*Within Forever*
Paato Chuenchisurii;
*Eien no naka de*
Part Twenty-three;
*Within Forever*
Paato Chuenchisurii;
*Eien no naka de*
In space, I see music.
In the brilliance of space, amidst its shining stars and endless dance across infinity, a white and blue mobile suit lifted its rifle and spewed golden fire into the darkness. The light from the fire mingled with that of four other Gundams to create a brilliant flash of light. The light of war outshone the peaceful light of the stars and, in a moment, the mistakes of the past had been forgotten, only to be repeated.
One by one five stars fell to the Earth in shame.
Never to return.
Never to feel the peace of space again.
The flames were terrible. They rose into the air, taller than he, lapping at the sky they were so desperately trying to reach themselves. The heat seared him through his clothing, blowing his hair all around him. It even reflected in his wide violet eyes as he turned and shouted," Come On Quatre! We Gotta Get Outta Here!! " He hated the panic in his voice. But he really didn't want to see the kind Arabian boy die. Not when they had finally found each other. Not when they were about to return to space. The Gundams would have victory there. He knew it! " QUATRE!! "
Goddammit! Why was Sandrock just standing there? Why wasn't Quatre saying anything? The flames were burning his back, the heat was unbearable. Why the hell had Hiiro chosen blowing things up to be his signal?
Oh, right. He was Hiiro. What more explanation did he need?
" QUATRE!!!!!!! "
Then, before Duo's eyes, the Gundam Sandrock self-destructed.
[##]
Into the sky, my hair bursts afire
My body is just like a flame
Kami ga sora ni moeagaru
Karada ga honou no you no
[##]
Trowa opened his hazel eyes and floated over to a window in the wall of his space capsule. The stars were fathomless... the colonies distant... where was he going to go? What was he going to do?
Quatre...
The other boy's capsule drifted close by. Trowa had seen it take off directly after Duo's right as the spaceport had been completely devastated. He wondered if the other boy was alright. Trowa had the detached feeling that he wasn't sure what he'd do without HeavyArms. Sure, he'd be able to do some damage with a stolen Leo, maybe an Aries or a Taurus... but it wouldn't be the same.
Funny... Trowa had never been attached to anything in his life. But since acquiring HeavyArms... well, Nanashi would never have called Kathrine. Nor would Nanashi still be intently watching the other space capsule for a remote sign of life.
[##]
Oh no, why is it turning out like this?
Now I am really burning up inside
Yada wa, nande kou naru
no
Hontou ni mou okotchau kara
[##]
" Sandrock... you want me to get out...? "
" QUATRE!!!! "
" We'll be waiting for you when you get back, Quatresama... "
" I've established that we've all seen dreams of Outer Space. For whatever reason, something is telling us to return to space. "
Outer Space... Uchuu... the Uchuu no Kokoro throbbed in his chest. It was funny when you thought about it... how Uchuu and Uchi sounded so much alike. He felt so comfortable... he could sleep forever...
just...
like...
this...
[uchi = home]
[##]
While I am in love, and feel heartache
Even though I want to have sweet dreams
They will not allow it, this is their fault
Koi wo shite, setsunai
kara
Amai yume o mitetai no ni
Yurusenai aitsura no sei yo
[##]
Sacrifices must be made in the path to peace. As a Gundam Pilot, you should know that better than any other
Why couldn't he get those thoughts out of his head? Why couldn't he get her out of his head? She'd only been a foolish onna afterall. Just another casualty in the war that should never had been. She brought it upon herself, fighting when she was too weak.
His memory flashed a picture of her eyes... deep brown eyes where he could see not only his reflection, but the reflection of the rain... and an emotion he couldn't place. Eyes which in such concerned anger had driven him to run when everything within him screamed for him to stay. To stay and protect her, even if she'd brought it upon herself.
Wufei shook his head vehemently and rested his forehead against the cool surface of the window. Turning his head, he looked up at Shenlon Gundam and whispered, " Nataku... please... show me the truth... " His eyelids dropped wearily, " Show me true justice... "
[##]
As I thought, it is I who must do this
By my own hands I will crush evil into defeat
Yappari, watashi yarukkyanai
ne
tatakitsubushite yaru wa kono te de aku wo
[##]
Rilina sat at her desk and tapped a pencil absently against the unopened books before her. Her mind was deep in thought... trying to figure out things. Mulling over plans. It was time to take action, time to take a stand for peace...
... but how?
She couldn't think of anything. She couldn't think of a way to be like Hiiro. She remembered hearing on the news that the Romafellor Foundation had been directly attacked. It was mostly political mud-slinging at the Gundams, disavowing their actions, etc. Rilina admired Duo's brazenness in the same moment that she reviled his methods. But he'd been right in one thing. It was the Romafellor Foundation which was behind Oz. It was the Romafellor who was the true enemy of world peace.
" Pagan, could you bring Dorothy to me please? " she requested over the intercom. While waiting she reviewed her plan and was satisfied with them. If she couldn't attack the enemy directly, she would use a roundabout method. The best way to understand your enemy, afterall, was to become them.
The door silently slid open and Dorothy entered, her head bowed and her hands clasped. " You called for me Rilinasan? "
" Yes, Dorothy, I did, " Rilina met the other girl's gaze full on, " I want you to take me to meet your grandfather and the Romafellor Foundation. "
Dorothy smiled. " I'll make the arrangements right away. "
[##]
That's right, until then, I must perservere
Awaken now, Soldier of Blue
Sou yo, sore made, ganbarunakutcha
Mesamenasai, Aoi Senshi yo
[##]
Zechs and Noin stood at the outskirts of the crowd of surviving soldiers, firefighters, policemen, officials, and gawkers, watching the burning spaceport.
" Well, " Noin said, looking up at the sky, " Looks like Hiiro Yui is going to have to wait a little longer for the Epyon, huh Zechs? " After a pause, she looked back down, " Zechs? "
" Hmm, " Zechs murmured absently. He was watching as some lower Oz Soldiers visibly talked about him and Noin. Their furtive glances and hushed tones despite the distance were obvious enough. " Looks like a revolution is brewing... "
Backdraft from the fire blew Noin's bangs into her eyes, obscuring her view. " Zechs...? "
[##]
No matter how bad a person you are
If I love you, I will believe in you
Donna warui hito datte
Suki nara, shinjite miru no
[##]
Treize sighed and let the warm fluid envelope him. He breathed deeply of the rich scent and leaned his head back against the cool surface of the bathtub. After countless hours of working on Talgeese, it seemed every muscle ached. It had been a painful journey from the hanger to the bath.
" Sir? " interrupted that same soldier as before. Treize liked him, he was short and concise, wasting no time at all when giving a report. But he wasn't a soldier without opinion, and Treize could read every emotion in that deadpan military voice. Kinda reminded him of Zechs in his younger years.
" Yes? "
" I have another update on the Gundam Pilots, sir. "
" Please go on, " Treize stated. No one ever said he couldn't be delivered a report while in the bath. Actually... " Lieutenant Carson? "
" Yes sir? "
Treize shifted position, rising so that the water only covered him from the chest down. " Would you come in here please and massage my shoulders?"
" S-Sir? " Carson's hesitation was evident in his voice.
Treize chuckled. " Surely you remember the aches and pains of an MS Pilot after repairs? Just give me your report while you do so. "
Carson hesitated again. " Y-Yes sir, " the young man awkwardly entered the bath and set his gloves down by the door. Rolling up his sleeves, he tentatively touched the commanding officer's shoulders, before slowly beginning to massage them.
[insert typical yaoi lemon here... NOT!! hah! Had you going, didn't I? ^_~ ~so evil...~]
Carson's voice wavered as he gave his report. It was mildly amusing. " The five Gundam Pilots have destroyed a space port, on the shore of the Indian Ocean-- "
Treize grunted and leaned into the massage. " Harder, Carson. "
Carson dearly hoped no one was within hearing range. He continued, " --they used the destruction to cover their escape into Outer Space sir. It appears they are returning to the colonies. Also, Lieutenants Zechs Marquis and Lucretia Noin were seen there as well. Zechs was in possession of what looks like a Gundam, and Noin had a white painted Taurus. "
" Interesting, " commented Treize, " Go on... "
" They were... they were then seen heading for the Sanc Kingdom. "
Zechs would never be so stupid, he must have been heading somewhere else...
" Also, the Romafellor Foundation is recovering from the attack by Gundam Unit 02. Duke Dermail wishes to speak with you once you are done your bath, sir. "
" That is all? "
" Yes sir, that is all. "
" Thank you, Carson. For both the report and the massage. You may tell Duke Dermail that I will call him back as soon as I'm done here. "
" Roukai. " Lieutenant Carson saluted and hurried out of the room.
[##]
Trying to take advantage of that
is something that you must not do
Sore o riyou suru nante
Sonna no yatcha ikenai no yo
[##]
Two days of darkness...
First glances would never have revealed it. Nor a second or a third, for it took hard searching to find the body hidden amongst the foliage. A mere bit of discolouration within a million shades of green.
Five streaks of light cut the twilight sky, burning brighter than the deepening sunset. It was as if these upward traveling streams of artificial natural light were enough to finally wake her.
It started with a soft stir, almost motionless, almost nothing. Then slowly her head lifted from the damp ground. The indigo curtain of her hair cascaded back from her face as she turned it to the sky. The lights were mirrored in glossy brown as she watched them ascend. She rose to her feet and continued to observe their path, even as the sun finally set, and they burned brightest for the briefest of moments before becoming mere stars.
Her first step was an explosion of sound in her ears, shattering the stillness of the forest around her. She stumbled, falling forward again. The wound in her arm opened and spilled crimson across the monochromatic green world. Its heavy scent mingled with the overpowering smell of the woods in her nostrils to jar her awake. Determination pushed her to her feet again.
" Kazoku no tame ni... " her voice rasped, hurting her throat after two days without water. She leaned against a tree for support as her eyelids drooped. But she pushed forward. Posan's encampment couldn't have been too far away. She had to keep living. For her family's sake... for the sake of the boy and his machine which had given her hope again. Her mind danced on the very edges of delirium. To the darkness she whispered, " Wu... fe.... i........ "
[##]
I always want to protect you
For you, I will go leaping forward
Only love is unlimited energy
Itsu datte mamoritai
yo
Anata no tame, tonde yuru wa
Ai dake ga kagirinai Energy
Come on, it is we who must do this
By our own hands we will crush evil into defeat
That's right, until then, we must perservere
Awaken now, Soldier of Love
Nee, watashitachi yarukkyanai
ne
Tatakitsubushite yaru wa kono te de aku wo
Sou yo, sore made, ganbaranakutcha
Mesamenasai, Ai no Senshi yo
**
[~cheers and does a little dance~ Lookie lookie Minnasan! Nara's back! Anyway, I know I've asked this for the last three chapters or so, but, what will the boys find waiting for them in space? What's Zechs talking about? Is Nara really alive? Or was that a lovely prelude to her real death? My, that would be quite mean of me, wouldn't it? Find out next time in chapter 24-- in which I promise the boys will actually reach a colony or something. Bai bai!]
[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
[Song: Soldier of Love by Youko Ishida
Lyrics: taken directly from fansub of Sailormoon R episode
70]
[Additional notes:
This song can be found on the American released CD Sailor Moon: Lunarock.
Interestingly enough, in the booklet, it's listed as being from episode
68. Which is what it would be in the dubbed version of Sailormoon, as two
episodes at this point had been completely cut from the series. [not to
mention the two episode arc that was butchered and condensed to one episode]
Also, when this episode was dubbed, Ai no Senshi was replaced by She's
Got the Power, which in my opinion, didn't do the battle justice. In the
original, the animation is timed to match the music in Ai no Senshi.]
Okay, moment of otakuness over. ^_~