Part Eleven;
*My Dream... "

         Paato Ireban;
         *Wagayume... "
 

She stood alone, surrounded by computers, the helmet attached by cables to those computers pressed between her hands. She was jealous, saddened. It was only through this artificial method she was able to enter the beautiful infinite dance. Oh, she hid it well, any method was better than no method at all. But she was so detached, so far away. She was not a participant, her mindless pawns were. It wasn't fair.

Tears only shed in the world of dreams streaked her face as she watched the dance go on, and flood outer space with 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.
 

Dorothy opened her eyes and felt the streaks of wetness on her face. Wiping her cheeks, she stared at the darkened ceiling above her and wished she could enter the dance. She wanted to enter the war.

For not the first time that night, her mind turned once more to Treize's Gundam. She narrowed her eyes as she rolled over and pulled the covers tighter around her.

It wasn't fair. She should have gotten the new Gundam.

  [##]

Hiiro watched as Deathscythe tore into the battlefield.

  [##]

This was killing Duo. Or at least, he felt like he was going to die. An attack from the side threw him into the wall of the cockpit, and he landed on his bad shoulder. This time he couldn't bite back the scream of pain.

" Are you okay?! " came the alarmed voice from the other Gundam that wasn't Hiiro's. Duo had forgotten that he'd left the comlink open.

" Yeah, " he replied, urging himself to sit up straight again, " I'm fine. "

Duo was a little resentful of the concern in the boy's voice when it returned and pointed out, " You don't sound like it. "

Duo noted something in the other boy's voice and rudely commented, " You don't sound so well yourself there, buddy. "

There was a pause. Then the voice begrudgingly accepted that, " point. "

Duo's attention snapped to the front screen as Wing took a bad hit to the back and plunged face first into the sand. Immediately one of the Oz Leos pinned it with a foot to the back and aimed it's rifle.

Leo rifles weren't effective at long range, but short range they could do a lot of damage-- they would do a lot of damage.

" Hiiro! " Duo cried, powering Deathscythe forward and swinging his scythe. But panic had driven his hand too early, and he fell short.

The Leo pulled the trigger.

But before the rifle could fire, a red-hot scythe blade seared through it, continuing on to decapitate the Leo. Duo took the other pilot's lead and sliced the rest of the M.S. in half, pushing it off Wing.

" You okay, Hiiro? " Duo inquired.

" No, " came the growly voice of the Japanese pilot. " I can't fight back. "

Duo blinked in surprise. Hiiro never had been the compassionate kind...

" Why? " asked the voice of the other pilot, as the third Gundam moved in to protect Wing.

" Because, " Hiiro answered, sounding none-to-happy, " if I do, she'll get hurt. "

" She? " Duo echoed. He mulled over this. Who in the world would Hiiro be worried about getting hurt? What she would have him so miffed over it. Ah! But-- " Rilina Dorlain?! " Duo exclaimed. How in the hell--?

Not having been included in the history behind the conversation, the other boy's voice exclaimed,   " Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain's Daughter?! "

Duo leaned back and pushed his bangs from his forehead. He exhaled noisily and answered for Hiiro, " The one and only... "

  [##]

Hiiro looked down at Rilina and glared, cursing himself for his inexplicable need to protect her.

  [##]

Trowa looked around the interrogation room for a weapon. Any kind of weapon. It wouldn't be too long before either Hitori Yuu or another soldier returned to escort him back to his cell. His eyes lighted on the table, where his mask still sat.

That's right, he'd brought it with him. Hadn't he? Trowa furrowed his brow. He couldn't quite remember it. Yet there was the mask, plain as day.

Trowa got to his feet and approached the table. Gently, he placed his fingers on the smooth surface of the porcelain mask. He sensed the camera come to life behind him, activated by his movement. They were watching him. But if he did this just right that wouldn't matter.

Picking up the mask, he held it by the chin and took a deep breath. Raising it to the level of his shoulder-- if he put too much force behind it, it would shatter-- and then smashed it against the table edge.

The mask broke, filling the room with a crystalline ringing sound, followed by the pattering of the pieces as they hit the floor. Trowa raised the piece in his hand to his eyes and examined it. It was as clean a break as could be expected; with a thicker piece that fit into the palm of his hand where the chin had been, and then it traveled up the side of what had been the mask to a point.

Opening his other hand, Trowa pressed the edge of the mask piece to his skin, and watched as it drew blood. It took a little force, but it would do. Next, the other pieces.

Trowa knelt and examined the other pieces, much of them had broken again upon impact with the floor, but one had become a thin, narrow piece that also came to a point. Trowa picked this one up and stood. Abruptly he spun and threw it at the camera. The lens shattered and the porcelain imbedded itself in the circuitry.

Now that no one could see him, all Trowa had to do was wait.

  [##]

Hiiro looked down at Rilina and scowled.

  [##]

Quatre sat back in shock. Rilina Dorlain... the daughter of the recently assassinated Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain, new ruler of the resurrected Cinq Kingdom. Rilina Dorlain Peacecraft. Quatre knew Oz had their eyes on the Cinq Kingdom, the almost legendary pacifist kingdom. What was the ruler doing with the pilot of this Gundam? Was she the reason why it was being attacked?

" Hiiro! " came the voice of the other pilot, " Is she alright? "

" She's fine, " growled the other voice back.

Suddenly the proof of her existence appeared in the form of her voice over the intercom. " Hey! I recognize that voice! You're that guy that shot Hiiro! "

Quatre blinked. Obviously there was a history here.

" Ah, Neechan! " there was a nervous tone in the voice of the second pilot. " It was all a big misunderstanding! "

Quatre smiled. Judging from the actions of the second pilot, misunderstandings were common. Turning from where he'd been fighting-while-listening he commented, " Why don't we finish up here, and then go back to my base? I can offer you a place to stay and repair for your Mobile Suits. "

There was a pause over the com, almost as if they'd forgotten he was there.

" Alright, " agreed the second pilot. He turned around and swung his scythe through a number of the Oz M.S.

Quatre watched his form and smiled again. " I can also have a medic take a look at your right arm, " he offered. Surprised silence filled the comlink. " By the way, my name is Quatre Rababa Winner. What's yours? "

" Duo. Duo Maxwell. Normally I'd have something cute to say, but right now I'm in too much pain. "

Quatre giggled. He turned to the other mobile suit, " and you? What're your names? "

" Hiiro Yui. "

" My name is Rilina Peacecraft. Thank you for your assistance, Winnersan. "

  [##]

" Hn, " grunted Hiiro.

  [##]

Wufei and Nara followed Sally Po through the trees and underbrush to the encampment she'd mentioned. There they were welcomed by several former Alliance Soldiers, and given the promised soup and coffee. When they were properly fed and clothed in extra military fatigues, (that were too big, I might add) Sally showed them to their tent.

Nara peered into the tent from within the oversized hood of her borrowed rainslicker. " We have to stay in there? " she asked, uncertainty in her voice, " Together? "

Sally looked reproachful. " I have men thrice your size sharing these tents. "

Nara looked insulted. " It's not that! I'm not some pampered noble! The problem is him! " she jerked her head towards Wufei, who scowled.

Sally sighed. " Yes, I know, he's a pain, " her tone turned dry, " sometimes he's a downright asshole. " Wufei's scowl became a glare. " But I don't think one night will kill you. "

Nara snorted. " This will mark the second. " But, regardless, she climbed into the tent, and handed her slicker back to Sally.

Wufei followed reluctantly, and also handed his slicker to Sally, successfully sealing them there for the rest of the night.

" Be good you two, " Sally warned good naturedly and dropped the flap.

Nara wrapped her arms about her and shivered.

Silence reigned until Wufei suddenly broke it. " What were you doing anyway? "

" Hm? "

" When I came across you. What were you doing? You were calling for help. " Wufei looked at her quizzically. " You didn't really need it. "

Nara sniffed, more out of being cold than being snobbish, " I did some minor sabotage around their base, and then booked it when they saw me. I knew they'd follow me. "

" You were going to execute them. "

" Yes. "

" With that net, " he said the word with disdain.

Nara gave him a wry look and said condescendingly, " When you're a weak onna like me, you need a little ingenuity. " But most of her insulting edge was lost when a violent shiver wracked her body. She reached for the blanket, saw that there was only one, and left it.

Wufei meanwhile was deep in thought. Ingenuity, she'd said. Creativity, originality. Was that what he lacked in battle? Was that what made him weak? Was that why Nataku didn't love him? Wufei watched the other person in the tent with a new frame of mind. Nara Sorou had been brave enough to take on Oz all by herself, no Mobile Suit, no heavy artillery. Just what had been hidden under that long shirt. She hadn't been too weak to fight. With a horrible sadness, Wufei realized that he was envious of Nara.

" What's it like? " asked Nara suddenly.

" What? "

" Piloting a Mobile Suit? Fighting with a Gundam. "

Wufei paused, searching for something suiting. " It's beyond words, " he settled on. " It takes incredible amounts of concentration, and yet, you feel so free. It's like... "

" Like? "

" ... " Wufei got up and made his way over to her. Sitting next to her, he grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around the two of them. " It's like marriage. You hate it while it's going on, but once it all comes crashing down, you miss it so much it hurts. "

  [##]

" Watch out, " was the only warning Hiiro gave before lifting his buster rifle and in one shot taking out all of the Oz M.S. that remained in one sweep.

  [##]

" Ow! " Rilina yelled as her head hit the screen. She sat up straight again once the g-force created by the buster rifle died out.   " Hiiro! "

" You're safer now, aren't you? " he pointed out in that abominable monotone.

" Sometimes I think I'd be safer riding with Duo! " Rilina declared.

" Hey! Thanks! I appreciate that! " Duo's voice cheerily inputted.

Hiiro shut off the com.

Rilina smiled up at the pilot. If she didn't know better, she'd have thought he was jealous.

  [##]

Hiiro (slowly) powered up Wing, and followed 'Quatre' back to his base.

  [##]

Zechs tentatively sat within the cockpit of the Epyon. He looked around himself, feeling a cross between anticipation and apprehension. The controls around him were typical for a Mobile Suit, but some were strange, alien to his knowledge. The first of which being the helmet. He pulled it down to his level and examined it. Several cables and wires linked it to the computer system of the Epyon. It seemed to interface directly with the pilot's brain. Zechs knew this was dangerous, but at the same time, very promising.

Zechs looked down at his friend and offered, " Thank you, Treize. "

" No, " Treize shook his head with a small smile, " Thank you Milliardo. I'll take good care of the Talgeese. "

Zechs smiled wryly, " I'm sure you will. "

" Have fun, and remember well what Epyon shows you of your future, " Treize advised, and then left the room.

  [##]

Hiiro watched with interest as Quatre's base came into view.

  [##]

Treize closed the door, and felt it rattle with the force of Zechs' takeoff. The man was still sick, he knew, but since seeing Epyon, Zechs seemed to have regained some life to him. Further proof of the wonder of his creation. Zechs and Epyon were perfectly suited to each other. He should have seen it before. Only Zechs had the elegance to match Epyon's.

But, Treize felt no resentment. He was satisfied with the Talgeese. It had been a long time since he'd had a dance. For too long he'd been the conductor. He'd forgotten how to let himself go with the music.

" Treizesan, " came Dorothy's voice. " Has Milliardosan left us? "

Treize turned to see the young woman standing in her nightgown against the wall. Curious, she appeared to be recovering from a period of being distraught. A bad dream perhaps?

" Yes, " Treize answered, " He's gone. On to better things than us, I suppose. Shall we resume our last match? "

" Yes. " Dorothy answered distractedly, " Yes, let's. "

  [##]

Hiiro climbed out of Wing with Rilina on his back. When he stepped onto solid ground, he discovered that it wasn't solid at all, and sank to his ankles in the sand. Setting Rilina down, he turned to face the boy who had led them here.

Quatre approached them with Duo at his side. He looked like he was younger than Hiiro, but there was no sure way of telling. His hair was light blonde, and with the sunlight on it looked almost white. Green eyes smiled from out of a pure face.

" Welcome! " he greeted warmly.

" Yeah. " Hiiro shook the hand offered to him, " How long do you think until you can have my Gundam finished? I need to get her home. "

Rilina smiled and contradicted, " No hurry. "

Hiiro cursed her inwardly.

" Well, " Quatre considered this, " it shouldn't take too long for the Maginak to finish repairs. But before you go, I have to tell you why I brought you here. "

Hiiro, Rilina, and Duo watched the boy expectantly. An alterior motive? From that face?

Quatre looked at them all with those clear blue-green eyes and stated, " We need to go to space. "
 
 

And then, with no warning whatsoever...

Hiiro,

woke up.

**

[And just when you think that this story can't make any LESS sense:  I drop this on you! Bwa ha ha hahahahahaha! ~gringrin~ Wanna know what the heck I'm doing? Well, you can read Gundam Wing Mugen no Dansu part twelve!! But I offer no guarantees... Ja ne!]

[Written by Inseiko 2000]

Go to Part Twelve