****

The Colony Laser facing its humongous lens towards the hapless Earth was more like a soldier aiming his shotgun to a defenseless child in my mind's eye. The fascist tactics the SRA are now resorting to fills me with disgust at them. I am acutely aware of the danger and the enormity of the task I made before me. But now that we are executing our operation, we might as well see this through. It HAD been partly my idea. Garrod thought of the rest.

A couple of Croudia tried to stand in my way, obviously reacting to me not returning any friendly signals to their warnings. "Garrod, I'm SO glad I'd face these guys instead of you," I said in a not-so-sarcastic tone as I blasted them to shreds with G-Falcon's heat seeking missiles. This is for the lives you've taken in this pointless, stupid war. My mind told me as I willed my freighter plane towards the solar mirrors where the Laser's draw its power.

By now Garrod and the DX were on the other side of the Earth (so to speak), where he can utilize his Satellite Cannon's power from the moon clearly. Already taking aim....

"NOW!" I shouted as I managed to dodge a couple and more shots from the mobile suit guards and headed for a safer direction before the Gundam Double X opened fire.

****

I have often heard stories of the GX's awesome power during the end of the war. And for once, I have realized that it was not exaggerated. Garrod wasn't aiming for the Laser itself but the laser path obliterated completely the mirrors. I knew that the SRA wouldn't be using their prized weapon anytime soon.

"Alright," I said as I sent the demands to Zaider through computer. "You better give in before Garrod shoots again." The mobile suits didn't chase me anymore, so I got a good view on the action.

"Too late," I murmured disapprovingly at Zaider's reluctance as Garrod fired his second warning shot. It was close enough to burn the first metal layer of the Colony Laser. I found myself admiring the guy even more. "Even if he's from a far place, he can still control his aim. Damn, he's being more refined than I thought."

Apparently the enemy thought so too. My grin widened as I received the message that Zaider accepted our bargain, convinced that we were not bluffing. I began to send to them the rendezvous.

****

It felt like forever for me, even though in actuality it lasted for a few minutes. A space shuttle headed towards the G-Falcon, further from the Laser and the armada clustered there. Although I haven't been idle, I was aiming my gun at the door, where three people in space suits were waiting for me. The shortest one was apparently the one I were looking for, as the two at her side escorted her from the door. She began to float towards me.

"No funny business, or Garrod'll be mad." I threatened as I reached a hand to help the girl into the G-Falcon's cockpit. As the shuttle began to move away, I turned my attention to my guest. "You must be Tifa Adil." I said in a conversational tone.

The girl nodded, her huge violet eyes looking at me, but a smile of relief were evident in her features. She had obviously didn't like her short stay in the Colony very much. "And you?"

"Paula. I'm a friend of Garrod's." Tifa seemed to react at the mention of his name. "I'm taking you back to him."

"Thank you." Was her quiet reply as the G-Falcon speed away from the Laser completely. She must have noticed that I kept looking at her direction because she asked "What is it?"

"Well," I said, looking at the controls. "I was wondering what kind of girl you were that made Garrod so serious." I switched the radio on as Tifa looked on in obvious embarrassment at my remark. "Hey, Garrod. Your love is here and safe," I teased.

"Good. The operation is a success." Garrod's voice said seriously as if he ignored my tone. "Let's finish this." A minute later, Tifa and I watched the huge light from the Satellite Cannon completely destroyed the Colony Laser. Never to be used by the SRA ever again.

"I'm sorry for being a rotten liar." I heard Garrod say.

I watched the destruction of the abomination of a machine before I felt my tears of relief streaming down my cheeks, floating like small sparkles. Tifa looked at my reaction in surprise as I looked at the stars.

"Did you see that, everyone?" I asked to the souls from Satelicon. "He did it! Garrod finally did it!" And for once, I actually felt good about it, as if a life-long mission was finally accomplished. And in a way, it was…

It is my final act as a soldier, from now on I will live my own life. No matter how hard and lonely it will be.

****

"Tifa!" Garrod shouted in obvious relief and happiness as he floated away from the Gundam's cockpit. I looked at surprise as Tifa lets go of my hand and floated towards Garrod. The two of them locked in an embrace, twirling gently in the Z-Gravity of space.

"I promise I won't let you go anymore. I promise I will always stay by your side!" Garrod swore, looking at Tifa with earnest eyes.

"And so will I." Tifa replied solemnly but she was smiling tenderly at him.

"Oh, geez!" I sighed as I looked away from their romantic moment, but I couldn't help smiling about it.

It was a nice reunion. And I will not deprive them from it.

*****

The DX and the G-Falcon combined in jet mode as we were heading for the blue-white world.

"Paula, are you sure we can enter the atmosphere with this?" Garrod asked, trying to hide his nervousness.

"Well, theoretically, yes." I said. "At least the manual says it can. But I never really tried this before so it's kinda new for me."

"Oh," came his short reply.

"What, you don't trust me then?" I asked in a mock-injured tone. "You just make Tifa  comfortable in that cockpit of yours and let me do the work here from now on."

There was a noise from the radio. It was either a stifled snort, or a glitch since we were entering the atmosphere. I chose the former.

I looked again at the Earth. At the new life I will lead. I knew that I would never return to the Colonies, to space, if I were given the chance. It had ended when Satelicon died.

"The three of us, let's return home." Garrod said softly.

Home. Such a nice word. "Sure." I smiled at Garrod, silently thanking him. "Let's."



THE END