Here's chapter six of Crossing Paths! More Feldt and Setsuna goodness for those who've been looking forward to it. Unlike how godly they made Setsuna to be in some series of the anime, I prefer portraying a more 'realistic' Setsuna here, in a sense that he has his weaknesses, and hasn't found out everything/has stuff he doesn't know about yet. And just a reminder - technically, he was the one who discovered the GN Particles in this story, the enemies haven't found out much about it yet. Enjoy!

P/S : Thank you to all reviewers, I love you all! And to those who gave me some info about the GN Particles/Drives, thank you so much too!

Note to XoreandoX : I wasn't aware that dyed her hair, but her pink hair gave me the inspiration for this story. ^^" That said, thanks for telling me. One of the major themes in this story is how Setsuna doesn't stereotype against her or anything and accepts her for who she is - and the pink hair issue plays a part.

Approach

Feldt had never flown on a mobile suit before – and the thought of her being in one, especially with Setsuna as the pilot, was something that she never would have believed in the past. She fought back a wave of nausea as the mobile suit continued its ascent, gripping the sides of her seat tightly. If this was flying, she certainly didn't like it too much.

Setsuna seemed to sense her discomfort. "It will subside," he said dispassionately, focusing on his task of piloting the suit they were in. "Close your eyes and breathe."

Oh, he made it sound so easy. Feldt followed his advice, hoping that she wouldn't throw up. It was the last thing she needed. She recalled an incident where Hallelujah had slammed his twin's head into a paper bag – it was a sturdy one used for groceries, and Feldt wouldn't have minded if she had one just like it now.

For, you know, just in case.

Finally, the mobile suit leveled off, and the flight continued smoothly. She snapped her eyes open, only to see Setsuna gazing at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly.

At the very least, the nausea was gone. "Yes." She hesitantly peered out of the glass panes, only to gasp in awe. "It's beautiful!"

And it was. The lit buildings below them glowed brightly amidst the darkness in a shade of yellow and white, with occasional green and red hues coming from several specially-lit structures. Once in a while, Feldt would catch a glimpse of pale aquamarine, and knew that it came from lit swimming pools. It was a sight to behold.

"You haven't flown on a mobile suit before." It was not a question – it was a statement.

Feldt bowed her head slightly. "Never. In all my life, my job was to program and occasionally, build – but not to fly. I did consider learning up the ways of piloting a mobile suit, but it would take up too much time – time which I did not have." She smiled whimsically, then continued, "Besides, staying in the lab all day wasn't so bad. I love machinery, and being able to help program one made all the long hours worthwhile. I got a break by going to the library sometimes, being a librarian was quite fulfilling too."

She laughed a bit, thinking about the long hours she used to clock – alone – in the lab room. It was always quiet, cool, and sterile. Marie had to remind her that she needed some sleep, and was the only one who came around to check up on her well-being.

Feldt looked up, startled, as she heard three raps on the door.

"Feldt," Marie's muffled voice came through, "It's dinner time. I brought you some food."

Feldt entered the access code and watched as the door unlocked itself, allowing Marie in. "I'm sorry for troubling you again, Marie."

Marie smiled kindly. "It's alright." She turned to survey the complicated mesh of machinery Feldt had been working on, brow crinkling slightly. "Hard day?"

"Not really," Feldt said. Well, to be honest, Feldt was exhausted – but there was no way she was going to worry Marie over that.

Marie had brought over the regular cafeteria food – cafeteria food which many students had come to loathe, but for now it felt heavenly to Feldt. The lab was always so chilly – and the warm food was a pleasant welcome.

Marie observed how Feldt ate hungrily, noticing how pale she was. There were even subtle signs of eye bags beginning to form underneath Feldt's usually-bright emerald eyes.

"You're working too much."

Feldt paused between a spoonful of soup. "I'm fine, Marie."

"But you've been at this for so many hours already! You say that you rest, but I know that you head out to the lab deep in the night after only a two hour nap – and then you head to classes straightaway in the morning, only to continue working again in the afternoon!" Marie exclaimed. "Even the best students need to rest a little more, Feldt. Why not have some proper sleep tonight?"

"I can't, Marie," Feldt said with a sigh, looking downcast. "I can't stop just yet."

Marie bit her lip, looking at Feldt seriously before popping a question she had wanted to ask for a long time. "Why do you try so hard, Feldt?"

Feldt stiffened a bit before turning her frown to an easy-going, teasing smile. "What do you mean? Isn't it good for students to be hardworking?"

"Now isn't the time for jokes, Feldt. You know what I mean. This isn't just about being hardworking or not, you're starting to be obsessed with this whole robotics engineering business. Why, Feldt? I know I've only known you for a few months ever since we became roommates, but I'm worried about you! You've even skipped librarian duties for many weeks already!"

Feldt had no idea how to respond to Marie's sudden outburst.

She obsessed herself over this, because it was the only thing she could do. There was nothing else she could look forward to. Her family had passed away that few weeks ago – and ever since then, all she wanted to do was work, work – and work.

When Graham Aker and Billy Katagiri had approached her to ask her to build a superior Flag machine, she had not hesitated in saying yes.

Feldt didn't want to think about the deaths of her parents so much, but at the same time she wanted to make them proud.

There was nothing else to look forward to – nothing she could really say.

Everything was so empty for her at that time.

Until she had met Setsuna.

"You're crying."

Feldt gave a tiny squeak, frantically rubbing her eyes with her fingers – dismayed that there were indeed tears there. "H-how did you know?"

He gave an indifferent shrug.

"What about you, Setsuna? Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from?" Feldt asked.

However, before he could respond, a beep sounded. Setsuna pushed a button and a mini-screen popped up. It was Tieria, a glare plastered on his face as usual.

"Setsuna, we have trouble."

Feldt leaned over, only to see Setsuna's shoulders tense and him asking, "What is it?"

"There are four Realdos heading over your way. They'll be within firing range in 0025."

Feldt sat up straighter. The Realdos were more commonly used by the Union but had mostly been replaced by Flags after they were invented. It seemed that they had been spotted – and the two of them were more or less wanted people, weren't they? Not to mention that this suit wasn't one to blend into the inky darkness of the sky.

"They could have sent out the Flags," Feldt ventured thoughtfully. "The VMS-15 Union Realdos are outdated models that can't compete with the Flag at all."

Tieria wouldn't want to admit it, but if this girl had noticed something like this, then it would mean that she wasn't quite the scatterbrain that he thought she was. "They want to gauge the combat level of this new suit first. Sending in all their new suits would be risky," he explained. "At any rate, Setsuna, it would be prudent for you to resolve the issue and return as quickly as possible."

"Roger," Setsuna said, cutting off the communication.

Feldt squirmed in her seat. "Resolve the issue? How do we do that, Setsuna? Do we negotiate with them?"

What happened, however, was one of the most amazing things Feldt had ever seen. Setsuna fiddled with the controls, swinging the suit around and charged forward. Soon enough, she saw them – the Realdo suits. The four of them fired simultaneously, not even bothering to open a communication channel with Setsuna. Feldt watched with fascination as Setsuna steered the suit with a sort of flexibility that none of the other students had, firing with precision as he did.

One by one, the suits were shot down.

"Targets eliminated."

"Setsuna…" Feldt started out, unsure of what to say. While she was in awe over Setsuna's abilities, she was very aware that he had just killed four pilots. He had shot them down, like how bowlers bowled pins over with a huge bowling ball. The suits had just exploded into flames in the night sky, leaving nothing behind - not even the remains of the pilot.

"Do you trust me?"

He had asked her that question before they had set out, and Feldt had said yes. She didn't doubt him, of course. He had saved her life.

But now he had killed without even blinking. And those skills! Where did he learn up all of these from? They definitely weren't part of the curriculum!

Feldt trembled. Setsuna…just who exactly was he?

Setsuna fired more shots into the distance – revealing more incoming mobile suits. Feldt gaped when she realized that these were higher-leveled suits – Flags, even Tierens. She tried to count – six, seven, no, wait – there were almost fifteen of these monsters – and it seemed that even more were coming. Feldt realized that they were trying to overwhelm the mobile suit that she and Setsuna were on – and with numbers that great, they could potentially succeed.

Were they just trying to see the suit's response to high enemy numbers – or was there another motive involved?

"Setsuna!" She cried out as he fought with a seriousness she had never seen before. His dark eyes were feverish, and sweat was trickling down his brow.

He was trying hard, Feldt knew. She watched as he whipped out beam sabers, beam daggers, blades and shields – which she assumed were powered by these so called GN Drives. Setsuna was doing quite a good job so far, but how long could he last?

Setsuna gritted his teeth.

"Trans-Am!"

And then the world exploded in white.

Feldt was aware that she was floating blissfully without the need for support.

There were lights all around them – brilliant white ones, and there were some in the most beautiful shade of green she had ever seen. They seemed to envelop and caress her bare body – and the strangest thing was that she didn't feel any embarrassment at all.

Feldt.

It was Setsuna, who was not too far away from her.

Setsuna?

Only then did Feldt realize that she wasn't speaking, and neither was he. They were communicating telepathically. And that was when Feldt also knew that there was nothing that could be hidden from him – just like how he couldn't hide anything from her in this unknown place.

She could sense his emotions - something she normally would've never been able to do. It was always hard to read him, but now...

Why were you crying? Setsuna asked.

Flashbacks involuntarily shot out – flashbacks of her in the lab, clocking long hours – trying not to think about the death of her parents. She showed him how she was constantly picked on by everyone, how all she could do was smile and accept it - how there was nothing that could be done but to forcefully move on forward, without even having the chance of letting go.

You were lonely.

Yes, Feldt thought. She was so very lonely – and she couldn't tell Marie about it, because…because –

You didn't want her to be worried, Setsuna thought.

And he was right, of course. She didn't even need to tell him anything - he just knew.

There was a pause, then Feldt blinked in surprise – Setsuna was sending his memories and flashbacks to her.

I was raised in the Republic of Krugis, and eventually joined the anti-government guerrilla organization – KPSA. There were wars …death…gunshots…blood. Wrong…it was all wrong.

From there onwards, Setsuna's thoughts weren't so organized anymore.

You were a child soldier, Feldt thought in horror. Of all Setsuna's pasts she could think of, this was the last thing she had expected.

She saw a child-like Setsuna, pointing his gun at his parents and shooting – saw him running in a vast, empty desert with nothing but a shotgun, tears streaming down his face – saw him curse at God, saw him using explosives, hurting and killing at that young age - and saw him retreat into himself, refusing to believe in war. She saw him grow up in that environment of hatred, with nothing he could hang on to - for he had nothing to lose in the first place.

Feldt could feel his hurt, sorrow, and from there – a burning determination to stop war and bring peace to everyone.

She saw him work, infiltrate, and discover. She watched as he mingled in with the others, saw how the teachers were filled in awe over his knowledge and understanding of machinery, saw them award him with chances – and more opportunities. Feldt watched, dazed, as she saw him unravel more mysteries, discovering hidden plots and agendas. It seemed that Setsuna knew that there was an enemy that was more dangerous and deadly than Aker and Katagiri - but for now he was unsure who it was. It was someone who was pulling the strings, making his puppets do his bidding. Who was it? And why...?

The world is filled with people that harbour dark intentions. People fight. Why do they fight? Why do they want to dominate? Setsuna's thoughts, more directed to himself than to Feldt, reverberated around the echoing space.

Feldt reached a hand out to Setsuna, which he instinctively grasped. The next words that she whispered made him widen his eyes in surprise.

You were lonely too.

And there was no point for him to hide the truth, so he merely gazed at her steadily – watching as more tears stained Feldt's cheeks.

I'm not that sure why my parents died, Feldt told him. But they were mobile suit pilots. I was always with them when I was younger. I'm sure that their death has something to do with the war, but I can't be sure. No one really told me the full details. The funeral was a small one, with only close friends and relatives involved. It was...sad. But I couldn't do anything but stare in despair.

I'm sure they had you in their hearts until the very last moment, Setsuna replied.

Feldt merely nodded, and then there was another moment of comfortable silence.

This must be a by-product of the GN Particles, Setsuna thought. Time must slow down while we are here.

They're beautiful, Feldt noted absent-mindedly. And so very powerful.

Setsuna's grip tightened. There are many undiscovered things about them.

There are always people out there who wish for the despair of others, Feldt thought, in an answer to Setsuna's previous unanswered question. Domination is power. You can't change what these people think.

No, but I can stop them.

Feldt gave him a bittersweet smile. So you fight to stop fighting?

Yes.

It is a difficult task, Setsuna.

Do you trust me? He questioned her once again. Setsuna was serious, Feldt knew.

You needn't even ask. Besides, Setsuna, you aren't alone in this. You have Lockon, Tieria – and me. Well, technically, there isn't much use in having me on your side, since I can't pilot mobile suits or talk to government officials like them, nor am I good in fighting with my hands, but…

Feldt babbled on and on, and while Setsuna wasn't smiling, she thought she could sense his happiness.

She would have loved to stay here forever together with him.

But she couldn't.

Setsuna…there's a battle out there.

I know.

We can't just ignore that. We have to win this fight.

I know, he repeated.

And with that simple declaration, they were suddenly back in reality – only to find that they were very much alone, with the enemy suits defeated. The flashing bright green particles were gone, and Feldt was back in her seat. There was no more floating, no more telepathy.

She wondered what on earth that was - but she suspected Setsuna wasn't so sure either.

"Yo, Setsuna, Feldt! You two alright?"

"L-Lockon?" Feldt gasped. It was really his voice, which came from a magnificent tall green suit. She shook her head, still feeling disoriented from the earlier experience.

He laughed. "I came to provide you two backup, and succeeded in shooting down the enemies before anything worse could happen. Well, then – since this fight is over for now, why don't we return?"

Feldt heard Setsuna exhale with relief.

"Roger."

Things were alright - for now.

YES, THEY HELD HANDS. Okay, okay, so I made use of that telepathy thing that happened in the second season during Trans-Am to help the both of them be closer to each other. Urghhh. Freaky GN Particles. Surprised? And oh yeah, I invented some of Feldt's past up since it wasn't really mentioned in the anime - but according to Wiki, her parents DID pass away, and they truly were mobile suit pilots. Tried to delve into Feldt and Setsuna's character a little more, but...

Anyway, tell me how I did in this chapter. Was it too cheesy? Irritating? Annoying? Lovely? Awesome? I don't know, YOU tell me. :P Please review!

- Anne