See Part One for Disclaimers
"You called both of those names while you were unconscious," Shawn returned, "Otto, and Walker. You kept crying out t' Otto in particular, tellin' him t' stop. I went back and reviewed the tapes we had pirated from various Oz ships durin' the war. Otto was killed while freein' the Sank Kingdom from Alliance rule, a rule that had lasted for almost fifteen years."
Zechs looked away. He remembered. He remembered all too well. He had nearly died in Tallgeese during the first attempt to free the Sank Kingdom. The critically injured Otto had taken it upon himself to finish the job, since Zechs hadn't been strong enough to master the Tallgeese on his first try. Already suffering from internal injuries, the young lieutenant had died that day.
Shawn said softly, "I told you, I've listened t' those tapes. But what you didn't know is that I listened t' both of you. You and Otto. You could have done nothin,' Zechs. Otto had made his choice. He chose t' spare you further pain. He chose t' die as a warrior, instead of in a hospital. And he would have died. It was his choice, Zechs. But this is your choice."
Zechs looked up at the older man, who continued, "You can either betray Otto's sacrifice and die now. Or you can redeem yourself, keep faith wi' him, and go on livin.' The choice is yours. Just understand. We all risked our lives t' save you and take care of you. We're gonna do our damnedest t' make sure that sacrifice wasn't in vain."
Shawn sighed and added, "You know, Elene told me somethin' when I finally woke up and realized what I was doin.' I was like you, just like you. I didn't deserve t' live, I was unfit t' breathe. I was a monster. That's what you see when you look in the mirror, isn't it? A monster, a creature which doesn't deserve the gift of life." Zechs looked away, unable to refute it. He was right, of course. That was exactly how Zechs saw himself. He wasn't a soldier, or a warrior. Just. . .a monster.
"You're wrong, though. You're anythin' but a monster. I suppose that's what our mission will be, once you've decided t' accept this second chance. Gettin' you t' believe that," Shawn observed and Zechs felt his lips twisting into a parody of a smile. That would be a mission worthy of Heero Yuy. That name brought back too many memories, however, and Zechs fought to bury the memories.
Instead, he found himself focusing on Shawn. And it was then he was caught, for he began listening to the older man. Shawn said quietly, his blue-gray eyes steady on Zechs' face, "Elene told me somethin' very important. She told me that it's not what you've done that matters. What matters, Zechs, is what you will do. What you will do t' atone for your past sins. . .and what you will do from this day forward. Think about that." He gave Zechs' shoulder a gentle squeeze, then left the cabin.
Zechs closed his eyes, leaning back. His chest hurt, his body hurt. His soul hurt. But deep inside his heart, he recognized the truth of what Shawn had said. Despite everything, despite the mistakes he had made, despite his transgressions against humanity as the leader of White Fang, he had been given a second chance at life.
Somehow, someway, he had to atone for what he had done. He had to make things right. He could do that for Relena and Noin by staying out of their lives. He remained convinced about that. If he returned to earth, if they found out he was still alive, he would just ruin things for them. For their own safety, they had to believe he was dead.
He had been given this extraordinary second chance in space, and in space he would take that chance. Out here, he would rebuild his shattered life, his shattered soul. Not for his own sake, but for the sake of those who had sacrificed so much. Otto, Walker, his father, to name just a few. The Malloys, who *had* placed their very lives on the line to save him. And maybe, in time, he would do it for himself. Zechs doubted that. . .at this moment, he didn't believe that was possible.
But for now. . .for now, he would rest. He was so, very tired. Zechs closed his eyes, almost melting into the sheets which surrounded his body. The adrenaline high caused by his arguments with Talia and Shawn was ending, leaving him exhausted. He sighed quietly, grimacing unconsciously at the pain caused by the motion, then drifted off to sleep.
* * *
"I was thinking it might be overkill, but maybe not," Talia murmured as she listened to the conversation between her husband and Zechs. Just before she had left the med-cabin, she had flicked on the intercom. Just in case Zechs needed her. Ciara looked up from the book she was reading, and Talia continued, "I know, you think it's cheating, but. . ." Ciara sat up, shaking her light brown hair from her eyes.
"It doesn't matter what I think," she said somewhat peevishly, "it doesn't seem to matter to Zechs that he's being stupid. Daddy's trying to make him stay alive by being nasty. And you're listening to the conversation. Honestly!" Talia hid her smile. She knew how her step-daughter would react to something like that. But. . .
"Well," she pointed out reasonably, "It's like this, honey. I turned on the intercom, in case Zechs needed me. I wasn't planning on listening to your father's conversation with him. But, since the monitor was already on, I figured I should use it, in case your father went too far. After all, we want to keep Zechs alive, we don't want him reinjuring himself by taking a swing at your father." Ciara looked at her, her blue-gray eyes widening with shock.
But before she had a chance to speak, Shawn re-entered the kitchen, saying, "I heard that, Natalia. And I wasn't that bad." Talia grinned and tapped the toe-end of her boots against the bars of the chair. Shawn glared at her, added, "I wasn't! Although, it got temptin' t' hit him. I'm beginnin' t' understand why Elene got so exasperated wi' me."
Now Talia did laugh, answering, "Duh." Shawn glared at her again, and Talia said more seriously, "So, do you think you got through to him?" Shawn didn't answer immediately, sitting down beside his daughter at the table. Talia took that time to leave her own seat for a cup of coffee, making a mental note to herself to take Ciara shopping for new clothes the next time they were on one of the colonies. The preteen was quickly losing patience with wearing Talia's hand-me-downs.
At last, Shawn answered, "I think so, yah. He's not a stupid lad, but he's stubborn. And he's in pain. That factor alone. . .that kind of pain. . .I'm still tryin' t' figure out how he managed t' keep his sanity as long as he did. Especially under the tutelage of first Treize Khushrenada, then Quinze Barton. Just among the three of us, I don't know who of those two were more insane."
"Moot point. They're both dead. Let the dead bury their dead, Shawn, and we'll take care of live, soul-wounded boys," Talia replied. Shawn looked at her inquiringly, and Talia continued, "Hey, I know he's twenty years old, but I remember him when he was six years old. To me, he's still a kid. Ten years can make a world of difference, Shawn."
"So can five," Shawn muttered, then yelped as Talia threw a sponge from the sink at him. He continued once he was reasonably sure Talia wouldn't throw anything else at him, "So, now we wait. Oh, I'm fairly certain I got through t' him. So, we wait now for him t' make the decision for himself. T' live for himself, instead of the sake of another who is already dead." Talia nodded. Yes. Yes, but in the meantime, they would undertake that mission Shawn had spoken of.
It was Ciara, however, who said, "And while we're waiting for him to make that decision, we start teaching him that he's not really a monster." Talia nodded, smiling at her step-daughter. Yes. Ciara responded with an answering smile, a one-hundred eighty from her previous sullen expression, and added, "All for one, one for all!"
Talia burst out laughing, and Shawn rolled his eyes as he pushed himself closer to the table, his hand covering the hand which his daughter had stretched out. He muttered as Talia followed suit, "That is the LAST time I'm lettin' you t' stay up late t' watch any of the Musketeers movies!" Talia almost fell off the chair, she was laughing so hard.
And it wasn't even really funny. But emotions have a way of catching up with you when you least expect it. . .and Talia's pent-up anxiety, her suppressed memories, needed an outlet of some kind. This was no worse than others, and certainly better. As she put her hand over those of her husband and daughter, she managed to compose herself and say, "Yes. . .yes, all for one, and one for all."
The End
Email the author!
LadiSwan@aol.com
Back to Main Library Index Back to Main Fanfiction Index
Adventures of Sinbad ~~~ Andromeda ~~~ Angel ~~~ Babylon5 ~~~ BeastMaster: The Series ~~~ Beauty & the Beast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer ~~~ Charmed ~~~
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven ~~~ Crusade ~~~
due South ~~~
Farscape
Gundam Wing ~~~ Highlander: The Series ~~~
Miscellaneous Fiction ~~~ Mortal Kombat ~~~ Mortal Kombat: Conquest
Poltergeist the Legacy ~~~
Raven ~~~
(TSAo) Jules Verne ~~~
The Sentinel ~~~ Stargate SG1 ~~~ Star Trek: Voyager
I can't fix it if I don't know it's broken, so if you see anything wrong, please let me know. Thank you and enjoy your stay!