No long ramblings today! Nope! Just the longest chapter of the story so far! Enjoy! Read and Review! The only other bit of news is that the first section is a repost of the last section from chapter 8 cause I didn't like it.


Year: After Colony 232

December 4

8:00 A.M.

Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89

The Kat and Bren walked onto the campus a week after the boys had left. Kat was upset. She hated Yul, but she wanted him. More than anything, and her hate had kept her from saying goodbye. He was out there risking his life. Ami and Nikki joined them, both looking odd. Ami was green and Nikki had no color at all. Each day the big screens around the colony aired live footage of the battles. There was a new one each day; sometimes more. When the screens didn't show battles, they showed a list of the colonists lost the day before. Another day had gone by and the girls didn't see any names they recognized on the lists. They had survived, yet they had watched the five gundams fight and some points had looked very close.

The campus was practically deserted now. The girls knew they had skipped a few classes, and that the some of the students were at funerals for those they had lost. There was definitely a decrease in the amount of males present. Nikki walked as if she was in a trance. She paused every once in a while to watch the screen above the campus. She followed the battle, Haru's gundam always in her sight. The feed blacked and she stood staring.

"Hey, Nikki, Ami, Bren, Kat." Nikki snapped out of it and looked toward who had called her name. Ami threw her arm over Nikki's shoulder.

"Hey Murian." Bren said to a Chinese looking girl with blue streaks in her black hair. She wore violet contacts.

"You're wondering why the school is deserted today aren't you?"

"Actually yes." Kat said. Murian handed her a flyer.

"They gave them out early this morning. I'm headed there myself. Maybe I'll see you there. Later, girls." Murian said and ran to catch up with her own group of friends. Kat looked down at the flyer.

WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE COLONIES?

JOIN THE YOUTH SQUADRENTS!

Pilots needed! Training available! All welcome!

They looked at each other. Bren sighed and took the flyer in her hand. "There's a shortage of soldiers to defend the colonies. That can't be good."

"We're not doing any good sitting around and moping, worrying about the boys all the time, are we?" Kat added. Ami shook her head. Nikki just listened.

"I think we should do it. I mean almost everyone else has," Ami added.

"And if everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you?" Nikki claimed. Ami glared at her.

"I'm not just gonna sit by and watch Tarak risk his life to protect me and the rest of us, when I could do something."

"You won't be doing him any good if you're dead!"

"I won't be dead! And I won't lose. I want to help them!"

"How do you know? Death can come so easily!"

"I just do, alright! It's a little thing called faith."

"But you're just as worried as the rest of us that at any moment, the boys could be gone."

"So! So what! I can be scared and have faith at the same time!"

"Well it's hard to have faith in anything, sometimes. I mean, if you've come close to death twice, you can't really put faith in much." Tears were streaming down both of their faces.

"Twice?" Ami asked, blinking back tears spurred by the argument. "You were shot once."

"Yeah well, it was a long time ago. I really don't want to talk about it."

"But..."

"I don't want to talk about it Ami!"

"Stop it! Stop it now!" Kat screamed, frustrated by seeing her friends argue. It was a bit distressing, especially since all they had was each other.

"Calm down. You're both right. You won't do them any good if you're not alive, but you can help them in their fight. We just won't lose. Alright?" Bren said.

Nikki and Ami looked at her and after a moment, they nodded. The glanced at each other and shrugged. They were on such rocky footing with one another, but no one else understood what they were going through.

"See, everything is gonna be great." Kat said, coming between them and hugging them both over the shoulders. "Now where exactly do we go?"


Year: After Colony 232

November 25

2:00 A.M.

Location: Colony Cluster 1; Battle field above Colony 42MRP91

Duo drew back the arm of his MS. The next moment, he slammed it forward into the enemy. The MD shattered into pieces. Shinigami grinned. "That's what you get." He loaded another missile into his MS's fist and prepared for the next assault. "Who wants some more?" He said, as he lashed out at the nearest MS. Suddenly a monitor in his suit lit up. He looked at it. It was the pilot of the suit in front of him. Duo's mouth dropped open. The person looked so familiar. His body shook with rage. He knew it wasn't but the face haunted him as he watched.

"Hello Duo." The pilot said. "You're speechless, I see."

Duo stared at the screen. "But how? You're in the hospital."

"Maybe I am, and maybe I'm not." Green eyes watched him.

"Trowa?" Duo blinked. He didn't understand this. His enemy grinned and the MS flew straight towards 02. Duo dodged a head on blow, but the enemy managed to nail his suit in the shoulder. Duo was knocked back; he heard a pop in his neck from the jolt. He shook his head.

"You're not Trowa. You can't be." But the proof was staring him straight in the face, an evil grin on its twisted face.

"And why not? Is there a rule saying I can't have found something better to fight for? Come on, Duo. Admit it. If you found something better, you'd jump at the chance."

"No. I wouldn't just betray my friends," Duo remarked back, dodging Trowa's next attack. The green eyed pilot fired a missile at him. Duo dodged and it struck an MD.

"In that case, why aren't you fighting back? Has Shinigami gone soft?" Trowa mocked. He fired another missile.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Duo yelled back, dodging the missile yet again. This time it was a homing missile. It followed 02, yet Duo's suit was faster. However, Duo couldn't shake it. "First Heero! Now you! What the fuck am I missing here?!" Duo flew behind Trowa, and before the green eyed pilot to get out of the way, the missile struck him. Shinigami heard a scream as the video feed went dead. He looked away, a tear in his eye. The feed came back for a split second and Duo saw the dead body of a blond man with red eyes and a snake tattoo on his arm sitting right where Trowa had been. Around him the battle had started to cease. Duo slammed his fists down on the counsel. Lights flickered all around him. His body shook in violent rage. He pressed a button releasing a missile blast to end the battle once and for all and the world went silent. The lights went out as if in the one moment he had exhaled, he had put out all the light in the universe. He leaned back in his chair, shrouded in darkness. He closed his eyes, and then opened them. He gazed out in front of him, seeing a dead man. He was one of the only survivors. The enemy was defeated. Every last one of them, gone.

"DAMN IT! WHO ARE YOU AND WHY THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THIS!" he shouted. He grinned, remembering Shinigami who still lived somewhere inside him. "WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO WISH YOU NEVER MESSED WITH SHINIGAMI," he added, grinning evilly, his youth alive in him, as a computer screen flickered on. 02 gazed into the eyes of the most unlikely person.


Year: After Colony 232

December 6

3:00 A.M.

Location: Colony Cluster 4; Military Colony 3

She lay in bed, the white sheets covering her body. Her forehead was matted with sweat, but she wasn't hot. She felt ice cold breath on the back of her neck. She opened her eyes slowly, gazing around the darkness. There was someone with her. She felt his presence. He tickled the back of her neck with his hand. Her nerves eased. He shifted his hand to her face and brushed the side of it with the back of his hand. He floated over her, letting her see him. He smiled and touched her eyelids. She opened her mouth to speak to him. He placed his finger over her lips, closing them, preventing her speech from breaking the delicate silence. He wound his fingers through her hair as he lowered his body on top of hers. Their legs intertwined. She felt lighter than air. He kissed her lips. She shuddered. He began to suck on her neck. She flew into passion. Her naked body wanted this. She gave in. His cloths were off, her cloths were off. They tumbled into a world of their own mad passions for one another. The door flew open, sending the darkness from the room. A white light hovered in the doorway. A figure stood there. It was only a black silhouette. They looked at it. Suddenly he drifted away from her. His arms spread out wide. The figure stepped closer. An MD, visible to her eye. Her eyes grew wide and she was determined to scream, but her voice wouldn't come. The MD raised its gun and fired. He disappeared instantly as the crack of the gun went off.

Nikki, Kat, Ami, and Bren all sat bolt upright in bed, drops of perspiration covered their bodies and they shook violently in the deep, silent, darkness of the women's barracks.


Year: After Colony 232

December 8

5:00 P.M.

Location: Earth; Somewhere in Europe

Ayman stared up at the sky as the sun began to set. He had a few bruises on his head and a sprained ankle, but all in all, he was fine. His head rested against the hatch of Gundam Kizer. He could smell a bit of burnt forest bellow him. At some point during the latest battle, Kizer's thrusters had been destroyed. Ayman had managed to engage an emergency system which had allowed him to stabilize himself and make it to earth safely. The main question now was, where on earth was he?.

The boy had been alone for three days and he was running a bit low on food. Luckily, though, he had spotted a nearby stream and was able to boil the water so he had something to drink.

Ayman rolled over onto his stomach and closed his eyes, shivering a bit as the sun shrank. He just wished he could be found already. He knew the battle had to have ended. The only problem was, he didn't know if his friends had lived. Earth was so distant. It was possible they weren't even aware of the war in space.

A sound reached his ear. It was like a stone hitting metal. Ayman lay perfectly still as voices floated up to his ear.

"Yep. It's definitely a Gundam, Eliza." A young boy's voice reached him.

"How do you know, Stephan?" A second voice asked, this time female, and even younger.

"He just knows." That was a third voice, again male.

"Oh, shut up Palton," That was another female.

"Why don't you make me, Riana?" the second boy said.

Ayman was curious. He slowly peaked his head over the edge of the hatch. Below him were four children around his own age. The first boy, the oldest by the looks of things, noticed him as the young pilot pulled back.

"Hey! Hey, you!" Stephan was blond with pale gray eyes. He had a light dusting of freckles across his nose. The other boy, Palton was standing beside him, looking up. The older girl, Riana, was the exact same height. They both had the same brown hair and almond shaped brown eyes. The final member of the group was the smallest. Eliza had short red hair and brilliant green eyes. Her entire face was covered in freckles. Ayman poked his head back over to look at them. "Me?"

"Yeah you, you dope! What are you doing up there?" Palton added. Ayman shrugged and climbed down from on top Kizer's hatch and then jumped down the last ten feet with ease of practice. The young pilot landed gently in a crouching position. He stood up and looked at the other children, three which were taller than he was, his eyes calm. Stephan was twelve, Palton and Riana were 11, and Eliza was 9. Ayman kept his head level as he watched them, his hand on the gun at his side. He wouldn't shoot to kill, just to escape if need be.

"We asked what you were doing up there?" Stephan snapped.

"I was trying to contact my comrades. I own this Mobile Suit."

Palton and Stephan nearly wet themselves with laughter. Ayman didn't falter. His face still and emotionless. Tarak and Haru had taught him well. "What's so funny?"

"You really expect us to believe that you own this Gundam?" Palton asked, calming a bit. Ayman nodded.

"Believe what you want, but Kizer and I have work to do. As I was saying, I have to contact my comrades. They're probably looking for me." They were kids. Best tell the truth and make them believe he was lying, then to tell a lie and have them hang around. He began to climb back up.

"Wait," Riana said. She grabbed his shirt, her hand barely missing the gun. Ayman took a deep breath and returned to them as she let go. "This is Gundam Kizer?" She and Eliza had stepped closer to the MS. "The one created by Quatre Winner?"

Ayman nodded again. "Yes. My father built Kizer."

"Your father?" Eliza asked amazed. The boy nodded.

"Who are you?" Stephan asked, getting suspicious. He was no longer watching the boy, but was examining Kizer like the girls.

"Ayman Quatre Winner. The youngest son of the Winner family."

"Prove it." Palton said, the only one who wasn't watching Kizer. He had his eyes on the other brown haired, brown eyed boy.

Ayman reached into his pocket and pulled out his hologram ID card. He pressed his thumb to the pad and a miniature hologram of himself appeared. A crisp clear voice emanated from the device.

"Name: Ayman Quatre Winner

Age: Ten

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Brown

Weight: 78 pounds

Height: 52 inches

Father: Quatre Raberba Winner

Mother: Unknown"

Ayman closed the device. "Satisfied?"

Palton and Stephan gulped, nodding as Ayman fixed them with a glare. Eliza stepped forward. "Ayman?" The boy pilot looked at the younger girl. "I'm sure Kizer is safe here. My dad owns these lands and you look hungry. Please, you should come back with us and get some food."

Riana nodded, taking the younger boy by the arm. "My mother supported the Gundam pilots in the war your father fought in."

"And she's making dinner for us." Palton added.

"And Riana and Palton's mom makes the best food." Stephan piped in, licking his lips.

Ayman smiled. "One minute, alright?"

"Promise?" Eliza said. Ayman nodded and climbed up to Kizer's cock-pit. He was starving, and definitely not about to pass up a chance for food. He turned off the homing signal. He couldn't have anyone finding his Gundam while he was gone. He climbed back down, and eagerly followed the four children to their homes.


Year: After Colony 219

April 5

Midnight

Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 11YVB01

An eight year old boy lay on a hospital bed staring up at the ceiling. There were four other beds in the room. One held his twin sister, and the others were occupied by his older sister and two younger sisters.

Tears hovered in the boys dark eyes. His mother sat on a chair beside him, stroking his forehead. His father stood against the wall, pain and suffering written all over his face. He had his arms folded across his chest as he stared at the floor and then the five beds. White sheets had been pulled up over the girl's purplish spotted faces. He sighed and looked as his last living child, the boy's spots were fading. The doctors told them that it was a miracle he survived. They hadn't expected any of the five to make it through the night.

"Yul! Stop crying." Wufei told his son. The boy obeyed and looked at his father, giving a small nod. His mother watched them both.

"Wufei, he's just a child." Relena told her husband in defense of the boy. 05 just shook his head.

"He's a man." Yul nodded in agreement and whipped away the last of his tears. He finally released the hand of the girl in the bed directly beside him. His twin's hand fell limply beside the bed.

"I'll get better," Yul said bravely, fighting a cough that forced it's way to his throat. Wufei gave him a half smile and nodded.

"I know you will," he said. Relena gave him a half smile, too, as she stroked his fever inflicted head and then kissed his forehead.

"We'll see you in the morning." She told him as the hospital staff came in to remove the other four beds. Yul watched as his mother followed them out, her face streaked with tears as more came.

"Dad?"

Wufei shook his head. "I had hopped I would be wrong, Yul. I really did. But it was true. The girls were weak."

"But mom?"

"She's a special exception. Now, get some rest, son."

Yul nodded and pulled the blankets up under his chin as he lay back down. He closed his eyes and fell into a flood of nightmares about his sisters.


Year: After Colony 232

December 14

Midday

Location: Colony Cluster L4; Military Hanger 6

Nikki walked alongside Kat. Ami and Bren were in front of them. Nikki examined the helmet in her hands as Kat tossed her back and fourth. Bren didn't seem very aware that hers was even in her hand. And Ami kept adjusting it's weight from hand to hand.

The four girls walked into hanger from the hall. Six large MSs stood there. They stood in the doorway, staring up at the machines, amazed by what they saw.

"Stunning, aren't they?" a girl with short blond hair and blue eyes stepped out of the office on the side. She was dressed in the pilot uniform of the colonies. A helmet lay on a chair outside the office door. The girl was drying her hands on a towel. "They're the second best in the colonies."

"Second best?" Kat asked, confused.

"Well the Gundams are first, but these beauties are the best actually owned by the colonies. You must be the four the recruitments office sent me."

Nikki nodded. "Yes Ma'am." She and the others were dumbfounded. Was this some kind of cruel joke? They were told that they were four of the most skilled pilots seen, and that they were being transferred to a branch that would enter combat very soon.

They expected their commanders to be a bit older.

The young woman smiled. "Please. I'm no older than you. Call me-"

"Diana? Hey! Who's here?" a voice came from one of the MSs. Suddenly a young man popped his head out of the hatch of the black and white MS. He ran his hand through his spiked brown hair as he looked them over.

"The new recruits. Come down and introduce yourself." Diana called back to him. "Like he said, call me Diana." The young man had leaped down from the suit and came to stand with her. He was their age as well. "And this is Jon." He nodded.

"I'm Bren, and this is Kat, Nikki, and Ami." Bren said pointing to each of them in turn. Jon shook his head grinning.

"What's so funny?" Ami asked, hands on her hips.

"No-nothing." Jon laughed. "I have to make a phone call." He excused himself and went into the office as Diana shrugged.

"Well, um… I guess the first thing to do is assign you your suits. The black and white one is Fenris, and it belongs to Jon. The all grey one with the laser daggers is Amida, and it's mine. The other four are up for grabs."

"You mean we can choose whichever we want?" Nikki asked.

"Yeah. You're going to be the one fighting in it aren't you. So you get to choose." Diana said smiling.

"Alright, well, since I'm the oldest.." Bren began, as she began to examine the suits.

"Whoa! Wait a minute."

A few minutes later, after a lot of laughing, teasing, arguing, and a few bumps and bruises, they each chose and named their suits. Nikki's was pale blue and black. It had a laser sword in one hand. The other was ringed by a barrel shaped covering which head missiles. Metal wings adorned it's back. Izanami had extreme agility. Bren's suit was black with small areas of gold. A double edged laser ax was its weapon. Thrusters on its back enabled Osiris to fly. Missiles could be fired from each of its fingers, and there was a special cloaking devise on it. Ami's suit was dark green and brown. Vulcan had a laser gun for one arm and its other palm could open to display a cannon. It had two sets of wings which increased its ability of extreme speed. Kat's suit was blood red. One arm was a laser, the other led to smaller lasers in the fingers. Missiles were in its shoulders, legs, chest, and feet. It's thrusters on the back of its legs provided it's flight just like Osiris. Isoke also had a built in shield system.

"Then you've decided?" Diana asked, smiling, as the young women inspected their choices. They nodded, barely paying attention.

"Yeah man, its great. I'm surrounded by women!" Jon's voice came, laughing from the office. All five women turned, looked at one another.

"Oh, Jon? Can we have a word with you?" Diana asked, innocently as they walked toward the office.


Year: After Colony 232

December 8

5:15 P.M.

Location: Somewhere between Earth and the Colonies

"Shit!" Haru's voice came crackling through the system into Cyprus. Trevet looked at his screen to see Haru's face. The other pilot ran his hand over his features, looking very angry.

"What's wrong, Haru?" Trevet hear Yul ask on another screen. Tarak's face appeared on a third, but the fourth screen stayed black.

"The signal's been lost. It's disappeared completely. Either he turned it off himself, or someone did it for him."

"Damn!" Trevet cursed, slamming his fist on the consol.

"Calm down, Haru. You have an approximate range right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, where are you now."

"A bit in front of you. Over eastern Europe." Haru said, sending his voice into Cyprus. "I'll send you all the coordinates."

"Can you land?" Tarak asked as he began flipping switches. Trevet and Yul were doing the same.

"Yeah."

"FUCK!" Trevet's screen turned to snow, but they could still hear him.

"Maxwell! What's wrong?" Yul screamed.

"Enemy found me," Trevet hissed, as he was jostled back and fourth. "There's not many. I'll destroy them. You three go on a head and find Ayman. He's the most important thing right now!" His screen came back on.

"You sure," Tarak asked, his hand on the controls to turn around.

"Y-yeah." Trevet replied, as he was hit by another attack.

"Fine." Yul said, examining Haru's coordinates.

"Good luck." And don't let any escape or it'll be our hides." Tarak reminded him.

"I know."

"We'll see you in a bit," Haru told him, winking. Trevet smiled, saluted them, and turned his feed off. Cyprus turned and faced the enemy force that was coming closer to him. He smiled cruelly, the son of the god of death. "Well, Cyprus, shall we do it again? This time it'll be fair. Thirty to one."

"Give up, Gundam. You're vastly out numbered." The commander of the enemy said. "The colonies will belong to the General."

"You'd think so." A voice came up behind Trevet. The pilot recognized it, but he couldn't lay his fingers on it. Two other suits appeared with it.

"I like these odds better. Thirty to four. No sweat." A second voice penetrated the air. The third suit remained silent and shifted into fighting position.

"I don't know who you are, but you can help as long as you don't get in my way." Trevet yelled, Cyprus' chain laser lashing out. He fired two missiles and instantly took out three of the enemy. He wasted no time in finding new victims.

"Kid's got nerve." The second voice said.

"Yeah," a third voice added to the mixture.

"Are we gonna sit here and compliment him, or are we going to kick ass?" the first voice added. His face appeared on the screen of the other two suits. "We've got to show we still know what we're doing." He smiled. The other two nodded and entered the battle.


Year: After Colony 232

November 27

7:00 AM

Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89

Duo waited in the lobby of the hotel after the young pilots had left. DJ was going to meet him with news about the enemy.

His violet eyes were wide as he searched the crowds for his informant. However, a sight caught his eye that he was not expecting: a short haired blond woman with blue eyes that was running towards him. The pure American woman looked out of place in the sea of people dressed for winter weather. She had on a short sleeve shirt and a skirt. A younger woman, about seventeen, followed behind the first, carrying a winter coat and trying to get the older woman to put it on. She had blond hair like the older woman, but hers was waist length. Her eyes were violet like Duo's. The first woman ran to him and collapsed in his arms.

"Duo? Why? Why did you take my boy?" she pleaded. Duo picked up the woman he hadn't spoken to in a year and hugged her close, resting his chin on her head.

"I couldn't have if it wasn't necessary, Katrina." He looked at the woman; a gift from his first love; when they broke up, she had introduced Katrina and Duo. She nodded several times and clung to him.

"Have they left yet, dad?" The teenager asked. Duo smiled at her.

"Yeah," he told her. The girl listened, frowning. "What's wrong?"

"Why him?" She screamed.

"Maddian!" Katrina said, harshly.

"What?" Duo asked gently.

"Why him? Why does Trevet have to fight in that monstrosity? Because of it, he killed Hilde! He's in enough pain already. Why make him more of a killer?"

"Maddy, your brother is…" Duo struggled. "This is something your brother needs to do."

"Killing?"

"Protecting the one's he loves from those who would destroy them." She watched him, tears in her eyes.

"For once, I don't understand dad."

"Katrina?" Duo suggested.

"I'll go to the restaurant and get us all drinks." She said, knowing her husband and daughter needed to talk.

Maddian held out something that had been concealed in her coat as soon as she was sure Katrina was gone. "Mom and I went upstairs to your rooms. They gave us the keys. I found this." Duo unwrapped the covered object: Heero's gun. Duo grinned. Maddian stared at him, horrified. "Why are you smiling? Dad?"

"Maddy, I'm sorry. For your sake, I've tried to be a total pacifist. Ever since Hilde died, I've tried to give up fighting, leaving it to others. But Maddy, I can't deny who I am anymore. I AM Shinigami."

He looked at her. "That's what the gun is telling me. Or rather, that's what Heero is telling me."

"Heero Yuy?"

"It's his gun."

She looked up at him, hurt in her eyes. "So you're going to join the fight?"

"I have already begun. I will join in full force once I find what I'm looking for."

She nodded. "I guess, if its for mother and I, and everyone…"

"You think I'd kill for the fun of it?" He asked her, grinning.

Maddian smiled back. "Yes."

"Ok, well maybe I would. But I'd think before I did." Duo said, laughing as his wife returned.

"Everything ok?" she asked him.

"Everything is perfect," he said, pulling her towards him and kissing her deeply. "We've just raised very passionate children." He held her shoulders in his hand as he thought of Trevet and Maddian, and even Hilde. Suddenly, something caught his eye. DJ was here. "Katrina; Maddy; why don't you go up to my rooms. I have an important meeting."

Katrina shook her head.

"No. We really must go. I just need to see you." She kissed him.

"If you could stay long-"

"Nope. Gotta run. See you and Trevet soon, dad," Maddian said, grabbing her mother's hand and leading her off.

"Maddian?" Her mom said laughing as they left.

"I'm too old for siblings, mother." Duo heard her say. He shook his head laughing as he headed over toward DJ who waited patiently for him.

Duo's braid was still longer than DJ's hair, but it was still put the shame by the platinum blond of DJ's.

"Thanks for waiting," Duo said, standing beside him. The tall older, blond man nodded. There were strands of grey in his hair. "They're your family. I understand. And you're all sorta like family."

"Oh, do please explain yourself," Duo said, nearly laughing.

"Well, my sister did marry one of your best friends, and you're all so close." Zechs said grinning.

"Nah, Wufei's all yours." Duo laughed. "So, you said you ad information for me?"

Zechs nodded. "The leader of the enemy calls himself 'The General'" Duo nodded as he listened. "Each of his followers displayed a snake tattoo on his arm. The General is descended from an ancient king, and well, he wants to rule. He's determined to get the colonies." Zechs paused. "Duo?"

"Hmm?"

"He has a team of scientists and doctors, more intelligent than those who created your original Gundams. They've started a project. They're cloning or rather forcing people's images onto others."

"They can make someone look like someone else?"

"More. They can transform one person into another using DNA, but they haven't perfected it yet."

Duo sighed. "Is that it?"

"Yes. And I must go before I'm missed." He pulled up is sleeve and displayed a snake tattoo. Duo grinned.

"So, you got yourself on the inside, huh?"

"Yeah, now lets hope I don't get caught. Not only will they kill me, but I doubt Relena will let me rest in peace."

Duo shook his head. "No, she'll even make sure your death is painful." Zechs laughed and disappeared into the crowd.


Year: After Colony 229

May 4

2:00 P.M.

Location: Colony Cluster L3; 83GKY02

A fifteen year old blond girl came running out of a candy store, gum and sweets stuffed in her pockets. She could hear the store owner calling after her. The girl noticed one of her friends, Telodor, standing beside his motor bike, eating an ice-cream.

"Hey Tel! I'm borrowing your bike!" She called, hopping on it, starting the engine with her hair clip and speeding off into the woods. Mr. Spruce, the owner of the candy shop came out, shaking a broom at her as she disappeared. He turned to Telodon, realizing she was long gone and he never got a good look at her.

"You know her?"

Tel just smiled. "Nope." He turned and walked away.

The girl slowed a bit when she knew she was safe. She reached behind her, to get the helmet. Pulling it on, she began to tighten the straps. Suddenly, a young man walked out in front of her. She slammed on the breaks, and the motor bike spun out. The rear tire hit the youth, knocking him to the ground.

Ami smacked her forehead. "Did it again, didn't I?" she said, turning towards him, a small, innocent grin on her face. Tarak stood up and dusted his pants off, smiling.

"Yeah. Lets see. I've known you a year and you never seem to disappoint me, Ami." He climbed onto the back of the motor bike. "How many times is it now?"

"Eight, Excluding when I first met you. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. That's how I always know it's you," Tarak said. "You always run me over." He kissed her lips lightly. Ami blinked.

"Tarak?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"I… uh… uh… so where'd you get the bike?" he said, blushing.

"Telodon leant it to me, so I could flee."

"Flee what? What did you do this time?"

"Stole candy from Mr. Spruce's store. Here, taste some." She pressed her lips against his. They broke apart.

"It… uh… tastes good. It was worth it. Can I taste again?" He asked her, nervously. Ami nodded as he placed his hand behind her head and brought his lips back to hers.


Year: After Colony 232

December 14

3:00 P.M.

Location: Colony Cluster L4; Military Hanger 6

"Ready?" Jon called into his headset to each of girls. After Diana gave them a tour of the base/hanger, Jon decided he wanted to see their abilities.

"Ready!"

"Absolutely."

"Just give me the go ahead!"

"Um… ok."

Jon shook his head as the responses reached his head set from the four MSs. Diana was in the control room, ready to start the training system. He gave her a thumbs up. "Go!" He said into the headset. The four MSs sprung to life and flew out into the space. MDs began attacking.

"Hey! Kat! Watch it with those missiles," Jon heard Bren complain as one of Isoke's missiles barely missed Osiris' left leg.

"Sorry!" Jon shook his head. The others were doing fine; much better than he had expected. At one point, Bren appeared between two MDs. As they neared, she cloaked herself and drew back. The MDs wound up destroying each other. Izanami's agility let Nikki maneuver the sword precisely, destroying MD after MD. The dolls couldn't even see Vulcan as Ami engaged speed to her advantage. Another missile flew past Osiris' head.

"Kat! Concentrate!" Bren screamed.

Jon just watched, silent.

"I'm trying." A third missile was released from Isoke's palm. This time it flew toward the hanger, hitting a box of metal waste and exploding.

"Kat! You have to concentrate!" Jon hissed as he ran to put out the flames.

"I told you, I'm try- oh shit!"

"What?" Nikki asked, destroying another MD.

"There's an MD controlling my scanners. It has set Osiris and the hanger as the enemy. That's why when I fire, it goes after Bren or Jon and Diana.
"Diana? Did you release a Quantum MD?" Jon asked confused. She shook her head.

"No! We don't have any. The main base didn't ship any to us this year."

"So?" Ami asked.

"It isn't one of ours!" Kat answered. She shifted some switches and took Isoke's missiles off auto lock. She turned toward the machine. Suddenly a voice came through. "The General will not have any resistance! He will have victory…" His voice trailed off. Isoke was right in front of him. Diana canceled the training program. Izanami, Vulcan, and Osiris were arranged behind her, about 70 feet back.

"No one messes with my friends!" Kat said, pressing a button. A missile flew the short distance between Isoke and the enemy. White light absorbed both MSs. Jon could hear both the Enemy and Kat scream in pain. Nikki, Bren, and Ami held their breath, as pieces of metal flew out from the sphere of light. A dark figure moved toward them and Isoke emerged, a little scorched, but whole.

"Kat?" Ami screamed.

"I'm fine. A little banged up and I inhaled a little smoke, but I'm fine."

"Good, cause I'm gonna kill you." Bren and Nikki said at the same time.


Year: After Colony 232

December 3

11:50 P.M.

Location: ?

The barely clothed figure hung limply from the ceiling, blood dripping down on the stone floor. A gag had been stuffed in his mouth. He listened to the drops of blood as they hit the stones, waiting for any other sound. His body ached. How did this happen? How could he have gotten caught? He had gotten wind of the general's plans early and had attempted to stop it. No! They were expecting him. He fell for the trap. Damn!

Voices reached his ears from the other side of the door. He could hear them perfectly.

"There isn't time!"

"But we've got to get him out."

"You don't even know who it is, Trowa."

"Wufei! What if they've already done to him what they want to do to us?"

"Fine! But hurry up!" Wufei commanded. Patient number three heard the sound of lock picks in the door. His eyes widened and he tried to call out. Suddenly the lock clicked. It was unlocked, the handle began to turn. He heard the other door open.

"TROWA! LETS GO!" The knob stopped turning as shouts sounded in the outer room. He heard footsteps retreating from the door, and then the issuing of orders to re-capture the pilots. And then everything was silent. His chance was gone.


Year: After Colony 220

August 3

10:00 P.M.

Location: Colony Cluster 1; Colony 75GTY71

Haru lay on his back in the grass outside his house. He was eight years old. His head touched the top of a small girls as she lay there with him. They watched the stars up above them. It was nearly eighty five degrees, but Nikki wore long sleeves and pants. Haru knew it was to hide the bruises on her arms and legs.

"Haru?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think the stars are made of?" The six year old asked him. He bit his lip, thinking, knowing she was on the verge of crying once again, her most recent beating had been more hours before.

"Good little children," he told her calmly. "Good little children who are treated badly, but when they grow old and die are made into stars because they were so brave."

"Really?"

Haru nodded. He rolled onto his stomach and began to play with her hair. "Of course."

"Then I'll be a star, won't I?" She asked him, rolling over as well.

"You already are."

Nikki smiled at him, sat up and pilled her knees under her. "Do you think he'll ever stop?"

"Who?"

"My dad. Do you think he'll ever stop hurting me?"

"I don't know Nikki. I just don't know. But I know something."

"What?"

"I won't ever hurt you."


Year: After Colony 232

December 20

Morning

Location:?

Quatre tossed and turned on the concrete floor of his holding cell. Heero came in and looked down at him. 01 turned on the light, the harsh brightness of it stung 04's eyes.

"Get up!"

"What?"

"Get up!"

"But why?"

"You've spoken to him!"

"Who?" Quatre asked, sitting up.

"Him." Heero drew out a whip and before he knew it, the air was filled with the sounds of Quatre's screams as they vibrated through the room.


YAY for really long chapters! OK, it's only 14 pages typed, but the others were only five or six, so yeah, YAY for very long. So yeah. I really hoped you liked that, and I really hope you want more. However, I do have a bit of bad news. A Crimson Christmas is being postponed until further notice. I have realized how much I have neglected three of my other fan fictions, and I want to work on them for a while. Thus, A Crimson Christmas will be updated once I am satisfied with the amount of work I get done on my other fics. So, I guess, for now, this is farewell. Feel free to read any of my other fics!

FatelessWanderer