Episode Nine: In the rubble

As the sun the rose that morning it was an eerie red colour,accompanied by a thicklayer of smoke that looked like a halo around the sun. Standing on the shoulder of her gundam,Taka watched the sun rise above the tree line. She was currently patiently waiting for the rescue crew that she knew was on its way to pick her up. Taka wasn't about to abandon her mech while she knew the Earth Forces were still in the area, so she waited, even if it would take them a day to find her. Due to her Gundam's condition she couldn't radio to the base her coordinates and because of it's cloaking, no rador could pick up its signal. Normally a very handy feature, but in situations like this, it wasn't that great and could potentially be fatal if she was in serious danger. While she waited, Taka checked the status of her machine and how badly it had been damaged when she had taken the full force of the cannon blast. Mericalulasly it was still in one piece, but would take at least a week to repear and even then it would still be a while until she got it working to full compacity.Turning her gaze away from the sun, Taka took the momentary peace to survay the side of the mountain enwhich she had crash landed on. It was hard to make anything out with all the smoke in the air, it wouldn't clear until later unless a strong wind picked up.

''It's so silent''

she thought, finding the calm almost uncomfertable as all she had known for the past several years was just a contant noise. She moved fromm the shoulder down to the open cockpit and took a much needed rest in her seat. She had just closed her eyes to take a quick nap when she heard a twig snap not too far from where she was. Instantly snapping to attention Taka launched out of her seat and slide down one side of the meh, using it as some what of a shield. At first she thought that it was probably just a wild animal, but this theory was dashed as she heard some one speaking as if talking to someone. Not reconizing the voice, Taka pulled her gun from her swaist and waited for the intruder to show themselves. Who ever was coming was only feet from stumbling upon the crash site and the alert Nexis soldier. Tensly Taka watched where she had calculated the person to appear-manuvering so that she would have a clear shot of them if they were hostile. She just hoped that it wsn't the advance platoon for Earth's next strike, though it wouldn't be foolish of them to try anything so soon as the entire base was on high alert. Shifting agitedly, Taka watched as a woman pushed her way through the bushes-she was in an Earth Force's uniform. She came to a skidding hault asshe noticed the downed Gundam and instantly knew that the pilot couldn't be too far away. In a flash Taka had lept from her hiding spot,gun pointed at the woman who in a move just as fast had her gun pointed at Taka.

''Drop the weapon or I'll shoot!''

Growled Taka, the Earth woman remained silent-her icy blue eyes piercing into Taka's own dark one's.

'Is this what it's come down to?'

The woman sneered. No sign of fear in her voice or eyes.

''If I'm going to die on this day...then I'm taking you with me.'

she continued, her hateful expression never changing.

'I see you haven't changed a bit...Rain Sakura.''

Taka replied just as darkly-a small smirk playing on the corners of her lips. A gust of sand and smoke swirled around the two-who looked as if they were frozen in an eternal showdown. Not too far off the low rumble of all teran vehecles began to grow closer.

'They'll be here in under ten minutes.'

Taka breathed slowly, as Rain continued to glare while she searched her face for any indication of what Taka had ment.

'heh. Perfect. That's more then enough time for me to dispose of you and damage Nexis enough to give Earth the advantae it needs to finish this foolish war. ''

Rain replied, tightening her grip on the gun. Taka, however, growled under her breath and turned all her attention to the Earth woman.

'True, you could try to kill me and naturally I would do the same. But, where would that leave everyone else involved? Earth would, essentially be more at the disadvantage from losing one of their best fighters. Where as Nexis would only fuel more hatred into the war, resulting in even more bloodshed... They dcould easily replace me. In the end it would be senseless for either one of us to die here and now...''

Rain hated to admit it, but what Taka said did make sense.

'If I kill you know, it will take Nexis precious time to train another pilot to take your place.'

'Ah, that wouldn't hinder us for long, we have many talented pilots that would make excellent gundam pilots given the oppertunity...such as my death.''

Taka replied,smirking as she saw Rain mull it over. Unfortunatly the longer she stalled the closer the rescue team camd and the window of oppertunity for Rain to excape was increasingly becoming smaller. Taka looked at the barrel of her gun before lowering her arm and lifting her hard expression, Rain looked confused and her arm wavered.

'Do what you want. If you think its best then go ahead and shoot me.'

Rain steadied her hand, preparring to take this chance-but after an intense moment, she too dropped her arm. She couldn't shoot someone who had given her permission to kill them-especiallly if that person was once a friend.

'i Know I'm going to regret not taking the oppertunity to kill you-But I agree that it would be pointles right now.''

Taka didn't reply but was just starring at her half destroyed Gundam.

'Good...then you won't mind me...Telling you to...get the Hell out of here!''

Taka spun around and had her gun pointed at Rain's heart-taken by surprise Rain lept back as if expecting worse. She had been expecting Taka to put her under arrest or or prisoner then hand her over to her superiors.But to be told to go, free...

'Your going to just let me go? But I know where the base is..'

'I know.'

replied Taka, the expression in her eyes was not that of hatred but that of determination. She was determined to make sure Rain got away safely-even though she knew that Rain would return with the same unit and launch another attack against the Nexis nbse. The rumble of the vehecles ws almost deffining know, and there were only a few precious minutes left before they would be swarming all over the site. Rain sdtraightened up and nodded, she was secretly grateful that this encounter hadn't resulted in death. She began to head back the way she had come, but stopped to look back at Taka who still hadn't moved.

'The next time we meet...'

'I'll kill you...'

Taka finished Rain's sentence. Smirking, Rain gave a small nod before vanishing into the dense underbrush of the forest. She would head down the mountain side, passing the spot her own jet had crashed to pick up a few supplies. She knew there was a run down city nearby but wasn't sure how strong Nexis' hold over it was and didn't want to take any more chances. Also, once within the city walls she'd be able to contact her ship-they'd send someone to pick her up and she'd be able to tell them all that she had seen. Rain lept over logs and fallen branches, moving swiftly through the underbrush-the faster she got away from the mountain the better she would feel more relaxed. Coming to a skidding hault as she reached the sight of her destroyed jet-its dragonic frame jutting out of the trees like some remains of a mythical beast. Several smallfires burnt the area and the remains of the jet. It was lucky that Rain had even survived the crash-when her one and only shot at stopping lunar one was deflected-she thought she'd be able tofly back to her ship. But she had been caught in the blast from Taka's Gundam-resulting in her jet being engulfed by flames. As Rain rummaged through the rubble she couldn't help but look back up to the top of the mountain. She wondered if Taka was still there or on her way back to the base-she still couldn't fully understand why or what had compelled her to go up there in the first place. With a heavy shrug Rain finished her collecting and stuffed any vital information that had't beend detroyed into her coat pocket and gave the area one last glance for anything she may have missed. Seeing that she hadn't, Rain pulled out her radio and switched it on-all that could be heard was loud static and hissing. Interference from the mountains and more likely the Nexia base at the peak of the mountain. She clipped the radio to her belt and as if she had't stopped, resumed her decent down the mountain. Judging from the sun's position in the sky, Rain estimated that she would get into the small twon by early evening if she was lucky. Sliding down a gental slope, Rain looked over her shoulder for the last time before it was blocked from her view.

'Don't do anything stupid Taka...'