*Today's Tears are Tomorrow's Memories*
Paato Fuochii;
*Kyo no namida wa ashita no omoide*
Part Forty;
*Today's Tears are Tomorrow's Memories*
Paato Fuochii;
*Kyo no namida wa
ashita no omoide*
In the night your light comes creeping
around my bed
Stirring up memories
Taking me back to the times we shared
when we were childhood friends
Seems like yesterday my world was full
of innocence
Moon, you seemed so far away
that night you shined
on my first kiss
Oh, nothing stays the same for long
Seasons change and life goes on
But eye in the sky you always
remain the same
Moon, you follow me where I go
Moon, whatever I am you know me
My secrets are safe with you forevermore
[##]
For an instant, the stars disappeared. Blotted out by his sudden act of mercy, the war became secondary once again. Beyond the yellow glow of the computer screens, he could see nothing, feel nothing but the numbness beginning to overtake him.
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.
Quatre had a choice. He could watch Trowa do evil or fight evil with evil and see which was worse. There was no good in the world; he could accept that now. He could embrace the ideals of peace beyond those winking white lights in the distance as hope that there would some day be.
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...
[##]
" How much longer until Libra's main weapon is back at full power? " Nara barked.
" Uhh... " the technician she had on the line was sorely trying her nerves. " A-About, well... judging by their conviction, they're probably going to try to stay true to their... er... their original schedule and... "
" Spit it out, dammit! "
" It will take about a day to return to full power, however, in half an hour it will again be at firing capacity. " He looked directly at her for the first time during the transmission. " With the damage already suffered, another shot even at that low power would effectively destroy all hope of maintaining life on this planet. "
Nara closed the connection with a vehement, " Well, shit. " Spinning the chair around she met Carson at the door and snapped, " Treize can take his plans and shove 'em. Prepare for launch. I'm going to change! "
" Roukai. "
[##]
" Hiiro! Did you put Quatre up to this?! " Duo accused. He bit his thumb as the monotonous voice answered,
" I merely suggested to Quatre that he do the right thing. "
" What the hell does that mean?! " Duo snapped. " What if they both go crazy?! I mean, here we are, freaking spectators with the rest of Oz's losers and Wufei's off on a tangent fighting Treize Kush Renada of all people, might I add, again, oh, and while I'm at it-- This is the Lamest Freaking Way to fight a war that I have ever heard of! "
" Well if you're so smart, what do you suggest we do? " Hilde snapped.
A grin spread across Duo's face, a very wide, very sly and borderline evil grin. Deathscythe Hell turned ever so slightly to align Libra in his sights. " Well... " he drawled, " since you asked... " He activated the double beam scythe, the two green blades piercing space and casting an eerie glow over the black skin of the Mobile Suit. The boosters fired warning shots and he got into ready position. " I prefer the proactive approach. "
[##]
Nara paused momentarily, having second thoughts. Her fingers were curled around the hem of her coat, poised to peel it from her body. But the thought nagged her even though she'd already begun the process.
What if she was acting to harshly? What if Treize's plans weren't going as wrong as she thought? There must have been a reason why he cut the audio link to Luxembourg.
She dropped her jacket on the floor.
Reasons or not, if Libra could fire in half an hour, they would. She didn't care if Zechs was Treize's old friend. Friends in a war had the potential for two things: becoming an enemy or becoming a corpse.
[##]
Surrounded by whiteness broken only by a pale face and a fan of mouse-brown hair, cornflower blue eyes suddenly opened.
[##]
Two opposing Gundams hung suspended in space and yellow light. The aura encompassing them was tense, rigid, unyielding. They'd made friends of enemies and enemies of friends of each other. But this was a battle more base than their first. Control versus Chaos. Compassion versus Ruthlessness. Zero versus Zero.
And around them, every single thing that depended on the outcome.
I look up and see you
shining bright
I am not alone
WingZero moved first, effortlessly. It fired its boosters and came at Sandrock with beam sabre readied. Sandrock drew a scythe and blocked the attack, parrying it and while it had the upper hand, drew the other scythe. Hydraulics squealed as the two suits moved, circling, watching intently with the perfect mesh of soldier and computer for an opening.
Again, WingZero was the first to move offensively, coming in fast and bringing the sabre up as it went. Sandrock caught it with the right scythe and arced the left over at the enemy. Right arm raised to block, WingZero aimed the double beam rifle at Sandrock's head and pulled the trigger.
Sandrock ducked to the side, pulling the scythes along with it. WingZero suffered cuts to its right forearm and left hand. Not a hindrance, but it was the first blow.
Moon, you know all of my dreams
With you I am never far from home
Quatre was sucking air through his teeth. He wanted to cry out, to plead, to try and avoid the fight he'd already begun. But that was a distraction. Trowa was his enemy now. His enemy! It was all falling apart on him. He'd had such high hopes for Earth and the Colonies.
Sandrock Kai shuddered as it transferred power to the scythes. The metal blades glowed red with the heat this power generated. Crossing them behind its head, Sandrock Kai paused, watching WingZero for its next move.
Enemy.
I think of the years gone by
The tears I've cried
The broken dreams
Enemy. Enemyenemyenemy. Everyone and Everything was an enemy. Quatre was an enemy. His enemy! Had to fight. Had to fight. Had to fight. Attack, parry, fire, slice, kill! Kill! Kill! This was his future. This was his present. His past, all he'd ever known.
WingZero sheathed the beam sabre and grasped the double beam rifle with both hands. He had to destroy Sandrock. Sandrock was his enemy.
Sandrock?
The trigger pulled, golden fire was spewed into the darkness. Indistinguishable from the yellow light of the computers, it still had an effect inside the cockpit. A memory was triggered.
Moon, you seemed so far away
But you were always right there
Watching me
Boosters firing, the machinery straining, Sandrock shot upwards, tipping forward slightly over the blast and snapping its arms forward. The two thermo-scythes cut through space and the images of the stars directly towards WingZero.
Oh, nothing stays the same for long
Seasons change and life goes on
But eye in the sky you always
remain the same
WingZero dove to the side, switching directions at a ninety-degree angle effortlessly and without pausing, to fly straight for Sandrock Kai once more. The two Mobile Suits clashed at Sandrock's initial point. They grappled, pushing against each other. Sandrock kept the rifle away with one arm while it grasped WingZero by the shoulder with the other. Quivering with the effort, they remained there, trapped by their own combined force.
They snapped apart, only to go at each other again. The process repeated itself. They turned, exchanging close blows and failed attempts to throw the other away.
Moon, you follow me where I go
Moon, whatever I am you know me
My secrets are safe with you forevermore
Coming apart again, Sandrock changed tactics and dove towards Chikyuu. WingZero followed in close pursuit. They matched each other move for move, blow for blow whenever one would take over the other as they exchanged roles as pursuer. At the very tip of the atmosphere, Sandrock Kai retrieved its scythes and fired them again. WingZero pulled perfect evasive maneuvers, moving left, down, and up, while never losing its original course. It collided with Sandrock Kai, mounting the other suit and riding it into the atmosphere. The metal suits glowed red with the sudden friction encountered as they screamed towards the surface.
Crying out, Quatre's cockpit filled with tears.
Trowa's already was.
Oh, nothing stays the same for long
Seasons change and life goes on
But eye in the sky you always
remain the same
Spinning to gain the upper hand, Sandrock Kai pushed off of WingZero and headed for the heavens. The other Gundam followed, the faster suit gaining speed so that they emerged from the atmosphere at the same time. WingZero lashed out, throwing Sandrock off course. WingZero followed, grasping the other suit by the arm and drawing in swift movements locking the rifle to its back and drawing the sabre. Pulling one arm back, it prepared to end the battle right then and there.
[##]
Moon, you follow me where I go
Moon, whatever I am you know me
My secrets are safe with you forever more
Moon
**
[Eeeeek!! I'm cruel. I know. Next chapter! Ikimaaaa~~~su!!]
[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
[Lyrics: "Moon" by Rebecca from Tokyo Babylon]
Notes on Lyrics:
1) Hey look! This is the first song I've transcribed the lyrics myself.
Granted, it's in English, but let me have my moment in the sun. ^_^
2) The song, by the way, is absolutely fabulous, one of my favorite
Tokyo Babylon songs. I highly highly *highly* recommend listening to the
song while you read this chapter. The part in the middle where WingZero
and Sandrock Kai are fighting was written to the music, and the violin
solo, I feel, portrays the battle very well. ^___^v