Disclaimer: I own a computer, I own a computer, I own a pen….I’m part of DUH4….and that’s about it! I do not own Gundam Wing and Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Tatate created Mobile Suit Gundam and Gundam Wing belongs to Sotsu Agency – Sunrise.

Timeline: Let’s create an overview of what is happening here. 1. Quatre, Heero and Dorothy are all at the Sanc Kingdom. 2. Duo and Hilde are in outer space and Wing Zero should be picked up by Zechs 3. Wufei is training somewhere in outer space with Master Long and preparing to leave 4. Trowa is missing in action. Now that we know where we are standing, let’s continue!!!

Life Beyond Life

Chapter 7

By: Yuy Ren

Quatre should be around somewhere…thought Jayce as he scanned the halls. Sure enough, he spotted the blond boy turn the corner and raced towards him. Looking at Quatre from the back… it’s quite something. This boy, no, even though he is young, he is no longer a boy, such composure and attitude labels him a man and nobody can mistake that. Yes, Jayce thought to himself. If I want answers, then it’s definitely from this young man. Let’s see how much I can get out of him without pulling myself into it

***********

Quatre turned around as he heard someone call him from behind. It was the boy, Jayce. Quatre wondered why this kid didn’t just leave him and not get involved. He’s curious as to what this young boy has to say. “Hey! Jayce. What is it?”

“Um… can I talk to you for a while… about stuff…” OK that didn’t go very well.

“Um sure, why don’t we take a seat over there?”

“Yeah, Ah… I’m wondering, I’ve heard everybody talk about this Romefeller Foundation. What exactly is it?”

“Heh, good question, they aren’t really human are they? Yes, I can tell by your expression that that wasn’t the answer you were looking for. To tell you the truth, it’s actually quite ironic. The Romefeller Foundation started out as being the resource supplier and you know, your average financial manager of the Alliance. How they came to overthrow the Alliance itself is indeed quite humorous. Heh.”

“Yeah. Well, then how about the Gundams? They don’t seem to be part of any of these powers. Almost another force from a different place. I mean they have a certain purpose here don’t they? Or else there wouldn’t be so many of them…uh I mean… “ Shoot!

“So many of em’ eh? Say, do you know a guy named Duo?”

Double Shoot! “Uh… deh… uh”

“Ah I see, well, Duo’s a nice guy. I hope to meet him again some day. But right now, my job is to protect the Sanc Kingdom. Hehe, with that face of yours, you really look so pale… Don’t worry! Duo’s no enemy of mine, he’s a friend.”

“Oh, ok then… Yeah, I know him. I met him on the colonies before I came here. Yeah, I came here on the colonies a week ago. I don’t seem like such an average civilian now huh?”

KABOOM. With the deafening voice, the ground around them shook. It’s a good thing they left the Institution and were walking outside. Quatre looked up in earnest and was amazed by what he saw. That machine… it didn’t look like something he recognizes. But that style of piloting, even by flying it alone, Quatre could tell that it was Heero. So he’s back! He turns to Jayce, as the boy stared at the giant mech that was flying overhead them. “Gotta go kid. Come if you want, you’re already involved anyway!” With that, Quatre turned and headed for the hangar.

What’s going on Heero? What’s that red scorpion-like suit? What happened with you and Treize?

**********

Jayce raced after Quatre and they headed for the hangar. Smoke from the landing enveloped them, but the glow of the red suit didn’t vanish. It was almost alive, totally different from the Deathscythe that Jayce saw landing. This suit’s got some sort of power that is quite different. Noin was already there as they arrived, using an arm to shield her from the intense heat emitting through the engines. The roaring of the engine soon diminished, purred, and stopped. There was a hiss, the cockpit let out a gust of steam and opened.

Heero, who stumbled out of the suit, was completely equipped. He looked very composed and seemed completely fine. But something told Jayce that it was only his nature to be this composed, he was indeed struggling. That thing must have some power that even Heero couldn’t handle well. (AN: for those who don’t know, this was the second time that Heero had used the Zero System, the first time he went crazy and so did he the second…sigh)

Heero gazed at him. Then at Quatre, who responded with a face that Jayce couldn’t understand. It was almost like a different language that they all seemed to get except him. Jayce decided it was like a question from Heero why he was here, and an answer from Quatre that said something like “Kid knows too much, he’s gonna be involved anyway.”

Woah, what a stare. Even though this guy seemed to have a lot on his mind, he can still glare like that at me… heh “Hey Quatre! That Heero guy who just left, he hates me huh? Gave me quite a stare.”

“Hehe, He’s testing you. But I think that he’s closer to liking you than hating. You just watch.”

*********

Sitting there, one would think that Jayce was hard at work. And he was.

“Huh? What’s this? A Sally Po? What? What is this? NO WAY! That soon?”

*********

In the middle of the night, the hangar is quiet except for the constant clack clack of someone typing. The hangar was occupied by two people. Each had their reason of being there. But both seemed to enjoy the other’s company, this was a time for talking about the stresses in Noin’s mind. Even though Heero may not be very sociable, but he still listens and if he has something to say, he does respond.

“Miss Relena doesn’t get it. It is a little too late to be talking about complete pacifism. With what is going on, we really are the glass Kingdom in hell’s flames, ready to be consumed and melted down at any time.”

“Relena provides a peace of mind for many people. She gives hope and people cannot live without hope. That is why she has so many supporters.”

“Oh so you do understand. Under that poker face of yours, you really do think a lot. Don’t you think so too, Jayce? Come on kid. I know you’re here. Lesson number one in spying-”

“Don’t hide beside a mirror… I did it again huh?” Jayce looked awkwardly at the reflecting surface above him, angled just the way to give Noin a full view of his hiding place.

“Miss Noin. I have something important to say. Here… This belong’s to you. It’s your phone. I used the your coding to direct your messages to me. And I’m sorry for doing so, but I believe this is something you should know. There’s a message from Sally Po. She said she found Sandrock, and knows who has it. It’s this group of people called Maganac Corps. They have fixed it after it self-destructed a while ago. I’m guessing it’s Quatre’s suit. Yeah, I figured he was a pilot.”

“What? Sandrock? I’ve gotta tell Quatre.” She hastily makes towards to door.

“Wait. Another thing that I found out. Not from your account. But I’ve found that Romefeller will be launching their attack on the Sanc Kingdom. TOMORROW…. What? You’re not surprised?”

She smiled and walked towards a screen. She activated the radar scanners. Jayce was amazed at the sight. So many dots… no not DOTs, those are Suits, Mobile suits detected by radar. They are so close!

“Would you look at that? Those are the suits that were deployed when they were supposed to get rid of the remaining Treize Faction in this area. They never retreated. Yep, Heero thought that they were deploying too many suits for fighting the Treize Faction here. Well, seems like Romefeller simply needed a reason for entering our area, they never intended to let us go. They are just there, waiting, ready to attack us at any minute, using the excuse that we are hiding Rebel Treize Faction forces. Hehe, I simply didn’t think they would strike tomorrow. Thank you for your Info, kid, but frankly, it really makes not difference. Its’ 3 AM, there’s not much we can prepare more than we already have. We simply don’t have the power. Hehe.” Those “hehe”, Jayce noticed, were filled with sorrow and ironic laughter. There was nothing funny about this at all.

“Well, Heero, Jayce, take care, I’ve gotta tell Quatre to pick up his Suit.” With that, that elite soldier with perfect composition left.

Clack clack clack- Beep beep… Clack Clack clack- beep beep

“Something wrong, Heero?” Heero didn’t answer. All Jayce had to do was look over his soldier to see what’s wrong, no need for him to waste words. And he could feel the warmth of the boy’s presence. Jayce was indeed looking over his shoulder.

Jayce realized that Heero was running a checkup on Epyon, but there seemed to be a fraction of a fraction difference in the balance of the two legs. It made no difference, really. It would affect nothing, but Heero apparently wished to have a perfect suit for tomorrow’s battle. Something was wrong with Epyon’s left leg. Hmm…

“Hey Heero. Have you walked by any trees when you were out there?”

The typing stopped. Heero looked up. Not the mean stare, this time, these eyes were questioning. But that lasted only for tenth of a second and then those eyes stared at him with comprehension. Heero got up and lifted himself to Epyon’s left knee. True enough. There was a small twig stuck. He wedged it out and ran check-up again. No more problems.

********

Heero touched up Epyon and was ready to leave. He wondered why the kid was still here. Jayce was studying one of the Taurus Suits and seemed to be looking at some data of the battle movements of the suit. It didn’t concern Heero, the kid may do whatever he likes.

“Hey kid, don’t think about fighting tomorrow. Don’t dig your own grave.” At least don’t get in my way.

To be Continued.

AN: OK the big battle is about to start! Yeah