Part Twenty-six;
*Wings*

     Paato Chuenchishikkusu;
     *Tsubasa*

As laying down exhausted after running
   I looked up at the night sky
   and saw the innumerable pasts
   The moon rises from far away
         Hashiri tsukorete toorete mama
            miagete aozora ni wa
            kazoe kirenu koko wo mitekita
            tsuki ga tooku michite iru

I can live more strongly
   Surely my dream will come true
   I tried to shout all alone
   I'm only wandering around without an answer
         Motto tsuyoku ikiroreru
            kitto yume wa kanau
            hitori de saken de mitemo
            kotae mo naku samayou dake

Wounded wings
   Spread them and fly into the dark night
   I fell, and I fell
   Because I want to see what is certain
         Kizu darake no tsubasa
            hirogeta mama yomiyo wo kakoru
            taoretemo taoretemo
            tashikana mono ga mitai kara

Tomorrow's whereabouts
   If I would not know anything afterall
   Until the time I can fly higher than anyone else
   I will show you I live believing in myself
         Asu no yukue nante
            douse nani mo wakaranai nara
            dare yori mo tokoku toberu sono tokimade
            jubun wo shinjite ikite misero
 

  [##]

The Milky Way spread out before him like an intricate tapestry of light. Tiny pinpricks glimmered, like someone had taken a hairpin to a piece of black paper and hung it over an intense light. Or like sugar spilt across black velvet. It was random, chaotic, orderly, and beautiful: and it spun like a glorious infinite dance.

  [##]

Quatre wandered out of the hanger and pushed his bangs back from his face. He was starving, thirsty, and lonely... and he couldn't tell which bothered him worse. It was awfully quiet without the Maginak around him. He missed Rashid's booming voice, that seemed to fill a room with warmth when he spoke in the gentlest of tones. Or Abdul's teasing stare... or the way their laughter over the com made his battles all the more bearable.

Quatre paused and looked back at the hanger door. Out here, in space, all he had to listen to over the com was the silence of the stars. All he had to see was the solemn returned gaze of those silent lights. Times like this Quatre almost wished he was a star. He wished he could sit idly by and watch.

But he couldn't.

He wouldn't.

Iria hurried around the corner and came upon him. She stopped abruptly, panic and worry etched across her face as her blonde hair swung around it. “ Quatre! “ she cried, “ Please, you have to see if you can do something! They're back! “

“ Who? “

“ Oz! and the people! They're accusing Otousan of hoarding resources again. It's been happening since Oz took over! “

Quatre took off running. “ Ikimashou! “

  [##]

He loved it out here. Surrounded by light and dark, he could almost believe that living was simple. That he didn't need a name, or a family, or a place, to exist. He could just be.

  [##]

Master Lo studied Wufei with quizzical eyes. There was something different about him. Something that made him not the same Wufei that had left here in a fit of rage before fall to Earth and the change in Operation Meteor. Plans had changed with the brazen, oddly simultaneous planet fall of the Gundam Pilots, and in that moment, he could see that the plans were not the only thing to change.

“ So then, “ Master Lo spoke softly, in a level tone, not betraying how much Wufei's reappearance had moved him, “ why have you returned Wufei? “

The eyes narrowed. He'd changed, but not much. “ To defeat Oz and bring peace to the Earth Sphere, “ he said with conviction. Rising, he stood tall, his shoulders back and his face dispassionate. “ I only came here to let you know I am still alive. “

“ So you are. “ Master Lo smiled. “ So, now who do you fight, Wufei? Who is your enemy? “

“ Oz. “

“ More particularly? “

“ Treize Kush Renada. “

“ You always did have lofty goals, Wufei. “ Master Lo rose and beckoned the boy, “ Come with me, and we'll have you rested and fed as a warrior should be... “

As Wufei and Master Lo disappeared into the back, one of the students narrowed his eyes and carefully stepped back, out of sight.

  [##]

He watched the other pilots around him, in their Oz marked Space Leos. They moved clumsily, fumbling, they had not yet learned their place in the universe. They were still learning to dance, without knowing. No one knew, in Oz.

But Hitori Yuu had known...

  [##]

Rilina stood before a full-length mirror and examined her reflection. She looked different, older, not like the girl she normally saw in the mirror. Her fine blonde hair was wrapped into itself and pinned on top of her head, cupped gently by a gilded crown of gold. Even her bangs had disappeared, revealing her fine curving hairline. Her eyes were touched with a slight brushing of shadow, enough to accent the deep blue. Her lips were painted, her chin held firmly.

Well, she thought with an inward smile, that stubbornness has always been there.

A string of pearls looped its way around her neck, a solitary ring of gold lying underneath it. The dress was white, pristine, and off-shoulder. The bust was tight, gracing her curves more so than hugging them. Her arms disappeared into white gauntlets, hands resting lightly on the fabric of the full floor-length skirt.

If only...

If only her father could see her like this. It was a woman in the mirror. A woman who was going to do everything in her power to bring peace to the world. A woman who was going to fight without fighting. A woman who would free soldiers from their burden of war. A woman who knew exactly what she wanted, and was going to reach for it.

Dorothy entered after a soft knock. She smiled at Rilina serenely and opened the door wider for her. “ Saa... Rilinajo'ousama, ikimashou ka? “

[So... Queen Rilina, shall we go?]

Rilina nodded, and went to face the Romafellor Foundation for the first time.

  [##]

His hands tightened around the controls of the Space Leo. Hitori Yuu had known... and he had killed him. Shot him. Ended his dance before it had begun.

“ Trowa Barton, “ interrupted Lady Une's voice over the com.

“ Yes, ma'am? “

“ I'd like you to fire on the next target. We're doing a demonstration and we've selected you to perform it. “ There was something suspicious in her voice, something odd...

  [##]

Creaking.

Some sort of a distant creaking, and the vague splashing of water. Lots of water. It seemed his senses were returning in snatches. Opening his eyes gave him a fuzzy mosaic of blues grays and blacks to study. The back of his throat was dry; it hurt to swallow. Bringing a hand up, he brushed away strands of platinum blonde hair that acted as shadows in his vision. The skin he encountered at his forehead was clammy, sweaty.

“ Seems your computer didn't like losing, “ intruded a voice.

Zechs' vision cleared in time to watch the elderly man approach him. The man sat next to him and offered a steel mug of water. Zechs accepted and eagerly drank.

“ Interesting thing though, that computer. Quite the system, haven't seen anything like it in years. Impressive machine too, even without. Lotta work went into that thing. Who made it? “ He looked at Zechs with keen eyes.

Zechs wiped water from his chin and gasped for breath. “ Wh- Who are you? “

He raised an eyebrow at Zechs. “ Interesting response from someone in no position to ask questions. You know you almost crashed into my ship? And pulling you from the water was no piece of cake, let me tell you. Gundanium isn't exactly a light alloy, and when paired with titanium, well, might as well kiss your hoisting engines guudo-bai Not to mention you were unconscious. Good thing I got strong young men working with me, wouldn't be able to support a tall man like you on these knobby knees-“

“ It was Treize! “ Zechs made a hoarse attempt at shouting, “ Treize built the Epyon. “

“ Treize, huh? Treize Kush Renada? “ He watched Zechs nod affirmatively, “ An' it's called the Epyon... interesting... You can call me Howard. “

'Howard' got up and poured more water into Zechs' mug. “ Get some rest there, sir. I'll have more answers for the questions your sure to have when you're better. Water's on the table here. “ He stretched, “ I'm off to study your 'Epyon' some more. “

  [##]

Space shifted, and a meteorite began slowly edging away, pulling the stars away and a curtain of darkness fell around Trowa with chilling reality. The meteorite moved to reveal the broken, breathtaking, desecrated, beautiful, defeated form of the Gundam Deathscythe. It hung in space, slightly slouched over. The armor was marred with the signs of attack, but only attack. Not battle. Where was Duo? Had Duo been in there?

Was Duo in there?

  [##]

“ What did you say?! “

Pagan looked apologetically at her. “ It was her wish, Noin-san. I couldn't stop her. “

Noin spun on her heel and bolted for the door.

“ What are you going to do? “ Pagan asked quietly. “ You can't fight the Romafellor Foundation. Not as a representative for the Cinq Kingdom. “ He hung his head and lowered his voice even more. “ We must have faith in Rilina... hope she knows what she's doing. “

Noin stared at him, her lip firmly set. What should I do...?

  [##]

“ What are you waiting for? “ Une's voice snapped over the com.

Trowa's Space Leo dropped its rifle. There was silence over the com in response. He knew. He knew they were debating, wondering, asking if he was a Gundam Pilot. He'd been enjoying himself, doing too well for someone with 'some' experience.

  [##]

Treize walked alone through the darkened corridors. So many little things happening, moving towards the greater end: all on their own. It was an odd feeling, for the conductor to know that the orchestra no longer needed him. But at the same time he was proud, overwhelmed, and as stated before, it gave him a chance to participate.

Rilina Peacecraft was taking his place as Oz Representative. Well, it would be interesting to see how long that lasted.

Lady Une had sent him a message from space. Something about a suspicious pilot named Trowa Barton.

Treize paused his steps. Barton... he'd heard that name somewhere before...

  [##]

Automatically working the controls, Trowa dropped his rifle. Before any accusations could be voiced, he turned to the supervising Taurus and said over the comlink, “ Give me your weapon. “

The supervisor was taken aback by the boy's deadpan voice. He began to stammer out a response.

Trowa cut him off before the question could be asked. “ That Mobile Suit is made of Gundanium. “ So calm. So serene... “ I can't destroy it with a Leo-issue rifle.

  [##]

“ Today, one of the pilots of the renegade Mobile Suits known as Gundams was captured by Oz. “

Hiiro paused on his way to school, and watched the television display with interest. He watched as a picture of Duo being arrested came on screen and the reporter commented on it. Half of it was political blindfolding done by Oz. Hiiro kept his eyes on the image of Duo...

“ Baka... “

  [##]

Trowa lifted the Taurus' beam cannon and aimed.

  [##]

Private Hilde opened the cell door and grinned at him. Tilting her head back, she offered, “ There's something I thought you might like to see. “

With a sour look on his face, Duo followed Hilde out of the cell and down the hallway. At the end they entered an elevator and took it silently to the next floor up. There they entered immediately into a control room.

Hilde stopped him just at the entrance and swept one hand up to point at the large view screen. “ Watch, “ she said; and there was nothing Duo could do to tear his eyes away.

“ Death... scythe... “ he trailed off, softly, not wanting to disturb the god in its last moment, but as the burning Gundam reflected in his eyes, Duo clenched his fists and screamed.

  [##]

Trowa blinked. There were stars inside his cockpit. It took him a moment to register what they were. “ Ore no... namida... ka...? “

He wanted to touch them, to grasp them. He wanted to feel the small beads that were the proof of his humanity. But he couldn't bring himself to do it, couldn't bring himself to spoil their understated beauty. As the explosion he caused died away, Trowa could only watch his only tears dance with the stars.

**

[Phwee... way to go Trowa. -_- Poor Duo, not only does he have to watch DS being destroyed, but Evil Hilde has to show him. ^^ Sou da na... will this fic ever end? I haven't the slightest. But hey, stuff is happening. I can at least say that. Now, next chapter: What's gonna happen to Quatre and his family? Will DS's destruction drive Duo insane again? Yeah, more questions ensue. What happened to Nara? She disappeared again. Anyway, on to Chapter 27! Ikimasu!!]

[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
     [Song: "Wounded Wings" by Ikeburkuro, ED to Hamlyn no Violinist
      Lyrics taken directly from fansub]

Go to the next chapter