Part Thirty;
*I Want that Feeling*

     Paato Serutei;
     *Sono kanji ga hoshii*

I came to this land to protect you
   I was born to be with you
   The moment I awoke
   Prisms surrounded me
        Kimi wo mamoru tame kono chi ni
            Kimi to deau tame umareta
            Mezameta shunkan
            Mawari-hajimeru purizumu

I am here to love you now
   I was born to hold you
   Lies and truth
   are all within ourselves
        Kimi wo ai suru tame ni ima
            Kimi wo idaku tame ni umareta
            Uso mo shinjitsu mo
            Subete jibun
            no naka ni aru

The days I abandon my true feelings
   Won't get to me
   Tenderness and caring
   Can be ours once again!
        Kokoro okisari ni shite iru hibi ni
            makenai
            Yasashisa Itoshisa
            Mou ichido torimodosou

Day in day out
   Like a puppet on a string
   Wandering in the void
   Between zero and infinity
        Ayatsuri-ningyou na
            mainichi no naka de
            Zero to mugen no hazama wo
            mayotte iru

The strength to sever the tangled wires
   Is sleeping inside of you
        Karamatta ito wo tachigiru chikara wa
            Kimi no kokoro ni mada nemutte iru

  [##]

" Good evening ladies. "

Noin and Sally froze, their hands still clasped in that amiable handshake.

Turning to the monitor, they found themselves presented with calm, almost pleasant, face of Treize Kush Renada. He sat on the other side of the computer connection, an all-knowing half smile playing across his lips, and his hands laced together beneath his chin.

" Things must be getting chaotic, " he commented, " if the Cinq Kingdom and the former Alliance are shaking hands. "

Noin and Sally let go immediately.

" What do you want Treize? " Noin demanded.

" Ah, Noin, how is Milliardo treating you? Well, I trust? " He turned his gaze to Sally, " Ah, you. You have something I desire. "

" What?! "

" There is a war brewing, my dear ladies. I'm making sure the world is ready for it. That Gundam, has been outfitted with Space Boosters in preparation of just what you intended to steal it for. Although, from the sounds of what's going on up in space, well, he may not need it anymore once it reaches him. "

" What do you mean? "

" Ah, Noin, I'm afraid I cannot say at this point. However, you, Sally... Po, is it? "

Sally nodded.

" Reports tell me that my friend, the pilot of Gundam Zero-five, was last seen with a young woman-- " Treize's hands shifted to off screen, and a photo of said young woman came on the screen, " -- named Nara Sorou in the same area where you have been causing trouble. Ms. Sorou is from a military family. She's been causing minor sabotage, blaming Oz for the death of her
family in our little coup d'état. " He seemed to sigh. " Last I heard she had been shot. Is this correct? "

" Yes... " answered Sally warily.

" My associate, Lieutennant Carson is on his way to your position. You have two choices. " Treize laced his fingers again and leaned forward. " You can resist, and his intent will be to arrest you. Or, you can cooperate, leaving Zero-one in my possession, and Carson will go with you to retrieve Ms. Sorou and bring her back here for the medical attention she requires.
Well? "

" What do you want her for? " Sally demanded, scowling at the smiling face on the computer monitor.

" I'm merely helping a friend. "

  [##]

Rilina stood at the window looking at the pale blue sky... alone.

  [##]

" What do you feel? "

He could see the other boy was surprised by the question. Confused even.

Duo scratched his head. " Er... what do you mean? "

" Your shoulder still isn't healed properly, and you've been handled roughly, " Hiiro pointed out. " How does it feel? "

Cue flat-out 'duh' tone. " It hurts. "

Hiiro looked down at his own scarred hands and murmured, " Pain... ah... "

" Don't tell me you don't feel pain, Hiiro! " Duo sounded incredulous, like it was beyond his comprehension.

" It hurts but... I don't know how to react. "

" What hurts? " Duo raised an eyebrow. " They rough you up too? "

Hiiro's hand flew up to his chest as the vision once more cast its bright shadows across his eyes. Words barely more than breath passed over lips and fell faintly into the silence, " my heart... "

 [##]

Strange, standing here, she almost believed Quatre's words.

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.

But she wasn't there... she was here...

  [##]

Trowa looked up and noticed Hilde watching him. " What? " he asked without emotion.

" I don't trust you. "

" No? "

" No. " She left her position at the wall and sat across from him. Folding her arms over her chest, she watched him critically. " Sometimes... I wonder if you're really working with the good of the colonies in mind. "

Though her words struck a cord, he didn't show it. The good of the colonies...

" They still think that you're a Gundam Pilot, Trowa. Especially now that you're advocating using one of the captured pilots to take down one of their own. "

" What do you think? " Trowa asked, not knowing why he suddenly desired her opinion.

" I don't know, " Hilde looked off to the side, " You're actions very strongly state otherwise, but then again, they can be taken the other way: they're so carefully planned. There's also the matter of capturing the pilot of Zero-one. He gave up so easily, and the look in his eyes told that he knew you, and knew that he couldn't get away from you.

" I don't know, Trowa, and frankly, I don't care. I don't understand the Gundam Pilot's line of thinking. If we're both fighting for the good of the colonies... why are we fighting each other? "

Trowa spoke his next statement very carefully. " I'm sure... that the Gundam Pilots would agree with that last statement.

" But it's true... that while it is human nature to fight; it's also human nature to have dissidence; difference of opinions. Drastically different methods can work towards a common goal. "

  [##]

Rilina wondered... had she made the right choice afterall? Was she really doing any good, standing here as a figurehead to her worst enemy? Had she become her worst enemy?

  [##]

Wufei wasted no time once the initial shock was over. His hands flew to the controls, gripping the thrusters and shoving them forward as far and as fast as he could. Shenlon shuddered as the engines adjusted to the sudden change in modes, then threw him far up into space, just as the other Gundam -- no, Quatre -- fired.

The stars were set on fire in golden conflagration, the shining in the darkness reflecting even in the Shenlon pilot's eyes. In that moment of stillness, the other Gundam came up and smacked him to the side with a swift motion.

The blow was felt sharply in the cockpit, even through the metal and lack of inertia. Wufei struggled to right himself and faced his opponent, dragon arm extended and shield raised.

" Quatre! What the hell are you doing!? " he shouted over the com.

Silence greeted him. The other Gundan hung in space before him, while the stars spun lazily around them in timeless wonder. It was like everyone he'd ever lost was watching him, waiting for him. If not for him to avenge them, then for him to join them. He didn't know his place in life, but he knew he would dance in the end.

" Master Lo... Meiran... Nara... " Wufei narrowed his eyes and reaffirmed his grip on the controls. Leaning into them, he took a slow breath and declared, " Ore wa makenai!! " before attacking with full force.

[I won't lose!!]

  [##]

Rilina reached up and pulled the crown from her head, letting her hair fall back over her shoulders, bringing youth again to her face. Looking at the crown she contemplated it a minute, before letting her arms drop to her side.

Queen of the World...? What did that mean, anyway?

She faintly heard it clatter as the crown hit the floor.

  [##]

Zechs sat at the bar in the lobby of his hotel. He'd been nursing a drink over his thoughts. Opting to try and drown his confusion and depression in alcohol, rather than run up his bill calling Noin back on Earth.

Lady Une had been... nice. He didn't think it possible; but it seemed she had finally become the 'lady' Treize so hoped she would become. But was she as strong a person now as Treize had been hoping for? He supposed time would tell.

He paused before taking another sip. At the end of the meeting he'd had his first meeting with Tsubarov. Now that man, Zechs didn't like. Something about him... he was too confident, too ruthless, and with far too much faith in machinery. Anything made was as fallible as its creator; and the same certainly went for those 'Mobile Dolls.'

Dolls indeed.

He sighed and finished his drink as someone chose to occupy the stool next to him. Setting the glass down, he called to the bartender for another.

" You drink like a man unsatisfied with the world, " commented the person next to him.

Zechs turned and was greeted with a thin smile. The other man had thinning white hair; he'd attempted to take attention away from it by growing his hair to his chin, apparently. Reading glasses were perched on an aquiline nose. Offering a boney hand, he introduced himself. " The name's Quinze; it's a pleasure, Mr. Milliardo Peacecraft. "

Zechs ignored him and chose his new drink over the offered hand.

" That's a fine Mobile Suit you arrived in, " Quinze complimented, leaning his arms on the counter. " But, it's you we're more interested in. I have a proposition for you, Mr. Peacecraft. "

Zechs paused. " I'm listening, " he said before drinking.

  [##]

Rilina sat down and watched the sun dip lower into the sky.

  [##]

" Are you sure this is a good idea? " Noin asked quietly. She sat in the front seat of the jeep with Sally. Lieutenant Carson sat in the back by himself, watching the trees whip past them in mild disinterest.

Sally's mouth was pressed into a firm line as she watched the road ahead. " It was an offer I couldn't refuse, and he knew it. She's too badly hurt to survive staying with us. We're low on supplies and just can't help her. She'll die if she stays with us; it's a simple fact. But Treize... "

" Treize can provide that help, " Noin finished for her.

Sally nodded.

" All I'm saying is that he'd better keep up his end of the bargain, " Noin grumbled, shooting a dirty look back at Carson, " because if anything happens to your camp, my Taurus and I will be holding a meeting with Treize: and it won't be pretty. "

Sally laughed. " Bold words from a pacifist. "

  [##]

As the sun set even further, Rilina moved to the desk and sat down. A million things went through her head: she should call home, she should call Pagan, she should sleep, she should quit, she should stay. In the end she just ended up sitting there. When a call came in for her she answered without thinking.

" You look unsettled, your Highness. "

Blinking, Rilina snapped her gaze to the face on the screen. " Treize...?! "

He smiled at her. " Feeling a little pressured? Why don't we talk, Miss Rilina? One representative, " he paused, resting his chin on the interlaced backs of his fingers, " to another. "

**

[Treize must be bored... he keeps calling people. Well, Hiiro and Duo are having a heart to heart, as are Trowa and Hilde. Quatre and Wufei are fighting, Zechs and Quinze have met, as have Sally and Noin. To what ends do all these have? Don't look at me, I'm just the author. ^^ Until next time!]

[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
     [Song: "Successful Mission" by Megumi
             Hayashibara, 1st OP to Sabre Marionette J
          Lyrics taken from two sources
          Romanji: http://www.animelyrics.com
          Translation: Directly from AnimeWorks release]

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