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"The Preventer Special Ops Vignettes"Written By: Dùlin
Archive: This arc is archived on this site with permission. Do not reproduce it anywhere without permission. Disclaimer : Gundam Wing ? Not mine ! Not mine
! *whines* Why ? Rating: Mostly PG for the moment, for bad words, ratings may come up in future vignettes. Warnings: Original Character POV, bad humour, some yaoi implications, and slaughter of a paramilitary organization. Probably some violence and language as the arc develops, but nothing too heavy. A tad angsty too, but really, I'm doing this for fun and relaxation so be prepared for anything. Pairings : rumored, hinted at, implied, drooled upon 1x2, 3x4, 5xS and 6x9 Spoilers: probably some for the whole series Notes: This story is set as a canon continuation beginning in AC 201. The five G-boys, Zechs and Noin are all Preventers and elite members of the famous Special Ops. They are also instructors for the newest members of that elite team. The series will not really deal with personal relationships strictly speaking. It will follow the point of view of several OCs, with some exceptions, and mostly deal with how people would react to working with the boys. And mostly, it is supposed to be at least a bit funny. *runs away from her angst muse* Thanks : Karina, Cozzy Bob, Winged Kitty, MORgan,
Deb, Sakusha, and everyone who reads.
The Preventer Special Ops Vignettes Vignette # 10
Vignette #10 - Jackie Chan I meet Dinah in the locker room at 7:50 AM. We haven’t seen a lot of each other lately, with our perturbed schedule and the fact that she got accepted in Advanced Demolition and I in Strategics. The rare times we actually met in class in the last days, we were far too busy to really talk, and I wasn’t in the mood for an after-work drink and chat, with everything that happened with Pete. Dinah is such a good friend, because she is not taking sides in this. She’s Pete’s friend too, and understands his reaction even if she doesn’t approve. She did not antagonize us in any way by sticking to one of us. I almost feel bad about letting her stand in the middle between us two, but she really was awesome. She left me all the space I needed to stop ruminating, and now that we’re back in the same class, she doesn’t mention Pete or anything, even if I know she probably saw him not long ago. **** When we get into the gym, all strapped in our training suit, the tatamis are out again. We all take off our shoes without anyone needing a reminder this time, but only a few of us actually salute before stepping on the mat. That’s usually the time where you see who really learnt martial arts and who just wanted to be able to bully people around. Chang is standing, his back to us, hands crossed behind his back. He is wearing his own training suit, and he has something that looks like a white scarf on his left shoulder. He doesn’t move until we all line up. It’s really strange, I feel like I’m back in the dojo I used to go to when I was a kid, and I have to fight the urge to go down on my knees like we used to do while waiting for our professor. There is a tense moment where no one moves, then Chang turns around to face us. His face is unreadable and his eyes are kind of cold. He looks at us for a few seconds, then begins talking abruptly, his voice ringing in the silence of the gym. No ‘welcome to your first Martial Arts class’. “This class is supposed to give you some advanced martial art training. All of you have gone through the Academy and have at least a basic formation in one martial art. I am here to help you develop those skills, but the whole point of this class is not to help you fight during missions. I would even go as far as saying that fighting is not the point of this class.” I am impressed. That young man is younger than me, but he is, without a doubt, a master in his discipline. There are rumors floating around that he is the last heir to the famous Dragon Clan. If that’s true, I don’t doubt that he has studied most of the existing forms of martial arts that exist on Earth and in the colonies and that he masters all of them. I am impatient to begin, but Chang takes his time. He starts pacing slowly, going along the line we form. “From your files, some of you have had more intensive training before they cam here,” he says, and I could swear that he looked at me a bit longer when he said that. “Some others had never practiced any kind of martial discipline before they arrived. It does not matter here. I am not here to evaluate which dan you’re supposed to have, nor do I wish to do so. But I still need to evaluate your level. Each of you will require a different training method based on your knowledge of the art you practice and your level of competence.” He steps back and smiles, while taking the white scarf off his shoulder. And before our very eyes, he puts it on his eyes like a blindfold and secures it. Then he goes to stand in the middle of the tatami. He takes a deep breath and centers himself. Then he smiles again, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wolfish smile in my whole life. “Come on”, he says. “Show me what you can do.” **** As was predictable, there are the usual thugs who begin to crack their knuckles and grin because they think it’s too easy. I would pity them except for the fact that I never pity morons, because whatever comes their way, they usually have it comin’. Next to me, Dinah is staring at Chang with wide eyes. “What the hell is he doing ?” “Just watch”, I say smugly. Davis suddenly rushes to Chang with a war cry. That is probably his first mistake, and certainly not the last. Chang just takes a step on the side and dodges the charge, but it doesn’t end here. He then pivots on one foot and kicks Davis in the back, unbalancing him further and sending him straight into the wall. Seconds later, he has centered himself again, feet apart and firmly planted on the ground. He didn’t even break a sweat, and his breathing is deep and regular. I feel Wesley tense at my side as another stupid guy that shall remain nameless since he probably will soon be kicked out attacks and gets roughly the same treatment. I extend my hand in front of him. Yes, I already mentioned I had no particular reason to like an ex-White Fang, but I’ve got no particular reason not to like him either, and he’s truly a great agent. It would be too bad for him to get thrown out now. “Don’t”, I say very low. “ … Why ?”, he asks, surprised. “Because you don’t know what you’re getting into. First rule of fight, you observe before jumping in”, I whisper back. I watch all of Chang’s move with rapt attention, as he takes stupid guy #2 out of the game for good. “He’s using kung fu”, I murmur, “but I don’t recognize the form, it’s not the one I studied.” “How do you know that ?”, Wes can’t help asking. “Who cares how I know, the important thing is I do !”, I say a bit impatiently. “Dinah, you’re still up to date with your judo, right ?” “Yup, and I’ve added karate to the mix recently, and I’m a beginner in taekwondo”, she says, beginning to see where I’m going. “Wes ?” He stares at me with wide eyes for a moment before he answers. “Karate too, and a bit of taekwondo. You ?” “Jujitsu, kendo, karate, judo. That’s all.” “Somehow, I think that’s more than enough”, he grins. “What do we do ?” “Dinah, you go right, Wes, you take left. I want you two to attack simultaneously and silently, okay ?”, I say, my mind running a thousand miles an hour They both nod. “I’m gonna go round and take him from the back. Be careful, his blindfold is white, it means he can still see your shadow through it.” “Oh, but it’s almost cheating then”, Wes jokes. “I thought he was really trying to handicap himself.” “Wes, he could probably take you out in a dark room with a hand tied behind his back. Just do your part and we may be able to surprise him.” Okay, a girl can dream, right ? Dinah and Wes begin their encircling maneuver, and the agents who were preparing themselves for an attack clear the way, eager to see what we’re going to do. I position myself behind Chang, taking deep breaths and centering myself. I close my eyes, waiting for my partners to attack. I hear the sudden change of rhythm in their steps as they both rush to him and open my eyes again. Unfortunately, Dinah is not at her best, since she’s got nothing to grab to make him fall, those training suits are so tight. Still, she courageously goes up to him to try and unbalance him by any way she knows. On the other side, Wes prepares for a spinning kick that looks like it might connect … It does ! But as Chang seems to fall on the right, he suddenly rolls over and manages to grab Dinah, taking her down with him and projecting her out of the way. I know he didn’t use his full force because she doesn’t go hit the wall like Davis, just lands with a thud at the edge of the tatami. Almost in the same movement, he takes Wes by surprise as he switches techniques and sends a fist straight in the poor guy’s stomach. I never thought Wes would be so aerodynamic. I take advantage of the very small moment where Chang is still crouched down to speed up to him. I give out my first blow with my open hand on the back of his head, making him go down again, but barely avoids his leg that sweeps through the air, seeking to make me fall. I managed to find my balance back, but next thing I know he’s right in front of me, and I barely have time to block his hand between my forearms before it connects with my face. I twist his arm to make him move and fall backward, taking him with me. At the last moment, I use my knees and feet to support his weight and project him behind me in a tskuri-komi that would have made my judo teacher proud. I think he was not expecting the move, but it goes to show that he’s a true master and I’m still a beginner compared to him, because as I get up, I have my back to him. Which means I don’t see him smoothly roll down on the mat, get up and send a backward kick with dead accuracy. He hits me right in the middle of the back, knocking the air out of me and sending me sprawled face first. I see stars as I my head bounds on the hard mat. My ears are buzzing form the shock, but I can almost feel the silence around as I try to push myself upright. Everyone is staring at me and Dinah and Wes, as we lamely attempt to stand up. Suddenly, a hand materializes in front of me, and I take it, gratefully accepting the support. Reality comes back brutally as I look up at my helper and find a pair of slanted jet-black eyes in front of my face. I must have stepped backward a bit too brusquely because I find myself on my ass and blinking dumbly up at my trainer. He is smiling, but it’s not harsh or mocking. I think it’s just because I look completely stupid looking at him like a deer in the headlights of a car. Chang kneels next to me and begins to feel my head, a look of concern on his face. “You didn’t hit the mat too hard, did you ?”, he asks “I … no”, I manage to blurt out. “Just …got surprised … didn’t happen in a long time …” Great, now I can’t even form a complete sentence, he’s gonna think I lost some brain capacity or something ! He’s still assessing my status, and smiles again when he hears my answer. “I’ll bet”, he just says. He shoots a look in Dinah’s direction. “Are you okay ?” She nods. She’s been less banged up, but she’s still a bit dizzy from her roll. Wes is holding his midsection and his breathing is a bit labored, but he looks okay too. He comes closer and helps me stand up, and I just don’t protest, leaning on him because if I don’t, I think I may just fall back down. Chang’s face is impassible again as he turns to the audience. If I had the strength, I would laugh at the look on their faces, I mean, I’m sure they’re all considering dropping out just because of the little show. “I think two of you can go clear their lockers now”, he says sarcastically, his gaze fleeting towards the two lumps who are still unconscious near the wall. “For the last time, martial arts are not about squashing someone to the ground.” “But …”, someone starts hesitantly. “That’s what I just did ?”, Chang suggests. The agent, a young woman with blond hair and freckles, reddens and nods. “That’s partially true. But you have to acknowledge the fact that I put you in a situation where you were forced to attack me. Yet, I maintain what I said. The primary goal of martial arts is not to fight, but to realize unity between the body and the mind, and have them function as a whole towards a higher goal. Most of the fighting techniques you’re going to use on missions you will learn in Close Combat, in which some martial arts moves are taught. That’s not what this class is about.” He pauses for a moment, and I see him look behind the row of agents. It’s at that moment, that I notice Peacecreaft. He’s standing, leaning on the wall, with his arms crossed on his chest, and listening to Chang like the man is the Messiah. “We need you to be balanced individuals. We need you to control yourselves and to know your limits. That’s what this is about. You must see this class as an opportunity to think about your goal and your abilities, and how to hone the latter to achieve the former. You must come here knowing that this is the place where you can let go of everything around and just concentrate on yourself. Whatever happens, in this class, your only enemy, and your only ally, will only be yourself. The only think I ask of you is a serious commitment and a strong will to improve yourself and your knowledge of the person you are. It will help you a lot. And it’s a lot of work.” He looks at Peacecraft again and nods at him. “Five-minute break. Agent Isozaki, Agent Silver, Agent Wesley, there’s ice in the container over here, put some on your bruises, and have a drink.” **** I follow Wes to the container. Okay, I let him drag me over here as I’m not sure my legs will obey me, but leave me at least a little shred of dignity. I gratefully accept an ice pack, and it’s just heavenly to have the cool thing pressed against the sore point in my back. If that’s what happens when Chang pulls his punches, I don’t want to be on the other end of a serious one. Chang and Peacecraft are speaking not far from us. Peacecraft is looking at the two still unconscious guys and I think he’s hesitating between frowning and smiling. I realize I don’t know when he came in and what he saw exactly, but I just needed to fall on my ass in front of our commander. I grown and look away, my cheeks burning. “Did you really have to knock them out ?”, Peacecraft asks Chang. “I didn’t”, Chang answers. “They knocked themselves out on the wall. I was blindfolded, I didn’t see which way they were going.” Peacecraft arches an eyebrow. “I was under the impression that this room had four walls, hence, no matter which way you go, you always meet a wall.” Chang shrugs. “Do you guys know why we only have fifteen students left after barely two weeks ?” Peacecraft goes on. “Winner said the initial tests were too easy. I share his opinion. The people designing the tests clearly have no idea what our standards are anymore.” Peacecraft thinks for a moment. “Alright”, Peacecraft says. “Then, I want you all to design the next tests. I want a first draft on my desk tomorrow morning. I’ll tell the others. Have a nice class.” And he goes out. Chang watches him go, then goes back to the center of the mat and puts the blindfold on. “Let’s start again.”
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Vignette 11 |
