Chapter 24- Signs of the Final Battle
"Okay, it's all finished. Ya never know when we'll have to fight next, right?" Duo smiled at Deathscythe. "Countin' on ya buddy."
"How come he gets all the attention?" Gilly complained as she leaned against Duo's back.
"I love him more." He replied plainly.
Gilly smiled as she jumped from the platform. "Sure you do."
"I do!" He called after her. He watched her float towards Knightsaber, when something in Sandrock's cockpit caught his attention. He leaped up to the platform, Quatre was moving something around. "Quatre, what are you doing?" He asked.
"Disengaging the Zero system." He looked over to see Heero standing on Zero's platform. "I no longer need this system. Don't worry," He called to Heero, "I can still fight without it."
Heero turned to enter the Zero's cockpit when Duo added, "Heero, you be careful. Just because you can control it, doesn't change the fact that it's a dangerous system."
"You're right." Heero said in his monotone voice.
"I can't believe he agreed." Duo scratched his head in wonder, than turned to Quatre. "He man, I'm famished, let's get somethin' to eat."
"That's fine by me." Quatre smiled.
* * * * *
Duo, I know you're gonna be mad at me, but I'm gonna fight my own way. Hilde told herself as she piloted the shuttle into Libra's docking area.
* * * * *
"How do like this place, Ms. Relena? Do you find it invigorating? There's a tension in the air as people prepare for war." Dorothy asked Relena as they walked down the line of mobile dolls. "Are you worried about Mr. Milliardo? I'm sure you must be considering that his next opponent is Mr. Trieze."
* * * * *
The computer flashed and made beeping noises as Hilde downloaded the much-needed data about Libra. The disk popped out and she grabbed it as fast as she could, and took off.
* * * * *
"Why would my brother start a war with a former friend of his, rather than talking things over?" Relena puzzled aloud to Dorothy.
"Because, that is what they both want to do." Dorothy answered. "It's just that you don't understand how the two of them feel. It's not that it matters that much, though."
"What do you mean?"
Dorothy pointed. "Look at those Ms. Relena."
Relena looked up at the Mercurius and the Vayeate. "What are they?" She asked.
Dorothy told her the names. "They're mobile suits made by the same people who made the Gundams. Their test pilots were Heero Yuy and Trowa Barton."
"What?!"
'They've been reconstructed into mobile dolls, with the combat data of the Gundam pilots installed right into the systems."
"Even Heero's?"
"A Gundam pilot versus a programmed doll, who do you think will win?"
"Heero won't lose."
"Right, he's just so strong, isn't he?"
Relena growled.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to take care. Feel free to look around, Ms. Relena." Dorothy bowed and took off.
Relena sighed pitifully as she looked at the Mercurius. "Heero..."
A girl came up beside her. "Excuse me, can ask you if you know one of the Gundam pilots?" Hilde asked.
"Huh?"
* * * * *
Meanwhile, Canns was sending an attack force towards Peacemillion, but Dorothy was skeptical.
* * * * *
"I see, so you know one of the Gundam pilots, too." Relena asked
"Yes, but I'm not nearly as strong as they are, and I can't fight with them." Hilde had to fight the tears, keep Relena from seeing her misery. "But I'm sure there's something I can do to help them." Perhaps, killing Gilly. She told herself.
"You seem strong enough to me. I, on the other hand can't do anything at all to help them out." Relena sighed.
"Huh?"
"Anyway, it's too dangerous to stay here, you'd better make your get- away."
"Alright! I will go. I really have to deliver this data on Libra." She poked her head out the door, than turned back. "Why not come with me? You want to see that Gundam pilot you know, don't you?"
"I can't." She shook her head. "I have to stay. There are still some things I have to take care of."
"Than I'd better be on my way." Hilde paused. "Wait, what was your name?"
"My name is Relena Peacecraft."
"Well, take care."
"You too."
* * * * *
Alarms sounded.
"Huh?! What's going on?!" Canns yelled.
"A hatch exploded, and a Taurus cruiser's getting away!"
"Someone's trying to escape?!"
"I noticed that the Taurus cruiser is making a B-line straight for Peacemillion." Dorothy noted.
"Send out the Virgos at once."
"That won't be enough!"
"What?!"
"You should send the Mercurius and Vayeate. I'm sure that'll attract the Gundams here."
"I'll give the orders around here! Send out the Mercurius and the Vayeate!"
* * * * *
"Huh? They're after me!" Hilde snarled as she looked over her shoulder. "And I just can't afford to be caught here."
The Taurus cruiser sped up to escape the evil mobile dolls trailing it.
* * * * *
"The repairs to the engine are almost finished." Quatre was saying.
"Oh, yeah?" Heero monotoned.
"That Howard sure is quick when it comes to getting his work done, huh." Duo said cheerfully as Gilly walked into the room. She flashed him a special smile, which he returned, accompanied by a wink. "I'll make my move quickly, too." He said to Trowa, over their game of chess.
Trowa moved a piece to counter Duo. "I wonder, if it'll make up for our delays?"
Gilly move behind Duo while he puzzled. "Now, what move should I be making?" He asked no one in particular.
Wufei stepped up and moved one of Duo's pieces.
"Hm. An excellent play." Trowa smiled.
"Offense is your best defense. If you're only defensive, you limit yourself." Wufei said as though it were as plain as night and day.
"Thanks a lot for the good tip, Wufei." Duo smiled and turned to Heero. "Heero, wanna play?"
Heero seemed deep into his thoughts.
"Huh?" Duo and Quatre shared confused looks.
"What's the matter, Heero?" Quatre asked. "Is something bothering you?"
Alarms sounded.
"Looks like they beat us to it!" Duo sighed.
"Let's go!" Quatre said.
"Right!" Wufei agreed.
Everyone took off, except Duo. Gilly began to, but Duo grabbed her arm to prevent her from going. She gave him a confused look.
"I want you to stay here for this one." He said gently.
"But, Duo..."
"No." He said firmly. "I want you to get some sleep. You look tired, Ms. Baggy eyes."
"I do not have..."
He put his finger to her lips. "I want to be able to enjoy your eyes, not the bags."
"Only for you than. But, you have to do something for me."
"And that is."
She moved in close and laid a kiss next to his ear before whispering, "Be careful."
"Do you really have to ask?" He asked as he moved for the door.
"Yes!" She called after him. She than retired to her room.
* * * * *
The five pilots raced towards the battle as shooting stars. "Enemy mobile dolls, Virgo troops confirmed. Proceeding with mission." Heero watched the data.
The battle began and the five pilots fought with all they had, destroying one mobile doll after another.
"The Peacemillion assault force has entered combat with the Gundams." A White Fang soldier reported.
"And of the Mercurius and Vayeate?" Canns asked.
"They've almost got the target in firing range."
"Alright, we have to shoot down the Taurus cruiser before it reaches the Gundams!"
The shot hit Hilde's suit.
"Ugh! Only a bit further to go! There's no way I'll let you defeat me now!" She returned the fire. "Huh?! It's those suits!" Her right wing received a hit.
"There's just no end to them!" Duo sneered as he sliced through the assaulting Virgo.
"Peacemillion! Peacemillion do you read me?!" His radio transmitted.
"Hey, that sounds like..." Duo began.
"Please, answer me! Duo...!" Hilde called.
"Hilde!"
"Duo! Go find her!" Quatre called.
"And leave you guys?!"
"Hurry! We'll take care of everything here!"
Pieces of the suit broken and a trickle of blood ran down Hilde's forehead.
"Watch! I'll make it!" Hilde cried as her suit became worse. "Hey! It's not over yet! I'll get this data to Duo and the others! Just watch me! I'm not going down!"
The Vayeate fired its beam cannon at her, and she was sure she was going to die, but the giant black bat protected her from the deadly light. The light died.
"Hilde, you still alive?" Duo called.
"Uh, yeah, somehow or other." She managed a smile.
"Stay back, I'll take care of these guys!"
"Duo! Be careful!"
He took a swing with his scythe, but the Mercurius blocked.
"What?! What the hell's goin' on?! They're way too strong just to be mobile dolls."
"Duo! Those mobile dolls aren't normal. They're programmed with data taken from you Gundam pilots."
"Are you sure?!" Suddenly, he could see the fighting styles were Heero and Trowa's! "You've gotta be kiddin' me! So, this is like fightin' the two of 'em at once! Even so, they're pretty good copies, but they're still just dolls to me! You don't seriously expect a Gundam pilot to lose to dolls!"
With several mighty swings of his beam scythe, Duo hacked up the dolls.
"You've met your match! Next time you'd be better off programming in my data!" He turned to the busted up Taurus suit. "Hilde! Hey Hilde! Say something! Hey! Hilde!"
"Duo...? I'm glad your safe, Duo."
"Yeah, but you're in terrible shape."
With great effort, she pulled the disk from her pocket. "I brought you guys this data on Libra, please, use it."
"But, how come? Why'd you risk your life?"
"Because, I just, I wanted to, Duo."
"Jeez, you're a stupid fool!"
"I figured you'd say something like that!"
* * * * *
The bed with Hilde on it rolled into the medical ward.
"We can't let the data she brought us be put to waste." Quatre sighed.
"Yeah." Duo agreed, he turned to Heero. "Heero. Relena Peacecraft is on Libra."
"She is?"
"Yeah, Hilde said she met her there."
Relena. Heero sighed.
* * * * *
Heero.
* * * * *
Gilly awoke with a start. She gasped for air. It did not come. The dreams were back, and the nightmare was starting again. Since she had got her memory back, the evil dreams had started again, and the beginning of her death, as well.
"Okay, it's all finished. Ya never know when we'll have to fight next, right?" Duo smiled at Deathscythe. "Countin' on ya buddy."
"How come he gets all the attention?" Gilly complained as she leaned against Duo's back.
"I love him more." He replied plainly.
Gilly smiled as she jumped from the platform. "Sure you do."
"I do!" He called after her. He watched her float towards Knightsaber, when something in Sandrock's cockpit caught his attention. He leaped up to the platform, Quatre was moving something around. "Quatre, what are you doing?" He asked.
"Disengaging the Zero system." He looked over to see Heero standing on Zero's platform. "I no longer need this system. Don't worry," He called to Heero, "I can still fight without it."
Heero turned to enter the Zero's cockpit when Duo added, "Heero, you be careful. Just because you can control it, doesn't change the fact that it's a dangerous system."
"You're right." Heero said in his monotone voice.
"I can't believe he agreed." Duo scratched his head in wonder, than turned to Quatre. "He man, I'm famished, let's get somethin' to eat."
"That's fine by me." Quatre smiled.
* * * * *
Duo, I know you're gonna be mad at me, but I'm gonna fight my own way. Hilde told herself as she piloted the shuttle into Libra's docking area.
* * * * *
"How do like this place, Ms. Relena? Do you find it invigorating? There's a tension in the air as people prepare for war." Dorothy asked Relena as they walked down the line of mobile dolls. "Are you worried about Mr. Milliardo? I'm sure you must be considering that his next opponent is Mr. Trieze."
* * * * *
The computer flashed and made beeping noises as Hilde downloaded the much-needed data about Libra. The disk popped out and she grabbed it as fast as she could, and took off.
* * * * *
"Why would my brother start a war with a former friend of his, rather than talking things over?" Relena puzzled aloud to Dorothy.
"Because, that is what they both want to do." Dorothy answered. "It's just that you don't understand how the two of them feel. It's not that it matters that much, though."
"What do you mean?"
Dorothy pointed. "Look at those Ms. Relena."
Relena looked up at the Mercurius and the Vayeate. "What are they?" She asked.
Dorothy told her the names. "They're mobile suits made by the same people who made the Gundams. Their test pilots were Heero Yuy and Trowa Barton."
"What?!"
'They've been reconstructed into mobile dolls, with the combat data of the Gundam pilots installed right into the systems."
"Even Heero's?"
"A Gundam pilot versus a programmed doll, who do you think will win?"
"Heero won't lose."
"Right, he's just so strong, isn't he?"
Relena growled.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to take care. Feel free to look around, Ms. Relena." Dorothy bowed and took off.
Relena sighed pitifully as she looked at the Mercurius. "Heero..."
A girl came up beside her. "Excuse me, can ask you if you know one of the Gundam pilots?" Hilde asked.
"Huh?"
* * * * *
Meanwhile, Canns was sending an attack force towards Peacemillion, but Dorothy was skeptical.
* * * * *
"I see, so you know one of the Gundam pilots, too." Relena asked
"Yes, but I'm not nearly as strong as they are, and I can't fight with them." Hilde had to fight the tears, keep Relena from seeing her misery. "But I'm sure there's something I can do to help them." Perhaps, killing Gilly. She told herself.
"You seem strong enough to me. I, on the other hand can't do anything at all to help them out." Relena sighed.
"Huh?"
"Anyway, it's too dangerous to stay here, you'd better make your get- away."
"Alright! I will go. I really have to deliver this data on Libra." She poked her head out the door, than turned back. "Why not come with me? You want to see that Gundam pilot you know, don't you?"
"I can't." She shook her head. "I have to stay. There are still some things I have to take care of."
"Than I'd better be on my way." Hilde paused. "Wait, what was your name?"
"My name is Relena Peacecraft."
"Well, take care."
"You too."
* * * * *
Alarms sounded.
"Huh?! What's going on?!" Canns yelled.
"A hatch exploded, and a Taurus cruiser's getting away!"
"Someone's trying to escape?!"
"I noticed that the Taurus cruiser is making a B-line straight for Peacemillion." Dorothy noted.
"Send out the Virgos at once."
"That won't be enough!"
"What?!"
"You should send the Mercurius and Vayeate. I'm sure that'll attract the Gundams here."
"I'll give the orders around here! Send out the Mercurius and the Vayeate!"
* * * * *
"Huh? They're after me!" Hilde snarled as she looked over her shoulder. "And I just can't afford to be caught here."
The Taurus cruiser sped up to escape the evil mobile dolls trailing it.
* * * * *
"The repairs to the engine are almost finished." Quatre was saying.
"Oh, yeah?" Heero monotoned.
"That Howard sure is quick when it comes to getting his work done, huh." Duo said cheerfully as Gilly walked into the room. She flashed him a special smile, which he returned, accompanied by a wink. "I'll make my move quickly, too." He said to Trowa, over their game of chess.
Trowa moved a piece to counter Duo. "I wonder, if it'll make up for our delays?"
Gilly move behind Duo while he puzzled. "Now, what move should I be making?" He asked no one in particular.
Wufei stepped up and moved one of Duo's pieces.
"Hm. An excellent play." Trowa smiled.
"Offense is your best defense. If you're only defensive, you limit yourself." Wufei said as though it were as plain as night and day.
"Thanks a lot for the good tip, Wufei." Duo smiled and turned to Heero. "Heero, wanna play?"
Heero seemed deep into his thoughts.
"Huh?" Duo and Quatre shared confused looks.
"What's the matter, Heero?" Quatre asked. "Is something bothering you?"
Alarms sounded.
"Looks like they beat us to it!" Duo sighed.
"Let's go!" Quatre said.
"Right!" Wufei agreed.
Everyone took off, except Duo. Gilly began to, but Duo grabbed her arm to prevent her from going. She gave him a confused look.
"I want you to stay here for this one." He said gently.
"But, Duo..."
"No." He said firmly. "I want you to get some sleep. You look tired, Ms. Baggy eyes."
"I do not have..."
He put his finger to her lips. "I want to be able to enjoy your eyes, not the bags."
"Only for you than. But, you have to do something for me."
"And that is."
She moved in close and laid a kiss next to his ear before whispering, "Be careful."
"Do you really have to ask?" He asked as he moved for the door.
"Yes!" She called after him. She than retired to her room.
* * * * *
The five pilots raced towards the battle as shooting stars. "Enemy mobile dolls, Virgo troops confirmed. Proceeding with mission." Heero watched the data.
The battle began and the five pilots fought with all they had, destroying one mobile doll after another.
"The Peacemillion assault force has entered combat with the Gundams." A White Fang soldier reported.
"And of the Mercurius and Vayeate?" Canns asked.
"They've almost got the target in firing range."
"Alright, we have to shoot down the Taurus cruiser before it reaches the Gundams!"
The shot hit Hilde's suit.
"Ugh! Only a bit further to go! There's no way I'll let you defeat me now!" She returned the fire. "Huh?! It's those suits!" Her right wing received a hit.
"There's just no end to them!" Duo sneered as he sliced through the assaulting Virgo.
"Peacemillion! Peacemillion do you read me?!" His radio transmitted.
"Hey, that sounds like..." Duo began.
"Please, answer me! Duo...!" Hilde called.
"Hilde!"
"Duo! Go find her!" Quatre called.
"And leave you guys?!"
"Hurry! We'll take care of everything here!"
Pieces of the suit broken and a trickle of blood ran down Hilde's forehead.
"Watch! I'll make it!" Hilde cried as her suit became worse. "Hey! It's not over yet! I'll get this data to Duo and the others! Just watch me! I'm not going down!"
The Vayeate fired its beam cannon at her, and she was sure she was going to die, but the giant black bat protected her from the deadly light. The light died.
"Hilde, you still alive?" Duo called.
"Uh, yeah, somehow or other." She managed a smile.
"Stay back, I'll take care of these guys!"
"Duo! Be careful!"
He took a swing with his scythe, but the Mercurius blocked.
"What?! What the hell's goin' on?! They're way too strong just to be mobile dolls."
"Duo! Those mobile dolls aren't normal. They're programmed with data taken from you Gundam pilots."
"Are you sure?!" Suddenly, he could see the fighting styles were Heero and Trowa's! "You've gotta be kiddin' me! So, this is like fightin' the two of 'em at once! Even so, they're pretty good copies, but they're still just dolls to me! You don't seriously expect a Gundam pilot to lose to dolls!"
With several mighty swings of his beam scythe, Duo hacked up the dolls.
"You've met your match! Next time you'd be better off programming in my data!" He turned to the busted up Taurus suit. "Hilde! Hey Hilde! Say something! Hey! Hilde!"
"Duo...? I'm glad your safe, Duo."
"Yeah, but you're in terrible shape."
With great effort, she pulled the disk from her pocket. "I brought you guys this data on Libra, please, use it."
"But, how come? Why'd you risk your life?"
"Because, I just, I wanted to, Duo."
"Jeez, you're a stupid fool!"
"I figured you'd say something like that!"
* * * * *
The bed with Hilde on it rolled into the medical ward.
"We can't let the data she brought us be put to waste." Quatre sighed.
"Yeah." Duo agreed, he turned to Heero. "Heero. Relena Peacecraft is on Libra."
"She is?"
"Yeah, Hilde said she met her there."
Relena. Heero sighed.
* * * * *
Heero.
* * * * *
Gilly awoke with a start. She gasped for air. It did not come. The dreams were back, and the nightmare was starting again. Since she had got her memory back, the evil dreams had started again, and the beginning of her death, as well.