Gundam ShadowStalker

ÿþGolden brown eyes slitted open. She breathed in softly and felt as though she were floating around a huge swimming pool. Underwater. Yet, it was so gentle, like being cradled in someone's arms, and she couldn't muster up enough energy to panic. Something was wrong, she understood that much, and tried to remember what exactly had happened to her. Her mother, college, making fun of Gared, talking to her friends, playing games for hours, following the van out in the country, attacked by unknown people in a car, hurrying to get home, and crashing. Crashing...crashing... Her head titled forward against her chest and Zandra tried to focus her blurry eyes on anything that would give her some clue as to her current location. Lots of green and foggy shapes that resembled people were the only things she could make out. Bubbles floated around her and she suddenly realized that she was completely submerged in an unknown liquid. She twitched her fingers, trying to move so she could inspect the damage on her body, but her limbs did not obey. 0 Information pierced her brain, making her even more disorientated, and she saw rapid images flash before her mind's eye. The first colonies being sent into space, people suffering from diseases and severe conditions, disputes between the Lagrange points on account of limited resources, hundreds of people fleeing Earth into space as international disgreements escalated to battles, The Untied Earth's Sphere Alliance being formed to keep the peace, and the colonists becoming aggrivated at the harsh control over their freedom. Heero Yuy, representative for the colonies, making passionate speeches and promoting harmony between them. The formation of Oz and their pursuits to build humanoid weapons called mobile suits. Fear, panic, dispair, and rage over the assassination of Heero Yuy while Leo -or Tallgeese- was in the final process of it's completion. Scientists Doctor J, Professor G, Doktor S, Instructor H, and Master O fleeing from the mobile suit project. Military personnel locking down the colonies and forbiding communication between them. Tragos, Aries, Cancer, and Pisces mobile suits are created while the scientists work on Gundam Wing Zero. King Peacecraft killed, his daughter saved and adopted by Darlian, his son's whereabouts unknown. Operation Meteor... As the foreign knowledge continued to pound into her skull Zandra pondered why she was seeing all of this. Machines that were taller than many of the buildings she visited and technology that hadn't existed before. Where were her parents? They should have noticed that she was missing by now and come searching for her. What had she missed at school during her time away and was she going to be able to continue getting her degree? Did Jeremey and Amy care when she didn't show up at their meeting spot the next day? So many questions and she had no answers, but vowed to find out as soon as she was able. Ten names appeared inside her head. Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner, and Chang Wufei. Wing Zero. DeathScythe. Heavyarms. Sandrock. Shenlong. Gundam Pilots...but what was a Gundam? Zandra slowly faded into sleep once more and dreamed of mechanical green eyes that stared into her soul. ----- "He....awake....training to be..." "....possible......new gundam....more dat.." Zandra awoke to muffled voices around her and she shivered at the chill. The sound of rustling clothes coming near caused her to open her eyes and she stared into a face she would never forget. An old man, or what was left of one, stared back at her with one normal brown eye. The other was mechanical and seemed to zoom in on her before it went back into it's socket. A long narrow nose, wrinkled skin, and white mangy hair. Who was this guy? " Hello. Welcome back to the land of the living. Are you feeling any discomfort or sickness," the gruff voice barked. Jerking in surprise she layed back down as nausea rolled through her. Fighting the urge to throw up all over the guy's pristine white lab coat she croaked out an answer. " ...Cold..." It felt like her throat was the Sahara Desert. She coughed at the very painful sensation until a straw was pressed against her lips and she greedily sucked down the cool, refreshing water. He nodded. " Yes, you will be for a while, considering you've been in a containment sphere for about 14 years." Zandra, when she felt stable enough, sat upward to view her surroundings. Lab equipment was everywhere, as well as high tech machinery, and men decked out in tan military uniforms. Blinking the young woman looked at the rather huge circular like tank that was a few feet away, which must have been the containment thing the old man was speaking of. Confused and slightly scared she whispered, " Where am I?" " You are on AZ00215, also know as L-7, one of the newer colonies in space," was the prompt reply. That eye focused in again and she leaned away from it warily. He made a humming noise and frowed disapprovingly. " You would have known that if you'd use the facts given to you." At that statement memories not her own floated to the surface of her concious and she gasped. " L-7 colony, created after L-6 to give the growing population there a chance to move elsewhere instead of relocating to the other colonies...but how do I know that?!" Cold was seeping through her viens now and it had nothing to do with the metal examination table under her. With that information came more as she slowly recalled the one time being awake since the 'accident'. The old man smiled with glee, grabbing her face before she could pull away, and lifting one eyelid while explaining casually. " When we found you there was nothing but an unfertilized egg suspended in a test tube. We brought the egg here and used Y chromosomes to fertilize it and then we let you grow naturally. During your regrowth process I spliced data files into your brain wave pattern, thus you have knowledge from when the first colony was sent into space," he finished and let go of her apprently satisfied. Going over the information quickly she froze, barely daring to breathe, as the ramifications of his words finally dawned on her. Zandra looked down, and instead of finding breats she saw flat planes. Eyes widening in horror she peeled back the blanket and screamed. "I'm a fucking guy!" " From your reaction you must have been female before you were injected with the AI serum, hm?" Zandra nodded, her eyes -or his eyes now- still as wide as saucer plates. While she couldn't really blame the man for not knowing what sex she had originally been, the young ex-woman still tried to grasp the why of it all. She was now he, in the future with some disturbing robot man, and her family was gone. It felt like a blow to the stomach and she wretched over the side of the table. Her family, friends, home, and life were gone, completely destroyed... Despair choked her as she sobbed out her grief, crystal tears falling from her eyes. The man tsked and shook his head at the useless emotion. " There is no use thinking about the past because it will come of nothing in the end." " What the fuck do you know you Terminator regect," she screamed, anger burning away her sorrow over what was lost. Shaking her head Zandra reluctantly appologized; it wasn't his fault after all. It was whoever had kidnapped her and turned her into an egg that should get the brunt of her anger, if they were even alive. Sighing she pushed herself away from the table and tried to stand. Unsurprisingly she fell face first onto the floor and groaned in pain. Firm hands gripped her forearms and pulled her upright. " What part of 'being in a tank for 14 years' did you not understand? Your muscles will have to be built back up before you can walk around like you were once able," when she nodded he continued. " While you are here in my home you can address me as Mentor F or Sir." "What about Old Fogey," at his frown she waved her hands. " Kidding, kidding, learn to take a joke." " Shall you go by your female name now, or are you going to choose something different for yourself?" Zandra thought about that question for a long moment. Her mother had originally wanted to name her Alexandra, but when she held the tiny baby she changed her mind to Zandra. So, she wouldn't get rid of her name, but coming up with a male version of it seemed hard. " Zane...," she finally answered as it came to her. " Zane Shadowhound. " Mentor F smiled eerily and patted his arm. " Perfect." ---- Gritting his teeth in intense pain Zane struggled to bring the bar up just once more. Sweat poured down his face, stinging his eyes as the weights swayed precariously, and he cried out when his arms dropped. The hundred pound bar bell was caught just before it smacked into his chest and lifted easily back onto the work out bench. Antony crossed him arms as the teen panted. " You shouldn't benchpress without a spoter, bra." Zane shot him a rude hand gesture and whiped himself off with a towel as the man laughed. " I thought you were on a mission for the old bastard, 'Zel. What, did you elliminate everyone in five seconds just to come back and drink?" He slipped on his shirt and scooted over so the older male could take a seat beside him. Antony Razel reminded him alot of his older brother before he died in the war; fun, hard working, always able to laugh even when the situation was life or death. Just one of those people a person could instantly get along with albeit the fact that he was a dangerous killing machine. " Nah, bra," he said, slinging an arm around Zane's shoulders. " It was ten seconds and I spared the children. But seriously, why where you in here doing presses by yourself?" " Didn't want to be around F and his demonic assholes," he replied wearily. If there was one person he could confide in without getting his business spread around, it was this man. He was the first person accept for F that he'd meet on the base and boy did he have an intimidation factor. Until Antony opened his mouth that is. An ex-military general and physical trainer, he didn't have a single ounce of fat on his body. Once he got Zane's simple coordination skills back he started the drills. Running, crunches, push-ups, sit-ups, boot camp training courses, and everything else one can imagine. Then came the expertise he needed to become a top rate assassin and soldier. They were still working on those, but he could feel the difference in his body, reflexes, and over all mind capasity. And while he was called the Ice Prince of the Juggernauts, Antony was the only person he openly associated with, except for F and his missions. "Hey, wanna go to the cafeteria and get something to munch on," he asked when no response came. " Sorry kiddo, but F is sending me out on another mission in an hour. You know, recongnaissance, infiltration, then boom!" Chuckling he clasped hands with the man. " Take care of yourself or do you want me to come as back up?" Antony grumbled indignantly and twisted his arm behind his back roughly. "When I need help from a punk like you I'll retire," ignoring the protests he ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. " See ya around, bra." They parted ways, Zane's tiny smile disappearing beneath a cold expression as he entered the cafeteria. His stomach growled at the smell of food and he reprimaded it. Men and women alike were roaming about, playing cards or just sharing news with their comrades in arms. Fred Monroe sneered viciously at him, arm held in a sling, and face completely black and blue. He let the various death threats pass over his head while he grabbed a tray. It looked like meat pies were on the menue tonight, but you could never tell with the kind of cooks F hired. Zane sat as far away from the others as possible and dug in ravenously. His mind focused only on his food until a voice pipped up. " Hey Shadowhound! Are you and Razel an item or something, because you sure seem to spend alot of time with him!" Howls of laughter and cat calls echoed around the room, but he refrained from dignifying the stupidity with an answer. Before his first mission everyone had gotten along with him even though they thought him strange and oddly silent. When he came back, face closed off of any emotion, and ready to shoot someone at a moments notice they retreated rapidly. Now they called him freak and abomination, yet he wasn't here to make friends. Only to survive whatever F put him through and come back majorily intact. "Isn't that Razel on the television," someone asked and he looked up. There was Antony, broken body being held by two guards, and a pistol pressed against his temple. Zane didn't listen to the message as he stood and dashed to find F. The scientist was in his office, twiddling with something, but calmly studied the out of breath Zane. " Razel's been captured," he panted, skin as pale as milk, then burst out. " I request permission to rescue-" "No." Zane gaped at the answer and tried again. " But Si-" F whirled around in his chair and shook his head. " He knew the consquences of getting caught, just like the rest of you, and he has failed his mission. Permission not granted soldier, now go back to whatever you were doing earlier. Dismissed." He abprutly saluted, eyes as hard as jewels, and turned on his heel. That night Antony Razel was murdered on the charge of being a spy and the death was shown live. The proud man never cried out or begged for mercy as they ripped his eye balls from his head He only winced while they skinned him alive, cut off his limbs, and finally shot him through the heart. Every Juggernaut after that slept with a gun under their pillow and eyes open. Because all it took was Fred barely mentioning Razel's name and Shadowhound beat him into a bloody pulp. His broken arm was rebroken, his right leg torn so badly out of it's socket one could see the bone, and his face was now a black bruise. It felt like he was on automatic. Everything was routine, even eating and sleeping regularly. Then he pictured the man standing over him with a grin saying," You really shouldn't let yourself waste away like that, bra. I died a warrior's death and took a few of the bastards with me before I kicked it!" And Zane shed tears for the very last time. ---- The lithe young man with raven black hair sighed softly in aggrivation. He stood, stretching his back until a satisfying crack echoed through the small room, and golden brown optics stared at the monitor. Mentor F was currently conversing with higher ups on L-7 and Zane did not like the devious looks on their faces. Over a short time he had regained his muscles to function properly, but he severly wished he hadn't. The training program F put him through made even top military dogs cry out for their mommies. Ever since his awakening he had been experimented on, run to the ground, and nearly died several times all in the pursuit of science. The weird old man was nothing like he had originally thought him to be and he despised him with every fiber of his being. Especially for sentencing Antony to a grizzly death. Initiation in the organization known as Jugernaut was simple; getting the shit beat out of you until you were barely breathing. But he survived and would continue surviving, even if it meant killing anyone in his way. Freedom was something he took for granted back in 2136, but now the word was so much more. The day that his collar of obidience loosened was when he would destroy them all and take pleasure in their blood filled screams for mercy. Victims from his missions always pleaded for the same, but he was never able to give it to them. Ruthlessly he'd taken their lives, emotions frozen by a wall of constructed ice, and not by any means would Zane forgive himself. Their eyes and faces still haunted his dreams. Every night he would wake, just about to howl in agonizing pain, and then close his eyes against the harsh morning light. Zeroing in on his target Zane turned up the volume and listened carefully. For months Mentor F grew increasingly nervous and flustered. He was going to find out why tonight. " How is your newest specimen coming along," a pompous man asked. F chuckled. The five of them were seated around a circular table with the old man in the middle. " Very well, so well in fact I think he is finally ready to use Gundam and begin Operation Death Strike." The same feeling of dread that suddenly overcame him felt like the night Zandra 'died' making him sweat. Tapping a little rhythme on his arm helped control the emotion and get himself back in order. No use giving away his position on account of a panic attack. "Honestly, you really think they won't find out," one spat out sarcastically. " When a Gundam begins destroying colonies they will start searching and eventually you'll be killed." He froze. " That is why I am going to disappear while my pet does the killing. You should all know of Shadowhound by now, " at their gasps of surpise F cackled delightedly. " Yes, yes. Shadowhound is my toy to play with and use as I see fit. He will murder them all with my beautiful creation, and when they kill him for terrorism, I will be long gone on vacation. " Murmurs of appriciation and amazement went through the group but Zane was too far gone to care. How dare that bastard call him a...pet..and think he would go along with this suicide mission! And to sentence all of those innocents to death without a thought... No. He would not let that happen. There was no way in hell he was going to be responsible for so many lives lost. Zandra Maria Anderson or Zane Shadowhound decided then and there that this had gone on long enough. Let the idiot think he control him, lead him into a false sense of security and then... " Aren't there still mobile suits on Earth and on the Colonies?" An older woman spoke up. " Yes there are and they are ready to mobilize at any given time. Also, what about the former Gundams, how will your mutt compete against all five of them?" " I have it on good authority that those Gundams were destroyed a couple of years ago," F answered confidently, voice expressing his enthusiam. " And the mobile suits pale in comparison to ShadowStalker. I've taken each of the older Gundams abilities, adaptations, strengths, and weapons plus much more. They are all inside of that machine, making it the king of all Gundams, and only the combined effort of all five could possibly hope to defeat it." "What makes you so sure of that, F?" Here the demented scientist laughed and said chidingly. " That, my friend, is none of your concern. Just believe me when I say that you will all be compensated handsomely for your efforts. The plan will begin the day after tomorrow and no later, so be prepared for fireworks." Wasting no time Zane left the control room and speed through the compound. Adrenaline pumped through his blood as he raced to the hanger, where old Ariers, Leos, and Pisces mobile suits lay. And ShadowStalker. The huge mecha was a deep, dark ebony color. It's chesthatch and legs were lined in silver. Zane knew this machine frontwards, backwards, and all the way round. It was his companion, however much a 59 foot tall killing machine could be, and he came alive in the cockpit. There was more than one weapon of course, from gatlin guns to misles, but his favorite was the thermal energy whip. It could wrap around an enemy and slice it in half or into little miniscule bits. Gingerly he scaled up ShadowStalker, pressing in the code and seating himself in the cockpit. Desperation to get as far away from here as possible had his fingers flying over the panels and his Gundam vibrated with life. He needed to get this machine out of F's hands, because if what the old man said was true, nothing could defeat this collosal, metal beast. Shrill alarms went off as the black mecha moved and Zane quickly punched in the security password for the hanger's launch path. He spotted F down below, face red with anger, saluted the man and put the rocket boosters into high gear. As he broke out of L-7's atmosphere he became aware of several mobile suits following him. With a wicked grin he activated the cloaking device and disappeared from their radar. " Where the hell did the little bastard get-" the voice was cut off as a glowing red whip slashed through metal like butter. On the attack he manuevered around his enemies, whistling a tune even as their bullets hit the mark. One remade Aries was blasted away by his gatlin guns and there were now only three of the four left to go. " Do, do, do, another one bites the dust," Zane laughed. A laser went straight through his arm and he jerked with the machine, growling as blow after blow damaged his Gundam further. Placing the whip back he opted for the pistols instead, rapidly firing at the chesthacthes where the pilots were located. "Shit! He's going to fucking kill us!" "No duh," he said sarcastically, and watched as the suit was too slow to turn before the head came off and it exploded. Warning bells went off in his head as ShadowStalker began to tremble. He tried to move, but something was pushing him down, and then he realized the huge miscalculation he'd made. Earth's gravitational pull was bringing him down and there was no fighting against the strength of it. Sending off a last volley of shots Zane let the Gundam fall, keeping control of the unsteady plumet towards Earth. Quickly he set about trying to cool the exterior before it got overheated and as landmass came into view the young male braced himself for impact. The Gundam hit the ocean hard and it tossed him about the cockpit like a rag doll. Water instantly burst in and Zane muttered a curse. Taking a deep breath he opened the hatch and swam out into the cold ocean. He pumped his legs and arms furiously, trying to reach the surface, and gasped heartily when he did. "Well, that was one heck of a wild ride," he chuckled, imprinting the quardinants into his memory. With that done he looked around; nothing but ocean and more ocean for miles. At least he got the two-ton killer out of evil hands and now he would start extracting his long overdue revenge. That scientist had too much to answer for and he was sure that many people in hell were waiting for the good ole doctor. Come hell ot high water Zane was going to make sure that F made it there somehow. Whether or not he would be accompanying him was another matter entirely. Wincing as his head throbed the soaked teen reached up and gently touched the wound. His fingers came away bloody and he hissed. It was only a minor injury, nothing to worry about, so he started working his way towards land. Hopefully.