"Right, so what are you all doing here?"
Julia stared at the man in front of her. His name was Ethan, and that
was all anyone had gotten out of him.
"We were searching for the old Oz base."
"Why?"
"Because we wanted to throw a party there." Her voice had a venomous
sarcasm to it. The sarcasm immediately changed to a soft pleading, "We need
to use the mobile suits to get our families out of the Plague base."
"Well, you guys found it." He walked over to where she was tied to an
old, rusty chair and cut the ropes. Julia stood up and her I.D. card for
the Preventers fell out of her pocket. He picked it up and looked at it.
"Julian Maxwell? The Julian Maxwell?"
"That's the one." She took her card back, pocketing it.
Ethan grinned widely and took her hand, shaking it. "I am honored to
be in the presence of such a great hero. And a great hero's daughter! Are
all the people in your group related to the Gundam Pilots?"
"That they are. And I would like them to be let go. We are only
trying to get people out of that base, and we really don't have a lot of
time."
Ethan nodded, then frowned. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there
are no more mobile suits here." He walked to the door and put his hand to a
panel beside it. The door opened and he waved her out. They started down a
long hallway, and he continued to talk. "The mobile suits were all taken
away by the Plague about a year ago. They tried to use our village as a
base, but we got angry and burned our town down instead. We didn't want to
have any military using our vegetable crops and such as a source of food.
So when we burned it down, we all came here instead."
He got to another panel and placed his hand on it. the door opened to
reveal the rest of her group being held in place by guns pointed to them.
"Put your guns down. This is Julian Maxwell, and the rest of these
people are the heroes of our last war as well."
The men put down their guns and looked at the four. They gave their
attention to Julia like she was supposed to introduce the others. "Meet
Alex Yuy, Tarmine Barton, and Zero Winner. And don't call me Julian, I like
Julia."
Ethan nodded and the men left. "All of us, the rest of our village,
look up to you pilots. You guys are an inspiration to us."
Zero went to where Julia stood, hugging her gently. "That's
wonderful, but we were looking for the Oz base...."
Ethan stretched out his arms, "You found it." He put them down and
turned to open yet another door. It opened to a giant hangar with maybe a
hundred people in it. "This is what's left."
"Ethan has already explained to me that Plague has taken the mobile suits
and stuff, so we're out of the game."
"But you are welcome to stay here for as long as you like."
"Ethan, leave the poor people alone."
The five people turned to their left to see a boy with long, blonde
hair, gentle green eyes, and a jacket of two shades of green and the three
emblems of the Preventers.
"My name is Nicolae Une, and I'm the village's leader here. I see
none of you are too badly hurt, but you will be taken to the medical room
anyway."
He walked over to Ethan and took him aside, talking to him in a
hushed tone. Julia suddenly felt a stab of pain as she realized this was
the son of Lady Une. She'd seen him in court when she was younger being
trailed for Lady's murder. He looked over at her and gave her the same look
he'd given her in the courtroom, confused and sad, but a tinge of dislike.
Ethan walked over to the group as Vic walked away. "Right, so, we'll
go to the medical room, and you guys can also get new clothes and food. We
have a couple of problems that we have to clear up."
"What problems?" Zero asked as they walked to a farther end of the
hangar.
Julia tried to keep her eyes looking straight ahead, but her eyes
kept glancing over to her sides. There were small children and older people
looking at them as they passed.
"When did you say all of this happened?" Zero asked Ethan, walking up
beside Julia. He put his arms around her and Julia suddenly felt warmed.
Though when had it gotten so cold?
"Around the last war. A year ago. The village we'd been living in is
burnt down. We all had to move here to keep shelter from the winters we
have."
The group came upon a small building. From the looks of it, it was an
old office. There was even a dusty slide-slot with a tile that said
'office'.
"Alright, here's the medical shelter. Ask the woman in there for
help, and I'll be back in ten minutes."
Zero sighed as he sat in the small office. In one of his hands was a mug of hot coffee, in the other was Julia's hand. She sat staring out into space, a sad look on her face. "Jules, what's wrong?" Silence. "Jules?" She looked over after a second, then let out a sigh. "Yeah?" "What's wrong? For the last hour you've been really melancholy. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" "Bring back Lady Une." Ah. "Jules, it wasn't your fault. You didn't have any clue she wasn't the one to have killed your father." Julia shook her head. "But I should have thought about her son. Even if she had done it, I know what it's like to have your parent ripped away from you in a second. Now I know what it's like to have lost both parents. He doesn't have his father or mother, neither do I. I know what he feels like, and I just wish there was something I could do about it." Zero didn't know what to say to that. He had never lost anyone, because he had never heard stories about his mother, and Quatre had always been there. So had the forty Maganacs and the ex-pilots. "Alright you guys, here's the deal." The four pilots looked over to Ethan. He had been pacing back and forth for the last five minutes, staring at the floor as he did this. "Nicolae is our village's leader, our number one military man, numoro- uno. He had stolen a few of Plague's good weaponry and satellite devices, and we've just gotten a word that Plague will be moving out and coming this way. They heard that you four escaped, and I guess the head of their personnel is pissed." "Yeah? Well she's a witch anyway. That's my mom who's ticked and she's probably not going to slow down until she gets at least me." Four heads turned to Julia. Zero, Tarmine and Alex looked away almost as soon as they'd given their attention to her. "What do you mean, 'that's my mom'?" "Exactly what it sounds like. Alanis Catalonia is my mother... which was unbeknownst to me before this morning." Ethan was staring at Julia, and a loud silence filled the air. "I'm sorry." Zero stood up, "I'm sorry, Ethan, but do you have any sleeping areas available? We haven't slept normally for a long time, and I'm sure all of us will cooperate better in the morning." "Yes, there are a few huts on the other side of the arena. I will ask Nicolae if you guys should be let...." "What?" "Nothing." He took a radio from his vest and switched it on. "Nicolae?" "Yes Ethan?" "Can our guests be escorted to the arena to rest?" Each of the pilots noticed to sudden change in addressing. At first it had been 'the gundam pilots', now it was, 'our guests'. "Yes, Ethan, they can be escorted to the outer premises. Just keep the locks up, Plague is moving in slowly. They won't be a problem for another forty-two hours, so twenty-four hours can be given to the pilots and our village." "Yessir." He turned off the radio and looked at the four. "Alright, please follow me." Zero stood up, still holding Julia's hand. The small group and their guide walked down a small path and into an old arena. There were few people there, but sure enough there were cozy huts alongside the farthest walls. Ethan showed them in, told them where everything was, and left in a hurry to get to 'his captain's side'. "I don't see why we're suddenly being treated like the president in an enemy's country. They're courteous, yet... snobbish?" Zero looked at Julia and smiled softly. "You're acting as though you don't care." "Care?" "About your mom. We'll have to get rid of her somehow." There was a pause. Julia looked down at the floor. "I just today found out she was my mother, Zero. The fact she's the one that killed my father makes me hate her. Just because she's my mother doesn't mean I have to care whether or not she dies." Zero locked eyes with Julia as she looked up, and sudden tears fell from her eyes. "I just want a break, Zero. Every fifteen minutes I find some horrible truth out, or I'm faced with some disgusting problem I don't want. When do I get a break from all of this?" The blonde stared at the brunette. In her weakened state, it shocked him on how much he didn't want to comfort her. He wanted suddenly to turn tail and run, but he couldn't seem to do it. "Julia...." he hesitantly walked to her, wrapping his arms around her body and pulling her into him. Carefully he laid them both down on the small creaky bed and held her. He heard a sob bubble up into her throat, and a shaking cry escaped Julia's lips. He'd never seen Julia cry so much in so many days, and it was starting to get to him. He knew she was never Super Woman, of course, but Julia's had always been strong and happy. It unnerved him to see her any less. "I'm gonna go check on the others, ok? Maybe they can help you better than me." "Don't leave me alone right now, Zero." "Jules, you'll be fine, I'll be right back." He let her go and got up, walking out of the small hut and to the one next to it. Tarmine and Alex were sitting at a small table drinking black coffee. He looked around and noticed their hut was a lot better than his and Julia's. It even had a bathroom. "Julia is crying again." Alex looked at him, "And you left her alone in the hut? Aren't you her boyfriend?" "Yeah..." "Aren't you supposed to be trying to make her happy? Or are you the one that made her start crying in the first place?" Zero looked down. He wasn't going to admit to making Julia cry... or at least starting her tear flow. "Ah." Tarmine walked over to Zero, put her fingers under his chin, and lifted his face to look directly into his eyes. "You guys have been together for over two years, and I know you love eachother more than life. Don't go ruining a perfectly good relationship because who you thought was a perfect ray of sunshine is suddenly in a fit of tears because of something you did." Zero stared at Tarmine, mouth agape. She never said anything like this, and he thought she, of all people, would understand. A sudden, sharp scream came from outside. The three straightened and ran outside. All of them knew who it was, even as they ran to the neighboring hut. Julia was set in a chair, eyes wide, body limp. She looked like a doll some child threw into a chair. A doll with blood escaping from its chest. Zero, Tarmine and Alex stared at the bloody mess in horror. There was a perfect circle in the middle of Julia's breast where blood flowed freely. Her shirt had been ripped away and shards still hung to her arms and around her waist.
"Julia..." Alex stared at her best friend. Julia started to convulse and her chest exploded with another scream, and something strange happened. Julia's blood wrapped around her body. Her chest reformed and the hole filled. The blood that had came from her chest wound itself into a few micros thick, creating a blood red layer over her skin that covered her nipples and followed the length of her arms to cover her arms and hands. A ribbon ran around her bust-line, then her pants fell away in shards as the ribbon of blood slid over her groin area to make a spiral pattern up her belly. Two other 'beads' slithered themselves over her legs, curving around her slim thighs and calves to end on the top of her feet in a small spiral. The red soon changed to a gleaming silver, with patterns of cobalt blue. Her hair seemed to shiver as it turned the same color of blue, and her natural skin color seemed to pale, becoming an almost porcelain color. A sudden breath caught in Julia's through and her eyes closed, then snapped open and her body straightened. She coughed, choked, and coughed again leaning forward to gag and cough some more. "Julia...?" Alex's voice was shakier than she would have liked to hear, and it surprised her that she sounded like she was going to cry. "Alex?" Tears fell from Julia's eyes and she looked up, putting her hands over her private areas that had seemed to be exposed. "What happened? What happened?" Alex shook her head, tears coming from her own eyes, and she ran to her best friend. "I thought they'd killed you, Julia. I don't know what's happening to you, but it saved your life. Oh God, thank You." She hugged Julia, tightening her grip when Julia's body began to tremble. She felt something different about the girl. Instead of feeling weak and fragile in Alex's arms, Julia felt as though she'd gained the strength of a true Lunarian. She'd heard things about this on the news, read about it in the papers. Lunarian colonists suddenly becoming powerful after a shocking event. Though there'd only been a few cases where their powers had come from their own blood, Alex though maybe Julia was more Lunarian than anyone had known. Perhaps it was possible Duo had been part Lunarian. He had been an orphan, after all. And everyone knew that Alanis and Dorothy Catalonia were full-blooded Lunarian, now that they'd released that information on live television when Duo and Alanis had first discovered she was pregnant. Or at least Dorothy had released she was full Lunarian. So as a twin Alanis would be too. Alex let go of Julia, and stared into the pale face of Julia. The blue hair hung around her, and Alex could feel that everyone in the room but her was struck dumb. So she explained her theory, which caused more silence. "Her scar is gone." Alex turned around and looked at Tarmine, then back to Julia. The scar was gone, and in every other place Alex knew there to be scars there was nothing but perfect skin or the silver or blue 'shield'. "What's happening, Alex? If my power needed to have something like a gun shot wound to the chest or whatever, why didn't it come out when I was blown up in my Gundam?" "I don't know, but I think we might find out. For now, let's see if you can make it go back into your skin." Julia nodded, biting her bottom lip, then closed her eyes. Her eyebrows met and she suddenly looked in deep concentration. The silver and blue started to sink back into the hole that had been in her chest. As she got back her soft tan, Julia's eyes opened and she suddenly realized she wasn't dressed. Alex handed her a black trench coat, and then sighed. "You need to stop doing this." "Doing what?" "Wearing nothing under these trenches. My father would kill you if her found out you'd done this a second time in a week." "He may just be surprised. Or not. Would someone get me some clothes from the medical center?" Alex looked over at Zero, who raised his hands in defense. "Fine, fine." There was a knock on the door, and everyone in unison said "just a minute" as Julia put the coat on. Zero opened the door to Nicolae and Ethan. They looked at Zero, then at Julia, then back. "Don't ask." "I'm afraid to." Nicolae said. "I was just going to go get a pair of clothes for Julia. Excuse me." Zero pushed past the two men and down the isle of huts. Nicolae raised his eyebrows and exhaled, then smiled a smile that made both Julia and Tarmine sigh with delight. Alex just raised her eyebrows too, then crossed her arms over her chest and glare at them. "Why would you guys be here? You suddenly become our friends again?" She glared at Ethan with a repugnance that made him take a step back. "Ethan was just taking a precaution he uses sometimes. And I'm sorry for the rude first impression, there's been a lot of stress lately, and well, you know. But if ya got to know me I bet we'd all be very good friends."
Julia looked at Nicolae with an attraction that she didn't even recognize. It was kind of strange, because suddenly a flood of feelings ran through her and Zero seemed not to matter at the moment. Nicolae locked eyes with her, and they didn't looked away until Zero walked back in with new clothes for Julia. He put them on the bed, then walked back out. "I think he's scared." Tarmine whispered. She walked out the door also, and Alex sighed again. "I sense a high amount of energy in the room. Maybe I should leave. Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe I should take Nicolae and Ethan outside while Julia changes, then we can talk about stuff." Alex took the two men out of the hut and Julia put on the blue flare- legs, black wide strap tank top, and lighter blue cashmere sweater that hung on her arms. She looked up from putting on and tying the black skater- style sneakers as she heard Alex, Tarmine and Zero fighting, then Nicolae's voice over theirs. "Stop it, you guys, we're not having a fight here if I can help it. You two leave the arena now." Alex, Ethan and Nicolae walked back in. They were all wearing fake smiles, and Julia could tell. "What just happened?" "Nothing at all. You should dump Zero though, he's a jerk." "I know this." "Why haven't you yet?" "His female-like PMS isn't a good enough reason to dump him." "How about him making out with Tarmine?" Julia's eyes widened. "That cad.." "Ah, ah, ah. No using simple names. Remember, think big." Alex sat down on the bed and looked up at Julia, who was standing her full five-foot- six. "Not worth it. But he can consider himself dumped." "You're not sad about this?" Nicolae asked a little surprised. "Not at all. He left me alone just a while ago and someone shot me when I asked him not to leave me alone. He's not a reliable boyfriend, and not even all that good." Nicolae and Ethan looked at each other, grinned, and both girls' sensed their need to laugh, and they started to laugh just as Ethan and Nicolae did. "How old are you two? You guys look young but seem to carry a lot of responsibilities." Alex said. "We're not that much older than you two, and we cower under you girls. You guys have ridden in Gundams and fought in the war before this one. Your parents were Gundam pilots. Julia's more than half Lunarian, and already has her power. But yeah, we're eighteen." Julia and Alex both stared at Nicolae. "How did you know." Nicolae raised his arms and a deep, deep green and blue swirl pattern ran over the near perfect skin of his forearm. "I can sense it. Be happy you believe in God, or it would kill you." Ethan cleared his throat. "We came here for a reason, Nicolae. It is sort of important." Nicolae's arm went back to normal as the blue and green slithered back into his the sleeve of his coat. "Alright, I know you guys just got here, and a lot has been happening, but we're moving our whole village out of the area. Plague has set up camps a few miles east, so we will be heading west. We needed to make sure you were all up to it before it happened. Personally I think you're in shape, and I don't care what happens to the other two in your group, we need to move now." Julia and Alex both nodded then stood up. Deep inside Julia did care what happened to Zero and Tarmine, and she had no hard feelings to either. It had just been a matter of time until it happened, and she had been ready for it. "Let's go."
Tarmine watched the back of Zero's head as he pulled her out of the base and back through the woods. "Where are we going?" "To see Alanis. I'm sick and tired of all of this, and I want to be on a different side." Tarmine stopped and jerked Zero back, making him almost trip. "What is wrong with you?! First you leave Julia alone, and then you grab and kiss me, now you're going to trade sides because something happened to Julia that you can't explain?" "There are more reasons than that." "Like what?! You guys love each other more than anything, unless I'm incorrect. Just a few hours ago you were in the back of a truck telling her about her mother and father. You can't keep blaming her any more, Zero. It's not her fault." Zero stared at Tarmine, his eyes narrowed. "I thought you wanted me." A sudden bubble of anger popped inside of Tarmine, her fists balled and she swung up and right-hooked Zero. She watched as Zero fell back on his butt away from her. "If that's what this is about, I will be going back, and you can't stop me." "You don't know that." Zero's voice was enraged, and it was starting to scare the violet headed girl. She didn't know this Zero, he was mad and threatening and mean. The Zero she knew was kind and naïve, caring. Click. "Oh, so what now? You're going to shoot me?" "That wasn't my gun." Zero stood up shakily, walking back to Tarmine. She looked around, then, hesitantly, up. Above the two of them was a Scorpio with Alanis sitting on the edge of the cockpit with a gun in her hands. "You guys look as though you're lost. What, did my daughter do something." "Your daughter was shot." Alanis looked at Zero in shock, then it looked as though she remembered why. "Yes, that was one of my men. Tell me, did she change?"
Zechs sighed as Zero just looked away, and Tarmine nodded. "She got her Lunarian power. Alex said it was something to do with strength. She met a boy by the name of Nicolae, and he has the same thing." "Nicolae Une?" "Yes, that's it." Alanis looked back at Zechs, grimaced, then back to the teens under her. "It was sort of sad having to frame his mother like that. I actually felt grief when I heard about her death in the news, and when I saw my daughter being taken to prison." "Why do you hate your daughter?" The question from Tarmine shocked everyone. Alanis was silent for a few minutes, and then started up again. "I don't hate Julia. I love my daughter. That's why this war is being made. I want my daughter back, and I'm afraid the only way to do it is to show her I'd give lives to be with her. And I want her to have something to live for." "So you'll kill millions and not yourself." "Yes." "What if Julia's killed in the process? What if today when she was shot she didn't have her powers come to her and she died all together?" Another silence. Zechs stared at Tarmine, then looked at Zero. He had turned away, and wasn't looking at either of them. Finally he did turn, looking up at the blonde woman who sat on the edge of her cockpit. "I'll help the Plague, Alanis. Julia and I are no longer in love, and I'd like to see at least one person have their 'happily-ever-after' come true. Everyone knows it won't be me."
Alanis looked at the platinum blonde headed boy. He could have been her nephew, if Quatre had married Dorothy instead of Sophie Noventa. She reflected on how much he looked like his father, but he acted like the woman who should have been his mother. Dorothy had loved Quatre, and when he took Sophie's hand in marriage instead of Dorothy's, she had gone insane. Sophie died in an unfortunate chartered plane crash. The pilot was never found. No one really understood why all those months before Dorothy Catalonia had been gone, and a little bit after the crash. "You would join the Plague to help me?" "To help you, yes." Alanis' eyes were wide. Was this boy serious? What did he have up his sleeve, if anything at all? If she knew that Zechs was honest, then she knew that Julia and Zero had a relationship like nothing else. Maybe her daughter's transformation brought him to the point of break down. though it should have. Should it? Maybe there had been something under the surface that Zechs hadn't seen. Zechs wouldn't lie to her, and Alanis knew it. "Very well, then." She looked at Tarmine, "And you?" "I'd rather die." "Your father will be angry at me if I do that. But very well, he'll be next then. You two can be with your mother in heaven." She took the safety off of her gun and pointed it straight at Tarmine's heart. Tarmine just looked up at Alanis, and seemed to accept her fate. In one well-aimed blow, Tarmine fell to the ground with one neat hole in her body. "Come, come, boy. I will take you to your father and get you cleaned up. Maybe I can persuade your father into taking Plague's side."
Nicolae sighed as they walked west with a caravan of villagers behind them. Ethan was at his right side, Julia his left, Alex on Julia's left. They had all gotten horses to ride on by one of the village farmers, mostly because Julia was still weak from gaining her Lunarian strength. He looked over at the girl he had just recently met. If he knew his status reports, he knew she was five-foot six, one hundred thirty pounds, and was one year younger than him. Her birthday was only two week after his, and that meant this coming month was her birthday along with his. Before they had left on this journey, Julia had tied her hair back in a ponytail that was lifted through the back part to make an almost elaborate design. The length of her hair fell around her shoulders and back as they trotted along the path. She looked lovely, and even though he knew she killed his mother he couldn't help but think she looked extremely innocent in her tired expression. "When are we going to stop for a rest?" "Not for a while yet. Why?" "Oh, nothing.." Nicolae reached his arms out and caught Julia as she fell to the side. He pulled her up on to his saddle and let her lean back into his chest. He looked over at Alex, and she pushed Julia horse to the other side of her, trotting up beside Nicolae's horse. "She's had a rough few days." "I see that. What all has happened?" "A lot of things. Long, long story." Nicolae nodded, "We have plenty of time, if you wish to tell." Alex nodded back, then told him of what she knew and what happened. She even told him of Julia's mother and father, of why she killed Lady Une, and that Julia had felt really sorry for doing it. Nicolae listened with and intensity, keeping his eyes on the path and his head deep in thought. When Alex finished, Nicolae looked at her. "Thank you." "For what?" "Clearing up why Julia had killed my mother. I feel like I was just relieved of very hard feelings. I never knew why it was done." Alex smiled, and looked ahead. Her eyes widened and Nicolae became confused. Even as he looked out at what Alex saw, he didn't get it. "What?" "I know where we are." "What's so special about it?" "We're by a place Julia took me as a child. There's a beautiful lagoon in those trees on the other side of the field. Let the villagers rest, and let's go see if this cheers Jules up a little. It may do all of us some good to see it." Nicolae looked back to Ethan. "How 'bout it?" "I'm up to seeing anything right now." "Alright." Nicolae stopped his horse and turned it around. "We will be stopping here for a an hour to rest. The four of us will be heading farther northwest for a moment, and will be right back. Do not move, please. We need everyone here when we get back," he shouted. The caravan stopped, and he thought they stopped gratefully. Turning his horse back around he and the other two rode their horses to the weeping willow forest a third of a mile ahead of them. "Ok, off the horses. Nicolae, do you think you can carry Julia to the lake?" "How far is it?" "Not very." "Yeah. But why are we getting off the horses?" "Because they won't fit." "Ah." He got off of his horse and took Julia own with him. He cradled her almost like a baby, and couldn't help but smile. As they walked deeper into the forest, the trees started to glow. He watched Alex as she pulled back a curtain of leaves. He stopped in awe as he looked out at the scene below and in front of him. It was lovely in every way possible, from the water to the trees to the lilies. Alex walked over to them as they walked nearly to the edge of the cliff, and she put her hand on Julia's shoulder. "Jules wake up and look." She shook her gently and Julia groggily woke and looked at Alex. "What?" "Look at where we are." Julia looked up and smiled at Nicolae, then looked out at the lake. Her face lit up and the smile widened. Her blue eyes glittered and she shakily made Nicolae put her down, walking to the edge. She looked down and her hair fell over her shoulders, making a waterfall of brown silk around her face. Nicolae grinned, along with Ethan and Alex. As Julia's laughter filled the area, theirs joined for the sheer delight of the beauty they saw in the world that had become so ugly. This place made the deception and cruelty of earth look as though it were nothing and never could touch this place. "We should go down and swim, come on."
Alex smiled as they climbed down the side of the cliff. It was simple and had as many foot and hand holes as she could count. Julia was the first one down, followed by her, Ethan and Nicolae. She watched as Julia kick off her shoes, and took off her shirt to reveal the blue and silver of the 'second skin'. She stripped off her pants and jumped in, laughing as she came back up. "Come on in! The water feels great!" "Jules, I don't have a. built in bathing suit. like you do." "You don't have to." Nicolae said as he walked up beside her, taking off his clothes as well. The blue and green had wrapped itself around his arms, midsection and legs. It looked like water and wind, ending in swirling patterns much like Julia's. "Why?" "Julia's shield can transfer to you, too." He looked out at Julia. "Hey, come back in for a moment. I'll show you guys something." Julia swam back in, the blue of her hair sticking to the blue silver and pale peach color of her skin. She looked at Nicolae, and Alex seemed to think she was looking too closely. Nothing bad really showed on either of their bodies. Julia's nipples were just barely hidden beneath the sliver of her second skin, and her groin area was covered as if she were wearing a bathing suit that only graced that section. Nicolae's was like that, and it also seemed to curve up along his abs. "Ethan, come here. We're going to show them how this works." The shorter man did as his friend said, and he took his shirt off first. He stuck his hand out, and Nicolae raised his above Ethan's, letting the liquid skin drip over his fingertips. A pattern much like Nicolae's etched it's way over Ethan's skin, and two ribbons came to hover of his skin when they reached the belt on his pants. He opened them and the slid down as the blue and green covered the rest of what was needed, dripping down his legs to end at his feet in a swirl. "Doesn't it feel like your naked?" Alex asked as one more drip went from Nicolae's hand to Ethan, then as they turned to look at her. "Yes." The three said who had this stuff covering them. "Actually, it's because we are. This power only hides what we would normally not let a lot of people see. I noticed that Julia is revealing more than a lot of other women I know that have this." "That's because I view the human body as a type of art. I don't think I should have to cover it." Ethan and Nicolae grinned. Julia and Alex rolled their eyes. "Anyway, I would appreciate it if I could do this without you guys looking at me. The only time I ever was half naked in front of people was last year when I was blown out of the sky in my Gundam. And it was not my choice." Ethan looked as though he wouldn't do it, but Nicolae grabbed his arm and turned him around. "What do I do?" "Just concentrate, Julia. Alex's imagination will take care of the rest." Julia raised her hand and Alex put hers under it. A sudden rush of silver and blue rushed over Alex's skin and down her shirt. It pushed off her shirt and dripped down into her pants, pushing those off as well. It was like two hands that ran over her skin, and she didn't realize she was blushing until she felt the deep heat in her cheeks. She felt her hair shake and shiver, and saw it change from dark brown to a deep, deep blue and strands of silver. "Wow, Alex, you're more creative than I thought. Ok boys, you can look now." "Wait, wait, wait. I haven't felt this naked since I was born." "You look fine." "That's what I'm afraid of." Julia threw her head back and laughed, then grabbed Alex by the arm and pulled her into the water. The two boys followed, canon-balling into the water. The day hadn't turned out so bad after all.
Zero sighed as he sat in the small office. In one of his hands was a mug of hot coffee, in the other was Julia's hand. She sat staring out into space, a sad look on her face. "Jules, what's wrong?" Silence. "Jules?" She looked over after a second, then let out a sigh. "Yeah?" "What's wrong? For the last hour you've been really melancholy. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" "Bring back Lady Une." Ah. "Jules, it wasn't your fault. You didn't have any clue she wasn't the one to have killed your father." Julia shook her head. "But I should have thought about her son. Even if she had done it, I know what it's like to have your parent ripped away from you in a second. Now I know what it's like to have lost both parents. He doesn't have his father or mother, neither do I. I know what he feels like, and I just wish there was something I could do about it." Zero didn't know what to say to that. He had never lost anyone, because he had never heard stories about his mother, and Quatre had always been there. So had the forty Maganacs and the ex-pilots. "Alright you guys, here's the deal." The four pilots looked over to Ethan. He had been pacing back and forth for the last five minutes, staring at the floor as he did this. "Nicolae is our village's leader, our number one military man, numoro- uno. He had stolen a few of Plague's good weaponry and satellite devices, and we've just gotten a word that Plague will be moving out and coming this way. They heard that you four escaped, and I guess the head of their personnel is pissed." "Yeah? Well she's a witch anyway. That's my mom who's ticked and she's probably not going to slow down until she gets at least me." Four heads turned to Julia. Zero, Tarmine and Alex looked away almost as soon as they'd given their attention to her. "What do you mean, 'that's my mom'?" "Exactly what it sounds like. Alanis Catalonia is my mother... which was unbeknownst to me before this morning." Ethan was staring at Julia, and a loud silence filled the air. "I'm sorry." Zero stood up, "I'm sorry, Ethan, but do you have any sleeping areas available? We haven't slept normally for a long time, and I'm sure all of us will cooperate better in the morning." "Yes, there are a few huts on the other side of the arena. I will ask Nicolae if you guys should be let...." "What?" "Nothing." He took a radio from his vest and switched it on. "Nicolae?" "Yes Ethan?" "Can our guests be escorted to the arena to rest?" Each of the pilots noticed to sudden change in addressing. At first it had been 'the gundam pilots', now it was, 'our guests'. "Yes, Ethan, they can be escorted to the outer premises. Just keep the locks up, Plague is moving in slowly. They won't be a problem for another forty-two hours, so twenty-four hours can be given to the pilots and our village." "Yessir." He turned off the radio and looked at the four. "Alright, please follow me." Zero stood up, still holding Julia's hand. The small group and their guide walked down a small path and into an old arena. There were few people there, but sure enough there were cozy huts alongside the farthest walls. Ethan showed them in, told them where everything was, and left in a hurry to get to 'his captain's side'. "I don't see why we're suddenly being treated like the president in an enemy's country. They're courteous, yet... snobbish?" Zero looked at Julia and smiled softly. "You're acting as though you don't care." "Care?" "About your mom. We'll have to get rid of her somehow." There was a pause. Julia looked down at the floor. "I just today found out she was my mother, Zero. The fact she's the one that killed my father makes me hate her. Just because she's my mother doesn't mean I have to care whether or not she dies." Zero locked eyes with Julia as she looked up, and sudden tears fell from her eyes. "I just want a break, Zero. Every fifteen minutes I find some horrible truth out, or I'm faced with some disgusting problem I don't want. When do I get a break from all of this?" The blonde stared at the brunette. In her weakened state, it shocked him on how much he didn't want to comfort her. He wanted suddenly to turn tail and run, but he couldn't seem to do it. "Julia...." he hesitantly walked to her, wrapping his arms around her body and pulling her into him. Carefully he laid them both down on the small creaky bed and held her. He heard a sob bubble up into her throat, and a shaking cry escaped Julia's lips. He'd never seen Julia cry so much in so many days, and it was starting to get to him. He knew she was never Super Woman, of course, but Julia's had always been strong and happy. It unnerved him to see her any less. "I'm gonna go check on the others, ok? Maybe they can help you better than me." "Don't leave me alone right now, Zero." "Jules, you'll be fine, I'll be right back." He let her go and got up, walking out of the small hut and to the one next to it. Tarmine and Alex were sitting at a small table drinking black coffee. He looked around and noticed their hut was a lot better than his and Julia's. It even had a bathroom. "Julia is crying again." Alex looked at him, "And you left her alone in the hut? Aren't you her boyfriend?" "Yeah..." "Aren't you supposed to be trying to make her happy? Or are you the one that made her start crying in the first place?" Zero looked down. He wasn't going to admit to making Julia cry... or at least starting her tear flow. "Ah." Tarmine walked over to Zero, put her fingers under his chin, and lifted his face to look directly into his eyes. "You guys have been together for over two years, and I know you love eachother more than life. Don't go ruining a perfectly good relationship because who you thought was a perfect ray of sunshine is suddenly in a fit of tears because of something you did." Zero stared at Tarmine, mouth agape. She never said anything like this, and he thought she, of all people, would understand. A sudden, sharp scream came from outside. The three straightened and ran outside. All of them knew who it was, even as they ran to the neighboring hut. Julia was set in a chair, eyes wide, body limp. She looked like a doll some child threw into a chair. A doll with blood escaping from its chest. Zero, Tarmine and Alex stared at the bloody mess in horror. There was a perfect circle in the middle of Julia's breast where blood flowed freely. Her shirt had been ripped away and shards still hung to her arms and around her waist.
"Julia..." Alex stared at her best friend. Julia started to convulse and her chest exploded with another scream, and something strange happened. Julia's blood wrapped around her body. Her chest reformed and the hole filled. The blood that had came from her chest wound itself into a few micros thick, creating a blood red layer over her skin that covered her nipples and followed the length of her arms to cover her arms and hands. A ribbon ran around her bust-line, then her pants fell away in shards as the ribbon of blood slid over her groin area to make a spiral pattern up her belly. Two other 'beads' slithered themselves over her legs, curving around her slim thighs and calves to end on the top of her feet in a small spiral. The red soon changed to a gleaming silver, with patterns of cobalt blue. Her hair seemed to shiver as it turned the same color of blue, and her natural skin color seemed to pale, becoming an almost porcelain color. A sudden breath caught in Julia's through and her eyes closed, then snapped open and her body straightened. She coughed, choked, and coughed again leaning forward to gag and cough some more. "Julia...?" Alex's voice was shakier than she would have liked to hear, and it surprised her that she sounded like she was going to cry. "Alex?" Tears fell from Julia's eyes and she looked up, putting her hands over her private areas that had seemed to be exposed. "What happened? What happened?" Alex shook her head, tears coming from her own eyes, and she ran to her best friend. "I thought they'd killed you, Julia. I don't know what's happening to you, but it saved your life. Oh God, thank You." She hugged Julia, tightening her grip when Julia's body began to tremble. She felt something different about the girl. Instead of feeling weak and fragile in Alex's arms, Julia felt as though she'd gained the strength of a true Lunarian. She'd heard things about this on the news, read about it in the papers. Lunarian colonists suddenly becoming powerful after a shocking event. Though there'd only been a few cases where their powers had come from their own blood, Alex though maybe Julia was more Lunarian than anyone had known. Perhaps it was possible Duo had been part Lunarian. He had been an orphan, after all. And everyone knew that Alanis and Dorothy Catalonia were full-blooded Lunarian, now that they'd released that information on live television when Duo and Alanis had first discovered she was pregnant. Or at least Dorothy had released she was full Lunarian. So as a twin Alanis would be too. Alex let go of Julia, and stared into the pale face of Julia. The blue hair hung around her, and Alex could feel that everyone in the room but her was struck dumb. So she explained her theory, which caused more silence. "Her scar is gone." Alex turned around and looked at Tarmine, then back to Julia. The scar was gone, and in every other place Alex knew there to be scars there was nothing but perfect skin or the silver or blue 'shield'. "What's happening, Alex? If my power needed to have something like a gun shot wound to the chest or whatever, why didn't it come out when I was blown up in my Gundam?" "I don't know, but I think we might find out. For now, let's see if you can make it go back into your skin." Julia nodded, biting her bottom lip, then closed her eyes. Her eyebrows met and she suddenly looked in deep concentration. The silver and blue started to sink back into the hole that had been in her chest. As she got back her soft tan, Julia's eyes opened and she suddenly realized she wasn't dressed. Alex handed her a black trench coat, and then sighed. "You need to stop doing this." "Doing what?" "Wearing nothing under these trenches. My father would kill you if her found out you'd done this a second time in a week." "He may just be surprised. Or not. Would someone get me some clothes from the medical center?" Alex looked over at Zero, who raised his hands in defense. "Fine, fine." There was a knock on the door, and everyone in unison said "just a minute" as Julia put the coat on. Zero opened the door to Nicolae and Ethan. They looked at Zero, then at Julia, then back. "Don't ask." "I'm afraid to." Nicolae said. "I was just going to go get a pair of clothes for Julia. Excuse me." Zero pushed past the two men and down the isle of huts. Nicolae raised his eyebrows and exhaled, then smiled a smile that made both Julia and Tarmine sigh with delight. Alex just raised her eyebrows too, then crossed her arms over her chest and glare at them. "Why would you guys be here? You suddenly become our friends again?" She glared at Ethan with a repugnance that made him take a step back. "Ethan was just taking a precaution he uses sometimes. And I'm sorry for the rude first impression, there's been a lot of stress lately, and well, you know. But if ya got to know me I bet we'd all be very good friends."
Julia looked at Nicolae with an attraction that she didn't even recognize. It was kind of strange, because suddenly a flood of feelings ran through her and Zero seemed not to matter at the moment. Nicolae locked eyes with her, and they didn't looked away until Zero walked back in with new clothes for Julia. He put them on the bed, then walked back out. "I think he's scared." Tarmine whispered. She walked out the door also, and Alex sighed again. "I sense a high amount of energy in the room. Maybe I should leave. Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe I should take Nicolae and Ethan outside while Julia changes, then we can talk about stuff." Alex took the two men out of the hut and Julia put on the blue flare- legs, black wide strap tank top, and lighter blue cashmere sweater that hung on her arms. She looked up from putting on and tying the black skater- style sneakers as she heard Alex, Tarmine and Zero fighting, then Nicolae's voice over theirs. "Stop it, you guys, we're not having a fight here if I can help it. You two leave the arena now." Alex, Ethan and Nicolae walked back in. They were all wearing fake smiles, and Julia could tell. "What just happened?" "Nothing at all. You should dump Zero though, he's a jerk." "I know this." "Why haven't you yet?" "His female-like PMS isn't a good enough reason to dump him." "How about him making out with Tarmine?" Julia's eyes widened. "That cad.." "Ah, ah, ah. No using simple names. Remember, think big." Alex sat down on the bed and looked up at Julia, who was standing her full five-foot- six. "Not worth it. But he can consider himself dumped." "You're not sad about this?" Nicolae asked a little surprised. "Not at all. He left me alone just a while ago and someone shot me when I asked him not to leave me alone. He's not a reliable boyfriend, and not even all that good." Nicolae and Ethan looked at each other, grinned, and both girls' sensed their need to laugh, and they started to laugh just as Ethan and Nicolae did. "How old are you two? You guys look young but seem to carry a lot of responsibilities." Alex said. "We're not that much older than you two, and we cower under you girls. You guys have ridden in Gundams and fought in the war before this one. Your parents were Gundam pilots. Julia's more than half Lunarian, and already has her power. But yeah, we're eighteen." Julia and Alex both stared at Nicolae. "How did you know." Nicolae raised his arms and a deep, deep green and blue swirl pattern ran over the near perfect skin of his forearm. "I can sense it. Be happy you believe in God, or it would kill you." Ethan cleared his throat. "We came here for a reason, Nicolae. It is sort of important." Nicolae's arm went back to normal as the blue and green slithered back into his the sleeve of his coat. "Alright, I know you guys just got here, and a lot has been happening, but we're moving our whole village out of the area. Plague has set up camps a few miles east, so we will be heading west. We needed to make sure you were all up to it before it happened. Personally I think you're in shape, and I don't care what happens to the other two in your group, we need to move now." Julia and Alex both nodded then stood up. Deep inside Julia did care what happened to Zero and Tarmine, and she had no hard feelings to either. It had just been a matter of time until it happened, and she had been ready for it. "Let's go."
Tarmine watched the back of Zero's head as he pulled her out of the base and back through the woods. "Where are we going?" "To see Alanis. I'm sick and tired of all of this, and I want to be on a different side." Tarmine stopped and jerked Zero back, making him almost trip. "What is wrong with you?! First you leave Julia alone, and then you grab and kiss me, now you're going to trade sides because something happened to Julia that you can't explain?" "There are more reasons than that." "Like what?! You guys love each other more than anything, unless I'm incorrect. Just a few hours ago you were in the back of a truck telling her about her mother and father. You can't keep blaming her any more, Zero. It's not her fault." Zero stared at Tarmine, his eyes narrowed. "I thought you wanted me." A sudden bubble of anger popped inside of Tarmine, her fists balled and she swung up and right-hooked Zero. She watched as Zero fell back on his butt away from her. "If that's what this is about, I will be going back, and you can't stop me." "You don't know that." Zero's voice was enraged, and it was starting to scare the violet headed girl. She didn't know this Zero, he was mad and threatening and mean. The Zero she knew was kind and naïve, caring. Click. "Oh, so what now? You're going to shoot me?" "That wasn't my gun." Zero stood up shakily, walking back to Tarmine. She looked around, then, hesitantly, up. Above the two of them was a Scorpio with Alanis sitting on the edge of the cockpit with a gun in her hands. "You guys look as though you're lost. What, did my daughter do something." "Your daughter was shot." Alanis looked at Zero in shock, then it looked as though she remembered why. "Yes, that was one of my men. Tell me, did she change?"
Zechs sighed as Zero just looked away, and Tarmine nodded. "She got her Lunarian power. Alex said it was something to do with strength. She met a boy by the name of Nicolae, and he has the same thing." "Nicolae Une?" "Yes, that's it." Alanis looked back at Zechs, grimaced, then back to the teens under her. "It was sort of sad having to frame his mother like that. I actually felt grief when I heard about her death in the news, and when I saw my daughter being taken to prison." "Why do you hate your daughter?" The question from Tarmine shocked everyone. Alanis was silent for a few minutes, and then started up again. "I don't hate Julia. I love my daughter. That's why this war is being made. I want my daughter back, and I'm afraid the only way to do it is to show her I'd give lives to be with her. And I want her to have something to live for." "So you'll kill millions and not yourself." "Yes." "What if Julia's killed in the process? What if today when she was shot she didn't have her powers come to her and she died all together?" Another silence. Zechs stared at Tarmine, then looked at Zero. He had turned away, and wasn't looking at either of them. Finally he did turn, looking up at the blonde woman who sat on the edge of her cockpit. "I'll help the Plague, Alanis. Julia and I are no longer in love, and I'd like to see at least one person have their 'happily-ever-after' come true. Everyone knows it won't be me."
Alanis looked at the platinum blonde headed boy. He could have been her nephew, if Quatre had married Dorothy instead of Sophie Noventa. She reflected on how much he looked like his father, but he acted like the woman who should have been his mother. Dorothy had loved Quatre, and when he took Sophie's hand in marriage instead of Dorothy's, she had gone insane. Sophie died in an unfortunate chartered plane crash. The pilot was never found. No one really understood why all those months before Dorothy Catalonia had been gone, and a little bit after the crash. "You would join the Plague to help me?" "To help you, yes." Alanis' eyes were wide. Was this boy serious? What did he have up his sleeve, if anything at all? If she knew that Zechs was honest, then she knew that Julia and Zero had a relationship like nothing else. Maybe her daughter's transformation brought him to the point of break down. though it should have. Should it? Maybe there had been something under the surface that Zechs hadn't seen. Zechs wouldn't lie to her, and Alanis knew it. "Very well, then." She looked at Tarmine, "And you?" "I'd rather die." "Your father will be angry at me if I do that. But very well, he'll be next then. You two can be with your mother in heaven." She took the safety off of her gun and pointed it straight at Tarmine's heart. Tarmine just looked up at Alanis, and seemed to accept her fate. In one well-aimed blow, Tarmine fell to the ground with one neat hole in her body. "Come, come, boy. I will take you to your father and get you cleaned up. Maybe I can persuade your father into taking Plague's side."
Nicolae sighed as they walked west with a caravan of villagers behind them. Ethan was at his right side, Julia his left, Alex on Julia's left. They had all gotten horses to ride on by one of the village farmers, mostly because Julia was still weak from gaining her Lunarian strength. He looked over at the girl he had just recently met. If he knew his status reports, he knew she was five-foot six, one hundred thirty pounds, and was one year younger than him. Her birthday was only two week after his, and that meant this coming month was her birthday along with his. Before they had left on this journey, Julia had tied her hair back in a ponytail that was lifted through the back part to make an almost elaborate design. The length of her hair fell around her shoulders and back as they trotted along the path. She looked lovely, and even though he knew she killed his mother he couldn't help but think she looked extremely innocent in her tired expression. "When are we going to stop for a rest?" "Not for a while yet. Why?" "Oh, nothing.." Nicolae reached his arms out and caught Julia as she fell to the side. He pulled her up on to his saddle and let her lean back into his chest. He looked over at Alex, and she pushed Julia horse to the other side of her, trotting up beside Nicolae's horse. "She's had a rough few days." "I see that. What all has happened?" "A lot of things. Long, long story." Nicolae nodded, "We have plenty of time, if you wish to tell." Alex nodded back, then told him of what she knew and what happened. She even told him of Julia's mother and father, of why she killed Lady Une, and that Julia had felt really sorry for doing it. Nicolae listened with and intensity, keeping his eyes on the path and his head deep in thought. When Alex finished, Nicolae looked at her. "Thank you." "For what?" "Clearing up why Julia had killed my mother. I feel like I was just relieved of very hard feelings. I never knew why it was done." Alex smiled, and looked ahead. Her eyes widened and Nicolae became confused. Even as he looked out at what Alex saw, he didn't get it. "What?" "I know where we are." "What's so special about it?" "We're by a place Julia took me as a child. There's a beautiful lagoon in those trees on the other side of the field. Let the villagers rest, and let's go see if this cheers Jules up a little. It may do all of us some good to see it." Nicolae looked back to Ethan. "How 'bout it?" "I'm up to seeing anything right now." "Alright." Nicolae stopped his horse and turned it around. "We will be stopping here for a an hour to rest. The four of us will be heading farther northwest for a moment, and will be right back. Do not move, please. We need everyone here when we get back," he shouted. The caravan stopped, and he thought they stopped gratefully. Turning his horse back around he and the other two rode their horses to the weeping willow forest a third of a mile ahead of them. "Ok, off the horses. Nicolae, do you think you can carry Julia to the lake?" "How far is it?" "Not very." "Yeah. But why are we getting off the horses?" "Because they won't fit." "Ah." He got off of his horse and took Julia own with him. He cradled her almost like a baby, and couldn't help but smile. As they walked deeper into the forest, the trees started to glow. He watched Alex as she pulled back a curtain of leaves. He stopped in awe as he looked out at the scene below and in front of him. It was lovely in every way possible, from the water to the trees to the lilies. Alex walked over to them as they walked nearly to the edge of the cliff, and she put her hand on Julia's shoulder. "Jules wake up and look." She shook her gently and Julia groggily woke and looked at Alex. "What?" "Look at where we are." Julia looked up and smiled at Nicolae, then looked out at the lake. Her face lit up and the smile widened. Her blue eyes glittered and she shakily made Nicolae put her down, walking to the edge. She looked down and her hair fell over her shoulders, making a waterfall of brown silk around her face. Nicolae grinned, along with Ethan and Alex. As Julia's laughter filled the area, theirs joined for the sheer delight of the beauty they saw in the world that had become so ugly. This place made the deception and cruelty of earth look as though it were nothing and never could touch this place. "We should go down and swim, come on."
Alex smiled as they climbed down the side of the cliff. It was simple and had as many foot and hand holes as she could count. Julia was the first one down, followed by her, Ethan and Nicolae. She watched as Julia kick off her shoes, and took off her shirt to reveal the blue and silver of the 'second skin'. She stripped off her pants and jumped in, laughing as she came back up. "Come on in! The water feels great!" "Jules, I don't have a. built in bathing suit. like you do." "You don't have to." Nicolae said as he walked up beside her, taking off his clothes as well. The blue and green had wrapped itself around his arms, midsection and legs. It looked like water and wind, ending in swirling patterns much like Julia's. "Why?" "Julia's shield can transfer to you, too." He looked out at Julia. "Hey, come back in for a moment. I'll show you guys something." Julia swam back in, the blue of her hair sticking to the blue silver and pale peach color of her skin. She looked at Nicolae, and Alex seemed to think she was looking too closely. Nothing bad really showed on either of their bodies. Julia's nipples were just barely hidden beneath the sliver of her second skin, and her groin area was covered as if she were wearing a bathing suit that only graced that section. Nicolae's was like that, and it also seemed to curve up along his abs. "Ethan, come here. We're going to show them how this works." The shorter man did as his friend said, and he took his shirt off first. He stuck his hand out, and Nicolae raised his above Ethan's, letting the liquid skin drip over his fingertips. A pattern much like Nicolae's etched it's way over Ethan's skin, and two ribbons came to hover of his skin when they reached the belt on his pants. He opened them and the slid down as the blue and green covered the rest of what was needed, dripping down his legs to end at his feet in a swirl. "Doesn't it feel like your naked?" Alex asked as one more drip went from Nicolae's hand to Ethan, then as they turned to look at her. "Yes." The three said who had this stuff covering them. "Actually, it's because we are. This power only hides what we would normally not let a lot of people see. I noticed that Julia is revealing more than a lot of other women I know that have this." "That's because I view the human body as a type of art. I don't think I should have to cover it." Ethan and Nicolae grinned. Julia and Alex rolled their eyes. "Anyway, I would appreciate it if I could do this without you guys looking at me. The only time I ever was half naked in front of people was last year when I was blown out of the sky in my Gundam. And it was not my choice." Ethan looked as though he wouldn't do it, but Nicolae grabbed his arm and turned him around. "What do I do?" "Just concentrate, Julia. Alex's imagination will take care of the rest." Julia raised her hand and Alex put hers under it. A sudden rush of silver and blue rushed over Alex's skin and down her shirt. It pushed off her shirt and dripped down into her pants, pushing those off as well. It was like two hands that ran over her skin, and she didn't realize she was blushing until she felt the deep heat in her cheeks. She felt her hair shake and shiver, and saw it change from dark brown to a deep, deep blue and strands of silver. "Wow, Alex, you're more creative than I thought. Ok boys, you can look now." "Wait, wait, wait. I haven't felt this naked since I was born." "You look fine." "That's what I'm afraid of." Julia threw her head back and laughed, then grabbed Alex by the arm and pulled her into the water. The two boys followed, canon-balling into the water. The day hadn't turned out so bad after all.