Disclaimer: I own a computer, a room, and a 9 page manga of my own creation. But I do not own Gundam Wing. Because someone smarter than me created the story first. Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Tatate created Mobile Suit Gundam and Gundam Wing belongs to Sotsu Agency/ Sunrise.
Life Beyond Life
Chapter 4
By: Yuy Ren
The streets were busy and there were numerous people bumping into him. He didn’t think that the shuttle port would be so crowded with people, since flights between earth and the colonies really weren’t that common anymore because of the war. He supposed it was because he had gotten used to the lack of people in the colonies. But he wasn’t really paying that much attention to any of this. His mind was mainly focused on his last conversation with Duo and Hilde.
**********
The transport shuttle was preparing for the landing. Inside, a conversation was being held.
"Kid, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into." Duo replied with a serious tone.
"Hate to tell you this, but knowing about the Gundams will pull you into the heart of the war and I’m not sure that’s the place you want to be. Seriously you shouldda just taken the money and left."
The shuttle landed and the trio started to make their way out.
"I thought that big machine… You call it Wing Zero? When it landed around your place, I thought it was after me. I didn’t want you to get involved."
"Look who’s talking. Listen, just go to earth, hide out, go to school, do whatever you want, just stay out of the war and when it’s over, for better or for worse, you’ll at least be alive." With that Duo left.
"Listen, Jayce." Hilde addressed him. "Duo’s right and wrong. You should stay out of trouble and be away from the war. But it really isn’t avoidable is it? In either case, go to Luxembourg area. You may be able to stay away in one of the cities there." With that, she walked towards Duo who was already in the distance.
Jayce looked around, for the first time taking in his surroundings. He was at the shuttle port and just in time for his flight to earth.
**********
What did Duo mean? Pull him directly into the war what? When? How? Jayce did not understand any of this but soon stopped thinking about it as he realized the shuttle ticket did not pay for his lunch, and entered the nearest coffee shop
It was a crowded place and for someone who had been hiding out, Jayce was not used to crowded places. Especially places with long rows of people waiting for their orders.
Chatter was everywhere and one can pick up various conversations.
"Milk… sour… stomach ache."
"Colonies….never…..independance."
"I…rumour…Romefeller."
"Romefeller…..outrageous…support the Kingdom."
The last comment caught Jayce’s attention and he turned to the two elderly men who had spoken, while waiting for their orders. Jayce tuned in.
"Do you truly believe that that’s a good decision?" Replied the man, who had his back to Jayce. "Romefeller is quite…well, persuasive."
"Not everybody is happy with Romefeller’s ways. We just want to live our lives in peace. But that can’t be achieved under Romefeller’s rule."
"You’re right there, but Romefeller will most likely dem--."
"Mister!" It was a woman’s voice. Was she talking to him? Oh, yeah. His meal order.
"Mister. That’ll be nine-fifty." Jayce handed in the money and took the food. He turned around to continue listening to the intriguing conversation. But the two men were nowhere to be found.
+ + +
Security %#15846254847645sif85dfge
Clear
Decoding section 8t4h6r5e2a4t1
Complete
Message:
Main problem occurs in Luxembourg area. Large Resistance. Many negative supporters. Sanc Kingdom.
End of Message
"Interesting. Well, as long as I can get out of Romefeller’s area of rule." With that thought. Jayce turned off the computer and paid the clerk of the internet café, who was giving him suspicious looks.
"Sanc Kingdom? What’s that? Well, all I have to look for an area that is out of the train’s district. That usually means it’s a different area of rule. I wonder how much it costs to hitchhike." Thought Jayce, his hand brushing by his remaining 200 credits in his pocket.
"Hey kid! Need a ride over the border?"
Jayce turned around and spotted a man in his 30s. He was well rounded and seemed to be addressing Jayce with a tired tone.
"Yeah, I need a ride. How’d you know?"
"It’s my job to know. That’s how I make a living. I’m one of the few people who can go in and out of Romefeller land without any restrictions. Don’t ask how I’m allowed, cuz I’m not gonna tell." The man walked towards Jayce, as if studying him carefully.
"Ok. How much?"
"150 Credits. To Braxmill. Take it or leave it. But I’m telling you there’s no other way."
"What? 150? Man, but I guess I’ll take it."
"Great. Come with me. By the way, my name’s Kuno."
+ + +
"We’re closing in on the Institution." Kuno explained as they entered a forest area. The ride with Kuno wasn’t bad. He had explained a lot to Jayce about Romefeller and the Sanc Kingdom. He explained how the Sanc Kingdom was gaining more and more supporters in this area and Romefeller considers them a nuisance more than a threat.
"The Institution?" Jayce asked unnecessarily, for Kuno was going to explain anyway.
"Yeah. The actual kingdom of the Sanc Kingdom." Kuno explained, vaguely motioning towards the horizon where the castle was appearing. "This Castle was rebuilt recently and the teachings of total pacifism is done here. Heard the head of the Sanc Kingdom in also in there somewhere, a person who loves to help people solve their disputes and is an excellent spokesperson."
"Really?..could you drop me off near the institution?"
"What? Why you wanna do that? Like they’re gonna let some brat enter that elegant building. Forget it, kid."
"No really. Drop me off. They may be able to help me answer a few questions about Romefeller, since they are opposing it."
"Whatever you say, kid. But you know I’m still getting paid."
+ + +
Ok. So 1 mile away is a pretty long walk. Jayce concluded, as he realized that Kuno had dropped him off a little too far away, leaving him now to walk along the countryside road.
A car came from a distance behind him and Jayce turned around. Just as he was able to look back, with the speed of that car…no, it was a limousine – gold - it had already zoomed way ahead, leaving him to literally eat the dust.
His curiousity got the better of him and he started sprinting to wards the castle.
+ + +
Through the shaded windows of the limo, Dorothy saw a boy look at her in surprise as she zoomed passed him. She couldn’t hold in her smirk, thinking about the poor civilians in this area during the war. How do they live their lives in the heartland of the war on earth?
They don’t know how lucky they are to be able to witness the war, she thought as the limo came to a stop.
+ + +
Jayce arrived at the institution and noticed an elegant woman entering the building. He approached her in hopes of finding someone who could help him.
"Excuse me. Do you know where I could reach the Director of this Institution?"
"The Director, you wish to speak with the director? Whatever for?" Dorothy slowly turned around to face Jayce. Looking at him in interest.
"Well, I was hoping that he would be able ot help me… I have a fairly important issue I wish to discuss."
This could be interesting. "So, an audience with the Director… I think that can be arranged. By the way, the director is a woman."
TBC
Author’s Note: Well, I know my writing style is SLOW. But bear with me, I’m into detail and dialogue, if you haven’t noticed.
