Disclaimer: I never have and I never will own Gundam Wing.
I’m not that fortunate. :P
Rating: PG-13 for the most part
Pairings: Non-yaoi, see Raptures of Paradise and Phases of
Memory for pairings.
Surprises: Enough to make your head spin. ;P
Genres: Sci-fi, drama, horror, some fluff, and other
delightful things.
AN: Please note that I on purposely created a change of
scenes mainly between the inside of the “psychic realm” where Quatre is
psychically confronting the Dream Stalker and the physical world where the others
are discussing the shocking revelation of DS’s identity. There are a few time
changes, and they are clearly noted. To quickly explain this, I’ll say that
when I write I envision this as though I’m watching a movie or TV episode. As
you read, keep this in mind since that’s how I envision this story as I wrote
it. ^_^
Gundam Wing: Legend of the Dream Stalker
Part 6: Awakenings
By Sailor Celaeno
Never
at any other did Quatre feel so conflicted with anger and fear. He was angry at
the monstrous behavior of this Newtype. Yet he feared the anger that boiled
within his own soul. “Just why are you doing this? Why?”
“Why do
you care? They are sheep and don’t matter,” the shadow sneered.
Quatre
couldn’t believe the disregard for human life this being had. “I know you’re a
Newtype. Which means you’re a flesh and blood human being. How can you hurt
innocent people that have done nothing to you?”
“Humans
foolishly believe that life is good. Then everything crashes down on them. The
world is crueler than imagined. Is there justice when children starve because
the Powers that Be decided they weren’t worth helping? Is it fair for soldiers
like you to kill people and then when peace comes, you are to live free?”
Quatre
felt ashamed and even angrier at the words.
*****
The six
Preventers stood outside watching Quatre with Fiona. Une sighed, “So that’s it…
that’s the whole story.”
“Yeah,”
said Duo. “That’s it. That’s the whole story.” He stared at Fiona’s still
figure. He was torn because he didn’t know who to pity for more: Fiona, Mrs.
Larson, or…
“I
can’t believe that all this craziness is being caused by someone’s desperate
need of revenge.” Sally shook her head.
“Revenge
is a bitter path. It leaves everyone scarred and filled with a regret,” Wufei
said with a sense of experience.
Not
that Heero was one-minded, but he asked a question that any law-enforcement
officer would ask. “Should we arrest a perpetrator whose in a coma?”
*****
“And
it’s justifiable for you to attack people in their dreams? I know you’re using
a shadowy facade to hide yourself because you want fear. You still haven’t
answered me. Why?”
“I’m
correcting a mistake that the human justice failed. To do what they can’t do.”
Quatre
began glowing a bright blue. The emotions he felt made his power flow strongly
through his being. “I can’t believe that you think that tearing families apart is
right!” He raised his hands and a blast of blue energy raced towards the
shadowy figure.
The
Dream Stalker was hit, but soon fired back. “Don’t think you can stop justice!”
“Justice?!”
Quatre narrowly dodged the defensive attack. “Is it justice or revenge? Why do
you want revenge?”
*****
~Five years ago, July 10, AC 194~
Samuel
only had two beers, and among the group of four graduated college seniors, he
was the most sober. Even though it was only
*****
Present
“It’s
all a total mess,” sighed Hilde. “The car Phillem hit was a family coming home
from dinner.”
“Yeah…
husband, wife…” trailed Duo.
“Two
kids, a son aged 17. A daughter aged 9,” finished Hilde.
“If the
parents and son correlate to the ones killed in the accident, why not the
daughter?” asked Sally.
Une
handed her a file. “I had background checks done when Duo and Hilde reported in
earlier.”
Sally
quickly skimmed the file. “This… explains… everything.”
*****
Stalker
chose not to talk and opted for violence. Quatre was merely dodging and trying
to fight back, but powers alone wasn’t enough. He had to think quick. “If you’re
so just how do you think the families of your victims feel? You’re not punishing
the wicked. You’re transferring the pain to other people!”
Quatre’s
words caught its attention because it gave a loud screech of frustration and blasted
with a stronger energy ball. It drew upon such awesome power from within,
creeping slowly from a being who was slowly losing control of the situation.
Old resentment that festered for so long was finally being freed in the most
violent way and Quatre was the receiving end.
*****
“It just
amazes me how deeply evil those
“Not everyone
in the
Sally shook
her head. “Poor kid. It’s all a vicious cycle.”
*****
Quatre
grunted as he raised a psychic force field to protect himself. It held against
the brutal, vicious assault, but not without great effort and strain on the
young man. As the offensive move subsided, he withdrew his shield and his
energy began renewing within him, as his determination grew more resolute. Quatre
knew this was his chance. “You’re not Justice. Justice isn’t so personal!”
“Justice
should be personal…” Another blast and it narrowly missed Quatre, who dodged in
time. “If Justice isn’t personal, then how can it be pursued and brought forth!”
There was something so very personal, and bitter in its tone. Another blast, nearly
getting Quatre in the shoulder. A loud boom resounded through the psychic realm
as though a fierce lightning storm was erupting all around them. The ground
quivered, almost in fear of the Dream Stalker’s deadly intent.
“Just because
Phillem killed your family, doesn’t mean you should punish all those other people…”
Quatre shouted back as he prepared for the Dream Stalker’s next offensive.
The shadow
growled and screeched, blasting at Quatre with increased ferocity. Quatre racing
and creating another force field to block the onslaught.
*****
“When the
accident was reported and the victims were identified, Linner’s
“And that’s
where the Dream Stalker was born,” Duo said with such passionately torn feelings.
Who was the evil one, and who was the victim?
*****
Quatre grunted.
The power of the kinetic energy started forcing him backwards, but he firmly held
his ground. “How long are you going to punish others? How long are you going lock
yourself in illusions?”
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”
One final scream. One final blast.
*****
“Hmph… if
you ask me, it’s not justice punishing people for something someone has done. What
justice is found in punishing someone else because a drunk driver killed your family?
I understand that better than anyone,” Wufei said and he walked away.
*****
The light
vanished. Quatre lay on the ground. With a moan, he stood up and stared at the shadowy
being on the ground. He slowly walked over to the defeated Dream Stalker. He kneeled
down and stared at the figure. “Why?”
The shadow
faded and a true human form appeared. “Phillem got away with murder. That bastard
has to pay for it!”
*****
Heero was
leaning against the wall. “It’s almost hard to believe that even in a coma, that
anyone can have the power to attack people in their dreams. I’m surprised those
conspirators would give up someone like Olivia Glenville.”
“Maybe Heero,
but don’t forget that she’s a coma. Besides, if these conspirators try to deal with
her case again, we’d get wind of it and catch them for crimes against humanity,”
replied Sally.
“It’s odd.
Today is her birthday. Olivia is 14,” Hilde said quietly.
*****
“And what
about Fiona? And all those people?”
“Why should
any of them wake up? Why should they have dreams to fulfill when I can’t? When my
family can’t? It’s not fair…” Olivia shouted as her tears came.
“I felt
that way once. But I realized that I was feeling angry, guilty even, because I believed
I failed my father… my family. But when I acted on that anger, I realized that I
was losing my soul to the darkness. Don’t lose your soul. Claim it before you’re
lost,” Quatre said with a pleading tone.
“What if
it’s too late?” she asked in a hushed voice.
“You’re
free when you can forgive.”
“I see…”
*****
The doctors and Sally rushed into Fiona’s room. The machines beeped and she began stirring in her bed. She finally awoke.
*****
“Tell me how long, will you let this go on? You’re putting yourself in a vicious cycle of pain and misery, spreading it to others and trapping them with you. Please, let it go,” Quatre looked tenderly at the young woman.
“What’s the use? If I let go, then there’s only an endless existence between life and death. I can’t live like this! I’m trapped in a place where dreams are just dreams, and reality fades away beyond my reach. It becomes nothing more than another dream, illusion escaping my reaching hands. I’ve spent years of my life like this, I don’t want to do that anymore! That’s why I didn’t give a damn if anyone else suffered. They take for granted that pleasure of being able to do as they wish,” she cried bitterly.
Quatre hugged her gently, “Don’t feel that way.”
“Huh?” she said with such surprised at the tender gesture from her opponent.
“You have every ability to wake up,” he said to her.
“What? How can that…? How can that be?!” she pulled away staring at him with wild eyes that streamed with warm tears.
“You’re a very powerfully Newtype, and you were able to exert your will to the outside world. Waking up from your coma isn’t out of your reach. You’ve never done it, because…” he held her hands within his. “… because you were so angry and frightened that you couldn’t see that you could move on without your family. You were so alone… you pulled away when you always had the power to get out of here. You’re trapped because you stay trapped.”
“How
can I go be out there? What would I do there?” she said softly.
“When you are ready to come out, then… I’ll be waiting for you. You won’t be alone because you’ll have a friend waiting and helping and sharing your miseries with you. It’s the saddest thing to be alone. I thought I was alone once, that my life didn’t matter. But then I found out that I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. I found out that when you look beyond your own miseries and see that others suffer too, you’ll realize that the best thing you can do with your life is make something of it. Don’t waste your chance to do something.” Quatre gave her the most wonderful smile she had ever seen.
“Will you really be there?”
“I promise.”
Next time: The epilogue plus previews/hints to the next
story! ^_^