Before Heliopolis: A GUNDAM SEED Fanfic

Chapter 7: Yzak

“You can do better. Do it again.” The instructor's tone was brusque and businesslike as he surveyed my recent OS programming attempt. This class was not my strong point, and it was the one subject that Dearka always beat me in, the bastard. I frowned and tried again, attempting to program the quasi-cortex molecular ion pumps of the mobile suit that stood in front of me. It was only a Zaku, standard ZAFT issue, so I should have been able to program it with ease.

“Need a hand with that?” Next to me, Dearka's smirk was arrogant. He knew how much I hated OS programming, and liked to constantly rub it in.

“Shut it,” I replied, narrowing my eyes at the screen. I couldn't find the mistake in my programming, so it must have been minor, but a minor detail can prove a huge problem in OS programming. I scrolled through the lines of numbers, words and letters, trying to find the irregularity in the pattern. Then I heard a voice from behind me.

“The mistake is in your second line. You got the connection sequence wrong.” Turning, I was surprised and annoyed to find that the voice belonged to Nicol Amalfi. Scowling, I glanced at the screen and realised he was right. Beside me, Dearka chuckled.

I glared at Nicol. “What are you helping me for?” I asked suspiciously.

He shrugged. “You looked like you could use the help.” And with that, he turned and continued on his way. I really hate that kid.

Turning from my screen, I noticed a mobile suit in the hanger that I had never seen before. It was a standard Zaku, but it was bright orange in colour, unlike the standard white or green of other ZAFT mobile suits. It also had weapons attached to it that I had never seen on a Zaku before, massive artillery machine guns and a positron rifle. I looked up at it in awe. Who piloted that thing?

“Pretty impressive, huh?” Dearka was every bit as awed as I was. “I saw them fly it in this morning. It belongs to Lieutenant Westumfluss.” I remembered him. Hard to forget a guy like that. Heine Westumfluss had been a few years above us when we started at the academy, and had gained the rank of lieutenant almost immediately after graduating. He was one impressive person, so I wasn't surprised to find that he owned such and impressive mobile suit. I hope I get one like that when I graduate.

I'd never really considered doing anything other than becoming a soldier. My father had died serving as a soldier on earth just before the Bloody Valentine tragedy occurred. My mother was military too, an advisor to the chairman, in fact. So what other career could their son choose? I was always told that I would make a good soldier, so that's what I'm doing. I'm becoming one.

“So,” Dearka began as we left the hanger, “who do you reckon they'll pick for Le Creuset's team?”

I thought for a moment, before replying, “Well, Athrun obviously. You and me most likely, we're top of the class in pretty much everything. Rusty, probably, and Miguel too. Ummmm.... I dunno who else.”

“And the Amalfi kid?”

“What about him?”

“Well, do you think he'll get in?” Dearka asked.

“Him?” I almost laughed. “No way. Le Creuset doesn't pick cowardly softies like that freakin' piano player. He picks the best.”

“And would the best include us?” Dearka asked, laughing.

I smirked. “Definitely.”