Part Seventeen;
*Let's End it Here*

         Paato Sebanchiin;
         *Koko o owarimashou*
 

In the brilliance of space, amidst its shining stars and endless dance across infinity, a majestic mobile suit dropped its arms to its sides in the aftermath of a battle between the light and the darkness. As the light faded, the pilot was unable to see the peaceful light of the stars once again. For his mind was clouded with the darkness of war: a gaping black hole that engulfed Chikyuu in its entirety and swallowed all of Uchuu along with it.

War had consumed humanity.

One by one, five stars fell in shame to the dead void that had once been Earth.

Never to know the peace of outer space again.
 

Trowa staggered outside the base where he had been held prisoner and as the door slammed behind him, he puked. He was ravaged, both physically and emotionally. He'd never imagined... why... so many times before... His thoughts continued on, disjointed, as he stared at his shoes and waited for the queasy  feeling to fade.

When it didn't, he forced himself upright and gazed dully at the guard who was staring at the young boy in uncertain shock.

" Take me... " Trowa raised the gun. It was empty, but he didn't need to know that, " Take me to my Gundam. "

The guard took a step back and began to stammer refusal.

" Take me now! "

He was dreaming reality. The war had clouded his mind. But Trowa Barton was fine. Trowa Barton would accomplish his mission.
 

                 [##]
 

I won't make an excuse, I don't need a comfort
  I am the only person who trusts
         Iiwake wa shinai ze nagusame mo iranai
          Ore dake wa shinjiteru

                 [##]

Quatre was silent as he and Hiiro searched for Rilina. He stole glances at the other pilot and wondered. Wondered what it was that drove this other boy to almost emotionless actions, when one single look into the steady cobalt blue eyes told of a tumultuous emotionless soul within. It made him sad; made him hate war all the more. Quatre was a pacifist, but he still knew that in certain cases, fighting was the only way.

But that didn't make it any easier.

" Hiiro! " Rilina turned the corner and met them purely by accident. " There you are! What are you doing up? Are you okay? "

" I'm fine. Let's go. I need to get you home and find the fifth pilot. "

" The fifth... pilot? " Rilina looked even more worried. " But why? Hiiro, are you sure you're better? "

Quatre smiled at her. " I've already gone through this with him. "

" But, " Rilina looked stubbornly at him. " I don't want to go home. What good am I doing there? I'm not making any impact on this stupid war. "

Quatre gave her an appalled look. " How could you say that? " He stepped forward and looked imploringly at her. " Rilina Peacecraft, you are an example to the whole world! Your country's policy of total pacifism nearly united the whole world once before. Are you going to let it be defeated again? Without a strong leader, the peace of the Cinq Kingdom will crumble. Just by being there, you are making more of an impact than you even realize. "

Rilina stared at him, wordless.

" He's right. " Hiiro pointed out.

Her shoulders slumped. Quatre's heart went out to her. He knew how she felt.

" Alright, " she said softly, " Alright, I'll go home. But you have to promise me, " her head came back up and her eyes met Hiiro's with a fire that had the strength to lead the world, " promise me you won't get hurt, Hiiro. "

Quatre wasn't surprised when Hiiro did promise.
 

                 [##]
 

The heart that is restricted by a false freedom
  Cannot get the truth
         Itsuwari no jiyuu ni shibarareta kokoro ja
          Shinjitsu wa tsukamenai
 

                 [##]

Wufei awoke to the spiced scent of coffee.

Blearily, he opened his eyes to see dim light filtering through the canvas of the tent, and a mug of coffee being held in front of his face. Looking up from the coffee, he found Nara holding it out to him. With a soft, " Thank you, " he took the mug and sipped.

" Wondered how long it would take you to wake up, " she commented and shed her slicker. " Posan came at sunrise wanting to know if we wanted breakfast. Couldn't wake you up, so I thought I'd bring you back coffee. Cold night last night. "

Wufei nodded and sipped again. The sound of rain filled the space between them. " How did you get this here? " he asked eventually. Why? He didn't know.

Dryly, the response came, " Wonderful invention, umbrellas are. "

He glared at her over his mug. " Watch your mouth, onna. "

" What're you going to do about it? " She glared back stubbornly.

Wufei just glared harder and set his mug down.

Nara raised an eyebrow, but it was all for naught. Wufei merely ignored her comment and began pulling his hair back into the ponytail. Nara stared into her coffee, at her reflection in the surface and how it wavered and caught the light in ripples. She sipped it again. Not so long ago she hadn't even liked coffee.

Wufei finished with his hair and picked up his own coffee. He used to prefer tea, but coffee was the easiest to find these days. No sense in being picky. He had to take what came to him. He stole a glance back at the girl across the tent. Well, some things he had to take. Others he could definitely live without.
 

                 [##]
 

I want to protect with my bloody hands
  My life is just a shooting star disappearing
         Chi no nijimu kono te de mamoritsuzuketai
            Kono inochi nante kieteyuku ryuusei
 

                  [##]
 

Rilina bit her lip.

She stood at the entrance of Wing's cockpit and paused in hesitation. She didn't exactly have the fondest memories of sitting in there. She didn't even want to go. She was being treated like a child, sheltered from the war she supposedly had such an important role in.

" Get in, " Hiiro ordered behind her.

She looked back at him, then reluctantly complied. Rilina clambered into the cockpit and up to the back of the pilot's seat. She thought twice about how she sat and decided on sidesaddle. Hiiro turned and let himself fall back into the seat. Positioning his legs and arms, he reached over and activated the door.

Rilina watched Quatre's worried face as it was engulfed by the closing door. At the last crack she gave a wave, and then the cockpit was dark. Rilina switched to watching Hiiro work the controls. She hadn't paid much attention last time, having been too embarrassed. She marvelled at how his hands danced over the keys, and then gripped the control sticks.

" Hang on, " he said, and then they took to the sky.
 

                 [##]
 

Staring at the faraway sky with lonesome eyes
  Looking for something for ever
        Sabishigena me o shite tooi sora mitsumete
          Itsumademo sagashiteru
 

                 [##]
 

Zechs licked his lips in anticipation. The enemy wasn't moving. Frozen in fear at the sight of his power, no doubt. His skill had surprised it.

At the last moment the white Taurus dodged to the side and down, employing evasive maneuvers that he found oh-so predictable. Lashing out with the heat whip he caught the enemy on the foot. Smoke and the smell of sautered metal filled the air. It didn't reach him inside the cockpit, but with this computer system he could imagine it, and it was real. He could dream reality.

The white Taurus turned and fired off three blasts in defense. Epyon dodged them all easily. Left, then right, then up. A graceful turn and it arced directly at the enemy again. Faster! Faster! Faster! It shot past the enemy and reached out with taloned hands to rip through its skin. It twisted right below the Taurus and snapped the whip up, catching the enemy and ravaging its once pure white skin. Starlight mingled with explosions and sparks, and it was beautiful.

Zechs watched the Taurus careen to the ground and hit, throwing up a cloud of debris. Narrowing his eyes, he deduced that the enemy still lived, and the Epyon landed.

Epyon took two steps towards the fallen enemy and withdrew its beam sabre. He had defeated the enemy, now the enemy must die.
 

                 [##]
 

I'll be a bird flying the broad sky
  With the wings that are injured
        Hirosugiru sekai o kizutsuita tsubasa de
          Kaketeyuku tori ni naru

                 [##]

Treize sat back on his heels and wiped at his forehead with the back of his hand. He'd been working alone on the Talgeese for several hours now. Impressive, for he hadn't done anything like this in years: not since far before he became the Oz Representative. Even before he'd garnered himself the title 'His Excellency.' How nostalgic. He smiled.

Staring at the faraway sky with lonesome eyes
  Looking for something for ever
        Sabishigena me o shite tooi sora mitsumete
          Itsumademo sagashiteru

It seemed the radio he'd set down on the ground below the scaffolding was playing a song only for him. Even the radio, and the music that drove the beautiful infinite dance had forgotten Treize Kush Renada the man, the soldier.

I'll be a bird flying the broad sky
  With the wings that are injured
        Hirosugiru sekai o kizutsuita tsubasa de
          Kaketeyuku tori ni naru

But in the same moment, it empowered him. Gave him hope, and the drive to continue upgrading the Talgeese to his satisfaction. Treize resumed his work, humming absently along with the music that swelled below him.

He would dance again.
 

                 [##]
 

Kindness is needless for me
  A shooting star that burns itself out
  Lonely...
        Yasashisa wa iranai ima no kono ore ni
          Tatakai no naka de moetsukiru ryuusei
          Lonely...
 

                 [##]
 

Hiiro flew Wing close to the ground for awhile, throwing up sand behind him before rocketing into the sky. Wing, in flight mode, emerged through clouds to view the uncensored wide blue sky. The hot desert sun beat down upon the shining Gundanium.

He never turned his head when Rilina asked abruptly,  " Hiiro, why do you fight? "

So many answers he could use, and none would be to her satisfaction, he knew. He was fighting for the colonies, he was fighting for her, he was fighting for a better reality...

" It's the only thing I know, " he said quietly. He flicked a switch. " Quatre? "

" Yes? " The other boy's voice questioned over the comlink.

" Send me the information on the fifth pilot on a secure link. You can use my frequency. There's only one person outside of us who knows how to access it. "

" Okay... it's sending. "

" Thanks Quatre. I'll be back later. Hiiro out. " He turned off the com, and continued on flying in silence.
 

                 [##]
 

Everything including present and the future
  Is enveloped in the flames of war and becomes an illusion
  So our lives and the smiles fading out
  Will surely make the new world.
        Genjitsu mo mirai mo tatakai no honoo ni
          Tsutsumarete subete wa yume sa
          Dakara oretachi no inochi to kieteyuku egao ga
          Atarashii sekai o tsukuru kanarazu
 

                 [##]
 

Duo walked calmly out of the drawing room. With his arm in a sling, and several bandages patching his visible skin, he looked terrible. He had dark circles under his eyes, which had lost their characteristic gleam.

Duo Maxwell was now a man on a mission. He was sick of war; sick of the needless death and destruction. Sick of Oz. Sick of Gundams. Sick of Chikyuu and Uchuu combined. He was the God of Death: and it was about time people stopped dying at the hands of Oz and its false promises.

He reached the hanger bay and stood at the foot of Deathscythe. He looked up at the beautiful black Mobile Suit and finalized his decision.

While waiting for Hiiro to wake up, he'd done some booting around in the Maginak computers. He knew where the Romafellor Foundation headquarters were. That was where Oz had begun, and he would see to it, that it was where Oz ended.
 

                 [##]
 

You are staring at the truth
  With your mind hidden to the end
        Saigo made kokoro o kakushiteru omae wa
          Shinjitsu o mitsumeteru
 

                 [##]
 

Trowa paused just inside the hanger bay, ignoring as the guard who had led him here kept going. Looking to the side, he spied the radio that was the cause of his distraction, and took a moment to listen to the lyrics.

Be a legendary bird
  That flies to the end of the sky
        Doko made mo jiyuu ni ouzora o habataku
          Densetsu no tori ni nare

A shooting star that disappears
  After it entrusted its dream to the hope comes from the sadness
  Lonely...~
        Kanashimi no naka kara umareru kibou ni
          Yume o takushitara kieteyuku ryuusei
          Lonely...

Everything including friendship and memories
  Is taken by the destiny foreordained to fight
  And becomes an illusion
  New courage to stand against a violent storm is the ray to make a new time.
        Yuujou mo kioku mo tatakai no sadame ni
          Nagasarete subete wa yume sa
          Ima wa arekuru arashi ni tachimukau yuuki ga
          Atarashii jidai o tsukuru kagayaki~

Trowa turned and walked away, following the guard to his freedom: freedom to continue his imprisonment. He left the grips of Oz to return to the grips of duty. But he didn't mind. In a way he embraced it with the deepest love. He loved to dance, afterall; and this was the most beautiful infinite dance between Earth and Outer Space.
 

                 [##]
 

Everything including present and the future
  Is enveloped in the flames of war and becomes an illusion
  So our lives and the smiles fading out
  Will surely make the new world.
        Genjitsu mo mirai mo tatakai no honoo ni
          Tsutsumarete subete wa yume sa
          Dakara oretachi no inochi to kieteyuku egao ga
          Atarashii sekai o tsukuru kanarazu
 

 **
 

[I get the feeling I'm repeating myself here. ~sighs~ This story is based upon repetition, which involves a lot of brain power. But! Next in Mugen no Dansu part eighteen! Will Hiiro get rid of Rilina and find Wufei? Will Duo kill everyone? Will Trowa and Quatre be reunited? Is Zechs going to kill Noin?! Is Treize having too much fun with the Talgeese? (oi, get your mind out of the gutter) See you next time, when I promise to resolve at least one of those questions!]

 [Written by Inseiko, 2000]
         [Song: 'Love is a Shooting Star' by Nakahara Shigeru
          Lyrics found at http://www.gundamwing.org  altered slightly by Inseiko for corrections]

Go to part eighteen