusion," he looked at Hilde, who was currently manning the cargo shuttle. "I couldn't seem to tell myself that it's impossible, even though I know Hilde wouldn't do something like facing two Virgo with a Taurus..." His train of thought was interrupted when Hilde spoke up. Apparently, she noticed him looking at her.
"Is something bothering you, Duo?
"Uh...ah...N-nothing" Since she caught him off guard, he could only stammer a few words and look away. "I don't want her to know what I saw." He resumed his contemplative stance, "She'll think I _really_ need to be thrown into an asylum, assuming she already thinks I'm crazy."
Hilde smiled, but inside she was worried. "He's acting a little bit more strange today." She remembered his calmness when Trant pointed the Twin-Buster Rifle at him back in the city. He wasn't afraid that Trant would fire it until the lives of the colonists were in stake. "A little space action shouldn't have affected him this much," she took note of his serious behavior, "compared to what Gundam pilots experience."
***
Nightmares are a part of a soldier's life. With so much killing and destruction around, it is not unusual for a soldier to have nightmares about terrible moments in the past. Duo Maxwell, a Gundam Pilot who has killed hundreds, is no exception.
But this night's dreams are not like anything he has experienced in
his life.
------
END PROLOGUE
Author's notes: I forgot a lot of parts of the episode "The Duel Between the God of Death and Wing Zero" so I was forced to improvise. Sorry for the spelling and grammatical errors in this document but point them out to me so I could fix them.
Disclaimer 1: Gundam Wing is owned by Studio Sunrise, TV Asahi and Sotsu Agency. Used without permission. I have no intention to gain any profit from this.
Disclaimer 2: This is NON - YAOI G.W. fanfiction. If you expect to see Heero/Duo or Trowa/Quatre pairings here, you will be disappointed. But if you like non-yaoi, go to "our" web page at:
http://members.tripod.com/releena/index0.htm
Comments & Criticisms are welcome.
Off with the disclaimer crap, on to the story
E-mail Gray Warlock at aerolbj@i-next.net!
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