Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing and…let's see…rereads her story to see what she should disclaim Oh, I still don't claim to know anything about Indian tradition…and…I don't like Treize so that's why I did what I did in the story…XD

Chapter 53

"Sayla, are you coming? Please hurry up before your sisters decide to give me a sponge bath!" Quatre called out, keeping an eye on the Indian women giggling and chattering away as they milled about and glanced at him. One ran into the room with a bucket of water and a rag, calling to the others and then pointing to him. He swallowed hard and began to sweat, saying with a squeak, "Please?" He heard a jingle and turned to see a beautiful girl walk out, white veils flowing around her and dancing as she floated to him. He blinked in surprise and said, "S. . .Sayla? Aren't those-"

"I know, come on!" She said, grabbing his hand taking off toward the front door while shouting commands to her sisters. They stopped in the middle of the Town Square for a breather, Quatre gasping mainly because his heart was already racing before the mad dash.

"Why. . .are you wearing. . .ceremonial veils? Who's getting. . .married?" Quatre asked, knowing the style of clothing from living with the Maganacs so long.

"You know your traditions pretty well but not the language. . .how odd. . ." Sayla giggled, walking around slowly as she waited for him to catch his breath.

"Well, I used to live with the Maganacs when I was younger, off and on I would visit because my father lived on the Colonies and my home was mainly there. I was taught a lot of the customs by my friends, Rashid was my role model, even if he is over 6 feet tall!" They laughed and Sayla said, "These. . .Maganacs. . .are they Indian too?"

"Mostly, they're Arabian. . .if that makes a difference. I believe Abdul is Indian. . .Auda might be too. . .I don't know about Ahmad. . ." Quatre would have went on but Sayla interrupted and said, "You have a lot of friends, Quatre Winner. . .I envy you." With a smile, he said, "I don't know where I would be without my friends! Most likely dead. . .in this war you can't get very far without allies backing you up."

"Then remind me to thank your friends when I meet them. . ." Sayla grinned. With a blush, Quatre said, "Well, I'm all better now, probably should be heading out there to fight the last signs of OZ in the region. . ." Sayla stepped up to him and said, "Not without me, you don't!"

"Of course not. . .you can help get the civilians to safety so they're out of harm's way and far from the battle."

"Right! Now. . .do you have some sort of vehicle for going from place to place?"

"Nothing but my wings and the wind beneath them. I'll have to carry you, if that's alright?" Quatre put out his arms. She nodded and let him pick her up, wrapping her arms around his neck as he said, "Hold on tight!" With a sharp flap, he took to the air and soared high into the sky, catching a strong wind current and riding it while he searched for the next place to fight.

"Wow. . ." Sayla whispered, looking down at the distant land spread out far below them. Quatre broke his concentration and said, "What?"

"Look at it. . .it's so beautiful from up here. . .birds are so blessed to be able to see this everyday. . ." Sayla said passionately, sighing at the splendor of it all. Quatre smiled and thought to himself, Funny. . .that's what I thought the first day I was here for Operation Meteor. . .maybe she's. . .

"Quatre?"

"Hmm?" He broke his train of thought and looked into her eyes.

"What are you thinking?"

"What do you mean? Did I do something wrong?" He blinked in confusion.

"No. . .you're just. . .smiling an awful lot."

"Oh. . .I was just thinking about the first time I visited alone. . .hey, I've spotted some mobile suits to the west, let's go check it out!"

"Okay. . ." Sayla said, still keeping an eye on him.

What was he thinking about? I wonder. . .Sayla thought as she held on tight for the ride.

"I'll ask you one last time, where are the other rebels!" Une shouted impatiently at Rachel, pacing back and forth like an unsettled lion. With no response, Rachel looked up distantly and half-stared at Une. With a growl, Une raised her hand to strike her, saying, "Speak!"

"That'll be enough, Colonel Une." Treize caught her hand and startled her. She shrank back and bowed her head, saying, "Yes, sir. . ." Treize turned to the unsteady girl being questioned and eased his expression into a serious stare, saying in a stern tone, "This interrogating won't end until you say something. . .I don't know how you refused the influence of the truth serum but it will only delay the inevitable."

"I will. . .tell you but. . .you'll have to come a little closer." Rachel whispered almost inaudibly. She swayed slowly, her head hanging down almost in her lap as she moaned. Treize stepped up to her and knelt in front of her, seeing no threat in a drugged, bound girl. Struggling to raise her head again, she mumbled something under her breath. Leaning closer, Treize was just inches from her as she looked into his eyes and said, "It's called magic, same as this." Quickly, she forced her lips onto his and pulled her arms loose, pulling him even closer with her hands.

"COMMANDER TREIZE!" Une screamed, running toward them to get him free from her. He barely struggled, falling limp and collapsing to the floor when she let go of him. With a lazy wipe of her fingers over her lips, she stood, putting out her hand and sending Une flying back against the wall with a thud.

"Watch yourself. . .or you'll be the next to feel 'the kiss of death'. . ." Rachel said, staring down first the Colonel and then the others in the room watching on in horror.

"Death? You. . .you couldn't have!" Une yelled in shock, looking down at the lifeless form at Rachel's feet.

"I'd thank him for the energy boost but it's a bit impossible at the moment. Lady Une. . .you'll have to excuse me but I have a world to save. . ." Rachel bowed and stepped over Treize's body, walking over to her and touching her cheek with a soft smile.

Th. . .that's the way Treize smiles at me. . .Une thought, nervously staring back at Rachel. With a gentle touch, she withdrew her hand and walked out of the room. Stopping at the door, she turned and said, "Oh, and I would evacuate the building if I were you, everything's about to blow up." A sudden surge of energy broke from her body, knocking everyone down with its force as it expanded out and disappeared beyond the walls. She vanished soon after and Une fell to the floor, quickly being joined by a soldier who stooped to help her up. She pushed him aside and ran to Treize, rolling him over and touching his chest, shaking as she screamed, "Commander, Treize, wake up! WAKE UP! NOOO! Get a doctor, NOW!" Soldiers ran around frantically, one running up to her side holding a radio and saying, "Colonel, every mobile suit on the base has activated its self destruct system, the technicians give them a minute before they'll explode! Ma'am, what are your orders? Ma'am? Colonel!" Une stared blankly at the floor as she whispered, "Evacuate. . .now. . ."

"Hola, I am a friend, I have come to help you." Duo said to the elders of the little girl's village.

"Soy un amigo, yo he venido ayudarle." One of the men translated that knew English.

"The organization named OZ has invaded and I am here to stop them."

"El organización nombrada OZ ha invadido y estoy aquí pararlos."

"¿Usted está pidiendo nuestra ayuda?" One of the elders said in a deep, gravely voice. Duo looked to his translator and he said, "He asks if you request our aid."

"Oh. . .not if you are unarmed. . ." Duo shrugged.

"No si somos desarmados. Señor, debemos ayudarle, lucha para nuestro país!" The man said to the elders.

"¿Han invadido nuestros hogares, destruidos nuestra tierra, y esperan que los obedezcamos¡Le ensamblaremos, señor¡Consiga a sus juegos móviles, cada uno, nadie empujes nosotros alrededor!" The elder rose to his feet and shouted to the people gathered around listening, getting the crowd riled up. Duo blinked in confusion and the translator turned to him, saying with a determined and excited tone, "Señor, we will join you! OZ has pushed us around too much, now we fight!"

"Alright! I'll lead you to them! Come on!" Duo said, getting excited by their enthusiasm. The little girl started to run to join the others and Duo grabbed her, saying, "Hey, you need to stay here, kiddo! This is big people business!"

"It wasn't long ago you were little, ya know. . ." Duo turned and met the eyes of his beloved.

"Rachel! You're already done?" Duo excitedly hugged her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"I was done a while ago. . .just had some business to take care of before I came to help you." Rachel said, smiling and looking down at the confused girl. She kneeled by her and said, " Usted es joven, usted debe permanecer aquí."

"You speak Spanish?" Duo said, looking surprised.

"¡Edad no tiene cualquier cosa hacer con talento¡Si puedo traer un ángel del cielo puedo luchar con los otros!" The girl yelled, pointing to the confused Duo.

"She managed to take you down, Duo? A little girl?" Rachel looked amused. Duo frowned as he said, "She jumped on me and started choking me in the middle of the air, what was I suppose to do, just throw her off?"

"Whatever. . .let's go finish off the last bit of OZ influence in the area. . ." Rachel laughed, standing and patting the girl on the head. Duo rolled his eyes and opened his wings, taking off and flying off to head the fleet of suits gathering to meet the OZ's fleet. Rachel flew up behind him, sidling up next to him and soaring through the sky as the troops followed them to the fight.

"Are you okay, Rach? You seem a little. . .distant." Duo said, looking over at his partner to find her staring off into space. She blinked and glanced over at him, giving Duo a reassuring smile and saying, "Oh, I'm fine, just thinking about the others. I wonder if they're almost done yet. . ."

"I hope so. . .what would we do while we wait for them to finish?" Duo grinned.

"Help them?" Rachel said sarcastically, raising her eyebrows.

"Oh fine. . .look, there they are!" Duo pointed to the east and she looked, seeing the glint of armor hiding amongst the shrubbery of the forest.

"Are you sure?" Rachel didn't seem convinced. After the last time they ambushed her she wasn't so sure anymore. They floated by the Panama Canal, their reflection playing off the blocks of water. Rachel looked down at the calm surfaces and said, "What. . .kind of mobile suits did you feel, Duo?"

"Huh? I dunno. . .why?"

"Get away from the canal!" Rachel yelled, repeating it in Spanish for the others to understand as she pushed Duo back just in time to avoid a missile.

"What the-they're hiding down there! Then what was-" Duo stammered, a little uneasy by his close run with death.

"It was a decoy, they're down there! Cancer and Pisces!" Rachel aimed her hands to the water and the surface bubbled, an explosion of water erupting with a Pisces caught up in the flow. It flew into the air and crashed down on the ground by the canal, its pilot no doubt shook up from the disturbing ride.

"¡Ataque¡Ataque!" Rachel shouted, diving down to join in the assault.

"Rachel, why don't we 'dry up' these pests?" Duo yelled to her, winking with a mischievous grin. She smiled back and nodded, flying out over the locks of water with Duo going the opposite way. They stopped four locks apart and both pointed their hands at the water, slowly raising their hands and causing all the contents to float up into the air, forming into a giant river over the gated passage through Panama. The mobile suits sat on the bottoms of the dry blocks, trapped in the deep locks and vulnerable to attack. Quickly, the villagers gathered around the canal, aiming their weapons at the pilots.

"Come out with your hands up and surrender, we have you outnumbered!" Rachel shouted from her spot far above the battle scene. The pilots slowly crawled out, raising their arms in defeat as the villagers shouted and cheered for their victory.

"Alright, let's get those guys out of there and put back the Panama Canal. . ." Duo said with a grin. Rachel nodded and lowered a hand to them, floating the men and their mobile suits up onto the land to be captured. They let the water settle back into the locks and flew down to the villagers who cheered and congratulated each other.

"¡Ganamos¡Y es todas las gracias a usted!" The little girl shouted as she ran up to Rachel who putted her up and gave her a hug.

"Oh, I don't think it was all our doing that bought the victory. . .usted es buen piloto, pequeña!" Rachel said, smiling sweetly. The girl giggled and wiggled out of her arms, running to a man coming toward her, saying, "Padre, Padre!"

"Maria!" The man scooped her up and hugged her, waving to Rachel and Duo and turning to join the others.

"Well, looks like our job's done here. . ." Duo said, walking up to Rachel and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She rested her head against his as he purred in her ear.

"This was the last band of OZ soldiers in South America?"

"Yep. . .now what?" Duo cooed. Rachel giggled and said, "What with you?"

"I missed you. . .you know what it's like being on a whole mission alone and not understanding a single word anyone says?"

"Nope. . .I'm sure it's annoying. . ." She tickled his cheek and he chuckled, giving her a squeeze. Letting go, he faced her and said, "Do you think the others are done?"

"I don't know, let's find out, shall we?"

"Okay! Who do we join first?"

"Let me see where the most people are. . ." Rachel closed her eyes and focused in on everyone's bearings. "Milliardo, Noin, and Trowa are together in the Sanc Kingdom with. . .a little girl. . ."

"Eh? Where'd she come from?" Duo blinked in confusion.

"Let's find out, come on." Rachel said, taking his hand and teleporting to the mansion.

"Milliardo! I'm glad you're alright!" Relena said as she appeared by the group outside the Sanc mansion.

"Relena! What are you doing here?" Milliardo was surprised by her sudden appearance.

"Relena!" Precious chided in cheerfully, giggling as she bounced up and down.

"Do I know you?" She said to the little girl. Trowa walked up to Precious and put his arm around her as she hugged his leg.

"No, and she doesn't speak English. . .yet. She can't remember her real name so I've been calling her Precious." Trowa said quietly, slowly stroking her red mop of hair.

"Well. . .what does she speak?"

"Trowa schützen mich!" Precious chirped, giving them a broad smile.

"German?" Heero muttered, recognizing the accent.

"Can you understand her?" Relena asked.

"She said 'Trowa protect me'. . .if I'm not mistaken." Duo walked up to join the group as well.

"Rachel! How did you get free!" Noin gasped as her friend walked up.

"It's. . .a long story. Let's just say that Chang won't be getting his revenge on Treize anytime soon. . ." Rachel said dully. Everyone blinked in confusion and Milliardo's eyes widened as he said quietly, "You. . .killed him?" She looked down and everyone seemed to gasp at once, except Heero who just blinked.

"How did you do that?" Heero asked curiously.

"I don't wanna talk about it, no doubt Une will be looking to find revenge so we better regroup fast. Have you been in contact with Quatre or Chang?" Rachel said, changing the subject.

"No and I'm getting worried. . .I hope he's okay. . ." Trowa said, looking concerned.

"I'm sure Chang's having a ball defeating the weaklings over in China. . ." Duo said, crossing his arms.

"Maybe we should check in on them." Relena suggested.

"I think we have more pressing matters on our hands at the moment. . ." Milliardo said, his eyes glowing a pale blue.

"Milliardo? What's wrong?"

"It's Une. . .she's gone postal. . ."