Author's Notes: Well, here I am! Thanks to all of you, pretty people who have reviewed. Hi there, Li-chan! Hi, Krista, it's been quite a time! I've read and you haven't complained about the OOC of this fic, so it's a hint to go on, right? Many have asked me about the 'neo-arabic' thing. Here we go, I'm gonna explain ya now…keep reading…





"The Other Side of The Gentle Soldier"



Chapter Seven





"Neo-Arabic?" –Trowa, for the first time, sounded confused.



"I knew there was something weird about Cat being blonde…" –Duo muttered, folding his arms.



"You mentioned a breed of warriors. What exactly do you mean?" –Heero added.



"L4 colony is an Arabian colony as you well know. The Winner family has always been related to the royalty of the Yajaizu. Lady Quatrina was one of their direct descendants, and she was also trained as member of this royalty…"



"This breed of warriors were taught into an aristocratic cover" –Rashid continued- "which allowed them to look like the royalty they were, but with hidden talents for battles. Body combat was one of their strong points, since Arabian had always been expert in handing weapons like knives and scimitars…I think Mr. Winner never wanted to raise master Quatre in his ancestors' fight methods, but there was little he could do to avoid it, too. Master Quatre's appearance was the most evident proof of his blood line, so none of us prevented him to train when his father was away…."



"Quatre started his training by his free will?" –Duo suddenly asked.



"But he is pacifist at heart" –Wufei commented.



"Both of you are right" –Rashid replied- "His pacifist ideals are his entire life. But it was inevitable for him not to work his natural abilities. I became his tutor when he was still very young, so I admit I had something to do whenever I took him to the manguanac camp. He soon became familiar to battle strategies, which he proved to be a genius at. When he offered to train with us, we doubted a bit because of his father's prohibition. But…"



"But" –Heero urged him to go on.



"I had to let him do it after the first session he took" –the Arabian replied- "A kid with that development was unique. I searched about his dynasty and I found out about the 'Neo-Arabic' warriors. I decided then to proceed with his training. He soon became a natural fighter who looked like a rich boy." Rashid half smiled again at that description.



"Why we didn't know about that?" –Wufei interrupted.



"As you yourself said before, young master, Quatre is pacifist at heart. When doctor H met him, he was surprised to discover that this young man was, indeed, a Neo-Arabic. Why did you imagine he had become a Gundam Pilot? I don't think a scientist would have decided to take a common rich boy as a recruit. But master Quatre proved to be an excellent warrior, with the condition to keep his breed as a secret. He wants to face this war and finish it without becoming a cruel barbarian, as the Neo-Arabic used to be…"



"That means that he hides his abilities in order not to get more blood on his hands than the one spilled while fighting inside Sandrock, right?"- Trowa summarized.



"Exactly" –Rashid confirmed.



"That's stupid" –Heero cut harshly- "This knowledge is definitely necessary for us, for war. We could have…"



"What? Send him to a massacre?"- Rashid frowned, not quite happy- "Yes, pilot 01, he has what it takes to create chaos, just as anyone of you. But the fact you can do it doesn't mean you're willing to, right?"



The four pilots nodded no.



"What would be left of master Quatre if he used his fighting skills like he has inherited? He would be devastated by it. Don't you regret all the death you cause? It's horrible, but necessary. In order to create a new world, one must tear down the old one. We all know that. But Quatre is always more affected due to his kindness…I promised myself I wouldn't let that happened. I want to protect not only his corporal welfare but his soul state too."



"And now…" –Duo murmured, coming to a realization.



"I've failed. He is no longer caring about hiding those abilities. He doesn't care anymore. OZ has stolen him" –Rashid said, regret written on his face.



"We'll get him back" –Trowa raised his voice, his fists clenched at his sides.



"We promise. We'll do what it takes" –Duo nodded in agreement.



"What would happen to this team without that pinch that sticks us together?" –Wufei mused- "Quatre has managed to keep this indomitable team working together, so it's an honor duty to all of us"



"…" –Heero raised his glance, facing all of them. "As a pilot, he is necessary for the battles. As our friend, he is even more. Mission accepted"



And as they all talked in that room, the main computer and everyone's laptops beeped. A new transmission from doctor J was giving them the location of OZ's new lab. An experimental system lab.



***



The mission was undercover. No Gundams and big explosions. They were about to infiltrate into the lab's location, copy the information, erase the files, and finally, blow up the place into pieces.



"Report location" –04 pilot sounded through the communicator.

"CB-5K zone. Entrance right ahead" –Wufei answered almost instantly.



"FG-3H zone. Guards at view" –Trowa replied.



"JR-1P zone. Attack on time" –Heero reported.



"XT-2N zone. Ready when you are" –Duo's voice responded.



"Go" –the order was voiced immediately.



The actions in the lab were as normal as always. Surely, no one noticed when five pilots sneaked inside, knocking silently soldiers as each one covered different corridors, searching for the main room.



"01, do you copy?" –Duo asked some moments later.



"01 here. What?" –Heero replied.



"What if we found the system they used with Cat?"



"Fool. That's exactly what we came here to look for" –Heero answered, rolling his eyes even if Duo couldn't see him.



"Yeah, I know. But I mean…what if that affects Cat? If instead of helping him, we accidentally…"



"We won't allow him to come near to it" –Heero replied seriously.

"Sure. Like if we were any close…" –the American sighed.



"05 here" –Wufei's connection interrupted- "The system has been located. Transport to the Northern area and follow the underground hall. There are spy cameras everywhere. Proceed with extreme care. 05 out"



"Well, lets go" –Duo added, and the four remained pilots headed towards Wufei's location.



***



"General, the heat sensors report activity in the hall" –a soldier alerted the Ozie in charge.

The man turned, studying the screens. Five consoles showed 5 youngsters in their silent way towards the lab.



"So, my guinea pig is back…" –Craig, who had survived the former base's explosion, smiled at the sight of the 04 pilot getting closer- "I've got a surprise for you…"



At 6 meters from the gates, the five pilots made their rendezvous from, and as they were about to state each one's task, a cloud of smoke surrounded them, and the fire followed it.



"Boasted!" –Duo exclaimed as a group of soldiers appeared against them.



"Don't retreat!" –Heero's voice cut through the smoke.

"We're going inside" –Trowa, following 04's way, warned the others. And soon, both pilots found themselves into an enormous white room.

A line of armed soldiers seemed to be waiting them, and behind them, general Craig was calmly waiting.



"You" –Trowa said, recognizing the man from their last encounter.



"Of course. I needed to control my experiment's development" –the man answered sarcastically, glancing directly at Quatre.



"Well, let me show you your fail" –Quatre, serious and indifferent, aimed his gun at the Ozie.



"I wouldn't be so sure" –the man replied, activating what it seemed to be a remote control in his hand. The screens all around them started to beep, erratic waves popping out.



Trowa glanced their surroundings, a bit confused by the fact that the soldiers hadn't fired yet. Well, if they were going to stand there, waiting for him to shoot them, he had no problem.



"03…03"



The tight voice coming from Quatre startled him. When he turned to see him, he was alarmed to see the blonde boy kneeling on the floor, his head between his hands.



"Let the system work and the show begin" –Craig grinned.

At that same instant, Heero, Duo and Wufei made their entrance into the place.



"We're here and we…" –Duo halted in his tracks at the sight of a fallen Quatre and a stunned Trowa- "…What the heck?!"



"How nice. You are all here to witness the development of my new system" –Craig said as a greeting to the four pilots.



"Shoot the consoles!" –Trowa suddenly indicated at his confused comrades- "They're controlling Quatre"



"As you wish" –Duo said, his gun already withdrew. When he was about to fire, a bullet crashed right against his weapon, knocking it out of his hand.



Heero lifted his gun, ready to efficiently 'eliminate' the one who had dared to attack 02. His blue eyes of steel widened when he, and the others, realized the attacker was (yeah) Quatre himself.



The 04 pilot of Gundam Sandrock was now facing them, his gun aiming and his eyes dangerously serious.



"The system has overtaken him" –Wufei murmured- "What do we do now?"



"You can start by leave your weapons down" –Craig answered, satisfied at his victory.



"We will not" –Heero replied.



The gun in Quatre's hands aimed directly at the Japanese boy.



"Then you'll have to choose" –the general shrugged- "'Cause the one who'll pull the trigger will be him, my new OZ soldier"



Trowa was the first one to drop his gun. Duo followed, and then Wufei, and then, with a furious glance, Heero.



"Oz Agent 04, shoot the Gundam pilots down" –Craig ordered, his voice sounding defiantly.



Prussian blue eyes glanced icily one last time at his 'former' comrades, before his stated in low voice.



"I'm not an Oz agent"- and he rapidly turned and shot Craig right between the man's eyes- "I'm a Gundam pilot"





To Be Continued…





***Shinigami's Voice***



A/N: Of course Cat wouldn't kill his friends. I'm not that wicked! I'll give you a finale next chapter, so please stay with me and please (puppy eyes) R&R! Give me some comments! Be nice!