"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee…" Duo couldn't believe it. A Hail Mary. He couldn't remember the last time he heard, much less said, that prayer, that lovely, terrible, wonderful prayer of hope for every Catholic everywhere. Duo had forgotten it as the war taught him to only believe in Death but suddenly he caught himself muttering a prayer for the young, sweet, faithful girl who sat silently on the cot.

A frown snaked across the girl's face as Duo sat muttering over and over again, desperately, breathlessly.

Blessed art thou among women…

Duo had seen his fair share of battles and death. Hell, Death had decided to tag along with him like a young puppy who took the souls of his friends instead of pooping in Duo's shoes.

…and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

"It's good of you to pray."

She spoke! Her musical voice quietly interrupted his fervent prayer. It was shaky and weak. Finally Duo heard the raspy scratch in her throat. Her vocal chords were tearing. Probably from screaming. Her voice unknowingly sang of sadness, desperation, but faith and a hope that could not be quenched. Those lips could smile, and were probably prone to it under different circumstances.

"God knows our plight. He will answer it in due time. He has answered my prayers."

Duo's sarcastic demeanor kicked in. "We're still in here, Lady. You're oozing all over and that door ain't opening and I hear no angel trumpets or see lightning bolts."

"But I feel peace. And that's all I've asked for all this time. What will happen will happen. Pray for peace."

Peace? Duo didn't know peace. Doomed to be the harbinger of death, Duo only found turmoil and war in his life and his soul.

But still.. Holy Mary,Mother of God…

Duo prayed for the peace of his new friend, not his. God took away his peace long ago.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Their steady thump on the corridor floors grew ever closer, ever more rhythmic. Soldiers coming, no doubt, to teach a lesson to Duo about getting on the wrong side of Oz.

"Maybe these are the angel trumpets you were speaking of, Boy." Hope, masked by caution, masked by fear laced her voice.

The "angels" walked in. Fallen, despicable angels in Oz outfits. Devils. Three of them, all leering, smiling and, Duo couldn't believe it, actually cracking their knuckles.

"Don't you tell them a thing, Boy. Nothing. You hear me? You all crack, but you, of all people, can't say a word. Peace is at stake. Whatever part you have to play in this, it's important, whatever you do. You're just watching a bad movie. It will all be over in a couple of hours. Don't fight! Just sit back. It's a movie. It's a movie. It's a movie," the girl whispered as the men advanced. She was trying to convince herself, Duo realized.

It's just a tactless movie.

Pray for us sinners now…

Finally, they approached. Three men, all seasoned from what Duo could tell. They enjoyed this!

"Duo Maxwell, pilot of Gundam 'Deathscythe.' You are charged with crimes against the state. We are willing to plea bargain for information on the whereabouts and the activities of the other pilots. Should you fail to comply with our generous offering, we will employ methods of persuasion authorized by Oz," the first man, a burly six-foot tall blonde recited with such energy that Duo could tell, perhaps somewhat inappropriately given the circumstances, he was one of those soldiers who knew only how to yell at subordinates and punch extra hard.

"I'll take my chances with the methods of persuasion," Duo rushed out before he lost the nerve. All his training at being a steely, impenetrable Gundam pilot suddenly left him. It wasn't about saving his own ass, or the other pilots' but this poor girl.

The girl nodded. Her lips were thin, eyes wide

One of the other men, a fellow with a shaggy head of brown hair and short, stock build smiled, "Siobhan, nice to see you again. What's it been, a whole day now?" '

"Dunno Danny. Time flies when you are in the Lord."

Danny laughed, "It flies even more quickly when I'm in you, Sibby."

Quick like a flash Duo was strapped into a chair the third man had been carrying, and they advanced upon Siobhan. She lost all composure. Her eyes were wide, unseeing, flashing back to countless encounters before Duo. Her mouth opened, a scream pierced her throat before the knife pierced her left rib cage and the fist pounded her face.
And at the hour of death.

Duo couldn't muster the Amen.

Whew. Lots of ideas. Hopefully you'll like it. Read and Review please.