I know Zero is out of character, but it would be hard to write him in character for this situation.  Though, this is how I can see him acting under the circumstances. 

And if anybody's wondering why Teela lived five-hundred more years when she said her body was failing her—DON'T WORRY!  ^__^;;  I've taken care of matters  *evil cackle*

Yes, I do capitalize "Pilot, Repairer, Observer, and Candidate."  Some people do it and some don't, just depends on how you view it.  See last chapter's agonizingly long author's note for full details. 

'' Anything in single quotation marks is a thought

Telepathic speech, singing, and narration are in italics

Within The Goddess

            Zero stared at the Ingrid; its beauty lay silent drifting in space.  It was not destroyed, but the inside seemed to be lost beyond recovery.  Gentle tears, filled even with hate, trickled down Zero's face, "Teela…W-why did y-you go", Zero said through choked sobs.  "Damn it!"  Zero said as he slammed his fist into the darkness of the Ingrid.  "Take me instead.  Even though, I could not help, why didn't she let me?  I will fight for her until the very end!" 

            In the cockpit of Eemna-Leena crying over his mother…Wondering of all the pains of the universe, why does the world do this to us?  For that is the way the human soul shall turn:  on and on in a never-ceasing spiral of sadness and sorrow.  For that is the will of the universe.   

            "Zero!  Zero!"  The corybantic Repairer raced around her control panel, checking to see the status of her partner's life.  Yet, with all the effort, nothing came to her avail.  "Are you all right?"  Zero's Repairer frantically raced over and over checking the Ingrid.  "Zero!  Why won't you respond?  Idiot!" Kereema broke down crying onto the floor, her hands beside her, unmoving.  The Repairer longed for someone to comfort her, anyone.  This is the life of the Repairer:  longing hope and despair without comfort. 

            Zero did not answer Kereema, for her voice fading away, as he entered another realm.  Elia glanced upon him, placing her hand on his shoulder and then embracing him.  Zero felt the heavenly touch of the Goddess, her warm hands comforting him.  "You will be with her now." 

            "Teela, is gone though", Zero mourned.  "I cannot feel her light, the aura of a Goddess.  Where is she?"  Zero's questions lay unanswered in the crepuscular light of the Ingrid.   

            At last the Goddess spoke, releasing her words.  "You will now be one with her, again.  Embrace her as you would me.  I shall show you."  Elia's light flooded the Ingrid and released the visions.   

            Zero seemed to be far away from his Ingrid, yet he was still inside.  Seeing through his eyes he saw himself as the Pilot of Errn-Laties.  He saw her next to the White Ingrid.  "Kizna!"  Zero's exclamation and joy were cut short by the Goddess. 

            "It is not her", responded Elia sadly.  The sepulchral look on her face revealed much more to Zero.  Was this the future of what could have happened in the past? 

            "Kereema?"  Zero had never even noticed the resemblance between them.  It was uncanny; they looked alike with such certainty that it took Zero only a split-second to figure it out. 

            "Controlling my dream from within?  How could I, it belongs to her", Zero said.  "The Ingrid is not mine, it never shall be." 

            "You will be the one to save us.  You must, I've known since that first time we met.  We saw the same, we now have become one."  Elia stood there embracing Zero her touch flowing through the Ingrid comforting him.  

            Courrs remained in his Ingrid watching over Zero.  He grieved for Zero, even if he had not lost anything himself, he felt as if he had lost Zero in a way; their bonds of friendship nearly destroyed.  'He kept saying that he would lead them, what did he mean?'  Courrs suddenly felt touched by something, not by a human though.  He glanced back seeing nothing, but he was sure he felt something. 

            "Do not be afraid, I can feel you", said the being.  It was the Goddess, Esala, the one of the Red.  Her hair direct, not flowing as the other Goddesses' hair did and her elusiveness finally revealed.     

           "You are…"  Courrs' eyes faded off staring that celestial being.  "A Goddess…  

           "Come."  She led Courrs far away, into the depths of space.  The Goddess' straight-forwardness was almost overpowering, something that man could not stop nor control.      

           Courrs saw a colony, a distant one, being attacked by Victim.  He saw the Ingrids come, their magnificence shining over all.  They surrounded the Victim; each celestial body clinging to another.  A transcendental power shook the area:  the cry of Victim fading as it was sent beyond death and the shattering of the colony wall.  Many bodies were sent forth into death outside the walls of the colony, but one boy floated toward the White Ingrid.  Then Courrs saw the White Ingrid:  her hands flowing out to that one body, that one boy all alone…Yet, Errn-Laties' hands found him out of all the others.  "Zero…"

            'Life moved forward:  the will of a boy.  The death of a star.  One life, towards two, two lives towards one.  Existing plainly for no one to see, we move on.  Through the confusing entanglement of thoughts, dreams, and unshared memories.  We lay here, waiting.  The sending, the waiting, to it all again must we confront this.  Yet…we do not know how…'  The tears, the ones not like human tears, airy and soft—living tears.  The sorrow of a Goddess; a sorrow that cannot be comforted….

            'Why do I weep?  I was not known to her…yet, unknowing sadness overwhelms me.  The one who found me, and now, I've lost her…' 

           "You, now see what I see, we shall be his protectors", spoke Esala.  "He cannot win this war alone; he needs people to live for."  With that the Goddess left Courrs all alone in the darkness of the Ingrid.   

           "Was that him?  Is that why he must fight?  So long ago though that happened to him, so long ago…"  Courrs now stood in the Ingrid, alone—all alone.  They were lone warriors in this massive universe, against something so small. 

           Eemna-Leena stood there, unmoving, gazing upon the White Ingrid.  Eemna-Leena and Tella-Kallisto stayed as if each guarding something close to their heart.  The blood-red Ingrid stood there as if it were a samurai guarding his emperor and empress from the face of death.  The Blue Ingrid stood up glancing towards the Courrs in his Ingrid.  "We can go now, Courrs."  Cradling Errn-Laties in his arms Zero and Courrs advanced towards GIS.

           "To all Goddess Repairers:  The final three Ingrids will be docking, please proceed to the docking bay immediately.  Repairers of Reneglein-Klein, Agia-Keameia, and Luria-Karrou, you will proceed with the maintenance of Errn-Laties", announced the speaker.  The Repairers just stopped, staring in the direction of the bay, as if fearing the entrance of the Ingrids.  

           "Is it what I thought?  Is she dead…?  Zero…"  Kereema ran as fast as she could toward the docking bay.  She had been waiting his return nervously, what had happened on the battlefield.  "Why was Zero like that?  His voice, so distant—so many questions I don't have time to answer."

            Arriving in the docking bay Kereema witnessed Eemna-Leena carrying Errn-Laties.  It was a sight to behold; Kereema was awed greatly.  Errn-Laties' body was almost human-looking.  Enigmatic it was:  The body of the Ingrid, fluid and moving.  All the metalwork vanished and it was if she was one superficial human being, condemned by God to live in space forever as his angel.     

            Everyone aboard GIS stopped and looked upon them as if looking the entrance of their king and his queen.  "Zero…"  Then arrived Tella-Kallisto, who had saddened and grave look upon her face.  Kereema felt a hand on her shoulder, which seemed to belong to Marou.  Kereema grasped that hand; letting their friendship take over all. 

           "They are safe, and that is all that matters.  Go to him," chimed Marou.  She watched as Kereema ran from her, the parting of friends.  

           Zero laid the White Ingrid inside her own compartment and then was taken to his.  The Repairers rushed to the side of Errn-Laties.  "Do not enter the sanctuary of the Goddess", boomed Zero from Eemna-Leena.  Not wanting to anger him, they backed off but still standing near.

            Kereema rushed to the Blue Ingrid.  The fluid motion of the cockpit opening seemed to take forever.  Zero entered into this world for the first time; his skin feeling the strange air. Kereema seemed to glance upon a somewhat different Zero, his face, it seemed much wiser and matured.  He greeted her and then she began to embrace him.  Zero, as if almost a little embarrassed, hugged her back. 

            Kereema, fearing he would leave him, let him go; though, she wanted him to stay in her arms forever.  Her violet eyes, wavering as almost in tears, screamed to Zero. Then she slapped him. "You could have died!" Tears began to glisten down her face, trickling down the floor. He just stared at her as if he wanted nothing more than to go.   She ran off not wanting to look back.

            Zero felt the mark on his face, the crimson and painful mark.  It didn't hurt him physically, but deep down he ached.  He wished her back; but he had her right there though.  He wanted her to come back to him.  He wanted to feel like it was Kizna, right there.  Kizna's cheerful voice, it was as if she was his closest companion, his sister.  Yet, she was lost—lost beyond all hopes of seeing her again. 

           Zero began walking slowly to the Ingrid, he thought about everything in his life, it hurt him almost too much; he wished to go back to those halcyon as a young brash Candidate.  For those were the days of his joy, happiness, and triumph.   

           All the Pilots watched him grow nearer to the Ingrid; they seemed almost overanxious to see his next move.  Anticipation danced upon all their faces; all except Courrs who had long since risen from his Ingrid.  He was staring off to the side, as if trying not to watch. 

           The pain of unknowing, the pain of regret, the pain of want, they pound at our hearts.  Yet, we repress them, not wanting them.  Even with this repression, they surface, and control our lives…for we are imperfect. 

            The Ingrid now moved for him, opening up almost as if letting loose its heart to him.  Teela's body lay peaceful and untouched, as if standing in time.  Zero laid his hands onto her pale and fragile to lift her.  He raised her, carrying her in his arms.  Walking past the ranks of Pilots and Repairers he proceeded to his Ingrid.  Still holding her in his arms her teal hair flowing past him gracefully and her body forever young, the body of a Goddess.   

           He could still feel her cold regrets, unshared secrets, and worst of all:  The pain in her heart.  She had to forsake her own child for the life of Zion, even though she was the living, breathing soul of Zion.  'Hiead, why did you do this?'  Lachrymal thoughts crept through Zero's mind, all the thoughts of her.   

            Elia seemed to sense his approach and opened the Ingrid.  Zero entered, the liquid flowing over him, carrying Teela with him.  One could not enter another's Ingrid, unless that other person was a Goddess.   

            'How can two be allowed in there, unless… ', Kereema thought.  'Is she really the one I've dreamed about?  The one that I heard could bring an end?  The one we all dream about seeing and the one who will save Zion…or is it him…? 

            The Pilots and Repairers watched the still Ingrid, unaware what was happening inside.  Their faces and minds perplexed, but what did they know?  What did they know?  

           Courrs had long since emerged from his Ingrid and had stood there, watching Zero carrying Teela.  'Had she been that important to him, all along?'  She had seemed so cold to the others.  Her voice harbored no warmth he could feel; the way she piloted with such hatred towards Victim was with such overwhelming pathos.  Courrs could feel hate emanating from her; he shuddered at the thought of knowing how Rells felt. 

            Even though he had once seen her talking to the Ingrid, asking it if killing the Victim was the right thing to do.  He thought about his judgments towards her, but he then seemed to realize how little he knew about her.  Zero had never mentioned anything about her; she seemed a mystery to all.  He once heard her call him, "Rei", the tone of her voice seemed almost motherly that time.  He only wished for Zero to come back, it seemed his mind swayed away from him at times.  All Zero's energy went into his Ingrid, to the death of Victim.  It would never end to him though, the fighting, would it ever stop?

           In a room overlooking Zion, Teela sat beside an ailing Kuro his deathbed.  "H-how…long will…y-you be here, Teela?" croaked the old man's voice barely audible and faltering.  His face fading from the light of this universe.    

           "I will guide him until that day, the day in which I will unite…", spoke Teela softly as her hand gently graced the sides of his face.  Teela's hair flowed gently down her back.  In the light you could perceive Teela in her full, being.  Something rarely seen; something never seen; something secret; something that cannot be seen.      

            "Tell him—tell him before I go, tell him of me and of his noble mother, a Goddess…" Those were the last words he spoke leaving her. 

           "I will, my dear, Kuro Rivould… I will."  The view of Zion gleamed in her eyes reflecting of what her life stood for.  "Is this all I protect, must I have the burden of their souls?"

           'I long to be with him, but I cannot.  His heart goes elsewhere flowing, its kindness to his loved ones.  His pain, I have never felt; he's been here longer than any of us can begin to fathom.  The losses he would never speak of, not even to Courrs.  I once saw him singing to you, Eemna-Leena.  That song was beautiful; I stood there listening to it, the sweet melody.  He mouthed something to me before he left, I think it was "Kizna", I didn't catch it all.  Zero what are you hiding?'  Kereema stood there with one hand on the Ingrid caressing it gently.

           The two, Zero and Teela, floated gracefully in the inner-sanctum of the Ingrid.  Zero held Teela next to him.  "Mother I have found you at last, but in the same way I lost you.  I cannot feel you anymore, the warmth has flowed somewhere.  Elsewhere….

           "Do not fear, her soul is not lost, Rei", said Elia suddenly appearing.  "Your mother may appear in front of us, but her soul lingers inside of the Ingrid.  You must not stay here long…"   

            "Elia…  I must leave here and enter hers, but I cannot find her…", said Zero.  "What I once felt

           "United with the Goddess Teela has her true form.  It is what she was longing for, for she spoke of it to me.  Her last chance…", said Elia with a hint of pride in her voice. 

            "What—what do you mean?"  Zero's confusion was obvious.  

           "Enter the Goddess within the Goddess to find her, the White Heavenly Body.  I must leave you now, Rei.  With those words she left him, fading away from view.

           "Mother…"  Zero lie inside Eemna-Leena with Teela stretched gently over him.  The gossamer connection-gel flowed over them, but Zero did not heed the distractions of the "outer world."  

           It had been long since Zero had entered his Ingrid for the first time, very long.  He loved it his first time in an Ingrid.  He was the first one to make it to a Pilot, as the others were very far behind.  He remembered piloting with the former Senior Candidates, now Pilots.  They came and went, but he remembered most vividly when all the Candidates he had remained during his day as a Candidate, joined him. 

            Time seemed to pass very slowly with them, he had enjoyed it very much being with them.  He once saw Clay though who had a much deepened and more mature look to his face.  'Clay didn't concern himself with us, it seemed he made an effort to avoid us.  Was he jealous? No, not Clay he never had any ability at all, it would not be like him to be jealous of something he didn't have.  That time though when they spoke to me, it was right after Yamagi and Roose became Pilots.

            Arriving at GIS the Ingrids docked, fresh from battle.  Zero departed from his Ingrid.  Yamagi and Roose had joined him at last as Pilots, working as one.  They returned and the two emerged and went towards their separate quarters on GIS.  He stayed behind watching Kizna check the Ingrid.  Zero then noticed her beckon to him "Rei", she used his real name, he wondered why. 

            Teela led him to a room where the view of Zion illuminated the room. 

            Zero watched her hair flow, its beauty dangling in the light.  Like a careless spider crawling through atramentous water. 

            Teela then began to speak of what he was, a Zenoah.  She told him his EX would last forever; he would be a Pilot until the end of Victim; the secret of the Ingrid; the truth of his father.  The truth of everything. 

            Then, dolefully, she said, "You are my son, the son Goddess."  The words neither faltering nor stuttering as they were uttered flawlessly from her mouth. 

            Zero stared into her eyes, the eyes which were of his.  Her body, which was of his; his EX; his life; everything from her; Zero wanted to reach out towards her but he knew she was not what he wanted.  All this time…dreaming, hoping. 

            Thoughts and dreams crossed Zero's mind.  The first time he had seen her:  His colony…The White Ingrid…The Victim…The hands.  The memory, though old, was pounding fresh within his mind.  Every minute, every second, relived.  He had known he felt something within the Ingrid when it touched him.  It was her. 

            The other side of Zero's mind raced, not knowing what to say, not knowing what to think.  The confusion pulled, it tore, and it hurt.  He wanted to yell at her for not telling him; he wanted to hide in fear; he wanted to embrace her and let his dream end.  Finally, Zero ran.  His legs moving along the cold floor, his breath ragged, and his mind in a lachrymal state.   

           Zero's running came to a halt when he clumsily collided into Clay, the now Observer, along the way.  "Zero!"  A startled shout came from the veiled figure.  The startled chocolate-haired boy looked up seeing the former Candidate in full Observer uniform. 

           "Clay", Zero said softly.  Zero turned back to notice Clay, dressed in his black and white Observer ensemble.  Somehow he looked more mature, the eyes of the Observer showed this.

            Clay studied the torn expression on Zero's the face.  Zero was a dead giveaway:  The almost-near-tears expression, the huffing, and the fast breathing.  Clay asked, but not without faltering to avoid embarrassment.    

           "Do you ever wonder what you are, Clay?"  This question surprised Clay; he didn't know what to make of it.  It was as if it was near-impossible to answer but the answer should be right in front of you.

           "I cannot say I have ever had those thoughts, Zero", Clay replied.  "I am just a mere Observer, not one to think, but observe.  We are watchers of the heavens not "thinkers" of them."   

           "What am I Clay?"  Zero's question held more than simple answer, possibly an unfathomable one.   

           "Zero you are a being of perfection; I am but an imperfect human.  You are a Pilot.  And I?  Just an Observer.  You are brave.  And I? A coward.  I do not wish to fight your battles.  I can only watch, and I will do that until everything is done and gone", Clay's voice sounded full and mature.   

           "…Do you mean a Zenoah?  I was told once I was one and he was told as well…"  Zero's voice traveled off, Clay wouldn't inquire about that, he already knew.       

           "Yes, humans who are anatomically perfect in every aspect, you will live on forever.  Now I understand when we were Candidates why you didn't have automic", said Clay.  "He explained it to me, with his last few days."

            "What will happen to you?"  Zero knew the answer, yet somehow he needed to hear it.  Dying was the way humans went…   

            That "He" lingered in Zero's mind.  Subconsciously it floated, not wanting to interfere with his thoughts.  It left Zero wanting more, but he didn't want me more.

            "Me?  I will fade from view only to be remembered as an Observer of GIS", said Clay gravely.  Clay looked down at the floor, almost scoffing at his imperfection 

           "Clay Cliff Fortran, promise me you will not fade, promise me", Zero's voice was full of strength.   

            "Zero, I cannot, the uncertainty of the future is something I know, I couldn't, and I will promise you, Zero that I will watch over you till I must leave here", said Clay with all the might he could muster.  Even though he feared dying, he knew it would come—and on swift wings.   

           Zero stared at him, their eyes seeming to make the promise.  Zero walked away admiring the view of Zion.  Newfound knowledge of a friend echoing in his mind. 

           The decision came at last, 'I must emerge from here and enter the White Goddess.  She is waiting for me…'  Zero's body moved toward the only path out of this mechanical being.  All of time flowing behind me.  All his dreams rushing toward him. 

           Kereema heard the noise recognizing it almost instantly. 'He's coming out at last'. 

            The cockpit opened to reveal Zero still holding Teela in his arms.  The Pilots watched as he carried Teela back into her Ingrid.  Once again he made the walk to the White Ingrid.  Glancing back, he noticed Courrs staring at him in a way that made him feel worried as if something would go wrong. 

            The flowing motion of the cockpit met him, beckoning to him.  The Pilots seemed aghast as he entered the White Ingrid.  He had never been in the Ingrid, but there was a feeling he couldn't get rid of, a feeling lurking inside him.  Then, he felt her behind him, a warm pair of hands around his neck.  He glanced behind him to see Teela; she gleamed with light filling the Ingrid.  All the Pilots and Repairers stared in wonder as the White Ingrid emanated with light filling GIS. 

            "Warmth upon my cheek, the warmth I need to feel, the warmth of a mother.  Why did you leave me, Teela?"  The question ricocheted from Zero's mouth and onto his lips.  Eagerness consuming him; happiness eating at him; hope flowing all over him.   

           "Rei, that form was no longer needed; I am now one with the Ingrid.  I still need you, though.  Your mind, Rei, it strays from the path—the path of a dream.  I felt that in your days as a Candidate, your ambition kept you going.  Now, Rei, you have achieved your dream—the dream of your life.  Since that day I held you close to me, the closest I ever held you.  Rei, you have never needed me…never.  I wanted you to need me.  That was selfish…." Teela said, gravely disappointed at her past     

           "How can I control the Ingrid, it is not mine, its soul belongs to you, it is your life.  I am just a mere man, not capable of piloting this immense source of strength and hope", asserted Zero.   

           "Rei, I am its soul, now this Ingrid belongs to you, and, now, I will be with you, never parting from your side.  Your dreams, hopes, and love now await you, Rei.  Go to them, they need you", said Teela softly.   

           "I cannot leave you, though", replied Zero.  His eyes communicated more than his words, it was if they were each a tiny thought crying to her.   

           "I will always be here.  My home is the Ingrid, now.  Now go, Rei, my son."  Teela embraced him once more letting the warmth flow to his body.

           Zero left the Goddess, emerging from the chassis of the Ingrid.  He walked, holding Teela upon his arms, close to him.  Her body glowed with an intensity of light too great to look at for the Pilots.  Carrying her in his arms, he walked slowly to the giant tree growing inside of GIS.  He laid her body down next to it their fate seemed almost entwined, as were the branches of it; they both had been there since the beginning. 

            "May your soul forever grow within me and may this tree of Zion bring hope to the people."  Bowing his head slightly, Zero looked upon her and then looked silently towards the branches glowing with the light of Zion.  "I will be the one, the savior Zion."

AN:  Well, that certainly didn't come out how I had expected it to  O.o;  Next chapter:  The official funeral of Teela and GIS, GOA and even the officials of Zion (well they don't live on Zion) are invited; Zero's first time in Errn-Laties; Kereema get to check out Errn-Laties; and the new Pilot of Eemna-Leena comes to GIS!