Disclaimer: The same as before. If you've been keeping up, then you know this already.

Chap. 24

In a darkened chamber room, only a single monitor is active. It is displaying OZ Sol-Tekkas and battleships moving into space. Already, many of ships were shipping off away from the space fortress Barge and toward the outlining colony. A lone figure watches it all from his control room. His appearance was framed with a long pointed nose and wide mop hair. 'They are moving faster than I thought.' It was then that the doors behind him opened and a group of soldiers entered in.

"You are under arrest. Put your hands up immediately."

The sharp-eyed scientist didn't resist as the OZ soldiers captured him. 'I guess I'll be joining the other sooner as well.'

----------

While Duo was still at the Space Ring, Quatre had already departed for colony L4. From the distance, he could see that the colony was in good order. L4 was one of the few colonies that didn't suffer greatly from the Radham attacks. Quatre could see the usually Alliance military forces around it and he wondered if they knew about what had happened on Earth. Most likely, he thought, 'Otherwise they wouldn't have increased their patrols. Wait a minute...' Quatre took a closer look at the Sol-Tekkas. Those are...OZ Sol-Tekkas. I'm too late.'

Just then, an open broadcast appeared on the monitor of the shuttle.

"We, the colony citizens have been oppressed by the Earth Alliance for long enough. But now the Alliance has paid for it actions, due to the forces of our newest ally, the elite soldiers of OZ."

'What? Allies?'

'Therefore, we have now aligned ourselves with the OZ forces. But the gundam tekkamen have been straining our efforts. Thus, these troublemakers are rejected by the colonies and will be apprehended on sight."

The monitor then flickered, showing the image of Lady Une. However, she looked completely different. Her hair was now let out and loose and her face was no longer the cold ruthless woman of before, but a new, compassionate woman.

"People of space, do not be afraid of the Allies' oppression anymore. You're free now. Let's build a new era with OZ."

The broadcast ended, leaving Quatre with a look of betrayal on his face. 'They...this...can't be happening. We fought for them. Heero died for them. And this...it has to be a trick. Quatre looked back at his home. 'I guess I'll find out.'

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Space...

Deathscythe was still flying through space. The OZ soldiers from the Space Ring were still chasing him. 'These guys are persistent, I'll give them that.' As he continued to fly, another battleship appeared before him, dropping off seven new objects before him.

'What are those? Sol-Tekkas? I've never seen those before.'

The seven machines he saw were sleek, aerodynamic and dark-colored. On their shoulders were black crystals that seemed to radiate with energy.

"Gundam Tekkaman 02. Surrender at once."

'You think these guys would come up with some new lines at least. Those must be the new Taurus Sol-Tekkas I've heard about.' The machines came closer and Deathsythe suddenly vanished. The Sol-Tekkas stopped and began searching around. Suddenly one of the Tauruses was slashed in half.

"I know you guys are just doing your jobs. But anyone coming close to me is gonna get it!"

Deathscythe then swooped to the next one, but he suddenly stopped. 'What's going on? My energy is being...drained.' Looking up, he saw the black crystals were resonating and he was getting weaker. 'Those...crystals...disruptors!'

Deathscythe tried to fight, but his attempts were slowed down and the Tauruses fired back. Deathscythe was forced back as the Tauruses moved closer. But before they could move closer, Deathscythe's shoulder panels opened, exposing the Voltekka cells.

"Voltek..!"

Before he could fire, one of the Tauruses fired its energy cannon, blasting one of shoulder cells. Deathscythe reeled back, screaming in pain. If that wasn't bad enough, another blast fired, hitting the scythe and knocking it away. Deathscythe looked at his arm, which was now bleeding and burned. Deathscythe looked as the Sol-Tekkas began moving in.

'Guess, I have no...choice...but to...copy...Heero's move.' Deathscythe's head crest began to flicker and blink, but it then stopped abruptly. 'Damn. Don't have...the energy...everything's...getting...dark...Ughhhhhh.' Deathscythe slowly blacked out and stopped moving and the Tauruses moved in and captured him.

"This is unit 6. We have captured Gundam 02. Bringing it in."

-------

Colony L4

Quatre is on a limo heading for his home within the colony; a large marble colored mansion. As he approaches, he can see a mass of people in front of the building with signs and posters against his father. As the gates closed behind him, Quatre thought about his trip to Earth.

Flashback...

"Quatre, I forbid it. You can not go through with this. Fighting is not the way."

"I'm sorry. But it's the only thing I can do to stop OZ."

"But the process is dangerous. You may not even survive it. Radham technology is not something to be toyed with."

"I've been assured that I'll be just fine. I'm sorry, father, but I have to go."

Flashback End...

Quatre looks up at the building as he exits the car and takes a deep sigh. He then entered the house and looked around, but no one was there to great him.

"Quatre!"

Quatre looked up the stairs and smiled as his sister, Irene who ran down and embraced him.

"My dear little brother. You're back."

Quatre returned the hug, "It's good to be back. Where's father?"

Her smiling face slowly disappeared, "He's been busy. Ever since OZ came, people have wanted to use the resource satellite to start making weapons. But father didn't approve and now everyone hates him for it."

"Weapons? Has everything gone crazy?"

"It would seem so."

Quatre blinked and turned to the sound of the new voice. His father stood right behind him. His hair was darker than Quatre's and the front locks were off on one side. However, the facial features of the two were similar enough.

"How was you trip?"

Quatre looked down, "It went well for awhile. But then everything went upside-down."

"I see."

He said nothing more after that and what followed was a period of uncomfortable silence. Fortunately, Irene was there to break it up.

"Take a look at this." she said, indicating to the TV monitor, "They've captured one."

Both men turned to the monitor to see several OZ soldier hold a young man in there clutches. He was wearing drab clothing and he looked beat up. Quatre's eyes widened.

'Oh, no. Duo.'

--------------

Space Knight Command Center.

"Hey, look who it is."

The group of Knights was gathered around the vid-screen when the report of Duo's capture came up.

"Hey that's Duo." David said out loud. "Looks like he got caught."

Yumi half gasped, "But how were they able to get him? He's a tekkaman."

---

D-Boy's hidden office

D-Boy handed over a document he had to Aki, who began skimming through it. When she looked up at him, he answered her unsaid question.

"The Taurus Sol-Tekka had the ability to weaken a tekkaman."

Aki was now visibly surprised, "How is that possible?"

D-Boy looked down, "OZ managed to replicate the disruptor crystals. The same type that shattered my crystal before. Only these are powered with the Sol-Tekka suits."

Aki gave a solemn nod, "It must be powerful to be able to affect gundamium armor. What does this mean for us?"

"I don't know yet. But there is an even worse issue discovered." He turned toward the screen. "I received a transmission. OZ has also constructed something called a Doll system. It is a Sol-Tekka that has no human pilot and can operate on its own through use of a computer. They based it off the cerebral imaging found in the Radham."

"That sounds dangerous."

"It does. Such technologies...all Radham." he then muttered softly, "Will this curse ever end?" D-Boy shook off his despair and faced Aki, determination in his eyes. "I don't think we can sit still for much longer. We may to have to intervene soon."

Aki strode forward, "But isn't that against what we are to do?"

D-Boy's head dropped again, "Fighting the Radham will always be our top mission. But we can not let other powers destroy innocent lives in this. If that happens, it'll be no worse than the Radham."

Aki continued to move until she right in front of him. She knew him better than anyone. She could see that despite the determination, he wasn't sure of himself right now. Slowly, she moved into his arms and held him in a soft embrace.

"D-Boy..."

He held he back, "I know...I'm worried too."

--------

L4 committee hall

Mr. Winner had gone down to the L4 committee meeting to address the issue of the resource satellite. He had been informed that OZ wanted to use the satellite in the construction of new Sol-Tekkas in order to increase their protection of the colonies. But Winner knew it was wrong to use the resource in such a fashion and had gone to try to reason with the committee. Sufficient to say, the meeting was not going well in his favor.

"Please listen to reason. We can not let the satellite be used in that way."

"Who do you think you are?" One of the members shouted. "That it a public resource and we will use it as we see fit, with or without you."

Winner however was not backing down, "But for weapons? It's just foolhardy."

"So now were fools? Would you prefer us under the Allies yoke, while you live it up in your cozy little mansion, is that it?"

Winner shut his eyes. 'This isn't getting anywhere.' "Please..."

The head chairman stood up, "We've heard enough, Winner. The decision stands. OZ will be allowed to use the resource satellite as they see fit."

The committee agreed with him and broke out in cheering while Winner turned and left in silence. I can't let this happen. It will only strengthen OZ's hold and we may be in worse times than from that of the Alliance.

A plan formed...

------

Winner estate...

"Where's father?"

Irene had just entered the house, "I don't know. After the meeting today, he just left."

Quatre's face grew worried, "I have a bad feeling. I feel it."

Irene looked at her younger brother. She was already nervous when her father disappeared, but now Quatre's words only serve to increase that. Like everyone else who had known him, she knew that Quatre was different; special. And it wasn't simply because he was a tekkaman or even a gundam tekkaman. It was a hidden ability about him, a sense of things. Quatre noticed his sister's fallen expression and quickly shot in...

"But maybe it's nothing. I'm sure he's fine."

Irene smiled, noticing that he only said that to help her with her feelings. "You're too kind, Quatre."

Quatre smiled back, but it was cut short when one of the servants entered the scene.

"Master Quatre, there's a serious problem."

------

Resource Satellite...

Winner had just entered the control room of the satellite. Moving quickly, he started the control panel and be operating. After the failed meeting, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He planned on moving the satellite away and then detonating it in deep space. He knew it was rash, but it was better than the alternate. 'I'm no better than Quatre', he mused to himself. 'I guess like father, like son, heh.' As he continued, the satellite began to drift away from the colony and slowly rocket away. As he continued, the communication link sounded nearby and he answered it. On it was the worried face of Quatre. He and Irene were on a shuttle heading for the departing satellite.

"Father, what are you doing?"

Winner answered as he continued to work, "This resource satellite can not be used for weapons. I'm going make sure of that."

Irene yelled from nearby, "Quatre, they're arming the laser cannons!

Quatre whirled, "What?! They can't be serious!" But at looking outside the shuttle window, he could see the sparkles of the laser cannons powering up. Quatre turned his panicked face to the screen, "Father, get out of there. They're going to shoot you!"

But Winner continued his work and the satellite drifted further away. The light of the cannons grew even more and the beams finally shot out. The satellite was pierced by the beams and in moments, the entire satellite exploded in a flash.

"Father!!!! NO!!!!!"

 The shockwave rattled the shuttle, send both Quatre and Irene hurling from their seats. Quatre hit the floor, hurt, but okay. But Irene hit her back on the wall and was hurt badly. Quatre rushed to check on her, but as he held her, the memory of what just occurred came back at him. Father...He's...he's...

Tears formed in Quatre eyes and he shut them and let them fall. But a soft hand reached up to him. Opening his eyes, he saw Irene half-conscious, but alive. He quickly held her hand as she spoke.

"Oh, Quatre. You're crying. So kind, just like father. Father was...so kind." Her eyes began to close again. "But why? He...didn't...deserve this...at all."

Irene fell silent and Quatre put her hand back down. The tears continued to fall, but only partially out of grief.

"Kind people shed tears, but right now the colonies are satisfied." A surge of anger hit him, "You people are satisfied with that?!" He bowed his head. "I will never forget this day."

He then looked up; eyes now void of...anything. "And I'll make sure that you don't either. Heh, hehehe.....hahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!"

Quatre's maniacal laughter sounded though the shuttle. As the laughter continued, his tekka-set shimmered, but he gave no note to it or to the object that had formed on it.

Another tekka-set emblem...

____________

As news of Duo's plight is spread, Lady Une begins to search for the other tekkamen while she has already captured their creators. Another Radham attack occurs and the Space Knights move into action, only to be faced with the Taurus Sol-Tekkas. Trowa intends to attack a massive OZ base, but upon learning of the disruptor crystals, intends to sacrifice himself as well. But he is then confronted by Catherine. Next on Gundam Tekkaman: Catherine's Tears.