“Hit higher - don’t get confused by the names!”

            Hilde Schbeiker let out a determined sound as she kicked a violet ball labelled ‘blue’ with her right foot. Heero Yuy was worse than her Instructor. Sweat started gathering at her temple, and she quickly used a hand to swat her darned bangs away. She sighed when she accepted the fact that she had to spike them again with gel so to train effectively - back to the good ol’ days.

            But Heero, as ever, was unrelenting, he let out another barrage of multi-colored rubber balls at her. It took an effort (and a great deal of concentration) to hit the balls correctly. Heero had ‘improvised’ the rules as they went along every stage of the training.

            It was three days later from their first session, and she had worked her way past the tests of each stage. The blue and red ball training, which was used to organize her use of her hands, was perfected by mid-afternoon the next day. That was Heero used a new set for her kicks, violet and orange balls. That training took the whole late afternoon till ten in the evening before she mastered it.

She then recalled how Heero was not only kind enough not to comment on her mistakes bluntly, but was also encouraging, in some way. Hilde realized that from where he came from, they were used to pointing out the mistakes, not the improvements, so it took time for him to get used to her sudden moodiness and need for confidence.

           The evenings passed by smoothly, thankfully without argument-probably because both of them were exhausted physically and mentally, not to mention verbally. Fortunately, her former voice seemed to be returning. It amused the heck out of Heero when he found her voice raspy the day after her singing escapade.

            His training sessions even became more complicated when he started writing gold-colored labels on the balls (Hilde wondered how he got all those suddenly irritating materials without being reported by anyone). He wrote ‘blue’ on some of the red balls and did the same on the blue balls, later, he named some of the blue ones ‘red’ and the other red balls as well. When she asked about it, he simply told her that he didn’t expect her to reach that level so quickly. But now that she had, it was about time to move to more difficult training. Hence, the labelled balls.

            She still didn’t know what that meant until he started throwing the balls at her. That was when she realized that the mind could easily get confused, no matter how focused one seemed. She would hit the labelled balls incorrectly time after time, and Heero, true to his impatient nature, started rebuking her to no end. She got used to that already, and wasn’t as much affected as before, thank goodness. But before she got used to the new stage, he already proceeded her to the next.

            “Now, when you see red or blue balls without labels, hit them with your left or right hands respectively. If you see red balls labelled ‘blue,’ hit them still with your left hand, vice versa for the blue balls that are named ‘red.’ But if you see red balls with the word ‘red’ on it, use your right hand - the opposite hand, to hit it, and so the same goes for the blue ones.” He had stated as he held a ball before her.

            “But that’s, well, darn confusing!” she had cried out in complaint, all the while knowing in the back of her mind that it was useless.

            He just turned his back on her, “You wanted to train, didn’t you?”

            She could almost swear that was the nearest he could get to taunting her. She just stared darkly at him and muttered in the hardest voice ever, trying to imitate his Japanese, “ Hai, hai Sensei. All heil the Dummkopf Fuhrer.”

            To which he stood up and walked before her. Before she realized what he was doing, he had tipped her chin and viewed her face sideward, as if enjoying the scowl that had settled on her face. “You don’t need to praise me for being your idiot dictator, but your Japanese needs improvement,” was all he said, and then gave her one of his rare but obviously mocking grins. It was then when she decided to call him Hitler behind his back. Heck, he surely acted the role with accuracy. She still did this despite knowing that he didn’t deserve such a title. She just needed a release of emotions that time, and he probably wouldn’t mind at all. He could have just laughed.

            Wait, scratch that, Heero Yuy did not laugh, not unless it was at something he really found amusing.

            Namely her.

            He could laugh, she had groaned to herself.

            And thus, this angry thought made her successfully pass the said level of training.

            Yet, despite all the dark thoughts and the tiring sessions, she found that they were improving. Even Heero confirmed that: she was passing the levels at a rate that went beyond that of normal trainees. And the way she reacted to him, no matter how hostile, was actually something good. The man accepted her temper tantrums, and he actually survived them. She could rant about anything she wanted before him and he wouldn’t complain. Sometimes he was even entertained. She could be so open about anything to him and he never, not once, made her feel worse or minded at all.

That, she just understood, meant that she trusted him, and was learning to get along with him, and also meant that she was also enjoying his company. She found that she ended up smiling at him a lot whenever they weren’t training or when he wasn’t looking, and could easily comment on things she found odd about him without him getting upset.

            She didn’t really know if that was a good thing or not, but she had no regrets.

            Only that she wished that balls were never created.

            “Watch the orange balls!” he commanded roughly throwing her off her reverie. She barely managed to duck behind the said ball - at least it didn’t hit her nose this time. “Pay attention, Hilde,” he grated out steadily, and she gave him a smile just to annoy him more, then returned to her stance.

            At present, she was taking a test that involved not only her hands but her feet as well, with the mix-labelled orange and violet balls to accompany her varied red and blue balls. It was one bloody heck of a complicated test and her nerves were being wrought out again. Heero was once more proving to be a willing anger subject, but she didn’t let that reach her. In this sort of things, emotions weren’t supposed to rule, they came second to your concentration, so she focused and nodded. “Bring it on.”

            Heero stared in smug approval as Hilde deflected the balls he was throwing accordingly. In three days, he had turned her from one mad, disoriented fighter to a sleek, focused and controlled one who could tell past differences and distractions.

            He then heard her unconsciously yelp out angrily in German as a red ball zoomed past her. She still didn’t lose the ‘mad’ part, apparently, but she was definitely a fast learner, he thought with interest. She tried to avoid expletives whenever she was around him, but sometimes it just couldn’t be helped, in her case. But she placed her faith in him, no matter how vocally negative she was at times. He never expected to be in this kind of position, for the life of him, but it was different: a very refreshing change. The new experience surprised-no, frustrated him a lot, but was something he was easily getting used to.

            He grabbed another ball. Yes, she was so vocal, and in a strange sense, he was pleased. She freely talked to him about anything, like how at one point in any woman’s life she would desperately hate menstruation, or how he secretive newspapers could be. Sometimes she flamed on about the injustices of the government or some organizations, and other times her wrath was on him. He heard her calling him many names, those which varied from ‘pompous ass’ to ‘lipless fish’ to the more common ‘Hitler.’  But then, she also directed her attentions on him in different ways, telling him about how she disliked his ‘monosyllabic tongue’ but it suited him somehow, or how she wondered why someone much more quiet than Duo could be good company. (He just raised a brow at that, but she didn’t notice) She also told him that he would really catch girls if he could cook well, but that was probably just her wanting him to cook.

            There were many other things he, himself couldn’t help but notice, like how she ran a hand through her hair whenever she was at loss of words, or how she raised her brow when sarcastic. She liked sleeping on her side, always hugging something - he learned that when she fell asleep on the couch and used him as her subject, then started blushing to the tips of her toes when she awoke with him looking fiercely at her. When she blushed, which was rare, she really blushed - it was an amusing picture, one that made him uncomfortable as it did to her. She also liked twisting things around her fingers, whether it was a hat or a handkerchief. Aside from that, she always unconsciously tapped her waist whenever she was surprised or scared, half-expecting a gun to always be there.

            When he asked himself why the heck did he take to noticing those things, he just shrugged. Maybe it was because he had nothing else to do, and they were cooped up together in that house for the past couple of weeks. He was bound to get used to them anyway. But despite this, more and more shocks came every day. Like her temper, for instance.

            She really had innocent looks, he couldn’t discredit that, but her temper flared in volumes - something rather unexpected from a woman her size. She always had to keep it in check, and had difficulty at that too. He knew she hated being tricked or insulted, especially during these days. She was unknowingly using the attention given to her training to forget the real threat she was going to face soon, and because of this he admired her courage. For that reason also, he understood why she easily got mad whenever he goaded her during training. Anger was her main force, often giving her more determination to concentrate more. Sometimes, though, it was rather entertaining, especially whenever she fell into her rough German-English slang.

            “Look, mon,’ he once remembered her saying when he remarked on how ‘faulty’ her left foot was, “if you cinna stop I vould hafta hit ye. And by Deutschland, I vould enjoy it -so help me now and leave yer ‘comments’ fer later.”

            It really felt different having someone so aggravated because of you, then soon finding her apologizing for her early behavior. During these days, she so uninhibitedly spoke to him about how she felt at the spur of the moment. And just as easily, she would soon come to him with follow-ups about her earlier thoughts or apologies about some unconscious barbs. She wasn’t like Duo, who purposely did things to irritate him just for the fun of it. Everything about her was purely how she felt; if she was mad, she really spurred fire, if she was guilty, very much so. She couldn’t help herself, so she said.

            She was so honest, and he didn’t know why that thought contented him so much. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to catch her unguarded with a ball behind her. She was not really related to him, and he had no obligations other than partnership with her - but the way she treated him, as if he wasn’t an assassin or killer and just like a perfectly normal person was something he couldn’t help but appreciate. Sometimes, she would just reach out and brush his hair out of her eyes, telling him that he looked better that way -all the while unaware that his surprise could have nearly gotten her flying towards the next wall. There was also that day when she dumped the laundry before his door and told him to wash and repair them as well. She couldn’t go on being his ‘housemaid’ forever. She wondered out loud that sometimes, their situation reminded her of Duo.

            Duo Maxwell. Sometimes his name was a forbidden phrase in their relationship. Whenever he was mentioned or remembered, Hilde’s mood would immediately dampen, and she would always have to excuse herself to her room. Sometimes, he just caught her staring distantly at the garden in the window, commenting about how she remembered her home in L2. And Heero, for some unknown reason, felt disturbed whenever she was not herself. He preferred her screeching at him and calling him names rather than sulking or crying in the house. Heero once used his name to make her angry during one of their sessions, saying that he expected more from her, with her being Duo’s significant other. At hearing his name, her face grew pale and grim, then with a quivering voice, she had said, “Heero, I never involved Relena or your personal life in our work, it would really be helpful if you did the same to me and keep him out of this.” Then without a word, she stopped and walked out.

             It took a steady apology from him an hour later to get her to start working again. Though he had the advantage over her, he didn’t like the bad sentiments his name caused on him as well, and the mood-dampening effect was multiplied whenever he saw Hilde in pain. He never repeated Duo’s name again.

            Luckily, things went back to normal after that. Hilde learned much from his moods, and avoided sensitive topics as well. There were never large confrontations like the one of the two nights ago. They were living harmoniously and were settling in slow but sure progress - something Heero had never experienced before. Hilde was also smiling more often than before, maybe because she knew she wasn’t alone in her mission anymore. Sometimes, he wanted to smile, himself -from amusement, probably, or because of her concern. When they weren’t arguing, she was constantly trying to please him whenever she could.

            He nearly dropped a ball when that thought entered his mind. Goodness, the raucous brat was making him want to smile.

            After working with the computers in the basement, Heero was surprised to find Hilde sprawled comfortably in the couch in the living room. At her feet were so many books, and she was currently engrossed in one. Her eyes were wide with excitement, and she sighed every now and then. Heero wondered about what she was reading. It certainly made her look sentimental.

             There was nothing important to be done that couldn’t be foregone for the next day, so he had proclaimed the afternoon a break. After all, she was doing quite well, and dropping straight to sleep at night wasn’t really good for her, so he rewarded her with the luxury. The smile and the hug she had unconsciously given him was more than surprising, and more than enough to convince him that his choice was all for the best.

            Which meant that he himself had nothing to do. That was certainly not what he had expected. Thinking about any useful activity to pass time, he placed his laptop on the dining table and gave his companion one last check before working.

            Hilde had noticed him, though, and had already placed her book down. She motioned for him, “Come on, Heero. Give yourself a break. You’ve been attached to that machine the whole time when we weren’t training. I’m wondering why you don’t get migraines. And if you don’t drag your feet here, well, I’ll find some way.”

            He just snorted at that, but followed her warning and went to the living room. He didn’t really take to being called ‘Hitler’ or the Grudge right now, and she seemed determined anyway. But he was still glaring at her when he stood before her.

            She gave him a welcoming grin and motioned to the seat behind him. “Well? Sit!”

            He looked confused for a moment, but she just winked at him. “Do you actually think I’m gonna let you off that easily? Come on, Heero - I plan to make you stay for a while.” At his wary look, she glared at him, “I promise, I won’t sing.”

            “Aa.” He answered simply as he reluctantly sat on the recliner. Hilde just shook her head at him as she returned her feet to the ground. “You don’t relax much, do you Heero?”

            At his irritated look, she quickly crossed her hands before her, “No offense meant, Heero. You just really need to take it easy. Believe me, we all need it. I never really gave thought to it before, but it has helped me much.” She then motioned to the books at her feet. “Do you read books?”

            He stared at the pile impassively. “I read manuals, computer books and maps.”

            She sighed as she urged on, “No, I meant, well, literature… books for entertainment. Those with stories and opinions?”
            He just shook his head, and tried to stand up, but she quickly grabbed him and sat him back down again, much to his disgruntlement. “Heero, will you please listen for a while?” she pleaded as he took a deep breath to control himself.

            “Fine,” he began. “I don’t read those books and I don’t need to read them.”

            Hilde just gave him her lopsided grin, “Well, my exact words when my instructor suggested the same things was, ‘I dinna vant to read, I don’t read, I canna read because I don’t need ta.’ Sounds familiar?”

            He just raised a brow at her.

            She bit her lip to keep herself from laughing. She then turned her attention back to the volume she was reading earlier. To this, his curiosity returned and he asked out of the blue, “Is that one of those?”

            She squirmed, but lifted her feet to the couch so she could lean on her knees. “Well, not really. It’s just a corny romance novel, but I’ve had it for so many years, by accident, if you would want to know. It’s one of my firsts, actually. I guess the story really got me dreaming.” She stared at the lime green cover, and he moved closer to get a glimpse of the title. “In the Arms of an Angel.” He stated, then frowned, as if disturbed by his own words. “What kind of a title is that?”

            She gave him an indignant look, one that made her sapphire eyes seem brighter than usual with defiance. She then sighed as she stared at the paperback. “Excuse me, but I like the title.”

            He mirrored her sigh impatiently, “Well, what is it all about?”

            Hilde gave him a strange look, as if she was the one amused by him this time. “Are you sure you’d want to hear? Duo gagged when I told him.”

            Heero gave her an incredulous look, but he kept his attention and chose his words carefully, “If you enjoy it that much…”

            She smiled impishly and moved the book between her fingers. “It’s a romance story, that much I’ve said. It’s about… this English girl, the heroine. She’s running from her life and her past, more specifically her stepfather, one who wanted to destroy her for personal reasons.” She took a deep breath, as if having a sudden insight, but just shook her head. “And when all seems helpless, a man comes out of the blue. It’s like destiny, you know - he’s the least person she expected to help her and she thinks he’s impossible and barbaric. But he does, he gets her through the pain and heals her, even in the simplest ways, like a savior… an angel.”

            At his thoughtful gaze, she finished her tale, “And well, they worked together and fell in love, and I guess that was what made them win against the villain.” Heero looked confused. “What?” she asked defensively, nearing laughter. He was probably thinking about how cheesy she was.

            Heero raised his palm and she slowly handed him the book, unsure if that was what he wanted. She half-expected him to throw it away, but he just gazed at it as he slowly turned it to its side and skimmed over its pages. He was like a child discovering a new toy, and she watched him with fascination. Goodness, Heero could be so beautiful when he wasn’t glaring or scowling at her. She was entranced by his intense blue eyes, and when all present thought came back to her, it was all she had to do to prevent herself from going red again, which she seemed to be doing much these days. But she shook her head and ignored the thought. She then glanced at the book in his hand and felt warmth within her… it was so precious to her. Somehow, it made her believe…

            “Why do you like it?” he asked quietly as he traced the embossed letters on the cover. She took in a sharp breath, but found that she really could speak so freely with him, and that she wanted to tell him how she truly felt. Her eyes softened as she took hold of the book.

            “I guess I felt so many connections with the girl,” she answered simply as she looked at him, her eyes distant, yet so alert. “You know? How we like people or things where we find many similarities - there’s a connection, a reason for us to like them. And I guess Callista, that’s the name of the girl, made me hope…” She looked away, “It made me believe that whatever happens to me, no matter how deep in trouble I am, I would always have someone to rely on. My personal Angel, so to speak, and he would help me face my own demons.” She smiled, and there was a sentimental glaze in her eyes.

            She just looked so poignant there, glancing at the book as if it was the center of the universe. Heero regarded her as she smiled to herself, completely forgetting him. Hilde, she dared to dream… something he had given up a long time ago. The memory besieged him, accused him of abandoning his hopes, but he could only shake his head. It hurt too much to hope for something better in this war-spurned world. He had cried his dreams away so many nights ago, as a child. And then he became a murderer.

            And as his eyes touched on the way she thought to herself and ran her fingers across the cover of the book, there was a sudden urge in him, a will to protect her vision, if not his. He had never met someone like her before, so tainted yet so innocent, in a way, and he didn’t want that kind of person destroyed, not ever. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, he knew that this girl mattered to him in a special way.

            Before he could stop himself, he asked out loud, “And… was Duo that angel for you?”

            He immediately realized the consequences of his words when she froze, but was relieved when she released her breath and lay back on the couch. She then snorted, “Hardly.”

            “Nani?” he slipped, and when Hilde gave him a confused look, he only shook his head. Darn them, women were so confusing. She just shook the wits out of him with that one word. “I meant, well… anou, why?”

            Hilde gave a small laugh, “Duo is hardly ‘angel’ material, more like the opposite - but he’s got his own charm in spite of this. After all, he already proclaimed himself ‘Shinigami.’ What more could I say?” Heero recalled how the obnoxious man gave himself conceited aliases. But he understood the depth the lay underneath the cheerful façade. After all, he had worked with him during the colonial wars. He listened as she continued, a light look on her face, “But I like him that way - all of us are, well, angels in our own ways… I think. Sounds confusing? Wait, don’t answer that.” She smiled at his frustrated face, but noted the acceptance in his stance.

            He finally released his breath, and her smile grew wider. She then lifted a heavy volume. “So, Mr. Yuy, have you ever read the Bible?”

            “This looks nice, but, erm, what is it?”

            Heero just nodded at her and tapped the seat of the contraption Hilde was openly gaping at. “Does it look familiar?”

            Hilde approached the machine and placed a hand on the leather seat. “Can I?” she asked hesitantly. And at his nod, she flung herself over the seat and viewed the various buttons in the makeshift dashboard before her. Her eyes widened in recognition, and her hands traced the accelerator beside her. The switches before her soon keyed in the answers in her memory. “This looks like an advanced model of the cockpit of a Taurus! And that’s the last place I’d like to be in,” she said without thought. “Wait, scratch that - this is much, much more,” she remarked as she fingered the complicated pads and screens, “advanced.”

            Heero shrugged. “It’s the model of a Gundam cockpit.”

            “What?” Immediately, Hilde choked. Without waiting for him to say more, she struggled to stumble out of the machine. Heero had to hold her to return her balance, but she took no notice. “H-Heero, I’m not ready yet. You told me that, yourself.”

            Heero said nothing as he gave her a small push in the direction of the machine. “If anything, you are very much ready. You are excelling in the ball test, and I’ve never heard anyone complain about it like you do everyday. You were even very creative in giving me your names.” He ignored the urge to grin at the sudden redness in her ears. “This is your best opportunity, yet.”

            She was still frozen to the spot when he placed his hand on her shoulder, and he realized how insecure she really was about the situation. He resignedly accepted that if he wanted to work effectively with her, he should refrain from being used to short talk. He was just beginning to understand the fact that women needed as much words as possible. But his honesty was what she needed right now.

             He faced her to him and saw that her eyes were shut tight. This promptly gained him the thought that she didn’t really want to learn how to pilot a Gundam as much as he didn’t want to teach her. But they were both forced to do so. The only feasible plan was to find every possible way to take the Gundams away from them. It was their enemy’s main advantage.

            “Hilde,” he murmured to her, much gentler and nearer than he intended, “More than anyone, you can do it.”

            She nodded against his chest and shuddered. Without warning, he raised her face and told her to open her eyes and begin. “I understand,” she whispered, and his heart skipped a beat at her closed eyes and deep voice. Heero found himself struggling with his self again when he placed a shaky hand to move her bangs away. She then took a deep breath and announced that she would try.

            He nodded as he unintentionally released her with some roughness. She gasped at this and her eyes opened. He didn’t flinch when she glared at him, but was surprised when her pout turned into a smile. “Thank you, Hitler.”

            He snorted and walked away as she threw herself on the seat. He allowed her to familiarize herself with the layout of the cockpit design before he switched their functions on. It took him three nights of two-hour sleeps to finish the machine - as much as possible he wanted to see it put to good use. He didn’t want to ride it himself, having memorized every detail of the Gundam and thus remembering every regret that came with it. When he turned around, she saw her handling the controls with candid curiosity, and the scene did nothing to comfort him. He was practically sending her off to the battlefield, and she was well aware of that.

            He then approached her and stood beside the machine. He began as he tapped the accelerator, “This switch controls your movement and gives you speed, while the one on your right side is the one that controls your gears, much like that of an ordinary car.” She nodded attentively and placed her chin on her hand as she listened. And he had faith in her. She would learn soon enough.

            Nodding, he proceeded on to the hand controls. “These switches allow you to move the right hands, while the other side provides movement for the left hand…”

            Heero frowned at Hilde’s words. “What does that mean?”

            They were sitting before the fireplace, resting after the day of work. Hilde was properly instructed on how to properly use the controls in the cockpit, and they would begin on her speed and apply her organization tests the next day. Now, the girl had taken it upon herself to ‘teach him how to take it easy’ in return for his invaluable help, something he didn’t really need. But she had insisted, and he found himself interested in an excerpt she had read from the Bible, a book that, he was told, was the source of all Christian religions.

            She looked up from the volume and supplied for him. “What? This one? ‘Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others.

Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye? How dare you say to your brother, “Please, let me take the speck in your eye,” when you have a log in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.’ Was that it?”

            He nodded as he took a sip in his coffee. “Explain.”

            She closed the thick book in her hand, “Well, we all have our own personal interpretations. That’s what makes this book so special. Anyway, it just says that we have no right to judge others so easily, for if we do, God will judge us in the same way.”

            “Hai. Your God, and then?”

            She reached for her own coffee cup and faced the fire, “Well, it basically says that judging so easily is unfair and only God has the right to do that. Only God knows. Sometimes, those people who seemed to be the outcasts and the weak would turn out to be the kindest, strongest ones. Or maybe those who seem so good and mighty are those who are actually the criminals of society. We would never really know unless the prejudice in our society is stopped. We can discover so many things by not being biased.”

            Heero nodded as he listened to her voice, he knew just what that statement made. He willed himself to unwind and closed his eyes as he asked her to continue. She just smiled at this and went on. “And sometimes, we cannot simply ask other people to change or remove their habits because we, in our own ways, have those habits as well. A rich, corrupt official cannot accuse a young thief of stealing when he himself stole much from his people. I guess it’s true when they say ‘It takes one to know one.’ You cannot condemn a woman for being jealous when you know the feeling of jealousy as well.”

            He frowned at her message, but bade her to go on. And she nodded off, “We are all alike, in so many ways, and if people would just stop hiding their ghosts and accept each other, then try to help, then there wouldn’t be any unfair judgements, and this world would become a better, freer place. If only we truly had that compassion.”

            Heero opened his eyes, realizing the truth of her words. All his life, he tried to shield away from the pain other people might cause when they realized what he was and what he did for a living. It seems that no one understood him, and ever will. The only surprising case was with Relena, who dared to approach him in spite of the fact that he tried to kill her so many times. And Hilde, who didn’t mind his moods even at the height of scandals involving his name.

            “Was that why…” he began, but Hilde cut him off with a gentle shrug. “Heero, I didn’t want to judge you. I had no right… so I took you in. I hoped that you weren’t what the news told you to be, and I wasn’t disappointed. You shouldn’t be so wary about others, yourself. Not all people mean bad, Heero… you can try to trust some, and see the heaps of good that would come back to you in return. It’s a wonderful experience.”

            He didn’t reply, dumbfounded by her sudden words. She only winked at him and drew nearer, holding the Bible before him. “Maybe you should read it more. You’d be surprised by the many truths in it.”

            He stared mutely at the book, but took it from her to appease her. He watched the contented look on her face when he did so. He speculated on this and asked. “Do you believe in God?”

            She seemed taken aback by his sudden question and there were several moments of awkwardness after that, but she soon spoke after sipping from her drink. “Well, there were times when I didn’t want to believe. It’s just so hard to put your everything in the hands of a divine, unseen being. My instructor was a Protestant, though, and Duo is a Catholic. I guess there were many influences, therefore giving me a semblance of faith.”

She took a deep breath and Heero slowly digested what she was saying. Of course, Duo had his priestly garbs, as well as the cross he used. But Heero never really knew what either meant, or gave consideration to a higher deity who knew everything. If that was so, then why were so many people miserable, why were there so many wars?

            “I learned many things from that book. I was very shocked at the lessons at first. But in the end, they will benefit you more than others will. And, I guess God must be real - after all, He got me to escape from the Base, and He allowed me to meet Duo.

“It was because of Him that I believed that there was a reason for everything... Even the war, or the death of some people. Maybe it’s all part of a wonderful plan to bring out the best in each one of us… but that all depends on our own faith.” She reasoned to him, a glimpse of a smile on her distracted face.

It seemed that she was also explaining to herself rather than to him alone. “Duo was so religious, believe it or not, even though he’s been through much. I guess his religion was his only strong link to the past, as well as the force that leads him to the future. As a result, well, I started praying as well. And I don’t think that prayer will fail you Heero,” she stated.

            At his questioning look, she only smiled at him, “God doesn’t forget anyone.” Even you, she seemed to say as she paused. “And I know He takes care of me, too.

“After all, just when I thought everything was hopeless, He gave me you.”

            He was speechless, and was left openly staring at her.

She blushed and excused herself. Then she started sputtering about how perfect Heero would be if only he didn’t give killer tests. He could have easily shunned her away or given a snippy comment to oppose her words.

But God help him now, he almost smiled back.

            Hilde boosted the accelerator at Heero’s command. “Now!”

            Her concentration was on the picture provided by the helmet that Heero gave her to use. It showed a virtual environment, one that showed the scene of a typical battle in a Mobile Suit. In her eyes, she was sitting on a real cockpit and facing the vast extremeness of space. And out of the corner of her eye, she saw a Virgo approaching her.

            “What should you do now?” She heard Heero’s voice from beside her, and she nodded accordingly as she fingered the controls that mastered the hands. Switching a button, her Mecha lifted a machine cannon and she made a clean shot at the Virgo.

            “Good,” she heard Heero’s comments, “But that won’t save you in real battle. You should work faster. With the advantage of your former piloting skills and the organization training, you should be able to work effectively. Don’t get distracted, know what controls are liable to your hands.”

            “But Heero,” she answered as this time, two Virgos approached her. “We haven’t even started training to get me used to the advanced controls.” Her trauma-caused fear caused her to control the Mecha to move back in the screen.

            That was when the two MS’s sped in her direction. She tensed, then she heard Heero reply.

            “That, Schbeiker, is the thrill of this training.”

            She yelped as she fiddled with the controls and hit one of the Virgos with the cannon. The blast barely missed it but was fatal enough to send it exploding. The other Virgo used its own missile launcher at her, and she had to quickly move sideward in order to dodge it.

            “Schbeiker, you can’t limit yourself to using a cannon or a buster rifle!” she heard Heero advice impatiently. “You’ll fail that way! You have two beam sabers; use them! And your brain for that matter-“

            She yelled angrily at the insult and headed for the remaining Virgo, stealthily dodging its blasts. Using the controls, she inserted a fist of her robot into the other Mobile Suit and quickly flipped away, hence escaping the explosion. “I hate swords, by the vey,” she snorted angrily. “But I’m pretty good vi’ me limbs.” She amended immediately.

            “That may be advantage,” he replied, his voice suddenly near her ear, “But that isn’t enough.”

            She gasped when three mobile suits came flying in her direction. With a choke, she released the thermal sword. “I’ll kill you later, Yuy!”

            Heero watched her as she moaned on the couch. That seemed to be a habit. Every time, after her training, they would both recline in the living room and have some time for recreation, something she requested on the threat that she would sing if not granted. Surprisingly, he was beginning to enjoy it too; though that was one thing he would never admit to anyone, least of all her. He was starting to have interest in her books, namely the thick Bible and some other old forms of literature.

            “I have a very bad headache.” She groaned out as she placed an icepack on her head. The same gadget seemed to be their greatest necessity these days. He smirked at her; she was talking about the Virtual Simulation test he created, of course. She didn’t really use much of her muscles today, but her concentration was stretched to its limits. She had a very hard time handling the thermal sword test, so he had to review her with the basics again. But all in all, she wasn’t a bad student.

            Only a loud one, he followed as she started complaining about the experience. “I would deliberately wake up late tomorrow, Heero. Just see if I don’t!” He almost wished she would speak with her native accent again. It made her look more…

            He sighed, suddenly uncomfortable. She would really get upset at his insults, and just as expected, her performance level increased at the first sign of her German tongue. Truly, her anger spurred her on, but the need to control it also distracted her.

            “I mean, why can’t I just hit them like I do on foot?”

            Heero sighed as he took hold of a slim booklet, it was hard to keep to himself when he was around her. She kept on asking him many things. “Because you would explode with your opponent if you do.”

            Silence. He was reading the book, while she was taking in what he had said.

            She gave a sound of defeat. “I hate it when you’re right.”

            He only nodded at her glare. “I’m always right, Schbeiker.”

            “Uh, huh, hai - yeah right,” she replied, which he promptly ignored.

            Hilde kept on waiting for him to answer, but realized that he was engrossed in the book he was reading. Groggily lifting the icepack from her temple, she lifted herself to her elbows and asked him what it was that he was reading. She was so glad that Heero was opening himself to her ideas - Duo never did. And she was more pleased by the fact that Heero seemed genuinely interested (though she ignored the taunts in her mind that said that he was only following her because he didn’t want her to sing again).

            The other man approached her, and she nearly lost her breath when he leaned over her and gave the book he was reading, opened on exactly the same passage. She frowned, heck, he could drive a lifelong scholar to a distraction with his eyes. “What is it?”

            His eyes darted over the lines, “Can you describe it?”

            She sat up and nodded, then read the lines for herself. “‘The Prophet’ by Kahlil Gibran,” she began. It was a nice selection. She cleared her throat and read in a soft voice,

‘When Love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you, yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you  so shall he crucify you, even as he is for your growth so is he for you pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself, he threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; and then he assigns you to the sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread, for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do to you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear, you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, then it is better for you  that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing floor. Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.’”

            Hilde sighed as she finished, and turned to see Heero’s questioning eyes on her. “Long, isn’t it?” she asked carefully.

            He shrugged, a bit edgy, “Length doesn’t matter if there is no sense.”

            Hilde nodded slowly at this, and placed her hands in her lap. She wasn’t really sure if she wanted to talk about Love right now, with her love life in an unstable situation. But Heero looked so willing despite his inscrutable expression, as if he really needed to understand what the poet meant with his words. His eyes were staring indefinitely at the fire before them as he waited for her to begin. Oh, Heero… what happened to you and Relena? She thought sadly.

            “It speaks about the joys and pains of being in love,” Hilde then began simply.

            “Joys… and pains…” he slowly repeated after her. And she wordlessly went down from the sofa to sit beside him.

            “I guess, that’s what Love is all about,” she continued in a breathless voice as she stared at the fire. “So mysterious and confusing… but Love isn’t -well, meant to be understood. I guess, it is something we should live instead of understand.”

            His silence told her to go on, and deep down she knew that he was really listening. “Love is something we cannot control, we cannot chose who to love nor can we force them. Love chooses us, and while we’re at it, I believe it’s up to us whether we would take the risk of loving or not.”

            She closed her eyes and drew her knees up to herself, suddenly remembering how Duo had returned to help her escape from a highly secured cell in OZ. It took so many nights and dreams to decide whether she really had feelings for him or not. He was always so gentle with her, and always made her smile. She recalled how she blushed whenever he held her hand.

            When she turned to look at Heero, she found him staring at her, and blushed again without warning. She looked away - sometimes he unnerved her, especially whenever he seemed to smile. And the experience was very similar to that of-

            She shook her head, then concentrated on her explanation. “Where was I?”

            Heero released a deep breath, unimpressed by her lack of attention. “A choice, whether to take a ‘risk.’”

            She looked at him curiously, endeared by his willingness to listen and attempt to sound neutral. To her, the man seemed very insecure about the topic. She just shrugged then crossed her arms. “You see, Heero, loving can be so beautiful, so wonderful.”

            He seemed to be revolted by her words so she continued quickly, “But that doesn’t mean that every relationship can be perfect.”

            His eyes snapped back to her and regarded her as if nothing else mattered, and she met his gaze squarely. “Loving, though it can give you fulfilment of the soul, can be so painful. It is not without risk. The more you love, the higher you go, and the longer you may fall. It is a giving of yourself - therefore you are vulnerable to pains and insecurities. Fights and tears are bound to happen, because loving…” she paused “is also hurting.”

            He looked confused. “Then why… why do people love, if it hurts so much?”

            Hilde gave him a knowing smile and had grabbed his hand before she knew what she was doing, “That is the challenge of Love, Heero.” She opened his fist into a palm, “It is to give and to receive. To feel pain but to heal, to make mistakes but to learn. It is to be young and vulnerable, but it also to grow… it makes you weak, yet it makes you strong. It gives you failures but is the most successful thing of all. I guess, it is a paradox,” she stopped at his frustrated look.

            She ignored her fears and formed a link in both of their hands, feeling a force within tell her to do so. Heero needed this just as much as she did. “Heero, Love is full of pain, full of hurts… sometimes it gives more tears than joy. But if you live past through all of those, if you learn to cherish the happiness that Love gives, then you will be the greatest man ever. It will give you the greatest fulfilment. You will be whole.

            “That is the perfection of Love. To go on feeling despite your fears of loving and the risks that come with it… to give yourself to that special someone and to accept her for who she is. It is to have her accept you as well, and to know what is right and wrong in spite of this.” She vaguely remembered Duo and the memory of the tragedy of her parents as she continued, staring openly at his beautifully piercing eyes.

                        They were both safely a distance away from the OZ holding, having vaguely escaped the guards who followed them. Thanks to him, she was free. She jumped off the jeep and nodded slowly, afraid to look at his violet eyes. “Thank you, Maxwell.”

            She then tried to run off, trying to ignore the fact that she had nothing left to support herself. ‘I’ll find a way,’ she promised as she continued to run. Just so she could start anew again, without any complications. She nearly cursed when she felt the tears falling down her cheeks, but went on without stopping.

            Yet his hand had grabbed hers, and before she knew it, she was pushed towards his chest. She could feel her heart beating wildly and could almost swear she was blushing. No, not with this stranger who made her feel so much. “I-I, Duo…”

            He looked down at her, all mirth gone from his eyes, replaced by an intense emotion; “You don’t have to leave, Hilde.”

            “I…You don’t understand. It’s not safe. Please, let me go…” she let out weakly, but had already broken down and started crying while he embraced her.

“It is when you go on loving even though challenges and obstacles may come your way, even though your pain can threaten to destroy you. It is to offer your tears that someone, and to still keep on trying though you want to give up. You must go through each other’s foul moods and imperfections, and love each other just the same. And if your love survives all those hurts and challenges, if you still feel the depth of your bond in spite of everything, then you have achieved real Love. The Love that is hard-worked, that went through everything together, and that experienced pain. It is to go through that whole journey.”

            He seemed disturbed in his sleep, and there was a frown on his face as she watched him. It was when he grabbed onto something beside him that she realized why it was so.

            ‘He still thinks I’m beside him.’

            Her eyes were watering when she finished. “It says that Love has pains, but is also Joy. And when you’ve grown with that and accepted that fact, then you have loved.”

            Hilde alertly became embarrassed by what she had done, and so she only watched him, and he didn’t reply. Her suddenly fervent speech had come out of nowhere, but she supported every thing she’d said, and seemingly, it was exactly what Heero needed to hear. Hilde didn’t regret a thing, whatever his reaction would be shouldn’t matter - yet deep inside, she knew - she just believed that Heero understood. Taking a deep breath, she neared him.

He sat there, staring quietly as she knelt before him and released his fingers one by one from her grasp. But before she could let him go, he grabbed her hand again. “And what if you are afraid?”

            She only looked up at him, infinitely glad that he had listened to her. She now viewed him with affection, as if looking at a vulnerable child, then finally whispered. “Heero, if you are only willing to experience the joys of love, without all the pain, then that is not love at all - you wouldn’t experience it’s greatest gift… It is better for you not to love at all.” He was shocked when she placed a hand on his cheek, but didn’t make any move to stop her. He only closed his eyes as he felt the touch, not having the strength to resist.

She sighed, and all her emotions… her memories, the overwhelming need to show Heero and the sadness she felt for him, caught up with her. Her eyes began welling up fully in tears. “But for me, it is better to have experienced Love, even in the smallest measure, and have failed…” she announced in a shaky voice, “than not to experience Love at all.”

            And he opened her eyes and watched her. There they were, on the floor, with her kneeling before him and with him holding one of her hands desperately. Her other hand was placed ever so gently on his cheek, and the warmth that radiated there almost made him feel whole.

            The fire flickered quietly, casting a glow on her face and a silver glitter in her eyes. Even the night seemed to listen to them.

            He almost swore he had never seen anything more beautiful than her that night when her tear fell and she whispered to him, “You can still love, Heero Yuy.”

            The four men stood before the base’s factory, staring through the glass windows and observing the progress of the creation of the new Mobile Suits. Improvised models of the other suits such as Virgos, Libras, Taurus’s lay before them, being coated with additional protective alloy.

            “How much longer will these take, Lady Une?” Quatre inquired as he varied the suits. It was very impressive how they had finished these suits in under a month, but their reliability would still be tested by the former Gundam pilots themselves. Quatre had no doubts about them, though. If anything, the Preventers ensured the best quality of machinery. They even recruited five core scientists to help recreate new Gundanium models.

            Lady Une merely nodded. “These MS’s will be ready for testing in two days. But the special models designed specifically for the likes of you pilots will take at least a week more before they could be ready for use.”

            Duo whistled as he stared at the suits below them. “You mean you have better designed suits than these killer babies?” he asked, his American slang getting the best of his diction because of his awe. Wufei rolled his eyes at this.

            Une gave a small shake of the head, and Sally just smiled from beside her, “Apparently, yes.” She straightened herself and waved when Zechs appeared from behind the men. “Follow us.”

            They all filed behind her accordingly as they passed a highly secured plank to another large room, which turned out to be the observation deck. Une drew a curtain open and allowed them into an elevator, while Sally remained in the deck.

            What they all saw when they stepped into the elevator literally stopped them in their tracks.

            What stood them were four majestic mechas, taller than even the Gundams of before, but slightly slimmer. They all stood in their respective glories, with the scientists strictly supervising their creation. They were also coded in their own colors, strangely resplendent-and similar to the original models. The air around these Mobile Suits seemed impressive: cautious but secure, simple but complicated, innocent but fatal.

             It was Zechs who first spoke, “Une, what are they?”

            A screen flickered on the wall, and Sally’s voice resounded across the room as the virtual models of the mechas were shown before them.

            “These are Mobile Suits made especially of Gundanium, hence they are also called Gundams. We’ve labelled this project GII, Gundam II, for they are also improved models and their control systems are different from that of before.”

            The screen showed the style of the cockpit of the Gundams. It looked very different this time, since the control room was larger than before. There was a large circular platform behind the system.

            “The master controllers of the Gundams can vary between two types - the manual control and the physioneuro-control systems. The manual control is what you have been used to, those which required switches and various dashboard functions. I don’t have to elaborate, I know that you all understand the aspects of this type of direction.

            The picture focused on the circular platform. “The physioneuro-control, or PN system is a new development which allows freer and faster movements. When a pilot takes control of the platform, nerve sensors take record of his every movement and imitates such for the Gundam. Therefore, no matter what you do, however you move, will all be imitated by the Gundam.”

            “You mean…” Duo began with wonderment as he placed a hand on his head with slight frustration.

            Sally nodded in the screen, “It’s piloting, without the obstruction of so many complicated buttons and switches. It’s like fighting your opponents yourself, having the Gundam follow your every move. This makes it so much easier for you, especially if you have been trained physically in combat.” She noticed how Duo fidgeted and said, “Even your mere habits will be imitated by the system. In a way, it’s just like enlarging yourself to do the battle.”

            Quatre, who seemed to be the only one with no rigorous physical training in his past, asked, “But are the manual and PN control systems equally effective?” he saw the advantages to this new type of movement management, especially for Trowa and Wufei.

            Sally nodded, then showed them the anatomy of the systems. “The PN control will give you freer motions and allows you more speed - after all, your body and your mind will be the masters of your battles, but that doesn’t mean that the manual control will be less effective. There is one disadvantage, however.” She finished as she switched the screen back to the Gundam models.

            Trowa immediately noticed, “There would be less protection.”

            “What?” Wufei yelled, as if astounded because they allowed such a flaw.

            Sally sighed, “Yes, because whatever happens to the Gundam will also be transmitted to you. If it happens to be slashed across the chest, you will feel that same pain. After all, your brain will be attached to the system, and the outputs will also spread to you. But if you are really organized physically, this won’t be much of a problem. If you can dodge kicks and bullets easily by yourself, this should be no problem for you.”

            The others nodded, somewhat stunned by the wealth of information suddenly supplied to them. And Sally, ever as somber, went on. “This is actually an advantage, for the awareness of pain will allow you to be more alert about your environment accordingly. This condition will not apply to manual control. It is highly risky to use the PN control, but with mastery and training, you won’t have any problems.”

            Sally typed in the computer and then proceeded to showing them the final appearances of the Gundams. “For this same reason, the form and structure of the Mechas have been modified to conform to human dimensions. This explains why the Gundams have different builds this time.”

            The first model shown to them was one that was colored white and silver, then highlighted by deep red. “This is the Plethora, the first model. It is designed after Wing Zero, if you would take note of its standard armaments. The shoulder guards hide the buster rifles, and the machine cannons and beam sabers are in their original positions.

“It is named so because it is the only system made of the excess Gundanium alloy used in the creation of all your Gundams. This makes its armoring ability vary in different places, since your former Gundams have diverse armoring strengths. But rest assured, the locations are very strategic, and we have paid special attention to this.”

            Lady Une continued after her. “This was meant to be used by Heero Yuy, if ever he comes back.” Her comment caused sudden silence among the men.

            At this indication, Sally went on. “This is Phoebus, yes, after the Moon of War, Mars.” The dark shaded Gundam was presented to them, “It was modelled after Deathscythe Hell. This will be your system, Duo. It is still complete with the hyper-jammers and other unique functions. We figured you would all be more comfortable in machine environments similar to those of your former mechas.”

            At Duo’s jubilation, the others gave their own sighs of relief. It was no hidden fact that they wanted their new systems have some easy semblance to their first Gundams.

            “This is Reliance,” Sally announced as a blue robot appeared in the screen, “Similar to Gundam Heavy Arms, it is designed for the use of artillery and is equipped accordingly. Truth be told, its slim structure allows more space for different armaments. You will be able to work to your highest performance level here, with the added bonus of easier movement. You would have no difficulty using this, Trowa.”

            “Quatre, your system is called Myriad. We paid special consideration to the creation of this Gundam. In fact, this system has a personal links to all the new Gundams, via the PN system. You can contact them all with your mental calling, Quatre. Aside from this, your heat shorter and shield flash pairs have been upgraded. You’ll be surprised by the other new functions added to this system, but they are up for you to discover.”

            Quatre had to step back when he heard about his Gundam, and when he turned to his left, the Gundam being created before them turned out to be his. Surprised? They had given him an exceptional communication system for his mecha, yet it he would only have access to it through the new PN system, something he immediately decided not to use. Unlike the others, he had never really trained in physical combat, with his heart’s tendency to weaken at the most surprising moments. Given, he had ability in fencing. But the risks were too much.

            When he went back to listening, he saw Lady Une’s eyes on him, and they were gentle. They held faith in him, and he felt better when she smiled, a message vivid in her eyes. More than anyone, you are very capable of leading your fellow pilots. We trust you with this system, Quatre Winner.

            “Finally, Zechs, your system is called Osairi, named after the highly specialized beam saber equipped with it. We have taken note of your impressive swordsmanship and adaptation skills. This is an entirely new Mobile Suit, quite different from those that you have used before, though there are some… subtle similarities. In spite of this all, we believe that you will be able to carry this Mobile Suit effectively.”

            Sally then turned to Wufei, “Your Gundam is still being modified. We are busy adjusting its dimensions and adding the PN system. You’ve seen it before. But it will be ready for you to view and try in a few days.”

            And with that, she nodded to them all and switched the screen off, then followed after them in the elevator. When she reached the bottom, she gave the bewildered pilots a brilliant smile, “So, Gentlemen, would you like to see them now?”

            Her face was scrunched as she bit on the end of the pencil she was holding. Deep in thought, she remained quiet for a few seconds before her face brightened. “Okay, Heero. This,” she began, pointing at an illustration, “is a pair of the Buster Rifles. It is one of the most destructive weapons of Wing Zero. It uses extreme heat, and used together, it is very fatal. It can burst through at least two kilometres of metal. I can activate it by switching the second function button. By using gear five, I can easily maneuver it to hit my opponent.”

            Heero nodded, satisfied with her explanation. “Go on.”

            Hilde took a deep breath and gave a brief smile, pleased with herself. She then pointed at the next picture. “These are the machine cannons. I can use them by freeing them from the shoulder blocks, function button three. They are very effective for distance firing, and I’ve had experience with them from my former encounters with Mobile Suits. This model is much more effective, however, because it fires through a longer distance.”

            At this, Heero said nothing - which obviously meant ‘continue’ in his so-called vocabulary. She gave a smile at this. It was nice to think that she was also beginning to understand him. He really was a good friend, and she only hoped that he would also learn to trust her one day.

            He showed her the next diagram, and she immediately recognized it. “This,” she went on, shooting him a glance as she traced the picture with her finger. He seemed concentrated, and much too focused on their activity. He wasn’t like that before - now, it was as if he was purposely avoiding her. She worried that maybe it had something to do with their experience two nights before.

But that just can’t be, she thought. After the incident, he had been very warm with her, and had taken the book with him, willing to finish it. He didn’t seem upset… in fact, it seemed like a bond had formed between them, somewhat like a deeper connection.

            She frowned. But the next day, he was very different. It wasn’t that he had grown colder or stricter, he was just… distant. As if purposely avoiding conversations with her. He still joined her during evenings in the living room, though. But despite this, he rarely talked, often engrossing himself in her books. It was, as if he was somewhat - cautious, no… wary, like he feared her. Not in a negative way, though: that she was sure of, for if he was really cautious against her, then he could have done something about it already. But no, there were no increased insults, nor were there any accusations against her.

            Had I been too forward or invading that night? She thought to herself, suddenly conscious. She never really meant to intimidate him or suddenly intrude on his feelings. She just acted on impulse, feeling that he really needed to hear what she said. And if Heero had felt uncomfortable, surely he would have ordered her to stop in her speech.

            Then why?

            He cleared his throat, and she found him in the process of giving her another glare. She grinned sheepishly, he could be thinking she was having a hard time identifying the drawing. She rolled her eyes, well duh. “This, as I was saying,” she flinched at his sigh, “is the beam saber. It is found in the shoulder armor as well. The location is well placed, because it is very easy to draw the sword out in combat. Most Gundams have their respective beam swords… ranging at a variety. Others have knives, while others use,” she gulped and closed her eyes, not noticing Heero’s disturbed ones “well, scythes… Some use them in a double-bladed feature, at the opposite ends of the holder. They are all effective in close attacks and destruction of spacecrafts.”

            Without waiting for his indication, she went on, “It can be triggered by function button one.” Then she asked for the other illustrations, and continued with the other familiar armaments without stopping. Heero raised a brow at her sudden discomfort. Was it the mention of Duo’s scythe?

            He frowned then shook his head. Her problems weren’t his concern. He had decided not to involve himself too much with her. She caused too much confusion and distraction to his thoughts.

             Her voice went on, "The first thing I should do when I enter any cockpit, especially that of this mecha, is to check for the Zero System and to turn it off by deactivating the green switch. Then I should cut of the wire system that links to the pilot's environment. It should be found behind the cockpit, at the memory database. But we doubt the presence of the Zero system because it would be hard to duplicate it now..."

            He observed her straight gaze, and a voice within him accused him of being a traitor, somehow. But as usual, the thought was ignored. He handed her the next drawing.

            But he had to acknowledge the fact that he wasn’t pleased with the arrangement. He sighed at that admission - where did that come from? What did he care, anyway? Their mission was his first priority, and she was becoming much too disturbing, and he, overly accommodating.

            But his eyes softened when he realized how she was really trying hard. In fact, she was doing so much better with their virtual simulation training. She didn’t complain as much either, and her performance was becoming more and more remarkable. She destroyed enemies at a quick rate, and easily learned from her mistakes. She was no longer mediocre; he could affirm that. A little more training and focus and she would make an excellent pilot.

            He scowled when he realized that he almost felt proud.

            “Have you assigned pilots to them yet?”

            A man beside the leader nodded and lifted a folder from the envelope he was holding. And Quasar waited with anticipation as their leader read the reports compiled about the suitability of their members. It was not everyday that he went down from his office at the Base, and they were all eager to please him.

            They were all in the observation deck of their covert manufacturing building, and the Star himself had approved of the status of the clones. Their own scientists had done what they could to make the Gundams more effective than before, using advanced control systems. Their plans were finally reaching its fulfilment.

            They all straightened when their leader nodded over the suggested pilots and began to announce his decision. He shut the folder and turned to them, his piercing ice blue eyes filled with anticipation and amusement. He ran a hand through his blonde hair and began.

            “Sandrock Upgrade will be piloted by Number Twenty-One, Nova.” He stated clearly, in a voice that was so deep and soothingly luxurious. It could have been that of a ballad singer or that of a man who spoke sonnets and read poetry to entrance women. It was a characteristic that opposed his nature.

            There was a hum of agreement as he gave his choices. “Heavy Arms Kai Upgrade will be piloted by one of my second-in-commands -Number Five, Gemini.” And Quasar nodded at this. It was no wonder Gemini would enter the circle, with his impressive ‘stealth’ skills. For the moment, the said man was not present, having the case of a high-priority person given to him. Quasar wondered what could be so special about a simple girl that their Leader would go to such heights just to retrieve her to the base. For all he knew, she was someone who had a confusing name. Heidi, he heard the Leader call her once. But other than that, he had no idea about her.

            By now, the Leader had viewed the folder again, and was regarding the names with scrutiny. Quasar straightened at this, he believed that Wing Zero Upgrade would be given to him, of course. He was the one who knew most about Mobile Suits in the Base’s officials - and the assignment of supervising their creation hadn’t been given to him without a reason. There was no one else more capable than him.

            Their Leader sighed, brushing of his pale golden hair to his side. And with that, he gave them all a small grin, one that spoke in volumes. “Quasar, Number Seventeen, will take control of Deathscythe Upgrade.”

            What?

            His hands dropped to his sides as he gave the Leader a confused look. Even the others were shocked by his statement - only Deathscythe Upgrade? He could do with so much more than just that! Though he had to admit, the mecha had the ability to challenge that of Wing Zero, he still preferred the more dominant one to it.

            But before he could even raise the question, their Leader closed his eyes and crossed his arms, his smile growing even wider. “I know what you’re thinking, Seventeen. But piloting Wing Zero Upgrade is more complicated than you think. It has the Zero system, something I believe you can’t handle - but that is not to say that I’m degrading your skills.” He amended as he walked forward.

            “You have been impressive so far, but there is one person in the history of the base who has physical skills to match that of Wing Zero, as well as the satisfactory speed. She is an easy pawn, and has the capable built, essentially perfect for the role. Given enough training, she can prove very effective and fatal, thus leading us to victory. No one else deserves it but her.”

            Quasar’s brows raised in frustration. “But who, Sir?”

            The Leader didn’t answer, but gave the folder to his assistant and turned to walk out of the room. “We’ll find her soon enough.” And before he disappeared, he commanded the man, “List Number Twenty-Six for the role.”  

            Heero stopped before the building upon seeing its name, St. Luke Church. It was a bright Sunday morning, and the rains of yesterday had left the streets aglow. He had decided to buy some essential materials then. But before he could leave, Hilde had announced that she was high-time she went to Mass. She had failed in that activity due to her work, and she really needed it now. He had just shrugged at her proclamation, and had easily rejected her offer for him to join her. She noted that he didn’t really look obvious with a cap to hide his unruly hair.

            ‘I have more important things to do,’ he had answered shortly in reply, to which she just rolled her eyes and muttered ‘Kill Joy,’ something he had decided to disregard.

            But now he was there… and he was done with his purchasing. Hilde was probably inside. Maybe he could wait for her, though he didn’t know why he really had to do that.

            For her safety, he reasoned out. But whichever, he decided to remove the cap and step in. That was when he confessed that he was curious about the ritual many people went through every Sunday. One of the real reasons he had stepped in was his need to see, to just get a glimpse of the preoccupations of normal people.

            There were many people, and some of them were left standing, so he settled on doing just the same, positioning himself near the doors if ever he felt the need to go out. That was when he heard the Priest speak.

            “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back. Do for others just what you want them to do for you.

            “If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that! And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount!

“No! Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High God. For He is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”

            Heero leaned on the wall behind him, suddenly disturbed by what he heard.

            “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ,” he heard them say as they all sat down. And he closed his eyes, but the message still rang clear in his head, seemingly unreasonable at first sight but deep and could almost be true. His eyes scanned past the crowd and saw her sitting in one of the pews; then the thought resounded.

            ‘Love Thy Enemy.’

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