Heart of a Mercenary

By Stormwind

Prologue

            The dark clouds of the storm hovered in the colony. SGT-8999 was to resource poor to get much climate control or even other benefits of a space established city. It was, however, one of the biggest colonies in existence, which allowed the weather to wok in a relatively normal fashion. Odd though it may be, SGT was a great place to be; it was laid back and relaxed, devoid of any suspicion.

            This was why it was a common hiding ground for criminals, assassins, and mercenaries. One such pilot was at our little scene, relaxing, gazing at the storm, as its lightning cracked and thundered. He sat on a junk pile, where a hidden surprise awaited any who dare cross his path…

            Something shook in his earlobe. The pilot calmly grabbed his ear between his thumb and index fingers, as if thinking hard. A soft but perfectly clear voice echoed in his head.

            “Sir, someone is on the line. It appears they have a job offer…”

            “Patch them through Artemis.” Removing a surprisingly small laptop computer from within his vest, the pilot set it up, and began to negotiate terms with his new employer…

            Ten minutes later, the mercenary walked into the junk yard’s shack, keeping a calm relaxed profile as if nothing had happened. Putting the laptop on a table, he relaxed and slumped into this seat.

            “So what exactly happened?” The voice had come from the computer.

            “Not much Art. A simple infiltrate and slice job. I might not even need you this time around.”

            The voice developed a reprimanding tone, “Last time you said that, you called me ten minutes later asking for me to bring Storm over. You have to learn to be much more unobtrusive.” the computer emanated a surprising organic sigh “But I’ll go whenever your ready”

            “Then tonight’s the night. Get Storm out without being seen, easy, I’ve done it a million times. Once I get to the destination; hide Storm, infiltrate the base, hack into the network, steal the data, and get out. Think you can manage to make it look like a glitch in the network?”

            “Hmmph, you insult my abilities. I can fill their data with mockups of designs that’ll explode in their face if you want me to.”

            The merc grinned, “That would be perfect, Artemis.”

            Sweeping up the laptop, the pilot tucked it under his vest, turning about-face. After walking through the door, the mercenary paused, looking at the bright snow that had begun to fall.

            Something clicked in the back of his brain. He had seen snow like this before, a long time ago. But when, when. The memory faded, disappearing into his mind.

            “Is ALT’s claim to be able to restore memories real? Or are they just bluffing. Whatever they mean, the price is high, almost too high… But…”

            “If selling my skills as a pilot is what it takes for me to remember, then I’ll do it. I’ll sacrifice everything, not for myself, but for the people who I know are there, but that I can’t recall.”

            The startling deep brown eyes glowed with an inner fire, and the voice became as cold as the winter storm. “If it allows me to remember my childhood, my parents, my life…I will eliminate anyone who gets in my way. Memories are what make us human; mine had no right to be taken away. And if I ever discover who caused the accident,” his hand gripped the hilt of a sword at his waist, “they will pay dearly…”

            The accident. All he knew of his past. His own memories began four years ago, but so much of his life was missing.

            One day, he had simply woken up, having no idea where he was or how he got there. He could remember things, but not in a normal way. That was a TV, that was a lamp, that was a flower…but he had had no memory of the past. His parents, friends, relatives, none were in his shattered thoughts. The only key to the past was his name, the only link he had. And now he hid even that, revealing to few, often not even his employers, the last and only treasure he had; the only piece of his identity still remaining.

            The only thing the people at the hospital could tell him was that he had been found by the police, in the smoking wreckage of a building. The prints around the building gave away the perpetrators nature, but what could a bunch of police do to the OZ military?

            The only clue to his past was one thing…No one had seen a pilot who could use a mobile suit from day one, without being instructed in its use…

            The pilot disappeared into the shadow of the colony’s night, disappearing like a mere phantasm, his footsteps crunching softly in the newly strewn snow…

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I freely and willfully admit that I do not own Gundam Wing, or its various little spinoffs. I do take ownership of the original character, Artemis the sentient program, ALT, Storm, and some new MS designs. If anyone has a problem with that…Talk to someone else, because I don’t really care.

Here’s my first little attempt at an A.C. Century fan fic, with a little bit of luck, I can keep writing the Alpha Centauri Saga and keep this fun little excursion alive. I won’t tell you who the character is, but he is very familiar if you’ve read The NewType Factor. Some of the characters you see here are actually original characters from the NewType Factor, in chapters and sequences that I have yet to write or have yet to send. So if you see any similarities, well they’re supposed to be there.