CHRISTMAS TIME IN OZ
By: Matt Taylor.
Disclaimer: All Gundam characters are the property of Bandai/Sunrise, and
where created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, and Hajime Yatate. I gain no payment for
this.
Notes: In this story, Zechs and Noin are both fifteen and newly graduated
from Victoria Academy. This story is a lime, just to let you know.
**************
PART 1
"Yaaaawwwwnnnnn!"
"Tired?"
"A little." Lucrezia Noin stretched her arms out and let another yawn come
upon her. She had slept for most of the plane ride here from the Victoria
Base. She looked over at her companion, a handsome young man with long blonde
hair, who seemed to be eliciting stairs from other people in the airport.
This was mainly because of the metal helmet that covered the top of his head.
"I didn't think it was going to take that long." Noin said.
"I'm surprised we made it here without the plane crashing in all this snow."
Zechs said, looking out the window, seeing the vast cloud of snow that
continued to fall over the expanses of Aspen. He was here at the request of
one Treize Khushrenada, to take part in the annual Specials Christmas ball.
While Noin had not been invited per se, she was here as Zech's guest.
Both he and Noin had just graduated from the Victoria academy, in South
Africa. Treize had been making a lot of noise lately about Zechs future in
the Specials, and had suggested that an appearance at the ball would go far
in getting him a high position in the group. Zechs knew that he needed to
climb high in the Specials, it was the best possible way to get revenge on
the Alliance, and avenge the destruction of Sanq Kingdom.
"Do you know where this mansion is?" Noin's voice cut into his thoughts.
"Yes, it's up in the Rockies, some place the Specials use for balls like
this." Zechs said, leading her through the crowd in the airport. They
eventually made it outside and Zechs flagged down a cab.
"Where ya goin' to....Mask, er, Mack?" The cabbie's words came to a stop as
he saw the young masked man.
"The nearest car rental, please." Zechs said, ignoring the curious looks the
cabbie was sending his mask. The driver turned around muttering something
about more weirdos coming in everyday, and set out. Noin wrapped her arms
around herself and shivered, she was not used to such cold, and her coat
wasn't keeping it nearly warm enough for her. She started to think about this
mansion where the party was supposed to be held, and imagined a nice couch in
front of a roaring fire, a blanket wrapped around her.
Of course, this fantasy included a certain young man sitting next to her in
the blanket, with his arm around her, both of them staring into the fire.
Noin didn't realize that a smile was rising to her lips, until she finally
opened her eyes and saw Zechs looking at her oddly.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Oh, yes, just thinking of something."
"You look like you enjoyed it?" He said with a small smile.
"Oh, just thinking about getting out of the cold."
"It is pretty cold, after the years of warm temperature in South Africa, it
may take awhile to get used to this cold."
"Is Aspen always like this?"
"In the winter, yes. Besides, it's Christmas soon, wouldn't you enjoy a White
Christmas for once?" Zechs said.
"Yeah. I guess you're right." The rest of the ride went by wordlessly, until
the cab stopped at a small car rental. Zechs paid the man, and followed Noin
inside. He found her arguing with the man at the desk.
"Why can't we take that one out front?" Noin asked in a huff.
"Frankly, you look a little young to be driving a car." He said, holding
Noin's I.D. surreptitiously in his hand.
"I happen to be an excellent driver." She said, without undue pride in her
voice.
"What's the problem?" Zechs asked as he walked up. The manager suddenly lost
interest in the conversation as he stared in curiosity at the silver helmet.
"This guys says we're too young to rent that car out front." Noin said,
pointing to a car parked in front. Zechs pulled his own I.D. out, and handed
it to the manager. His own I.D. included a drivers license imprint, one of
the perks of being part of the Specials, even though he wasn't officially one
yet, Treize had given it to him, in order to convince him to join the elite
mobile suit force. A useless gesture, Zechs had decided to join long before
receiving this. The manager spared a quick glance at the card, and gave them
the keys, Noin wrote her name down, and took the keys. Zechs took his I.D.
back.
"What was that about?" Noin asked. Of course, she already knew exactly what
it was, when you had head gear like Zech's, it elicited plenty of stares.
*************
"Une?"
Lady Une looked up from her clipboard, and noticed her commander walking over
towards her.
"Yes, your excellency?"
"What time is it?"
"It's about 3:45 sir."
"Good, so most of the guests should be here by now." Treize Khushrenada said
as he returned to the window. The snow was falling down in large pieces now,
creating a beautiful picture against the forest in the background.
"Aspen is beautiful this time of year." He said. "Don't you think so Lady?"
"Yes, your excellency." Une said in her usual business like tone. Treize
Khushrenada looked over at his aide. She was a slightly mousy looking woman
dressed in a red military uniform, and white tights, her hair was done up in
two tight buns, and she wore a pair of round glasses. Treize wished she would
take care of her looks a little more, with her hair down, Une was actually
very attractive.
"Duke Dermail and the rest are looking forward to the ball." Treize said, and
Une shifted slightly at the sound of Dermail's name. It was common knowledge
that Dermail was going to step down as Supreme Commander of the Specials, in
order to concentrate more on his duties as head of the Romafeller Foundation.
Treize's name was being banded around quite a bit as a possible replacement.
Treize Khushrenada was already second in command of the Specials, and had
begun leading them down the road to their ultimate goal, the annihilation of
the Alliance military, almost as soon as achieving the post. Une herself, had
been appointed Treize assistant by Duke Dermail, only one year prior.
"Yes sir. It promises to be an exciting time."
"You don't sound that excited." Treize said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, sir, I will...try to enjoy myself."
"That is all I want. You do not need to be my assistant this weekend, Lady,
we are not here to work." Treize said, taking her hand in his, Une managed to
suppress the surprise, and blush that rose to her cheeks, but not before
Treize saw them, and smiled slightly.
"Why don't you get yourself a dress, not one of the female officers who are
coming will be wearing their uniform, and it would be nice to see you out of
this outfit." He said, motioning to her uniform.
"Y...yes your excellency." She said. "Do you want me to go get one now, or...
"Please, go right ahead." He said, releasing her hand, allowing Une to regain
her composure, and she walked out of the room.
Treize followed her with his eyes, until the door shut. He knew that Une
cared little for parties like this, many of them where no different that the
hundreds of others that Dermail had held. Treize himself was not overly fond
of them himself, but knew how important it was to put up a united front for
the rest of the Romafeller Foundation. If OZ was going to destroy the
Alliance Military, they had to be united. A split in the command structure
could be disastrous for the organization.
Treize sighed to himself, and turned back to the window, wondering what dress
Une would get.
*************
"Wow, nice!" Noin said as she, and Zechs car rolled to a stop in front of
their cabin. Many of the guests where staying in smaller cabins in the
general area of the mansion where the party would take place. Zechs got out
of the drivers seat, and pulled his, and Noin's bags from the back. Their own
cabin was definitely the nicest place Noin had ever stayed in. When she got
inside, she saw that it had two floors, a nicely decorated living room, with
a fireplace against the wall. She saw the couch, and fireplace, and memories
of her little fantasy came back.
"Well, let's unpack." Zechs said, dropping the suitcases in the living room.
"Right."
"After that, we need to drive up to the mansion to meet his excellency."
"Y...you mean Colonel Treize?" Noin asked.
"Yes, that's right! You've never met him have you?"
"No, I haven't."
"Well, no time like the present." Zechs said, smiling. "I'm sure he'll be
glad to meet you."
"Okay." Noin said, slightly nervous. Treize Khushrenada. Second in command of
the Specials, and possible replacement for Duke Dermail as supreme commander.
This could be interesting.
END OF PART ONE.
