The Calm
The Calm

The group rested. Wheeljack was figuring things out. Churchill found a good tree to lean against. Piccolo did the same. He sat across from Leon. Leon was tired. Piccolo started a small fire. Leon drifted off; he was going to get a little sleep. He was still slightly in pain from his wounds due to Raditz. While he napped he felt his pain go away. That woke him, and he turned his head. Lita had snuggled up to him. Her head lay on his left shoulder. Leon made sure not to wake her. Piccolo was still awake across from him. "How do I get this lucky, Piccolo?" asked Churchill. "You are true to yourself, as far as I know, and you keep your promises. You promised her safety, she got it, you promised her Sailor Mercury back, it happened, and you've implied that you are going to get us out of this alternate plane. As far as I can tell, that's why she fell for you," replied Piccolo. "But that was my duty," responded Churchill. "I doesn't matter. She saw something in you that she wants to be near," answered Piccolo. "Piccolo, why does a guy like you follow a guy like me?" "Your attention to duty has something to do with it. You try not to risk our lives unless some benefit can come from it. Besides, you always had a plan. Somewhere to go, that would get us all where we were going, how could we not hitch on to the bandwagon. Also, you knew all of us for some reason or another before we knew each other. And you haven't failed yet," replied Piccolo. "How did you get here anyway?"

"It was a weird day. One minute Robert, Billy, and I are on the practice field, the next minute we're here on this ground being fired at by tanker drones. We were on the run for three days, living off peaches. Then we found the base. It was just there. That's about when I met Joe Dumars and Hawkeye. Joe found the tank, but we kept it a secret. No one knew about Joe either. Then there was the coming of the shooting stars. We hoped ya'll were on our side. Sage hit close to the base. We used the base's equipment to detect the rest of you, and we sent Sage after you. And now here we are, with Unicron to fight and separated again. Hope Big Round Top can catch everyone. Together, we'll be unstoppable," Churchill's dissertation ended. Piccolo nodded. "I'm going to meditate for awhile, I'll be back before daybreak." He left. Wheeljack was in car form and was also resting. Churchill looked up. It was a little cloudy, the clouds whisking along like strands of cotton growing in the field. The great trees seemed to hover in the wind gently, their leaves breathing sighs of relief. Lita's hair had a silky feel to it as it brushed against his neck. He was in perfect serenity. The stars twinkled above. Canis Major and its great star Sirius. Canis Minor trailing with the star Procyon. The Gemini twins. Auriga, the charioteer, with the goat-star Capella, his chariot latched onto Taurus the bull. He put his arm around the girl beside him. He wanted to take it all in. This one moment, forever and ever, to infinity and beyond. The moon shone over the plain, its shining disk offering new hope for the coming day. He looked again at the warm form leaning against his. He was at complete peace. The mewing of woodcocks and the lonely hoot of the owl kept the scene intact. Lita shifted, and in doing so, looked up. They peered into each other's eyes. Neither could move.

Lita noticed the arm around her, holding her closely to the general. His uniform seemed to disappear; this was Leon the man, not Leon the military commander. She could sense this change and she enjoyed the prospects of it. Without a word, Leon stood up, raising her with him. Then he blushingly let her go. He started to walk into the woods in the opposite direction of Piccolo's movement earlier. She followed him. She knew his feelings about her now, so why was he still so shy? It didn't really make sense. She had surrendered herself to him after that kiss that followed him saving her from Megatron. He had been, except in that instant, a soldier. She had not been sure what to do about him for a while. There were always others around. She wouldn't declare her feelings in front of Wheeljack, Piccolo, and especially not Joe Dumars. If she could catch up with him, then maybe she could find out his true intentions. She wanted some sign that he truly cared, a sign that build on the kiss earlier.

Churchill's stars reflected the moonlight as he trod softly. His head was down and his hands were in his pockets. He knew that he had to be more assertive around Lita. Hiding his feelings forever wouldn't solve anything, nor would teasing her occasionally with some signs. He hadn't meant it to be teasing; indeed, he had just let his feelings run away with him at those times. In the hospital, on the battlefield, under that tree, all were instances where he had given in to feelings. He wasn't sure what he'd do if anything happened to her. He didn't get much more time to walk and think as she caught up with him. Lita looked at the general, his head down pondering, and asked innocently, "What do you do in your world?" Leon smiled for a second and put his head up and said, "Well, I go to school, come home, do homework, goof off, watch TV, go to bed, that's about it." "You mean you're not a military man there? How do know so much?" "Nope, I'm just a overwhelmed student. I read Longstreet, Patton, and Pershing. That's where I get most of what I know." "Oh." "Yeah." "Do you date in your world?" "No. I'm single and to tell you the truth, I've never dated anyone before." Lita now ceased her questioning for a moment. They were approaching a ridge with a nice view of the whole battlefield. Leon climbed one of the rocks and sat down on it. Lita followed. Leon wondered if he would ever be able to tell her his feelings.

The two sat on the rock, Leon watched the stars, and Lita watched him. Ironically, it appeared that the planet Jupiter was present in the constellation Aries. Lita looked up and saw her planet. It easily outshone the small constellation. Leon appeared to shudder when he saw where the planet was. His face flushed with color, a reaction not missed by Lita. Lita spoke, "When were you born?" Leon paused before answering, "Early April." Lita tried to remember what Ami had said of the Zodiac. Oh, Aries was late March, and early April. And her planet was in his constellation. That's why he was so embarrassed. "Leon's not your real name is it?" Churchill shuddered. He had never suspected she would guess that. "Why would you think that?" Lita replied, "I overheard Piccolo and Wheeljack talking while you slept. Piccolo didn't seem to think your first name was Leon at all. Evidently T.K. told Piccolo that when von Moltke got there, he didn't even recognize the name Leon, but he knew the name Churchill well enough." Lita looked at him with her big eyes and Leon lost the ability to keep his identity a secret any longer. "My name is John W. C. Thomas, my nickname related to the fact that I formed the Young Trotskyites club at my school. Long live International Communism! What a joke. My third name is Churchill. I used those two names, because I didn't want any of you to turn traitor and try to spread false information to the enemy. I doubted any of you would consider it. So now you know. That's why it took David a little while to figure out who I was," Churchill spilled his beans.

Lita was at first surprised, but then she felt even warmer. She was certain he'd told no one else. Very well, she'd keep his secret. "John, you must know I care for you, why do you fight against it?" "Well, I've always fought against everything. Hold my own, commit to the front line, never retreat an inch, never give up, never say die, never surrender, give the whole nine yards, you know what I mean. I just don't let people get real close, especially if I might not know them again. But with you, I don't know, I really want there to be something between us, but I also know that as soon as Unicron's defeated that I may never see you again. I don't want to hurt you like that." "But I can always go with you to your world," suggested Lita. "No, you couldn't do that. You're needed; you're a sailor scout. What would they do without you?" responded John. Lita turned her head thinking, her ponytail fell over her shoulder. She twirled her hair slowly. John was getting super nervous now. She was beautiful. There was no doubt about that. She was definitely incredible. Part of his resistance was a feeling of unworthiness. He was building up his resolve quickly; he felt there was no other choice. She had professed her feelings for him; there was no reason why he could not reciprocate. So she might be gone in a few hours or less, didn't someone say it was better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all? Also, what if it failed, didn't someone else say Open a new window, open a new door, drive on a new highway that's never been drived before, before, you find you're a dull fellow, punching the same clock, walking the same tightrope as everyone on the block, there's only one way to make the magic stay, that is open a new window, drive on a new highway, toast to a new vintage every day. That was random enough. By golly, he was going to tell her. To heck with consequences, it didn't seem that they bothered her.

The general stood up. This was the moment. This was the time. "Lita, I like you a lot, but I just don't feel right for you. I feel that you deserve better. I want to be your man, a shoulder to cry on, a friend to rely on, you can depend on me. Will you go fishing with me?" It was everything Lita had longed to hear, although fishing hadn't much to do with it. She knew this was John's way of wanting to form a couple, a more perfect union, to basically 'go out.' He clamored down the rock and turned to help her down. Lita was all too ready to be helped. The two walked hand in hand before coming across a pond. Lita couldn't be happier and a smile seemed to remain on the general's face. Behind a tree were two fishing poles. He took one himself and gave the other one to Lita. She seemed surprised that they were actually fishing in the midnight air. They sat on the bank together; the general's right arm wrapped around Lita while his left controlled the fishing pole. Lita didn't pay much attention to her line; she was more focused on him. Then a tug hit her line. She could easily have pulled it in herself, but she wanted to see what John would do. He guided his arms around hers to help her catch the fish. "Come on, carefully, slowly, that's right, show him who's boss," came the helpful commentary. The fish came out of the pond. Lita unhooked him and threw him back in the pond. She cozied up to John and looked into his clear blue eyes. His arms were still around her. She closed her eyes and moved her head up slowly, carefully. Then it happened. She could feel his breath as their lips met. She moved her arms around his back, and the kiss continued deeply. She didn't want it to end. But she knew it must. He released and she felt herself being laid on the grass. She turned to look at him and she knew Leon had returned; the warrior was refinding his duty. "Thanks, Lita, but we'd better get back." Lita smiled, this evening had been so dreamy. She did not want it to stop here, but if it had to, there was always the promise of tomorrow. She followed Leon back to where Wheeljack was. Lita sat against an oak tree and drifted off. As she fell asleep she noticed Piccolo and John go off to talk strategy. Tomorrow…maybe tomorrow…

"John Thomas, nice to meet you, I'm Piccolo." "Piccolo, you were able to hear us? What else did you hear?" asked John in desperation. "Nothing, but I wonder what else you're hiding, general, what else is there that you don't really want us to know about. I wonder. Could it be you know something about this Unicron? Well, out with it," replied Piccolo. "Yes, Piccolo, there is something I haven't mentioned. Unicron is beatable. We have to find his core unit and destroy it, the only time it was destroyed was when the Autobot matrix of leadership was opened inside of him and its power destroyed him. I feel that if we can break into his main frame that we can destroy the core unit. But it will call for a lot of fighting outside to get the force in, and to keep Unicron from concentrating on the force inside of him," said John. Piccolo nodded. He understood now what was going on. The general's alias did not mean that Piccolo could not trust him- it was just a tool. He would respect the general's wishes. No one had been hurt. "I suggest you get some sleep, general. I'll keep watch." Piccolo continued watching until morning came. Soon it would be time to go up the big hill.

David von Moltke was restless. Just plain restless. He had now spent a full day on this plain. He was beginning to feel at home. Comfortable. Confident. David seemed to have a knowledge of things going on that no one else did. He saw the hill where the meeting would take place in the morning and he relished the opportunity. Tomorrow, Unicron would go down. He just had a feeling. All he had to do was look behind him. There were the Neo-Gundams. Excellent pieces of work with armaments unimaginable by ordinary standards. Underneath the Gundams, Quatre, Trowa, and Charmander slept quietly. The flame on Charmander's tail lit up some of the night. Despite this beacon, Trowa and Quatre were sleeping soundly against their respective Gundams' legs. Not far away Sage meditated in his subarmor. He was clearing his mind and his spirit. He had to build his own strength; no other Ronin Warriors would appear to strengthen his armor by a link with their own. He also looked for a weakness on Unicron. After a thorough search, Sage decided the monster had to fall from within. He did not know how to get into the monster though. Sage came to. He looked across at von Moltke. Maybe he knew how to get in.

Matt woke up in the night. He noticed T.K., Gabumon, and Patamon all leaning together. He got up, yawned and walked toward a tree. He peered around it and saw Tenchi, awake still, guarding the center from harm. Matt retraced his steps and went the other way. There was Dinobot, watching for trouble. Winston and Michelangelo could also be seen awake on other parts of the perimeter. Matt went to talk to Tenchi. Matt tapped on Tenchi's shoulder. "Thanks for yesterday," he said. Tenchi was startled. "How did you know?" "I know, it was the way you were fighting Unicron when you came upon us." "Matt, it's good to have you back, maybe now we can destroy the evil here." "Man, you know we will. We've got everyone back together. We're a team, and nothing can stop us." "Matt, get some rest, we'll take care of guard duty." "Thanks, Tenchi." Matt went back to the cluster and fell asleep. Tenchi looked at the hill. Tomorrow, hopefully it would all end tomorrow. He missed his dad, his grandpa, and yes, Ryoko, Ayeka, Sasami, Mihoshi, Kiyone, and Washu, too. He was rebuilding his power. He would not be denied.