Disclaimer – You recognise it, I don't own it.

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The door had only just shut, and the parties had barely sat down, before Jack snapped.

"How dare you get children involved in a war?!" Jack nearly growled at the three ladies, "They're just kids!"

"You're assuming that it was our choice." Lady Une's smile didn't waver, "We weren't even on the same side, originally."

"What?" Carter blinked.

"First time I met Heero," Sally answered, from her seat against the wall. "He was unconscious, half-drowned, with two bullet holes in him. He was suspected of being a spy. I saw Duo less than a day later, when the little brat blew up part of my hospital, to break Heero out."

"First time I met Wufei," Lieutenant Noin came in; she was sitting next to Lady Une's desk, "He blew up my base. Killed my graduates. And I wouldn't kill him. Because he was a child. In return, he let me live. Not out of compassion, but because he doesn't kill 'bleeding hearts'. Or women, but I try and ignore that part."

"I actually had Trowa serve under me," Lady Une admitted, "For a short time. But considering the fact that he was actually infiltrating my command, I can't claim credit for how he turned out. And I do not know who met Quatre first. But trust me, the boy is just as good as the others."

"Then who?" Daniel pressed.

"Five old men," Lady Une shrugged, "Five desperate old men. We think they're dead… I hope they're dead. What they did to those boys, is inexcusable. The fact that what they achieved was necessary is completely irrelevant. We're just lucky that those boys didn't go completely insane."

"Half the time," Sally sighed, "We're not sure they didn't. They were just kids. But they were soldiers."

"Then when you won you should have sent them to school or something!" Jack protested, "Not use them as your little toy soldiers."

"What makes you think we won?" Lady Une laughed, "I was on the losing side. Noin and Sally switched sides. I lost the war."

"And what would they be doing anyway?" Sally pointed out, "If they weren't here… Quatre would run his business, which he does anyway. Trowa would spend all his time at the circus. Heero would have vanished. Wufei we're not sure. Duo would still be running his delivery service. And he does that most of the time anyway."

"I'd rather I knew where they were." Noin declared, "They get into trouble otherwise. And if another war starts… I'd want to be on their side."

"Then how?" Jack stared.

"It's complicated." Noin answered, "The Gundam War was a little confusing. History books are going to be complicated. I think some people were on three different sides at different points."

"Could you explain further?" Daniel leant forward, "I didn't get many details about the war. But I heard the boys refer to Gundams."

"I thought they would have told you," Lady Une sighed, "Okay, I'll try and be quick and hit the main highlights. We have space colonies. They orbit the moon and the earth. Every colony is part of a cluster. Each cluster is numbered, one through to five. Each cluster was built by a nation on Earth. Some are resource satellites, some research, some are true colonies. These colonies were not autonomous, they were ruled by Earth. A man named Heero Yuy tried to negotiate freedom and peace…"

"Hang on," Jack interrupted, "You don't mean that kid?"

"No," Noin shook her head, "A different man. Heero just bears his name."

"Heero Yuy," Lady Une spoke softly, "Was assassinated. The assassin was never found. Things continued as they had always done. Five old men decided to change that. They build Gundams. Five Gundams. One for each cluster."

"What are Gundams?" Daniel pressed, "I've heard the term. But I don't understand its meaning."

"Do you have Mobile Suits?" Noin asked in return.

"No." Sam frowned, "What are they?"

"Self-propelled military used vehicles," Noin explained, "Normally piloted by one soldier. Generally humanoid in shape. About fifteen to eighteen metres tall. Often specialised for certain environments, such as: space, underwater, air or land assault."

"The Gundams were different." Sally declared, "Each one unique. Not mass-produced. Larger than Mobile Suits. Faster. Better armed. Made of Gundaniam."

"The five men built one on each cluster," Lady Une took over again, "They worked independently, but towards a mutual goal. They each trained a pilot. Then, on the agreed day, sent both the pilot and the Gundam to Earth. Each pilot was given the same mission: don't worry about the colonies, destroy the Alliance before they destroy you. They weren't soldiers, they were sent as terrorists. It was called Operation Meteor."

"Where do the kids fit in?" Jack stared, "The mechanics?"

"They fixed a Gundam or two." Lady Une latched onto the excuse, "They were paired up with a Gundam. But they also fought their own battles. The Gundams were very successful at first. Destroying Alliance bases. But… they were tricked. They destroyed what they believed were the top members of the Alliance calling for more sanctions on the colonies."

"What they actually destroyed," Noin came in, "Was those members of the Alliance calling for peace and freedom."

"Oh God!" Sam breathed.

"OZ took over," Lady Une ignored the interruption, "Just as they had planned. They opened their arms to the colonies. Befriended them. Deceived them. The Gundams stood against OZ, but the colonies were used as shields. The Gundams fled. Three Pilots were captured. One Gundam destroyed. One captured. A Pilot vanished. Eventually two out of the three escaped. The destroyed Gundam was replaced…"

"And a pilot went psycho." Noin muttered.

"How can you say that?" Daniel stared.

"He destroyed a defenceless colony." Sally shrugged, "But he wasn't in his right mind at the time."

"Eventually all the Gundams were back fighting." Lady Une skipped a few details, "The colonies realized they were being had by OZ, and the 'White Fang' was born. White Fang tried to destroy the Earth. OZ tried to defend it and subjugate the colonies. The Gundams tried to stop both. The Gundams won. OZ's leader was killed. White Fang was defeated. Peace was restored. The United Earth Sphere Nation was formed to create the peace and maintain it. The Preventors was created to stand against terrorists. Preferably before they started. The Gundam Pilots were never officially identified. They prefer to remain anonymous. We agreed to that request. All information on their identities has been destroyed."

"How long was the war?" Jack stared, "It must have taken a long time. Considering everything that happened."

"Indeed." Teal'c agreed.

"One year." Sally answered, "Quite impressive actually."

"How the…?" Daniel stared.

"When the Gundams are involved…" Noin smirked, "Things happen quickly."

"So it would appear." Jack stared, "And then you forced those boys to join the Preventors?"

"Forced?" Lady Une laughed, "Offered. Wufei agreed when the offer was given, about a year after the end of the Gundam War. The others were offered positions, but it took six months before Heero got bored and signed up. Quatre and Trowa sort of signed up together. Duo was the only who was ever forced in any way to work at any point for the Preventors. And I had nothing to do with it."

"Then who did?" Daniel asked.

"Well…" Lady Une grinned, "There's a story behind it…"

*Flashback*

It had been a bad month for the four Gundam boys in the Preventors. Nearly every item they needed had broken, apparently beyond repair, and replacements would take a month at least. Their latest case required them to get information that was being held in an unassailable location. And the coffee machine had broken. That had been the last straw. Heero almost destroyed the firing range; Wufei 'killed' all the target dummies with his katana; Trowa literally knocked all the stuffing out of the punching bag; and Quatre actually had people flinching when he walked past. Something that none of the others had managed, much to Lady Une's surprise. It turned out that although Quatre drank tea most of the time, he needed coffee when he got stressed. All four had been spending all their time at work, sleeping in their joint office when required.

Finally Lady Une had lost her temper with them, after the eighth day they had spent without leaving the office. Luckily it was a Friday, so she sent them home with strict instructions that if they turned up before nine o'clock on the Monday, they would be suspended from duty for a week. All four had glowered to various degrees, before leaving Headquarters.

When they hadn't returned by ten past nine on the Monday morning, Lady Une was starting to get worried. At quarter-past all four entered together. However they had brought back-up. Duo. Although it was clear that he had not come willingly. Heero and Wufei were restraining an arm each. Trowa was holding Duo's legs, so that he hung suspended between the three boys. Quatre had Duo's braid firmly wrapped around his right hand, as well as a backpack over one shoulder. Despite all Duo's struggling and shouting, he was not going anywhere. Those who knew him also knew who was keeping him there; Quatre and his braid.

The loud procession made its way up several flights of stairs, before entering the boy's joint office and shutting the door behind them. A few minutes later Wufei left the room and entered Lady Une's office. He carefully placed a piece of paper down on her desk.

"We have hired a contractor to aid us in our time of need." Wufei stated bluntly, "As the current facilities are unable to fulfil our requirements."

"I can't believe Duo signed this willingly." Lady Une looked at Wufei.

"Do you doubt my honour?" Wufei answered coldly.

"He didn't look that willing." Lady Une pointed out.

"He is Duo." Wufei replied smirking slightly, "None of us forced him to sign. It would be… dishonourable and unjust."

"Alright," Lady Une sighed, "Just get the job done. I don't want another war. And that's what these idiots seem to want."

"It will be done." Wufei nodded, before leaving the room.

"How much are they paying him?" Lady Une asked her secretary handing her the contract.

"A reasonable amount." The secretary summed it up, "Won't break the bank."

"Double it and call it a bonus." Lady Une instructed, "It won't do us any harm to have Duo on our side."

"Rather our side than against us." The secretary agreed.

About two hours later Lady Une emerged from her office. She found nearly half her desk based Preventors apparently worshiping the door to the Gundam boy's office.

"What's going on here?" she addressed them.

"He fixed the coffee machine." The front seven announced. Lady Une quickly recalled that they were seven out of the eight coffee addicts.

"Where's your fellow addict?" She asked.

"Getting refills." One replied, "The machine works even faster now. And makes better coffee!"

"Well," Lady Une sighed, "You're still supposed to be working. You can express your gratitude later."

With that all the desk-jockeys scattered to the wind, although the coffee addicts took a little longer. Once the hallway and bullpen was back to its normal degree of sanity (hey, it's an office, like it's sane), Lady Une entered the office.

Duo was sitting on the floor surrounded by a collection of mechanical and electrical pieces. A tool-kit and a rucksack were just to the right of him. A screwdriver was clamped in his mouth as he worked on something (Lady Une couldn't quite tell what). Quatre was sipping at a mug of coffee, his right hand still firmly encasing the end of Duo's braid. Heero was watching Duo, his chair positioned next to the door. Wufei and Trowa were pouring over maps on a table, both jealously guarding their mugs of coffee. Every so often, Quatre would lean forward and point something out. Even though she knew that Duo had been clean a few hours ago, he already had a streak of something down his face. Duo had looked up for a few seconds to take in the intruder, before shrugging and carrying on with his work.

"Lady Une?" Quatre frowned slightly, "To what do we owe the pleasure today?"

"Our latest information on Inspire," Lady Une almost spat the war-mongering group's name, "Indicates that we have a month before they start implementing the final stages of their plan to create war. I want them all arrested before then."

"Cool your jets, Une Lady." Duo drawled from the floor, once he'd spat his screwdriver into his hand, "We'll get you your intel. Then you can go cuff-happy."

"Please ignore the idiot." Wufei shrugged, "He's just a little annoyed that we're rationing his coffee."

"I fixed it!" Duo muttered, "I deserve it!"

"Later." Heero stated. Duo merely growled, before carrying on with fixing whatever it was that he held in his hands.

"Don't worry," Quatre smiled lightly, "We will achieve our goal. You will have your intel by Saturday."

"So soon?" Une blinked.

"We have our… stealth expert now." Trowa pointed out.

"We'll get it." Heero agreed.

Lady Une left the office at that point. A small smile graced her lips. In that room was hope. They wouldn't fail her. Five boys. Five Gundams. They would not fail her. They had not failed the colonies. They had not failed the world. They would not fail her.

Slowly over the next few days Lady Une noticed that things were beginning to run more smoothly. The computer system, which had seemed on the verge of a total breakdown, was running faster than ever. The garage was full of fully functional vehicles; even those that had been almost written off were functioning as if just off the factory line, even if they didn't look like it. The coffee machine was still producing wonderful coffee. Duo nearly had a cult going thanks to the coffee alone. The fact that he'd tinkered with it so that it now also did a mean cappuccino, well... that was just icing on the cake. Outwardly Lady Une had expressed horror that such a frivolous drink was being produced. Inwardly she was quite enjoying the cappuccino.

During the whole time Duo had not gone anywhere without at least two of the other Gundam boys. One was always attached to the end of Duo's braid, and the other watched Duo to check that he wasn't going to try something. They hadn't gone home. It was at times like this that Lady Une was glad that she'd given the Gundams free reign to do whatever they liked to their office. She knew there was a futon in there, and the sofa folded out into a bed. Add in the three sleeping bags that they always kept in the closet, the boys would be alright. They kept sending one of their number for take-out so they were still alive.

Heero arrived at her office carrying a bunch of requisition forms. He presented them to Lady Une in stolid silence. She rifled through them quickly.

"Where do I get half this stuff?" she inquired, "I've never heard of some of it."

"Duo said to contact the Sweepers." Heero replied, "He included a contact number. Inform Howard that it is for Duo and it should arrive tomorrow."

"You have a plan to get the information?" Lady Une was surprised, "You said it would be impossible to do so undetected."

"02 is undetectable." Heero answered, before turning and leaving the office.

"Did he just compliment Duo?" the secretary stared at the closing door.

"Yes," Lady Une stared, "I didn't know Duo was that good. Get me a line to the Sweepers; I'd better get this equipment. Even if I don't know what it is."

Howard turned up less than twelve hours later. He handed over a box, which contained all the items Duo had requested. Trowa quickly checked the items over, before taking it to Duo.

"I take it the kid's in a little trouble?" Howard commented to Lady Une.

"The boys needed help." Lady Une replied.

"And they called in the best." Howard nodded, "I ain't never seen a thing that kid couldn't fix. Or couldn't hack. Or couldn't steal. He's not the world's greatest fighter. But he is the best at what he does."

"And what's that?" Lady Une frowned, "Treize Khushrenada never put Duo as anything particularly special, apart from being a Gundam. He was after all captured twice. Couldn't even self-destruct."

"The button wasn't working." Howard pointed out, "I couldn't believe it myself. I know the kid. He's got the guts to self-destruct if necessary. But the button failed."

"That puts a new spin on things," Lady Une breathed, "Add in a few inconsistencies, unconfirmed rumours and just plain mysteries that have been annoying me…"

"That's the kid." Howard smirked, "You never quite know what he's up to. Fixes things a treat though."

"I know." Lady Une agreed, "He's practically got a cult now. He fixed and improved the coffee machine."

"He always does that first." Howard grinned, "Boy's a coffee addict."

"Do you know how they got him to sign a contract?" Lady Une asked.

"Coffee and chocolate," Howard shrugged, "The kid'll do almost anything for either."

"Useful to know." Lady Une nodded.

"Only works with those he trusts." Howard added, "Ain't many of us. But there's enough. Likely is he didn't expect them to trap him like that."

"How do you know he was tricked?" Lady Une frowned.

"He asked for one particular item." Howard stated, "It doesn't exist. Just tells me that he's stuck. Basically asks for a bail out."

"You here to provide it?" Lady Une pressed.

"Nah," Howard laughed, "He's in good hands. And they need him. Or they wouldn't have asked. He knows it, too. Just doesn't want to admit it. He was enjoying himself, being a messenger boy. The kid doesn't like getting tied down. But it's not enough for him. He can do He knows it to Now, can I steal a mug of that coffee?"

Friday was the first time Duo was seen without someone on the end of his braid. He was dressed in black from neck to toe, with a baseball cap on his head. A communicator was peaking out from underneath the cap. A black rucksack was slung over his back. A coil of rope lay over his left shoulder, crossing his body. Around him stood the other Gundam boys, apparently escorting him to the garage. As they moved they were doing last minute checks.

"Rope?" Quatre called out.

"Yes I've got the rope," Duo was obviously annoyed, "You can damn well see it, Cattie!"

"Lock-picks?" Wufei pressed.

"Look guys," Duo sighed, "I know you're worried and all, but I have done this before. I got what I need. So take a break! I go in, I get out. Just watch the master at work. And buddy," he turned on Heero, "If I see so much as a speck of explosives, I'm coming after you. You blow things up. I can keep things quiet."

"Not always." Heero reminded.

"How the hell did you think I survived on L2?" Duo laughed, "I can get in. I can get out. Just make sure my transport is waiting."

"It will be there." Trowa nodded.

"Sorry, Duo." Quatre apologized, "We don't…"

"Stuff it, Cattie." Duo snorted, "You're just nervous, that's all. Don't you blame yourself. Let's go!"

About eleven o'clock that evening the Gundam boys returned. Duo was draped over Heero and Trowa's shoulders. The pair were trying to Duo off his leg, as there was a nasty gash in it. Wufei was carrying Duo's bag, which got thrown into the Gundam office. Quatre was fretting slightly, a first aid kit in his hands, trying to get Duo to let him look at his leg.

"When we're in the car, Cat." Duo sighed, "I just want to give this to Une Lady."

Duo pulled his right arm off of Heero, before digging into his braid. At this small action, Wufei had gone tense and taken a few steps back. Duo removed a small snap-drive, which he handed over to Lady Une. At this Wufei relaxed slightly.

"All computer files." Duo smirked, "Decrypted. Decoded. Downloaded. It'd better be what you want. I hate dogs."

"You are going to sit down and let me fix your leg." Quatre instructed, "It's bad enough that you refused to get off the motorbike all the way here…"

"Alright!" Duo threw both hands up in the air, before nearly overbalancing. Trowa and Heero caught him quickly, "Man, Cattie, you nag well. Bandage me up and let me go. I did your week. Guys, just let me go home. I want to get back to my normal life! You pulled me out of an important week. I only really need a plaster!"

"You're badly injured." Heero pointed out.

"Buddy, I know that!" Duo exclaimed, "You try feeling it from this side!"

Duo didn't even see Wufei sneak up behind him. A quick nerve pinch later and Duo was unconscious.

"Now we can treat him." Wufei declared, "He was getting noisy."

"Thank you." Trowa nodded, before picking Duo up, so that the boy lay over his shoulder.

"I've got the car coming," Quatre announced, "We'll take him back to mine. Sally said she'd come and fix him up. I'll do a temporary fix. Why didn't we know there were dogs?"

"Let's go." Heero instructed.

Lady Une watched as the five boys left Headquarters. The small black flash-drive still in her hand, looking closely she could see a small silver scythe on the drive. Smiling slightly to herself, she quickly locked the data up in her personal safe, before going home.

As she expected none of the Gundam boys turned up on either Saturday or Sunday. On Monday morning at nine o'clock she had all four of her Gundam Preventors present and accounted for. At quarter past, Duo Maxwell wandered in, and made his way up to her office.

"Hey, Une Lady!" Duo chirped as he neatly sidestepped the secretary.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Lady Une asked.

"Well," Duo smirked, "Seems to me that I'm needed here. I was wondering… is that position you offered just after the Mariemaia incident still open?"

"It always has been." Lady Une smiled, retrieving a piece of paper from her drawers, "Here."

"There you go." Duo scrawled on the dotted line, after a quick glance through the contract.

"Welcome aboard." Lady Une announced. "You can start immediately. You'll be with the others."

"Thanks Une Lady!" Duo grinned broadly, "See you later!"

"Yes, you will." Lady Une nodded, "Agent Reaper."

*End Flashback*

"And you kept him?" Sam stared, "A thief?"

"Set a thief to catch a thief," Sally shrugged, "Set an assassin to catch an assassin. Set a terrorist… It all works out. Who are you to talk? Set a Jaffa…"

"And it's not as if they all work full time." Noin pointed out, "Wufei does. Heero's part-time. Quatre and Trowa get called in when there's a case that needs their specific skills. Same with Duo, only he also drops in at a Preventor's base twice a week. He then proceeds to fix everything that's broken. Never the same base twice in a row."

"It costs me less," Lady Une sighed, "To pay for Duo's salary, than it does to replace or repair any broken item. Even taking into account the items that he himself breaks… or blows up. Which surprisingly occurs on a fairly regular basis. He's called 'Maxwell's Demon' for a reason."

"He's Sweeper taught." Sally shrugged, "L2 raised. Makes for one hell of a kid."

"As for the others," Lady Une smiled, "Quatre's smart. Really smart. He's been running his multi-million dollar company, pretty much single handed since his father died. And it's making a consistent profit. Trowa's been fighting since before he could talk. Wufei has his reasons to seek justice and peace. Heero, we don't know much about. But he does as his heart dictates."

"They're the future." Noin smiled, "And they're our past."

"And you let them?" Jack stared.

"Who did you lose?" Sally was blunt.

"What?" Jack blinked.

"No one's as intense as you," Sally pointed out, "Unless they lost someone. Unless they lost a child."

"I've seen child soldiers." Jack was cold, "I don't care to see them again."

"Nor do we," Lady Une stated, "But we didn't have much choice. If we tried to force them to attend school, they'd run away. We can't force Quatre, he runs a company. Heero, Duo, Trowa and Wufei would become ghosts. If we don't force them, we do at least know where they are."

"And we can help them," Noin declared, "If they need it."

"All we can do," Sally sighed, "Is teach them how to be something else. We can't expect them to be children anymore. We treat them as adults, when others treat them as children. But we treat them as children when they need it."

"They're the only ones." Lady Une said, "And they will be the last. We are not condoning the action. We are merely coping with its results. What would you suggest we do?"

"You're right." Daniel agreed, "Jack, calm down. They're fixing what was done by other people."

"Fixing…" Sally smiled, "You make it seem like they're broken. They're not. Maybe they were at one point. But they're not now."

"They're still children." Jack insisted.

"You wouldn't understand," Lady Une sighed, "We needed them. Maybe, they should have been older. Maybe, it shouldn't have been them. But we're stuck with it. I can't send them back to school. It wouldn't teach them anything."

"Okay," Daniel spoke up, before Jack could start again, "But that's not how things are run anymore. So we can move past that, and onto trying to see if we can organise an alliance?"

"We cannot arrange an alliance by ourselves," Lady Une countered, "However we can organise a meeting between yourselves and some of our senior politicians. That will take time though. At least a week, a fortnight would be better."

"We can return in a fortnight." Jack agreed, "It would also give us time to work out what we would expect in an alliance."

"Agreeable," Lady Une shrugged, "We're not sure right now what'd we'd expect. But I'm sure we can come to some agreement. I have no desire for body-stealing aliens to take over my home."

"We'll come back in a fortnight." Jack nodded.

"That's fourteen days." Daniel supplied, "Just in case we're using different time frames."

"How long would you stay for?" Lady Une asked, "While you're here to negotiate it would also make sense to show you a little of our world, so that you better understand our culture. And our capabilities."

"Seems sensible." Jack declared, "We would probably stay for at least a week, maybe two. That should give us enough time to hash out an agreement."

"We would also want to visit your world," Lady Une pointed out, "Not right now. Not even straight after your visit. But at some point in the next six months. If that is agreeable?"

"Sounds perfectly reasonable to me." Jack smiled, "May I ask where we would be staying?"

"Considering that you'd be talking to the United Earth Sphere Nation," Lady Une muttered, "And more than likely the Vice-Foreign Minister… I would probably ask Mister Winner if he would agree to open his house for you. It would be sensible."

"Aww!" Duo sighed, "You're going to make them meet the Pink Princess? That's cruel and unusual, Une Lady."

"Duo?" Lady Une stared, "Didn't I ask that all the ventilation ducts have alarm systems placed in them?"

"Sure you did!" Duo smirked, not a shred of shame on his face. He was perched on top of a small desk in the corner.

"But you got through them anyway?" Lady Une pressed.

"Well…" Duo's eyes sparkled, "Wouldn't be any good if I couldn't get through, now, would it?"

"Duo," Lady Une sighed, "Would it be possible for me to ask you not to break into my offices?"

"Sure thing, Une Lady!" Duo chirped.

"Right then," Lady Une smiled broadly, "Would you mind rounding up the others? I think it's time we escorted our friends home. With a little more friendliness than we escorted them here."

"Roger." Duo nodded, dashing out the door, "I'll find Hee, Cattie and Wu-wu."

"And he's off, again." Sally laughed, "I swear that kid runs on sugar."

"I don't know," Lady Une was slightly dismissive, "And I don't care! He said he was going to stop breaking into my offices. That's a win for me."

"Actually," the voice came from the corner of the room. The rest of the room turned to face the speaker. Trowa was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, head tilted forward, causing him to look through his hair for both eyes. "All Duo agreed to was that you could ask him to refrain from breaking into your office. He agreed that you were perfectly capable of the action. However you did not ask him to. Therefore Duo did not agree to your unspoken request." Trowa tilted his head up a little more, so that his hair only obscured one bright green eye, "Duo could no more stop testing himself on your security, than he could stop breathing. It's in his nature."

"He's a thief." Sam seemed stuck on the fact.

"And I'm a spy." Trowa shrugged, "Heero's an assassin. Wufei's a scholar. Quatre's a politician. I think Quatre's the most dangerous out of all of us."

"But of course," Jack smirked, "He's a politician."

"I'm glad you understand," Trowa pushed himself off the wall, "Just a little warning for all of you… We survived a war. We may only be children in your eyes, but what we have seen, what we have endured may possibly surpass even your own experiences. At the very least, they surpass your expectations. We fought, risking our own lives, with nothing to lose, and every expectation of dying. Now, we have something to lose if we do not protect it. How much fiercer will we fight now? When you have had nothing and no-one, any person who chooses to be close to you is precious.

"Before the Gundam War began, I owned nothing apart from the clothes on my back. I didn't even have a name. Now I have a name. Now I have brothers. Brothers who understand what I went through. I don't care what they were. I don't care what they are. I don't care what they will be. For I know they are my brothers. For I know they will protect me. For I know that I will protect them. We have stood together, fought together and expected to die together.

"Duo may be a thief to you, but to me, he's a brother, an ally and the best stealth expert in the Sphere. Heero may have been trained as an assassin, but he's also the strongest and most determined soul I have ever known; he does not fail missions. He doesn't know how to. Wufei's a scholar; he was trying to find Justice and Honour in a world that barely seems to recognise the concepts anymore. However it is through his eyes that I see an idealised world, which we can form by our actions. Quatre was born a politician, as far as I can tell. He is one of the kindest and most caring people I know. Do not underestimate him though, he may ask kindly, but if he cannot find a compromise or feels that it is absolutely necessary to do what he initially stated, he will do it. And he will mourn the consequences later."

"Attack one of us. And you attack us all." The comment came from the door, where the other Gundam boys were standing. Quatre was the speaker. "We care not for our history. That may be where we came from, but it is not where we are going. While we may learn from it, and while it may define us, we may still change."

"Jeez, Trowa!" Duo stared from the doorway, "Are you not going to speak for the next month?" Trowa merely looked at Duo, "I'll take that as a yes. Oh well," Duo shrugged, "I've gotten good at Trowa speak translation."

"When did Trowa enter?" Daniel asked.

"Don't bother working it out." Noin shrugged, "He's good at that. You never know he's there until he attacks or speaks."

"Usually attacks." Duo laughed, "He's a silent one, our Trowa."

Trowa almost seemed to smirk, before making his way across the office to join the other Gundam boys.

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Thank you all for your reviews.

Dhrachth – Thank you for your compliment. I am honoured to be compared to Vathara's "Upon a Firey Steed".

yamiyugi23 – Thank you. Hope you enjoyed this chapter too.

grey-shadow-horse – I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear. Quatre got the code out of the local he interrogated, who was close enough to see the symbols.

shizukesa-sama – Sorry. I am appalling at spelling. Thank you for pointing out my mistake and it has been corrected. (Now, if only I could get Shinimagi out of my spell-checker…)

Moon Ecstasy – I had to have Sam react like that in my mind. Sam has always come across to me like a lake. You know… Still waters run deep and all that. Your method of handling Wufei though… I agree with. And would be very funny to watch. Don't worry, the GW boys will be fallible. It's just that at the moment they're on home turf. And SG1 keep on underestimating them because of their age. If I continue to belittle SG1 please point it out. I do not intend to, but sometimes things come out wrong.

TrenchcoatMan – Here you go.

SilentTears07 – Sorry, no real enemy in this story. But I have a rough out-line of a sequel… This thing is turning into an arc.

Lady Mear – Thank you for your comments. Concerning your remarks:

Lady Une is an eminent politician; she understands that sometimes admitting culpability can lead to better relationships. Also she only apologized for their treatment. She did not say that it was not deserved.

Sam is tired, stressed and has been working overtime for weeks to sort out the new iris and trying to make sure it won't break again. She may not be entirely in character, but I wouldn't say she was out of it either.

Q apologized because that's how he is. Come on, he always tries to make the other guy surrender before he harms them… Then he finds out that the one time he didn't things could have been solved by talking? Guilt trip!

Wufei may have apparently taken orders from Jack, but he waited for Lady Une to confirm before he obeyed.

Jack is a leader. He has a 'voice of command'. I have seen similar voices used by people and gotten instance obedience even from people who do not have to obey. They don't even think about it.

But yeah, generally you're right. The G-boys have done nothing wrong. And apart from Q, none of them will be apologizing. Sam… well, we'll see.

Thank you for all your reviews. I appreciate the comments. Any opinions on my writing style welcomed. Flames will be used to light candles.

Last remark, I have a second story, a purely GW one, not set in this universe that I'm working on as well. Should I post now or wait until this one is finished?