Companions of a Kind – End Game

Captions Log Star Date 78635 –

With the battle over, repairs have become the first priority. Star fleet lost half its ships the Enterprise herself will orbit 03 as it is called for the next week until her warpdrive is fixed and several hall breaches are patched.

Treize's fleet made it out with the least harm, although he still lost a third of his ships. Zech's fleet is almost demolished, his main ship was towed away several days ago being exhorted by his three remaining ships. I believe that Zech's and White Fang will disappear for the time being. Despite Zech's help, his crimes are not fully forgiven. Relena, after several days of deliberation, has decided to travel with her brother to try and help him with the legal system.

The Mage's ship was untouched and the Mages have returned to it. The smaller ship, Beta, was so badly damaged that it was turned into scrap metal. Their Gundams are in worse shape than all but Zech's main ship.

The leader of our attackers made a deal with some one they had never seen or heard. With the promise that if they won they would be able to enslave a powerful people to do their bidding. The rumor has spread and this area will not remain peaceful as long as the Mages appear weak. The Federation has written up a peace treaty that should be mutually beneficial and the mages will hopefully sign.

Cassandra's magical burst, as far as I can understand it, left the planets and their occupants severed from their magical source – they are unable to use their magic. This has impacted their lives negatively. Food and water were lost on the various planets and even houses were destroyed, although to be honest I don't understand it. The mages have been working tirelessly, using one of our shuttles sense theirs is destroyed.

The Mages themselves are physically battered but nothing serious is broken… at least not that our medical teams can find.

Picard closed his eyes, unsure of what else to say. He was saved from his decision as the door to his office squiggled.

"Come in," Picard stated. Heero's stoic face silently moved into the room, his staff in its holder on his back. A shallow cut on his face was scabbed over, and half hidden by his unruly hair. His face was blank as he stood in front of Picard's desk. Without waiting for an invitation he began to speak.

"All of the planets are starting to function normally, the mind magic disconnection is slowly returning as it is with us," Heero stated.

"What are the conditions of your fellow Mages?" Picard asked carefully.

"Duo's powers are slowly returning, he has begun working on the Gundams," Heero's voice deadpanned. "Trowa's powers are more quickly returning and he is also working on the Gundams. Wufei's powers are still gone, but the paths are realigned. He is returning to 01 again in hopes of trading for some food to spread amongst the other planets."

"And Quatre?" Picard asked. Quatre was conscious now, although he had only come to in the last few days. Wufei had explained that Quatre's telepathy had been overwhelmed and his brain had shut off… how deep Wufei didn't know.

"He ate this morning and enquired about 03. We can feel no power in him and his staff is dull. Wufei has faith that he will heal," Heero answered, his voice steady as a rock.

"I see, keep me informed," Picard answered. Heero gave a stiff nod and walked back out the doors. Picard put his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes with his palms.

They had won the battle… but hard times were left in their future.

Quatre

Quatre jumped as the doors to his room opened. His eyes teared up at the sight of Heero and he turned his head, angrily washing them away.

"Status?" Heero dead panned. Quatre rolled his eyes, but the tears had stopped trying to come at Heero's insensitive familiar question.

"I'm doing better than I was," Quatre stretched his arms and shakily stood. "My Empathy has not returned but I can feel my magic tingling at the edges of my mind. I'm sure once my strength has returned and I can put up my barriers than my Empathy will come back," Quatre started to cry again as the reminder of his lost Empathy. He had relied on it so much that it being gone was like some one had pulled out his heart.

"Don't think about it," Heero deadpanned. Quatre wiped his eyes and nodded. He stretched his legs and tried to think of how to phrase his next question.

"Heero," Quatre started. He hesitated, he was angry at Cassandra. Angry at the situation she had placed the planets in. They were going on the third day without magic. His mind went back to when he first had woken up.

"Trowa she knew she was going to do it! How could she!" Quatre almost screamed. Trowa's eyes searched Quatre's angry ones.

"I don't understand Cassandra, I can't answer your question," Trowa quietly said as he moved over and sat down net to Quatre.

"There have to be answer! People are dying!" Quatre turning his anger on Trowa. His hands came down as if to bead to Trowa's chest but Trowa grabbed them before they could hit. Quatre's angry liquid eyes looked up at Trowa's calm emerald green.

"I know you feel lost with the loss of your powers," Trowa started. Quatre's eye lit with defensive power but his body slumped… Trowa was completely right. He couldn't feel others, he couldn't check to see if they were ok, and he couldn't understand what anyone was thinking.

" But did you ever think," Trowa continued, his arms wrapped around Quatre in a comforting hug, " that no matter how terrible Cassandra's actions maybe the result was needed for us to function in this new universe?"

Quatre could feel the anger begin to boil inside of him again but forced it back forced himself not to think at all. He melted into Trowa's arms, saddened once again at the lack of intimacy felt in the moment. Trowa might as well have been a warm blanket for all the emotions Quatre could feel.

Tears began to trickle out the corners of his eyes. Anger ripped his hand from its resting place so that he could rub the tears away but his hand was once again stopped. Quatre turned and his eyes locked with Trowa's. Trowa leaned in close and softly took hold of Quatre's lips.

Quatre bent over and touched the ground, stretching the last muscle in his legs. Quatre didn't remember the last of the kiss; he had fallen asleep in Trowa's arms. Only later had he realized the meaning of that kiss.

"Heero… what did Cassandra say before she left?" For some reason this was the only question his still fragile mind was able to grasp. If he thought too hard about Cassandra he would get angry again.

"Time turns, its wheel never ending or beginning. Time changes, its games always giving and taking. Sayonara," Heero's voice was calm and dead as ever but Quatre could almost hear something in it. He cursed the lack of his empathy again.

"Did she explain anything?" Quatre questioned.

"Necessary," Heero dead panned.

Anger boiled in Quatre again. "She thought it was necessary to do this to all our people?"

"I don't know… but maybe this will be the spark that makes our people realize that it is not just them in the world. And despite our powerful magic we need to not seclude our selves but help those that are experiencing what we feel now." Heero's deadpanned. His hands were methodically running over the consul in Quatre's room; gathering information for god knew what.

Quatre sat down on the bed again, his pail face turned down toward the blank metal floor. Gold locks fell over his eyes and his mind fell deep into thought. Although he was surprised at Heero's long speech, he was drawn into the meaning of his words.

Trowa had kissed him because Trowa, with out empathy, had felt that Quatre needed to feel loved. Needed to feel emotion, be aware of his emotion despite his lost empathy.

Would the Mages as a race draw the same conclusions that Heero and Trowa were making? Would the loss of power make them realize both their own mortality and give them something in conmen with the rest of the beings in the universe.

Quatre looked up as Duo and Wufei's voice drifted through the opening door. Trowa's tall figure walked silently behind them.

"Wuffie, did they trade enough? How long are you gona stay? Hey… are you listening? Answer my quest…"

"Maxwell!" Wufei screamed, cutting Duo off. Only slightly calmer Wufei continued. "You will get your answers in a minute and if you keep bugging me I will use my sword."

Duo stuck his tongue out at Wufei and scampered behind Heero.

"01 traded the last of their emergency stores and with magic returning that is the last that will need to be traded. Quatre we need to decide our next course of action," Wufei explained.

Quatre looked around to see four pares of eyes meet his steadily. He didn't know where Cassandra had gone, although they were sure it was a dimensional shift. He didn't know what the full effects of the left over magic were, or even if the Mages powers would come back in full. But what had happened was not reversible. It was the future that mattered… what was it that Cassandra had said?

"Time turns, its wheel never ending or beginning. Time changes, its games always giving and taking," Heero's voice was quite but in the silent room it cut through to every ones ears.

Quatre smiled, a soft small smile filled with determination. The future was unknown. But the five of them were together, both in goal and body to see it.

End

Wow, that took me a while to finish. Thanks to everyone who gave me encouragement