Part Thirty-eight;
*For the Sake of Peace*

         Paato Seruteieito;
         *Heiwa no tame ni*

Run away, Run away from those days
   Painful memories scorch in my heart
   And the words that I repeat are all guilty
        nigete nigete ano hibi kara
            setsunai omoi ni kokoro o kogashite
            kurikaesu kotoba wa tsumibukai

Dreams and lies and phantoms are now
   Entrusted to the city’s flowing seasons
   I want to heal my wounded heart
        yume mo uso mo maboroshi mo ima wa
            tokai no kisetsu no nagare ni makasete
            kizutsuita kokoro o iyashitai

Only you… only you are in living
   In my heart now, I’ve lost everything but
   I want to feel your eyes and warmth just once more
        kimi dake... kimi dake ga kono mune ni ima mo
            ikiteru subete o nakushita ore dakedo
            sono hitomi to nukumori o mou ichido kanjitai n da

No matter how much I love you, I don’t reach you
   That’s the only thing that runs me down
   No matter how much I yearn for you, you’re disappearing
   Only I am here
        donna ni aishite mo kimi ni todokanai
            sore dake ga ore o oitsumeru
            donna ni kogarete mo kimi wa kieteyuku
            ore dake ga koko ni iru

That day in the classroom and that time in the library
   The same seasons were probably visiting but
   I’m completely puzzled by the speed that time streams by
   Am I the same as I was those days?
        ano hi no kyoushitsu mo ano toki no toshokan ni mo
            onaji kisetsu wa otozureru darou kedo
            toki no nagare no hayasa ni madotteshimau
            ore wa ano hibi no mama na no ka

                      [##]

The stars had multiplied awkwardly.

This was the thought Hiiro first had as he got out of bed and observed the Oz forces scattered between the colonies and Chikyuu. Light glinted off their metal skins and made the whole army glimmer. Twinkling, flashing on and off, they slowly, readily, counted down towards the end.

But there was one that caught Hiiro's eye.

One artificial star that stood out among all the others. One that latently knew how to dance, and now that they were here... they were starting to belong. Hiiro flattened his hand on the window, positioning the star between his pointer and middle finger. He looked through them as if he had the star in his sights.

Human beings shouldn't learn to dance. In war they could never be beautiful.

                      [##]

Hiiro met Duo and crew as they returned. He watched Trowa carefully as the taller boy entered behind Quatre and remained slightly distant from the rest. It was a somber group. Something was wrong.

Duo noted Hiiro's questioning glances and filled him in. " Trowa lost his memory in the accident. "

" Aah, " Hiiro caught Trowa's gaze with his icy stare. " Come with me Trowa. " He started towards the hangar, not even waiting to see if Trowa followed.

Duo watched as they two other pilots headed down the hall, rubbing the back of his head and pursing his lips. " Leave it to Hiiro to think he can solve it. " He lowered hand and head, keeping watch through his long bangs with a wide grin. " Aitsu... he probably can. "

                      [##]

" You seem familiar... " Trowa ventured.

" I was there, " came the short answer.

" I see. " He watched the chestnut hair before him for a moment as it swayed slightly with each step. " Where are we going? "

" You've lost your way. "

" And? "

" Zero will show you who your enemies are: if you've forgotten what you're fighting for. "

" Zero? "

Hiiro paused. Looking over his shoulder, his face showed no emotion, nor did his voice, but his eyes betrayed the growing human within. Trowa had a sensation, a feeling in the back of his mind, that somehow Hiiro had changed since that forgotten time before when they'd know each other.

" I'm sorry? " Trowa blinked. Had Hiiro been saying something?

" Nothing. I think you already have something to fight for. "

" Oh? "

" I think it's the same thing as it was before. "

                      [##]

Quatre was visibly shaking as he sat at the computer station. Putting on the headset, he asked with quivering voice, " T-Trowa? "

" Yes? "

" You don't have to do this if you don't want to. "

Quatre could see the smile in the faint huff that sounded over the com. " Quatre, I do have to do this. Trust me, and trust yourself.

" I'm activating the Zero System. "

Quatre closed his eyes and held his breath.

                      [##]

Not too long ago she'd been in this position. What an interesting parallel. Nara reached over and brushed Lady Une's bangs from her face. Looking up as the medic entered, she inquired, " How is the patient? "

" She lost a substantial amount of blood, but we've given her a transfusion and repaired the damage as best we could. Her condition is stable, but as for when she'll wake up... " he trailed off, watching as Lieutenant Carson entered.

Carson cleared his throat and interjected, " Lieutenant Sorou, Epyon has emerged. "

Nara stood and straightened her coat. " Yes, thank you. " To the doctor she said, " I'll be in His Excellency's office if you need me. Notify me of any changes. "

" Yes ma'am. "

Nara led Carson out, listening as he fell into step behind her. Once they were out of hearing range of the medical room, she asked, " Was it just the Epyon? "

" Yes. "

" Hm. What's the proximity to His Excellency? "

" Heading straight for him, ma'am. "

Nara smiled faintly. " Carson, Treize isn't here and no one else is around. You know the truth about me anyway. 'Ma'am' isn't necessary. Sorou is fine. "

" Yes. "

" So Zechs is going straight for Treize, huh? He must be up to something. " Nara's features darkened as she pondered this.

" There is something else, uh, Sorou, " Carson said with some delay.

" What's that? "

" There have been two unauthorized launches into space since His Excellency went to battle this morning. " Carson handed Nara a computer printout. " The first is confirmed to be a Romafellor vessel. We've determined the occupants to be Duke Dermail and his granddaughter Dorothy Katalonia. "

Nara scowled. " What are they doing? "

" They haven't answered any hails, and their trajectory suggests they're heading for the Libra. "

" K'so... what about the other launch? " She was handed another printout.

" A ship of unknown make or origin, it left central Eurasia and has also refused to respond to any hails. It seems to be heading for the general area of the asteroid base MO-III. "

Nara handed the printouts back and looked at Carson quizzically. " Isn't that what's acting as a base of operations for the Earth's forces in space? "

" Yes, but it should be mentioned that it's also the last known location of the Gundams and Private Shreibeker. " Carson carefully replaced the papers in his clipboard.

" Understood. " Nara stopped at the office door. She placed her hand on the doorknob and nodded at Carson. " Dismissed. "

                      [##]

Rilina watched the computer display, as the Earth slowly receded in the picture; away from her.

" This time tomorrow... " she trailed off softly, " this world may no longer exist. "

Noin bit her lip. Zechs... what the hell are you doing?

                      [##]

Epyon came to a stop before the Talgeese II. The dragon faced the knight in the field of stars. Deep burgundy, like the congealed blood Zechs imagined on his hands, contrasted with the soft white of the other suit: the same white as Treize's soul.

The com came to life, and Zechs' low voice stated, " Treize... wars do not suit warriors. "

Treize sat back with a satisfied look on his face. " No, they don't. Wars are for soldiers. " He watched the Epyon, his creation, with proud eyes. He'd created it for this purpose, and it was now serving that purpose. The conductor had come to dance with the partner he'd made especially for this act. " So, my friend, what are we warriors to do? "

" We can absolve this now. Just the two of us. "

" I agree. "

" Sir!! " another officer interjected.

" Stand down! " Treize commanded, his voice sharp in an instant. " No one is to interfere, no matter the outcome. Understood? "

" Roukai! " resounded the answer over the com.

Talgeese II and Epyon drew their beam sabres. Which evil would survive?

                      [##]

Remembering the controls had been instinctive. As soon as his hands encountered the controls, it was like a meeting with an old friend. Rather, he thought to himself, more like an old lover, in the way his fingers found everything the machine wanted from him, and he gladly gave and received. After a few maneuvers to make himself comfortable, he informed Quatre of his intentions and typed the command:

Z - E - R - O

Immediately all the monitors glowed a bright yellow, casting the whole cockpit into harsh shadows. Information careened into his head, readings on space, all his surroundings, the workings of the Gundam right down to the miniscule movements of the hard drive's main disk. He could see in all directions to the end of the universe, and beyond time. His fingers tightening to white-knuckled grips on the thrust, he fought for the sense of control the computer had abruptly stolen from him.

Gasping as he lost that fight, his head was thrown back and his eyes opened wide.

" Trowa? Trowa?! Daijoubuka? "

Trowa squeezed his eyes shut tight until he felt tears emerge and roll slowly down his cheeks. Gasping again, he drew the thrust back and kicked the booster controls. WingZero shot straight up, out of the weak atmosphere of the asteroid orbiting the meteorite station MO-III.

" Trowa!! Dameda! Hayaku kaette!! "

The words were distant, he couldn't even bother to try to understand. WingZero cut a path through the stars and turned corkscrews as it flew over MO-III. Letting back on the boosters and pulling up, Trowa's chest heaved with every breath as he observed the field of false stars before him. The computer mingled with his mind and flagged the whole field red.

His voice deadpan, Trowa stated, " Those are my enemies. Mission Accepted. "

                      [##]

Quatre threw off the headset and ran towards the hanger. " Hiiro!! " he skid to a stop and cried, " Trowa couldn't handle the Zero System! He's gone after Oz and the Epyon! "

" Roukai. " Hiiro headed for the Aquarius. " Call the others, we're going after Trowa. "

" Hai! "

                      [##]

Quinze and White Fang watched WingZero fly past their screens and drew some very drastic conclusions.

" Trechery! Oz has joined forces with the Gundams against us! " Quinze pulled a fist. " Fire the main weapon! "

" What?! "

" Do it now! "

" But we're only at 60% capacity! " protested the officer in charge of firing.

Quinze stalked forward and knocked him violently out of his chair. Slamming his fist down on the button that activated the large cannon, he snapped, " I said, do it now! "

                      [##]

Rilina ran up to where Noin and Sally were watching the Libra on the main screen. She blinked, uncomprehending, as the gaping black hole in the middle of the space station began to glow blue.

" What's going on? " she asked, her voice small with fear.

" Oh, my God... " Sally answered, hardly believing it herself. " They're firing Libra's main cannon. "

                      [##]

" Shit! " Nara turned to the other monitor on the desk and her fingers flew unerringly over the keys. Without waiting for a response to her hail she shouted, " You have 30 seconds to evacuate Africa, the Middle East, and the Southern parts of Eurasia! "

" What?! But that's imp-- "

" I don't care! Just bloody DO IT!! "

She turned her face to the other monitor, training her eyes on the live feed of the Libra's main cannon as the blue glow increased and then exploded, filling her screen a half second before it was replaced with static.

                      [##]

No matter how much I love you, you’re disappearing
   I’m getting carved away by the rhythm of this new life
   But even now I can still say it, so even now I’ll surely say it
   I loved you, I loved you
        donna ni aishite mo kimi wa kieteyuku
            atarashii seikatsu no rizumu ni kizamarete
           imademo ieru no ni imademo kitto ieru
            aishiteta aishiteta

**

[Quinze is a bastard, no? Okay, so maybe he's more of a fool, but still. So, what kind of damage did firing the Libra do? It was only at 60%, what's the worst it could have done... eheh... yeah. See you then!]

[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
         [Song: "Donna ni..." by Miyamoto Mitsuru from Akachan to Boku
            Lyrics taken from The Memorial Hall of Translations with permission from the translator, Mina-P]

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