A.C. 190

Lucrezia Noin slowly walked down the steps of the military academy’s library. It was her first day of enrollment at the Victoria Academy, and she had never been so nervous. Still, all she wanted was to become a great soldier. “By winning wars I can save lives,” she had said in her entrance interview. “I will be a good soldier, if I’m given the training.”

Now she wasn’t so sure. Everything about the Academy seemed a huge challenge, and the worst part was that she didn’t know a soul. Sighing, she straightened her hat and started confidently across the yard to the training grounds. Huge mobile suits were lined up behind a tall wire fence, and a group of cadets were lined up in front of them, listening to orders from their instructor. She was itching to try and pilot a suit, but for now she would have to be content with the simulators.

She wasn’t paying attention to where she was going, and just outside the training building, she collided with another cadet, and both tumbled to the ground.

“You should watch where you’re walking,” the other cadet said. Noin’s hair had fallen into her eyes, and she quickly brushed them aside. “You’ll get more than enough time with the mobile suits when the time comes. Don’t be in such a rush. Without proper training, you’ll only end up getting yourself killed.”

Noin was speechless for a moment as she looked at the other cadet. He was just a little taller than her, with shoulder length blonde hair. But he wore a silver helmet that obscured most of his face. Recovering her poise, she scrambled to her feet and put her hat back on. “Sorry. It’s my first day. I’m anxious to pilot one of those Leos.”

The other cadet stood up, brushing off the sleeves of his uniform. “It’s my first day too.” He extended one hand. “Call me Zechs Merquise.”

“Lucrezia Noin,” she said, taking his hand.

“Are you going to simulator training?”

Noin nodded. “I have two hours to master the basics of piloting, before I can start the simulated battles. I intend to be one of the best pilots here.”

Zechs laughed softly. “Why not the best?” he said. “Afraid of competition?”

“Hardly!” she retorted. “But I know how it works. The best pilots from the Academy will be selected to join the Specials. I intend to be among them.”

“Just so you know, Noin, I intend the same. But I will be the best.” Zechs lifted her hand and kissed it, as a gentleman would, before he turned smartly and headed for the barracks. Noin stood there for a moment, watching him walk away.

Over the next few months, Noin only saw Zechs in passing, and they hardly ever exchanged more than a few words of salutation as they hurried by each other. Noin wished she could get to know him better. He was shrouded in mystery. But more aggravating was the fact that he excelled in everything he did at Victoria. Noin was determined that, somehow, she would top him.

Zechs was a solitary figure, rarely seen in the company of others when not in training. His free hours were spent in the simulators, or studying in his room. Noin often found herself going to the simulators as well, just to see him, but he was too caught up in training to notice her. By the end of the second half of the year, however, Noin too began to feel the pull of achievement, and she retreated to the simulators on her own accord. It wasn’t real battle, but she felt a sense of victory each time she conquered another level of training.

After a short summer recess, during which Zechs did not leave Lake Victoria, the cadets returned as second year students, ready to begin training with the mobile suits. First, however, they would have to pass the qualifying exams.

There were two parts to the exam, one a written test, the other a simulator challenge. All cadets had three weeks to prepare. Noin spent six hours a day in the library, and nine hours in the simulators. In the back of her mind were thoughts of Zechs, though they never came to the surface. Until the night before the exam. She was in the library, lost in the stacks, searching in vain for a technical book she desperately needed to study from one last time. It had been out on loan for three days, much to Noin’s annoyance. It’s place on the shelf was filled by an out of place volume, and she was getting more and more nervous every passing minute.

“Looking for something?”

The voice behind her was familiar, a voice she always loved to hear but hadn’t heard in months. She plastered a smile over her surprise and turned around. “Zechs!” she said. “I didn’t expect to run into you here. How have you been?”

Zechs smiled in return, then leafed through the book he held in his hand. “I’ve been busy, studying. I will pass this exam with flying colors, if it’s the last thing I do. If I get anything less than the third highest score, I’ll leave Victoria for good.”

Noin was astounded. “You can’t do that,” she said. “You’re one of the best students here. Your grades are top notch. How can you think of leaving?”

Zechs was silent. Noin couldn’t quite tell because of the mask, but he seemed to be staring at her. “You would miss me?”

A slight blush crept over Noin’s face. “Well, no, not exactly... Maybe a little.”

Zechs chuckled and returned the book he was holding to the shelf. Noin turned to look at it. It was the very text she had been searching for. “Good luck, Noin.” He turned and left.

The written exam was fairly easy for Noin, thanks to all her studying. She noticed that Zechs finished slightly before her, but that didn’t bother her. She was certain that he too had spent more than enough time on the books. They had to take the simulator tests one at a time, drawing numbers to decide order. Noin was last, just after Zechs. She sat nervously outside the simulator room, watching as, one after another, the other cadets in her class went in and came out, most of them relieved but dejected at the same time. The test was difficult. Everyone knew it. Noin was up against the best, and she had to come through with a high score if she hoped to stay in the running for the Specials.

Zechs’s name was called. He stood up and marched steadily into the room. Noin watched him until the door closed. “You’ll do fine,” she whispered. She knew that the instructors were harder on Zechs than any of the other cadets, because he was such a good student and had the potential to be a great pilot. They would grade him harder than any of the others. Noin prayed silently that he would get the score he needed to stay. The score he wanted to stay.

After a long time, the door opened and Zechs came back out. He had no smile on his face, no frown, just blank lack of expression. Noin stood up. “Did they give you your score?” she asked, trying to sound optimistic.

Zechs nodded. “The highest score so far.”

Noin smiled. “Congratulations! No matter what I get, you can stay knowing that you were in the top three highest scores.”

Zechs turned and picked up his trench coat. “I won’t settle for less than the best.”

“Why are you so hard on yourself?” Noin asked as he started down the hall. He stopped and looked back at her, not answering. Noin took a deep breath. “Listen, why don’t you meet me in the commissary in an hour. We’ll have lunch and just talk.”

Zechs actually cracked half a grin. “Maybe another day, Noin.”

“Cadet Noin,” the technician said. “The simulator is ready for you.”

Noin turned and looked at the technician, then glanced back at Zechs. He was already striding down the hall. She sighed. “Thanks,” she said, entering the room. She sat down in the simulator and adjusted the restraints. The screen in front of her flickered on, with the countdown flashing in the middle. “Ready,” she said into the microphone. The simulator jerked as the test was engaged. I won’t beat Zechs, she thought. He’ll be the best, I swear it!

Four weeks passed before Zechs approached Noin. They were currently at the top of their class, and the top twenty students would soon begin rigorous training for the Specials. Noin was sitting in the commissary, a cup of coffee at her elbow, a military history book open on the table in front of her, when Zechs walked up. “May I join you?”

Noin looked up, startled. “Zechs!” she said, standing. He motioned her down. “This is a surprise. We’ve both been so busy with training...” She lowered her eyes and wrapped one hand around her coffee cup. “How have you been?”

Zechs sat down across from her and took the coffee cup out of her hand. “I think we can dispose of the pleasantries, Noin. I found out.”

She looked up. “Found out what?”

“That you botched part of your simulator test so you wouldn’t get a higher score than me.” Noin blushed, embarrassed. “Why did you do it, Noin?”

“Because you’re so hard on yourself,” she said quietly. “I was afraid you’d give up if you didn’t get the best score out of all of us. I didn’t like the thought of you leaving Victoria. Besides that, the instructors demand much more of you than anyone else. It’s not fair, but I didn’t want them to see you defeated in any way.”

Zechs leaned forward. “So you did it to make me look better.”

Noin shook her head. “But you are better, Zechs, that’s the point! They just don’t see it. As long as you insist on being the best, I’ll do everything I can to make them realize it.”

“Even if it means compromising your own scores?”

Noin closed her book with a definite slap. “We’re the top two students, not only in our class but in the entire Academy. My scores won’t be that compromised. I’ll stay right behind you, all the way through anything.”

Zechs leaned closer. “Is that a promise, Noin?”

She leaned forward herself, until their faces were only a few inches apart. “You bet, Zechs.”

Over the next year, Noin did everything she could to stay at second best. Both she and Zechs continued to exceed all other students in everything they did, both in classes and in training. Not only that, but they continued to become friends. They helped each other study, they met daily for lunch. Behind closed doors, they laughed together about instructors and fellow students. Noin wasn’t sure about Zechs, but she had never been happier. The only thing that bothered her was that he would never remove his mask in her company.

Their third year as cadets began uneventfully for Noin. She had been anxious to return to Victoria after a six week recess, anxious to spend time with Zechs again. But Zechs wasn’t there for the first week after her return. Noin asked around, and she learned that Zechs had been called away to tend to a private matter. She was a little lonely, but hoped Zechs would come back soon, with all of his affairs in order.

One night, Noin couldn’t sleep, and so she decided to take a walk around the building and clear her head. She found herself standing at Zechs’s door. A dim light was shining from beneath it. Noin knocked, but there was no answer. Holding her breath, she tried the doorknob. It was unlocked, and she went in.

“Zechs?” she said softly as she pushed the door open.

He was sitting on the floor next to his bed, a bottle of Wild Turkey next to his left knee. His head was bowed, his mask off, and his long, blonde hair hid his face. Noin slowly closed the door behind her and took a couple steps forward. He suddenly looked up at her. From behind his heavy bangs, a pair of clear blue eyes gazed up at her. “Noin,” he said quietly.

Noin didn’t know what to say or do. She stood there, frozen for a moment, as he lifted the bottle of Wild Turkey and took a swig. Finally, she eased down onto the floor next to him. “Are you alright?” she asked. Zechs looked away, and she sighed. He seemed troubled. “If you don’t want company right now, I can leave.”

Zechs didn’t answer. Noin watched him from the corner of her eye for a moment, then started to get up. That’s when she felt a warm hand encircle her wrist and pull her back down. “Please don’t go,” he said. She settled back into place, tucking her hair behind her right ear, a nervous habit, and wrapping her arms around one lifted knee. Zechs sighed and tilted his head back, his eyes closed. “I wish it would all go away,” he said.

“What?” Noin asked.

He glanced at her. “The pressure, the expectations. But that’s not all. There are so many things I wish I had the power to change, so many people I’ve lost because I was unable to protect them. Someday, I want to look back on my life and know that I did something good for someone else, that I made the world better for someone I care about.”

Noin hesitantly rested her hand on his shoulder. “Why were you gone?”

“I had to save someone,” he said. “Someone very close to me.” Zechs looked at her. “You don’t really know who I am.”

Noin frowned. “You’re Zechs Merquise.”

He shook his head. “I’m Miliardo Peacecraft, of the Sanc Kingdom, eldest son and heir of the slain Peacecraft king.”

Noin was silent. She didn’t know what to say. “Why do you call yourself Zechs Merquise, then, if that’s not your true identity?” she finally asked.

“According to history, Miliardo Peacecraft died in the coup that brought down the Peacecraft monarchy and destroyed the Sanc Kingdom. I took on this identity so that I would be able to gain enough power to someday take revenge on the people that destroyed my family and my world.” He took another drink. “Miliardo Peacecraft had a sister, Relena, who was only two years old at the time of the coup. She disappeared.”

Noin bowed her head. “Oh, Zechs, I’m so sorry.”

He sighed. “But she’s not dead. She was adopted by Vice Foreign Minister Darlian, and is none the wiser. She was kidnapped recently, by terrorists wishing to gain leverage with her adoptive father. I went to help save her, not realizing at the time who she was. When I discovered it, I said nothing.”

“Why?” Noin asked. “Perhaps she would’ve liked to have known that she has a brother.”

Zechs shook his head. “No, it’s impossible. It’s better for her not to know. She was too young to remember when it all happened.” He took another drink. “But I feel so alone sometimes, Noin. Everyone I have ever loved is lost to me. And I can only think of taking revenge.”

Noin took the bottle away from him. “But you’re not alone, Zechs,” she said softly. “Let me help you. Trust me with your secret, and know that I will do everything I can to help you.”

He shook his head. “You don’t want to know someone like me, Noin. I’m bitter, disillusioned. Perhaps even dangerous.”

She touched his shoulder again briefly, causing him to turn and look at her. “No, I think you’re wrong. You are a kind person, Zechs. I see it in your eyes. Please,” she whispered. “Let me help you. I promised I would stand behind you in everything. I meant it.”

Zechs smiled. “You’ll have to forgive me for anything I do, Noin,” he said. “I’m a little drunk tonight.” He brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen from behind her ear. “You have very beautiful eyes, Noin.” As he tucked the lock of hair back into place, he kissed her.

After a moment, he backed away. Noin’s cheeks were pink. “I should go,” she whispered, a little breathless. “Regulations, you know.” She stood quickly, pulling her hand out of Zechs’s grasp. “Good night, Zechs.”

“Good night, Noin,” he said as she backed out of the room. When the door closed softly behind her, Zechs sighed climbed up into bed. Within minutes, he was asleep.

Noin didn’t know what to do or think. Zechs never mentioned that night to her again, and she could only help thinking that perhaps he’d been drunker than he’d seemed, and didn’t remember any of it. It suited her fine; she didn’t want any rumors to start. But the problem was that she couldn’t get the kiss out of her mind, and it was driving her crazy. If she had been mildly infatuated with Zechs before, now she was wildly head over heels for him.

But there was no time to explore her feelings, or his feelings, because training was underway for the Specials. This year’s training would be the most vigorous. They would be introduced to actual mobile suit battle. They would train in the zero gravity chambers for space action. And at the end of the year, they would demonstrate their skills for Colonel Treize Khushrenada, leader of the Specials and the commander of the OZ organization. All Noin could think of was her own standing. She would do everything possible to stay well ahead of everyone else in the class, and remain in second place.

One afternoon, while Noin was in the cockpit of her Leo, running a systems check, Zechs climbed up to meet her. “Noin, I have to talk to you,” he said.

She pulled her goggles down around her neck. “What is it, Zechs?” she asked, anxious.

He knelt on the cockpit hatch. “I want you to do your best this year, Noin. Don’t try to keep me ahead of you. It’s not necessary. I think I can hold my own.”

“That’s not the point, Zechs. I made a promise, to help you be the best in any way possible.”

Zechs sighed and reached one hand into the cockpit. Noin rested her hand into his palm, and he pulled her out onto the hatch with him. “Listen, you don’t need to keep your promise anymore. I have a standing invitation to become an OZ officer. Trieze Khushrenada and I have known each other for years, since we were boys. This year is just for show. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

“Except to yourself,” Noin said. “Zechs, you may have gotten drunk enough to forget the night you came back to Victoria, but I remember everything you said and did. And I won’t break my promise.” She sighed and climbed down to the ground.

Zechs sat down. He took off his mask and looked at it. Then he covered his eyes with one hand. “I remember everything too.”

When Treize Khushrenada came to the Victoria Academy, it was a huge to-do. Military escorts arrived three days in advance to secure the premises, and all the cadets were drilled in matters of etiquette and behavior. The third year students prepared diligently for the demonstration, none more diligently than Zechs and Noin.

The day of the colonel’s arrival, the Specials trainees were lined up in front of their Leos, waiting for inspection. Zechs didn’t seem the least bit nervous, but Noin was shaking enough for both of them. When Treize arrived, he greeted the instructors, then inspected his future troops, walking down the line slowly, shaking each cadet’s hand and calling them by name. He paused when he reached Noin.

“Cadet Lucrezia Noin,” he said. She saluted, then took the hand he offered. “I’ve heard great things about you. You have much potential as a member of the Specials.”

“Thank you, Colonel Treize,” Noin said, saluting again. Treize smiled and moved on to Zechs.

“It has been quite some time, Zechs Merquise,” he said. Zechs saluted. “I understand that you are the top student at this academy. You’ve done well for yourself. Prove yourself today, and you could be eligible for early entrance into officers’ school.”

Noin had to bit her lower lip to keep from shouting out a congratulations. “I won’t let you down, sir,” Zechs said.

Trieze smiled. “No, I know you won’t.” He saluted the cadets and started up the hill to the observation booth.

“Zechs, I’m already proud of you,” Noin whispered.

“Don’t be,” he said. “I still have to prove myself in this demonstration.”

“The final sequence in this demonstration,” the head instructor said over the intercom system, “will be a simulated battle. Ground to ground missiles will be fired at your Leos, and it will be up to you to destroy the missiles, advance on the ground, and effectively take the hill where the enemy base is located. When you are ready...”

Noin set her teeth. She had done her very best so far, and to her relief, so had Zechs. As the first missiles launched, she blasted forward, right behind Zechs, and took aim at the first missile. Within minutes, she could hardly see through all the explosions and debris, but she knew she was doing well, and nearing the objective, the hill the missiles were being launched from. Just ahead of her, through the smoke, she could see Zechs’s Leo. Then, an explosion at her Leo’s feet blocked out her visuals. She felt herself falling backwards, but was unable to control her mobile suit. The landing jarred her in her seat. Something fell, striking the side of her head, and she blacked out.

When the smoke and dust settled, Zechs scanned the ground. One Leo was unaccounted for. Then he saw it, lying among the rubble at the base of the hill. “Noin!” he said. Without waiting for the instructor’s cue that the demonstration was over, he exited his mobile suit and leapt down to the ground. “Noin!” He scrambled down the hill, tripping over rocks and debris, nearly taking a fall once or twice. When he got to the fallen Leo, he wasted no time climbing up the side and popping open the cockpit hatch. Inside, the cockpit was dark, but he could make out Noin, holding one hand to the side of her head, a grimace of pain on her face. “Noin,” he said, reaching into the cockpit. He caught her hand and pulled her out.

“What happened?” she asked groggily.

Zechs pulled her hand away from her head. “You’ve got a small cut, but you don’t look to be hurt anywhere else. Except, maybe, your pride.”

Noin grinned. “Did you take the hill?”

He nodded. “I had good back up.” He helped her down to the ground. “Let’s get you to the infirmary and get that cut looked at.”

She leaned against him to steady her steps as they walked. “Thanks, Zechs.”

He smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. “You’re welcome.”

The doctor kept Noin in the infirmary over night for observation, but aside from the bump and cut on her head, she was fine. Treize went to visit her in the morning, to inform her that he wished her to remain at Victoria after graduation and become an instructor. She accepted, gratefully. Shortly after noon, Zechs came.

He was dressed in a new uniform, with a red coat and tall black boots that resembled those worn by Treize. He held his mask in one hand as he entered the room. In the other hand was a single red rose. “How do you feel?” he asked.

Noin had been pacing around the room, and now sat down in a chair near the window. “A little lightheaded, but other than that, I’m fine. Thank you again for pulling me out of that MS. I don’t even know how long I was down.”

He offered her the rose. “Think nothing of it. I heard that Colonel Treize asked you to become an instructor here.”

Noin nodded. “And I accepted. I want to train good soldiers, Zechs, soldiers who will understand the value of life in war.” She smiled and inhaled the fragrance of the rose. “I gather that you’ve received early entrance to officer’s school.”

Zechs nodded. “But only by a formality. I’ve proven myself worthy of command. And I’ll be leaving Victoria in an hour.”

Noin lowered her head. “So this is goodbye then,” she said.

Zechs walked to her and knelt before her, taking one hand. “Noin, I will never forget you, or what you’ve done for me here, what you’ve become to me. I am honored to call you a friend.”

“My promise still stands,” Noin said quietly. “I know who you really are, Zechs, and not just in identity but in spirit, too. And if you ever find yourself in need of help, or just need a friend to talk to, you’ll know where to find me. I will always stand behind you, and support you. No matter what.”

“Thank you, Noin,” he said, kissing her hand.

She sighed as he stood up. “Do you think we’ll ever see each other again?”

Zechs smiled and put his mask on. “Count on it, Noin.”

From the window of her room at the infirmary, Noin watched the shuttle carrying Zechs to his next destination in life as it taxied to the runway and took off. “I’ll see you again, Zechs,” she said, flattening her palm against the window pane. “And someday, we won’t ever have to say goodbye to each other again.”