Nyah snapped awake and rolled out of bed, reaching for her weapon that wasn’t there. She came up on her knees, breathing hard. She realized her hands were gripped tight, but she wasn’t holding anything. Slowly she brought herself back to the present.

She forced herself to calm, but the images were so vivid in her mind it was hard. She went to her window and looked out at the cold stars.

She was still breathing hard but she felt her body relax some.

The Zero System had been horrible. Things that she had tried to forget from her life had come back to her. Her mind almost ached with the thought of it.

Nyah crawled back into her bed, shaking and exhausted. With those thoughts still in her head, she fell into a fitful sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nyah sat at the table looking at the plate with eggs, bacon, and toast. Marie sat across from her, seeming to thoroughly enjoy her meal. The eggs stared up at her, reminding her of the images. As a matter of fact, everything in the room reminded her of the images. She wanted to close her eyes but she couldn’t. The images would only be more vivid then.

“Marie, are we going to do the Zero System again?”

“Of course.” She looked at Nyah’s tense face and smiled. “The only way you’ll get used to it is to use it.”

Nyah sighed. “How sure are you that I’ll get used to it?”

Marie set her fork down. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m not sure at all. The Zero System is still in its experimental stages. But all of my data indicates that your brain patters will adapt to it. The data from yesterday’s testing is extremely promising. You’ll do fine.”

“Alright,” Marie said connecting brain wave monitors to Nyah’s head. “Second testing is always easier because you know what to expect. Relax and it will be over in no time at all.”

Nyah took at deep breath to calm herself. Then it began...

It took her over and she became it. Moving in sync with it. There was no need to fear death. The Zero System did not fear anything.

Marie smiled, watching the system take over Nyah. Her reaction time was amazing. Marie typed at her console and watch the screen with Nyah’s brain waves. Slowly part of the Zero system became her. It melded with her mind and a part of Nyah’s mind became as emotionless as the Zero System. This was how Marie would make sure that Nyah could never leave her. She would control her eventually.

After a few minutes Marie shut it off. Nyah got up and walked over to Marie. She looked at her. “Why is it giving me those images?”

“No one really knows. The Zero System is an incredible program. It accesses your mind at a subconscious level. It’s psychological impacts have not been fully explored yet.”

“You use a system that has not been fully tested yet. You use it on me.” She found herself fingering the ring on her finger.

“I assure you, you will suffer no ill effects.”

Nyah just nodded slightly. It was as though she were trying to bring up an emotional response, but none came. All she felt was… tired. She went up the stair to the main house. She wished Calder were there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several hours later, Marie landed her private jet on an airstrip not for from the newly formed Sanc Kingdom. An unmarked car pulled up and she got in. Another woman was in the backseat. Marie sighed and stretched out in the spacious seat. “Long flight?” the other woman asked.

Marie nodded. “Yes. No complaints here though. Did you watch the simulation?”

Lucrezia Noin nodded. “I did.”

A brief pause. “And?” Marie pressed.

“Very impressive.” She hesitated. “You still haven’t told me what this is for.”

“To counter Heero Yuy, of coarse.”

“Yes, but Zechs and I aren’t part of OZ anymore. Heero Yuy’s only targets are OZ and the Romefeller Foundation. But you still want me to see everything you’re doing.”

Marie sat in silence for a moment. Why did she want Noin to see this? Mostly she was doing the research simply because she could. But recently a new goal had formed in her mind. Relena Peacecraft. The girl had surfaced with her speeches about total pacifism. That would never do. Yes, besides eliminating that pig, Dekim Barton, she would have Nyah kill Relena. And Noin was here now, protecting the idiot girl. That must have been it. She wanted Relena’s protectorate to have the assassination plans right under her nose.

“I suppose now I’m doing this simply because I’ve started it,” she finally said. “I might as well finish. And you’re the only other person who knows about it. You’re the closest thing I have to a friend.”

Noin felt a chill go up her spine. There was something about Marie, something dangerous. She wished she hadn’t gotten involved in the first place, but what could she do now? “How old is the girl?” she suddenly asked.

“Sorry?” Marie said, taken off guard.

“How old is she?”

“She’s… twelve.”

Noin sighed. “Twelve. Being trained in this way.”

“Noin, it started when she was six. She’s strong. Mentally, she’s an adult. She can do this.”

“I know, you’ve explained it all before. Its just me.” She forced a smile. “So how long are you staying?”

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow. I’d just like to see the Sanc Kingdom. And of coarse, to meet Miss Relena.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three Months Later

“Command, this is Rogue One,” Calder said softly into his microphone. He stared though the scope of a sniper rifle, watching a figure move up the beach towards the woods from his vantage point thirty meters above. “I have a single bogey approaching the perimeter on foot, over.” The figure appeared to be only a boy, roughly Calder’s age, wearing only a tank top and shorts, despite the chilly atmosphere.

“Roger that Rogue One. Can you classify the bogey?” his radio crackled.

“Bogey believed non-threat,” Calder said, still keeping the crosshairs on him. The boy paused and suddenly looked up in Calder’s direction, as if he could tell Calder was there. Calder suppressed a shudder. There was something odd about that gaze. Something cold. Something that made you want to avoid it.

The boy continued on and was met by a Treize Faction soldier. In the three months since Nyah had left, Calder had been busy. Working as mercenary had been rewarding, but eventually, he’d become bored. When Treize Khushranada had been put under house arrest by the Romefeller Foundation and the Treize Faction had been formed, Calder quickly joined. The Faction’s fight was desperate and hopeless, the conditions grueling, but he was enjoying himself. He still did not use his Gundam though.

The boy was searched, then escorted to the command tent. A few moments later Calder’s enhanced hearing detected movement behind him. Calder stayed where he was and turned his rifle in the direction of the sound. A few seconds later a figure that Calder recognized emerged from the trees.

“Calder?” the man called softly.

Calder stood up, lowering the gun. “What is it Jake?” he said to the Australian mercenary.

Jake Nelson shook his head. “I’ll let the commander explain. I’ll tell you this though. That’s no ordinary kid that showed up.”

Calder had dealt with Jake before as a mercenary and they’d joined the Treize Faction together. “So they want me down there?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m here to relieve you.”

Calder hoisted his pack and slung his sniper rifle across his back. Jake readied his own rifle and settled down into the camouflaged nest. “See you later,” he said.

Calder nodded and hiked back down to the camp. As he approached the tent, the strange boy emerged from it. For a moment, his brown eyes met Calder’s blue-gray ones. Then the boy disappeared silently into the night. The regiment commanders emerged from the tent, staring in the direction the boy had went. Momentarily, the commander looked over at Calder.

“Mr. Slandovich, a word please?” he said.

Calder walked over, still looking after the boy. “Yes Commander?”

The commander still stared off into the woods. “Get a readiness report on your squad. Things are heating up fast.”

Calder nodded. “Yes sir.” Who had that been?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One Year Later

Nyah whipped her guns around and shot the three guards behind her. She ran past the other two that she had shot, grabbing one of the guns the dead guard was still holding.

She ran down the hall until she came to a door. She quietly opened it. and peered in. There she thought.

Her boots made a dull thumping while she walked over to the computer. Nyah sat down and turned it on.

Suddenly an alarm went off in the halls and she heard the thump, thump, thump of many shoes.

The door burst open and suddenly froze.

Marie walked into the room. “And you’re dead.”

Nyah let out her breath. The fake surroundings shimmered and were gone.

Nyah had completed the Zero System training for the most part. Marie had gradually imbedded the system into the girl’s sub-conscience, using the Latasphere Advancement techniques, so that the system wasn’t limited just to her mobile suit piloting. With this modification, her piloting skills had been able to defeat the simulations Marie had programmed using the data OZ had on Heero Yuy. Yes, she’d surpassed Marie’s highest expectations. And best of all, she’d gradually forgotten her life before the Zero System.

Nyah looked at Marie emotionlessly. “I failed to anticipate the security on the computer,” she said.

“Correct,” Marie said. “And you should have sealed off the passageway, preventing further reinforcements from arriving.”

“Understood,” Nyah said. “Are we going to do it again?”

“Later. I’ve received confirmation that phase two of the operation has been completed.”

Nyah nodded as she stripped down her weapon and holstered it. She followed Marie through the sim room door and down the corridor. Marie continued. “The Foundation has received its first shipment of mobile suits. You are going on a reconnaissance mission to determine the number and capabilities of the suits.”

Marie smiled. “For now, I think you should go rest. I’ll see you later.” She turned on her heel and went down the hall away from Nyah.

Nyah took a deep breath and went up the stairs. She went into her room where Jonathon held out her robe and a towel.

“I heard of your work out and I thought a shower or perhaps a bath might be in order.“

Nyah took the towel and robe from him, nodded and went into the bathroom and closed the door. She stood with her head under the hot, soothing water. She closed her eyes.

Flash... A woman stood over her, gently bathing her in a large bath full of warm water.

Nyah shook her head to clear it. What had that been? It had seemed to be her, but she’d been a baby. And who was the woman? Marie? No. Someone else. Nyah dismissed the image and finished her shower. She stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Jonathan offered her a pair of athletic pants and a tank top. She accepted them and tossed her towel one the bed to change. Behind her Jonathan sighed.

“Does Madam Marie teach you nothing? A lady should be modest you know.”

Nyah looked back at him with a slight smile. “Yes. A lady should be modest. Besides, you must have pride to be modest. Pride is an emotion.”

Jonathan shook his head “Ah yes, I understand.” He left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Nyah changed and sat down on the window seat in her room. She looked out at the moon. She knew she’d had a life before Marie came and took her away, and she wondered about what she would be like without Marie in her life. There was a noticeable change in her. She had become much colder but it didn’t really bother her. The thing that did bother her was, would she be different if there was no Marie. Nyah shook her head.

“I’ll tell you what it would be like. I would live on the streets with no power whatsoever,” she said to herself.

To her it was no use wondering what different paths she could have taken, because she had not taken them. And for a reason. There was always a reason.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nyah dropped from the roof access vent down to the corridor and immediately stepped into the shadows. The corridors of the Barton Foundation facility loomed ahead of her, dark and forbidding. She did not think of this, only her mission at hand. She knew the Foundation’s people were well trained, but for her, getting into the building had been pitifully easy.

As soon as she’d arrived on L3-X18999, it had been apparent that the Barton Foundation controlled the colony. There were indiscrete Foundation personnel everywhere, and upon subtle inquiries, she’d discovered that the colony government r an no deeper than what was visible to the public. And the colony leader was someone name Mariemaea Barton. The linkage to the Barton Foundation she knew was not likely coincidental.

She waited as a pair of guards walked lazily passed her, then stepped from the shadows. She moved after them, not making a sound. The ever-present Zero system throbbed within her, anticipating combat.

Not now, she said to herself. She let the guards move farther ahead, then pulled herself through a vent at the base of the wall. She crawled along, making sure the echoing shaft stayed silent around her. She dropped down three levels. There. A grate ahead of her revealed the facilities memory server. She disabled the alarm system on the opening and removed the grate, dropping into the room. She paused to listen. The Zero System told her there was no one in the room.

She moved quickly around to the back of the large server and removed an access hatch. She could have gotten into the system with a terminal, but this way was more direct, and left less evidence. She pulled a devise from her utility belt and plugged it into the computer. The devise began hacking its way into the memory banks. Three minutes and she’d have the files she wanted.

She checked the map she’d made upon her initial survey of the facility. The hanger bay should now be in the process of receiving the Foundation’s new mobile suits. Dakim Barton had broadcasted a melodramatic, propaganda-filled message, inviting everyone to see the might of the Barton Foundation. Nyah smiled to herself. The doddering old fool certainly had a way of manipulation people. Of coarse, all of those young soldiers certainly hadn’t been chosen for their independence or their intelligence. In any case, it had left the main part of the base mostly deserted.

The files finished downloading and she removed the devise and closed the access panel. She opened the door and stepped into the hallway, making sure it locked behind her. Pulling out her hand held sensor, she looked for the hidden security camera’s she knew were there. Twenty meters from her, she found one. She pulled out a small pistol with a relatively large scope and took aim. She pulled the trigger, releasing a near-silent burst that sent a small electronic pellet into the camera’s housing. The little bug would work its way to the wiring and tap into the camera feed, sending the images back to the mansion in New Zealand.

In the meantime, she set the camera into a loop and moved passed it, unseen. She placed two more bugs, one in Dakim’s office, and one in the mess hall. One of Marie’s philosophies; you could always learn something by watching the common soldier. She left the building, walking easily down the dark colony streets. Mission complete.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marie nodded as Nyah explained the intricacies of the night before.

“Very good. We should be getting information even as we speak,” Marie said. Nyah turned to leave. “Oh yes. Nyah…”

Nyah turned to face her.

“I’ve been thinking. Nyah isn’t really an appropriate name for you anymore. It isn’t who you are now.”

Nyah regarded Marie. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, when I say Nyah, I see a little girl playing in a sandbox. You’re not her. A more fitting name would be Meela.”

“Meela. As in Meta Enhanced Efficiency Latisphere Advancement. So I’m named after a machine? Yes, fitting.” She wanted to add, The only thing that you left human was that name. Now you take that. I’m named after a conditioning. A machine. That’s what you’re turning me into. A sudden surge of anger swelled up in her. It was her humanity that had been buried by the Zero System. The anger snapped with fire that was fed by her silence. It wanted her to scream at Marie. She bit her tongue to keep it down. Finally the ever present System won the battle and brought her humanity back into submission. Her face once again set in stone. “Understood.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Calder sipped at his hot chocolate as he read his computer screen. The war was over. The Earth Sphere Unified Nation was formed. The world was at peace. Calder’s Gundam lay in its hidden hanger in the Rockies, but he’d not been dormant. After there was no more need for soldiers or mercenaries, he’d diverted his attention back to the Barton Foundation. Yes, they were not simply sitting back and watching the world. A command center had been formed on colony X-18999 and an army was being built. They were subtly searching for those who still wanted war and battle. Marie Slogan knew about it. He’d seen her fingerprints here and there. And recently an operation that he knew must have been pulled of by Nyah Hunt. He also knew Marie was aware of his probes, and was not allowing him to get close to Nyah. He was frustrated with this, but there was nothing he could do.

The Barton Foundation would strike soon. They would implement Operation Meteor as it had originally been intended. Global domination. Nyah would be there to stop them. Calder planned on being there as well. He shut off the computer, darkening the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~