Last revised: 02/23/00 *** WARNINGS *** *** extremely alternate universe, semi-darkfic No lemon in this bit! Yes, I'm being evil... again. ^_^ ====================================================================== THE OTHER SIDE A Gundam Wing fanfic by Madamhydra ====================================================================== Part 3 - teaser (rough) ====================================================================== Short Disclaimer: (Full Disclaimers at the end) Gundam Wing is copyright of its respective creators and all distributors of their work and used without permission. ====================================================================== During the bone-jarring jeep ride, Relena ruefully observed that Catherine drove the way she did apparently everything else in life -- full speed ahead and roll over anything that even tries to get in the way. "Where are we going?" "To meet my contact and pick up the truck. We're going to enter Preventer HQ as cargo drivers. Once inside, another contact's going to provide us with IDs and uniforms so we can move around a bit more freely. After that, we split up to do our own thing," Catherine replied. "All right." Half an hour later, they reached the outskirts of an industrial park. Catherine slowed down, then came to a halt behind a large, darkened warehouse. "Looks like no one's here." One of the large loading doors began to roll up with surprisingly little noise. After driving inside, the door closed and a blindingly bright light shone directly down on them. Catherine said, "Stay seated and don't move until I say so. I was supposed to be alone, so it's no wonder that Nate wants to look us over." They waited a bit, then other lights went on, illuminating the cavernous interior of the building. Hopping out of the vehicle, Catherine called out, "Hey, Nate! Get out here!" Relena watched as a person emerged from the shadows, carrying a pistol in one hand. The armed stranger was a young, slender, short-haired woman of Asian ancestry. As she walked into view with a decided limp, Relena was startled to see several distinct scars on the woman's bare arms, chest, and neck. With the state of modern medical technology, such obvious scarring was highly unusual. The marks hinted at the severity of the woman's injuries -- she was lucky to have survived. But it was curious that the woman chose to bear the scars instead of getting them cosmetically removed. "Relena Peacecraft, this is my friend Nate. She's going to provide the truck we'll be driving." "Pleased to meet you," Relena said with a small smile. Nate stared at her with dark, wary eyes, then nodded politely in acknowledgement. Turning back to Catherine, she smiled slightly and said, "The truck's been loaded, but I need to verify that the tags and serial numbers are in order. A few more minutes and you'll be ready to go." "Thanks a lot. I couldn't have managed this without you or your contacts." Nate smiled coldly, "Anything to help OZ, Catherine." As the two women waited for the last finishing touches to be made on the truck, Relena murmured, "That's the first time I've heard you call someone a friend." Catherine glanced at Relena and said thoughtfully, "Well, in a weird sort of way, Nate and I are sorta like sisters. We've both had someone we loved stolen from us. I don't mean killed. I mean brainwashed, reprogrammed... remade. I told you before about my brother Trowa." "And who did Nate lose... excuse me, that's none of my business." "I know about your brother, Peacecraft. Your curiosity is understandable," Nate said calmly as she limped toward them. "Since you asked, I lost my beloved husband. His father and the family elders demanded my death as a test of his loyalty. My husband refused. To save face, his father used psychological coercion to ensure that his son would obediently provide the elders with whatever proof they required. Through pure luck, I survived my husband's attempt on my life." Nate gestured at her own body. "However, as you can see, I did not escape unscathed." Relena's eyes widened. "Psychological coercion? You mean your father-in-law brainwashed his own SON into trying to kill you!?" Nate nodded curtly. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your husband? And does he know you're alive?" Relena didn't push for a name or more specifics. If Nate wanted her to know, the scarred woman would have told her. "No, he doesn't know I still live. You see, like Catherine's brother -- perhaps like your own brother -- my husband has now become a loyal member of the Preventers and obedient servant of the Council and its allies." "That's... absolutely sickening!" muttered Relena, gritting her teeth angrily. Nate's voice was cold and flat. "Quite. It is also unforgivable." "So you joined OZ because of this...." "Call it an alliance of convenience, Peacecraft. My father-in-law and the elders may be out of my immediate reach, but in injuring their ally the Council, I also injure my true enemy. If the Council falls, so will my enemy. I shall have justice for the wrongs done to me, my husband, and the unborn child I lost." Nate took a deep breath and visibly shook off her dark mood. Handing her friend several data cards, the scarred woman said, "Catherine, all the documentation's been taken care of. You can depart whenever you're ready." Catherine nodded and said, "You're sure that the cargo and the truck can't be traced back to you?" "Positive." "Great." Catherine shook hands with Nate. "Take care of yourself." "I should be saying that to you. After all, you are the ones walking into the monsters' lair." As Relena moved to follow Catherine to the truck, Nate put a hand on the blond's shoulder and said softly, "I wish you well, Relena Peacecraft. For your sake, I hope your brother has not suffered my husband's fate. At least death is final. But what happened to Catherine's brother and my husband... it's like a wound that bleeds forever and never heals." Relena whispered, "Thank you. My sympathy for your loss." They exchanged nods, then Nate disappeared into the depths of the warehouse. Catching up with Catherine, the two women hastily changed into their driver uniforms and started up the truck. As they drove away into the night, Relena said, "What an interesting woman." "She definitely is." "But I must say that her nickname doesn't seem suit her at all. There's something about her that reminds me of a steel blade. A uncompromising fierceness...." "You got that feeling, too, huh? From what I gather, she was raised in a rather militaristic family. Way of the warrior and all that." Catherine shrugged, "As for the nickname....." "Nate, short for Natalie?" "Nope. Short for Nataku." ------------------------------------------------- As she watched the truck disappear down the road, Nataku, once known as Chang Meiran and formerly an elite mobile suit pilot for the Dragon Clan, reached up and touched the small pouch that never left her neck. Inside the pouch was the cockpit recording from her mobile suit. Contained in the recording was the truth of that fateful day when her world shattered. The truth... and her husband's last words to her.... She did not need the recording to remember. Those events were irrevocably etched in her memories... memories of her friends being cut to pieces or incinerated alive... memories of standing alone, staring in utter disbelief at the terrible opponent before her. Her knuckles turned white as her grip tightened on the pouch. She would never forget the sight of the Gundam Shenlong charging toward her, beam glaive poised to slice her and her mobile suit in two. And even now, she could hear Wufei's tormented screams echoing in her ears. (end teaser) ------------------------------------------------- Keeper of Duo's Dark Side ~~~ Duo no Seishi Co-Keeper of Duo's Scythe & Bat Wings Co-Keeper of Little Grim Reaper Duo Keeper of Saitoh's Sex Life ~~~ Saitoh no Koibito ------------------------------------------------- madamhydra@aol.com /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/:E http://www.geocities.com/madamhydra/ ------------------------------------------------- ===================================================================== The Full Disclaimer All rights and privileges to Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing are trademarks and property of Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties. The characters of these works are used WITHOUT permission for the purpose of entertainment only. This work of fiction is not meant for sale or profit. Original portion of the fiction included here is considered to be the sole property and copyrighted to the author. =====================================================================