Author's note: Hey, sorry this chapter was up so late. I've actually had to do some work at work (go figure) and haven't had time to finish this one. And I apologize in advance because I know this chapter is going to have a lot of long explanations, but they're important, I swear! Things was actually get moving in it soon…hopefully…

Thanks to all that have reviewed! I really appreciate it! Now, on with the chapter…

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Chapter 3

"Okay, let's start with an obvious one. Are you really the pilot of that Gundam?" Quatre asked, folding his hands on the table in front of him.

They were sitting in a small conference room overlooking the hanger. Kira had suddenly put away the happy-go-lucky for a while and had become uncharacteristically serious.

"Yes. My name for all intensive purposes is Kira Mizuno and my Gundam is Bubble Blaster. Its registry number is XXXG-01B. It was built by Professor D in colony cluster L7."

"L7? No such colony exists!" Duo exclaimed looking at Kira, and then to Quatre. Upon seeing the look on Quatre's face he added, "Right?"

Quatre shook his head. "Not anymore. It was wiped clean from the records after it was destroyed."

"Destroyed?" Duo asked, stealing a glance at the blue haired Gundam pilot.

"Destroyed," Kira replied bitterly. "It was destroyed by our own stupid civil war. At the beginning of the war, the Alliance was taking its time in reaching the L7 colony because of our remote location. You might think that would have given us more time to prepare but in fact, it just gave the leaders of our colony more time to be scared. They saw the overwhelming military power of the Alliance and the damaged inflicted on the other colonies and said to themselves that it would be better to surrender than to fight.

"Of course, not everyone agreed with this course of action. Those that were opposed to the Alliance's rule formed the resistance movement. My father was one of those opposed. He said that it would be better to die than to give up the colony to foreign powers. He had wealth and influence so he was the perfect man for Professor D to come to. He told us of a plan called Operation Meteor that would help destroy the Alliance on the Earth. That's sort of how we got involved. And that's how the Gundam started to be constructed.

"Then, someone from the inside of the resistance leaked valuable information about the Gundam to the public. The colony leaders were terrified that the Alliance would see this as a direct opposition to the treaty so it was no surprise that they declared war on their own people to keep in the good graces of their rulers. The fighting lasted six months. And actually the resistance was winning until the Alliance took matters into their own hands. Seeing our colony as something that was a failed mission, they decided that it was better if we were all silenced."

Kira was silent for a few moments with her head bowed slightly, staring at her clenched fists. "They sent me away. My father and Professor D sent my sister and a group from the resistance in a shuttle to escape. As Professor D loaded the Gundam up he looked at me and told me to do as my heart commanded. I still remember the explosion. It blew apart the side of the colony with a force that rocked our little shuttle that carried that last remaining people from our colony."

"You still had a Gundam. I don't understand. Why didn't you come to avenge the souls of those who died?" Duo asked, thinking about Wufei.

"I was mad. I was bitter. I was a coward. Pick your poison. I felt like the colonies didn't want our help. So, I didn't want to help them," she replied simply.

"I can sort of understand where that's coming from, but to go as far as ignore the oppression around you…to just give up on the world…I just can't understand how someone could be that selfish." Duo sat back in his chair and stared at Kira, hoping for a better explanation.

"I deserve your contempt, but I can't help it. I watched you all, watched as you fell to the earth and shook my head. I thought 'How foolish are these other pilots.' But then you kept fighting even after the colonies rejected you, after you were beaten and your Gundams destroyed. I could believe what I was seeing. After all my selfishness and pride got in the way, you started to show me that you had strength of character that I never did. And then I was ashamed. I couldn't show my face knowing that I was that kind of person. So I focused on rebuilding the colony and turned my face away, not able to deal with my guilt."

"But you couldn't stand by forever, could you?" Quatre said in his empathic way.

Kira looked up, strength shining behind her crystal blue eyes. "I'm not such a great person. But when I noticed the shipments and mass influx of people into our area I knew something was up. My sister finally convinced me I had to do something about it. I needed to protect the people who still needed to be protected. Even if it was to do nothing more than get the message out that something was going on."

Duo opened his mouth to respond but just then a man with curly brown hair and brown eyes burst into the conference room.

"Kira, your sister said that…" he started to say but broke off when he noticed the other two in the room. "I'm sorry. This can wait if you're busy."

Kira smiled at him and stood. "No, no it's fine, Cye. I was pretty much finished here anyways." She made her way to the door and then looked back at the pilots. "I'll send someone up to show you to your rooms. I know you'll probably want to contact someone and let them know what's going on, so you have full permission to. And don't worry, I won't be offended if you hack the system to validate any claims that I've made. I'll try and catch up with you in a few hours, okay?"

"You've been more than hospitable, thank you," Quatre gratefully replied.

The blue haired pilot nodded and shut the door behind her. Duo turned to Quatre and shrugged. "I'm not sure what to make of this girl. Either she's too honest or she's lying through her teeth. I can't tell which."

The blond haired young man frowned, eyes staring off into space. "I don't know either. But if what she says is true, it won't matter what we think. She'll fight this new enemy with or without our help."

At that braid boy couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe she's a Gundam pilot after all."

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Relena sat in her office, shuffling through some left over paper. She was trying not to dwell on the interview she was to give later today on her latest visit to the colonies. It wasn't as if she didn't enjoy her job as Vice Foreign Minster, the job her late father cherished so much, but she had been flying around for the past two weeks now without a break. She'd been sleeping light and very little. But if that was the price for continued peace in the United Earth Sphere than she was more than willing to bear such a small burden.

She glanced at the teddy bear Heero had given her and a trace of a smile graced her lips. Relena hadn't actually seen him since their paths had crossed and he had saved her life a year and a half ago but she felt as if he was watching over her. She worried about him. He seemed to be doing a lot of favors for the preventers lately.

"Miss Relena," a voice called from the hallway. "It's time to prepare for your interview."

"Of course, give me a second."

Relena set the papers on the desk, adjusted her blue and white suit, and stepped into the hallway. "Where is this…you're not my secretary!" she exclaimed as she looked at the woman standing outside her door.

Noin gave Relena a heartwarming smile. "No, but for now think of me as an acting one."

Relena started her walk down the hallway and shook her head. "My brother put you up to this, didn't he?"

"He was concerned for your safety, Miss Relena," replied Noin as she followed Relena down the hallway.

"Is there reason for him to be concerned?" the Vice Foreign Minster asked shrewdly.

"There might be, but we didn't want to take any chances. You are an influential person."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me. Have you spoken with Heero since last time?"

Noin noted the change between Vice Foreign Minster and young woman with a slight smile. Though Relena was a very professional and influential woman on Earth and in the colonies she was still, at heart, a woman in love.

"No, I'm sorry. Last time I spoke with him, he was working with Trowa on the person behind this rise in Gundanium mining and shipping."

"Ah." was all she said, but Noin could see the disappointment in her eyes. "Well, it can't be helped. He is a former Gundam pilot after all."

Relena stifled a sigh and tried to put it out of her mind. But it was so hard not to think about him.

Heero…