Hey-o, and welcome to my Lil' World of Weirdness!!

I state for the record that I don't own Gundam Wing, or the wonderful characters that will be gracing this story. . . I do however lay claim to Ensign Saratone *again*, and I use him here purely as a replacement for your average Nameless OZ Minion. Other Characters I lay claim to are Faye Bloom, the wizened old man, Chang Xiao Fao Lan, and the Angels.

Let's just say . . . when my writer's block breaks, it's like a dam breaking . . . [shakes head slowly and winces]

Parings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xM, 6X9, 13xUne, OdinxHelen and hints of DxR and JxG – I know, I know, nobody wants to imagine it, but I kinda think it's fairly cute . . .

Okay, that's the legal stuff out the way!!

Please ENJOY AND PLEASE R&R!!! THANK YOU!!

Also, thanks to my beloved Bluegoo for her ever wonderful betareading, I thank her for the many hours that she has put in with me on this one, be it correcting my terrible grammar and spelling, or listening to me mumbling large chunks of it down the phone to her . . . You're great, Blue!! Even if you are Commander and Chief of the Apostrophe Gestapo . . .

Thank you to Two-Mix for the lyrics, I don't own Just Communication!!

//Thinking//

"Speaking"

*Stress/Emphasis*

Writing/Dream sequence

Telepathic thoughts

:: Lyrics ::

~*~

For The Grace Of Knights And Angels

By Doctor Megalomania

Chapter Twenty-Five: Evolution

Gunshots.

Yells.

Gunshots.

Screams.

Frantic whispers.

More gunshots.

Duo's body screamed in pain; it felt impossible to drag his eyes open. He looked up, as Helen appeared in his sight, "Mom?"

"Duo, you have to get up, we're under attack!" She whispered frantically, "They're beginning to breach the house, we can't keep them out anymore!"

He turned his head to the door, where continuous thuds sounded sickly. Master Fao had rammed his walking stick through the handles and stood shakily with a sword in hand. He glared at the door with weary anger. "We are overwhelmed. . ." He murmured, "We cannot keep them out anymore . . ."

The door was beginning to give way, Fao's walking stick splintering.

There was a groan beside him as Quatre struggled to sit up, "What's happening?" He ground out, he wiped his hand over his eyes, "I'm so . . ." he looked up at the sound of the door being rammed, "What's happening, mother?!"

Quatrine was frightened, as she grabbed onto her son, "Quatre . . . they're there!! The dead, they've breached the house!!"

Duo shook off his sleepiness and rolled on to his feet, pulling Quatre up as well, "We need to stop them . . . Quatre, we need to do something!"

Quatre nodded, "Have the angels been here?"

"They tried to warn us with the bell . . ." Helen wrapped her arms around Quatrine, and sat back from the boys, "But we didn't understand the warning. We haven't seen them . . ."

Dropping to his knees, Duo shook Heero hard. The other boy groaned, and tried to open his eyes, but it was clear that exhaustion had taken the boy. "Quatre . . ." Duo looked up at his friend, "We need time to wake these guys up . . . we haven't got it, unless you give it to us . . ."

"What can I do?" Quatre asked, "I—"

"Do what you did with Trowa, stop it for a few minutes . . ." Duo reached out and grabbed his arm tightly, "I know you can do that . . . stop time for a minute, so I can wake these guys up!" Quatre looked as if he was going to protest again, when Duo pointed at the door, "Meirin is on the other side of that door, Trowa's mother is on the other side of that door, Odin too . . ." he pointed at Quatrine and Helen, "Our mothers are here, Quatre . . . if we don't do it now, we'll never do it when the *world* needs us! "

Quatre looked at his mother, and nodded. He pushed himself to his feet and stared at the door, wondering aloud, "What do I need to say? What do I need to do to make this work?"

"Nothing."

A bright violet flash filled the room, as the five angels stepped out of a portal. Jikan surveyed the room once, before walking over to Quatre, and handing him the golden scimitars. "Quatre," the angel explained urgently, "This is your power, this is your talent . . . *you* decide how it works . . ."

Quatre glanced from his angel to the others. They had all brought their weapons, and stood or knelt by their knight. Quatre took his weapons in one hand, and looked at the door. He raised his palm up in a 'stop' motion, and closed his eyes. "I bid you time . . ." he murmured, "Give us a chance . . ."

The thuds on the door elongated, stretched.

"Please . . ." Quatre whispered, he felt his hand warm as the air in front of it began to throb. "Give us this moment . . ."

Duo blinked and looked over at his mother. Helen was staring at Quatre, but slowly was turning her head. Her blink slowed down, her lips parted, a low moan issuing from her mouth as she tried to speak. Duo shook his head, and turned on his friends, shaking them, "Wake up!" He shook Heero, "Now, now, now!!"

Heero groaned, "What's –"

"No time, Heero!" Duo snapped, "We're under attack, grab your weapon!!" Duo glanced over his shoulder, "Hold on to this moment Quat!!"

Quatre nodded, the thuds were still continuing, time was crawling forward still. "Hold on to this moment . . ." he murmured, "hold onto this moment . . . please . . ."

"Wufei!! Wufei, wake up, Damnit!!" Duo began to shake Wufei awake, as Heero started on Trowa. Both boys groaned, unwilling to awaken. "Wufei!" Duo started to yell at the man, "Meirin is fighting out there!! They won't survive much longer!!"

"Na . . ." Wufei breathed, he groaned with pain as he forced himself awake, "Nataku . . . I won't . . ."

"That's it! That's it!!" Duo glanced up at Quatre, the boy was sweating now, "Hold on for Trowa's sake . . . one more moment . . ."

Quatre nodded violently, gasping.

"What . . ." Trowa swayed slightly as he sat up, "What is the situation?" He spoke slowly as he took his quill of arrows, and his bow. Armbrust spoke quickly and defiantly, "The Dark Chi's servants surround you, your friends hold the house, but they weaken . . . you must hurry." He stood and stepped back as Katana handed Heero his own weapon. Katana stared at them all very seriously as he announced, "We can do nothing more to help you . . ."

"We understand." Heero nodded, he drew his sword out of its sheath, and stood by Quatre. "Now."

There was another flash, this time of gold, as it filled the front hall.

Odin barely noticed it, as he shot at another creature, and tried to pry one off his back. He heard a scream as Meirin launched herself at those who attacked the door. Zechs and Noin stood back to back, as they shot at the invaders. Auda, Abdul and Ahmed ran over to the entrance doors, trying to keep more out. Faye Bloom used her circus knives, and stabbed all that she could reach, as they scrambled through the windows. The creatures were overwhelming Rashid as they tried to wrestle past him to the door that lead to the Knights. Odin bellowed out his rage, as another tried to scramble past.

"NO!!" The dark blonde haired man stamped and kicked at the creature, "You will not get to my son!" He kicked the thing in the head and was rewarded with a satisfying crunch, "I won't let you take him from me!!"

A wild string of Chinese curses issued from Meirin as she sliced the hand off one of her attackers, yet another grabbed her hair and tried to pull her to the ground. She kicked out, she punched and clawed, she screamed at them. "I WON'T LET YOU!!" Meirin screamed at the top of her voice, they ripped at her, dragged her down to the ground and started to pile on top of her, "NO!! WUFEI, BANZAI!!"

"WUFEI, BANZAI!!"

"NO!! NATAKU!!" Wufei threw himself against the door, as his wife's muffled voice filtered through the door, "I won't let you die again!! Nataku!!" He hollered, he pounded on the door as her screams and curses suddenly cut off, "NATAKU!!"

Wufei jumped back, and raised his hands behind his back. Blood red light filled the room as Wufei's circle of magic burnt itself into the ground underneath. Master Fao whispered a prayer, as heat filled the room, and the floor under Wufei burst into flames. Wufei's eyes turned wild, sparks of burning red and orange embers seeming to appear as flecks in his black eyes as he drew on his powers. He threw his hands forward, and dragons of flame rushed at the heavy doors and blew them out.

Fighting stopped briefly as everyone ducked the flying, burning doors.

The creatures took advantage of this, and grabbed on to whoever they could reach, intent on killing them now. Green metal arrows whistled through the air with quick succession, and hit their targets.

Five creatures exploded as vines and roots suddenly grew inside of them. The dark greyish green of ruptured veins was quickly entwined with the lucent tendrils of living growth. Tiny but inseparable the snarls grew outwards in a deadly tangle, knife-thin cuts and strangleholds over every artery, every capillary, every organ and space in the body. It was a cruelly thorough attack for a living enemy. There was no time to stop and stare. Heero and Duo ran out first, swinging their blades with deadly accuracy. Faye rolled out of the way as Duo sliced cleanly through the midsections of three of her attackers. She looked up at the former Gundam pilot as he roared angrily, bringing the heel of his weapon down hard on the head of one of the still squirming dead. He whirled on her and threw his hand in the direction of the door, "Get out!!" He yelled, his voice almost overwhelmed by a roll of thunder outside, "We'll handle this!!"

Zechs was grappling with another creature when he heard Noin grunt painfully behind him; he kicked the creature away and whirled to find Noin struggling with two attackers, "NOIN!!" He bellowed, fury welling up in him. He grabbed one of her attackers and flung him off, grabbing Noin by her arm and dragging her away. She was barely lucid, a deep cut above her eye spilling out blood heavily.

Quatre looked around him, as he ran in. He spotted Meirin on the ground, out cold yet still the focus of attack for four of the creatures. He ran over and spun, lopping off the head of one and slicing open the stomach of another. He knelt quickly, and felt for a pulse.

Wufei's voice bellowed with his rage as he set fire to several more of the creatures. Quatre closed his eyes, "Nataku . . ."

The woman's pulse was weak.

". . . Nataku . . . hold on . . ."

Around him, things slowed again. Odin's swinging punch made contact with a burnt Federation officer, yet moved no further. Rashid fell to the ground, but his face hovered above the ground. Zechs pulled at Noin, however she didn't lurch toward him. Trowa aimed at a few more of the creatures, taking advantage of their ceased movement to take out a few more. He looked around, as the others did. "Quatre?"

"Duo!" Quatre called the knight of death over; he glanced briefly over at Wufei. The Chinese knight ran over quickly and grabbed his wife's hand, dragging her body toward him, "Nataku!"

Quatre reached out and pulled at Duo, "She'll die if she stays here . . ." he shook his head, "You have the power to transport, take her somewhere else."

Duo nodded and gently gathered her up, slowly taking her from Wufei's grasp. "I'll be careful with her, Wufei . . ."

The black haired former pilot trembled with unspent rage and fear as he leant forward and kissed her gently. He sat back on his heels, "We should get anyone who can't fight out of here . . ."

"When I come back, have Noin ready."

"One by one will take too long. . ." Trowa motioned Quatre, the blonde already sweating with the strain, "He can't take it!"

Quatre swallowed, and looked at Wufei, "You can control individuals?" The man nodded as the blonde continued, "You take Helen and my mother, and put them to good use . . ." he glanced at Duo, "Take Noin, she can't fight any more, and Fao, when you come back!" Duo looked hesitant for a moment before Heero touching his shoulder. Duo nodded, "Right! I understand!"

Heero straightened and looked around, "I estimate nineteen more . . ." he raised his sword, "Ready?"

Duo drew a deep breath, and concentrated. His mind focusing only on the icy hall of purgatory. Quatre gasped and stumbled back as huge black crow's wings spread from Duo's back and wrapped around the boy and Meirin as swift as black water they spilled around into an impenetrable cocoon. He quickly regained his balance, and stood, raising his own weapons. "Ready!"

Trowa shot off a few more arrows and prepared a new shot before nodding; Wufei ran into the room they had been in before, and concentrated hard on controlling the two women he found there. Heero ran to his father's side, and quickly cut into the creature lurching onto Odin's back. 

Quatre shuddered as Time ran forward again, and the fight began anew. His mother and Helen Maxwell ran into the room, grabbing whatever they could and simply hitting anything that threatened them. Their movements were jerky, and their eyes were disturbingly blank while Wufei ran back into the room with Master Fao in tow. The knight pushed the man toward Quatre, and turned his attention back onto the fight. He reached out to Zechs, and the man's features slackened as he picked up Noin in a fireman's hold, and carried her over to Quatre as well.

Quatre fell to his knees as exhaustion threatened to set in. Strands of violet magic started to peel back into a portal, and Duo reappeared, he grabbed Noin and pulled Fao toward him. "Hold on to me!" yelled the braided boy, as he reached out and cupped his hand around Quatre's head. "I'm taking you with me . . ."

Quatre's aquamarine eyes rolled as the boy began to lose consciousness. Duo smiled gently as Quatre's mind feebly protested. //mustn't leave—mother—can't lose her—can't lose—Trowa!—don't want to leave both—Duo, please--//

"It's okay Quatre . . ." Duo's voice was the eye of the storm to Quatre, as he felt soft feathers curl around him, "I'll bring you right back . . ."

There was a third flash of Duo's magic, as the three other knights continued to fight.

Lightning and fire illuminated the room as Trowa grabbed up one of his mother's circus knives and closed his eyes. Looping his bow over his neck, he kept his mind's eye focused on his Gundam, Heavyarms. How he had used the machine to destroy enemy forces. Faye Bloom stumbled out of the way, and toward Wufei as her son preformed a devastating attack on one of the creatures, spinning like a top, and cutting through it. She started to cry out his name, when she suddenly heard Wufei's voice echo in her mind. Commanding her, she lolled her head towards him to protest but she felt so sleepy, so very drowsy, she couldn't move by herself . . .

Wufei soon had control of everyone in the room, and although their movements were jerky at first, he soon began to co-ordinate their attacks which became even more devastating moments later, as he realised he could transfer his knowledge of martial arts to them as well. Heero swept the room once more and glanced out the window. There were no more outside.

"We have to contend with what's left in the room, Trowa, survey outside!"

Trowa nodded, and quickly jumped over the bodies that were piled in the room. He scrambled out of the window, drawing his bow and arrow up quickly. The courtyard was empty, a few of the creatures lay nearby but there appeared to be no more threat to them. He closed his eyes and listened to the wilderness. There was muttering, complaints about broken branches and crushed leaves; some animals told of their fear and relief that the intruders had retreated.

The bell tolled once, drawing his attention.

Armbrust and the other angels stood there. Each of them now looking as the pilots had when they were at the beginning of Operation Meteor. Trowa jogged over to his angel and raised an eyebrow. Armbrust nodded, "The danger has passed . . ."

Trowa nodded and stepped back, "Will you be here afterward?"

"No . . . you will need to rest." Armbrust stepped forward and ran his hand over the top of the bow, checking its tightness, "Have your friends leave the weapons by the gate, we shall collect them." He glanced over at the First House as a crack of thunder rolled above and Duo's magic flash again. Trowa nodded once more and ran back to the house, leaving the angels behind him.

In the First House, Duo stumbled slightly, light headed from the use of so much power in one day.

He growled as tiredness rolled into him, and his mother, his own mother was taking hits from sneering, water logged OZ submarine pilot. "I've had all I can take from this!" He snarled, he raised his scythe and slammed it against the floor, "ENOUGH!! I COMMAND YOU TO. . . TO . . ." he closed his eyes, and focused purely on the threatening creatures.

Heero felt a chill in the air as Shinigami awakened in his friend.

Lightning and thunder crashed together, rumbling dark fury as Duo's deep violet eyes snapped opened and crackled with magic, his fringe starting to float as if space itself floated around him and worked its spell of weightlessness upon him as he slammed his staff down again, "I COMMAND YOU TO LEAVE NOW!!" The boy tipped his head back and hollered, "I WANT YOU TO STAY DEAD!!"

Wufei closed his eyes and quietly commanded all those under his influence to fall asleep. Zechs struggled against his mental bonds, before succumbing and slumping to the ground. Trowa climbed back through the window, in time to see all the dead creatures burst into black and violet flame and disintegrate into nothing but choking black ash. Heero stepped back, and lowered his weapon. "It's over . . ." he sighed heavily and sank to his knees. "Is everyone okay?"

Wufei nodded slowly, as Trowa yawned. Duo stumbled to Heero's side and knelt. "I'm going to have to go and get them . . ."

There was a crunch of glass as Ogama climbed into the room. He stood by Trowa and nodded, "I will assist you in this." He stepped over Odin's slumped body gingerly, and reached out to take Duo's hand. He glanced back at Wufei, and smiled slightly, "Congratulations."

Wufei blinked as his own angel stepped in. Konbo observed the scene, "So many all at once . . . I wasn't expecting it." He looked critically at Wufei, "The fourth level of magic has been reached, Wufei, this is tenacity. Your resolve probably saved your wife's life."

"We've lost."

. . . this is but, a minor flexing of our ability . . .

Urami sighed, and paced to the massive window again. Staring out, Urami could see the stars still as coldly beautiful as ever. Dark blue eyes shifted focus, and Urami stared at his own reflection.

What are you staring at . . .?

The Other asked, in almost mocking curiosity. Urami didn't answer, merely stared at the gaunt figure that stared back disinterestedly. In a former life, this boy was a Japanese-American, raised on the mean streets of L2. His dark hair fell untidily over incredible dark blue eyes. He clenched his jaw, and glared as the Other continued.

The cruel void of space . . . that stole everything from you. . .

Urami turned away. His black boots echoing loudly on the cold steel walk way.

. . . or the image of a lost boy, who's past means nothing anymore?

Barton glanced up at the upper levels of the Colony's spaceport. Construction work on their soldiers' warships had begun, finally, the inevitable war was in sight. He stared as the Urami looked down on them unemotionally. The Urami was their true leader; Barton merely was a 2nd in command. That was fine with him, as his only desire in this universe was to track down the son of a bitch that had stolen his name, his life, his everything. All he wanted was to kill Doktor S for betraying him, and to find the other that called himself 'Trowa Barton'.

He glanced over at Quinze. Quinze was a very good organiser, nothing pretty to look at but the man was capable of great organisational skills. Barton knew the old man was furious at the Gundam Scientists for betraying him, and making Operation Meteor fail. Quinze wanted them dead, and he wanted the boy who had caused the Gundam pilots to get past the mobile doll system to be killed as well. He blamed the boy viciously, and like Barton had decided that the boy would die only by his hands.

Rowan Maxwell, the priest that had raised the second pilot, was an odd character. He was definitely insane, not only had he discovered that his whole life had been dedicated to a god that didn't exist and striven to go to a place that didn't seem to exist but the boy he had raised with the hopes of turning into a priest had become one of the most violent fighters in the wars. The sheer number of soldiers amongst their ranks who could claim to have been slaughtered by Shinigami fuelled his rage. The hypocrisy of his rage failed to impress upon him, as all their vendettas failed to do. . .  his thoughts slid away from that notion like water, unable to hold it.

Alex and Mueller, while both very intelligent men, were both far too full of themselves. Their arrogance was no doubt the key to the fact had no doubt precipitated their earlier deaths. Mueller was determined to track down Zechs and kill him, while Alex – the slightly more arrogant, and the more intelligent of the two – wanted to prove himself against a higher yard stick. He wanted to fight the fifth Gundam pilot. The Dragon Gundam was greatly feared by many OZ soldiers, and Alex wanted to test his mettle.

Many people had a grudge against the first pilot of Gundam, but no one had come forward to claim him. Instinctively, it was known that Urami – even if no one but Barton knew about him – was the only one who would face Heero Yuy in the final battle.

The final battle weighed heavily on everyone's minds; he could feel it in the air, as the smell of blood lust festered in the small colony ship's poor excuse for a ventilation system. Tubarov was eager; he found that he was being given the ability to fix up every minion solider with chips, implanted into their brains. It was something he raved about, and no doubt, had any of these minion soldiers been truly alive they would have suffered as Tubarov made experiment after experiment. Around thirty of the undead soldiers had been pulled to pieces, poked, prodded, probed as Tubarov searched for a way to control them en masse. He wanted to create his mobile doll system in humans, turn them into the perfect fighting force, even better than the mobile dolls. This was because when they descended on Earth after the Sesshou cannon had been fired, then having defeated the knights, they would overwhelm any remaining forces with Tubarov's Neo-Mobile Doll System.

Barton looked up at the upper levels again, the Urami had gone again.

"MISS DARLIAN!! MISS DARLIAN!! CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE LOCATION OF THE GUNDAM PILOTS CANNOT BE REVEALED AT THIS TIME?!"

"ARE THEY REALLY TRAINING TO SAVE US?! WHY CAN'T WE TALK TO THEM IN PERSON?"

"MINISTER!! MINISTER!! HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HAVING TO TRUST A MYTH?!"

"IS IT TRUE THAT WE ARE ABANDONING THE EARTH?!"

"MINISTER DARLIAN, CAN YOU LOOK THIS WAY?! MINISTER DARLIAN!!"

Relena breathed a sigh of relief as Pargen closed the door. She looked at her father as he reached over and grabbed her hand. He smiled encouragingly as Dorothy Catalonia and Pargen closed the doors and sat in the front seats. Dorothy swivelled around as the car swiftly pulled away from the gaggles of reporters. "The meeting was a success, Miss Relena!" Dorothy smiled brightly and held up her documents, "That's more funding and resources heading to the factories once more! They will find that we are very hard fish, with biting sharp teeth, to catch!"

Relena nodded tiredly, and looked out the window. Five months and a half had past since they had found out about the Dark Chi. Scientists were worrying about the mass blotting out their stars, just beyond the rings of Saturn and getting closer every day. The mass was beginning to be visible to the people on Earth already, and the media were not helping things by trying to spread mass panic. Relena fought them every day, fighting the newspaper mongrels, trying to get them to see sense on the matter, that their newspaper ratings were not as important as preventing people killing each other for places on ships that were being built to house everyone. Suggestions that the ships were being built so only a small number could be saved were unproductive and false. The former Gundam Scientists were confident that the escape ships would be completed soon, and that all of the Earth population could be saved.

Relena stared out of the window as they drove through the countryside; the beauty of Earth struck her more than ever now. How could humanity bear to leave this wonderful planet forever?

"Heero . . ." she murmured, "Please . . . save our world . . ."

Une stared down on a sight she never thought she would see again. Soldiers ready to fight. While the escape ships were being built, it was generally understood that Humanity would not leave the planet without a fight. Thousands of former soldiers had joined the forces, the Preventers, and were now being rushed through training. The small colony ship that the dark chi's soldiers were being transported on was estimated to hold anything between a thousand to five thousand people. It was about half the size of L4, but larger than L2. Une was determined to be prepared and drives to recruitment were being stepped up. After the Mariemaia wars, people were a little more passionate about protecting their own futures, and not relying solely on the Gundam Pilots to save them. After all, they were only five, and fallible – something people had only recently realised. Treize was very impressed by these attitudes, and Une could see in his eyes as he took the time to stare down at these people, and when he was out trying to gather men and women to the battle, she could see in his eyes the almost overwhelming pride and relief that his life had not be taken in vain. That the message that he'd always tried to get across in life had been understood after his death.

Yet still Une felt a deep sadness that they were taking up arms again, that once more Humanity would be fighting . . . true, not against themselves, not tearing their own species apart for no reason, but still they were fighting, men and women were being taught how to fire a gun again. The dead who had come back, and had been strong enough to resist the call of the Dark Chi, moved with almost guilt as they taught people who'd forgotten how to handle a weapon, where to shoot to cause the most damage. Across the world there were a few attacks, mostly minor spats where the undead who couldn't resist the call of the Dark Chi tried to kill and maim, tried to prevent the advancements the living were making, but overall this failed. Une turned from the window; Treize was working at his half of the desk they shared. Otto and Walker were helping Sally Po by training people in their own fields. Duo's good friend Hilde had arrived from the colonies, and insisted on helping in any way she could. Une had decided to make her the communications officer between the knights and the Preventers, keeping track of all the information and updates, so Une could concentrate on organising everything. It was a harrowing experience. These people had put aside their taste for war, and now had to face such a horrifying prospect once more. The destruction of their home.

Zechs and Noin kept her updated with the Knights' progress and she expected their next update soon. There had been some reports of a hurricane over the location of their camp in the last hour, and this worried Une. She hoped that the knights and their families were okay.  

"Lady . . ."

Une swallowed and stared at Treize as he stood, and walked around the desk. He opened his arms to her, and wrapped them around her. "Lady . . . do not fear too much . . ." he stared out the window behind her, the beautiful blue sky with pure white clouds rolling slowly by. "The brave hearted people who have saved us before . . . will come through for us once more."

Une closed her eyes, and pressed her face into the crook of his neck.

"Treize-sama . . ."

"Have you seen the blueprints for section S. T. four seven?"

Instructor H lifted a pile of papers, and peered under them. He shook his head; "Try the green folders, failing that print off another copy."

Doktor S slid back into his seat and called up the prints, "I want to see if we can strengthen the structural support systems." He sighed and clicked through the plans. He sighed and lifted his coffee, "Where's J and Howard?"

H glanced up briefly, the loading bays and the factory floor, "Why?"

"Curious."

"Of course." H nodded, "It's been fifteen years . . . I suppose they will never put their differences aside . . ."

Doktor S sighed and tapped through more plans. "I guess." He paused again, and peered past the screen, "Are you still angry?"

"I don't know." Hamerada answered truthfully, "What about you, Schwartz?"

The scientist touched his metal nose, "I feel . . . something between anger and sadness . . . perhaps this is grief . . ." he raised his cup again and sighed, "It's been fifteen years and yet . . ."

"It still feels like yesterday." The two looked up as G hobbled over, the old man smiled, and pulled a chair over. "Re-opening old wounds gentlemen?" G sniffed, "Not a good idea, my fellows." Hamerada chuckled quietly, as Schwartz shook his head. Gerald reached into his coffee-stained lab coat, and pulled out three folded, crumpled pictures. He carefully unfolded each, and spread the photographs out on the desk. The pictures were falling apart, white creases lined it, and one corner had ripped. Yet the faded colours and crumpled edges did nothing to lessen the memories.

A younger Gerald, with less hair, and an unscarred face smiled happily at him. Bouncing on his knee was a little boy, his bright green eyes wide and his mouth opened in a permanent gleeful squeal. Behind them, an OZ captain leant over with his young wife; as the family posed for a quick picture before the little boy was due to attend his first day at school. Gerald's hands shook as he touched his grandchild's frozen face. He glanced at his son's expression frozen forever, the youthful enthusiasm for following his old man into the force. The specials' elite.

Gerald sighed and glanced at the next one, Iilian caught in a rare moment of peace, staring intently at the huge bubble he was blowing. The small red glitter party bowler hat held onto his head with a white string was comically tilted to one side. It was a beautiful profile of the child, so peaceful when the child did nothing but run around the place, always singing, always making noise.

Gerald shook his head, his eyes tearing.

Julian and Ililan occupied the last photo. The last photo . . . Gerald's eyes closed and his fists clenched, it was the last photo he'd ever taken the frozen smiles on their faces, ignorant of the horror that would befall them a few moments later. They walked in a small park, Iilian skating triumphantly on kiddie skates, while Julian and Gerald watched. Gerald could still hear Iilian . . .

//Grandpapa!! Can you do this?! Grandpapa, will the big robots be able to skate like this?!//

Then three shots ran out, one as warning, two as punishment.

Gerald touched the scar on his cheek. 

And all because they refused to build Gundam for OZ.

"They are far more powerful than anticipated."

The Warrior turned from the window. "The Knight of Warriors can control a group of people, albeit weakly, but still enough by the sixth month of training? Unheard of!"

Frowning, Time raised her hand to motion Warrior to lower the tone as Beast paced from the window to Mercy's desk, "Agreed!" Snapped the green giant. He spun, wild weeds growing around his feet and wilting almost as quickly. "They are advancing far too quickly! There is something wrong with these knights!"

"There is nothing wrong."

The group fell silent as Death stood, she tipped her head up. "While you sleep, I have watched . . . These boys are not average humans . . ." she motioned out the window, "Had it been any other five humans, everything would progress as normal. However . . . we also must consider that the Dark Chi is utilising this world's own technological advancements, it is building a weapon that the Humans feared, and destroyed during their own war . . ." She raised her hand to her chin, "These five have extraordinary abilities and we are used to having to train discipline, and control . . . these five have already lived a life time in discipline, their control is beyond because they were trained to be above normal humans. These knights are the closest we have ever come to finding the True Knights of Earth. . ."

"That is the root of our fear." Agreed Time, she sighed and raised her hand, a small bead of magic gathering there. "They are so powerful . . . if one should turn to the Dark Chi . . ." She sighed again, and clenched her fist. The magic dissipated like fine sand.

Mercy rose from his desk, "None of the knights have displayed any desire to turn to the Dark Chi . . ." he sighed, "Although after such a short time, it is hard to make such an assumption."

"But assume we must, if these children are the True Knights of Earth . . ."

"Beast." Time lowered herself to the ground, her golden bells on her embroidered slippers tinkling with her every movement as she approached the taller being. She walked up to him, and tipped her head back as she stared up at him. The green giant was shaking with suppressed anger, his jade green eyes flaring with irritation. She had no doubt, if she was any of the others, Beast would have struck out at them. Time and Beast were too close for that, yet the threat rumbled darkly in his eyes. "Beast . . ." she murmured as she approached him closer still.

He glared at her, tense as if he was trying to figure out if he wanted to pull Time closer to him or push her away. With an explosive mental sigh, he grabbed her, and pulled her to his chest.

Time smiled and closed her eyes, as his rough handling gave way to tenderness. She felt him press his chin on the top of her head, and his long, muscled arms encircle her protectively, wrapping around her like leaves would a delicate new bud. "Time . . ." his voice murmured, for only her to hear, "You trust me too much . . ."

"And you trust too little . . ." she shifted her head so she could look up at the gentle giant, "Trust me . . . trust Quatre . . . trust the humans on the eve of this new battle . . ."

She closed her eyes, as his long fingered, furry palm stroked down the side of her face.

"My love . . ." she whispered softly, "Do nothing but trust these young humans . . ."

-----------------------------

And Now it's time to LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!!

DrM: Okay, first! I must show you this link and say thank you very, very, very, very, very much to Xiaobai for doing this wonderful piece of fanart! The first for this fanfic . . . no, wait, that's a lie, Bluegoo has drawn Armbrust's real form before, well, anyway, the first piece of fanart for this fanfic that's on the internet! Please, please go here!

DrM: Isn't she beautiful?! Wow! Anyway, if you have any comments about her, please address them to Xiaobai and I will post them all on the next chapter's A/N's as unfortunately I can't remember if I have Xiaobai's fanart!

Duo: She's scary looking. . . but seriously cool!

DrM: [grins] I know! I love it!! Anyway, everyone, please R&R and tell me what you think of this chapter, of the pick and the colour of Duo's underpants!

Duo: WHAT?!