Author's Notes: I've been awake for 23 hours now after having traveled from Manhattan to Hollywood and H is passed out in the bed beside me. I am quite near delirious, but simply could not keep myself from posting this before crashing to sleep myself.

snowdragonct: We're going to be living in Vermont as of August, but haven't found an actual place yet. NY is home for me, so it was fabulous to be back and I can't wait for this move! By the by, H and I saved all of Witness Protection into html files chapter by chapter to take with us and read on the plane, where we had a giggle fit over the road trip between Yuy, Chang and Maxwell. lovelovelove! Thanks, as always, for your review - I love writing the thoughts behind everything, especially places where I really take a look at the emotions behind everyone's actions and am glad someone else appreciates it.

Kaeru Shisho: I thought for a very long time about how to end that chapter after all the emotional things that had already happened... the most important thing to me is to bring these characters to life, to breathe a sense of "these are real and complicated people" into the story. I really wanted to start delving into the deeper core of these boys and am really happy that you enjoyed the glimpses into the events that shaped who they are.

Carrowyn: Thanks so much for the offer, but generally H proofreads for me. I'm working like crazy to weave in and around the canon and still tell the story I know is there. I'm really looking forward to some of the end of series/ Endless Waltz era stuff I have planned!

This chapter is plot, plot, plot and someone's got a thing for someone else! There's a sweet treat coming up at the end of the next chapter. I missed you all so much and as always, thanks for reading!

Chapter 10 - Our Lives (Episodes 20 – 23)

o/ Is there love, tonight
When everyone's dreaming
Of a better life /o

Looking back, Heero thought that he really should have known better… and that annoyed him most of all.

The shuttle to the moon had been a breeze, giving him the opportunity to consider what he was about do and what other steps he could possibly take next. The colonies he'd been trying to defend had taken up arms and joined ranks with the enemy he was supposed to defeat. There was nothing he could say or do, especially with public opinion turned against the Gundams, that would sway the colonies away from the path to militarization. It's almost as if they've been brainwashed.

The only way to make the colonies see the light about OZ was to force OZ to show its hand, which it did not seem willing to do. Nearly two months after he had self-detonated in exchange for the colonies, OZ was still preaching peace to them while battling fiercely on Earth. Heero knew very well that OZ intended to rule all, but would the colonies be happy living in slavery, providing military supplies for OZ and working in OZ's armies, thinking this was the only kind of freedom possible?

That's not true freedom at all and it makes me sick. Too long, far too long, he'd been trying to make amends for OZ having used him like a pawn and nothing they could say would ever make him believe they wanted peace. Heero was determined to throw a wrench in their plans in whatever way he could, whether it was destroying their latest projects, killing the scientists or going after Treize himself. He didn't feel any guilt whatsoever about his plans to off the scientists, because as long as they were creating mobile suits for OZ, under duress or not, they were a threat to peace.

It had been entirely too easy to infiltrate the Lunar Base and he'd had no problem following the schematics he'd memorized and bypassing all of the security patrols. Heero had only had to knock out one soldier to gain access to a control room where he hacked into the computer system to find the files on the new type of mobile suits being produced. He had been absolutely right about everything and had been completely confident in his ability to destroy the new partially-constructed Mercurius and Vayeate. The scientists had activated the Mercurius' shield system when he'd tried to blow them up using Vayeate's powerful beam cannon, but he would have been able to take them out and proceed with the destruction of the new suits.

Would have.

But when Trowa had flipped over the new suit to point a gun at his head, his entire plan had gone right out the window.

Heero didn't sincerely know what Trowa was up to – the other pilot had been a complete surprise, an unpredicted variable. His presence was not something Heero had counted on at all.

Should I have killed him so that I could kill the scientists too?

Now, locked into a small room and sitting on a hard, uncomfortable bed in handcuffs, Heero considered the moment again and the way they had looked at each other in surprise. He had gambled on the idea that Trowa might have some sort of plan of his own and that he would blow the other's cover if he called the acrobat out on it.

But what if he doesn't? What if he's really working for OZ? How well do I really know him?

Heero was all too aware that he might have sealed his own fate, but he couldn't help believing that a way out of this situation would present itself soon. Maybe Duo's optimism is starting to rub off on me. Flopping back on the bed, Heero stared at the ceiling and continued to stew. The braided pilot had said he was going to follow Heero to the moon and he knew he could trust that they were still on the same page. There was nothing to do now but wait until the right opportunity presented itself.

o/ In this world
Divided by fear
We've got to believe that
There's a reason we're here
Yeah, there's a reason we're here... /o

After Heero had been led away in handcuffs, after Lady Une and her entourage had departed and after no one was paying any attention to him at all, Trowa headed back to the lab where the scientists were working on Mercurius and Vayeate. Lady Une's dual personalities, the flip-flopping between sweet naiveté and brutal harshness, had already begun to disturb him, and now with Heero's arrival, he felt more unsure than ever about his decision to infiltrate OZ.

Heero obviously didn't expect to find me here and my presence definitely disrupted his plans. Trowa wondered what exactly Heero had planned on doing had he not been here, but there was no way to talk to the other pilot right now about what his plans were. Trowa would have to bide his time until he could get a chance to speak to Heero without blowing his own cover.

"We were expecting you."

The scientist called Dr. J greeted Trowa the moment he entered the room and Trowa glanced around quickly to reassure himself that they were alone before dropping the cold and emotionless mask he'd been wearing as an OZ soldier. "Did you know that Heero was coming here?"

"We have no contact with anyone outside this room," a second scientist, Professor G, answered with a shrug.

"I was expecting him, though," Dr. J insisted, gesturing for Trowa to come closer to where the five of them sat in a circle around a computer screen. "He is the Perfect Soldier and I am quite positive that he came here to kill us."

"What?" Trowa raised an eyebrow, taking a sixth chair that it almost seemed they had left waiting for him.

"Because we are working for OZ, Heero considers us a threat to the peace of the colonies."

"That's a rather black and white way to view things when you are obviously under duress," Trowa replied and was surprised when Dr. J chuckled in response. "Not to mention the fact that the colonies are supporting OZ…" Trowa trailed off, waiting to see what they had to say.

"Heero will act in the best interest of peace, and of the colonies, no matter if they denounce the Gundams or not," Dr. J explained, then turned to tap a few buttons on the computer. "He has been exceptionally trained."

"Are you finally confirming that all of the Gundams have the same mission?" Trowa asked, trying to keep his tone casual. This was the first time he'd even tried to have a conversation with these men, but with the friendly way they treated each other, he'd already deduced that they had conceived the idea of the Gundams together, originally.

"Each of you abandoned the original Operation Meteor for your own reasons," his own scientist, Doktor S, added with a small smile. "Perhaps it is also up to you five to decide whether or not you stand for the same ideal."

Why is everything they say so convoluted? "I know that I am not the only pilot who believes that our missions are one and the same," Trowa shot back a little more defensively than he wanted. He'd infiltrated OZ hoping he might be able to get to Treize himself, but also hoping he'd be in a position to somehow assist the other pilots if and when the time came. He wasn't sure exactly how he planned to do that, but he hadn't been able to come up with any better ideas.

"Indeed, you are not the only one," the fourth man, Instructor H, responded sharply, with a hint of some emotion Trowa couldn't quite define. He leaned over Dr. J and flipped a switch on a device next to the computer monitor and suddenly the room was filled with a familiar voice.

"This is Quatre. My good friends who have retuned to outer space. Let's do our very best to protect the colonies."

As Trowa listened to these words, a strange feeling came over him, tightening in his chest until he felt like it was difficult to breathe. During their battle to return to space, he'd seen quite clearly how determined Quatre was to unite the five pilots – as determined as he'd been the day he and Trowa had first met, and he'd gotten out Sandrock to declare passionately that they shouldn't be fighting. He was floored by the genuine faith the blond seemed to have in all of them to come together and fight for peace. "When… how… " Trowa paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "You've heard from Quatre?"

"Not exactly," Instructor H said sadly as he turned the recording off and glanced at Dr. J as if handing off the answer.

"Two days ago, Quatre was found floating in space, with this recording repeating on Heero's frequency." Dr. J replied, crossing his arms over his chest and studying Trowa with a calculating expression.

"Two days ago… Heero's frequency?"

"We traded our services for his life," Instructor H added. "To keep OZ from killing him."

"Then he's here?!" Trowa stood up abruptly, body tensing, more concerned over Quatre's well-being than the realization that he now knew what had prompted the scientists to do such a drastic thing as design Mercurius and Vayeate for OZ.

"No, no, no…" Doktor S touched Trowa's arm lightly and the brunette sat down again. "We're not really sure what happened. We know he was in the shuttle originally, but then he wasn't. We don't know where he is now."

"But we feel confident that he is alive," Instructor H added with another smile. "That he managed to escape."

The group of scientists was quiet for a moment as Trowa digested the information. "Quatre… he wants for us to work together. Maybe… yes… yes, he's got to be working on some kind of plan." When he still received no answer, Trowa rose again, realizing he'd been here a little bit too long and hoping that no one had gone looking for him yet. Glancing around at the group, he nodded, half to himself. "I'll do my best to keep you updated. I'll try to pass information to Heero as well."

"I doubt there's much we can do for you," Dr. J shrugged. "But if that changes, we'll let you know."

Trowa nodded to Dr. J and then took his leave, wandering the corridors and doubling over his path several times until he'd found his way back to his room. It was too soon to try and talk to Heero, but the scientists had given him a great deal to think on.

Quatre will come up with something. I believe it. I've seen his determination and know he won't let anything stop him, stop us… For the first time since he'd infiltrated OZ, Trowa felt a spark of true hope ignite in him and knew that he owed it all to the gentle blond pilot who had inspired him with those words projected out into space with such fervor.

o/ See the truth, all around
Ohh, our faith can be broken
Yea, our hands can be bound /o

Standing in his father's office made Quatre feel young again - and not in a good way. He knew very well that he'd accomplished a great deal since he'd left home, but being back here again simply brought to mind every bit of defiance it had taken him to leave in the first place.

I don't want this to seem like I've come crawling home with my tail between my legs. Despite the fact that I had to self-detonate Sandrock, I've far from given up on this cause. In fact, I feel more dedicated to fighting for peace than I ever have before.

"Are you feeling well, Quatre?"

"I'm fine, thank you." Quatre turned to offer a small smile to Irea, the doctor who had so kindly taken care of him and arranged the shuttle to his father's residence.

Quatre didn't remember very much between his departure from Earth and his waking on the resource satellite. He knew that he had floated in space for several days, because he had been severely dehydrated when the satellite crew had found him unconscious in half of a drifting, wrecked mobile suit. How I ended up in a mobile suit instead of the shuttle I took off in, I suppose I'll never know. I feel awful that Duo and I were separated… I hope he's okay.

Sighing softly, Quatre paced across the room once, twice, before stopping in front of his father's desk to pick up a small framed photograph. He was young here, maybe six, and clinging to his father's leg with an expression of joy and adoration. It should have made him feel good, but instead just made him feel a little queasy. Having been born in a test tube like the rest of his siblings, he'd always felt a bit detached from the familial thing emotionally, despite his respect for his father. The Maguanacs feel more like home than this place.

"How old were you in that photo?"

Quatre put the photo down and turned to look at Irea, side-stepping her question. "I really appreciate your bringing me here."

Looking away and down at the floor, Irea wondered if Quatre suspected the truth just yet. "It wasn't any trouble. I needed to come anyway."

Before Quatre could respond, the door opened and his father entered the room. Quatre turned quickly to meet his father's gaze with defiance in his eyes, lips pursed and hands curled into fists at his sides.

Mr. Winner stepped towards his son, really wanting nothing more than to pull the beloved boy into his arms and hug him tightly, but he saw the look on his son's face and it frustrated him. This was not going to be the happy reunion he had hoped for, because it was already obvious to him that Quatre had not given up his cause. "You've been very disobedient."

"I still believe I'm right!" Quatre retorted indignantly. If this is going to become nothing more than another of his lectures…

Mr. Winner came to stand next to Quatre at the desk and turned the picture back around to face the proper way. All he really wanted was for his son to be home for good, safe and sound, but the times they were living in demanded otherwise. He couldn't help trying to convince Quatre to abandon this quest, even if he already knew it was of no use. They were alike in their stubbornness, he and his son. "Simply living in outer space is difficult for people! Involving yourself in a war is a waste of time!" He turned so that he and Quatre had their backs to each other, standing a foot apart, and placed his hands behind his back. "That's why we've been searching for solutions through discussions with the United Earth Sphere Alliance. But you had to go to Earth in a mobile suit. You even gave them an excuse to attack the colonies."

His father's words stung, as Quatre already blamed himself for being unable to prevent OZ from using the Gundams against the colonies. OZ didn't need an excuse to attack the colonies anyway and Quatre had learned that the hard way. "But someone has to fight or the war won't end." Nothing will change my mind about fighting for peace.

"Well?! Has it ended?! Did your battle end the war?!" Mr. Winner could see the hurt and frustration in Quatre's eyes as the boy turned around and looked up at him angrily, but he felt he had to be the voice of opposition. I don't want to loose my only son to this foolishness. "What could you accomplish? What could a child like you accomplish?! The least you could do as an heir is listen to your father. Use your head."

Sensing that Quatre was on the verge of exploding at their father, Irea stepped forward and tried to defend him. "I think he's grown up to be an excellent heir."

"Irea, don't you start on me."

"Father," Irea paused for just a moment so that the word would register with Quatre. "It's wrong to think of a child as being incapable. My little brother will make an excellent heir."

Quatre made a choked noise of surprise at the comment, whirling around to face Irea with wide eyes. "Irea…"

"That remains to be seen," Mr. Winner answered gruffly, knowing full well that he had verbally disinherited Quatre for leaving the first time. He turned away from both of his children and walked towards the door. As he reached to open it, he glanced over his shoulder at Quatre. "I do not support this decision, Quatre, but short of locking you up, I know there's nothing I can do to stop you. However, this will always be your home and as such, you may take and use whatever you need before you go."

"Thank you, Father," Quatre mumbled as his father closed the door behind him. In his own way, he did love his father very much, but he had to follow his heart and do what he knew was right. Trying to master his emotions, he turned to Irea and smiled weakly. "If you'd like, you can accompany me to Instructor H's laboratory."

"I'd be delighted," Irea smiled warmly, reaching a hand out to squeeze Quatre's shoulder lightly.

The two walked in silence through the corridors of the Winner home, stationed inside yet another research satellite. Quatre was troubled, but not as much by his father's words as over his decision about which path to take next. As they crossed the bridge from the main building into the hangar where the laboratory was located, Irea stopped, leaning against a wall and studying Quatre carefully as he looked out over the abyss beneath them, one hand on the railing.

"Deep inside, Father understands. That dialogue with OZ won't lead to any solutions. But he thinks things will come out all right if the whole colony works together as one."

Quatre turned to look at her and thought of how gently she'd cared for him in the past few days and felt vaguely guilty over the way he hadn't picked up on the truth. "Why didn't you tell me that you were my sister?"

You seemed so frail and delicate when we first found you and I… I wanted us to know and like each other without the weight of family ties. "I'd heard from Father that my little brother was a Gundam pilot," Irea started carefully. "But he gets so upset. I couldn't decide whether to say anything."

"I heard my sisters were stationed in different resource satellites."

"We're all rooting for you. And Father is no exception."

Quatre turned to look at her in surprise and then smiled faintly. I can believe that you are rooting for me, Irea, but I still have a hard time believing that Father respects my decision.

Irea could see that her little brother was far from convinced, so she continued. "Right after you left it was Father who worried about you most."

"Really?" Quatre stepped away from the railing and started towards the laboratory, listening to Irea as she followed behind him.

"He talked about sending someone after you, at first, and he promptly banished Instructor H from the satellite. He claimed to think you were foolish, but I honestly think he was simply floored by your bravery and defiance."

"He disinherited me, Irea."

"I don't think he really means that," she said with a soft laugh. "He's just very emotional, underneath that rough exterior. You two are far more alike than you'll probably ever believe. He loves you, truly."

Quatre sighed, feeling a little bit better, and paused to enter the passwords into the keypad outside the main laboratory door. "I wish he could express that in a way other than by attacking my beliefs."

"All parents attack their children's beliefs," she said with a shake of her head. "They want to teach you to fight for yourself out in the world. It's not an easy time we live in."

Turning to look at her as he waited for the doors to slide open, Quatre lifted one hand and pounded a fist against his heart lightly. "Someday, someday soon, these will be peaceful and easy times to live in. That's what I am fighting for and only my own death would put me to rest." Without giving her a chance to respond, Quatre stepped inside the lab and moved around, turning on various switches and panels until everything was properly lit and running. "This is where my Gundam was built…" He trailed off, pensive and bothered. "But I had to destroy it on Earth because of my incompetence." Quatre sat down in a chair in front of the main controls as his mind started formulating a new plan.

"What are you going to do?"

"The instructor's not here. I have to make another Gundam, to fight." There was no real way for him to know what the other pilots were planning, but there was very little Quatre felt he could do without his Gundam. I've worked on Sandrock enough that I should be able to coordinate a team to build something similar if I have the blueprints.

"Quatre…" Irea started softly. "Can you really fight for the people of the colony?"

Quatre had already started clicking buttons to bring up the file-finding system, but at Irea's words, he stopped in surprise and looked up at her. "Huh?"

Irea glanced away, not sure how to explain the worries she had despite her support of his decision. "Another Gundam pilot who fought like you was caught. His Gundam was destroyed to set an example. The people of the colonies were overjoyed." She turned back to see Quatre frowning and it made her heart hurt. "No one in space considers Gundams their allies anymore," she continued, leaning down and closer to him. "Quatre, are sure you can still fight?"

I have to fight for so many who can't. "I wasn't fighting to be recognized by the people. But one day I believe they'll see the truth." Finding the file he'd been searching for, he pulled up the schematics of a Gundam that looked somewhat similar to Sandrock and smiled. "I'm probably feeling sentimental without Sandrock around."

Irea could clearly see the pain in Quatre's eyes even through his smile and wondered at the determination it took to proceed even in a moment where it seemed like the weight of the universe was against you. She really did admire her little brother, and if the other pilots were anything like him, then there was still a hope for the downfall of OZ and the return of true peace to both Earth and the colonies. Feeling badly for making him worry more than he already did, she moved to stand behind his chair as he typed, finally reaching down to hug him from behind. "I'm sorry. I'm your sister, yet I'm always mean to you."

Quatre looked down and away, flushing slightly in surprise, touched at the unexpected affection from his sister. "Sis…"

"We all love you," she murmured into his ear. "So don't be sad, my dearest Quatre."

"Thank you, Irea."

"I need to speak with Father about matters concerning my resource satellite, but after that, I'll be in my room. Come and find me when you're finished here?"

"I will." Quatre waited until his sister had departed and then he tapped a few buttons to bring up the inter-colony news reels. It wasn't very hard to find information on the Gundam pilots, as it seemed the capture Irea was referring to had happened recently. Quatre felt his stomach clench painfully, tears springing hot and fast to his eyes as Duo's image appeared on the screen, unconscious and obviously not well at all.

This is entirely my fault! If I hadn't so badly miscalculated the number of troops in Singapore, Duo and I would have escaped safely and he'd be here with me now. Quatre brought his fist to his mouth, biting his knuckles to try and keep the tears at bay as he continued to scroll through more reports. Please don't let OZ have… no, I can't even think it! If he let himself break down now, he would never be able to get this new Gundam off the ground and everything would be for naught. Duo…

"Wait… another article…" Quatre's breath caught in his throat as he loaded another page, much smaller than the last, obviously a report that was meant to have been buried, and read aloud softly. "Explosions… massive malfunctioning of new mobile doll system… pilot 02… escaped…"

Relief flooded Quatre as another image appeared on the screen, grainy, but unmistakable. It wasn't Trowa or the Chinese pilot, so it had to be… "Heero went to save him!" Burying his face in his arms with a shaky sob of relief, Quatre gave himself a moment to calm down before closing the news reels and printing out the set of blueprints. I owe Heero one…

Grabbing the printed blueprints to study, Quate rose to leave the laboratory. He needed to assemble a team that could help him put together the new Gundam, and time was shorter than ever.

o/ Oh, but open our hearts
And fill up the emptiness
With nothing to stop us
Is it not worth the risk?
Yeah, is it not worth the risk? /o

Trowa finally found the opportunity to get Heero alone a few days after his meeting with the scientists. The other pilot's room had been watched 24/7 and Trowa had not been able to find a way to talk to him without other soldiers present until now. As he watched a glaring Heero being escorted out of the room in handcuffs and led to the mobile suit bay, he wondered if the other boy really thought he was working for OZ.

Lady Une had put Trowa in charge of dealing with the approaching Tallgeese and he had immediately drafted Heero to assist him in test-piloting the newly complete Mercurius and Vayeate. It was an easy sell with the somewhat twisted story regarding the previous battle between Zechs Merquise and Heero Yuy in Siberia needing to be finished. Of course, Trowa had conveniently left out the part of the story regarding the second battle in Antarctica where it had become clear to both him and Heero that Zechs was now fighting for the colonies.

The real truth was that Trowa didn't care at all how their meeting or battle with Zechs went. He and Heero would be alone out in space with the exception of the mobile dolls, and he hoped it would be easy enough to hack the communication system and open a private channel between them to talk. Of course, that was if Heero believed that he was only here undercover. Thinking back on Quatre's message to all of them, he hoped Heero knew him better than to think he'd really switched sides.

Out in space, with official communication channels still connecting them to Barge, Trowa watched as Heero tested out the Mercurius' controls, slashing with the beam saber as he quickly mastered the new mobile suit.

"How is it?"

"Not too bad," Heero responded, his words short and clipped. "The operations are practically identical to the Gundams'." The main propulsion and the beam saber worked almost identically to the Gundams' and the only real difference was the addition of Mercurius' shield system. Even if he wasn't sure what Trowa's motives were, he was appreciative of the chance to familiarize himself with the new suit, just in case he decided to steal it instead of destroy it.

"Not surprising," Trowa replied casually, knowing that Lady Une or her subordinates were likely monitoring their communications. He wanted to wait until they were further out in space before attempting any real conversation, but he couldn't resist baiting Heero. "Hey, Gundam pilot. How would you fight a mobile doll?"

Although the comment had a somewhat snide tone to it, Heero saw right through it and started to think that perhaps Trowa had brought him out here so they could talk. If that's the case, it'll be much safer to open a secure channel if our two mobile suits are the only thing out here. No computerized dolls spying on us. Quickly maneuvering the Mercurius behind one of the dolls, he used the beam saber to slice it in half. "First I'd sneak behind the enemy to make sure I was out of its target range." He turned and sliced at a second, blowing it up instantly.

"Don't overdo it," Trowa cautioned, but inside he was trying his best to keep the grin off of his face. He knows. He knows I'm not with OZ. Playing along with what he was guessing was Heero's plan, he pointed Vayeate's large gun at the other pilot. "Or I'll have to blow you up."

Vaguely amused at Trowa's cheeky display and aware that they were probably being listened to, Heero couldn't help but take the perfect opportunity to trash OZ's new mobile doll system completely. "The mobile dolls' weak point is that they have the same abilities as the manned models. They're identical down to their mobility and reaction times. The rest depends on how well a human pilot can fight them. Personally, I have a harder time with space mines." He paused only long enough to switch from saber to gun, blowing up a third doll. "We don't need the mobile dolls. I'll handle that white suit on my own." Heero was pretty sure that Trowa had to have figured out what he was attempting to do by now, but the monitors started beeping and zooming in to show the fast approaching Tallgeese.

"We've caught up. We'll send the mobile dolls." Trowa plugged in the commands to send the mobile dolls out ahead of them and couldn't help wondering out loud. "Why's he in outer space?"

"You got me," Heero muttered, then flipped off his official communication channel. It took him less than a minute to hack the system and open up a separate line to Trowa, mouthing at him silently. "Turn off communication as battle prep."

Trowa nearly jumped when a second monitor popped up showing Heero's face, but he could read lips well enough to piece together what he was saying. Flipping off his official communication as if he was about to enter the battle, he relaxed a tiny bit and nodded at Heero's image. "Secure."

"Zechs is not a threat to us. I'll deal with him while you deal with the dolls and then we'll talk." Heero closed the private channel before even giving Trowa a chance to respond and flew towards Zechs with the beam saber at the ready. Zechs evaded Heero easily, giving Trowa the chance to "miss" him with Vayeate's cannon and "accidentally" destroy another handful of the mobile dolls. The three pilots continued in this dance, Heero and Trowa using the new shield systems to easily deflect the Tallgeese while Trowa kept "accidentally" destroying more of the dolls.

Finally, there were only two dolls left, and tiring of the game, Heero blatantly turned and sliced them apart with his beam saber. Opening a 3-way private line, he addressed the other two. "We only have a few minutes to talk before we need to stage your capture and restore official communication lines."

"You were destroying the mobile dolls at the same time that you were fighting me," Zechs said as he recovered from the surprise of the sudden communication. He had recognized the fighting style of both pilots almost immediately and was curious to see what they had to say about showing up in OZ mobile suits. His plan was already to speak with Lady Une, so letting them haul him to Barge would probably save him time and fuel. "Not many pilots could do that in outer space."

"I'll accept the compliment," Trowa responded with a small smirk and then addressed Heero. "It should be obvious by now that I am undercover at OZ, so I'll be brief and pass along some information. The scientists only built these new mobile suits as a trade for Quatre's life, but he ended up escaping OZ troops somehow and his whereabouts are currently unknown."

"Understood," Heero replied, turning his attention to Zechs. "What are you doing in space, Zechs?"

"It's far more complicated than we have time for me to explain," Zechs ran a hand through his long blond bangs, not sure how much he wanted to share with the Gundam pilots. It might be better off for them if they knew less of his plans. "I have ties to Sanc Kingdom--"

"I know who you really are," Heero cut him off, raising an eyebrow. "Are you really intending to pledge pacifism at the colonies as they are taking up arms and embracing OZ?" Heero's tone implied how suicidal he thought such an idea was, so he didn't feel compelled to actually voice the thought.

"I have to try."

Heero nodded sharply as he and Zechs stared at each other across the monitors. We each have to follow what our emotions guide us to do. "We have to take you in to OZ so we don't blow Trowa's cover." He paused for a moment, turning his gaze back to Trowa. "There's no way to make the colonies see reason with the way they currently view the Gundams… OZ will show its true self eventually and we need to wait for the right time to make a move."

"Agreed," Trowa nodded and added. "It would also be wiser to wait and see if we hear news of the other pilots. I had to destroy what was left of Gundam 02, but 05 is out there somewhere and there's no way to tell what Quatre may be doing. Heero, I'll continue to try and pass you information."

"Fine. Let's stage the capture now. As soon as I cut this line, Trowa, turn on your official channel and I will too. It's likely that they already suspect Trowa, but that won't stop them from using either of us to pilot these suits." He cut the line and turned on his official communication. Opening the front of his mobile suit, Heero propelled himself through the zero gravity to land on the Tallgeese as Zechs opened the front of it.

"I haven't got time to play games with you," Zechs said loftily, coming out of the Tallgeese with his hands in the air. "Just haul me in." He turned to Trowa, a small smile playing on his lips. Seems space is filled with dual identities these days. "Never would've guessed you'd sneak into OZ."

Oh, two can play at this, Zechs. "I'm officer Trowa Barton. I don't believe we've met, Zechs Merquise."

Glancing back and forth between the two Gundam pilots, Zechs assumed his most gracious stance. "I'll introduce myself. I go by the name Millliardo Peacecraft. I've come from Earth as a goodwill ambassador."

o/ We can't go on
Thinking it's wrong to speak our minds
I've got to let out what's inside... /o

When Trowa, Heero and their captive returned to Barge, Heero expected to be escorted back to his room, but was instead led to a waiting shuttle in a different bay than the one the mobile suits left through. Inside the shuttle, he was surprised to see the Chinese pilot, who he had not yet had the chance to meet in person outside their Gundams.

"You're the one who self-detonated his Gundam," the dark-haired man greeted him with a curious and probing expression.

Heero sat down in the chair across from him and nodded. "You're the one who bailed out Duo and Quatre in Singapore."

Wu Fei held out his hands, locked together in cuffs that went midway up his arms, just as Heero was wearing. "I'd offer to shake, but this garbage makes that rather difficult," he said with disgust. "I am Wu Fei."

"Heero," he replied, holding up his own hands to acknowledge the gesture. "Have you been here long?"

Leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, Wu Fei smirked proudly. "I let myself be caught on purpose, so that I could come here and become stronger. My Gundam is out of both fuel and ammunition, and damaged to the point that the propulsion has failed."

"That's unfortunate…" Heero studied the other pilot for a moment, not sure if he had deflected the question on purpose or if that was simply his way of answering it. Trowa had mentioned the brief time he'd spent with the other pilot many months ago, but that was all he really knew of the other boy. "I've only been here a few days myself. Do you know where we're headed?"

"We're headed to the Lunar Base," Wu Fei supplied, jiggling the handcuffs as he watched Heero out of the corner of his eye. His expression hasn't changed even a tiny bit since he sat down across from me. "Are they using us as test pilots for the new models?" He let the question sound casual, but knew that even asking it would let Heero know just how much information he already had about what OZ had been up to recently. As much as Wu Fei was sure that the other pilots were not enemies, he still wasn't the type to give information without getting some back in return. That would simply be idiotic.

Heero didn't miss the subtle indications of a challenge and raised an eyebrow before responding with just a hint of sarcasm. "Maybe as targets. Even OZ admits we're pretty psyched."

"Hmph…" Wu Fei was both surprised and amused, because he hadn't expected the other boy to have a sense of humor, but he tried not to let it show. It seemed that Heero was at least intelligent and generally tolerable company. "Some people in OZ wish to do away with soldiers."

"The dolls are an inferior system," Heero shrugged, turning to gaze out the window. They were not far from the moon and would be landing soon. "And there is discord within OZ."

Wu Fei nodded sharply, then sat back in his seat thoughtfully. "Treize is getting hungry for mortal combat. And the overconfident colonies will realize just how much stronger Treize is."

"I think that OZ may show its true hand soon," Heero agreed. "I only hope that we are in a position to do something about it when they do."

o/ Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we're given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let's make the best out of our lives... /o

o/ Is there love, tonight
When everyone's dreaming
Well can we get it right?
Yeah, well can we get it right? /o

Quatre Winner stood in the dimly lit laboratory and stared up at the half-finished Gundam, hot tears pricking the edges of his eyes, hands curled into fists at his sides.

How could everything go so wrong?!

Taking a few steps forward, he climbed into the cockpit of the new Gundam, which the blueprints had code-named Zero and the system blinked to life around him.

Pacifists are brutally murdered. Innocents are taking up arms. Kind people are shedding tears. No one understands them.

"No one hears the voices gone hoarse crying for peace!" Quatre slammed a fist down on the controls and Zero's lights flickered orange and red as if in sympathy. Quatre wanted to give in and sleep because it felt like he had been exhausted for days and days on end, but every time he closed his eyes, all he could see in his mind's eye was the glaringly bright beams from the colony obliterating the resource satellite his father was on.

OZ, the Alliance, the colonies… does everyone really want to live in a world ruled by war and fear?

Zero's lights flashed again and Quatre laughed softly, running his hands gently over the smooth metal, petting the controls in front of him as if the mobile suit was a beloved pet. "I know…" he whispered. "There's no sense left to anything but us, dear Zero. Darlian, Noventa, Father… what did any of them do to deserve their fates? We have to exact justice."

Quatre watched, mesmerized by the rapid speed of the images flickering across Zero's monitors. "What's that, dear Zero? We have to make the best of a bad situation? We should protect space ourselves? Destroy all the weapons?"

Yes… space has lost all reason. We'll be the reason. We'll be the judgment.

We'll destroy everything until there's nothing left for anyone to fight with or fight over.

We'll end it.

o/ And even if hope was shattered
I know it wouldn't matter
Cause these are the moments
These are the times
Let's make the best out of our lives /o

Up Next: Chapter 11 - Waiting on the World to Change