Truth Or Consequence [Prelude: The Children Of Fate]

[Leia Avenrose]

Disclaimer: I don't own anything of or from Gundam Wing?...
Dedication: To all whom believed...


Truth Or Consequence
By: Lynzi Knight
Rating: R
Prelude: The Children Of Fate

The moon was full, high, and bright as the dark, full clouds rolled into the sky. They bunched together like packed sardines. A low rumbling far off in the distance slowly made its way towards the lit and bustling city. Rain began to beat down from the clouds overhead, soaking everything and everyone in its way. The small child suddenly let out a frightened yowl as bright lightning filled the sky. The hooded figure looked down. A sad smile slid onto its lips and the baby wailed again. The hooded figure reached out with a tattooed hand and gently brushed aside some of the dark brown curls from its eyes. The baby cooed and then reached up to grasp the hooded figure's finger in its tiny grasp. The hooded figure shook her head and blinked back the sudden tears that flooded her pale blue eyes at the unexpected innocent gesture.

?I'm sorry, little one. There's nothing I can do for you. You have to go or you'll endanger us all.? She began to run down the alley, clutching the infant to her chest. What will I tell him? How will I tell him? She ran, blinded by tears and rain mingled together as one.

The baby peered up at her with intense dark blue eyes. Arilyn Benton sniffled lightly as she continued to run. ?I have to do this, Corey. I'm sorry.? She spoke to her child as she ran. ?I don't think I would want your future to be ruined if you stayed with us any longer. Your future already speaks for itself. With the tattoo on your right palm, I'm sure anyone would recognize you right off the hop. You'd be the death of the world.?

The baby giggled as if he thought what she just said was hilarious to him. Arilyn sighed in melancholy and continued to run. She passed a corner and her leg caught on something hard. There was the snap of bone, followed by her shout of pain, then a thud on the ground. As Arilyn fell, she swiftly twisted her body around so she would land on her back, cushioning the fall for her child. She grimaced deeply as the back of her head connected with the hard pavement and then bounced off, only to repeat it again. Arilyn lay there for a few moments; her mouth open in surprise and her eyes open, staring up at the dark sky. She blinked and felt a cool breeze caress her right cheek. She shook her head and swallowed thickly as she sat up slowly.

?It has come. No,? she whispered hoarsely. ?No! You can't have the child. He is mine!?

Corey giggled again and then let out a wail as he felt the rain pelt down onto his small, chubby face. Arilyn reached down and reaffixed the tiny hood onto his head. Upon hearing a slight whisper along the air, her head shot up and she scanned the darkened alley. Seeing no one of any threat, she backed up against a brick wall and then slowly made her way by using the wall for support. But why did it feel like there was someone there, watching her from the shadows, staring at her as she tried to protect her baby; the child of fate, from the one who end up using him for the wrong thing?

Fate can be so cruel to one little child, Arilyn thought in bitter resentment.

She peered down at her injured leg and winced as she rested her foot on the ground. Pain shot up her limb and through her body, straight to her head. Spots of different colors danced in front of her eyes and she shook her head to clear it. She bit her lip against the pain in her leg and she began to hobble towards the brightly lit building across the alley. Corey began to whine lightly and she tried to rock him gently. It was no use. He was hungry. After his birth Arilyn had had to get him and herself out of there before anyone had known that she had had him. His father, Daniel Benton, was out searching for them right now, but she didn't care. She had to follow her instincts on this one. She had to make such that Corey made it out alive.

If Daniel had gotten hold of Corey, who knows what he would do. Corey was the key to fate and always would be, for as long as he was alive. Arilyn whimpered slightly as she applied more weight to her leg. Corey was strangely silent in her arms and she peered down at him to find him fast asleep. She smiled lightly at the serene expression on his handsome face and then cradled him to her. Knowing this would be the very last time she would ever hold something as precious as him to her body.

Only he can fix it all, make it all right. He has to stay hidden for as long as he has too. If Daniel got a hold of him ?she shuddered at the thought? then he'd use Corey to fulfill fate's request.

Arilyn shook her head firmly and then shifted Corey to the side of her other arm. With her free arm she rapped on the large metal door loudly. Corey didn't awaken and she sighed her relief. She blinked and suddenly felt her eyes drooping. The drugs that must?ve been in her warm milk were catching up to her. The door suddenly swung open and a short man with pure white medium length hair that was slicked back stood there looking at her.

His round little black goggles reflected the light from the inside and he frowned deeply as he peered at her, the sides of his face shadowed. ?Arilyn! What on earth brings you here?? He ushered her into the main hall.

Arilyn smiled weakly at him and blinked, trying to force her eyes open, but it was no use. She thrust Corey clumsily into Dr. J's arms just before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell to the ground. Dr. J blinked down at the sleeping bundle in his arms to find a little boy with curly dark brown hair.

Dr. J looked over at the woman on the ground and shook his head sadly. He knew his place now. ?I will look after him for you, Arilyn. He'll grow up to become a strong healthy pilot for the Alliance. I'm not sure what we will call him though, but I'm sure you have a reason for bringing him to me like this.? He reached down and lifted up Corey's small right hand.

He flipped it over and uncurled the small fingers slowly to reveal the tattoo. His eyes went wide and he stood there speechless. A servant with brown hair pulled back in a tight bun looked at him and then at the woman.

She gasped and rushed over to her. Dr. J shook his head.

?She?s gone.?

?Are you sure?? The woman looked at him in skepticism.

?Yeah. She brought someone to me. I owed her a favor?a big one.?

?What's that??

?Her baby. But she never told me his name, so I'm a little stumped on names.?

She giggled lightly and reached out to finger the little brown curls. She cocked her head to the side as if completely lost in the child's face. ?How about Tyler?Tyler O?Donnell??

Dr. J lifted an eyebrow and then nodded, a thought coming to mind. ?Well thought of, Mandy.?

Mandy Carlson beamed. ?Thank you, Dr. J.?

So the child of fate is now called Tyler O'Donnell. Rather strange amalgamation if you ask me, he thought, turning. He left Mandy standing there looking down at Arilyn's body. The tattoo. His mother has the same one, on the same hand.

Mandy looked down at Arilyn's body. A small frown twisted her small crimson colored lips as she then turned and left the doctor with the child and the mother. She had to call the morgue and that?s what she was going to do.

To Be Continued??

[goddesswing]

Mystery, mystery!! Ooooo....

+::goddesswing::+