Honor and Justice

Chapter 13

By Aryn

Wufei sat down quietly next to Mei as she stared out the window on the shuttle. She was deep in thought and Wufei noticed the concern written all over her face. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but didn't want to interrupt her thoughts. So he did the next best thing, he coughed.

"What?" Mei asked, turning to face him.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"As all right as a wounded mother can be with a mad-man after her child." she responded, looking back out the window. "I feel so helpless."

"I told you, the Winner's are hidden with an army around them. No one is going to get Hana." he told her. He laid a hand on top of hers and gently squeezed. "Trust me."

Mei looked up at him, staring into his black eyes. For the first time, she noticed that they held some kind of warmth towards her. But yet, there was something else there too.

"I do." she replied, squeezing his hand back.

"Good." he replied, letting go of her hand and settling into his seat for the trip. Mei watched as Wufei closed his eyes and started to drift off to sleep. Frustrated with herself, she turned back to the window and continued to stare at the stars. Frustrated tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she quickly pushed them back. Was she seeing these things because she was looking so closely? Or was he feeling the same things as her and just ignoring them? She shook her head in confusion. Why did the man she had fallen so desperately in love with, always refuse to show his feelings to her? Maybe it was because he didn't feel the same as her, and she was just seeing things. Reaching for a hope that would always remain out of reach.

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Noin looked around the conference table once more. She was happy to see everyone gathered despite the circumstances. The Winner's had met Wufei and Mei at the station with a very excited Hana, who was presently taking a nap. Duo was happily looking around, obviously pleased to see everyone was there and playfully nudging Nari's elbow with a pen. She tried her best to ignore him as she attempted to tell a very weary looking Mei about some things that Hana had done. Quatre was adding some details of his own as well. Trowa sent Duo a death glare, which stopped the Shinigami from his poking game. Heero was silent as ever and Arys was listening to Quatre and Nari. Wufei just sat back, off in his own little world.

"Well, let's get this meeting under way." Noin said, gently interrupting the stories. But before she could start, the door opened and another person walked in, taking a seat next to Noin. Mei leaned over to the still thoughtful Wufei and whispered, "Who's that?"

"Zechs Marquise." he answered.

"That doesn't help me." she responded.

"Noin's husband."

Mei nodded her head.

"Okay, there is a fairly large group of mobile suits on their way to this bunker and an assault carrier out at sea. We also believe that there is a remaining group of mobile suits located to the west. Heero and Arys, you will be sent to deal with the assault carrier. Wufei and Trowa, take up the shore line, Quatre-"

"I'll take the bunker." he finished.

Noin nodded her head. She figured he would take up that position since Nari would be inside, monitoring the battle. "Zechs, I want you out in the west in case those mobile suits decide to grace us with their presence."

Mei looked around and noticed that everyone had been given orders except for her. "Noin, what about me?" she asked.

Everyone turned and looked at her in mild surprise.

"Do you know how to pilot a mobile suit?" Noin asked.

"I've never actually piloted, but I know the basics." Mei answered.

"You are in no condition to fight." Wufei spoke up from her side.

"Excuse me?" Mei responded, turning to face him.

"Oh boy, here it comes." Zechs muttered, but quickly became quiet when Noin shot him a warning glance.

"You are wounded and don't know how to pilot a mobile suit." Wufei expounded.

"I can speak for myself, thank you." Mei shot back shortly.

"I don't want you out there fighting." Wufei told her bluntly.

"I really don't care what you think about this." Mei told him lowly before turning back around to Noin. "If you can run over the details of flying a mobile suit with me, I can take up a position on the beach with the Altron and Trowa can help defend the bunker with Quatre."

Noin regarded the young woman for a heartbeat. It took a lot to stand up to Wufei the way she did but it usually took a little more than that to shut him up. But with one look at the seething pilot, Noin knew Mei was right. Quatre would need extra help at the bunker.

"Okay, we'll go right after the meeting and I'll run over the things you need to know." Noin agreed. "Nari is going to be the controller, if something unexpected comes up, listen to her for new orders. She'll keep you updated on the events if the need should arise. Any questions?"

Everyone remained quiet.

"Okay, we're out of here within the hour." Noin dismissed the group. Wufei was already halfway down the hall before Noin finished the sentence. Everyone else just quietly got to their feet and went their separate ways. Mei stayed seated, oblivious to the stares that she received from the retreating pilots. Noin nodded briefly to Zechs, who had stayed behind as well, and with a gentle squeeze on her shoulder, he left as well.

"Mei, are you all right?" Noin asked with concern.

"Yes, why?" Mei answered, bringing herself back from her thoughts.

"What happened between you and Wufei?"

Mei gave Noin a hard look to see if the older woman was prying or just truly concerned about the situation. Finally, Mei softened and looked down at her folded hands on the table. "I wish I knew."

Noin smiled knowingly. "I know Wufei is a hard case. I've had to work with him for four years now. He's not exactly the easiest person to get along with. But there are very few people out there, especially women, that he goes out of his way for. I don't know what you did to make it into that select few, but he considers you an equal."

"Is that why he treated me like a child just now?" Mei asked.

"You don't think he cares for you, do you?" Noin realized.

"He cares for Hana, and for that I'm thankful. But I do not believe he feels anything for me."

"Then why would he feel so strongly against you fighting in this battle if he didn't feel anything for you. I have never heard him stand up for any of the other pilots. You're a very special person in his eyes. And that scares him."

"Scares him?" Mei asked, looking up from the table and at Noin.

"He sees that he's missing something. Something that you give him."

"What's that? Worry and trouble?"

"No." Noin shook her head. "You fill a void in his heart. Just as he fills one in yours."

Mei allowed a small smile to creep across her face. "I wish you were right Lucrezia Noin."

"You'll see. I'm usually right." Noin smiled back. "Come on, I need to show you a Taurus suit."

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Hana wandered out into the hallway outside her quarters, looking for her mother. She knew not to go too far, so she just stayed within the vicinity of a few feet of the door. Duo came around the corner and saw the little girl looking expectantly at him.

"Hey squirt." he said leaning down to get on eye level with her. She giggled at his nickname for her.

"Hi. Is Mommy coming?" she asked hopefully.

"You know what, your Mom is in the hanger with Miss Noin. Do you want to go see her?" he asked.

Hana enthusiastically nodded her head.

"Okay. Let's go." Duo said standing up. He was going to hold out his hand to her, but she had already found something to hang onto-the end of his braid. Laughing to himself, he let her following him to the hanger, hanging onto his hair.

"What's Mommy doing with Miss Noin?"

"She learning how to pilot a mobile suit." Duo answered.

"Mobile suit?" Hana repeated slowly, trying to get the pronunciation right.

"That's right." Duo said, "A mobile suit."

"Mobile suit." Hana said, more sure of herself that time.

"Now, can you say Deathscthye?"

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Quatre slowly put his Preventer's jacket on and zipped it halfway. Nari leaned against the doorframe of the bedroom, his goggles in her hands. This was the first battle that they had to go through since they had been married. Knowing that Nari would be in the bunker and not out in the fight made Quatre feel better, but he could see the worry and dread already in his wife's eyes.

"Don't forget these." she said, handing him his goggles. Smiling sadly, he took them from her and put them on top of his head. Nari smiled a sad smile as she watched his blonde hair fall back down over his forehead. Quatre slipped an arm around her waist and drew her close to him.

"You're the first one I want to see when this battle is done." he quietly told her, smiling slightly.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." she replied before Quatre kissed her tenderly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting to let him go. But she knew he had to. This was what being a Gundam pilot was all about. Watching a loved one go into battle, hoping they come back to you. Quatre stepped back slightly, holding her face gently between his hands.

"I love you."

"I love you too." she answered, fighting back tears. He kissed her briefly again before hugging her close next to him. He reluctantly let go of her when a knock came from their door.

"Come in." he called. Trowa opened the door and looked cautiously into the room.

"Is it safe?" he asked.

"Perfectly." Nari answered, smiling.

"Are you ready?" Trowa asked Quatre.

"Yes, I am." Quatre replied.

Nari walked over to Trowa and gave him a hug. "You come back safe and sound too." she told him.

"I will." he promised.

Nari watched as the two boys walked down the hall towards the hanger for last minute adjustments on their Gundams before heading to the control room where she would take up her battle position. Quatre turned around and gave her one last final smile before heading around the corner.

_____________________________

Arys wiped the grease off her hands and stared up at the Archangel. All the final adjustments had been made and the Gundam was ready for battle. She glanced over at the Zero and saw Heero was making his way over to her. She hated these times when the good-byes before a battle had to be said. But she had a good feeling about this battle. No lives were going to be lost. At least not Heero's or hers.

Heero put an arm around his wife's waist and kissed her on the cheek. She turned and smiled at him, and leaned her head against his shoulder. Then, Arys felt a small hand tugging on her shirt. It was Hana. Arys stepped away from Heero and bent down to come down to the little girl's level. Hana was beckoning her closer with one tiny finger. Arys had to grin; she wondered what Hana wanted to tell her. Hana cupped her hands around Arys' ear and whispered something that made a delighted grin bloom onto Arys' face. Heero looked down at them suspiciously. Whenever Arys grinned like that, he knew trouble was brewing.

Arys glanced up at Heero and then back at Hana. "I don't know, Hana. Why don't you ask him?"

Hana looked up at Heero shyly. Arys stood to her feet and stepped away to watch what would happen next. Heero's eyes softened slightly when he saw the girlish face staring up at him, but his face remained stoic.

Hana finally stepped forward and gave Heero a hesitant grin. "Can I have a kiss too?"

Heero was so shocked that his first response was a gruff "Why?"

Hana's grin faded and she gave Arys a helpless look. Arys nodded, encouraging the girl to continue. A cheeky grin split her face. "Cuz I think you're handsome."

Arys crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide the laugh threatening to bubble up when she saw the astonishment on Heero's face. She coughed. "You have good taste in men, Hana."

Heero stared at Hana for a few moments and then a rare smile lit Heero's eyes. He bent down to pick up Hana. He balanced her easily on one hip. Arys was surprised at the ease with which he handled the child. Heero glanced at Arys and then back at the child he was holding.

"You think I'm handsome, Hana?" Heero questioned the child teasingly.

Hana nodded, shy once again.

Heero bounced her once, getting a firmer grip around her. "Well, not many women tell me that, so I guess I can give you a kiss."

"What?"

Heero ignored Arys' retort.

Hana smiled brightly. "Really? You'll do it?"

Heero replied by kissing her on the cheek. Hana's grin threatened to split her face in two as Heero pulled away.

Hana giggled. "Duo said you wouldn't." Hana stretched upwards and planted a kiss on Heero's cheek and then wriggled to release herself from Heero's grasp. Heero placed her carefully back on firm ground, and Hana laughed up at him. "I said you would." She ran off, yelling as she did so. "Duo, you have to give me ice cream now!"

Heero stared after the girl, a million thoughts whirling through his mind as he watched her. Children. Would he and Arys ever have them? He didn't know. They were still so young themselves, barely into their twenties. He jumped a little when he felt Arys slip an arm around his waist. He turned to look down at his wife.

"I should have known Duo was behind this," He said threateningly. But his eyes said that he was glad that the little girl had come to him.

"Sounds like him." Arys swatted Heero on the arm. "And what was that about not many women telling you that you're handsome?"

"It's true. You're the only one who tells me that I'm handsome. And you're not just any woman; you're my wife."

Arys touched a hand to his face, her gaze loving. "And your wife has a very handsome husband."

"I like the way you think, Arys Yuy," Heero said as he kissed her on the lips.

____________________________

"Well, that's about it Mei." Noin said. Mei sat back in the chair in the cockpit of the Taurus suit, letting go of the control sticks.

"Easy enough." Mei answered.

"Do you honestly think that you can pilot this in a battle?" Noin asked seriously.

Mei looked around the cockpit, taking everything in. "Yes, I can do this."

Noin saw the determination in the girl's eyes and knew that she would be able to handle this.

"Mommy!" a little voice called from the ground.

Mei looked down from machine to see Hana happily waving in Duo's arms. Mei waved back before turning around to Noin again.

"Noin, will you take care of Hana during the battle?"

"She'll stay with me in the center of the bunker with Nari and the control room. It's the safest place." Noin promised.

"Thank you." Mei said, getting out of the mobile suit. "I'll get changed and be back in a few minutes."

"This will be waiting for you." Noin told her, patting the mobile suit.

Mei dropped to the ground and took the squirming Hana from Duo.

"Thanks." she said.

"No prob." he answered, before moving off to his Deathscythe.

"What are you doing here, Hana?" Mei asked, carrying the girl back to their quarters.

"I didn't want you leave without saying good-bye." she answered truthfully.

"Hana, I would never leave without saying good-bye to you." Mei said, hugging Hana.

"Daddy left without saying good-bye."

Mei stopped in her tracks, fighting back tears and shock. "Daddy did say good-bye."

"He said 'I love you'. He didn't say good-bye."

Mei found herself shaking with emotion that she was trying to control.

"Sometimes, I love you can be used as a goodbye." she explained, trying to hide her quavering voice.

"Oh. Okay." Hana said.

"Mei." Noin called from down the hallway.

"Yes?" Mei stopped where she was.

"I'll take Hana now, because there is a certain person that is looking for you, and he's not too happy." Noin told her.

"Okay. Well, Hana, you need to go with Miss Noin. Listen to her, be good, and I'll see you later." Mei said, kissing the girl on the cheek.

"Yes Mommy." Hana said, kissing her mother on the cheek before taking Noin's hand. Mei went to walk into her quarters when Hana's voice from down the hall stopped her.

"Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"I love you." "I love you too." Mei answered, barely getting the words out. She watched as her daughter walked away with Noin, praying and hoping that she would return to her.

"Mei!" an angry voice called from down the hall, disrupting her thoughts.

"Oh no." Mei muttered, stepping into her room.

Wufei knocked on the door and then opened it, not waiting for the usual answer. Mei was busy strapping her guns around her waist and thigh that she didn't even notice his rude entry.

"Where's Hana?" he asked.

"She's with Noin. Safe and sound, don't worry." Mei replied, trying to hide her bitter tone.

"Why you?" he pressed.

"Why not?" she answered, anger showing her voice.

"You don't even know how to fly a mobile suit!" Wufei accused.

"I've been taught. I can pilot a mobile suit."

"But you can't pilot it in a battle."

"Watch me Wufei." she challenged.

"I don't want you going." he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Tough."

"That's the saddest reply I've ever heard." Wufei said with a shake of his head.

"You want to hear something sad. I'll tell you." Mei said, her eyes softening a bit. "I met this great guy. He had a high moral code, a wonderful heart and only wants to do right. And what's more is, he loves my child and she loves him."

Wufei was taken slightly aback by the change in her demeanor. She practically in tears now. He knew she was referring to him, and she was right in everything she had said.

"So what is so sad about that?" he asked softly.

Mei just shrugged her shoulders. "He doesn't love me."

Wufei just stared at her in shocked silence. He dropped his crossed arms and they hung limply by his side. Had he really been that neglectful of her to make her think such a thing? Mei decided to take his shock as an advantage and brushed past him, heading for the door. But Wufei came to his senses just as she walked by him. Instinctively, he reached and grabbed her by the elbow.

"Let me go Wufei." she quietly said, not looking back at him.

"That's not true." he told her.

"Please, don't say things that you don't mean."

"And when have I ever said anything that I didn't mean, woman." he said, his frustration making itself known. He pulled her around to face him and she reluctantly looked up at him.

"I mean every word I say to you." he told her, softening his voice. "Ling Mei, wo ai ni."

He leaned down and gently kissed her. Mei fought back a sob of relief and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. When he broke the kiss, she rested her head against the side of his and hugged him tightly.

"Wo ai ni Chang Wufei." she whispered in his ear.

"Come back to me." he said, holding her tightly.

"I promise."

____________________________________

Mei pulled the safety straps around her and clicked them into place. She let her hands hover over the controls briefly before finally taking a firm grip on the controls. It was now or never. She closed her eyes briefly and allowed herself to relish the memory of only minutes previous. She had felt so safe his arms, she would have promised to fly to the moon and back without a mobile suit. She only hoped that she would be able to keep the promise she had made to Wufei. Opening her eyes, she made up her mind to keep her promise no matter what happened in the coming battle.

The Taurus suit moved forward and Mei could feel the power underneath her frail hands. She had to stay alive. No, she would stay alive.

___________________________________

Three Leos landed in front of the Deathscythe. Duo eyed them with disgust. Leos! Those things were older than dirt!

Duo pulled back on his flightstick, and the Deathscythe raised its energy blade high above its head. Time to pull his favorite trick. Duo touched a button to unfold the Deathscythe's black wings.

The three Leos backed away slightly, the pilots a little put off by the Deathscythe's threatening appearance.

Duo grinned wickedly. "Oh, you think that's scary, huh? Well, get a load of this!"

Duo pulled back on his flightstick again and flicked a button. The Deathscythe leaped high into the air, framed by the sun overhead. The Leo pilots snapped out of their stupor and shot at the Gundam, but the Deathscythe swiped the bullets away easily with its energy blade. As soon as it hit the ground, the Deathscythe arced around with its curved energy blade to slice the three Leos into halves with one swing.

The Leos fell to pieces in front of the Deathscythe, and Duo sat back for a few moments to rub his hands together in satisfaction.

"I love that move!" He said as he turned the Deathscythe away from the dying Leos to take on two Virgos converging on his position.

"Dolls! Soon to be headless dolls!" Duo met them fearlessly, raising his scythe again for another multiple kill.

_______________________

"Duo's having too much fun, Heero." Arys looked down at her husband's image on the comm screen in front of her. The comm system was set to transmit at all times so they both could hear Duo's mutterings to himself. The Zero flew along beside the Archangel, their wings both spread close to the back for atmospheric travel. They were heading for the sea where Noin had reported that two assault carriers were on course for the shoreline.

"He always does," Heero said as he reached off-screen. "Are you going to use the Zero System, Arys?"

A memory flickered through Arys' mind when she heard his question. He had once asked her that question a long time ago, when he had tried to kill her. Arys shook her head. This battle was bringing up too many memories. They had been sent to patrol the shoreline, the same shoreline where she had almost died a few years before.

"Don't even think of trying to self-destruct, Arys."

Arys grinned. "Wouldn't even think of it, Yuy. Who'd keep Duo away from you?"

Heero rolled his eyes. "I don't even want to think about that." He searched her eyes again. "You never answered my question, Arys. Are you going to use the Zero System?"

The smile faded from her face. "Yes, Heero. I think we're going to have to use it."

"Whatever happens, love, we'll face it together."

Arys gave her husband a tender look. "I know, Heero. That's the only reason I have the courage to use the system again."

"Yours forever, Arys," Heero said before focusing his attention on the approaching enemy. It was their battlecry, and Arys loved him for it.

"Yours forever."

___________________________

Quatre and Trowa were teamed up near the bunker housing their base. Quatre had requested that position due to the fact that his wife was in the bunker with Noin, Sally, and Hana. Trowa had volunteered to go with Quatre and Quatre was glad for it. They were being overwhelmed by mobile dolls and Quatre would never have been able to take on so many by himself. In fact, they could have used Wufei's help as well, but Quatre had no idea where the Chinese pilot was.

"Trowa, do you have a signature on Wufei?" Quatre keyed the comm for suit to suit transmission. He was tempted to turn off the open comm frequency. The chatter over the radio was beginning to grate on his nerves.

"He's battling one suit on the other side of the kingdom. Looks like a one on one to me."

Quatre sighed. "We sure could use the Altron right now."

"Yeah."

Suddenly, the flow of mobile dolls stopped and Quatre sliced a remaining three in half with his scimitars. "What happened?" He asked as Trowa blasted two more dolls with his machine cannons.

"Arys and Heero. The reinforcements were coming in from the sea in the form of Virgo assault carriers. The carriers have been destroyed."

Quatre smiled. "Good job, you two."

"I need one of you to help me out over here." Zechs' voice came in over the comm, filling Quatre's and Trowa's cockpits. "I've found a contingent of mobile suits hiding out in the west. There's at least twenty of them. One of you could make it to my position in about five minutes."

"I'll go." Trowa's voice was quiet, as always.

"Be careful, Trowa."

"I will."

Quatre watched as the Heavyarms plodded away into the trees. That left him as the lone guard of the bunker. He hoped that no more mobile dolls decided to come his way.

_________________________

"So, the pony-tailed brat wants to take me on, does he?" Shen's voice was taunting, angering Wufei.

"This guy's no Treize. He deserves to die dishonorably," Wufei muttered, glaring at the Mercurius-style mobile suit standing a few hundred feet away from his Altron. The Altron swung its beam glaive at Shen's mobile suit. "Can you put action to your tone, Shen?"

"At your request, Wufei Chang." Shen activated his planetary defensors and gave Wufei a snide grin over the comm screen. "Come and get me."

Wufei snorted. "Coward." The Altron shot forward, clashing against the mobile suit's shield spheres with its beam glaive.

"Come now, Wufei. Surely, the man who has captured the beautiful Mei Ling's heart can do better than that!"

"Shut up!" Wufei yelled as he had the Altron step back.

"Ah, he doesn't deny it."

"I said, shut up!" The Altron raised its dragon arms, ready to fry the enemy mobile suit.

"You don't know Mei Ling like I do, Wufei. She'll do anything to protect her daughter. And even now, there are three squads of mobile dolls heading directly for the bunker. There's only one Gundam left there and I happen to know that it belongs to Quatre Winner. Mei will sacrifice herself to save Hana. You've lost, Wufei. Lost the battle, lost Mei, lost everythin..."

"Are you deaf? I told you to shut up!" Wufei let loose a shower of flame from one dragon arm that took out the planetary defensors. Then, he dove in with his beam glaive and drove it straight through the mobile suit's weapons arm, cutting it off cleanly at the elbow.

Shen's mobile suit stumbled back, the wiring in its arm crackling with electricity. The man inside the cockpit still had that smug look on his face.

"You can kill me, Wufei, but killing me won't save Mei." Then, Shen began to laugh insanely.

Wufei ignored Shen's words and drilled his beam glaive through the cockpit. Shen's face disappeared off the comm screen in a blur of static. Wufei bowed his head as he pulled the beam glaive out of the fallen mobile suit. His black eyes were still filled with rage.

"I told you to shut up."

_______________________

Mei followed the squads of mobile dolls heading for the bunker. Her mind was locked in battle mode. She saw Sandrock standing on the ground a few hundred feet away from the bunker, its scimitars raised to ward off the mobile dolls. She knew that Quatre could not handle them all on his own. Desperately, she keyed on the comm and sent a distress signal to all the friendlies in the area. Then, she pushed down on the Taurus' flightstick, sending her down toward the first squad of mobile dolls.

When she saw how many there were and that they were all aiming for the bunker, Mei realized what she had to do. With renewed determination, she pulled out the Taurus beam rifle and locked it into automatic firing mode at her command. The dolls were powering up their beam rifles, preparing to fire on the bunker simultaneously. She saw Quatre flinging his scimitars at the dolls, but he would not be able to take out enough for the combined energy from the dolls' rifles not to destroy the bunker.

Mei looked down at the radar screen that tracked the battle. She saw the blip representing the Altron heading in her direction. A tear fell on the console, and Mei was surprised to find that she was crying. She wiped away the tears blurring her vision and pushed down on the flightstick again.

Just as the mobile dolls fired, her Taurus flew in front of the beams, taking the brunt of the attack. The Taurus began firing back at the dolls, but the counterattack was too random to do much damage. But she had accomplished her purpose, protected the bunker until reinforcements could arrive. As Mei sat inside the heavily damaged Taurus suit's cockpit, she thought of her daughter. Hana... Who would take care of Hana? Mei looked down at her arms. They were covered with blood from her injuries. The world began to fade around her as her Taurus suit plummeted to the Earth. Mei shakily reached out for the button that would slow her descent enough to cause her suit not to explode on impact. But, somehow, Mei knew that it was useless.

"I have to break my promise. Please forgive me," She whispered. Her eyes closed as she allowed the darkness to take her.