Okay, repost! I personally think this is better than what I originally had out there, but hey whatever you want to say. Almost the end! I~'m gonna go cry, I get very emotional when I finish a story. Well have fun, enjoy, I hope.









Wide blue eyes studied the face in the monitor above him and his friends, taking in everything in less than an instant. Neither side said anything for a second, letting the explosions in the background speak there own story before breaking the rising tension. Quatre peaked a glance all his companions while pushing Duos head back into his lap when he began to open his mouth, the curses starting low and building in sound as his head rose. The others all had their eyes trained up at their unexpected guest, mouths shut firmly while emotions and thoughts roiled in the depths of memories. He himself let his thoughts zip through his pain clouded mind and for just a moment he felt clear and everything added up and finally made sense. Quatre opened his mouth to start the inevitable conversation but a sudden pain in his hand elicited a sharp squeak form him instead. He snatched his hand away from Duo's mouth quickly, letting the boy free from his lap.

" Sorry, private party, you're not invited." Venom laced Duos words.

" Now, now Mr. Maxwell..." Duos growl cut him off momentarily. " I started this party, so I do intend to be there to see it finished."

Quatres eyes blazed, everything he felt, dreamed and hoped for life exploding to the surface and shining like supernovas. This was the gaze that most men who came up against the boy cowed under. Not many had earned the right to that piercing stare, and those that did could see that he is indeed a born leader. Quatre now burned his heart into this gaze. He refused to hate this man, that would do no good to anyone, but this man would see that the hurt he inflicted would not be stood for. They could not die yet. There was still people out there who would and dare to hurt the lives of so many. There was still so much to protect. It was time to take out the trash.

" Mr. Qunize, you manipulated my uncle and his misplaced hate for me so you could meet your own ends. You let your wounded pride and hate drive you, for what? To get revenge on five boys?"

" Winner, you should have been dead by now! What does a man have to do to kill you pilots?" Quinze looked hatefully down on the five boys he felt he had in his grip, ignoring the pointed question.

" Didn't you know Quinzey?" Duo smirked at the mans cringe. " We won't give up until this world is safe from people like you."

" You didn't answer Quatres question, Why?" Heero broke through, lifting his weary head from the wall as his own gaze shot ice at the man on the screen.

" Why dear boys? Because this world is corrupt! Her leaders seek only to serve their own means, they don't care about the people and the land. The Earths people would tear down the colonies with them. Pulling all into one black hole of corruption..."

" Your wrong!" Wufeis voice cut through with beautiful accuracy. " It is only people like you who try to solve our problems by destroying all, even the good that has been achieved, that are dragging us down. What we need are those who will stand up and try truly to help heal those wounds that misguided men like you create. You can't condemn the world for the mistakes of a few."

" We have finally gained some understanding and ground in that healing," Trowa lent his voice up now too, " we cannot allow you to break that."

The man stared down speechlessly at the five upturned faces looking up at him. He felt his conviction slipping away from him, falling away. A seed of guilt and doubt had been sown, but he let his hate take over again. Quinze searched their faces for the fear that should have been there, but he saw none. The blue eyes of the boy in the middle now shone like stars at him, almost like they were asking him to hear them and listen. He quickly closed off his doubts and turned a scathing look at the five. He would at least get this satisfaction.

" Maybe I won't get to cleanse the world, but I will kill you!"

Quatre and the others watched as the screen snapped off, leaving the impression of the maniacal grin lingering on the black surface. They were shocked back into awareness with a series of closer explosions. The monitor fell from the wall to crash at their feet. They had no more time to rest, if they were going to get out it had to be now. Looking over his brothers weary, determined faces Quatre searched for the strength to go on. He thanked whatever god might be listening for letting him meet these people, for letting him find his family in them. He promised himself he would not lose them now. Somehow he would find a way out, for them at least, he had to try. Quinze would be stopped, of that he had no doubt. Lady Une had her own way of getting things done and knowing what seemed impossible for anyone to know. All he had to worry about was the here and now, and if they made it out then they could speed up the real master minds capture.

Pushing himself up to half stand, half lean against the closed door Quatre extended a hand down to Wufei, pulling the other exhausted teen to his feet. The others followed suit and rose to stand beside them. They turned their attention to the locked doors behind them, searching futilely for way to unlock it from their current standpoint. Duo cursed as he proved what he had not wanted to admit before; the doors were computerized from somewhere else in the building, most likely on the other side of the broken rubble that was now between them and the back of the base. All of them refused to acknowledge that this was the end and they were trapped. Hope still resided in them, there was the undying will to survive and go on and they were not giving up.

By this time smoke had began to role into the front hall, gliding around them in a silent dance. Muffled explosions became clearer, bringing along brief flashes of orange light that lit their faces. Breathless coughs stole over them but never did they stop searching, it just wasn't in them to quit, not like this. They kept on until the smoke became to much and the explosions tried to knock them off their weary feet. When the heat became too close and floor shook with each new blast they leaned against each other, lending waning strength just by a touch. In each of their hearts and minds they prayed to whatever deity, to whoever would listen to their last words and thanked them for the time they had, prayed that they would be forgiven for all they had done.

The blasts grew almost deafening. The five of them braced when a unexpected crash in front of them drew their attention up. The doors shook with the pounding from the other side of the destruction. Muffled shouts could be heard from outside, names briefly heard in lulled moments. In an instant all of them were back upright and adrenaline pumping, giving them another moment of strength.

" ...re you....re?" words drifted to them sporadically between blasts.

" Lady?" Duo's strong, deeper voice carried with surprising strength, calling out to the help just a few inches away. " We're here!"

" Duo!?" A loud blast echoed in their ears, tearing Unes words away as soon as they registered. " ...t back!"

Duo's eyes widened at the implication of the word he did hear. Grabbing Heero with one arm and Trowa with another he jumped back and hit the ground in a crouch. He kicked a leg out, catching Wufei in the knee and brining both him Quatre down just a explosions from both ends of the entrance hall rocked their prison. A sudden rumble was all the alert they got before the hall they had passed though minutes before expelled all its debris in a cacophony on noise.



The world was hazy and bright, light pouring in from outside along with a breath of fresh air. Smoke billowed around them, parting in front of them curiously to lazily float out into the colony. Light footsteps echoed in the strangely quiet area now as Duo lifted his head. He didn't understand it at all. He was sure they were dead when that final blast had torn the hallway down, thrown most of it out to other ends of the bases. It had been far enough away that there was a chance, but with the blast from the other end, they should have been crushed. Duo lifted his head and sat up slowly, feeling the others doing the same around him. Blinking hard he gasped as he looked up. His mind whirled and his mouth parted in wonder. There Quatre stood defiantly, arms spread, in front of them. He had blocked them all from the blast from the hall way.

" Quat." Heeros soft voice bore so much as he stood, followed slowly by his friends. He was aware of nothing now, but everything. He didn't know if anyone could understand that, but he was aware of Une and the others and Duos soft gasps and tears of exhaustion, aware of the smoke and the fire, Trowa holding a hand over his eye, the generated breeze, his own steady heartbeat, but most of all he was aware of his best friend standing there with his chin raised, looking down the hall. Outside of this little world he knew nothing, this was his life at the moment. He reached a surprisingly trembling hand out to touch a bare shoulder, letting it rest gently on the smooth skin, now bloodied. A sigh was breathed and the still figure let himself fall into Heeros waiting arms.

As if that broke some sort of spell everything jumped back into action suddenly.

" Quatre!" Everyone rushed to Quatres side as Heero lifted him up into his strong arms and began carrying him away from the building that had started to rumble from deep within the ruins.

" Come on, we have a shuttle waiting in the nearest port." Une hustled everyone out to the street where an old rundown truck stood waiting.

Zechs stuck his head out the drivers side window, waving them on as the ground outside began to shake. On the flat bed of the truck Rashid crouched, arms outstretched to take Quatre the minute Heero got him in range. The two watched the scene in what seemed like slow motion. Flame, smoke and debris as the base exploded behind the running group, the shock wave knocking them off their feet. The old truck groaned against the sudden shaking but kept upright and running. The two on the vehicle could only watch as their friends picked themselves up slowly and limped their way to them.

Heero handed Quatre over to Rashid, letting himself be settled next to him only after pulling an exhausted Wufei up with him. Duo led over to the bed of the truck, helping keep a shaking hand over the boys left eye. With everyone inside and secured Une shot over to the passenger side and jumped in, urging Zechs to hit the gas. By that time the entire colony was being wracked with tremors, making it hard for even the skilled pilot drive.

In a blur of time and motion they were at the broken port and boarding the shuttle home. No one could find it in them to breath easily until the old, abandoned colony that had claimed so many new memories was nothing but an view disappearing from their windows, then gone in a brilliant flash of light. A new beginning perhaps could start now out of that ending.



The shuttle ride home was more relaxed than any of the occupants would have thought it would be. Of the five boys that had been rescued only two were even remotely conscious; Heero too stubborn to sleep until they were back and Trowa refusing to sleep until he had personally seen to it that all the cuts were bandaged on every one of his companions. Heero watched in amusement as Noin tried to make his friend sit still long enough for himself to be taken care of. He let out a small, tried chuckle as Noin pretended to give up and walk away only to pounce on her poor victim a second later. Unfortunately Trowa was suspecting this and she ended up landing on a sleeping Duo, who gave a snort and fell deeper into sleep. Shaking his head Heero turned his eyes to the stars and space outside their little transport, a small smile still in place. In the reflection he could see his own tired and soot streaked face, blue eyes still startlingly bright, a content smile looking curiously not out of place. Beside his reflection another one focused in, Quatres head resting against his shoulder, mouth in a small O as he slept. Wufei could just be seen, sleeping against the window across from them. Heeros smile itched a little higher, hard lines magically softening and eyes crinkling in laughter. He didn't know when this had happened but he wouldn't trade it for anything, and he do everything over again just to be here, home.

" Got ya!"

" Ny, let go Noin!"

Heero turned carefully as not to jar Quatre. What he saw almost sent him into a burst of laughter that probably would have thrown Quatre to his tired bum on the floor. He shook his head as he watched Noin drag Trowa by the ankle over to a chair, grabbing his hair she maneuvered him into the seat and motioned a waiting, and very amused, Rashid over to hold he boy down as she none to gently taped some gauze on his forehead over his left eye. He enjoyed the show for another moment until a light laugh drew his attention down to his shoulder. Quatres laughing eyes greeted him warmly.

" Shouldn't we help him?" Quatre whispered softly.

" Nah," He looked back up at his glaring companion, " He deserves some attention too." Laughing softly together they settled down for the rest of the ride. For some reason Heero found he was unreasonably, to him, tired. With a contented sigh he let himself slip into a lulled sleep.