Note: In case I haven't mentioned it before, this entire fic is based off the doujinshi entitles 'Children of the Moon.' This collection of doujinshis spans the entire Gundam Wing series and the Endless Waltz. This fic is my take on it. Since I cannot read Japanese, I know that I most likely have a lot of the conversations incorrect, but that's why this is my own spin on what I have gathered.

At this time, I *MUST* thank me beta writer, Stormy!!! *MASSIVETACKLEGLOMPS* SHE'S THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!!!! *SMOOCHES STORMY'S CHEEK* THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, SWEETS!!!

Gundam Wing: The First Chapter Part 4

In the large federal hospital where Heero had been taken, there was a loud explosion from the examination room where the Japanese pilot had been taken. Holding onto the railing of the stairs they were descending, Relena Dorlian and Sally Poe gasped and cried sharply at the blast.

Looking over at the large hole that had been made in the wall to his left, Heero remained still in the table that he was harnessed to. As the thick smoke subsided, he could make out the familiar dark figure that stood there. Those violet eyes looked up and met his cobalt as the other boy smiled, "Time to liven things up, buddy."

As the alarms rang through the building, Sally quickly looked after the Foreign Minister's daughter as she asked, "Are you alright?"

"THIS WAY!" the braided teenager yelled as he ran down the halls with Heero. The longhaired boy tossed a small can at the window ahead of them as they fell and braced for the explosion. They ran as soon as the smoke cleared and jumped from the hole. "GERONIMOOOOOO!!!" the black-clad boy called as they fell quickly. He used his chopper stick to slow his fall as he looked and saw that the other with him wasn't opening his parachute.

The young man screamed, "HEY ARE YOU CRAZY!?! HURRY UP AND RELEASE YOUR PARACHUTE!!!" No response from the pilot he freed. "MOVE IT ARE YOU TRYIN' TO KILL YOURSELF OR WHAT!?!" he cried to him. Again, there was no response. "DAMN I'm gonna have nightmares over this one!" Duo said grimly as all he could do was watch.

"They must have jumped off from here," Sally Poe stated as she and Relena looked from the hole out of which the pilots had made their exit.

"OH MY GOD...HEEROOOOO!!!" the young girl cried. Out of shock at that shrill cry, Heero's eyes widened and his hand tugged at the cord against his wish.

He could hear the other young man shout, "IT'S WAY TOO LATE NOW!!!" Removing himself from the parachute, Heero crashed into the side of the cliffs and rolled in pain down the rocks and onto the beach.

"K'so," he cursed in pain as he stood. He could feel that his right leg had broken. He pulled himself to his feet and clenched his fist. "Damn it! I shouldn't have released my parachute."

The other pilot landed safely and walked to him as he removed his cap. "I can see why you would want to take your own life. But maybe, just MAYBE you should consider another way of committing suicide, buddy!" he said sternly. To Heero's hidden amazement, he walked to him and lifted his right arm over his shoulder. He spoke again, "Now I'm not asking you to trust me, but right now, I'm the only friend you've got, pally."

*   *   *   *   *   *

It had been over ten hours since Heero arrived on the carrier Duo had brought him to, following their escape from the hospital. It had been just over twenty minutes since Duo's last attempt to have a conversation with him. Concerned only with fixing Wing Zero to complete his mission, the Japanese pilot continued to work on his Gundam's repairs tirelessly. As far as the braided pilot was concerned, Heero felt that he was making the point that he wanted nothing to do with him or any aid he could offer. In the little time that he knew Duo, Heero already heard him talk constantly about everything and nothing. How any one person could be so talkative and lively with their purpose in life was something that the Wing pilot could not understand. All that he knew was that he didn't want anything to do with the chatterbox, or else he would be distracted from what he had been sent to accomplish. That was something that Heero refused to allow to happen.

Duo stepped into the hanger, dressed in a pair of black pants and a dark gray tank top as he approached Wing Zero again. He sighed softly to himself as he saw the nameless pilot working on his suit, as he had been all day. Using a blowtorch, the Japanese teenager worked carefully on the mobile suit's right elbow joint as he went on without acknowledging the other's presence.

His violet eyes narrowing slightly, Duo called to him, "You're crazy for accepting that mission, you know." That was at least enough to draw the silent pilot's attention as he slightly lowered his arms for a moment before returning to his work without so much as a word to Duo. Shaking his head, the American walked towards him and continued, "You'll never be able to take care of all these repairs on your own in one night in time to destroy that OZ carrier. It's almost sunset and the carrier will be passing over us at the crack of dawn." Duo sat on a large monitor sitting a few feet from the diligent youth as he turned off the blowtorch and walked over to his laptop. Gazing at the screen through unruly bangs, the Japanese pilot typed in a few adjustments, ignoring the youth completely.

Folding his hands between his spread legs from where they hung over the edge of the monitor, Duo smiled. "You can take up my offer to help whenever you want it." There was no response from the other. He continued to focus on the laptop, typing in a few more commands. For a long moment, the only sound was the clicking of the keys.

Click. Click. Click.

Scowling, Duo's eyes narrowed as he predicted, "You're going to get yourself killed. I didn't risk my neck back at that hospital to save you just so that you could throw your life away." The Japanese pilot picked up a small, handheld meter as he read the transfer level of energy flowing through his Gundam, still ignoring the other. Growling, Duo hissed, "Look, man, we're on the same team! You could try acting like it!" The way that he was being ignored was something that frustrated Duo to no end and he made no effort to hide it as he clenched his teeth and his fists. Violet eyes narrowed, he shouted, "Let me help you rebuild your suit or just give me the damn mission to take out the carrier!"

There was a brief pause in Heero's typing on the small meter before he returned to his work without so much as a slight turn in Duo's direction. Sighing deeply, Duo leaned forward as his arms and neck hung loosely. "You win," he said quietly, defeat and sadness threading his voice. Jumping from the monitor, he stood straight and folded his hands behind his head as he walked back the way he entered.

Glancing at the Japanese pilot as he went off, Duo smiled warmly as ever as he said sincerely, "One of these days, you're going to be begging me to stick around. All you have to do is ask." Turning his head forward again, the braided teen made his way to the door. Unnoticed to him, a pair of cobalt eyes followed him as Heero lowered the meter, watching Duo's departure silently.

When the door closed and Heero was alone again, a hint of confusion and almost curiosity betrayed his normally impassive face, barely enough to be noticed. Quickly, he hid those emotions as he turned back to return to reading the small meter in his hands. All the while, he forced the lively pilot from his thoughts, determined to regard him the same as from the first time they met.

Just a distraction...

*   *   *   *   *   *

Before sunrise, the crew on the floating hanger gathered in the cafeteria for breakfast. Duo watched as Heero entered the room, taking hold of a tray as he gathered some food before sitting by himself. Knowing that the strange pilot was up all night working on that Gundam of his, Duo couldn't help but quietly admire his determination. He didn't even know the other's name. Sighing softly to himself, Duo finished the rest of his breakfast.

Not an hour later, Wing Zero was sitting on the ship's deck. The white ship's engines roared at dawn's first light as two crewmembers ran out into the open. Duo wasn't far behind as he shouted, "What's going on!?" Covering his face from the powerful exhaust, he watched in shock and disbelief as the Gundanium plane took off into the skies, vanishing from sight. As the crew hands lowered their own arms to watch the heavens with wide eyes, Duo shouted, "Unreal!" An elated smile on his face, he cried, "I don't believe it! The guy's incredible! He fixed his suit in one night!"

A man inside the hanger yelled, "Oh NO!" Running inside at the shout Duo paused, his violet eyes widening at the sight of Deathscythe lying in shambles. The mechanic shouted, "We've been had! He took the spare parts from this suit!"

"WHAT!?" the braided pilot cried. Clenching his fists, Duo hissed, "And I was just complimenting him!" Tuning his gaze upwards in fury, he screamed, "TRAITOR!!"

It was easy to pinpoint the OZ carrier amongst the fading stars as Heero locked onto the transport. "Target confirmed," he told himself as he shifted his suit to take on its true form. Aiming his beam cannon, he fired a single shot that incinerated the large ship in a large explosion. Smirking to himself, the Japanese pilot broke into laughter.

*   *   *   *   *   *

As he and his colleagues sat together late one light out on the deck of their ship two weeks later, Howard looked over at Deathscythe. The suit was half concealed by a protective sheet as it lay gazing upward and silent, as if sleeping peacefully. He noticed his young friend resting on the Gundam's leg as he gazed up to the star-filled skies, arms folded behind his braided head as he lay on his back. Walking over towards him, Howard called up after him. "Hey, Duo... Duo." The violet-eyed teenager sat up with a small smile on his face. He looked down to the old man as he asked, "Whatcha' ya doin' up there, Duo?"

"Nothing," Duo shrugged. "Just thinking how beautiful the moon looks from the Earth." He turned his head back up to the glowing sphere as it floated overhead.

Howard smiled, "You bet it does! It's a real beauty."

Unable to take his eyes from the heavens, Duo said softly, "From the Colonies, the moon is just too close. It almost looks like a graveyard.

The old man gazed up to the moon as he said, "Yeah. A graveyard."

Smiling to himself, Duo lowered his head and closed his eyes, "I bet that guy doesn't even look at the moon." Lying onto his back again, the braided pilot looked back at the moon, folding his hands behind his head as he smirked, "He should try enjoying life instead of spending his time trying to outsmart me... While he's alive, that is."

Turning back to return to his crew, Howard replied, "I know what you mean. But it's not that simple. It's just human nature." With those words, the skinny man left his friend behind.

"What's that guy doing? I wonder..." Duo said quietly to himself.

Not long ago, the two pilots had crossed paths again. Ironically, they were sent to destroy the same base in the North Atlantic. After a long standstill with their Gundams aimed and ready to fire on each other at any moment, the mysterious youth ended up saving Duo's life by firing on an OZ suit that was prepared to attack Deathscythe from behind. Before disappearing again, he explained his own actions by saying that he was 'returning the favor' to the American. Ever since that night, Duo found his thoughts turning to the Japanese pilot more and more.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Duo whispered, "I wish I could figure out what it is about you... It's almost like something is pulling me towards you."

A soft breeze carried his words off through the night as he silently willed them to reach the other pilot.

*   *   *   *   *   *

The New Edwards Base attack was to be the final blow to the OZ Federation with the assassination of its leaders. Taking possession of a large transport carrier, Heero prepared the ship for takeoff when there was a disturbance picked up from within the carrier.

Opening the door to the freight compartment, Heero aimed his gun down as he peered over the balcony. His eyes widened slightly as he said quietly, "That suit..." The familiar black Gundam below him lay fully on its back as the cockpit opened.

Jumping from the opened hatch, Duo landed beside his suit as he looked up at the Japanese pilot with a smile on his face as he said, "Hey, you load your suit on, too, pal. I'll take over the cockpit." At this, he ran forward as he made his way to the front of the carrier.

Following the other with his gun, Heero said quietly, "Duo."

Once he was standing just ahead of the Wing pilot, Duo smiled up at him again as he focused past the gun barrel aimed at him. "This time, I'm definitely not going to let the mission fail," the American assured him. "How about trusting me a bit?"

"Do what you want," came the immediate response as Heero raided his gun before quickly turning to run back to the cockpit.

Duo smiled warmly, "What do you know? Looks like he remembered my name, after all." His smile grew and his eyes brightened as he hummed in amusement.

As he flew the carrier through the night sky to their destination, Duo's smile was ever present as he said, "Aw, man. This is going to be quite the battle, isn't it?"

Heero looked over at Duo with his arms crossed as he said coolly, "This mission is really big. I don't think you get it."

Duo held onto the controls as he smirked back, "You bet I do. This is our chance to finally destroy the OZ organization."

Gazing ahead, the Wing pilot replied, "This time is different. We're going to destroy every OZ leader."

Focusing his own eyes towards the monitors ahead, the braided teenager answered wistfully, "Yeah. Then I got back to space." Heero turned his head slightly as his cobalt eyes watched the smiling pilot. Duo never looked back as he focused on getting to their target.

Realizing that he had been staring, Heero's eyes blinked as he turned forward again. For some odd reason, he almost had the feeling that there was something familiar about Duo. Before he could allow himself to dwell on the thought, Heero forced it from his mind, setting his sights on the mission at hand.

*   *   *   *   *   *

As Wing Zero and Deathscythe cut through the alliance forces at New Edwards, Heero and Duo were beginning to feel the effects of the battle weighing on them as their wave of opponents seemed to have no end to them. Gritting his teeth, Duo glared at his monitors as he hissed, "Crap. They just keep coming!"

Just then, his screens began blinking red as his Gundam picked up a sudden attack from the right. Turning quickly, Duo's eyes widened as he saw several explosives flying right towards him and Wing Zero. "Those are missiles, aimed at us Allies!" Duo shouted as he forced Deathscythe back as quickly as he could. Heero did the same as the missiles exploded right where the two Gundams had been standing.

Turning their suits to gaze where the assault came from, Heero and Duo gazed on two new mobile suits with wide eyes. Before they had time to react, they watched in amazement as the other Gundams began ripping through the Alliance's mobile suits. "Are those OZ's newest models!?" Heero called over Duo's intercom.

"Yea, but they're attacking the Alliance," Duo yelled back in shock as they watched the newest suits cut through what was left of their resistance.

As the last explosions rang out, Wing Zero and Deathscythe stood beside each other as the other Gundams stood several yards ahead of them across the battlefield. After a long pause, Duo's wide eyes finally blinked as he said in awe, "Those suits are identical."

Meanwhile, in Treize Khushrenada's private shuttle, a young woman with her brunette hair pulled back in two braided buns adjusted her glasses as she walked to the OZ leader. As she approached him, she smirked, "The Pacifists are all in place. The shuttle leaves in two minutes."

Turning to her, Treize smiled, "Excellent. Thank you, Lady Une." The young woman nodded as she walked off. Treize entered the elaborate passenger room where General Septum was sitting with an anxious look on his face as he gazed out to the battlefield.

Gazing up at Treize as he approached, he asked, "What is going on? Why haven't we taken off yet?"

Calmly, the blonde man smiled, "We are waiting for Marshall Noventa's ship to leave first. We'll leave right after they take off."

As the four Gundams stared across at each other, the sound of a high speed shuttle departing rang through the air. Duo looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of the large ship just as it took to the air. Locking onto the shuttle, Wing Zero's monitors translated that it was the target they had all been looking for... the transport shuttle of the OZ organization. "That's the one," Heero sneered as he pushed forward on his controls. Wing Zero took on its bird-like shape as it darted forward and soared after the ship.

Just before reaching his target, Heero transformed his suit back into its true form as he removed the laser blade from his Gundam's shoulder. Raising the weapon high, he brought the blade down with a powerful and swift strike that cut the shuttle in half. As the craft exploded into a large fiery ball, Wing Zero began its descent. Heero smirked to himself. "Mission accomplished."

Duo smiled wickedly at the Gundam that had fired the missiles upon him and Wing Zero. "Thanks for those missiles earlier. Now I'll return the favor!" At this, he lunged Deathscythe forward as he raised his scythe overhead. He learned quickly just how equally skilled the other pilot was as he blocked the scythe with a large blade that shot through the Gundam's right arm.

The two pilots went on to battle fiercely until the third shouted, "CUT IT OUT, YOU GUYS!" But Duo and his opponent ignored the cry as they continued to battle fiercely.

Suddenly, a large spray of fire separated the two Gundams as it shot between them. All eyes turned to a fifth mobile suit, this one with a dragon shaped arm. Its pilot shouted, "Aren't you guys getting tired of these meaningless battles!?"

Heero just landed Wing Zero beside Deathscythe as his eyes narrowed at the fifth suit. "What do you mean?" he asked with a threatening tone in his voice.

The cockpit of the newest suit opened as its pilot stepped out into the open. Arms to his side, the Chinese teenager addressed the four Gundams before him as he spoke. "Don't you guys get it? You're all been lured into OZ's devious little plan."

"We what!?" shouted the same young man who tried to prevent his friend and Duo from killing each other.

"Check out the Alliance's broadcast," replied the raven-haired teen. "You just wiped out the Alliance's Pacifists."

Heero's cobalt eyes widened as he whispered in disbelief, "Impossible." Turning to his right monitor, he locked onto the channel of a broadcast being channeled everywhere through the Earth and Space.

General Septum's narrowed eyes glared ahead of him as he announced on the screen, "This is the Colony's declaration of war!" Heero gave a small gasp as he eyes widened further, fear and disbelief flooding his senses as the enraged Alliance Pacifist continued his speech.

In the end, the only words that could be process through any of the pilots' minds were those of the General's as he concluded his statement by announcing, "We will not relent to the Colonies! We will fight them to the bitter end!"

And so the fate of countless lives had been sealed... beginning with five boys.

There was a long silence on that battle fiend at New Edwards. Looking back up at the four suits before him, the Chinese pilot spoke up, "This was all a plan created by OZ. We were just their puppets... controlled by Treize Khushrenada."

Within his cockpit, the blonde Arabian whispered, "No... how awful..."

Clutching his fists, Duo's eyes narrowed as he growled, "Damn him."

Gritting his teeth, the silent European remained quiet as a storm swirled within him.

Turning away from them, the Chinese pilot closed his eyes as he vowed, "Well, I'm going to fight you, OZ... Even if I have to do it alone."

Duo gave a small gasp as his violet gems widened. Turning to Wing Zero, his heart sank as he felt the concern for his nameless friend swell within him.

His cobalt eyes still wide with disbelief and loss, Heero whispered faintly, "What have I... what have I done?"

As the sun set, the five Gundam suits remained as a whole. A war was coming... and there was no turning back now.

TBC...

 

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