Tears of Heaven
Chapter 5: Metamorphosis
"Quatre, why haven't we practiced any battle plans outside of the simulations? Why aren't we in the gundams?" Cliff was sitting at a mess hall table across his brother.
Quatre looked up, "Miss Relena won't let us practice with live ammunition. We can't disobey her orders."
"What do the other pilots think of this?" Cliff asked in shock.
"I don't know. I haven't talked with them concerning any of our training periods, and I think they've avoided that topic purposely," Quatre glanced at the pilots across the room, concerned.
"I think I'll have a talk with Miss Relena."
Relena had been scheduling discussions with Cliff, trying to convince him that pacifism was the only way to do away with hate. But Cliff remained unchanged in his beliefs. They had become friends through these talks and many people applauded Relena's efforts and dedication.
*****
Cliff walked into the room without knocking, nodding to Relena when she looked up, surprised at the intrusion.
"Can I help you, Cliff?" she asked, hesitantly.
"Why aren't you letting us practice in the gundams?" Cliff said, frowning.
"Please sit down," Relena said, motioning to a chair. She began again after Cliff sat, "It would be hypocricy to tell others to disband their arms while I allowed any to actively exist in my country."
"Disband their arms?! It won't work. Peace can't be reached that way!" Cliff shook his head in confusion, "Why do you insist on the disbanding of weapons when you see clearly that it won't cause any peace?"
"The disbanding of weapons will allow all to live in peace!" Relena's face shone bright with determination.
"No, it will simply provide a necessity to break the law to make weapons to defend oneself," Cliff glared at Relena angrily.
"So you suggest that we should change the laws that are broken to allow people to do the imorral legally?! Absolutely not!"
Cliff stood up and leaned over the desk to look Relena in the eyes, "Miss Relena." His voice was low and ugly, "I don't think you understand me. Is it the weapon that kills? Is it the mobile suit that destroys colonies? No. It is Man who does it. It is Man who destroys and kills."
"I know that, sir, and I understand exactly why you wish me to change my mind. I do not have any notions of a perfect society where the hearts of men and women rage with hate. Meetings and discussions will--"
"Forget the meetings and discussions!" Cliff shouted in disgust as he pounded his fist on Relena's desk, "What did they do for Leigh D'Orville, Mason Hart, Candice Wright!?" His voice lowered to a whisper, "I could go on forever and you can sit there and smile while you speak of weapons disarmments and peace conferences. These voices were silenced in order to bring about this so-called solution of yours!"
Relena's eyes filled with tears as she heard these names, yet she did not waver, "This is the kind of destruction I am trying to get rid of! You're not the only one who has lost someone in this war!" Her voice broke, remembering her father and his quest for peace.
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?! Your father died because he couldn't understand that peace is something that you have to fight for!"
Relena stood violently, "Don't talk to me about my father!!" Tears streaked down Relena's face. She turned away and clenched her fists at her sides.
Cliff closed his eyes, sighed, and sat down. "Relena, a man once said, 'Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.' I believe that he was correct. The people will not be able to endure this type of oppression of the will for long. They will realize that they are being controlled by ideals. They will act. And it won't be pleasant."
"Leave me."
"No." Cliff stood and walked around to where Relena was. "Look at me." Relena's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced away.
"I wish to be left alone," Relena said softly.
"That's what you've wanted all along, and you're every wish has been granted before, but it's not going to happen now. I'm your friend, and I'm not going to let you destroy yourself like this. You are going to stop running and face your mistakes." His voice strengthened, "And you will rectify them."
With a gasp, Relena looked up. His eyes bore into her heart and she knew he was right. She sighed, "You're right. I've been running."
Cliff reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, Relena smiled through her tears. And the unsaid 'Thank you' passed from her eyes to his heart. She had just gave him back some of the peace he had lost. And he smiled.
******
More to come...