The Inheritance

Chapter One: A New Home

 

 

 

TO: PILOT 01

FROM:  S.S.

RE:  RETURN TO THE BASE IMMEDIATELY.  TELL NO ONE OF THIS MESSAGE.

 

               

The compound towered against the cold, gray sky as strong as any fortress of thepast, protected from intruders by a pair of barbed wire fences.  Within its impenetrable walls lay a makeshift colony of workers, an enclave of scientists, doctors, and ex-soldiers.  Any normal person would have thought it to be a prison and just walked on-yet to Heero Yuy, it was home.  Although it had been two days since the end of the war, something inside him had led him to return instead of moving on like the others.  Maybe it was because his friends all had somewhere to go, while he still wandered looking for one.  Or perhaps he was torn between sorely missing Relena Peacecraft and wanting to forget her. Either way, he had come back for what few belongings he had left before going off on his own.

Yet today, something had changed-the atmosphere of the compound was a far cry from how it usually was.  Several of its tenants could be seen rushing back and forth between buildings: some were carrying suitcases and casually conversing, while others were hurrying to get rid of certain documents and photographs.  Something had happened, Heero thought.  They were undoubtedly preparing to go somewhere else, but where?  One of the specialists inside would probably know. 

He noticed that the large gates of the compound had been left slightly ajar.  In spite of what the people within were preparing for, they had received his message and knew of his arrival.  As he passed through the compound's gates and moved towards the row of buildings, he walked by a group of retired Marines in deep conversation.

"What happened to that family who came here a few minutes ago?"

"The Kimuras? They're in the main building talking to Dr. Stein."

Kimura...he had heard that name before.  Earlier that morning, he had met someone named Joseph Kimura while in a restaurant.  This man had been strangely concerned about his welfare, because the first question he asked was why Heero had been by himself.  Yet there was some reason to his concern: he had three small children at home, and upon that day, he was looking for a fourth. Heero learned that Mr. Kimura would finally meet his son in a few hours...but why did he need to be here?