Written by Talon Harvilicz
Chapter Thirteen: Children of War
A dry wind hit the air at the site of the battlefield, blowing the weak patches of grass that sat in certain spots. But the site was mostly dirt, dry endless spread of land, accompanied by a few mounds.
The group of Thirds made their way down, the uncaring wind hitting their artificial skin, letting them feel the awful ambient. They hid their fears. The enemy they were going to face with wouldn't see any fear, because they didn't know fear. They were war robots, not like loving Thirds like them. That's what made Thirds so different, they were so human, made to replace humans.
They could see the army approaching. There were many soldier robots, and even robotic tanks. They meant business, because they were programed by humans to hate for them. Four Thirds, armed with rifles, against a thousand or so war robots. It was unfair, but there was no other way. They were the Thirds' last hope.
"Let's go," was the encouraging voice of Quatre, also, perhaps the famous last words. "We die fighting or slaughtered by humans with no word to say. Either way, I trust you and love you all."
"Here, here," Duo said. "Now or never huh?"
"Survival of the fittest," Heero said. "It's for our kind. Let's earn the right to live. I may or may not see Relena again."
With their wings extended, Quatre having the longest wingspan, they made their way from a dipping mount to the field. The war was on. Duo and Heero immediately took flight. Quatre and Trowa ran into the fire, dodging enemy fire, shooting back. The two Thirds in the sky sped over the army, firing down, taking out a few robots, letting them collapse down to the dusty ground.
Quatre bared down the firepower coming at his legs, and took aim. He fired over and over.
The election was soon, and Une winning by a landslide was a lucky shot. The crowd cheered her on as she was paraded along the streets in a car. Her face carried no worries as she moved along, waving back at them.
Duo dodged a shot from below, he rolled in midair, then fired back down. Heero and Duo crisscrossed, returning fire, taking a few robots out with their accurate aim. Trowa neglected to use his wings, letting them flap limp against his back, concentrating on the enemy, while Quatre used his once in the while, keeping on land most of the time. He leapt with agility, crashing down on a few robots, and fired down on a few nearby ones. They couldn't rest. They couldn't let their guard down. All they could do was keep firing and hope for a miracle.
"We suffer as badly as you humans," the Chinese designed Third, Wufei said on the video monitor mounted for the city's public. He attracted the crowd's attention, even Une. They studied him, some with tears in their eyes. "But we suffer worse. When we die, no one mourns. You humans don't care about us, all you know is that we're machines. You think that we're dead, lifeless machines. But would the same lifeless machines be fighting for their lives, like these four Thirds? Look at them! Look! Look how they're suffering!"
The image of the monitor changed to the action in the battlefield. There was a countless amount of soldier robots, setting their sites on four Thirds with wings, two different. Two in the air fought ferociously, firing and twisting gracefully to avoid being killed. But one was hit, the Third Heero. He was shot twice, sending him spiraling to the ground. He slammed into a dirt mound, sliding down on his chest halfway down.
The other, dressed in black with batwing wings twisted around and fired. He soon, too was shot in the back. His rifle dropped out of his hand, and the body dropped into the base of a mound, near where the other fell.
The two others were left, Quatre, and another taller one. The taller one was forced back by the marching army of war robots. Quatre, now airborne soared at the army. Dipping low, he fired. He swiftly soared past as two robots exploded. Quatre turned around to join his other Third companion, firing his way towards him.
Une watched. The way they were fighting had heart to it, a will to live, the way a human would. She glanced around the crowd. They were watching. She saw a woman holding an infant, with tears in her eyes. She shielded her child's eyes, and put her head against it. Une looked at the monitor screen again.
Quatre was back on the ground, taking heavy shots. Une's eyes turned glassy while watching. He collapsed to his knees. He had no more strength to fight back. His only defense was his tall companion. The taller one moved closer, aiming, and weak.
They're children, Une said to herself. They're just children.
It had to stop. They were going to die if she didn't do anything about this. They were only children fighting in a lone war.
"No!" she shouted and leapt out from the car. She ran down the street, crying: "Stop! Stop it! They're children! They're only children! Stop! Call them off!"
It was over. Calmness returned to Quatre as his final repairs were made. He laid on a table, and looked to his right to see Trowa look at him the same way. Then he hear laughter. Curious, Quatre sat up and looked to see what it was. He saw Duo looking at his reflection. He was all repair, but that wasn't the source of his laughter. He was touching the side of his face where there was raw metal. But it was no longer there. There was artificial skin over it, masking the damage he had over the years. He looked brand new, and beautiful.
Quatre smiled.
If you believe in happy endings, this was for you. But not all can be happy endngs. I know that. Like in all stories, there has to be a tragedy. Right now, this part in my life turned out to be a happy ending. There are other stories, but let me tell you about this one instead. We all turned out fine, the Thirds that is. No more Thirds were being manufactured in great numbers. It dwindled after the short war. I guess humans began to realize in order to stop making Thirds suffer was to let less suffer. A lot of Thirds were treated with some respect after that. So did my friends and I. Heero was reunited with Relena, a little traumatized, but fine. Duo spent a lot of time with Hilde, acting like two dating human teenagers. It's funny, really. Duo has become my roommate, much to his liking. Wufei remained hidden from sight to hide his damaged frame, even rejecting help from my father. But we thanked him anyway. If it weren't for him, Une would have never seen the pain of T!
hirds. And Trowa, well, he's quit being a detective. He became an agent for the Crimal Justice Bureau, and he's now my partner. He's a Third again. We get a lot of attention from the people at the office. It's amusing to me.
Life is a litte easier. Not fully like I wish, but it's as good as it gets. I'm happy. My friends are happy. And perhaps, Une is more aware that Thirds are more human than she thought. She did win the election, but now with different intentions.
This story ends here at a happy ending. I am Quatre Raberba Winner, a Third.
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