Coalition Base

Duo threw himself onto a stool beside Dr. Stryfe. After sleeping the entire night on that cold floor in the training room, his body ached, and his head felt like it was going to split down the middle as his stomach churned unpleasantly.

Trynity's father glanced at him, then pushed his cup of steaming coffee towards him.

As he lifted the cup to his lips, Duo noticed Trynity standing at the table where her project had been. Seeing her gave him a warm feeling inside, he thought as he sipped the coffee. When she turned around, he flinched expecting a scowl for the blackened crater where her project had once been, but she surprised him with a smile that made his insides turn to jelly, then walked towards them.

"Is she angry about it?" asked Duo when he recovered. Her cheery smile was almost scary.

"She hasn't said anything," responded her father. He seemed a little nervous too.

Trynity stopped before them. "Am I interrupting your work?"

They both shook their heads.

She motioned back to her table. "My experiment seems to have disappeared. You two wouldn't know anything about it?"

Duo didn't move a muscle.

Dr. Stryfe took the coffee from him. "I'm afraid there was a little accident, pumpkin."

"Father! I asked you not to play with my experiment!" She crossed her arms and glared at him, then she laughed. Duo liked the sound of it. She hugged and kissed the top of her father's head. "You are so predictable! I knew you would screw it up."

"I had some help," he admitted.

Trynity looked at Duo, and her smile almost made him slide off the chair. His stomach knotted, his heart pounded, and his head felt like it was floating. "How are you feeling, Mr. Maxwell? You look at little green."

"Hey, did I act like a fool yesterday?" He already knew the answer.

"No more than usual." She hooked her arm around his and glanced at her father. "Do you mind if I take Duo?"

"Just be gentle with him, pumpkin."

She laughed softly as they walked from the lab to the hanger. "Just what were you planning to do on the training deck?"

"I don't know!" He did, but he wasn't going to admit to Trynity how foolishly jealous he had been. He had only succeeded in making as ass of himself. "What was he doing with beer in there anyway?"

Releasing him, she leaned against the foot of the Deathscythe. Now there was a sight he wasn't going to forget. Trynity Stryfe and his gundam. Life couldn't get any better. Well, maybe it could with a couple of painkillers for his headache and a massage for his aching muscles.

"Maybe he gets thirsty," she answered him. "And besides, Lars likes it when I get drunk."

Duo was seeing red now. "Does he? Where is Captain Nelson? I have something I would like to discuss with him."

"Training Sagitarien pilots, so you needn't hurry back for your scythe any time soon, O Fearsome God of Death. Intelligence reports indicate that the Cinq Kingdom is arming for a counterattack, so he is making some last minute training flights with his men."

Duo looked at his feet. He couldn't face Trynity knowing that he would not stay by her side. Maybe if he talked some sense into her… "Trynity, why do you continue to fight for Nelson?"

"Are you having a change of heart, Duo? Then I should escort you back to the cell to join with your friends. I spoke to each of them – well I didn't bother with Wufei – and each refused to fight for the Coalition. They are to be executed at midnight. Nelson is planning to broadcast the event to the Cinq Kingdom to prove that Miliardo Peacecraft is a militaristic leader who would sacrifice the lives of the young people he is supposed to be protecting."

"That is a load of crap!" Her matter of fact tone infuriated him. Had he completely misjudged Trynity? Duo felt his heart breaking as he looked at her. "We were gundam pilots long before Zechs Merquise settled us in the Cinq Kingdom."

"How did you all become pilots?" she asked as she reached out to take his braid in her hand.

"Each of us was discovered and trained for Operation Meteor. Hell, I had nothing to lose. Trowa didn't even have a name. Heero had already been trained to kill. Wufei was fighting his own personal battle, and Quatre…well Quatre has high ideals, but I think he likes to use his gundam to destroy although he will tell you otherwise. Personally, I think there's a spoiled rich boy thing going on in his air head."

She tossed his braid over his shoulder. "I am sorry, Duo, that I can't be what you want. I have someone to fight for. Perhaps you don't understand because you've never had anyone you would gladly die to protect."

Duo stepped toward her and took her face in his hands. "That isn't true, Trynity. I do."

Her lashes lowered. Was she so lost and lonely that she didn't understand what he was trying to say? He leaned forward to kiss her, but Trynity suddenly moved away and turned around to look up at his gundam. "This is a rather fearsome suit," she commented.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I would want no other." Turning, he looked at the Shadowhawk. "And yours? I don't mind telling you, Miss Stryfe, that when you first attacked, I had the stuffing scared out of me."

Trynity laughed softly.

He grinned. "That isn't the laugh of the Shadowhawk pilot!"

"That was Barton's idea. He didn't think I could command respect without my voice being scrambled."

"Say, they have been working on your gundam."

Trynity frowned. "It was not damaged in the last battle."

"Do you suppose it is some type of upgrade?" Duo hated asking, but it might be invaluable tactical information. If they had upgraded it with another new weapon, he would need to know.

Trynity walked past him and strode to the gundam where a small group of technicians were conferring. "What are you doing?" she demanded.

They appeared startled, then one answered, "We are making some minor adjustments."

"By whose orders?"

"Colonel Nelson. He reviewed the last battle and determined some modifications were needed in the maneuvering system."

Duo thought Trynity was going to argue. He certainly didn't like anyone tinkering with his gundam. But she sighed and shrugged before turning back to him. "Nelson must know what he is doing. I didn't have a chance to review the last battle. I can't afford to lose any time in attacks, and I suppose I will have to trust his judgement."

"Do you use the zero system?"

She raised a brow. "I thought all gundam pilots did."

"Some of us can't handle it."

Trynity folded her arms. "Was Commander Noin flying the Valkyrie? She apparently cannot handle the zero system."

"She has learned to master it," stated Duo. Was he giving her information? He should be watching his mouth.

"Then I will not look forward to meeting her again in combat."

"You wouldn't have to," he suggested.

Trynity was looking up at her gundam. "I don't think there is a choice." She turned, and when her eyes met his, he knew deep down that they would face each other again in their gundams. "Will you meet me on the training deck? I'll give you a chance to swing your scythe."

He tucked back a corky curl that had fallen in her face. "How can I resist that invitation?" Duo leaned forward to kiss her, and this time she raised her face to him, but a soldier interrupted them.

"Lieutenant, Colonel Nelson commands your presence and that of Duo Maxwell."

Trynity straightened, and turned to follow the man. Duo shrugged and walked behind her. As they made their way to Nelson's office, the corridors were filling with men wearing spacesuits, and Duo guessed they were getting ready for battle. That didn't leave him much time at all if the Sagitarien pilots were boarding their suits. He did notice that the men looked at Trynity with awe and respect although she didn't acknowledge them at all. She wasn't a soldier! She was a girl frightened of losing the most important person in her life. Duo just couldn't find fault with that.

Lars was standing outside Nelson's office, and when Trynity came to the door, he reached out to touch her, but Duo stepped between them. "Maxwell," he said as greeting, his hand dropping to his side.

"Nelson."

"Idiots," said Trynity just as the door opened and she walked in ahead of them.

Colonel Nelson's viewing screen was filled with graphics of his battle plan. Several other men conferred with him, and as Trynity and Lars joined in the discussion, Duo merely listened. The Cinq Kingdom fleet had already left Earth. Although they did not know where the Epyon and Valkyrie were at the time, they were sure the gundams were in one of the many mobile suit carriers. Already they confirmed that the Cinq Kingdom would be using mobile dolls, two dozen Leos and three dozen Taurus suits. Considering the strength of the Coalition, the attack would be foolhardy were it not for the Valkyrie and Epyon. Even so, Duo knew they needed the other gundams.

Nelson assigned Trynity the task of disposing of the dolls. When he suggested that Duo help, she denied needing his assistance. Duo didn't argue with her. And she didn't look at him once during the conference.

"You will leave shortly after the pilots are executed," stated Colonel Nelson. He glanced at Lars. "I hope you have not made a decision concerning the gundams. I have decided that you will continue to pilot the Artemis."

Duo could see that Lars was not pleased. Tough luck, fly boy. Maybe in the next lifetime!

But Trynity reached out to lay a comforting hand on Lars' shoulder as she faced his brother. "Do you have a reason for your decision? Lars is the best choice to fly one of the gundams."

Nelson raised his brow at Trynity. "Lieutenant, do I detect insubordination? Or is my brother simply too used to letting you fight his battles."

Good one! Duo almost laughed.

Lars glared at Colonel Nelson. "I will fly the Artemis. The suit is mine, and what it lacks in strength, I make up in skill."

"You rate yourself rather highly, brother. Then again, you always did."

You took the words out of my mouth, thought Duo.

"I rate him highly," stated Trynity.

What was she doing defending the jerk? Duo narrowed his eyes as he looked at Trynity. She was giving him the cold shoulder! First she didn't kiss him, then she refuses to fight with him, and now she was siding up with Lars Nelson. So what did she do while he was sleeping off his stupid party of one? Did her and Lars have a party of two?

"What do you think, Duo Maxwell?"

That the Artemis was going to be the first to fall under his gundam's deadly beam scythe! But he shrugged. "If we are going to meet the Cinq Kingdom troops in a matter of hours, then it is a bit late for him to learn to master a gundam."

"I have trained…" started Lars.

"Hey, I was asked my opinion, and I gave it." Duo crossed his arms and glared at him. "If you have a problem with it, we can settle it another time."

Trynity did not look at him, and after they were dismissed, she left with Lars without even a glance at him. Duo grumbled all the way to the laboratory where he found Dr. Stryfe immersed in his game.

Duo threw himself on the stool. "You better not go up those stairs," he commented. "There's an ugly one-eyed ogre wielding a spiked ball on a chain."

The older man looked at him over his shoulder. "Where is Trynity?"

"With Captain Nelson."

Dr. Stryfe chuckled as he turned back to the game. Duo wanted to ask him what he thought Trynity's feelings were, but there were more important things to discuss with Ivan Stryfe.

He leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "So, don't you think it's about time to continue your work elsewhere, Dr. Stryfe?"

Trynity's father did not take his eyes from the screen. "What did you have in mind, young man?"

After leaving the laboratory, Duo went to the infirmary where he requested some painkillers for his headache. The medical officer gave him a few pills, then advised him not to take more than one at a time or he would be in no shape to pilot his gundam in the upcoming battle. Duo pocketed the pills after popping one in his mouth, then made his way to the training deck. He didn't expect Trynity to be there, but she was sitting on the floor. Beside her were two glasses of champagne.

When he stood over her, she looked up and smiled at him. "You took your time. I thought I was going to have to drink with Lars."

Duo realized she was joking, and he forced himself to laugh, but it wasn't all that funny to him! He dropped to his knees beside her, and they both picked up the glasses. "Here's to the battle!" He touched his glass to hers, then took a sip. "It's warm. There must be some chilled over here somewhere." Duo had to force his hand not to shake as he took her glass before she could drink. He spied the bottle in a bucket of ice, and he walked to it.

"Where were you?" she asked when he turned his back on him.

Duo's fingers were stiff and cold as he snapped open two of the capsules the doctor had given him. He poured the granules in Trynity's glass and filled it with champagne. "I was working with your father."

"I really can't imagine what the two of you do," she commented with a laugh.

Duo returned with the refilled glasses. Before he handed hers over, he said, "I don't want to drink to the battle, Trynity, unless we both feel that we are following our conscience."

She sighed and reached out to take a glass from his hand. "I will do what I must, Duo." Trynity sipped from the champagne.

"People die in battle," he said quietly.

"People die crossing the street." She drank more of the champagne. "They aren't expecting it. Those that get in a mobile suit, or a gundam, have to expect to die. That is the fate of all soldiers."

Duo wanted to take the glass from her and shake some sense into her. But he suspected it would do no good. This was the result of her brainwashing by Dekim Barton. According to her father, that man had taken a lonely, needy child and molded her into an extension of the Shadowhawk. Dr. Stryfe feared his daughter would never overcome it. Lars Nelson had never been willing to give up his soul to the Shadowhawk, and that was why he had never been allowed to pilot it. Trynity had lost her soul without knowing.

She finished the champagne and set aside the empty glass. Her green eyes met his. Duo threw aside his glass and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her until she began to feel faint in his arms and he felt like a villain lying down with her pressed close to him.

Her eyes were closed. "Are you all right, Trynity?" he asked as he brushed the curls from her face.

She smiled sleepily. "I am a little tired. I didn't get much sleep last night." She kissed his kissed his lips then added, "And I didn't get much of a nap today."

Duo stroked her cheek. "Rest. You will need it."

"Just hold me," she whispered groggily, then she sighed and became limp.

For a moment he did as she asked, then he carefully moved away after gently laying her head on the floor. Duo went to the weapons on the wall, forcing himself not to look back at her, and taking the scythe, he walked out the door. He quickly knocked out his guards who weren't expecting him. Although he wanted to swing the scythe for dramatic effect as he made his way through the corridors, Duo realized the old fashioned blade didn't cut nearly as well as the beam variety. So he snatched his guards' guns and made his way to the detention center, avoiding as many men as he could. Those who did question him received a few smart-ass answers and a club over the back of the head.

He made short work of the guards at the door to the cell holding his friends, then walked in. "The god of death has arrived."

"Are you planning to shoot us?" asked Wufei with raised brows as he looked at the gun in his hand.

"Is it midnight already?" shrieked Quatre. "Duo, are you the one who is to execute us?"

Duo pointed the gun at him. "You are first, Quatre Raberba Winner!" He paused for a second, then shouted, "Bang!"

Quatre dropped back in a faint.

"Smooth move," commented Trowa. "Who is going to carry him?"

"Let's leave him," suggested Heero.

"We can't," stated Duo. "If we leave him, they will use his gundam."

"I'll carry him, I guess." Trowa reached down to pull Quatre over his shoulder.

"Now that that is taken care of," said Wufei, "who is going to take care of Lieutenant Stryfe?"

"I already did that," said Duo. "Lieutenant Stryfe is as harmless as a newborn kitten."

"Even newborn kittens have claws."

Duo spun around to see Trynity in the doorway, a gun in her hand. "Hey! How…"

"Drop the gun, Duo Maxwell."

By the deadly look in her eyes, he knew he had better comply. The gun clattered to the floor. "So, how did you do it? I put enough drugs in your drink to make you sleep through the battle."

"I didn't drink it, you oaf! You were so distracted and nervous that I took the drink you didn't doctor."

Duo frowned and scratched his head. He hadn't noticed at all. "Good thing I didn't drink mine!"

Trynity made a sound of disgust. "I have no clue what I ever saw in you!"

"Believe me, Miss Stryfe, the feeling is mutual."

"Come with me." She reached down to get the gun Duo had, then motioned them out. Quatre regained consciousness, so Trowa dumped him on the floor, and Trynity snarled at him to get moving. "Any one of you attempts to make an escape – listen well Heero Yuy – I will put a rather large hole in the back of your head."

Duo was seething with anger as she herded them through the corridors. They had been so close! "Trynity, listen to me! You can't do this!"

"Shut up, Maxwell. You had no intention of ever fighting for the Coalition!"

"What would ever induce me to do that?"

They entered the gundam hanger, which was a beehive of activity as the technicians made last minutes preparations and the young pilots who had been chosen to fly them reviewed the systems.

"You aren't going to kill us in front of our gundams are you?" asked Quatre nervously.

Trynity sneered at him. "I think Sandrock will eventually recover."

Duo laughed.

She spun to aim the gun straight at Duo. "Meeting Hilde on the beach with a blanket? Time to pay up, Duo Maxwell!" He caught his breath. "Bang!"

Duo stumbled back.

Wufei snorted with uncharacteristic laughter.

Duo looked down and saw that he wasn't shot, then looked at Trynity. "Miss Stryfe!"

She put the gun in his hand, then handed another to Heero. "There isn't much time. There will be guards here any moment when they go to the cell and find you guys missing."

Duo wanted to pull her into his arms and give her a kiss she would never forget, but they still had to battle for their gundams. So after one last look, he joined Heero in clearing out the hanger. When the bullets starting flying, the pilots and technicians scattered. Trowa, Quatre and Wufei managed to knock out a few, but at least two escaped to sound the alarm. When there was no opposition, they scrambled to get into spacesuits, and Duo saw that Trynity was waiting near her own gundam.

They joined her there.

Trynity looked at each of them, and in turn they silently gave their approval. Duo knew how much she believed she was sacrificing in allowing them to escape. He took her hands. "You are coming with us, Trynity."

She shook her head. "I can't."

"I won't leave without you."

Trynity smiled and reach out to touch his cheek. "Then I guess I have no choice."

Duo was not the only one to sigh with relief. The others left to go to their gundams, but he stayed to take her into his arms. For a moment, they said nothing as they held each other. He should never have doubted Trynity. When she raised her head to look at him, he took her face in his hands and he was remembering a starry night and moonlight shimmering on water.

"I love you, Miss Stryfe."

There were tears in her eyes, and he had to blink back his own. "You have to go, Duo."

He released her, then reached into his pocket. "I have something for you, Trynity."

Her hand trembled as she reached out to take the necklace he had given her the night of the Stardust Ball. She held it to her heart.

She didn't have to tell him how she felt.

He could see it in her eyes.

"I will see you in space." He kissed her forehead, turned and then headed to his gundam.

Trynity watched him go, but she did not move until the cable had taken him to the cockpit of the Deathscythe. She turned and saw Wufei waiting at the foot of the Shadowhawk. "You had better go."

"You aren't coming," he stated.

She shook her head. "I can't leave my father."

"When they realize you helped us escape, they will likely kill you."

Trynity already knew that.

He came close to her. "I can't allow that to happen." Wufei smiled at her. "I believe I shall enjoy this immensely."

Trynity didn't even see the blow coming before darkness claimed her.