Chapter 2: Is this for real?

On L4 at the Winner Mansion

Three hours ago, the television was off. There wasn't anything new being said; the networks were all replying the suicide of pilot 01 Heero Yuy. There were interviews of family of those killed by Gundam Pilots. Some stated relief that there was closure to everything, some wanted all the evidence of the pilots' deaths to be realized to prove it was over. Some still wanted the pilots labeled as war criminals even in death, others didn't believe that the pilots were really dead, and still other now felt sorry for the pilots believing their punishment shouldn't have been death. Public reactions were split, most believing the pilots didn't deserve death, and others felt sorry for pilot 01, his suicide leaving a large impact. Political analysts' theories on what would happen next. Some expecting an end to all the war criminal investigations, others said it would only ignite new outrage against war criminals and cause further investigations. But for the six people gathered at the Winner residence, the only thing that mattered was a friend was dead.

There was Duo, the first of the pilots to meet Heero. He had always admired Heero's determination, although he never saw Heero as perfect he knew that Heero always seemed to find his way to what was right in the end. And the man was just flat out indestructible, or at least he had always seemed that way.

Next was Trowa, the one who had watched over Heero when he was in a coma. He probably had a greater admiration for Heero then anyone, he saw Heero make a decision to protect the colonies at the cost of his own life without any hesitation. And now again he had seen Heero choose to give his life, but this time to protect the other pilots.

Quatre was feeling the same pain in his heart that he did when Heero had self detonated Wing. He admired Heero for his kind heart, the cold shell exsisted to aid Heero in his choosen mission; protecting others and without fear taking on anything he thought would help to spare others.

Wufie still had his deep sense of Justice and Honor. He had recently gained a new admiration for Heero when he found how deeply those same principles ran for Heero. Although he was angry and sad over his friends' sacrifice, he probably understood it better then anyone. In truth he had thought of turning himself in if he thought it would help, but a trial would have called to much attention to the Gundam pilots. What Heero had done might have been the only way of stopping the mess that had been growing.

Hilde and Cathrine didn't know Heero as well as the pilots did, but both still head him in high regard. Cathrine who had seen him near death and helped him recover admired how he could seemingly overcome anything. Hilde at first had just admired Heero for being a Gundam Pilot who was fighting for the colonies. Then her admiration grew when she had seen him throw himself in front of Lebria for the sake of peace.

At first they didn't want believe it, thinking that somehow what they witnessed wasn't true, but after calling Dr Sally Po who had identified the body for the preventers, their fears were confirmed. Pilot 01, codename Heero Yuy, the one who had been more then willing to give his life to save others, was dead.

Duo was the first to speak, "I can't believe he did it, how could he just throw away his life like that?"

Trowa responded "It's what Heero always believed in, making sacrifices himself so that others wouldn't have to feel the pain he would."

"He still didn't have to kill himself! They would never have found us out, the only ones who could identify us have all kept quiet and had no reason to give us up."

Quartre now joined the conversation "It may not have been that simple Duo…"

"What are you talking about Quatre? I'm the only one who was even at a real risk, Oz got my photo around, but you and Trowa never got identified by Oz, and Wufie being in the preventers has no problem being hidden from the public eye."

"You weren't the only one at risk, if an effort was made to find us they would go after anyone who was known to have contact with a Gundam Pilot, and who's at the top of that list?"

"So he killed himself to protect Relena? That guy had a strange way of helping people. But why didn't he at least tell anyone about what he was going to do?""

"Because I needed to be sure that if you were around others that your reactions would be spontaneous."

In unison the six of them asked in disbelief "Heero?"