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"Sensus Divinitatis"Written By: The Plotting Housewife Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sotsu
and associated Parties. This work is written for pleasure not profit. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Alternate Universe - Supernatural Elements,
Ghosts, Demons, Apocalypse, Major character death, blood, gore, violence Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5x6 Summary: It begins with a prophecy and ends with
Judgement Day. What happens in between will determine the fate of
the human race. The murders of the Gundam Pilots was only the catalyst.
The beginning of the end. " Sensus Divinitatis" Chapter 14: June 23rd, AC 206, 6:04pmBillings stood with her arms crossed over her large bosom, the fingers of one hand in her mouth, anxiously nibbling on the nails. A clipboard with an inventory list was squeezed in the crook of her bent arm. A pen in her other hand. The building's armory was dark and musty, the weapons stored inside unused for a long time. She'd had quite the sneezing fit a few minutes ago from the now disturbed dust in the air and her nose still prickled. She watched as General Une went over the rather impressive stock pile of guns and ammunition. Even as a Preventer, weapons made her nervous. She'd joined during peacetime and enjoyed the somewhat civilian-type work that was required as Une's assistant. Office work, mostly. She'd honestly never been in the armory in the two years she'd worked here and the room made her uneasy. She surveyed the rows of machine guns and high powered rifles mounted on the wall with metal racks. Cases of explosives were lined along the walls and stacked under assembly tables. Bare bulbs stuck out of the concrete walls, casting a sickly yellowish glow. Her stomach roiled queasily. "Billings!" She jumped, dropping the pen. It clattered onto the cement floor. Mumbling an apology, she bent down to retrieve it. She held the clipboard away from her body and rested her hand over it, pen poised. Une's brows lowered in disapproval. "Pay attention," she barked. She looked frazzled, her brown hair coming loose from their buns, falling across her face and neck in unruly wisps. The light reflected off the lenses of her glasses resulting in a glare, rendering her brown eyes almost invisible behind them. Her mouth was pursed, turned down in a perpetual frown that seemed to have become a permanent part of her expression since - well, since the murdered Gundam Pilots were discovered. Une had called her into her office a short time ago. Her voice, usually laden with authority, was shaken, a raspy whisper. Her face was ghostly white and Billings' stomach dropped to her feet when Une's eyes met hers. There was a fear there that Billings had never seen before and it terrified her. She had no idea what spooked the General so much that she needed to gather the attending Preventers and open the armory. Une hadn't said anything about it. Whatever the General saw, it must have been terrible. Billings trembled, her pen hand shaking over the clipboard as she jotted down quantities and the condition of each weapon. Dozens of Berettas and Brownings, Winchester assault rifles, M16's, L86's, and M249's were pulled down from their mounts, inspected, and loaded. Une rattled off the inventory in quick succession and Billings scribbled the information onto the sheet attached to the clipboard, trying to keep up. Boxes of shells were loaded into crates along with cases of dynamite, TNT, and hand grenades. Items that were obviously defective were discarded into a recycling bin to be inspected and/or disposed of later. Bullet-proof vests were handed out as well as helmets. While each Preventer was issued a Glock 9mm, and were given rifles to keep in their vehicles, they rarely carried more than that with them unless they were executing a raid. Une turned towards Billings, an M16 under her arm, and a thirty round magazine in her hand. She looked it over with a critical eye, then slapped the magazine into the weapon's hand grip, the loud click as it locked sparked a jolt of adrenaline through Billings and she shuddered. Une cocked the hammer to load the first round into the chamber, her sharp eyes locking with Billings as she held the weapon out towards the nervous woman. Billings groaned internally, dread seeping into her bones. She really didn't want to do this. Une instantly caught the uncertainty and thrust the weapon forward, her eyes firm, leaving Billings little choice but to take the weapon. "Take it. Billings..." "Yes, Sir," she mumbled. She transferred the pen in her right hand to her left and reached out shakily. Une pulled the weapon back abruptly. "Stop shaking. We are facing a world of shit, Billings. You are a Preventer. Act like it and pull yourself together." She held the gun out again. Billings visibly collected herself with a decisive nod and extended her hand, steadier this time. Her fingers wrapped around the body of the gun. The metal was cold, hard, unforgiving. She felt the press of her Glock in its holster, a weapon she carried, but never used, and grasped the M16, pulling it towards her body. Une nodded, satisfied. "Keep that one with you at all times." She grabbed a vest and handed it over. Billings set the clipboard and pen aside, propping the gun next to a crate. She slid the vest on and clasped the fasteners, then picked up the rifle and slipped the strap over her shoulder. Une slid her own vest on and fastened it, then leaned over to grab the clipboard and pen. She turned to the gathered Preventers who were occupying themselves with inspecting their weapons, checking the scopes, and loading themselves up with ammunition. Une tapped the clipboard against the edge of a nearby table, drawing their attention. "Alright, look. I don't really know what is happening, or what to expect. ESUN Headquarters was attacked -" She banged the clipboard against the table again as shocked murmurs rose among the collective. "There was an attack. I don't know how coordinated this attack was, or to what degree, but it looks as though there were mass casualties." Her voice rose as gasps and cries echoed around the armory. "What we do know, is that there may be an impending attack on us and we need to be prepared." "An attack by whom?" The question came from a young rookie, fresh out of the academy. He stood, fresh-faced and eager, not yet jaded by the world. He looked like a child with big ears that stuck way out from the sides of his head. He held his gun, hands wrapped around grip and barrel, muzzle pointed at the floor. It almost looked too big for him. Une regarded him a moment, trying to remember his name. Williams? Willard? "Wyatt," Billings whispered behind her, knowing Une well enough to figure out she was struggling with the kid's name. Right, Alistar Wyatt. Graduated from the academy only three months ago. Une cleared her throat, grappling for the most delicate way to explain. "I don't know." Well, at least it was honest. The boy's eyebrows disappeared beneath dark bangs. "Then - how do we know who the enemy is?" Une sighed, not sure how to proceed. She'd have to tell them the truth, no matter how outlandish it sounded. "Okay, I'll be straight with you. You all deserve that much. I don't know much of what's going on, but I've spoken to the Prime Minister and he believes this to be true and from what I've seen, I might be inclined to agree with him though I really don't know the depth of the situation." She glanced around the room, looking at each Preventer, was met with wide eyes and expectant faces. These were her coworkers, her underlings. She was responsible for the livelihood of these people. If an attack like the one at ESUN was impending, how many of them would survive? Would she survive? She certainly was no stranger to death. She'd looked it in the eyes enough times during the war. She was usually the aggressor in those situations. She'd put bullets into unarmed people's heads without a second thought. This was different. Now, she was the one being hunted. She was the one who was reacting instead of instigating. Unfamiliar territory, it was. Now, she stood before the people who looked to her for answers and what did she have for them? Ghosts? Demons? A whole lot of hocus pocus. But...she'd seen things she couldn't explain. Was Cambridge right? What did he know? How much did he know? He'd mentioned the end of the world, but Une couldn't go there. Not yet. It was too soon. They were still waiting. She took a moment to gain her composure, straightening, squaring her shoulders. A deep breath, hardened eyes, voice firm. Here goes nothing... "There's something strange going on. Something - something that I don't fully understand. Something that defies all logic and I'll be damned if I can figure out a rational explanation. It appears to be of supernatural origin but -" The armory erupted with sounds of disbelief, tittering. She heard Billings gasp behind her. "But! Even though there is no explanation that I can come up with right now, doesn't mean there isn't one." Her hawk eyes sharpened, brows drawn down severely, effectively quieting the derision. "Who the enemy is, I can't say, because I couldn't really seethem, but what I did see was the slaughter of dozens of innocent people and whatever it was that killed them, may be coming here to do the same." More whispers and questions followed, this time without disparagement, fear beginning to dawn. Une held up her hand and Billings reached for the file she'd set down on a crate. Une swiped the folder and opened it, rifling through the contents. She grasped a sheet of paper and held it up so everyone could see it. It was a photo of Heimlich Bensen. "One thing I do know for sure is that this man is dangerous. You see this man? You kill him on the spot. That's an order." "Isn't that the Surgeon General?" Another Preventer asked. A seasoned veteran that Une had worked closely with during the war. He stood with an elbow propped against the wall, fist pressed against the side of his head. The barrel of his rifle rested against his shoulder. Une nodded. "Yes, it is. Dr. Heimlich Bensen, the ESUN Surgeon General. As of right now, he, and anyone associated with him, is considered armed and extremely dangerous. He orchestrated the attack on ESUN." Billings swallowed down the iron lump of fear in her throat. "Wh - how? Why?" Une's head turned, her mouth twitched. "I'm not sure about that yet." She turned back to the group. "But I saw it. I saw him give the order. And Cambridge warned me about him." "So, we're supposed to kill the Surgeon General if we see him," Wyatt said. It wasn't a question, but a confirmation of what he'd just heard. He looked nervous about the prospect. He fiddled with his gun, hands twitching, eyes darting around. Billings felt sorry for the kid. He'd only just begun to shave, he was so young. She wondered if he would survive an attack if it happened. Kids like him tended to be reckless, prone to cockiness, which was a recipe for disaster when shit hit the fan. She was having doubts about her own survival. Lacking physical prowess, she was overweight, asthmatic, equipped for not much more than office work despite the fact that she always carried a piece. Une nodded at the rookie, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Yes, that's what you are ordered to do." The assembled Preventers shuffled on anxious feet. "You will not face any charges should you wind up being the one to pull the trigger. That I promise you." Not very reassuring, but there it was. Provided there would even be a standing government when this was all over, though if Cambridge was to be believed, would this ever be over? What did Bensen want exactly? What was his angle? "Sir?" Billings piped up. Une turned, waiting. "Would you mind telling us - about - y'know...what you saw?" The assistant chewed on a plump bottom lip, eyes beseeching her boss to share everything she knew. Une's eyes narrowed slightly, contemplating. She looked around at her small congregation, her family, almost unable to believe what she was about to do. She bent down to retrieve her rifle, slinging it over her shoulder. "Bring all this upstairs and put it in the back offices. Lock this door when you're finished." Her arm swung towards the armory door, index finger pointed, then turned back to Billings. "I'll do you one better. I'll show you. Just try not to faint."
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