From somewhere in the dreamy haze, a ring erupted. One violet eye popped open.
    "You'd think they'd know not to disturb a guy on vacation," Duo muttered into his pillow. Groggily, he pulled himself up and slammed his hand over the phone. "Hello?"
    So much for the vacation - which was, really, the rest of Duo's life now that the Gundams had been destroyed - because on the other end of the line was a voice he didn't expect or want to hear ever again.
    "Duo, it is imperative that you come down to the lab immediately. We have important information to discuss."
    *sigh* "Yes, doctor."

    On the main street of that same city, the people sat in ignorance of what was going on. All except one.
    A cold, hard glare stared straight ahead at one of the display television sets. The news could barely be heard over the din of the city; but then again, Heero already knew what was happening.
    "Yet another strike today on an outer-colony by sympathizer group Revolution-OZ," the news-caster announced. "This is the sixth bloody takeover in the past few months. Ultra-powerful mobile suits have been seizing wealthy colonies for almost seven months now. It is reported, however, that this afternoon, peace procurer Relina Peacecraft will be held in conference with Revolution-OZ's head leader Equinn Revry..."
    Relina...
    Heero knew all of the attacks, the new alliance, and Relina's "plans".
    Probably just another excuse to get in the way, he scoffed to himself. They didn't need Relina to take care of OZ. In fact, he was just on his way to his own meeting. Earlier that morning, Heero had received an urgent call from Dr. J, begging him to help in a counter-project. This was serious; this meant the rebirth of the Gundams.
    Heero had sworn to himself that he would never kill again. His hands were already too bloodstained to hold his precious, beloved...
    The image was immediately shaken from his mind. He couldn't revert back to the old ways. Yes, there was love, lust, and ecstasy; but there was also hate, greed, and more violence than any other pure mind could imagine.
    So, solemnly, Heero was doomed to walk the streets, always hiding from the enemy, and his past.
    Now he approached the ally way and the entrance to the lab. He tried to shut out his swarming emotions, but just couldn't...
    SLAM!
    Without even realizing it, in all his distraction, deep in thought, Heero had plowed right into someone turning the same corner.
    "Sorry," he muttered.
    "Hey, that's okay, pal!" Duo chuckled as he slapped Heero on the back.
    Heero skillfully caught the other man's hand with his own. Poignantly, he looked through the clear deep violet into the soul of the man he was in love with. "Duo..."
    Duo, in an attempt to hide his own flow of emotions, just let out another one of his laughs and said, "In the flesh."
    Heero masked his feelings - love, relief, passion, longing - with a cold stare and demanded, "What are you doing here?"
    "The same thing you are," came the reply.
    "Who else knows about this?"
    "Well I'm sure the others have figured it out by now, even though we never told them about us-"
    With violent intent, Heero shoved Duo's hand away and growled, "I was talking about the mission!"
    Duo looked a bit hurt, then recovered from the falter hastily, nonchalantly answering, "Well that, I'm really not sure. The other three may be fighting already, or it might be just us."
    Heero shifted uncomfortably. He knew when he was backed into a corner. A defeated sigh escaped his lips before they were captured by the other man's.
    Duo slowly backed away after a few seconds and looked into his lover's face. "Come on," he urged. "Let's go inside."
    The two walked hand-in-hand to the door and dramatically pushed it open...

    Two days before, a similar call was received by the young blonde-haired pacifist Quatre Raberba-Winner. That was a foreboding day - Quatre knew something was up even before he answered the phone. The call had come in on his private line, so it couldn't have been a business call (which was what 90% of all were, considering he ran numerous, highly-prestigious natural resource satellites). He answered the phone hesitantly, but with a cheerful "Hello?"
    "Quatre..." Howard murmered.
    "Howard, good to hear from you after so long!" came Quatre's sunny reply; but on the inside, his nerves jolted with anxiety.
    "Yes, Quatre, it has been a while. Unfortunately, we don't have much time to talk. Listen, I have something very important for you. I need you over here as soon as possible."
    Quatre complied, and quickly wrote down his instructions. With no more than a short goodbye, he hung up and collapsed against the table.
    Rashid surreptitiously entered and stood next to the collapsed boy. "Are you alright sir?"
    Quatre quickly stuffed the paper in his pocket. "Yes, I'm fine, just a little tired."
    Rashid gave him an incredulous look. "Are you sure, sir?"
    "Yes, I'm sure." Quatre put on another fake smile. It seemed to work for now, as Rashid nodded and walked away.
    Quatre rested his head on the back of his chair. It had been years since their last mission, and the Gundams had all been destroyed. Years since he had seen the boys-turned-men that, through it all, had become his only real friends. And years since he had seen...
    Trowa...
    Quatre's heart still raced when he thought about him, the man that could touch him in a way no one else could, who would only smile just for him, who spent countless hours in secrecy fucking him, crying with him, and kissing him. They had had quite an affair. Quatre was still convinced that it was love, although neither had ever admitted it.
    This could be Quatre's real chance to reunite with his friends and his lover. Even if it meant the death of many more, he was determined to push through the pain to reach out to his love...

 
    The lights flashed brighter than stars, and even the unusually loud noise of the people had gone mute. It was a seemingly perfect night to Trowa Barton, and the performance went even more perfect. It would be his last...
    Afterwards, he sat outside the tent staring up at the stars. They gleamed and twinkled, their way of laughter. He had always thought that if stars really did laugh, it would sound like the high-pitched giggling of the most innocent child. Only once before had Trowa noticed how lit the sky could be, how illustrious and beautiful...
    Beautiful...
    Quatre had opened his eyes to so many things in life that he had realized just what he had been missing under the blindness of his misery. To Quatre, everything was beautiful, and Trowa had had those views instilled in him.
    Unfortunately, the splendor that was his undeclared love for Quatre had fizzled out into nothing more than a speck of glitter on the memory. He hadn't seen or spoken to Quatre in so long. It made Trowa feel almost empty, longing for those days when he could do something as simple as smile.
    The stars changed their twinkle to mockery instead of joy. Something made Trowa realize just what he was missing, and compelled him to go after it.
    He had bolted determinedly into his tent and laid a hand over the phone. Abruptly, it gave a sharp ring. Trowa was startled for a moment. His heated thoughts emitted their energy and shook him hard back into reality. The phone's rapid buzzing clinks had saved him from making a big mistake.
    He picked up the phone without further hesitation. "Hello?"
    In the same instance he heard that all-too-farmiliar voice, his million thoughts came rushing back like a stinging salty tidal wave. The rebirth of the Gundams. The memoirs of their alliance. The reunion with Quatre.
    The final chance to correct what was far beyond helpless - not his secretive relationship, that he didn't deserve; but this would be his opportunity to end his meaningless life, his chance to die in battle like he should've all those times before. Then the endless pain would subside, and in two days, the journey to the end would begin.

    Quatre arrived in the urban territory the same day everyone else was expected, yet he made it a personal point to show up early - that way, he would be the first to see Trowa. And the others as well, he looked forward to reigning the special friendship they had all shared.
    Down a decaying alleyway, shaded in blackness, stood an ominous gray door. With a quick tap, it swung open into an even darker room. A few short steps led down into it, taken cautiously by the small blonde boy. Once the door slammed behind him, his eyes started to adjust to the rather dim atmosphere. Panels with flashing lights and square blue screens lined the entire left wall of the notably tiny room. In the middle stood a bare wooden table with five chairs. Aside from that, the room was devoid of any other furniture or decoration.
    From another door on the far side of the room, the five doctors and professors emerged in a solitary line. They spread out in front of him. Behind them stood the ever-faithful Howard.
    "I told them I was checking the resource satellites."
    Howard broke into a broad smile and stepped forward to slap Quatre on the back. "That's my boy," he chortled. "Or should I say man? You've grown so since I last saw you!"
    It was true, Quatre had grown a bit taller, and put on a bit of muscle. His features had matured. He had grown into a very handsome, masculine adult.
    They ushered him over to the table and pushed him into one of the chairs. One down, four to go.
    "So how have you been, my boy?" Dr. G asked.
    "I've been okay," he said half-heartedly.
    After a few minutes, another knock sounded on the door. It was opened by Howard, and an ornery Wufei stepped across the threshold.
    "Wufei," Quatre greeted cheerily - not exactly the most pleasant person, nor one Quatre particularly liked being around, but it was somewhat comforting to see a familiar face.
    Wufei just gave a silent nod in his direction, and took a seat across from him. Only three remained absent.
    Howard tried to break the dead silence. "Wufei has come from his shrine in China to fight."
    Wufei scowled. "I don't know why I bothered. If it weren't to avenge the murder of Nataku..." His harsh tone trailed off.
    Quatre frowned a bit. Wufei had remained just as irate and - soon to be learned - just as spiteful.
    It seemed as though days had passed instead of just a few hours before the door opened for the third time.
    Only Quatre bothered looking up, and as far as Trowa was concerned, he was the only person who mattered. Green eyes locked passionately with deep blue ones.
    "Trowa..." Quatre murmured.
    Trowa didn't let down his guard as he took the three steps downward towards his long-lost blonde lover. he sat next to him wordlessly - sounds would only break the moment.
    Wufei rolled his eyes and scoffed to himself. The two obviously had sparks flying, and as best they tried to hide it, everyone noticed just how blatant it was. "Fruits," he muttered.
    The attack caused the gaze of the two to break and they quickly inched their chairs further apart.
    Quatre was disappointed. Not only would Wufei's phobia keep them apart even longer, but now he was sure that Wufei knew and would make a point to spoil it somehow. Quatre knew that the relationship, in reality, could never be a symbol of acceptance and propriety. It could never be like...
    Heero and Duo.
    Quatre's head snapped up. The door slammed open, and there they were!
    "Hey, everybody, time to party!" Duo crowed. Heero was directly behind them, with that same silent, characteristic glare.
    "Duo! Heero!" Quatre chirped. His surprise and cheer were as real as the men in front of him.
    Duo leapt down and put an arm around his shoulders. "Quatre! How've ya been, buddy?" He beamed with apparently as much zealous cheer as Quatre had.
    Heero walked silently past the group - not even acknowledging them - to one of the blue screens. "So come on, give us the information on the mission." He was enthralled in his search for visuals of the new Gundams.
    Dr. J gave a low chuckle and throatily said, "Come come now, Heero, sit and relax. Talk for a bit." He tried to take Heero's arm and lead him back to the table.
    Heero snapped back. "This is serious, he growled. "This new neo-alliance is more powerful than anything you could've guessed, and any time wasted will make all of us sorry." He closed his eyes as the image of that little girl and her puppy rushed into his memory.
    Duo stood next to him and pushed him forward a bit, but spoke up to his defense, saying, "Heero's right. Obviously this is urgent, so let's not fool around."
    "Very well," Howard agreed.
    Dr. J nodded. "well then...I will assume that you have heard all about Revolution-OZ..." He paused for a moment to make sure that everyone nodded. "They're after the colonies, and have gained rapid power. Obviously you five are the only ones strong enough and intelligent enough to stop them. And, obviously, this means new Gundams, since your others have all been destroyed. They are waiting in the hanger of the safe house you will be staying at. his hideaway is an old mansion formerly facilitated by OZ, but now abandoned. It is located on Abbing Beach, and, for safety and convenience, has an underwater hanger. Don't worry about being discovered, it is surrounded by cliffs and very far out from any civilization, save the neo-base 20 miles west. Any questions on this?"
    Nobody made a move; they were all concentrating on their machinery.
    "I can tell you're all anxious to find out about the new Gundams," Dr. G observed. He laughed at their foolish apprehension. "Well then, I suppose we should introduce them..." An image appeared on the largest blue screen. It was a gorgeous black, red and white model, equipped with numerous large guns and a thermal saber. "This is the Gundam Aradia. Heero, you'll be piloting this one. The functions are advanced, but you'll be able to catch on quickly."
    Heero nodded in silent approval.
    The next model that came up was caped in all black, with fire flying from one of the fists. "Duo, say hello to Gundam Deathscythe Omega."
    Duo couldn't contain his excitement. "Alright!" he shouted.
    "This Gundam is particularly powerful. Your primary weapon is a triple-bladed signature thermal scythe of course. But also, as you can see, there is a flame thrower equipped on the right hand."
    Duo grinned and poke Quatre, whose model came up next.
    It was illustrious gold set in sapphire blue, stripes and colors racing up and down the body.
    "This is the Gundam Sandstorm. You should be fond of the name, Quatre."
    Quatre nodded with a hint of affection. The name was a warm reminder of his beloved Sandrock, in an evolved form.
    "It is the most agile," the doctor explained, "which can unleash a fury of punches and other physical maneuvers. It's also highly upgradable." The doctor took a moment to pause and pull up another image - a gorgeous red Gundam, with black tiger stripes across the chest. "Trowa, this is the Gundam Tiger Fury. It still has the imbalance in the gun arm to give you that speed advantage, however this model is more aptly named. Its enormous amount of gun power will shoot rounds at least ten times faster than any of your past inferior weapons. I think you will be quite pleased."
    Trowa grunted to signify agreement.
    "And last but certainly not least, Wufei will be piloting this-" He pulled up one last image. The blue machine showed signs of a pure polished gleam. "Gundam Blue Dragon. Two hallmark dragon arms and two thermal spears," Dr. G announced.
    Wufei instantly took a liking to the immaculate machine. "Nataku..." he whispered to himself; he nodded in masked joy.
    The doctors seemed pleased with their work. But before they could continue on, bullets hammered into the metal door behind them. One of the doctors managed to grab the data discs and wire explosives to the systems before they started their escape.
    Ten bodies were crammed into the even tinier closet-sized space that was the back room. There was nothing in there but a few red buttons and a vent.
    "What're we supposed to do now?" Quatre panicked. Voices could now be heard on the other side of the door, barking orders as boots clattered back and forth in a demented rhythm.
    The doctors pushed open the vent. "Get through there," they urged. "There'll be a mobile suit outside to transport you to the safe house."
    "But what about you?" Duo questioned.
    "Don't worry about us, we have our own escape route," Dr. G hastily explained. "Now go!"
    As rapidly as they could manage, they crawled one by one through the vent shaft, moving to what they could only hope was the outside.
    Duo was behind Heero, enjoying the view as they edged along. He couldn't help himself; he thrust out one hand and grabbed one of Heero's tight cheeks.
    Heero yelped in response and flipped onto his back to meet Duo's playful cat-like eyes. "What the fuck?"
    Duo just spread his grin devilishly wider. Heero got the point and went on, kicking his leg backwards every so often to warn the man behind him.
    Wufei was stuck behind Trowa, who was behind Quatre. Not necessarily an unfamiliar situation. Wufei shuddered at the unwanted thought.
    A glimmer of daylight pierced the end of the tunnel just as all five thought they were going to suffocate in the cramped shaft. Soon their bodies were heaped on the grassy earth, gasping for fresh air.
    "What...the fuck...was that?" Heero choked out in-between breaths.
    The other four remained in a dizzy silence, willing their heads to stop spinning.
    Afterwards, they stood up to try and formulate another plan. That's when Quatre pointed out the mobile suit standing a bit ahead, just past the hills on the outskirts of the city. The machine was round and had a tripod-like structure to stand on. The five could barely get into it comfortably. As quickly as possible, they rose into the air and jetted south, veiled by the glare of the sun setting in its course, to their hideaway and their prison.

    Relina sat on her bed before putting on her dress, staring at her crudely bandaged wrists. The gashes hadn't been so bad this time, and the bleeding had slowed considerably, even with the hastily wrapped gauze barely covering the gash.
    Her meeting was in a mere half hour, and as hard as she tried, she couldn't do anything but stress about her presentation, because she knew it wouldn't work, and more drastic measures would have to be taken - she already knew what the future held for her. It involved a familiar situation.
    She rose shakily to her feet with her back turned to the room. She, still being in her undergarments, turned around to pick up the dress.
    But as she did, a strong, lean figure tackled her onto the bed and pinned her in one swift, forceful move.
    Relina let out an inhuman cry of pain, as the torturous memories flashed through her mind. The position was frighteningly familiar. With a panicked kick, her attacker fell backwards. They clutched their stomach in a heave of pain.
    She leaned over the long-haired blonde figure to stare into a devilish face much like one of a cheshire cat. The blonde seemed more turned-on than surprised or pained.
    "You know I love it when you play rough," Dorothy murmured to her lover huskily.
    "Don't scare me like that," came Relina's icy reply. She wasn't in the mood now; the attack had only brought on the wave of panicked fear, when normally after one Relina would run to Dorothy to take her mind off things.
    Dorothy licked the younger girl's cheek and pushed her onto the pillows. Against her neck she murmured, "What's wrong?"
    Relina refused to talk about what had caused the insecure cries - it was a dark secret kept locked up in her mind.
    Dorothy mistakenly took this as a signal that she wanted it, and grabbed Relina roughly around the wrists, prepared to play dominatrix.
    This only caused Relina to scream in further anguish, as the cuts were still raw.
    Dorothy looked down at where she was squeezing the bloody flesh. The deep lines appeared in her forehead, showing worry. But she didn't ask what had happened or why; they never asked each other personal questions, never got involved, because neither wanted to know - they were both merely there as a source of outlet of frustration and such by physical means. many nights they had spent wrestling and clawing and licking, touching, kissing, tasting, but that was as deep as it went, and nothing more. So Dorothy, therefore, simply leaned back and released the wrists for a moment, then began to rebandage them, muttering, "Well for Christ's sake, you could've at least wrapped them better."
    Afterwards, she left silently, as if nothing had happened, and Relina was once again left alone to get dressed.
    The clock ticked those thirty minutes away like a time bomb. It was before long that Relina sat across from the gallant, omnipresent Equinn Revry, wearing a guarded smile. Camera crews closed in around them, yet kept a comfortable distance. Opening remarks and all the like were uttered, and Relina meticulously began.
    "President Revry, it has come to my knowledge that, for purposes of your own, you have been using military force in order to overtake the space colonies. I understand, sir, that you have your motives, bu I must beseech you, violence is never a just reaction to any problems, it is never an answer. We are living in an era of hard-earned peace. The colonies are thriving in their independence. Nothing good can come of your abrupt actions, and so, as leader of the Peace Procuring Alliance, I command you to withdraw and leave the space ports be."
    Equinn opened his mouth to make his rebuttal, in a booming, authoritative voice that almost made Relina feel like a child instead of an adult female. "Miss Relina, I, too, understand your cause for concern, but I must make you understand the task of Revolution-OZ. You see, freedom does not necessarily equal peace. OZ had the right idea to begin with, when the colonies were first placed under a system of faulty law and order, which was to conduct a military coup to throw out the old, misguided order and instead instill their own, more effective system into the society. Violence was just part of that, an old-fashioned way of discipline with a more commanding effect. But, as you do not realize, Miss Relina, the imperative human qualities of dignity and intelligence were more so necessary and fundamental than the machines with which this masterful idea was carried out. You overlook this, this attempt to use basic instinct to mold society. OZ was not an organization of evil, though and despite its inner-corruption. That is the purpose of Revolution-OZ, to carry out the mission that OZ had first tried to obtain, in a more fit manner. We are not 'taking over' those colonies, we are using force to shape the people into a molded ideal that will cause less harm to themselves."
    Relina was in a silent fit of outrage, she didn't believe a word of it. "Attacking the colonies to stop their supposed self-inflicted harm when all you're doing is causing more damage?" she retorted.
    Equinn scoffed. "It is when you put it like that, that a negative light is shed on the matter." He took a deep breath and continued. "What we are doing will, in the end, save the colonies from self-destruction. Miss Relina, you do not understand that, without this form of structure and governing, peace is meaningless, and will only lead to harm."
    Relina felt a bit overpowered with his words swimming in her head, but pressed on. "Can't you find a way to keep he people in line while still preserving peace?"
    The president looked doubtful. "There will always be rebellions against this conformity. Therefore your peace is a phantom. I cannot and the organization cannot stand by while the colonies, as necessary as they are, spiral into their own demise."
    Relina felt drained, as there was no point and no use arguing with him. After a long silence, the cameras lowered and the bulbs dimmed. Equinn Revry bid her good day and stood up in triumph, mocking her. He was only a few feet away when Relina bolted back towards him.
    She made sure the cameras were off, and everyone was packing up. She grabbed his arm and asked candidly, "What about opposition?"
    Equinn scoffed haughtily once more. "Opposition? No one is capable of overpowering us."
    "What about the Gundams?" she countered.
    His pause was an immediate giveaway that she was on to something. "Let's just say that they have already been taken care of," he sneered a second later.
    She knew it. It was true. The Gundams were back, the pilots had to be right here in the city, under her nose. Without further hesitation, she pushed through the camera crews and the guards, fleeing out into the street, heading toward the edge of the city. She ignored the throngs of people flowing against her in their monotonous tide. She sliced through the masses, pushing them aside, like shattering glass.
    Faster her legs pumped against the pavement. The adrenaline that came from her correct assumption about this beginning drove her further, against the pain, until she reached the last alleyway.
    She skidded to a halt at the charred, bent metal door. It had been blasted off, and the front and top of the small bunker had been demolished as well. The asphalt was still burning with the heat of napalm and angry footsteps. Yet the troops were nowhere to be found - they had already cleared the place of any clues.
    She sat down on the barren steps sheathed in quickly dispersing sunlight. She would have given up all hopes of finding the pilots, be it dead or alive, had she not tilted her head upwards toward the horizon and seen that last glimmer of fiery jet power burst out of sight. heading towards the southern abandoned beach - the perfect place to hide a Gundam.
 

~End of Part 1~