Ok, so a five month break is break enough. Time to get back to the story, because Ami was feeling sad and I want to make her happy again, and since she likes this one so much, I thought hey, what could be better than filling my time making my friends happy and giving Katlin the ability to fly big gundam suits and shoot lots of people? So anyway, I noticed I've described how the girls met, and how they separated, and how their lives continued together, but I haven't shown how they got back together, so why not start with that.


Year: After Colony 229
January 12
7:00 am
Location: Colony Cluster L3; Colony 83GKY02

Nikki yawned as she slug one of her bags over she shoulder, her suitcase clasped in her hand. She gazed up at the towers of a solid white marble building in front of her and smiled. So, her dad had finally gotten sick of her again. He'd finally sent her away to a new boarding school. Unknown to her dad though, Haru attended there. She could be together with the only one who ever protected her. Not that the high school Junior had any clue she existed in that way. Sure he liked her well enough, but Nikki didn't delude herself. Haru only took care of her like an older brother would. She sighed again and climbed the steps to the main doors and headed toward the sign in office.
As she walked, she saw several second graders walking hand and hand, wearing uniforms. She let a small smile play over her lips as memories hit her. The last time she'd seen any of her friends was through video phone at Ami's when she was 10. Her dad wouldn't allow her to contact anyone after that, and she and Ami eventually lost contact. She'd see Haru when he was on his school vacations but the otherwise, her social life was nonexistent. She stopped at the head masters office and knocked lightly, waiting for permission to enter. A voice startled her from behind, causing her to jump.

"You're one of the new girls?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"First name?"

"Nikkimi, ma'am. Nikki for short."

The woman nodded and beckoned for her to follow. They went down a long corridor to a wing that read "High school Dormitories".

"Your room is the second on the left. Your roommate will explain everything." She handed Nikki a key and walked off in the other direction. Nikki watched her go for a moment before unlocking the door and looking around. It was obvious her roommate had claimed the far side of the room, so Nikki set her stuff on the right side desk. She sat down on her bed and surveyed her surroundings as she heard another key enter the door followed by laughter. Three young women, her age entered the room, and Nikki immediately stood and bowed towards them in respect. "konnichiha" she said, slipping into her native Japanese since she was nervous. Usually she remembered to use English but there were occasions. The three girls stopped moving and the one closest to her frowned and stepped forward, lifting Nikki's chin so their eyes met.
"Nikki?" she asked in more of a whisper than anything. Nikki looked confused for a moment as she searched the girls face for an answer. The she blinked, trying to contemplate what she was seeing.

"Ami!" she gasped, throwing her arms over her best friends shoulders. She gazed behind the blonde and smiled. "Bren, Kat…but how? I didn't think I'd see you guys again."

"Stranger things have happened," Bren replied, taking her turn to hug her friend. Kat nodded and followed suit, brushing tears from Nikki's eyes as they sat down on the beds and began talking as if they had never been separated. A sudden knock on the door they'd left open took them out of their bliss. Ami peered over at the door and smiled as two young men came in.

"Nikki, this is Tarak Barton, and his friend,"

"Haru," Nikki breathed, jumping up and launching herself at him. He caught the sobbing fourteen year old in his arms, knowing what must have happened. Why she was there. But he wouldn't say anything, he just held her gently, careful not to upset any bruises she may have been concealing beneath her long sleeves and pants.

"I'd say it's a fair guess that they know each other," Tarak joked. Ami elbowed him in the stomach.


Year: After Colony 232
December 22
12:00 pm
Colony Cluster L4; Colony 67JPR04

"Come on, you've got to be kidding me."

"Nope. You're coming."

"But its cold outside."

"Its winter."

"But you'll be on a sled. You'll run me over… again."

Ami glared at Tarak and then slapped him on the shoulder with her scarf. Before tossing him his coat.

"I promised Nikki, Kat, and Bren that I'd go with them when we took Ayman sledding and you're going to come."

"But Ami," Tarak protested, shoving his arms in his coat sleeves.

"No buts. Haru, Yul, and Trevet are coming too, and you don't see them complaining." Ami cut him off. "Although Kat may need to club Yul first, but anyway… You're coming. End of story."

"And if I don't?"

"You'll have to find another way to keep warm at night," Ami explained, walking out into the hall. It didn't really surprise her when Tarak followed and fell into step beside her as they made their way out onto the hotel grounds.

"Beautiful weather, don't you think?" Nikki asked, her arms draped over Haru's shoulders, standing on her tippy toes, or not on the ground at all. A huge grin on her face as the snowflakes that had arrived that morning continued to fall over her face.

"Wonderful," Tarak murmured. He glanced at Trevet, Ayman, and Bren who were all involved in a snowball fight, and jumped aside as one went flying by his head. "Watch it will you?" Ami kissed his cheek.

"Lighten up, Tarak. Its almost Christmas," she told him, smiling.

"But the mission."

"Take your mind off it a bit," Nikki told him. Tarak looked at Haru who just shrugged. Obviously he wasn't so sure about play time either.

"For once the girls are right," Yul put in as he and Kat arrived. She threw a snowball at his head. "We do need to relax a bit. If Commander Maxwell needs us, he'll contact us. Its not like we're oblivious to anything going on anyway. Even the Serpents seem to be aware that its Christmas."

"I suppose you're right," Tarak told him.

"Besides, The weather is kinda nice," Yul added before Trevet stuck a snowball in his face. "MAXWELL!"

Five seconds later Trevet was running for dear life, Yul chasing after him, his hand fumbling for something in his jacket.

"Is he going to shoot him?" Bren asked, slightly concerned.

"Nope, I took his gun," Kat replied, holding up the weapon.

"Chang never lets go of his gun willingly," Haru observed. "Come to think of it, I don't think he ever puts it down."

"I never said he knew I had it," Kat retorted.

"I don't even want to know," Tarak said, shaking his head.

"What don't you want to know?" Ayman asked, looking up from the snowman he had started to build.

"We'll tell you when you're older," Nikki informed him as she leapt away from Haru to help the boy. The others slowly joining in as Yul continued to chase the blonde pilot.


Year: After Colony 232
December 22
3:00 am
Location: Colony Cluster L4; Colony 67JPR04

Duo sat in the chair, staring at the man on the bed in front of him. Things weren't looking good for 01 and the three others would be risking a lot by taking him to a hospital. Trowa and Wufei couldn't let their presence be known, and even if they could, there would be way too many questions. Ones they couldn't answer yet. Ones they didn't want to have to answer. If the people knew for sure that they were back helping the colonies, there could be panic. As it stood, the Serpents were only a minor threat that appeared to be being defeated at every turn. If it looked like Duo and the others were involved, things could escalate.

Quatre was still missing. Did this mean that Duo was wrong? That Heero hadn't been the kidnapper? But he was so sure. He had to admit, in a way he was relieved to see Heero completely banged up, near death. It meant his best friend hadn't done something unspeakable. Or at least he hoped not. Duo didn't want to have to kill him.
A short cough from the bed drew his attention. He gazed over at Heero until he was sure the man was actually awake. One bright blue eye opened and looked out at him.

"Quit staring Maxwell, you've seen plenty of bodies worse off than mine." 01 snapped at him. Duo shook his head slightly and pulled his chair closer to his comrades bed.

"What happened?"

"I was beaten. What does it look like, Baka?" Heero told him, looking away.

"You know what I mean," Duo replied, standing and taking a damp cloth off the counter. He gently began to clean Heero's wounds. Heero didn't even wince as the soap and alcohol mix fell into his deepest lashes.

"They imprisoned me in a dark room, chained to a ceiling. The cut on me, and whipped me to within inches of death everyday for the past few months. I don't know what they were doing, but they said they needed blood and flesh, and DNA."

"Oh god," Duo muttered. "Trowa, Wufei. Wake up… we've got something."

Heero frowned at the violet eyed man as the two others stirred from their light sleep, and glared at him. "What? What do you know?"

Duo just shook his head. "I saw it. I saw it work. Its not perfect, but."

"Maxwell, what in the hell are you talking about?" Wufei yelled at him. Trowa calmed him down as they both pulled up chairs.

"I told you guys that I've met with Zechs, right?" Trowa and Wufei nodded. Heero just stared blankly. "Well, he said something about DNA cloning. Or more like putting someone's image on another person. Making them look exactly like one another using DNA. And I saw it happen. I though I'd been hallucinating until now, but I'm sure of it."

"What did you see?" Trowa aksed him.

"You. In a battle. I fought you. Or what I thought was you. He looked exactly like you. He sounded like you. But he was trying to kill me. Said he was allowed to change sides if he wanted to. But when I killed him, the body, it was a Serpent. And then when you and Wufei contacted me. I thought I'd imagined the whole thing."

"So you're saying the serpents have the ability to make themselves look like our allies?" Wufei asked.

"More than that, I think." Duo said. "I think they can make themselves believe they are our allies. Or at least the people who would be our allies if they we're under Serpent control."

"What are you getting at?" Heero asked, coughing. Trowa offered him some water and turned his attention back to Duo.

"Heero was their guinea pig. They took so much blood and DNA from him, I think they were actually able to create an almost perfect replica of him, down to his very thought processes."

"Which would explain why we can't find Quatre's kidnapper." Trowa cut in. Duo nodded. Heero frowned.

"Quatre's kidnapped? By who?"

"For all intensive purposes, Yuy, by you."


Year: After Colony 218
July 7
5:00 pm
Location: Colony Cluster L5; Colony 11YVB01

A small four year old sat huddled in a corner, her left eye swollen from what she said was a fall she had taken. Nikki would never tell the truth. Her mommy told her it would get daddy in big trouble, and the last thing they wanted was for daddy to get in trouble. If daddy got in trouble, they wouldn't have the money to live anymore. So Nikki fell. She always fell. Whether it was a broken bone, a scrape, a cut, or a black eye; the child always fell.

She watched the scene in front of her through her good eye from behind the chair behind her mother. Her daddy had just gotten home from work. And he was mad. He was also what her mommy called not in his right mind. Nikki knew it because there was a bottle in his hand. There was also a shiny black thing in his other hand. The one he kept waving at her mommy. And her mommy was crying. Nikki didn't understand what they were saying, but her mommy was crying and her daddy was yelling. Was her mommy going to have to "fall"?

Nikki shut her eyes as her father's yelling got louder. She clapped her hands over hear eyes as a loud bang filled the air and her vision went white. She opened her eyes to see her mommy and daddy running towards her, and she looked down. Her white nightgown was stained red, as were her hands. There was a hole in her stomach. She fell backwards, surrendering to the white.

She didn't know how long she'd be there, but when her eyes finally opened, she was alone in a white room, wearing a funny gown that didn't close all the way. There were tubes in her arms and wires and machines everywhere. She looked around for her mommy and daddy, but couldn't see them anywhere. But there were flowers and balloons everywhere. Sunlight came in through the window.

"What happened?" She whispered, to no one really.

"Doctors said you got shot," came a clear, crisp, know it all voice. Nikki looked in the corner of the room and saw a boy with bright blue eyes staring at her.

"What's shot?"

"Its when a gun is fired and it hits you. There's lots of blood and stuff. My daddy used to be a soldier. He shot lots of people." The boy told her matter-of-factly. "So who shot you?"

"I don't know. I fell." Nikki said. She assumed the that if Daddy would get in trouble for hitting her, he'd probably be in trouble for shooting her as well.

"That's too bad. Is bad to shot little girls. I'd hurt the person who shot you if you knew." The boy said, looking down at his feet. "I'm Haru. I'm six."

"Nikki, and I'm four," she replied.

"Haru? There you are. Get out of here," An older boy came into the room. "We're here to see mom remember. She's sick again." Haru just nodded.

"Coming Renyu." Haru replied as the older boy left. "That's my brother. I gotta go. But maybe I'll see you around." Nikki nodded as he started to leave.

"Wait, Haru. It was my Daddy."

Haru stopped and looked at her. Then he nodded.

"Someday, I'll make him pay." The six year old replied as he left the room.


Year: After Colony 232
December 24
11:45 pm
Colony Cluster L4; Colony 67JPR04

"Ever wonder why we have Christmas trees and not Christmas bushes?"

"What?"

"Why are they trees and not bushes?" Kat asked again, tilting to her head.

"I don't know. Because they are. Why are you asking these questions?" Ami responded. Kat looked at her… moments passed.

"You know, I'm really not sure."

Ami smacked herself in the forehead. "I don't understand you sometimes."

"That's ok. Don't really understand myself sometimes either." Kat replied and turned around from the Christmas tree she and Ami were finishing decorating. She winked at Yul who was sitting on the couch of the suite they had all checked into, giving up all the rooms they had. Now they had a four bedroom hotel suite all their own, with Ayman sleeping in the living room. Kat collapsed down beside Yul, snuggling into his arms. Nikki and Trevet were sitting on the two separate love seats, Bren leaning against the blonde haired pilot, while Ayman lay on his stomach in front of the fireplace, looking at an old magazine he found in the hotel lobby. Trevet kept a small laugh to himself when he noticed it was an old toy catalogue. He usually forgot the boy was only ten. Haru and Tarak were pouring glasses of wine for everyone, even letting Ayman partake.

"If you did, you wouldn't be Kat," Haru replied, handing Nikki a glass and sitting beside her.

"True. Very true."

"Although, that's going to complicate things for Haru, isn't it?" Tarak asked, pulling his fiancé close to himself. Ami just giggled as he nibbled on her ear.

"Shut it Barton," Yul snapped. "I'm perfectly content with my mystery woman."

"Ooo… you like mystery huh? I can give you a little mystery tonight if you want."

"Cool! You guys gonna play clue?" Ayman asked, his face lighting up. Everyone just stared at him for a moment.

"How is it that this kid is a genius in everything except the subject of sex?" Trevet asked, shaking his head.

"OOOO… you've all been talking about sex this whole time? Well, why didn't you say so. You just kept saying 'we'll tell you when you're older' so I assumed it was some top secret adult concept. Everyone knows about sex." The boy said matter-of-factly, standing up and taking the glass with only half a normal amount of wine, ignoring the stares he was getting.

"I'm not even going to ask," Bren retorted.

"Probably safer that way." Nikki assured her.

"So, you've all done it? What's it like, Nikki?" Ayman asked, plopping down on the couch beside her. The young woman immediately spit out the warm liquid in her mouth.

"WHAT? Me… no… no… I.." she stuttered, her face going bright red.

"Nikki's probably not the best person to ask, Ayman," Ami told him.

"Oh… alright. Well then what about you?" Ami just blinked and looked at Tarak.

"Ayman, perhaps these are questions best saved for when we find your dad." Her fiancé suggested.

"But we may not find him."

"We will," Haru assured him.

"But what if we don't? What if he's already dead?" Ayman begged, his eyes taking on a sad expression.

"If that's the case Ayman, I'll take it upon myself to personally make sure you know everything there is to know about everything. I promise," Trevet told him, nodding toward the boy. Bren turned and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "What was that for?"

"For being you."

"Alright then."

"Ok guys, time to open presents!" Nikki said, leaning toward the bottom of the tree and passing out the gifts. "This one's Ami's."

"But its not even midnight yet."

"12:00 on the dot," her friend replied, tossing the blonde the gift.

"Humor her," Haru told them, getting an elbow in the stomach.

"Christmas is the only time of year I don't have to think about my dad. I like to make it start as soon as I can." Nikki explained. Kat smiled and squeezed her shoulder.

"Alright then, pass me one."


Year: After Colony 233
March 7
4:00 am
Location: Colony Cluster L2; Colony 16NAK68

Over the months that followed Christmas, the nine pilots fell into a sort of steady flow. They fought in what ever battles they were told too, often times separated from one another for weeks as orders and assignments differed. They spent any leisure time possible together, growing more like a family then the friends and lovers that they were.

Duo, Trowa, and Wufei nursed their fallen comrade back to health, and the four of them renewed the search for 04. Unfortunately it seemed as if he had literally disappeared from the universe. They got no more leads, and eventually joined their sons in the battle against the Serpent's growing forces, although they didn't tell them.

The General's main base was discovered to be located on earth. Although, the information came too late to stop the mad man's expansion. By the time the news reached the gundam pilots and their allies, The General controlled 95 of the earth's governments, and the remaining nations weren't strong enough to oppose him. Word of how dangerous the situation was finally reached the colonies ears. Many considered surrender, although most placed their hope in the pilots who risked their lives daily to protect the peace that had once existed.

Battles raged everywhere, turning the once quiet dark skies, into twisted hellish nightmares. Bombs seemed as common as fireworks on new years. No one was started to see a dead body lying in the street, a curved line etched in his skin. It was the mark of the Serpents. How they told the people they were there and they weren't going anywhere. Each battle seemed to drag on for days, filling the air with screams and the sounds of metal upon metal.

It was one of these battles that Ami and Kat found themselves in early one morning. They, Tarak, Yul, Haru, and Ayman were supposed to infiltrate a known serpent base the next night. Somehow the enemy had gotten word and forced the colonial fighters to emerge from their hiding places and face them when they weren't fully prepared. The battle wore on for hours, the serpent troops never appeared to tire. It was as if they weren't human. That they could go without sleep for days at a time. Ami was disgusted. Her mind drifted to Nikki, Bren, and Trevet who were on another colony investigating a lead on The Generals total plans. She prayed for their safety, knowing that if defense at this base was so high, it was a sure thing that the others were just as heavily guarded. An enemy suit appeared in her viewing screen aiming a missile at her, but the anger that filled her increased her reaction time and made it nearly impossible for the Serpent to even leave a scratch on Vulcan's armor. She never noticed when she was accidentally knocked back and a huge gash formed in the back of her head from a piece of Vulcan's consol that had been damaged earlier in the battle.

The young blonde just wanted it to be over. She wanted to be able to collapse into the arms of the one she loved and be surrounded by her friends. She longed for a point when she had been able to worry only about school. When a history test was the worst of her worries. Time seemed to stand still as she engaged in battle with enemy after enemy, using Vulcan's power to tear through anyone who got in her way, still ignoring the blood that ran from her scalp down the back of her suit, although she slowly began to feel a throbbing in her head.

A loud explosion caught her attention as she ripped into one of the few remaining MSs. She turned just in time to watch as Isoke exploded on impact with a large homing missile from an MS that was immediately taken out by Kizer and Gouka. Suddenly everything went silent as she realized what she'd just watched. She couldn't breath, or hear, or speak. It was as if everything ended. She jolted when a piece of Isoke's left arm hit the front of Vulcan. Ami gasped for breath, the tears finally coming into her eyes.

"No… No god… no. That didn't happen. That didn't just happen. I won't let it." She pushed herself from her chair, fumbling with the straps as she pushed her helmet over her face and dashed for the exit, blood pooling within the suit. She pushed the hatch open and leapt into the open gravity free space between herself and her friends cockpit as the salt water that poured from her eyes continued to mix with the crimson blood that poured from the gash in her head. She felt dizzy and light headed as she attempted to propel herself towards her friend, and she collapsed. Tarak gently lifted her body up with a swift move of Desu's arm. Haru brought Andros over to the last spot Isoke had occupied. Yul was already there, a limp body clutched in Gouka's arm.

"She alive?" Haru asked, his voice distant.

"For the moment." Yul may have tried to hide his pain, but Haru knew what he was feeling.

"Lets get them to the hospital."

"Right."


Year: After Colony 233
March 7
4:00 pm
Location: Colony Cluster L2; Colony 16NAK68

Three men and a young boy occupied a small waiting room of a hospital that had been granted to them. The colony they were on, luckily, was still run by the colonists and the doctors asked very few questions. Yul and Tarak both sat on chairs, heads in their hands while Ayman stared up at the ceiling his arms stretched out on the arm rests. Haru stood behind them, coffee in his hands, his eyes going back and fourth between the elevator doors and the employee only doors. The doctors had been with the girls for twelve hours and still, they knew very little. All they knew is that Ami should wake up soon. She'd passed out from lack of blood. Kat, however, they weren't sure.

A small bell dinged in the room and only Haru and Ayman looked over to see the elevator doors open. Nikki ran out towards the doors that were forbidden, Trevet attempting to hold her back. Haru caught her before she made it far.

"Let me go."

"No. You have to calm down."

"Calm down! Calm down. Haruko, two of my best friends are unconscious in a hospital and you want me to calm down."

"Make that one friend," a calm voice told them as Bren tried to comfort Tarak and Yul. Everyone looked up at the doctor who'd come in. "Your friend Ami has woken up. She's still a little dizzy, but she'll be ok."

"Can we see her?" Bren asked carefully.

"Yes, but only one of you for now."

"Tarak, you go." Nikki told him. "You're her fiancé. And Kat? How is she?"

"She was bleeding internally, but we managed to stop it before it caused too much damage. She's got 5 broken ribs, her left arm is broken in 2 places, both her legs are broken, and she's in a pretty deep coma. It's a miracle she's still alive. We've done all that we can, but its uncertain now if she's going to make it through. I'm sorry."

Nikki and Bren nodded before turning to their loves and crying. Haru put his arms around Nikki with ease of practice, while Trevet was a little unsure of how to comfort Bren. Its wasn't something he had to do normally. "Tarak, you'd like to see Ami?" the doctor addressed the young pilot.

"Yes sir."

"Alright, follow me." The doctor lead him through about four white washed hallways and dozens of rooms. All that looked the same. Filled with countless numbers of electronic machines that let out a multitude of sounds that needed to be deciphered to know what was going on. It was if the hospital was a whole separate world designed to confuse the average person. Prevent them from entirely understanding what was going on, and thus ensure their ignorance until a doctor could provide as much explanation as they were willing to.

Finally, Tarak stepped through a door way and the doctor generously closed the door behind him, leaving him alone in the room save the body on the bed. Ami had her eyes shut, and her head bandaged. The only light in the room was above her bed, making her appear as an angel to him.

"Ami?"

"hmm… Tarak… oh Tarak, I'm sorry…"

"Shhh… Its ok. Not now. Its just, this is exactly what I was worried about. Any longer and we may have lost you. I'm just so glad you're alright." He told her, running his fingers along the wires and IVs she was connected to. "Are you alright?" He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Yeah, I'm alright. But Kat?"

Tarak shook his head. "Unsure. We don't know if she'll wake up. She pretty banged up, sweetie." Ami just nodded.

"Are Bren and Nikki here?"

"Just arrived. Nikki nearly broke through the doors to get to you. I should have let her come."

"No. She understands. I wanted you anyway." Ami said, closing her eyes again. "So, they said I'm really going to be ok?"

"Yeah, you just need to rest." He kissed her again as the door opened.

"I'm sorry, sir, but the doctor's ordered that the visitation is over. Our patient needs to sleep."

"I understand. I'll be back when I can, Ami."

"Promise?"

"I promise. We need to have a long talk over what caused this." Ami frowned but nodded. She yawned and closed her eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too," Tarak said before leaving and following the nurse back to the waiting area. Trevet handed him a steaming cup of coffee. Bren sat between Trevet and Yul, while Nikki leaned against Haru. Ayman was curled up into a ball on his chair fast asleep.

"How was she Tarak?" Bren asked.

"Good. She's alright. Just tired."

"Good." Bren nodded, looking at the sleeping boy. "Poor kid. He's had a long day."

"I'll take him to a hotel, get us some rooms?" Trevet offered.

"We'll come with, not much we can do here," Haru answered. Nikki looked at him anxiously, but one look from him and she nodded. Bren sighed and nodded. She touched Yul's shoulder as she walked off.

"You'll keep us notified?" Nikki asked.

"Of course. We'll call as soon as we know anything." Tarak responded.

"Ok then."

And she and Bren followed Trevet who carried a sleeping Ayman onto the elevator.


Morbid ending, but shrugs I felt like it. Not the longest chapter ever, but it'll do. I hope you all enjoyed and don't pester me over what's gonna happen to Kat, cause I don't know at this stage in the story, although Amy, I like the idea you gave me yesterday and I think I'm going to do it. Please review…
Fatelesswanderer