*Before the Battle, a Winter Soul's Requiem*
Paato Seruteiseban;
*Tatakai no mae ni, fuyu no tamashii no rekuien*
Part Thirty-seven;
*Before the Battle, a Winter Soul's Requiem*
Paato Seruteiseban;
*Tatakai no mae ni,
fuyu no tamashii no rekuien*
Tonight, again, I see the same dream
And wake up covered in sweat
The black square iron lump
Makes a sound and falls down
I raise my voice but
No one helps me
I lose myself
Pressure
I’m not a smart person
Like you think
Pressure
I’m not a kind person
Like you desire
mata konya mo onaji yume o mite
ase ni mamire mezameru
kuroi tetsu no shikakui katamari
oto o tate ochitekuru
koe o ageru kedo
dare mo tasuketekurezu
boku wa boku o ushinau
Pressure anata ga omotteru you na
boku wa kashikoi hito ja nai
Pressure omae ga nozonderu you na
boku wa yasashii hito ja nai
Tonight, again, in front of the fridge
I pry the top open
Echoing off of the far away building
The siren disappears
“It’s because I’m tired”
I persuade you but
I doubt myself
Pressure
I’m not a noble person
Like you think
Pressure
I’m not a big person
Like you desire
mata konya mo reizouko
no mae
puru topu kojiakeru
tooi biru ni sotto kodama shite
sairen ga kieteyuku
tsukareteru n da to
iikikasetemiru kedo
boku wa boku o utagau
Pressure anata ga omotteru you na
boku wa kedakai hito ja nai
Pressure omae ga nozonderu you na
boku wa ookina hito ja nai
[##]
In Space, it's possible to see music. If you stop, and watch, it's there, in the beautiful infinite dance of the stars. Someday, I hope to be like that. I want my life to be beautiful...
In the brilliance of space, amidst its shining stars and endless dance across infinity, a majestic mobile suit hung 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. His future destroyed by his own hands, he would never dance. His mind was clouded with the darkness of war... and death: 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.
Hiiro opened his eyes, cerulean blue gazing at the deep gray tones above him. Again, the dream had disturbed his slumber; and left him with a sinking feeling in the root of his being. Would he fight only to suffer a soldier's futile fate?
He'd gone out in a test run of the Zero System again. He still didn't understand it completely. It gave him a headache, and an absolute adrenalin rush. But it did something that Hiiro had never expected, it told him his future.
Zechs was his enemy. He'd watched trial runs of the Epyon, the dragon careening around the Libra in a dazzling display. Hiiro knew, from watching, Zechs had a Zero System as well. They were enemies, and no longer friendly ones at that. In the war, one of them would die. If peace were to be attained, it had to be Zechs. Plain and simple.
[##]
Duo's voice suddenly cut through the confusion. " Nobody ever forced Trowa to fight. "
Kathrine blinked and stared at him. Hilde, Quatre, Trowa, and the Ringmaster followed her lead and looked at the braided boy as well.
Duo's usually cheerful demeanor had become serious, his violet eyes narrowing slightly as he stated, flatly, the bare facts of the situation. " Trowa Barton was injured in battle with a Gundam. He was thrown from the cockpit of his Mobile Suit, the Oz-issue Mercurious, into space and presumed dead. In truth our reason for coming today was to inform Kathrine and you all about his passing away.
" Earth and the Colonies are in danger; you may not know the full facts, or maybe you do. But we need Trowa. If we are to make any difference, we need his piloting skills. We need him to remember. "
Kathrine quivered and clutched Trowa to her. " He doesn't remember though! How can he pilot a mobile suit? He may not have been forced before, but you're forcing him now!! "
Duo broke off, not sure how to respond to that.
" Kathrine, " Trowa said softly. She looked at him, and he wiped away her tears. " I don't know, but... I believe them. I can feel a memory... sort of... they're telling the truth, and they need me. "
Kathrine broke down sobbing. " Trowa.. no... I don't want to lose you again... "
" It's okay, " he said soothingly. " I promise I'll be back. "
[##]
Wufei stalked into the bay. " Tomorrow Oz goes to war, led by Treize Kush Renada. I just read the report. Will we be ready by then? "
" Treize himself, huh? " Professor G commented, looking at him over the edge of the platform. " Any other notable names? "
" I didn't bother looking. " Wufei said darkly, " I saw that Treize is coming. That's all I needed to know. Now are we going to be ready by then? "
Professor G exchanged looks with the others. " Late tomorrow, at the very earliest. Have a little patience, Wufei. You'll get your chance. " He disappeared over the edge and began soldering the door to the cockpit again.
Wufei fumed, but left nonetheless.
[##]
" At precisely 08:00 hours Colonial standard time, Oz will launch its forces into space to deal with the threat of White Fang. This is an official declaration of war, " the sky-blue eyes were boring into his soul; even through the recording and the computer networking it had that effect. " We will not let this pass us by. Peace will be restored to the Earth Sphere. " The announcement ended and the feed disappeared from the screen.
Quinze opened his mouth to comment, but Zechs stopped him with a silent rise of his hand.
" I accept this challenge. Prepare for war. How much longer until the main weapon is at full power? "
" Full power sir...? " The man at the console winced, " Not until at least a day after we engage. "
" I see, " Zechs thought on that, " reroute all nonessential power supplies to it. Try to speed up the process. Keep me informed. "
" Roukai. "
[##]
Sally walked up to Noin, a duffel bag slung over her shoulder and a grim smile on her face. " Thanks for inviting me. "
" I knew you wouldn't want to miss it, " Noin replied affably. She looked back at the Peacemillion. " I've issued you a Taurus suit from our fleet, hope you don't mind. "
" Not at all, " Sally said, observing as the angular white suits were loaded onto the ship. " Be interesting to compare it to a Leo in combat. "
" You'll be blown away. "
" I certainly hope so. And the Gundams? "
Noin sighed. " No word yet. There's been hardly a sign since they escaped Oz sixteen weeks ago. "
" Well, that's good, " Sally remarked, " If we can't find them, Oz and White Fang certainly aren't going to. They'll reappear when they reappear. I know it. "
[##]
Trowa stepped back from Kathrine and turned to go back where she had entered from. " I'll go gather my stuff, wait here for me. "
As he left, Quatre walked up to Kathrine and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. " Gomen nasai, " he said softly. " I hate to do this as much as you. " His eyes shimmered, mirroring her tears. " But it has to be done. I promise you on my life, that I'll bring him back to you. I can understand your feelings. "
Kathrine sniffled, searching his eyes. Ducking her head in defeat, she softly kissed him on the cheek. " I believe you. " Wrapping him in an embrace she whispered, " Bring him back to me safe this time. "
" You need a hug too Hilde? "
" Shut up Duo. "
Duo encircled her shoulders with his arm, poking her nose when she looked at him indignantly. " You never said you didn't want one. "
[##]
" Nani?! "
Very calmly, Treize repeated himself. " I'm sending you back to Luxembourg. You are to oversee Lady Une's treatment and wait for my hailing to bring Unit01 to space. " Before she could protest again he reasoned, " Three months is not enough time to train to take on Mobile Dolls and soldiers with years of experience. You're a good pilot, Nara, but not good enough. I'm sending you back to Luxembourg. "
She smacked her clenched fist into his desktop. " Chikushou!! Now or Later, what's the difference? I'm going to battle either way! "
" Remember what you're battling for, Nara. I've made my decision; you stay until hailed and told otherwise. " Treize steepled his fingers and dared her with his eyes to dispute him further.
Nara spun on her heel and stalked out of the office. " Roukai! " she snapped and slammed the door. She would head for the landing bay and take a private flight to Luxembourg, it was the right place for her. He didn't need her yet.
[##]
Out in the hall, Nara composed herself, though the anger never quite left her face. She had to keep her role, despite Treize's sudden change in what had been planned. Straightening her shoulders, she gave the other soldier in the hall an icy glare, before heading towards the landing bay as ordered.
Stepping onto the small private plane, she snapped at the pilot, " I want to be continually informed of what's going on as we fly. " He nodded affirmatively. " And get me Luxembourg on the com, I want them to be ready for me when I get there. "
" Roukai. " He flicked a few switches. By the time Nara reached her seat, his voice came over the loudspeaker. " I have a live feed routed through your console where you sit, Lieutenant. Luxembourg is on the line as well. "
" Thank you. " She activated the console with the feed and picked up the phone. " Sorou here. I'll be arriving in a few short hours. What is the status of Lady Une? Excellent, keep me informed. Also, when I arrive, I want a feed keeping me updated on the battle in space. Make sure to log all casualties you can for later use by His Excellency. Keep all frequencies open in anticipation of my orders. " She paused, her lips pursing slightly as she thought. " Also, keep a broadband search for the Gundams. I want to know their position as soon as they enter the battle. Has there been any sign? No? Alright, keep me posted. " She hung up and sat back, resting her chin on her fist as she watched the compact computer screen on the console.
Just because she wasn't going didn't mean she was going to slack off. She would know everything when she did go, it was the only way to prove her worth and accomplish her goal.
[##]
Treize sat back in the cockpit of the Talgeese II. Pulling the seat belt down and fastening it before him, he adjusted his position in the seat and stretched his neck. His right hand gripped the thrust, his left danced over the controls, starting up the engine, sending power from the core to the vernier boosters at the back, activating the atmosphere system. He felt the suit pressurize and heard the shoomp-click as the boosters extended. One last switch and he opened the com. Resting his left hand finally on the other thrust, he calmly said.
" Well, this is it. To Space!! "
Throwing both thrusters forward, Treize launched the Talgeese II into the air, followed by the entire Oz army.
[##]
Pressure I’m not a smart person
Like you think
Pressure
I’m not a kind person
Like you desire
Woo Pressure I’m not a
noble person
Like you think
Pressure I’m not a big person
Like you desire
Tonight, again, I see the same dream
And wake up covered in sweat
Woo
Pressure anata ga omotteru you na
boku wa kashikoi hito ja nai
Pressure omae ga nozonderu you na
boku wa yasashii hito ja nai
Woo Pressure anata ga omotteru
you na
boku wa kedakai hito ja nai
Pressure omae ga nozonderu you na
boku wa ookina hito ja nai
mata konya mo onaji yume o mite
ase ni mamire mezameru
Woo
**
[~mutters~ It's about damn time this story started going somewhere. Faboo song this time, isn't it? I thought so anyway. So! How will the war go? Who will come out of it alive? Will the Gundams make it in time? Will Treize survive long enough to call Nara to battle? Find out in the next chapter!]
[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
[Song: "Pressure"
by Yamadera Kouichi
Lyrics taken from The Memorial Hall of Translations with permission from
the translator, Mina-P]