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"I can't believe Grandfather is making us do this…" a young man with long blue hair muttered. He ran a hand over the mobile suit… Tallgeese Four… code-named Destroyer.

"You? My grandmother is going nuts because we're doing this!" a blonde boy replied. Nick Catalonia, the grandson of Dorothy, whose son had taken her last name and not her husbands, grinned as his best friend in the world, Milliardo Peacecraft the Third… but everyone called him Zechs.

"Well… your grandmother's crazy!" Zechs replied into the communicator.

"Who do you think we're gonna be fighting?" Nick muttered as he started up the system on his mobile suit… named Zephyr. Zechs grinned slightly

"I heard some group that my grandfather fought when he was our age." He laughed "A whole bunch of old guys! It's going to be easy." Nick looked at his friend.

"You think so? Come on. My grandfather left with my cousin earlier. You know, Basim?"

"Oh yeah, the skinny kid." Zechs shrugged.

"They went off somewhere, and Grandmother is getting worried about Grandfather."

"Ah your grandmother stabbed him before. Some true love huh?"

"Who told you that?" Nick looked up at the suit his friend would be piloting, named Storm. Zechs sighed.

"My grandfather did. Your grandmother worked under him."

"Oh yeah… sixty years ago… the good old days." Nick laughed, and Zechs smiled.

Then, their trainer entered.

He was a thin, old man… older than their grandparents were. He was strict in his undertakings, and punished his students horribly if they messed up. Both grandmothers Dorothy and Lucretzia had objected to their grandsons' military training, they did not wish to have their grandchildren turn into "bulldogs" as Dorothy had put it. Dorothy's husband, Quatre, frankly agreed, saying that war would no longer be a solution.

However, this man did not agree. The only name he had was Scorpion.

Nick and Zechs stood up and saluted their trainer. He studied them both.

"What were you two talking of before I entered?"

"The best way to destroy the enemy… sir!" both said. Zechs felt a sweat drop form on his forehead… not too pleasant. He didn't like the trainer… but his grandfather and both young men's fathers wanted them trained in military fashion, and he was supposed to be the best.

Scorpion nodded, then walked out of the room.

Nick scowled, and muttered "Stick-Man" he muttered. Zechs silently agreed, then they returned to business.

*~*~*

Dorothy Winner silently looked out a window to the silent city on the L4 colony where she and her husband, Quatre Winner, made their home. The city was busy with the Nightlife… yet she hadn't heard from either her young grandson Basim or her husband. She knew where he had taken the young boy, of course. Quatre absolutely had to have a replacement… she didn't want him flying around in any more mobile suits, she didn't understand why he had chosen Basim instead of the hardier cousin, Nick, she knew inside.

"He was too hard… too much like stone." She whispered to herself. Her long gray hair was worn down over her pink nightgown as she stood by the window. She closed her eyes as a knock sounded at the door.

"Enter." She spoke. Her maid, a young woman by the name of Lilly walked in shyly.

"Madam Relena Yuy has just arrived, ma'am." She said. Dorothy turned.

"Show her in immediately." She commanded. Lilly balked a moment.

"In your nightgown?"

"What does it matter to you, Lilly. Do as you are told!"

Lilly looked a little reproachful, but knew better than to rouse her boss's anger further.

"Yes, ma'am."

Relena Yuy, formerly Relena Peacecraft was led into the room a moment later. Her dark gray hair was held back in an orderly bun, her glasses resided on the bridge of her nose. She carried her briefcase, and in spite of the calm look on her face now, Dorothy could see the red welts beneath her eyes, where endless wiping had cleared tears.

"They didn't… oh Relena…" she said. They both sat down. Relena solemnly nodded.

"All ten were killed. None of the pilots nor their replacements could be found." Relena said silently. "No one knows except me and you."

Dorothy broke down into tears, that's why she had not heard from her husband… and now she had lost a grandchild as well… not one but another.

*~*~*

Scarlet finally arose from doze she had been in since late afternoon… at least on Scorpio time, she supposed. She scratched her head in a sleepy fashion and walked off in the direction of the kitchen area. What she found surprised her.

Chen Lian stood there, several pots in front of him. He hummed to himself as he stirred… Scarlet raised an eyebrow… she never in the world would have expected Lian of all people to cook.

Lian turned suddenly, and could have dropped the ladle of stew he had. For the first time in his life, he blushed.

Scarlet stood there leaning against the doorjamb, her bangs, which were somehow showing a more coppery blonde tone, in her eyes. She smiled.

"You know, I deeply respect a man that can cook." She said simply. Lian smiled slightly. He somehow knew he could feel more at ease with this woman than with any of the other crew… who else could cook?

"It's something I grew up with." He responded simply.

"Oh, me too. Mr. Maxwell couldn't cook worth beans. I grew up on junk food until I learned how to cook."

"The same here. Master Chang wouldn't cook… and needless to say none of my sisters or cousins would cook for him. So I had to." He turned, leaning over a pot He lifted the cover, and Scarlet peered over his shoulder. Lian glanced at her sideways.

"Must you do that?" he asked.

"Yup. I was a curious kid, I'm not gonna stop just because I grew up a bit." She protested. Lian let a smile come through… a small one albeit, but a smile.

"You amuse me, Scarlet." He said simply, then returned to his cooking. Scarlet let her smile fade.

"I amuse them… figures." She thought, then walked out of the kitchen.

In the seclusion of her quarters... the "Women's Barracks", Scarlet lay down on her bed. She brushed her coppery toned blonde hair, and smirked slightly. She looked in the mirror, then whispered "I'm gonna change myself. I'm gonna be as tough as any one of those boys."

She put her pills in the basket by the bathroom door, and breezed through. She felt she'd better clean up for supper… about three hours.

*~*

"She's late." Kiyo muttered as Chen Lian started to serve supper. He wondered… maybe she had another panic attack and was knocked out and couldn't breathe. Maybe she accidentally blew herself up… maybe she fell asleep. All ideals were very possible.

Then the door opened, and walking out in a nice black blouse and blue jeans was a woman who's hair hung behind her in a single copper braid. Everything about her was… perfect.

"Scarlet?" Basim asked, his eyes wide. Kiyoshi stood emotionless… and speechless. The woman shrugged.

"You think they called me Scarlet for nothing? The blonde hair was a cover-up thing Mr. Maxwell and I did." She sat herself at the table. The boys shrugged it off… so Scarlet had red hair.