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Section Two: Mission Complete… Right?


Interlude 6

The sky was suffused in rich gold and flaming scarlets dancing over the thin clouds that hung low in the atmosphere, creating the illusion that the heavens themselves were aflame as the sun dipped low in the horizon, giving way to the Mistress of the Night and her many twinkling minions. From on high. The two guardians of heaven watched the tall, lanky figure with hair that glowed like fire under the sun’s radiant rays, loiter around the red metal giant that had become an extension of himself during the year of the Oz War. Soon, very soon the time would come to say goodbye; to his Gundam, Heavyarms, to the past filled with the cries of war, but most of all, to the one who was born a soldier, to the Silencer, Nanashi.

Catherine pursed her lips in acute empathy as she kept silent vigil over her beloved little brother, whom she thought she had lost so long ago. Quatre had called a short half hour ago and had informed Trowa that the meeting to decide the fate of the Gundams would be held soon after Noin and Zechs got back from their honeymoon. Trowa had nodded his silent acceptance and even volunteered that he agreed that it was time. Trowa, strong, silent Trowa, always taking things in stride, always carrying himself with this mystical dignity that allured and yet, deterred so many. Quatre, a Gundam pilot, and once a threat to her brothers happiness, or so she had thought, though she now described him as sweet and sensitive, considerate, often checked in with the tall pilot and Catherine wondered if there was something between the two besides comradeship, before bonking herself on the head in a classic ‘stupid’ gesture and going about her business.

The blond youth had also come to pay Trowa quiet visits at the circus fairly often, so she had since gotten to know the boy better, and, after careful consideration, decided she liked the boy. He was certainly good for Trowa, as she had never seen Trowa spark like he did when they Arabian was around. They were such good friends, good companions. In any event, she was keeping her distance from that particular subject, waiting to see what would happen. Now, however, she looked on as Trowa climbed the side of the truck and pulled back the tarp that covered the enormous machine of destruction, baring it for the world to see. After a minute or so he settled himself on the massive chest aria and looked down at that dormant face, back hunched, elbows on his knees, hands dangling between his legs, eyes distant as the twilight began to fade.

For Trowa, images of past flitted through his head like leaves in the wind, and he felt a strange tightness in his chest and a thickening of his throat as he watched his Gundam. Images of a traveling mercenary, of a child learning to use a gun, of a little girl who pretended to be his friend, then betrayed him. Of a blond angel emerging from the bowls of a metal monster. Of a night spent in a hotel room. Of a flute and violin. Of a colony disappearing before a beam gating. Of a blond youth coming to him, tears spilling over his cheeks when he didn’t recognize him. Of a blond girl stabbing the angel with a fencing foil. Of the injured boy struggling to get out of his machine. All these images and more ran though his head as felt the breeze tickle his skin and run gentle fingers through his bangs. When the time came, would he have to say goodbye to these things as well?


Amber

Alone in the night, a single figure sits, as if waiting for something to emerge from the starlit night or the glowing ocean before it. Maybe it is waiting for a specific ship to pass by on the ocean stretched out before him, marring the beautiful reflection of the full moon in it’s seemingly endless deaths. Maybe it is waiting for someone to come meet him, emerging from the sky like a bird of night, or from behind on the ground, a shadow within shadows. Maybe. Or is it just waiting for the end? Possibly. Yes, even likely. The end certainly wasn’t far away. No, not far at all. If truth be told, it was so close… so achingly close, just beyond it’s reach.

Standing atop a mighty cliff face, stood a lone figure, watching the stars slowly dance in the heavens overhead. Below, the waves flung themselves at the sharp, jagged rocks that spelled doom for any ships who came near, crashing into the vertical plain, slowly carving it out from under the silent figure. However, neither the figure, nor the wave, knew of the secret of this cliff. No. No one knew that the cliff was in fact hollow, with a huge watery tunnel leading to the cavern deep beneath the waters boiling surface. Perhaps this is just coincidence, this figure standing, unwittingly atop the carefully concealed cavern, perhaps not. No one knew it was there. No one. Or did they? To anyone who would find it, it would look like it had been forged by human hands. But was it? No one knew.

The silent figure that kept still watch over the ocean before it seemed to sigh dejectedly, but that was impossible, since the figure had neither lungs nor breath. Not skin nor flesh. No, this being was made up of metal, and stood over fifty feet tall, with two extra limbs sticking out it’s back that acted as wings. Its eyes did not glow, nor did it hum with electricity like it normally did when occupied by the only one who would pilot it. Frozen. Possibly for all eternity. This figure forever unable to move without the help of another living being. Such a being, however, was with the metal giant, sitting silently inside the dark chamber called a cockpit.

Darkness. Blackness. This is what filled the chamber inside the metal figure. This, and the soft, faint breathing of the single occupant, who might as well be blind, for all the good his eyes did him at the moment. Still, he moved about inside the darkness as if it was day, having memorized the controls long ago. Gentle fingers deftly caressed the keypads and switches that surrounded the stiffly padded in which he sat. Soft, but calloused hands ran across the small targeting sphere that rested before the seat, and gripped the control sticks as if they might crumble any minute. With every second, the time drew closer. He would soon have to say goodbye to the one thing in his life that he could and did always rely on.

Midnight blue eyes closed in remembrance of the transmission he had gotten earlier that day…
*********
Beep. Beep. Beep. Grumbling under his breath, Heero sat it the cockpit and told Wing Zero to accept the transmission.

“Hey, Heero. Man, what are you still doing in Wing?” Greeted Duo with his ever present smile. However, Heero immediately detected the faint, almost subliminal sadness in his voice that the American was trying to hide. “How have you been, Partner? I haven’t heard from you in a while. Hilde’s been askin’ about you.”

“You can tell Hilde I’m fine and thanks for asking.” He said in his usual monotone voice. Duo smirked, but didn’t respond and for a brief moment the two just stared at each other before Heero decided to just get it out and over with. “This isn’t a house call, is it Duo?”

Duo’s jesters mask slipped away immediately. “Man, you know me way too well. Took Hilde all day to figure out something’s wrong, and you get strait to the point, as usual.” He smirked at the perfect soldier for a moment, expression much more solemn as he considered his partner.

“I got a call from Quatre.” He finally stated, smile slipping completely away before a more solemn and serious expression that didn’t belong on the braided pilot’s face.

“And…”

“Seems Wufei talked to him during the reception at Zech’s and Noin’s wedding.”

“And…”

The boy sighed and fixed his partner with an almost disturbingly serious, solemn expression. When he spoke again, his voice was flat, almost forced, “They’re calling the meeting right after the honeymoon. According to Quatre, the civilians are afraid we’re going to go an a rampage and try to conquer the world or somethin’.” There was bitter resentment lining that last statement.

“Mankind instinctively fears what it doesn’t understand, Duo. Most people still don’t understand the Gundams. They don’t understand what our mission is, so they fear us.”

“We would never…” Heero cut him off.

“You know we would never do that. I know we would never do that. We all know we would never do that. Zechs, Noin, Une; they all know we would never do that, but how do you tell millions of civilians who only know us as bringers of death that we would never do that?” He watched as his partner slumped back in his seat.

“Yeah, I guess your right, but still… Anyway, since there is no telling when those two are going to get back…” He shrugged, “I guess I’ll call you when I know the exact date.”

“Yeah.”
*********
Now he sat, embraced in the cockpit of Wing Zero, trying to memorize the feel of the controls, the placement of certain buttons, trying to say goodbye. Slowly, a thought occurred to him and her punched in a command to the main computer. Suddenly the monitor came to life and he had to shield his eyes against the sudden glare. It took a minute, but he could soon look at the source of light easily and gave another command.
Impression
A couple of seconds later, a picture of Princess Relena Peacecraft clad in her pastel blouse and skirt appeared before him. It was her last transmission from Libra just before she died. He watched as the image split in two, one picture of her, one of him and Zechs fighting in space. Inexplicably, to him at least, his vision clouded and his eyes became heavy with tears, which he did nothing to stop, waiting for them to burn trails down his cheeks as he drank in her words. A minute later there was a whooshing noise, then a small explosion and a cry of pain. Relena was flung against the control panel, her face contorted in pain, before she slipped to the ground. More shots were fired and two more cries of pain, one followed by the audible, but silent sigh of one taking his last breath. Then Relena appeared again, fighting back the pain to stand tall, speaking some more and giving a military salute before reaching down to press a button on the control panel and the image turned to static. That was the last anyone had ever seen of the Princess Of Peace.

Tears fell in streams down Heero’s cheeks as the gnawing guilt came back and, as the monitor turned off, he bowed his head, shoulders trembling, and sobbed quietly. It was still all his fault. All his fault.


Watermark

Through the streets of the Sank Kingdom, a white limo moved with the ease of long practice, transporting the King and Queen of the Sank Kingdom from the air port to the Peacecraft estates. Passers by noted the vehicle and some even waved, but most just smiled and moved about their business. Slowly, driver pulled up the circle drive in front of the house and brought the car to a stop with a sigh, before getting out and opening the door for Queen Lucrazia Peacecraft, holding out a hand to help her out of the car.

Noin thanked the man and stepped up on the cement before the Peacecraft mansion. She had seen it time and again, but now it was different. Now it was… home? Silently, Zechs came up behind her and wrapped his arms loosely around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Welcome home, Mrs. Peacecraft.” He murmured in her ear and nibbled her lobe lightly, causing his bride to smile.

“Oh, Zechs…” She turned and reached up one hand to burry it in the platinum tresses and pulled him down to her. The two met in a lingering, chaste kiss that spoke volumes to both of them, and to the elderly butler that was coming out to greet them. The two parted, instinctively sensing Pagan’s approach and greeted their friend with radiant smiles. Other servants rushed out to retrieve their bags. After a bit of small talk, the three went inside, never noticing the strange man on the roof snapping pictures left and right.

“So, how have things been since we left, Pagan?” Zech asked, reluctantly releasing his wife to go to their rooms.

“Quite well, sir. There are a few documents on your desk, but that is all.”

“Excellent.” He flashed the man a smile before turning to go after Noin.

“Oh, sir.”

“Yes.” Zechs turned to regard the man over his shoulder.

“Mr. Winner asked to speak with you as soon as you’re available after you get back sir. He wouldn’t say why.”

“I have a pretty good idea. Thank you Pagan.” He turned and headed up to the second floor. ‘Bit early for it, Quatre, but then again…’ he pushed these thoughts out of his mind as he entered his apartments and found Noin lying suggestively on the couch.

“What took you so long?” she purred and settled back even further into the cushioning. Zechs smirked and shut the door behind him. A soft click was heard in the hallway as the door was locked.


Please

“Thank you, Mr. Winner.” Quatre cordially saw his business associates to the door, and waited for them to disappear into the hallway. Ananya watched dear brother sympathetically from his office doorway. The youth had just gotten out of an excruciating four hour meeting that had nothing really to do with him, but since he was head of Winner Industries, he had to attend, and say what they were planning was Ok. She watched as Quatre turned towards his office, blowing some of the tension out, allowing his cheeks to puff out some.

“You’d think they could take care of raises on their own without having to drag me into it.” He grumbled as he scratched the back of his head and headed back to his office. “Hi.” He greeted his sister dispassionately as he passed her and collapsed irritably into his chair and turned to overlook the colony.

“How was it?” She inquired politely, closing the door.

“Four hours, ffiiht.” He made a flitting, zooming gesture with his had. “Out the window. Four hours of looking over worker profiles, computing overtime hours, and figuring out how much to raise the salary of individual workers.” He turned the chair around to fix his sister with his irritated gaze, before looking at his desk which was a small mountain range at the moment. “I needed those four hours, Anya.” She smiled sympathetically at him.

“Well, I hate to take you out of one desert and into another but…” Quatre looked up at here wearily. “King Peacecraft is on line 6.” The boy heaved a heavy sigh before turning to the vidscreen and putting on his professional mask again.

“Alright. Put him on.” A few minute’s later Zechs appeared on the screen, looking slightly disheveled.

“Good Afternoon, Zechs. Or, is it morning where you are?” He inquired, giving an apologetic smile.

“Morning still. How are things going with Winner industries?”

“Same way the Sank Kingdom is I’m sure. Reading this report. Signing this approval form. Wasting four hours computing individual raises. Same old, same old.”

“Four hours computing wages. You’re kidding.” The man on the screen was positively floored.

“Oh, I’ve got the summary right here.” The Arabian waved a manila folder in front of him so Zechs could see. “Let’s see…” he opened it to the first page. “I’ve got a construction worker who gets a .50 cent raise. A secretary who gets 1.25 raise plus 8.69 for over time…” a peculiar expression came over Zechs’ face that was something akin to sympathy and pained. Quatre tossed the folder back on his desk and fix his ally with an exasperated look. “You’ll forgive me if my fuse is short at the moment. I just got out of that meeting.”

“Tell me that’s not the only thing you’re there for.”

“I’m beginning to wonder. You wanna know what the meeting last Thursday was about?”

“Not particularly, it it’s all the same to you.”

“Hn.” He sighed and smiled apologetically again. “So, if it’s not intruding, how was the honeymoon?”

“Ah… let’s just say it went better than expected and leave it at that.” Quatre smiled at the slight blush that crept up on Zech’s cheeks.

“I’m sure. In all seriousness though, you better take care of her. I like Noin, and if you hurt her…”

“Hey, I’ve known Noin since you were in diapers kid. I know how to take care of her.”

“Hmm. I guess you’re wondering why I asked to speak with you so soon?”

“You guys are ready to call the meeting?”

“That’s right. Give me a when and where and I’ll tell the others.”

“Peacecraft mansion, Saturday, 5:00?”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

“Right. Till then, Quatre.” The screen flicked off and Quatre slumped back in his seat, suddenly feeling spent and old. Turning his seat to look out the window again, he didn’t notice Ananya’s quiet exit.


Nostalgia

“Well if it isn’t Girl Wonder. What are ‘you’ doing here? Don’t you know you’re going to destroy the store if one of you knife friends show up. You should get going while you still can.” An excess of giggling followed the string on comments but Erin just pushed on, pretending they weren’t there. To acknowledge their very existence in any way, let alone that fact that they had spoken, would only encourage them to do more.

“God, can you believe how stuck up she is. Where does she come off thinking that she’s better than us. She doesn’t even speak.”

“Yeah. And the way she has all the guys drooling over her, it disgusting.”

“No, I’ll tell you what’s disgusting, is that she rejects every one of them. I saw Bobby Morris ask her out and she just stuck her nose in the air and left.”

“NO!”

“Bobby Mores. As in Quarterback Bobby Morris.”

“The one and only.”

Strangely enough, though she kept moving away from the group, she could still here them like they were a few feet behind her.

“Where the hell does she get off treating him like that. Every girl in school would love to be aloud to go out with him.”

“Yeah. Look at her.” The aforementioned speaker made her voice nasal. “Prancing around like some kind of Princess, just because she gets good grades. I wonder where she keeps that cigarette stick thingy. You know, the one rich people stick their cigarettes at the end of and go fffght.” More giggling.

“You guys know why she gets such good grades, because she cheats. She steels the tests before hand and copies all the answers.”

“I believe it.”

Finally, Erin came to the isle the was looking for and stepped in, casually glancing over her shoulder. Sure enough the group passed by, and, of course, into the next isle, where she could still hear their conversation loud and clear. She felt her fist clench so hard it hurt, and suddenly had the urge to gut those… those… Then, as if sensing this, which it may very well have, the guide started speaking to her again, whispering soothing words in her ear that told her something she couldn’t understand. Just at the sound of it’s voice, her body practically slumped to the ground with relief, though the only visible sign of her release was in her facial expression and in the now limp hand by her side. Gratefully, she concentrated on listening to the voice, which was sufficient to drown out that of the girls.

Feeling herself settle back into her center, she turned part of her attention outward to the display of computer games and started searching for a mobile suit combat simulation. She had downloaded one offline a couple days ago, but it wasn’t what she needed, so she set out to buy a more professional version. Despite the fact that mobile suits were becoming obsolete, people still like the simulations. There. That one will do nicely. As she went to reach for it, another hand snatched it from her.

“This one is mine. Get your own, Eric.” Of course, that would be the last simulation. And Of course, it would be none other than the renowned Bobby Morris. Almost desperately, she reached out with her mind to the voice and found comfort there. Slowly, forcing herself to remain calm, she turned to the over proportioned, over steroidal football player, who was grinning down at her.

“Don’t you know little girls should be playing with dolls.” He began, but Erin just ignored him and considered how to get the box back. One ear cocked at the sound of the group of girls appearing at the end of the isle and gasping, and ‘Bobby Morris’ leaned over her like a cat would lean over helpless prey. Finally, she decided on a course of action, and non to gently, shoved the brainless football player aside and made a beeline for the layaway department. Surely they could get her another game.
Purge
Suddenly, she felt a rough hand on her shoulder and was shoved roughly against the shelves. “Were do you think your going little missy. You know I’ve about had it with your attitude.” He said menacingly, shoving his face in hers. He was so close she could smell his the alcohol on his breath. Quickly scanning he aria, she saw a black sphere in the ceiling which housed a camera. Over their isle. Ok, Plan B. Turning her attention back to the obnoxious brat that had her pinned to the shelves, she suddenly found herself pressed back by the force of his lips on hers. She heard the gasping and giggling of the other girls, and somehow found herself thinking, ‘not very bight.’ With that she lifted her knee and firmly planted it in Mr. Morris’ groin. The boy, of course, fell to the ground, spitting curses left and right, while Erin grabbed her simulation, and moved quickly passed the girls, who glared daggers at her. Up in the observation office, a security guard smirked and nodded approvingly at the girl.


Interlude III

Home. She hadn’t had a place like that in a long time. She has been moving around for so long, she had forgotten what it meant to have one. Now, Noin wandered into the den and settled herself on one of the large, cushioned arm chairs, and looked around. She had been living in the Peacecraft mansion for three days now, and she was finally relaxing into it, allowing it to become home. Nothing could take it away from her now. She was finally home.

A contented smile graced her features as she looked around. Yes, the Sank Kingdom is a place in which one could feel relaxed. Sorrow flicked across her features as she thought of Relena, but forced it down before she could actually have a memory. Zechs was at work, and would be gone all day. However, despite her assurances that she was quite capable of doing her share, he had insisted that she stay home for a today and really get used to the place. It was the first time he had been to work and she knew that there was a pile of papers that must be read and signed waiting for him. A sympathetic smile reached her face at that thought.

The meeting to destroy the Gundams would be tomorrow. After three wonderful months of peace, with Lady Une continuing to disarm nation after nation, the time has come for the Gundams to leave as well. They have served their purpose, but since the civilians still don’t understand the real mission of the Gundams, it’s best if they are destroyed as well, so as to show the civilians their true mission.

“Miss Lucrazia,” came a humble voice from the doorway.

“Yes Pagan.”

“There is a Sally Po on the line for you.”

“Ah. Thank You Pagan. I’ll take it in here.”

“Yes Miss.” The elderly man bowed politely and stepped out of the room. Noin smiled again and moved to the large Vid screen and punched in her code. A half second later the image of Sally Po filled the screen.

“Sally. Hey.”

“Hey yourself. My, aren’t we looking radiant today.”

Noin chuckled and settled on the seat before the vid screen. “Is it that obvious.”

“Well, from my point of view anyway; it’s not like you to smile like that. So how is married life anyway?”

“Wonderful.” She rested the back of her head on the couch and looked like the cat with the canary.

“You are so gone.”

“I guess. So what have you been doing with yourself Sally.”

“I’m helping Une disarm nations.” She shrugged, as if that would explain everything.

“Did you know the meeting to decide what to do with the Gundams will be tomorrow?” Noin asked, suddenly turning serious.

“Yeah. Une told me. You going to be there?”

“Of course, though the decision isn’t mine to make.”

“True.” A silent prevailed over the two, and each felt an inexplicable chill, though they were on opposite sides of the planet.

“No more Gundams.” Neither was sure who spoke first, maybe it was in unison, but that singe phrase hade a thousand meanings to them, and a hundred different levels. No more Gundams.


Interlude 4

The sweet song of the birds outside flitted in through the open kitchen window and filled the sparkling room with its sweet melody. Unfortunately, the soul occupant of this room was too absorbed in her own disturbed thoughts to hear, and therefore found no comfort within its metaphoric embrace. With a sigh, the sweet, plump, elderly woman placed some freshly dried bowls in the cupboard with a sharp clank. Another heartfelt sigh passed her lips as she folded and placed the towel on its hook and numbly moved into the living room.

It had been three months since she had taken in the lost, injured girl she found on the side of the road into her home, and things seemed to be going pretty well for a while. Erin was more or less happy and they had become good friends, but recently, no… Not recently, because it wasn’t. The heavy aura that draped itself around the girl like a cloak woven from night itself, had been present from the first moment she had found the poor, orphaned girl. She just never paid it any mind, assuming it would leave when the girl felt safe and welcome with family again, but it hadn’t. It just remained, like a shield around the child, protecting her, though from what she couldn’t imagine.

It was just recently, however, that the cloak decided it was going to make itself known. The air was almost stifling when Erin was in the same room with her now, where as before it was just a little heavy. Also, Erin had completely stopped smiling, really smiling. Sure, she would offer up a forced smile once in a while, but it was always fake, always plastic. She was also much quieter than usual, and always, always distant, like her mind was in another time zone or something.

It was true, much as Edna hated to admit it, Erin had never been happy or satisfied here. There always seemed to be something bothering her in the back of her mind, and Edna was at a complete loss for what to do about it. Another thing that bothered her was that Erin never had any friends over, and her room always looked like no one lived in it. The only things that told otherwise was her desk and her computer. For what seemed a short eternity, Edna had waited for Erin to come to her, but her charge never came, never emerged from her shell.

Edna sighed and looked at the staircase that led to the second floor of their home, where Erin was no doubt locked up in her room again. Yesterday, when Erin had gotten back from a walk, she had dropped a bag on the couch and went to get a glass of water. Giving into curiosity, Edna had looked inside the bag to see a mobile suit simulator inside for her computer. When Erin came back she just shrugged it off as something that caught her attention and bought it on a whim. She didn’t know what, but something told Edna that was a lie. Maybe it was because it was the most recent version of the game to date. And since then the girl had barred herself in her room, working the simulation as if she were training to be a suit pilot. Needless to say, the entire situation bothered her deeply, and still Erin continues to grow more and more distant, more and more into her own world. With this latest development, there was no point in denying, Edna had become scared. Not for her life, because she knew Edna would never harm her, but… perhaps for Erin’s sake, perhaps not, she was afraid.



“Mr. Miliardo.” Sounded a meek voice from the doorway. Casually, Zechs firmed his face into his professional mask and tore his gaze from the garden outside the window to look over his shoulder at one of the new maids whose head was practically jammed between the door and the doorjamb. Noin also turned towards the modest intruder and smiled kindly at her, signaling for her to come in. “What it is?” Zechs asked, making his voice kinder than normal for the nervous young woman. “You wanted to know when those five young men would start to arrive sir. Pagan has sent the first one into the meeting room sir.” “Yes. Thank you.” Making the dismissal official he turned his head to gaze out at his families kingdom again. Noin nodded at the maid before also turning her attention elsewhere. The young maid sighed and closed the door silently behind her. “It’s time, Zechs.” Noin said after a brief moment of mild silence. “I know.” It sounded as if he had to force those words to come out. Noin pursed her lips in sympathy. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why, but she was uneasy about destroying the Gundams. It was, however, a vague feeling and she put it to the fact that she had become accustomed to having them around. She knew, though none of them had voice their uneasiness about it, that the others felt the same. She also knew that none of them would voice their opinions, and, though she didn’t even admit it, even to herself, there was this annoying little voice deep in her gut that was saying that her uneasiness was something more than just having grown used to the protection of the Gundams.


Eagles Eternity

From high above, camouflaged in one of the many trees lining the walkway to the Peacecraft mansion, a man watched as one by one, the Gundam pilots appeared before the house and went inside, reporting updates into a hand held radio and received updates from other spies spread out in strategic positions around the mansion, inside and out.


Quatre and Trowa looked up from the walk, as Wing Zero appeared in the sky above the mansion and circled round for a landing. Duo, who had just gotten out of the taxi, waved at the massive machine as it landed in the courtyard about seventy feet or so away, and ran to meet his partner who was lowered to the ground by the exit cable rather than just jumping down. Quatre smiled as he noted this and listened the muffled sound of Duo’s voice as he greeted his friend. Trowa, however, was a million miles away, as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and looked over his shoulder up to one of the trees and just stared, having learned to trust instincts forged in a lifetime of battle.

He was jerked out of his reverie when Quatre placed a gentle hand on his arm and told him that Duo and Heero were coming. Giving the tree one last accusing glare, he turned his head to and slightly away from the pair coming towards them so he could see them clearly past his warm shield of auburn hair that protected him from prying eyes. He noted a slight drag in both boys’ step, and a slight, almost imperceptible sag in all of their shoulders as they just looked at one another for a long, hard minute. Oddly enough, it was Heero who broke the heavy silence.

“It’s time.” With that he turned and moved towards the mansion, followed closely by the others.

From high up in the second story window of the conference room, Wufei watched the progress of his comrades, of his brothers, with arms crossed over his chest, a weary look in his eyes, and a heavy heart. Weather they were ready for it or not, the time had come. The time had come.

“It’s time.” He murmured as his friends disappeared from sight as they entered the building. “Weather it is meant to be or not. It is time.”


Velvet Tear

‘It’s done. It’s all done.’ Heero thought as he moved aimlessly through the park. The meeting had gone down as planned and the vote was unanimous. The Gundams would be sent to the sun along with one of the Winner Corp. used resource satellite, which was scheduled to go into the sun in two day’s time. Till then, Zechs had offered them rooms, in the mansion this time, to wait out the next two days, and so they will be on hand when it was time for the press conferences. Both Zechs and Quatre think this should be a public ordeal, and that they should make an example of Princess Relena’s dream with the Gundams.

With a sigh, Heero came to a stop next to a rose bush and looked up to see Relena’s statue in the distance. A small, sad smile tugged at his lips as he looked on at the still snow white statue and reached out to pluck a red rose from the bush before he entered the memorial grounds. He hadn’t been here in three months, yet it seemed like an eternity. Silently, he stepped up before the statue and, falling slowly to his knees and settling back on his heals, he placed the rose at the base of the statue and looked up into her eyes.

“You’re dream is about to come true, Relena.” He finally said, slowly getting to his feet again. “The Gundams are going to be sent into the sun in a few days, and then the rest of the world will feel safe enough to disarm as well.” He fell silent for a time as he looked up at the statue, feeling the uneasiness about the whole thing come back to nibble at him.

“It’s done. It’s all done, Relena. The mission is over. We’ve won.” There seemed to be a begging note in his voice audible even to his ears. “The mission is complete, Relena. Mission Complete…” He faltered as the feeling bit down as firmly as it could. Slowly, he looked up with pleading, vulnerable eyes at the stature. “Mission Complete… Right? Right…”



Duo sighed heavily, as he sat before one of the mansions vid phones in a private room and punched up his home number. Taking a deep breath, he put on his jesters mask, plastering on a plastic smile as he prepared to greet his room mate.

“Hello.” Chirruped the girl’s voice on the phone as the monitor switched on. “Duo.”

“Hey babe. How is everything going over, or rather, up there?”

“Fine, though I should be asking you that question. How did the meeting go?”

Duo felt his mask begin to chip and crack, but he fought valiantly to keep it on. “Ok. We’re going to be staying here for a little while though, so I need you to hold down the fort for at least a few more days.”

“What was the decision Duo.” Hilde’s voice was firm, indicating she wanted none of his nonsense, but with a hint of resignation, indicating she already knew what it was.

“My Buddy Deathsythe gets a one way ticket to the sun for the tan of his life.” More cracking and chipping. Hilde could practically see the pieces of mask falling on the boys lap.

“So… is it final?” That did it. Duo’s mask exploded over his face and settled on his lap in a cloud of dust.

“Yeah. It is. The decision was unanimous.”

“So that’s it then…”

“Yeah. That’s it…” Duo suddenly felt tired, old, and weak, not to mention with an even bigger weight on his shoulders than he had during the war. He slowly slumped back into his chair as he felt all the strength drain from his body. “That’s it… It’s over, Hilde.” Hid voice sounded a weary as he looked at his hands and Hildi suddenly heard Duo saying something else inside her head. ‘I wonder what true peace means anyway…’

“It’s over. As Heero would say, Mission Complete. Hilde…” He looked at her with this desperate look in his eyes that Hildi most definitely did not like.

“Yeah, partner.”

“It… it ‘is’ Mission Complete? Right?”


Silence

Erin sighed as she sat next to Edna on the couch facing the vid screen, handing the woman a cup of tea and popped her can of cola. Her friend and guardian was watching one of those family movies that anyone could watch and ‘enjoy’ when she decided to give the woman a break and came down to join her. She was just starting to figure out the plot when the screen suddenly changed to a special news report.

“Sorry to interrupt the program, folks.” Started the news reporter. “The five young men that pilot the Gundams have called a press conference announcing the destruction of the five mobile suits.” Erin suddenly started chocking on her drink, as she leaned forward, giving the reporter her full attention. “We’ll take you now to live footage of the conference.”

Around the world, all eyes turned to the nearest view screen and it seemed that all humanity had stopped to watch this conference. The screen suddenly changed to view the five Gundam pilots standing before a mob of reporters, and under a barrage of questions. They didn’t get a chance to answer any single question as they were fired to rapidly and finally Heero Yuy raised stepped forward and raised his hands to silence them. Another, daring reported tried to fire another question before he received a generous dose of the Yuy Death Glare. Once satisfied that he had their full attention, he spoke…
Impression
“We just want the people to know that they don’t have to live in fear of the Gundams any longer. It is true that the Gundams were built for war, but our mission was never to massacre the innocents. The Gundam’s were sent to earth to bring about peace for all the earth and the Space Colonies. We have done nothing but fight for lasting peace for all humanity.

“Today, at 3:00 Pm, L4 colony time, we are going to send the Gundams away on one of the Winner’s used resource satellites on a direct coarse into the sun, where the Gundams will melt and become part of our life giving star. We choose this coarse of action to prove to you, the people, that all we have ever fought for is peace, and to make an example of how to follow in the footsteps of Relena Peacecraft, the person who brought this war to an end by sacrificing her life to save your own.

“If this peace is to be maintained then we,” he gestured the pilots lined up behind him, “believe that the teachings of Heero Yuy, President of the colonies, King Peacecraft, Vice Foreign Minister Darlin, and Princess Relena Peacecraft should be incorporated into our daily lives and firmly engraved into our governments; discarding all weapons except those that would make up a defense force. The Gundams were made for offence, not defense, and there fore should be discarded as well.

“My Name is Heero Yuy, Pilot of Wing Gundam and Wing Zero. I was taken from my family when I was an infant, weather by the death of my family or by kidnapping I don’t know, and I was raised to fight for the peace of the colonies, and in turn the peace of mankind. We,” He opened his arms to the side, palms up, to include the four other Gundam pilots flanking him, “each have been forged in the heat of battle, but the battle has ended and we are still young. In our short lives we have seen more than any teenage boy or girl should, and we have grown tired. We are tired of living in fear for our lives, tired of worrying about when the next battle will come, tired of worrying if some civilians are going to get caught in the crossfire. In body, we are kids who have seen and experienced more suffering and death than most adults, in spirit, we are soldiers who have grown old through a lifetime of battle and are tired of fighting. We have sacrificed so much for the peace that we have now; our family, our friends, our childhoods, our youth, and our normality. Through the years our hands have become stained with blood and now that we have peace, we look forward for the chance to try and make up for what we have done. We, The Gundam pilots, are young and tired, and our mission is complete. As of this day… the Gundams will be no more.”

Slowly, Erin leaned back in the couch, shoulders slumped slightly under the weight of her new responsibility as pilot of Wing Gundam. Edna quietly watched as Erin became solemn and distant, before turning her attention back to the screen, feeling a sense of dread rise up within her again. “Our Piloting days are over, The Gundams will soon be destroyed, and our objectives have been obtained. Mission Complete.” With that the Gundams moved off the stand.

‘Mission Complete, for you, Gundam pilots. For me, It’s Mission Accepted.’
,br>
Nostalgia

It was dark in the colony and the sound of artificial rain splattering against the window did nothing to sooth the boy who called himself Shinigami, The Angel of Death. Every moment they sat around waiting was another knife slicing though his chest. “I can’t believe I agreed to this. What am I going to do without Deathsythe around anymore.” Duo half mumbled half sobbed to himself, blinking back tears of remorse, grief and regret as he hugged himself tightly, digging his fingernails deep into the black cloth of his preacher’s shirt and hard into the soft, sensitive skin underneath. The boy was trembling with the effort to keep his emotions inside, digging his nails in ever deeper in an attempt to distract him. ‘Boys don’t cry.’ He chastised himself as he felt heavy tears gather in his eyes, which he blinked to hold back. He wished with all his heart that they would just get this over with, every second was like an eternity of torture. “Deathscythe, Old Buddy, I’m so very sorry.” His voice hitched as he said that and he felt his throat thicken with unshed tears, once again begging Shinigami’s forgiveness.

“Duo…” He started at the familiar voice, and whirled around to see Hildi standing in the doorway. “Can I come in?”

“Hilde… what are you doing here?” he said, brushing irritably at his eyes.

“I came to be with you.” She said as she approached her friend and partner. Quatre was right, he was in pretty bad shape. “Are you Ok?” She reached for him but he smacked her hand away.

“No! No, I’m not Ok!” he shouted, then hung his head in shame. “I’m sorry Hildi. I just…” He felt his throat close off and could do nothing but look at her, begging with his eyes that she might understand. Hilde, for her part, was taken aback at the lost, desperate, loneliness aching inside his normally shining amethyst eyes. Seeing him like this, it was something alien to her and she did the only thing she knew. She went with her instincts.

“Oh Duo.” She reached up and pulled her friend into a comforting embrace, pulling his head down to rest on her shoulder. He resisted a bit a first, but soon gave in to the embrace and the desperate need for comfort that burned within his very soul. Slowly, cautiously, as if in fear of rejection, he wrapped his arms around her slim torso, buried his face in the hollow of her neck and shoulder, and released his sorrows in silver tears that trickled down his cheeks and her neck to moisten the cloth of her collar. Hildi began to stroke his long, honey chestnut braid with one hand and massage his back in soothing patterns with the other, trying to comfort him as best she could. “It’s Ok Duo. Everything will be Ok, you’ll see. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” She slowly rocked the two of them back and fourth, continuing to murmur comforting, sympathetic nothings in his ear.

“I just wish… I could go back and… get Shinigami off… that thing before… we send it off.” He said between sobs as he tightened his grip on the girl to the point where it was hard for her to breath but she never complained, knowing that he needed all the comfort he could get right now. They stayed like that for a long time, while Duo let out all his anxieties in the flood of tears. Finally, after what may very well have been half an hour, he pulled away, wiping furiously at his eyes. “Now I’m embarrassed. Guys don’t cry.” He berated himself in a half hearted attempt to lighten the mood and was about to turn away when Hildi grabbed his shoulders.

“Duo. Duo, look at me.” She took hold of his chin and forced him to look at her, though he tried to look everywhere but her. “Duo, we’re buddies, right?”

“Yeah.” He admitted.

“Well, buds got to stick together.” She gave him an affectionate slap on the shoulder, “We gotta be there for each other through thick and through thin. To be there to help our fellow buds through the tough times. Besides, a good cry, in the long run, helps things heal faster, and it’s not like I am going to blackmail you with it or anything.” He smirked a bit at that.

“Yeah but…” suddenly he seemed very distracted, and didn’t notice Hildi suddenly inching her way towards the door. His brow knitted together in a frown as, slowly, his hands traveled up his back to his braid. He started feeling his way up his braid, and almost panicked when he didn’t find what he was looking for.
Just Communication
“What the Hell!” He jerked his braid over his shoulder and almost screamed when he saw his band was missing and his braid was coming undone.

Hildi couldn’t suppress a giggle, causing him to glare at her. She held up the band, practically cracked her face with the Duo-type grin on her face, and took off down the hall.

“HILDI!” Duo Screamed and started after her, screaming all the way. “Hildi, you give that back! Come back here you little…! Get your @$$ back here! Right NOW HILDI!” She chanced a glance behind her and saw he was gaining on her. The look on his face promised dire consequences for this. Suddenly he picked up speed, the look on his face striking alarm and laughter into her heart, and Hildi started running in fear.

“HELP!” she cried and burst into frightened, amused giggles. “HELP!!” she suddenly made a sharp right turn and unfortunately Duo was to close to her to make the course correction and ended up skidding to a halt and eventually landing on his butt.

“HILDI, JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!!!”

Meanwhile all the pilots, Dorothy, Rashid, and some others from the gang were all looking funny at the door, which suddenly burst open to reveal a glowing Hildi, who looked like the proverbial cat that swallowed the equally proverbial canary. She held up the band and shouted in a sing song voice down the hall, “Come and get it.” She screamed as she suddenly leapt into the room, Duo only a few yards behind her. Hildi decided to take refuge behind Trowa.

By this point Duo’s hair had come completely undone, and fell all around his face, which was beet-red. “Give that the hell back, Hildi.”

“You want it,” she held it up again, “Come get it.” Duo charged, she screamed, darting behind Dorothy, then Heero.

“HELP! NOW! PLEASE! HELP!!” she screamed as Duo almost got her and she darted behind the one and only table in the room. The two started playing ring around the rosy around the table, Hildi giggling or screaming, Duo promising dire punishments if she didn’t give it back NOW, and everyone else looking at them like the had lost their minds.

Duo suddenly leapt on the table and lunged for Hildi, who managed to get behind Heero again. This time she grabbed onto the boys biceps as if to use him for a shield. Poor Heero was having a lot of trouble keeping a strait face, forget fighting Hildi.

“Hands Off Hildi.” He suddenly cried, eyes wide, and looking very possessive of either Hilde or the Pilot of wing. Hildi put her head over Heero shoulder and stuck her tongue out at an infuriated Duo. This was too much for Quatre to take and doubled over laughing. As if that was the queue, everyone started laughing or giggling. Even Heero was trembling with the laughter he was trying to suppress. “It’s not funny!” Duo cried, prompting more laughter.

Hildi decided to take advantage of his momentary distraction and head for the door. Big mistake. Duo saw her and leapt like a tiger, before she knew she had been caught. They rolled around a bit, until Duo managed to pin her down.

“Now, give it to me.” He ordered, and reached for the band. Hildi squirmed a bit as his long hair tickled her face and made her sneeze. Duo was having trouble keeping her still while reaching for the band. He finally let go of her free hand, giving Hildi the opportunity to try another wicked idea that had entered her head. Quickly she reached up and started tickling him. Duo cried out and tried to swat her hand away but let go of her other hand, and she attacked him without mercy.

“No! Hildi stop!” He couldn’t get anything else articulate out as Hildi put pressure on his dark clad skin. She knew, from their other tickle wars, right were he was so ticklish that he becomes completely helpless. He collapsed in fits of laughter and made futile attempts to block her skilled, merciless hands. Unfortunately for Duo, she wasn’t ticklish, at least not like he was.

She heard the others laughing at their antics and smiled; her plan was working. She pushed Duo off her and, before he could assemble himself, pounced on him and attacked his even more ticklish spots that she had very little access to under him. He began screaming, jerking, and trembling uncontrollably.

“Come on Duo. You know what I want. Come on.”

“N…ne… never!” he said, not wanting the guys to see him begging and worshiping her.

“Have it your way!” She held the band over his head, slowing in her ministrations so he could concentrate on it.

“Give it to me!” He cried. She shook her head and popped it in her mouth. Or so she made Duo think, but with some slight of hand he himself had taught her, she slipped it in her pocket, everyone saw her do it except Duo.

“NO! Hildi you little…” He didn’t get a chance to finish because she started tickling him again. By this point, Quatre was on his knees doubled over, Trowa not far behind, Wufei, despite his dignity, howled, Dorothy giggled, knowing Hildi had planned this, even Heero laughed outright, his face in serious danger of becoming a Duo-type expression.

Finally, Duo called on the strength formed from years of solid training to force Hildi to roll off of him. He pounced on her and started going after her mouth, determined to get his band back. “Open it up, Hildi. Give it back.” Hildi was turning her head every witch way, keeping her mouth tightly clamped, and trying very hard not to giggle. Duo almost panicked when he saw the evil glint form in her eye. “Hildi!” he growled warningly. Hildi ignored him and made a show of swallowing the band. \

“Ack, Yuck. I don’t know what tastes worse Duo, you band, or your cooking.”

“NO! Hildi you didn’t!” Even Heero burst out laughing, unable to help himself. “HILDI!” he shrieked and watched in horror as she stuck her tongue out at him, and then opened her mouth as if to say ‘Aahh.’

Duo reached for her throat, and started, not so gently, to gag her. “Hildi, how could you? HOW COULD YOU!!!”

“Help!” she cried, as she tried to push Duo off her.

“Omae O Korosu, Hildi. Omae O Korosu!” He cried, outraged. Hildi decided not to push him any more and reached in to her pocket to get the band.

“Dorothy! Catch!” she yelled and threw it in the general direction of the girl.

“What!” Duo looked over his shoulder to see Dorothy run to grab something from the floor, then lift it up for him to see. It was his band! He looked down at Hildi to see her smirking up at him, despite the firm grip he had on her throat.

“Go get it Duo. You didn’t really think I swallowed it, did you?” she mocked. He tightened his grip on her throat for a brief moment, before jumping off to retrieve the band.

“Quatre!” Dorothy cried, and tossed the band at the small pilot, who caught it effortlessly.

“Hildi,” he said and threw it to her.

“Trowa.”

“Noin.”

“Sally.”

“Wufei.”

“Trowa.”

“Heero.”

Heero caught the band as watched as Duo leapt toward him, determined to get it back. After a brief look at his partners face he decided enough was enough. He held the band out to him and let him snatch it from him.

Duo looked at Heero in shock for a moment before bowing down in formal Japanese fashion and said, “Domo Arigato, Heero-san.” He said formally and then stalked out of the room to fix his hair.

“HEERO!” everyone whined at him, but he just turned his back on them, looked out the window… and smirked.


Impression

Standing before the large windows of the space shuttle that hovered over the satellite that would be taken into the sun, the five pilots watched with heavy hearts as the last of the crewmen departed. “Master Quatre?” Rashid asked, turning to his young master, who stood with his friends and comrades before one of the windows. Silently, the blond reached out his hand for that of the tall Heavyarms pilot beside him, looking to borrow the strength he would need to give the order and was gratified to feel his partner’s firm, strong grip as his long fingers curled around his.

Quatre took a deep breath and forced the words past his constricted throat. “Move them out.”

“Yes sir.” The large man turned to the control consol and punched in the command. A moment later the boosters came alive, sending the satellite on a one way ticket to the sun. As the satellite started to move away, Noin reached out to grasp her husbands arm, squeezing it in comfort, sighing as she felt his arm wrap around her waist.

Hildi turned to Duo, concerned. She wanted to comfort him, yet thought he wanted to go through this alone. Duo may be emotional and flamboyant at times, but he had his pride. He was still Shinigami. She slowly turned and looked at all the other pilots to see varying degrees of remorse, regret, sorrow on their faces, seeping through their various masks. She looked back at the satellite with a heavy heart as it slowly heading towards certain destruction.

Duo wanted to scream for them to stop, to fly out onto the satellite and rescue Deathscythe. What would he do without him around? He felt tears come to his eyes but he blinked them back, refusing to give in to that particular weakness right now. The moment was to great for tears. He wanted to do something, anything, to try and salvage Deathscythe, but… Slowly, an image came, unbidden, to him. It was of Relena Peacecraft, standing in front of the monitor, her features strained in pain of the two bullet wounds she had received, saluting to everyone who saw the transmission, wishing them luck and god speed seconds before Libra blew up. Slowly, eyes glistening, he straightened up, lifted his hand, and saluted.

“Rest in Peace, Shinigami. I will never forget you, my friend.” He said softly, but loud enough that everyone in the room heard. All eyes turned to consider him for a moment, saw him saluting, before turning back to the window. Slowly, one by one, everyone in the room saluted the Gundams, Silently or aloud saying their final goodbyes. Not a single tear was shed. It was over. The Gundams were no more.

For the five Gundam pilots, as they watched their long time companions slowly disappear into the darkness, a strange, light feeling settled over them, as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders. As one, they gave a silent sigh of relief, feeling the doubts and insicurites give way to peace; it was over. It was well and truely over. In the back ov their minds, they heard a quiet, amused chuckle, and in their mind's eye they saw Relena Peacecraft smiling down on them, watching over them. In their hearts they heard her loving voice, and a peacefull smile settled over all of their features, 'Now let me show you what it means to have peace.' A light chuckle bubbled up in their throats as they knew that she was watching over them and that she would take care of them from now on, it was over. It was finally over.

One voice composed of five rang out in the shuttle as the satelite dissapeared from sight, “Mission Complete.”



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