Author's Note: It seems a lot of you are having trouble believing what had happened last chapter. Yeah, I understand, nobody saw Duo's death coming but if you reread that last few chapters, you'll find that I left a few clues to this result, particularly in the last chapter. Anyway, this fic is almost through. It's come a long way, hasn't it? Well, for those who've enjoyed it I thank you for sticking with me this far. Enjoy

Warning: Spoilers for Gundam Wing. This goes for both the prologue and the rest of the story. Violence.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.

Storm's Passing

Horror remained etched on their faces, their attention still focused on the monitor in front of them. Heero was the only one who hadn't been watching as he had continued on working to stop L9's main weapon from firing. Yet, even his pace had slowed down, having heard everything from the vocal commentary provided by his comrades and the monitor's small speakers.

Tears were visibly streaming down Quatre's face. He had just watched his friend, his best friend, his brother, die. The pain and grief that welled in his chest was immense. The only thing that remained on the screen in front of him was the mangled corpse of Janus Xavien. Pieces of the man had been cut off by the barrage of glass shards that had ripped through him, his hands and fingers severed from his arms, his neck ripped and torn, Xavien's head conspicuously missing having been swept away by the vacuum that had held his body still. Large shards of glass were still visible; their jagged ends still poking out from the body, leaving no doubt what had killed him.

And Duo…he had let go…and now he was gone, beyond their reach. Never again would the Arabian hear the braided one's optimistic voice as he chatted with him over the most inane of subjects. Never again would he be able to voice his stress and complain about the most insignificant things that would get him teased about later on to a confidant that listened without judgment.

He heard a small prayer whispered from behind him and he didn't have to turn around to know that it was Wufei since the prayer was in Chinese.

A hand gripped his shoulder gently, squeezing in reassurance. Looking up, he was a bit surprised to see the hand belong to Dorothy of all people.

"There was nothing any of us could do," she stated quietly. "He chose his own path and that path separated from ours."

"It still doesn't make it right," Quatre protested, his emotions clearly heard. "He didn't deserve to die like that. He didn't deserve to die alone, without his friends beside him."

Dorothy said nothing, knowing that nothing she said would penetrate the Arabian's grief. She hadn't known Duo at all but she still felt the sting that always accompanied the loss of someone she knew. Despite their brief encounters, he had left an impression on her. The last time they had met, she knew that the braided one had been lost to them, consumed by his need to seek revenge against Xavien for some unknown trespass. No, she wasn't surprised by the turn of events but it still didn't lessen the impact.

"We need to leave," stated a monotoned voice.

All turned their attention towards Heero Yuy who now stood before them, finished with his task.

"The mission has been completed," Heero continued. "Both Relena and Dorothy have been rescued and Janus Xavien had been eliminated. We need to leave now."

Quatre stated incredulously at Heero. "You can't tell me that you're not affected by what just happened!" he exclaimed. "Our friend, our comrade just died!"

"I know that Quatre," Heero snapped. All could see the pain that was now visible in those Prussian eyes. "But the facts remain and there is nothing we can do about it. I have set L9's main weapon for implosion and we need to leave now if we are to make Duo's death worth something. Pull it together now. It's not over yet."

"As much as I dislike it, Yuy is right," Wufei added. "We can mourn the loss of our friend later, when we're still alive and able to do so."

With tears still leaking from his eyes, Quatre nodded. They made sense, too much sense for the emotionally distraught man, but sense nevertheless.

"Let's go home."

---

The battle was almost over. Xavien's forces were not putting up much of a fight at all. The Earth and Colonial forces were finishing up with the last of such forces, receiving surrenders from the remaining battleships, taking the crews into custody.

No word had come from the Gundam pilots though. At least, not since Trowa brought Heavyarms back and was now by her side, waiting for any sign that the others were still alive.

Une's concern though, was not focused on the missing pilots. It was L9's main weapon that captured her attention. The weapon was pointed directly at Earth and it had continued to gain power. It was only a matter of time before it released its attack on their blue planet, what it was targeting still unknown to the military forces.

The ominous green light of the weapon was brightening, signifying that it was about to fire once more. Holding her breath, she waited for the final blast to unleash itself.

Something happened but it wasn't the weapon firing. Instead, an explosion ripped through and out of it, much to the shock and surprise of the spectators. More smaller explosions followed after the initial explosion before the energy the weapon had been charging got loose and shredded the weapon apart, along with a chuck of L9.

Though she didn't show it, relief flooded her and an indescribable joy soon followed. At long last, the nightmare was over. Still, there were the missing pilots to contact and that kept her from relaxing completely.

She didn't have to wait long for such contact as a transmission from Wing was received.

"What's your status?" she demanded. "Have you secured the Vice Foreign Minister?"

Only two words answered her.

"Mission completed."