What if Wufei hadn't joined Mariemaia? Arc Title: Apathetic Rating: PG/K+/P Character: Wufei, mentions of others Word Count: 500 Warnings: Sad, characters' deaths Notes: Companion to Imposter, My Life, and Master Duo. Summary: What if Wufei hadn't joined Mariemaia? Disclaimer:Standard. Written for the "What if...?" challenge (prompt Wufei) on gw500 on LJ.
Apathetic by Arabian Princess
Wufei hid his face as the "troops" marched along the street by studying his coffee with unusual curiosity. He was sure he would not end up in a nice, cushy mansion for a prison like Quatre, Relena, and Dorothy had. Duo was right; they would end up in the worst cells the Bartons could find. He should have taken Dekim up on his offer. When Trowa had tried to infiltrate the troops, Dekim had known exactly who he was, and he had shot their comrade in front of all the troops as an example. Heero and Duo had attacked them in the open with Noin and Sally as back-up, but they had been lucky to escape alive. Quatre had gone to get retrieve the Gundams, but when he returned with them, the government had already changed hands. He was arrested on the spot and brought to Relena Darlian. There were rumors that Dekim was going to drop the colony onto Earth as per the original Operation Meteor, but Zechs had managed to stop it, giving his life—again—in the process. Noin and Sally had been with him. When he died, a large explosion took out many nearby troops and mobile suits, and the new government insisted it was the women with an outdated (and very illegal) bomb. This gave Mariemaia an excuse to declare all Preventers as rebels and dissidents. Une gave a hell of a fight, but in the end, they captured her. Her execution date was still being set. They said she was trying to usurp her baby cousin; they spread nasty rumors hinting to incestuous feelings. But when you take Dorothy Catalonia into custody, you have to spread the nastiest rumors as fast you can because she'll have nastier ones spreading faster. Duo, who had been hiding with her at the time, said they were trying to use her to find things Treize supposedly hid away for his "daughter." Duo also told him he suspected they wanted to use her to justify Mariemaia's lineage. Duo hadn't spent a lot of time with him, though. Since OZ's broadcast the year before, the soldiers knew Duo was a former pilot, and so he was constantly on the run. Dekim wanted revenge on "those punks" who had changed his plans and "wronged his family." Heero's face was still unknown, but he rumored to be second-in-command of an underground movement with Sally at the head. Wufei looked at the civilians who drank their coffees and read their papers, ignoring the change. They were tired of fighting, just like Wufei. They didn't know which side was the good one, so they just accepted whoever took over. Just like Wufei. Their hearts hadn't changed, just as his hadn't. Their brains knew which side was the right one, just as he knew, but would he fight? Would he take a stand? He joined a group of young men at a table without invitation. "Hello. Would you like to help me overthrow the government?"
Title: Imposter Rating: PG-13/T Characters: Dekim, Trowa Word Count: 500 Warnings: Character Death, some Language Notes: Companion to Apathetic, My Life, and Master Duo. Summary: Dekim prepares for his speech. Disclaimer:Standard. Written for gw500 on LJ.
Imposter by Arabian Princess
Dekim surveyed the troops just moments before he would take the stage. His devoted legion. They were willing to give their lives—most were going to. They would do anything for him. They were standing at attention for far too long in anticipation for him. They were turning their backs on their last chance to be with their families and to have nice, normal lives. No. That was not quite true. They were loyal to Treize. His Excellency, he thought with a sneer. They were here because of his "granddaughter." They were here out of misplaced and transferred loyalty to Treize's daughter, Mariemaia. If his daughter had never met the deceased duke, he would not have been able to muster even a quarter of those present. One, though, was there for very devious motives. Trowa Barton. Yes, he was listed and registered as an ex-OZ official, but did he really think he could fool Dekim? Did he really think Trowa was that common of a name? Dekim's first reaction when he had read the name on the list of new applicants was to go down to the soldiers' quarters and to take out the son of a bitch. However, he had quickly thought on the situation rationally and decided he could use this to his advantage. He had wanted a Gundam pilot. That damn Chinese kid had turned him down. He had been his only hope. The Gundam was to be a symbol to embolden the troops. Instead, the bastard who killed his son dared to show his face—undercover, no less! "Dekim, I'm ready to go out there now. I'm tired of waiting," whined Mariemaia. He nodded, and together they took the stage. He made sure to divert his eyes throughout the crowd during the speech, but whenever he thought he could chance it, he stole another look at the imposter. It was good that Dekim had made himself rehearse the speech and movements so many times that it became automatic for him, for his mind stayed on what he would do to the bastard. "The awakening of a new humanity will be triggered by the soldiers of Mariemaia, and we shall be the symbol of hope for the people," recited Dekim. "But first," he continued, trying hard to conceal a smirk when the boy flinched. "We must eliminate all threatening elements." He had to give the punk some credit. He was ready to do flip out of safety, but Dekim had foreseen such actions. Even a Gundam pilot could not escape when he had his best soldiers positioned around the boy. They grabbed him on cue before the fake Trowa could escape. "Trowa Barton," he said with relish. "This is what happens to the murderers and traitors of old." He pulled the trigger without hesitation and with glee. When he saw the look on the face of the young man, his son's face came to mind, and he wondered if that was how Trowa looked when he died.
Title: My Life Rating: FRC/K/A Character: Une, Mariemaia Word Count: 500 Warnings: Character death Note: Companion to Apathetic, Imposter, and Master Duo. Written for gw500 on LJ: #210 - Life Summary: Une contemplates her life. Dislaimer:Standard
My Life by Arabian Princess
In the end, what was life? She had devoted to His Excellency. She had done her job as well as she could. She had surrendered though it killed her inside. She had rebuilt her life after Him, imagining He was still among them. She became head of Preventers, and for a few months, her life as getting back on track. Then that blasted little girl and her grandfather came on the air. Duo said that Trowa had infiltrated the Mariemaia troops but that Dekim had killed the former Gundam pilot. Duo had come to her with the information after his own narrow escape. She had no idea where he and Heero were now. She hoped they had taken Sally's example and gone underground. She hoped Sally and Noin were still alive, in fact. There were plenty of people who wanted their heads. They had been near Zechs when he foiled Dekim's plan. It may have been a blessing that he died, for now there even Preventers who were against Sally and Noin. "As you can clearly see," the young Mariemaia had declared just an hour after Zechs' death, "The Preventers are not here for your protection. They destroyed a colony from the L-3 Cluster! They are nothing more than a ragtag group of rebels and dissidents who pretend their leader is the heir of my father when I clearly am!" After that, it was all a blur. Lady Une remembered instructing the Preventers that it was not the fault of Noin or Sally, and she remembered a blur of fighting against Mariemaia's forces, but it was not enough. She had known from the beginning it was not enough. She had devoted her life to His Excellency, and though she had had a year to prepare, she had not been able to keep the peace safe from this Mariemaia Barton-Khushrenada and her grandfather Dekim. She had failed miserably. What was her life now, except failure? A guard opened her cell door. "Lady Une, it's time for your execution. You will be put to death publicly. Is there a priest you would like to confess your sins to? Any declaration you would like to make? Any apologizing?" She stood calmly and as regally as she could muster in her current condition. "Sins? Apologize?" She snorted making her way to the door. "For what could I be contrite?" "Why for losing, of course," came a small voice of the red-headed girl. "Your death will be splendid! The public will definitely know who rules this era. All you need to do before you die is say you're sorry to the masses!" "I need no priest for confession." They made their way quickly to the execution grounds. A large crowd had gathered, but it was hard for Une to determine if they were joyous or cheerless for the occasion. "Any last words?" the girl asked doing what was a well-rehearsed act for her new people. Une stared at the crowd. "My life was not meaningless!"
Title: Master Duo Rating: FRC/K/A Characters: Duo, Rashid Word Count: 500 Note: Companion to Apathetic, Imposter, and My Life. Written for gw500 on LJ: #222 - Duo Summary: Duo recuperates and wonders what to do. Dislaimer:Standard
Master Duo by Arabian Princess
Duo groaned and rubbed his eye as the sand once again irritated the contact in it. The sand got everywhere, and he failed to see how anyone could manage to deal with it, much less live in the environment. "Rubbing only makes it worse, and you could scratch your eye," warned a deep voice from behind him. "Yeah, yeah." Duo had heard it all before. "It's amazing my eyes have lasted this long." Still, he quit rubbing and closed his eyes. Rashid meant well, and he probably could not help being overprotective in Duo's current disguise. Duo had helped Heero storm the Bartons' place, but the troops had been preparing for such an event for a year. They had managed to commandeer a few suits, but then.... Duo didn't like to think about what had happened after that. Like all the other unpleasant things in his life, he pushed it to the back of his head and ignored it. That had been hard at first because his whole back had severe burns and his braid had burned off. Sally and Heero started an underground movement once the Preventers fell, but Duo knew he had to run. His face had been all over the media the year before. Despite his friends' protests, he would only attract trouble for them. Their best chance was without him. He had gone to Dorothy for the rest of his recovery, and she had come up with a brilliant suggestion. With his hair short now, they dyed his hair platinum blonde and got a year's supply of aqua contacts. After Dorothy was in custody, Duo wandered Earth until he stumbled upon Rashid and the other Maguanacs. They assured him he looked sufficiently like Master Quatre, though Duo did not see it. The Maguanacs took him in, and for now, Duo rested and tried to come up with a new plan. He had a new name, but he looked like Quatre, and that gained him respect before anyone knew him. "They executed Une just a few moments ago." Duo closed his eyes tighter and bit his bottom lip. "We got a transmission from Heero and Sally; they're asking for your help again. They also say that Wufei has started his own resistance." He opened his eyes when Wufei was mentioned; he hadn't heard of his friend for awhile now. He had half-feared the last pilot was dead as well. "Mariemaia's troops are coming here Saturday. They've heard reports of someone looking suspiciously like one of their captives." He spun around on his heel. "I'm trouble to you now because of my disguise." Rashid shook his head. "You're not trouble, but you must make your decision now instead of running from it. We will accept whatever you decide." Duo nodded and looked back over the sand. "I hate to leave you guys—how will you have fun without me?—but after the inspection, I should go get the real 'Master Quatre.' I bet he's real cranky by now."