Author's Note: Getting into the final chapters here, not much to say except that the following chapters have been looked over by the residential action junkie ShadowMajin and action content should be elevated somewhat. However, there's still some time before we get to the juicy stuff so you'll have to make due with this chapter instead. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.
Good versus Evil
Old military installations around the world were started up. Abandoned Mobile Suits were revived and upgraded. The Legislature itself approved a temporary military force that was to be formed and put under the command of the Preventers Director Une. Shuttles filled with weapons were launched daily to be set up at multiple military space installations, fortresses, and bases.
Back on Earth, four of the five Gundam pilots entered Director Une's office at her request. Une looked at each young man, sparing each a glance before going straight to business.
"You four are the best soldiers we have," she stated. "Your presence on the battlefield is most needed."
"We are prepared to do whatever it takes," Heero stated.
"I know that but I need you to do something else," Une continued. "With the destruction of the Lunar Base, we now have an idea as to the whereabouts of Janus Xavien. While your fighting skills would be most beneficial, I want you to do something else."
"And that would be?" Trowa asked.
"I want you four to infiltrate wherever Xavien is hiding. There's a great chance that he's keeping Relena and Dorothy close to him. Your mission is to rescue both hostages and return them. While you're at it, I also want you to eliminate Janus Xavien as well. We'll cut this snake off at its head and end this once and for all. Do you accept?"
The four pilots looked at each other before returning their eyes to the woman.
"You want us to leave the fight, rescue both Relena and Dorothy and kill Xavien?" Quatre asked, trying to clarify what Une was asking of them. She simply nodded.
"Mission Accepted," Heero said.
---
The Gundams were launched that day, including the pilotless Deathscythe which was being brought along in case its rightful pilot decided to make an appearance. Quatre lamented the fact that the other pilot wasn't there with them but they would have to make do with what they had.
The vast, starry expanse met them as they exited the Earth Atmosphere. Once again, the Gundam pilots had returned to Space.
---
Serbiak turned from his precious Nightshade as he was addressed, irritable at the interruption.
"I need your services one last time," Xavien calmly stated, his face a mask of business-like etiquette and hands behind his back.
"What do you need?"
"As you already know, the Earth and Colonies are gathering their forces and will be coming here. I need your skills and abilities to deal with them."
"I'll massacre them in Nightshade," Serbiak boasted.
"It's not them that I'm concerned about," Xavien snapped severely, momentarily losing his cool before regaining it a second later. "The other Gundam pilots will more than likely be coming with them. I want you to kill them all. That is if you can handle it."
Serbiak glared at the man who dared to doubt his abilities. "I'll beat them this time. I won't let them catch me off guard again."
"You better not," Xavien warned.
The mercenary left to work on the Nightshade as Xavien glared after him, annoyance radiating from his body. Malkov approached the irate armsdealer from behind, his face impassive.
"He's becoming a liability," Malkov intoned.
"I know."
"What are we going to do about him?"
"I'm glad you asked that," Xavien answered, his eyes not leaving Serbiak's form for a second. "Once Serbiak gets rid of those pilots, he'll become just another casualty of the battle. I think L9's main weapon should do the trick."
"As you wish, Mr. Xavien," Malkov replied.
---
From his hiding place, Duo overheard the morbid conversation that was spoken as if the conversationalists were talking about the weather. Would this man's treachery ever end? The pilot could almost feel sorry for Serbiak. Almost.
He kept silent as the other two men left to do whatever it was they needed to do, most likely preparing for the assault that was heading their way. He just had to wait for Xavien to get alone, away from his minions, where he would not be able to get any assistance. Then the bastard would face the wrath of the God of Death.
---
An armada of ships made its way through the endless black void of space, heading straight towards the moon, the believed location of the enemy. At the forefront was the Peacetraveler, the sister ship of the Peacemillion. Normally, this large ship would act as a cargo ship for the Sweepers but due to the builder of the ship, a certain old geezer with awful tastes in fashion, it was readily able to make the conversion from harmless freighter to warship. From this converted battleship, the four Gundam pilots gazed out of one of the many windows on the ship.
From their vantage, they could easily see the moon. It was there where the last known confirmation of Xavien was and would be the best place to start searching for the enemy.
Despite the severity of the situation, Quatre couldn't help but feel the old rush of anticipation that filled his body. As much as he disliked the feeling, he welcomed it nonetheless as an old friend.
Speaking of old friends, Quatre was still worried over the condition of Duo. They hadn't gotten any word from the braided one since his call to him a while ago. For all he knew, he was somewhere on L9. How would Duo get out of there? Since Deathscythe was not at his friend's command, he was stuck on Xavien's Colony. There was also Relena and Dorothy to be worried about as well. How were they going to get them out of there safely? It wasn't as if Xavien was going to allow them to simply walk in and take them.
Glancing at his comrades, he immediately noticed the tension surrounding the other three. Wufei was almost quivering in anticipation; Trowa was stoic though the blond could feel some sort of conflict raging inside the unibanged man; Heero was…well, he was how he usually was before a battle.
But this is what they were trained to do from the start. To fight, to destroy, to kill… Would humanity ever learn? Had Pacifism failed? Or had it not had enough time? There were so many questions running through his mind…
If only his father could see him now… What would he say about all this? What would his reaction be if he were to see his son resume the role of a soldier and his old friend the instigator of a new war and instability throughout the Colonies? Would he be devastated? Ashamed to see his fellow man degenerate back to fighting amongst their selves once again?
"It's time," Heero suddenly spoke, interrupting his internal musings.
No sooner had the Japanese said that when the alarm rang, signaling that the enemy had been spotted. Without glancing at each other, all four of them trekked their way to their Gundanium partners, each one strapping in and preparing for the inevitable conflict. Quatre sat back into the familiar seat, pausing as he relived a few more pleasant memories before steeling himself and activating Sandrock.
---
It was an armada that transverse the vastness of space, all speeding along towards the monstrous rock known as the moon. From this vantage point, it looked like a large graveyard than the romantic symbol that humanity had come to see it as.
Before the orbiting mass, waiting for them like a horde of demonic metal monsters was the bulk of Xavien's personal army. Battleships were awaiting their assault, their main weapons directed towards them and ready to be used at a moment's notice.
From the Earth and Colonial forces, Mobile Suits specialized for space combat, foremost being the Gundams themselves, were launched, forming a thick barrier between the two forces. It had been so long since Une found herself seeing such a familiar sight, this time aboard the Peacetraveler. However, there was something missing from all this.
She sighed to herself. She knew what was missing, the presence of his Excellency himself, Trieze. She had to remind herself that he had sacrificed himself willingly for the cause that they now were fighting for once again. This time, though, they were united against a common threat, one that had tried to enslave them by attacking their hearts.
"We're getting a transmission," Howard told her. "Want to check it out?"
"Put it up," Une commanded without missing a beat.
She was not surprised to see the smug image of Xavien popping up. She had to admit that the man's different colored eyes were a bit unnerving as they seemed to be looking straight at her, their malice palpable. She had to tell herself that she was just scaring herself and that now was the time to give Xavien and his followers one last chance to surrender.
"Stop where you are," Xavien proclaimed, smirking. "As of now, you are invading L9 space. To proceed any further will be taken as an act of war and reacted to accordingly, Director Une."
Une snorted. "Who do you think you're kidding? You know why we're here, Xavien. This is your last chance to give up on this madness and end this. Do you not care that so many people have already given up their lives for peace? Why are you so dead set on this?"
Xavien burst out with laughter. "I didn't know you had a sense of humor, Une. Really, you should take up being a comedian, honestly. I've come too far to just give up now. Besides, if you are so concerned about wasting lives, then back off."
"Why are you being difficult?" Une demanded. "This is nothing to be joking about!"
"Whoever said I was joking," Xavien said, no humor in his voice. "I don't care about all those that have died before. Do you really think that peace is so easily attained by making people hate war? Think again missy. It's not man's need to fight that starts wars, as preached according to Pacifism. No, it's man's infinite greed that starts wars. I know this for a fact. Do you recall how the Eve Wars were started? You should, you were in the middle of it all. So was I. Made a huge killing out of it."
"Are you that desperate for a fight?!" Une demanded, not believing the stuff coming from the man's mouth.
"Not at all," Xavien replied. "Perhaps it is you who needs incentive to turn around. Allow me to provide that incentive."
From the side of the moon that was still covered in shadow, it slowly appeared, seeming to crawl against the silvery surface of the moon. The twisted metal and rock structure of L9 was now visible to all the Earth and Colonial forces. The giant megalith faced them, trying to inspire fear among all who laid eyes on it.
Une couldn't be more sickened at this mockery of a Colony. However, she overheard the fearful whispers among the nearby subordinates, all asking if they could take that "thing" on. She had to be strong, needed to be the light that led these men to victory. Today this would end; the shadow of their past cut off and terminated, once and for all.
"We will not turn back," she declared. "You stand in our path, our only obstacle to peace. So many have given their lives to ensure a long lasting peace where their children and their children's children could live without fear. We will not let their deaths be in vain."
Xavien's eyes narrowed. "Have it your way then," he stated before his different colored eyes lit up with an unholy light. With a manic grin, he declared, "Let the battle commence!"