Reading Time:
12 Minutes
Duo and Heero try to live their lives and build their tribe but an new enemy reaches out of the darkness to destroy their hard fought peace.
Tension
by Styles
Hello, Poetry
Oct 2014
Searching your mind, revealing your soul.
A piece of my mind, making you whole.
The depths of your feelings, defines the depths I will go.
I know what I know, time for me to show,
How well though. Like never before,
Here I go. Persuading your body,
In so many ways, you’re powerless to evade,
The prowess of my ways. Caressing your tenderness.
These moments your memory will replay;
Haunting parts of your body in a special way.
Reminiscent of this very day,
Our parts bonding as we lay.
Still influenced in ways you can’t see,
Rather feel, so it’s as real as can be.
These unique pleasures bestowed upon you,
Impaling your reality with my point of view.
This abundance of energy; this vitality.
A reflection of you and me.
Enticing you mentally, controlling you physically,
releasing you and me chemically.
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Ettelbruck City
Luxembourg
Eurasian Block
United Earth Sphere
87 deftly maneuvered the sleek, two person skiff down through the dense cloud cover, adjusting her navigation display as the city below came into view. Winter was still stubbornly holding on with a desperate, desolate grip; the former beautiful white snowscapes turning grey with slush as rains battered the city with icy sleet. She quickly flicked on the de-icing switch on the dashboard as droplets pelted her windshield almost horizontally, the ultrasonic vibrations breaking any frost that wanted to form along the skiff’s sleek silver form.
Air traffic was scarce at this time of day with rush hour long gone, the skies above the old city clear with just a few other dots zipping by in the distance. Tower control chirped in her ear, clearing her for touch down at a nearby elevated landing pad. Her dark eyes took in the flashing safety lights and the orange clad crew waiting under the covered staircase, sheltering from the steady drizzle. They swarmed the ship as she set down in the perfect centre of the pad, getting it checked and prepped for transport to her personal underground docking slip.
She gathered her things as the engines cooled down, turning her phone back on as the crew disappeared and the beep of the pad elevator warned for decent. No calls but three messages flashed on the screen as the pad began to shake faintly. Pale grey light soon turned into steel walls and emergency lights as the ship was swallowed by the vast underground network, the gears clanging and echoing as the ship was trundled into its custom docking bay. A friendly voice over the comm informed her to wait for final docking confirmation before alighting the vessel and she was able to read all three messages and two emails before green light flooded the bay.
Grabbing her attaché case, she snapped open the door with a whoosh, stepping out unto the metal floors with a click of her heeled boots. After sealing the skiff and doing her own walk around, she checked herself over in the reflection of the window, running a palm over her slick black pony tail and tugging at the hem of her dove grey jacket and starched white shirt cuffs.
Though not as big or as modern as the capital city, Ettelbruck was one of the key transportation nodes to the north of the land locked country and was the home of its shuttle port. Even as she exited the elevator at ground level, she could see the large curved landing strip in the distance, slicing through the grey skies like the rib of some long dead ancient behemoth, waiting to fling some bulky shuttle up into the cold black of space.
She walked the covered pathways to the long term parking lot, easily getting her little red Cooper from the pimple faced attendant at the elevated garage. She ignored his obvious leering, smiling fondly at the white racing stripe that she’s painted on the car herself. In fact, she’d down most of the body work in restoring the old car and it held pride of place in her heart to see it restored so beautifully.
Setting her case unto the floor of the passenger side, she gave the flushed and fumbling attendant an icy glare as she slipped on a pair of shades, the lanky man paling starkly as he took a few hurried steps back. Curling her lip in disgust at the mix of dirt, sweat and lust wafting from under his loose navy jumpsuit, she gunned the powerful engine until it purred, streaking out of the garage and into the pale sunlight with a roar that almost covered the bitter curse the attendant mumbled under his breath. Almost.
She couldn’t lower the convertible hood because of the rain but the power under her hands as she sped along the long road out of the port made up for the abysmal weather and the scorn she usually had for human interaction. She tapped sharp, unpainted nails against the steering wheel as she drew closer to the city proper, the sleek building of the port and the rolling farmlands that surrounded it turning to the meticulously restored historical homes and offices of the city.
Unlike the contemporary architecture of the capital, born mostly out of the sheer amount of damage it experienced during the war, Ettelbruck had been miraculously spared by the violence. Considering the shuttle port had only been built in the last few years, the city had been very low on the strategic advantage list and had hardly seen hide nor hair of mobile suits the entire time.
As she pulled into the quiet suburban neighborhood, the car bumping pleasantly over the original cobblestone streets; she took a deep, relaxing breath; glad to be back in the city she loved and thought of as home. Even the chill of the rain couldn’t dampen the familiar smells and sounds of the place. Couldn’t stop the welling up of territoriality that filled her whenever she walked its streets.
She pulled the specially made ear wigs from her ears and tucked them into the inner pocket of her jacket, far enough away from the shuttle port so as not to blow out her eardrums from the noise. Even though 29 had tried time and time again to explain the noise filtering tech that had gone into making the things, 87’s eyes would always go crossed somewhere in the middle of the lecture. 29 would then huff and kick her from her lab, sucking her teeth as 87 grinned and ran away.
She pulled up to large metal gates, flipping over the stereo touch pad on the dashboard to reveal a security access panel. Soon enough she was pulling passed the ornate metals gates, along the paved driveway, though manicured gardens, up to a large house that boasted a history that even went back to before colony days.
The Cooper rounded the property and quietly slipped into the underground garage. There was a silver Rolls Royce Ghost, a black fortified SUV and a sleek and supped up gun metal grey Super Bike with neon green lights that lined up alongside her red Cooper as she backed it into the empty space, all of them shiny, clean and well maintained.
Case in hand, her heels clicked across the cold concrete as she strode to the elevator, taking out her phone once more as the lift took her up to the main floor. The door dinged softly as it opened, revealing more pre-colony architecture and décor. Warm carved wood and embroidered silk fabric wallpapers. Antique furniture that should be in museums and priceless works of art. Hardwood floors and plush intricate runners that made footsteps whisper silent along the halls.
“87.”
88 stood in an open doorway, already opening the jacket of his dove grey suit as 87 moved into his space. She pressed her nose into the sensitive spot behind his ear, taking in a sharp breath as she licked at his warm, chocolate skin. Her hand slipped between the buttons on his chest to press her fingertips to his smooth, hairless skin, her hearing centered on the steady beat of his heart. They stood like that for several second before pulling apart abruptly, 88 already buttoning up and tugging at his cuffs.
“That was longer than usual. Were your levels affected by the space travel? .” He gave her a slight frown. “Do you need to visit 29?”
87 gave a small frown of her own, keeping her expression blank as she shook off his concern. “It was just the moon. Hardly any distance.”
He looked at her for a few moments more before nodding sharply. “We should do a session later. Space travel always stresses the bond unduly. Protocol states that…”
“I know what protocol states.” she retorted sharply, whipping her ebony ponytail over her shoulder and she spun on her heel and stalked down the corridor. She glanced back at him over her shoulder and met his steely stare. “Training room 2. 17:30.” She was gone around the corner before he could respond.
She was still cursing under her breath by the time she came to 29’s lab. Even though 88 could be an uptight bore who always thought he knew better than her, despite the fact that they’d been batch mates together; he was annoyingly right in that space travel took a lot out of her.
“What’s got you so riled up?” 29 looked up from her monitor, a frown already on her stunning face as her warm brown eyes scanned 87’s agitated form. “Glad to have you back by the way. Hope the moon was as exciting as the commercials say it is.”
87 rolled her eyes and hopped up on the examination table, already shrugging out of her jacket as 29 puttered around the room. “88, as always, getting under my skin with his patronizing habits.” She gave a sharp exhale. “Just because we were the most genetically compatible within our batch doesn’t mean that our personalities suit. I wish 13 would consider my petition to work solo.”
“Ah. This old chestnut.” 29 nodded sagely, well accustomed to the strained dynamic between the two. “Our research shows that Paladins have a longer efficiency cycle when stabilized by Vanguards and 50% is more than acceptable when it comes to the compatibility scale. You know all of this, 87.”
The Asian woman curled her lip in chagrin. “Yeah, well 50% is so not enough to put up with that condescending ass most days. 13 knows I can handle myself.”
29 gave her a look from under her long curly locks, “13 would rather have you safe. You know that you’re his favourite.”
87 flushed, her lips twisting as she tried not to smile at the plainly stated fact. She knew that their leader often showed a preference to her, trusting her with more and more important duties as time went on. It was against protocol to form attachments but, in her heart of hearts, she’d come to see the old man as a sort of father figure. Ever since he’d found her pod floating along the wreckage of the destroyed L5 colony and had taken her under his wing.
29 soon gave her a clean bill of health and sent her along her way with a command to have a healthy meal and take her vitamin cube to prevent any lingering effects of gravity adjustment. She had just spent two exhausting days in the weaker gravity of the moon. Being back on earth once more would affect her body for a few more days at least.
She made her way up to the second floor where 13’s office took up the entire south eastern corner. She knocked on the large double doors, the familiar smell of the polished wood and the lingering smell of 13’s cigars curling in her nose. At his acknowledgement she opened the door, her eyes skimming the room only to fall on the lanky frame lounging rudely on the chaise. Her dark eyes narrowed.
“106.”
“87.” Hazel eyes narrowed in return. “Back from the old space rock, yeah?”
The teen’s grey jacket was draped over the back of the chaise, his white shirtsleeves rolled up to the elbows. His grey waistcoat was open and his black oxfords had been replaced by black military boots. She clenched her jaw at his indolent attitude and utter disrespect for their leader, nostrils flaring as she inhaled in indignation. Before she could cut into him verbally though, the old man cleared his throat.
“That will be all 106. Dismissed.”
The teen gave a lazy grin, pushing himself into a stand as he grabbed his jacket and flung it over his shoulder. He gave a jaunty salute to their leader, gave 87 a sneer and ambled out of the room, closing the large doors behind him.
87 couldn’t help herself. “狗崽子” [góu zaĭ zi – Dog Whelp] She snarled under her breath, visibly bristling as she tried to glare through the closed doors. A hoarse chuckle came from behind her and she flushed, spinning on her heel to face her leader.
“Sorry, Boss.” she jutted out her chin, “He’s just so disrespectful to you. I know he’s the prodigy of the last batch but strength isn’t everything. He’s lacks discipline and it makes both him and his work sloppy. Sloppiness leads to mistakes and his strength won’t mean a thing if he’s dead. A hammer is not of much use if it breaks.”
“Thank you for that astute assessment, 87.” 13 had a smile on his face, his bright blue eyes shining with fond humour as he invited her to sit. “And I totally agree, 106 is more along the lines of berserker right now. I blame that on how late we were in taking him into the project. But it can’t be helped, all I can do now is to carefully guide the missile to its target and let the natural course of things play out to my advantage.”
87 hn’d in agreement. 13 was wise as always. “I trust you, Boss.”
She pulled the attaché case into her lap and snapped open the clasps. “I was able to secure the data you wanted. The facility relied on as much secrecy as it did security, as you predicted, so getting in and out was simply a matter of greasing the right hands and hacking the cameras after. As far as they are concerned, I was a visiting auditor doing a routine check.”
She took the super drive from the case and placed it on the large antique desk, along with some yellowed printed files and a sealed roll of microfiche. “We’ll have to get the microfiche digitized. I’ve already reached out to Control to find a way to view it without destroying it. Even in the climate controlled vault on the moon, the film is old enough to disintegrate if we’re not careful.”
“Get 29 to take that over. I need you and 88 on something more time sensitive.” 13 nodded as he flipped through the files. Serious blue eyes looked up at her from under his wavy silver hair. “Pack for warm weather. You are headed to Sanq. Mission details will be at tonight’s 21:00 debrief.”
“Yes, Boss.” 87 saluted briskly, even as she pushed down her irritation of being on mission with her ‘partner’.
13 gave her a knowing look as she spun sharply on her heel and left, shaking his head as he set the files aside and turned on a nearby monitor. As he hit replay, the grainy screen once again showed a crowded street scene. People were bustling by, all busy and going about their day. In the midst of the crowd a slim shape stumbled against the side of a building, sliding down to curl up on the ground, rocking as if in pain.
Then, without warning, all of the people on the street dropped to their knees screaming, some passing out as others cried out in pain and fear. The screen seemed frozen, leaving one form upright amongst the sprawled masses. A slim from dressed in all black, a long braid spilling down his back as he slowly slumped to one side.
“There you are…” 13’s blue eyes narrowed as he studied the prone form intently, his lip curling into a satisfied smirk. “I’ve found you at last.”
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