Part Two;
*A Battle's Illustration*

         Paato Tsuu;
         *Sentoo no Irasutoreeshon*
 

The great God of Death raised it's scythe, ready to reap destruction upon all it's enemies. It moved through the emptiness of space like it was water, it's motion fluid. Here there was no gravity well to hinder it's movements. Shinigami was poetry in motion: the absolute beauty of battle. Perhaps if you had your comlink set to the right frequency, you would have heard the pilot shouting premonitions of your doom.

The brilliant green energy of the scythe sheared through enemy Mobile Suits, and the explosions resulting reflected on Shinigami's skin of black Gundanium.

The green energy of the scythe continued on into space, to cross paths directly above the Earth with a large stream of golden fire. The result of this meeting blotted out all things with harsh light.

The light of war had outshone the peaceful light of the stars. One by one five of them fell to the Earth in shame.

Never to return.

Never to feel the peace of space again.
 

With a snort, Duo Maxwell awoke to find himself standing, leaning against cold bathroom tiles with frigid water running over his body. " Whoa, " he commented as he turned the water off and reached for a towel, " trippy dream. "

Meandering his way over to the window, Duo smiled out at his beloved Deathscythe and called,   " I'll be right with you, Shinigami! " He turned and padded towards the kitchenette, " I need breakfast! "

  [##]

When the spotlight came up, Trowa found himself staring directly at the Oz soldiers, and them staring back.

  [##]

The sand was not a problem.

Perhaps in ancient days when the Colonies themselves were dreams the machinery of that era would have been troubled by sand. But not now. Mobile Suits felt nothing of the sand. Paint might get scratched, but nothing more. And the paintjob was usually the absolute last thing from a pilot's mind, especially during a war, and besides, Quatre's mind wasn't even on Sandrock at the moment.

Quatre was thinking about the soldiers at the base he was headed for. It was for the good of the colonies, he knew, but... it still hurt to end so many lives. He wondered if this would be any easier if he had his father's approval. Sadly, Quatre knew that even this would not dull the pain. He sighed, and closed his eyes as the base came into view, and Rasid informed him of the details.

Needlessly, for Quatre already knew all that he needed to know to get the mission done right.

  [##]

Kathrine entered the ring, and Trowa watched with relief as the Oz Soldiers' attention switched to her... all except for one.

  [##]

Wufei spurred into action as a second scream pierced the air, followed by a shrill, " Tasukete! " He took off through the underbrush towards the cause of the commotion. Leaping over fallen logs and weaving around the trees, he shed his overcoat. Wiry muscles glistening in the early morning sunlight, he pumped his arms for more speed and followed the screams at top speed.

Suddenly emerging onto a path, Wufei found himself in the middle of a tight group of Oz soldiers. Wasting no time on thought, the young warrior pushed into the air and landed a solid kick on one of the soldiers' jaw. Landing in ready position, he then assessed the situation and found to his disgust a girl standing a short distance down the path, staring in shock at him.

Figured. The soldiers must have been trying to rape her or something.

Wufei clenched his jaw in anger and buried his fist in the gut of a soldier who dared to move. There were five of them, not counting the one he'd knocked out upon arrival. Two of them moved to attack this boy who dared interfere, but Wufei nimbly evaded their efforts and pushed one of their own into the line of fire. The three of them tumbled down into a heap.

Chak!

Wufei froze.

" Turn around, " ordered the only soldier smart enough to pull his gun.

Wufei did, holding up his hands and keeping his face steadfastly neutral. As soon as that satisfied smirk crossed the soldier's face, Wufei's hand shot out like a cobra's strike and broke the soldier's wrist. The gun dropped, and Wufei ran. Grabbing the girl by the wrist, the young warrior turned a corner in the path and picked up speed.

  [##]

Trowa's expression never changed as he and Kathrine parted ways: he headed for the wooden backdrop, and she headed for the table laden with all sorts of knives.

  [##]

The sunlight greeted Zechs as he stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac. Looking around, he watched soldiers scurry and Mobile Suits lumber across his field of vision. Faintly he wondered if any of them really knew what they were doing. These bases were always busy, but in some cases Zechs just didn't know what it was that kept them so busy.

" Greetings Lieutenant Zechs, " stated a voice.

" Mm? " he turned to greet the owner, " Noin. "

She lowered her hand from her salute and offered him a coy little smile. " The technicians say the Talgeese is all ready for you, sir. "

Zechs stared at her dumbly for a moment. " Hm? "

Noin regarded him in confusion a moment. " Zechs? Are you all right? "

No, he wasn't all right. He was feeling dizzy, and nauseous. The edges of his vision were fuzzy, and his equilibrium felt slightly off. " Yeah, sure, Noin, I'm fine, " was what he said out loud, however.

Clearly, she didn't believe him. " Okay, Zechs, whatever you say. Let's go take a look at that Suit. " Noin turned and headed across the tarmac. After a few steps it was all too obvious that Zechs was not following her. Several of the soldiers who were there to escort the plane to the fueling station were observing Zechs curiously.

Noin turning around and inquiring, " Lieutenant? " was the last thing Zechs saw or heard before he blacked out and collapsed onto the tarmac.

  [##]

Trowa could feel the quivering of the blade next to his ear, but never took his eyes off those soldiers, nor the one who couldn't seem to take his eyes off him.

  [##]

" Ohayou, Rilinasan, " greeted a soft, sugary voice as Rilina awoke.

Stirring slightly where she was curled up in a chair, Rilina looked up into a pair of monochromatic eyes framed by a pale face and even paler blonde hair pulled tight by a headband. " Mm... " murmured a still-incoherant Rilina as she unfurled herself from the chair.

" Whatever are you doing sleeping out here? " As usual, the greeting was followed by a string of condescending questions that almost seemed... Rilina didn't know. Even when she wasn't foggy with sleep she couldn't quite place what was so... so... Wrong about Dorothy.

" Ah, I see, " Dorothy stated, that slight mocking tone picking up slightly. She moved back a bit as Rilina approached the window, " you were worried about the fighting happening outside of the Cinq Kingdom... "

More softly, Dorothy added, " and a certain Gundam pilot whom is fighting in that war... "

That caught Rilina's attention.

Turning she demanded, " What? "

Dorothy blinked, ever so innocently. " Hm? "

Rilina turned fully and took a step towards the blonde haired girl sent from the Romafellor Foundation. " What did you say? " She wasn't demanding anymore. A seed of doubt had been planted by Dorothy's deceptive innocence. This was merely asking. This was the peaceful way of finding out.

" I said that you were worried about the war happening outside the Cinq Kingdom, " Dorothy reiterated, blinking and smiling serenely all the time.

Rilina furrowed her brow, prompting, " and what after that? "

" Why, nothing. What did you think I'd said, Rilinasan? " Dorothy inquired.

Rilina's face compressed, managing to look confused and hurt by her own brash actions at the same time. " Never mind. I'll see you in class Dorothy, I'd like to be alone for a moment, if you don't mind. "

Dorothy turned to go. " Not at all, Rilinasan. " She clasped her hands in abject hero-worship, " All great leaders need time to themselves, to reflect on their situations. " She closed the door behind her and left Rilina to herself.

Rilina turned back to the window and stared out over the ideal peace of the Cinq Kingdom. She'd done this, she and her brother. Her eyes turned misty. Where was Milliardo? Where was Noin? Why had she been left alone with this kingdom all by herself?

Sometimes...

Sometimes she wondered what might have been...

" Hiiro... "

  [##]

The act ended and Trowa took his bows next to Kathrine.

  [##]

" Rilina... "

What was it about that girl that had Hiiro's thoughts constantly turning towards her?

Chikyuu. The planet was destroying him. No. That wasn't true. Rilina was destroying him.

A chance meeting on the beach. The beach he'd dragged himself onto after planetfall in Operation Meteor had fallen apart on him. She'd been there. Somehow he knew, he just knew that she had been on that shuttle that had started the chain of events that had led to this.

Oz knew he was on Chikyuu. Oz knew about his Gundam. Oz was searching for him. He had to destroy Oz. Oz had to destroy him.

" Rilina... " he said that name again. That name that made Hiiro feel that he was not himself. That name that plagued his mind and his dreams and even his actions. That damned name that kept haunting him. " ... omae o korosu. "

The sunlight crept over Wing as it's namesake star continued on it's path towards noon.

  [##]

" Good work, you two, " complimented the Ringmaster as Trowa and Kathrine left the ring.

  [##]

Not surprisingly, it was Lady Une who brought him his breakfast.

" Ohaiyo gozaimasu, Lady, " greeted Treize formally as his meal was placed before him on a gilded tray. A silver platter, if you will.

The Oz representative sat still in the chair he'd fallen asleep in, his hands folded before his face, his elbows on the table. He said nothing of his change in position between the time he'd fallen asleep and the time he'd awaken: neither did Une. There was nothing that needed to be said. They understood that.

It was something that attracted Treize to Une. It was not a romantic attraction (much to the Lady's dismay) but a professional one. She had the potential to be so elegant, the true perfect soldier. She could almost be his successor as Oz representative. If only she'd learn to not be so brash in her actions. She just needed to get over her... overzealousness. If only...

" What have you to report, my Lady? " Treize inquired, gracefully partaking of his meal.

Lady Une's back straightened, and she took on the posture of a soldier in the blink of an eye. " Sir, we have had no success in locating any of the five Gundams or their pilots. We believe one or two of them to be residing in the Cinq Kingdom. "

" Is that your belief or Romafellor's? " Treize inquired.

Lady Une's face tinted a slight blush as Treize found her out. " Romafellor wants the Cinq Kingdom out of the picture... "

" And he wants the Colonies out of the picture, " Treize continued for her, " The Gundams came from the Colonies, and zero-one has been known to protect Rilina Peacecraft. " He narrowed his eyes in thought. " Romafellor wants to use the Gundams as scapegoats. He's making them out to be the enemy. "

" But, aren't they? " Lady Une interjected.

" Ah, Lady, " Treize smiled, reaching over to touch her cheek in a fond gesture, " In a war like this everyone is an enemy. It's the question of finding the true enemy: The Enemy. It is my belief that the Gundams are not The Enemy. "

Still blushing madly from that touch, Lady Une inquired, " Then, who is? "

" That's a very good question, " was all Treize would say further on the matter.

  [##]

" Trowa Barton? "

Trowa froze. He stood very still in the darkness enclosing the outside of the circus tent and kept his back to the male voice that had called his name. There was no need to. He knew who it was.

" Trowa Barton, I'm from Oz Specials. " The soldier walked forward to stand right next to Trowa. He kept his hands behind him and his back straight. This was a formal meeting. " My name is Lieutenant Colonel Hitori Yuu. I would like to ask you a few questions if I may about a certain Mobile Suit I suspect you know all I need to know about. "

Keeping his voice perfectly level, Trowa stated, " I don't know what you're talking about. " He resumed walking.

" I think you do, Zero-three, " Yuu contradicted, " Or am I to assume that pretty knife thrower pilots the Gundam hidden in the trees you're facing right now? "

Trowa stopped again. Those who have laid eyes on a Gundam shall not live to tell about it, his familiar phrase echoed through his mind. It was his mantra, what he lived by.

Lieutenant Colonel Hitori Yuu had to die.
 

To be continued...
 Tsuzuku...

**

[Well... we know who screamed! Kinda... ^^ This story has yet to find a point for itself, but I'm getting there! Maybe in Part Three where we find out if Hitori Yuu is doomed to die, if Wufei really is stuck with a Girl and whether Duo will actually get anything done today. I won't bother asking if Hiiro's gonna kill poor Rilina. He threatens that all the time.]

Translation Notes for this Chapter

[Written by Inseiko, 2000]

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