The Alliance was divided. Some sided with OZ, no doubt because of Treize Khushrenada's undeniable charisma and others sided with the colonists, in the name of human rights, justice and above all else, peace. Unfortunately, OZ's side was gaining power. If all the world's nations were formed into one, and the colonies were made into weapons malfacturing, the world would have a different kind of peace that OZ was trying to make into a reality. Conformity would rule, and those with their own thoughts would be punished, that's when all those weapons would come in. Police raids, like the ones on the colonies now, could become the norm on the planet as well. It's bad enough that happens to the poor people in the colonies, we must stop it there, not start it here. Individuality would be sacrificed for social harmony. With the loss of individuality comes the loss of what separates humans from other animals. Hopes, dreams, thinking for ones self, it's all gone, but there would be peace.

Pacifism, which other members of the Alliance were leaning towards was different. The nations remain separate, the colonies become a nation of there own, and rather than solving the conflicts between the nations with war, as had been done throughout history, all conflicts would be solved peacefully, with discussions and compromises. Sometimes, pacifism doesn't work, the sides just can't agree and the people turn to war again. But absolute pacifism refuses to back down. Never raising weapons against our fellow man with the intent to kill, harm or maim.

Duo and his fellow Gundam pilots took yet another road. To defend the colonies from OZ's plan, they would destroy OZ itself. They had no room for mistakes. In a way, Duo and I were working together; he from the outside, me from the inside, both working against OZ.

But there was still one thing that was bothering me, despite the fact that I think I understand what's going on around me. Miss Noin has a problem with the possible destruction of OZ. This I don't understand. From what I've been able to tell, she has no love of the organization, and thinks that the Gundams are doing the right thing by protecting their homes. I've seen the looks in her eyes when she speaks of Treize Khushrenada and Lady Une, she without a doubt does not think highly of either of them, yet in the past she was loyal above all else to OZ. Now, she has turned away from them, she can't stand the ideals of OZ, that much is obvious but there is still something that I can't place there.

I spoke to Duo about my concerns the next time he called me. He, well, 'advised' doesn't really fit Duo, but he basically told me that I ought to just ask Noin. We also decided that the next time he was on the planet, in a few days, we would go to a cafe in France for lattees and beignets. He wasn't particularly enthusitasic until I told him what a beignet was: a warm donut that is entirely covered with powered sugar, about two inches thick all the way around. I figured Duo would like 'em.

Anyway, about three days later, we met at the designated spot. He could land anywhere on the planet that he wanted and I was rich enough to travel the world for a few hours if I wanted, it wasn't a problem for either of us.

It was only the second time I'd actually seen him, and the last time I saw him I was well, freaked out, so I was afraid for a while that I might not recognize him. I couldn't picture what he looked like in my mind; last time, I remember he wore loose clothing and a black cap pulled down to cover his face somewhat, but I couldn't remember if I had gotten a good look at him.

"Hey, Lena!" called a familiar voice. I looked up and grinned. That was Duo all right. Black shirt with a white priest collar, (he later told me he wore that because he spent a lot of his childhood with a priest and a nun), black pants that were baggy until his knees, and then were closer to his legs. He also had black shoes and that cap on. His eyes were violet and he was grinning ear to ear. Brown hair was peeking out from under his cap, and for the first time I noticed he had a long braid going down his back.

"Hi, Duo!" I called back as he walked towards me. He sat down the seat opposite me at the outdoors table in front of the cafe.

"Ooooh," he said as he picked up a beignet. I did most of the talking for the first half hour. Duo stuffed beignets in his mouth and just nodded. After he'd eaten about seventy-five francs worth of beignets (they are VERY cheap by the way, so that's around 23 of them...) he started chattering a kilometer per minute, mostly making jokes, referring to himself as Shinigami, and bragging about his mobile suit. We both avoided politics as much as possible, this meeting was for fun, not work, but it couldn't be avoided.

He told me about the other Gundam pilots, Trowa hadn't been seen in any battle for a while, but Quatre, pilot of Sandrock had. Duo also didn't know what Wufei, the pilot of Shenlong was up to. The conversation eventually turned to OZ, and I spoke of Miss Noin's semi-hostilities. He asked her if I had talked to her about that, I hadn't. I asked him if there was anyway OZ could know what he's up to. Duo shrugged, they always try to find the Gundams, half the time they do, half the time they don't.

That day, they did. We were there for about two hours when the little French village was invaded. Five OZ suits, I have no idea what they are called, Leos or Tauruses or some other Zodiac sign, and one other huge white suit.

Duo pulled me to my feet and we ran like all the other citizens of the town trying to blend in. "My Gundam is stashed near by," he said to me quietly, "if I can reach it, I should be able to take care of these guys."

"Okay," I said. As we ran, a motorcycle zoomed in front of us and skidded to a stop just a few feet away from us. The cyclist took her helmet off.

"Miss Noin!" I gasped, "How long have you been here?"

"Hop on, you two." Miss Noin said. "We'll be able to get the pilot to his Gundam faster. And Miss Relena, there is no way I'd let you leave the palace unsupervised. The Peacecraft monarchy was targeted years ago, there is no telling how many people could try to kill you if they saw you."

"Yeah," Duo said, "We've run into the whole assassination thing before."

Miss Noin got off of her motorcycle. "You," she said with a nod towards Duo, "we can't all fit, take the bike to your Gundam, I'll stay with Miss Relena."

"Okay, see ya, Queenie," Duo said getting on the cycle and speeding towards his Gundam.

"Miss Noin?" I ventured.

"Yes?"

"Do you think we're in danger from the OZ suits? Do they just randomly kill people, or do they look at the people? I don't think any human being could be capable of looking someone in the eye and just killing them, right there, no real reason, they were just in the way." I stopped. Thought at that particular time, I had faith in Duo and wasn't scared, but I don't want to die. I also didn't want any of the citizens to die, but houses and shops had already been set on fire or shot to pieces so I knew that was too much to hope for.

There was a rumbling which could only be one thing: a mobile suit. Miss Noin and I looked up to see Duo's Gundam. It's primary color was black and it appeared to have little wings. When it when to battle, it activated a thermal weapon that looked like a sycthe.

"That boy's the Grim Reaper," Noin muttered.

"No," I said in awe of Duo's abilities, "he's Shinigami."

Duo was able to take out the five similar suits immediately, but the large white one was giving him problems. The other suit had the upper hand, and I was worried about my friend. "Come on, Duo. You can do it." I chanted softly. Miss Noin heard me and I really didn't like the way she was looking at me. I turned away from her. A smile appeared on my lips as Duo gained the upper hand. Miss Noin began to get anxious.

"Relena," she said, shaking, "we have to stop this fight."

"You know I'm a pacifist, I hate seeing fights, but there's no way a person could just stop a mobile suit fight. We could get stepped on. And anyway, Duo's winning."

"Miss Relena, the pilot of the other suit, that's Zechs Marquise."

"So?"

"Miss Relena," Noin was looked like she was close to crying, "that man is your brother."

I just stared at Noin.

"We have to stop the fight," Miss Noin said running, towards the suits. I took off after her.

"Stop!" Miss Noin screamed at the white suit, the pilot, my brother(?), stopped immediately. Duo's sycthe stopped mid swing as the white suit's hatch opened and a man with long blond hair and a mask exited.

"Noin," he said, "what are you doing?" he demanded. "That is a Gundam, he's our enemy."

"No," Miss Noin said, "he's not. OZ is our enemy. Treize is our enemy. OZ is against everything the Peacecrafts stand for, Zechs, or should I say Milliardo?"

"That name no longer means anything to me. My hands are too stained with blood to be a true Peacecraft." As Zechs spoke, Duo likewise opened the hatch of his suit, his cap pulled low covering half of his face with shadow. With his head down, he jumped off Deathscythe and stood in front of me. I tugged on his braid to get his attention. He turned somewhat to look at me.

"Move over, I wanna see what's going on," I said. Duo flatly refused. "They're comin' over here," he murmured to me.

"Milliardo," Miss Noin was saying, "it's not too late." She led him towards Duo and I. My brother took off his mask and squinted.

"Relena," He said softly, recognition in his voice, "it is you, sister." Milliardo smiled, as did Noin. Duo was still hostile, and refused to move. Milliardo chuckled. "I don't intend on harming my own sister," he said. Duo turned to glare at me.

"Is he really your brother?" he asked with a tone of disbelief in his voice.

"I don't know, I don't remember him, but I know I have a brother. Remember, I told you a few weeks ago? We didn't know where he was, well, I guess we do now."

"I don't trust him," Duo said.

"I don't trust you either, Gundam pilot," my brother said. "Don't go near my sister."

"I've known her longer than you," Duo said. "Maybe I should be telling you not to go near her."

Noin glared at Duo. "We can trust Zechs," she said.

"I was just fighting him! He was battling in the name of OZ not five minutes ago, and you say we can trust him?"

Milliardo pushed past Duo and put his hand on my shoulder. Noin smiled.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Miss Noin said. The three of us looked at Duo who threw his hands up in defeat.

"Oh, what do I know about family ties anyway?" he asked. "But, if you do anything," he warned Milliardo, "I know three others who'll be more than happy to kick your butt." Milliardo held out his right hand in a peaceful gesture. Grudgingly, Duo shook his hand. I noticed with a small smile that Milliardo's other hand was holding one of Miss Noin's. I elbowed Duo and discreetly pointed it out to him. He sighed and rolled his eyes at the cute scene.

"We can trust him," I muttered to Duo, "Miss Noin trusts him and she's the one who brought me home."

"I guess so," Duo said with a sigh. He pulled off his cap and placed it roughly on my head. "I gotta go anyway, Gundam stuff. I'll call later, to make sure you're okay, and to check up on him," Duo nodded towards Milliardo.

"Okay," I said. "Be careful."

"You, too, Queenie," he whispered, looking at Milliardo. Duo climbed back into his Gundam and the ground shook as it walked away. I waved at the machine, hoping he could see me. After a few moments, I adjusted Duo's cap, still on my head, and looked at Miss Noin and my brother.

"Can we go home now?" I asked.

Author Notes: So, what are the other G-boys up to, you ask? Duo didn't know, so Relena didn't know so she can't tell you, but I can. Currently Trowa is doing his fake OZ thing, Quatre's fighting, and Wufei is on one of the colonies with his martial arts teacher. And to answer one of the questions I got: the pacifists were not killed. Wufei came and told the other pilots it was a trick from OZ and the Alliance personal and G-boys were evacuated when Lady Une tried to set off those bombs.