//italics/
/Part 19
Quatre and Relena walked stealthily through the corridors, but it was not necessary. There wasn't a soul in sight. //Heero was right//, Quatre thought. //Something strange is going on.//
"This is the bridge." Relena said. When Quatre looked at her curiously, she explained. "Howard had a diagram of Gemini, remember he designed the plans for this ship before my brother stole them."
She started in but the Arab stopped her. Taking out his spare revolver and handed it to Relena. Seeing her shake her head in protest, he sighed and replaced the weapon.
"I can't use that, Quatre. It goes against what I stand for." Seeing him about to argue, she added. "Besides, I just be liable to shoot myself in the foot as I would an enemy."
Quatre smiled slightly and gestured for her to stand behind him. He entered the room with his guns drawn. He nose was immediately assaulted by the stench of blood. Moving closer to the captain's chair, he saw the crumpled figure.
"Oh, Noin..." He knelt slowly by the bloody form and felt for a life beat. "She's dead." He gently brushed aside her dark bangs and placed a kiss upon her brow. "Allah keep you."
Relena hadn't even heard him as she hesitantly approached the limp form in the corner. "Dorothy..." She whispered. Hand shaking slightly, she reached out to touch the woman that was almost constantly her companion.
Suddenly the corpse's hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist. Ice-blue eyes opened and peered at her hatefully.
"Don't pity me yet, Relena-sama."
Quatre jumped to his feet painfully at Relena's startled cry. Bringing his gun to bear he watched helplessly as Dorothy gripped Relena by the arm, holding a sword at her delicate neck.
"Put the gun down Quatre Winner." Relena winced as the sword dug painfully into her throat.
Quatre dropped the gun in defeat. He looked at Dorothy pleadingly. "Don't do this, Dorothy."
Dorothy laughed. "Don't be foolish, Quatre-sama. I would never hurt my Relena-sama on purpose. But, if you don't throw down your other gun, my hand might slip."
Quatre reached back and dropped his other gun with a curse. Dorothy stepped closer to him, dragging Relena along. Quatre saw the woman flinch and for the first time noticed the crippling gunshot wound in her side. Looking around desperately, his eyes fastened to a belt hanging off the captain's chair. Attached to that belt was Zechs' sword, forgotten during Noin's death.
"Dorothy. Let Relena go and fight me. We'll call it a rematch."
"Quatre what are you thinking-" Relena cried.
"Be silent, Relena-sama." Dorothy considered. "A rematch, huh? Even wounded, you will be no match for me! Ungarde!" With that she flung Relena away from her and raised her sword.
Quatre dived towards the captain's chair and grabbed the sword. Her turned to face her and they circled a moment, studying each other.
"What Quatre-sama!" Dorothy was filled with false concern. "What did you do to your leg? I bet it is hard to walk with such an injury." She lunged at him, aiming for his weak spot.
Quatre dodged and frantically parried the blond woman's wild thrusts. Her fighting was untamed and uncontrolled. She seemed to be coming at him from all sides. It was all the Arab could do to reflect the blows.
They paused for a moment, gasping. Dorothy clung to the wound in her side. Quatre laughed humorlessly. "You don't look so good yourself, Dorothy. Did Zechs finally tire of your scheming and decided to put an end to you like he did Noin.
Dorothy growled and stabbed at him. "You are mistaken, Quatre-sama. It was I who killed that pathetic wretch!"
"You killed Noin?" Quatre was filled with rage. He began attacking the woman furiously. "You bitch!"
"Now, now, is that any way for a gentleman to speak?" Her laughter sounded forced though, and she panted with exertion.
Relena watched helplessly as the battle waged around her. Backing up a couple of steps, her foot kicked something hard. Quatre's gun. She looked up to see her fiancé momentarily pressing his advantage, driving Dorothy back.
Dodge a wild stroke but in doing so, he placed too much weight on his injured leg. He collapsed. With one swipe, Dorothy disarmed him and stood poised to give the killing stroke.
"Once again, Quatre-sama," She gasped. "You show your weakness. I am doing the colonies a favor by destroying you." She raised her sword.
"Dorothy."
Dorothy turned to see a gun resting in Relena's white knuckled grip. She lifted a forked eyebrow in surprise. "You're going to shoot me, Relena-sama?"
"Yes." Relena closed her eyes and fired.
Quatre watched as Dorothy's body fell to the ground beside of him. Ice-blue eyes widened in shock and she gave a ghastly grin.
"You were always so strong, Relena-sama." She slumped forward, dead.
Quatre struggled up and rushed over to Relena, who was shaking violently. He held her tightly as she dropped the gun and began to sob.
"Shh...it's okay."
Relena looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. "Is it wrong to kill for love, Quatre?"
"I often asked myself the same question when I was fighting for the colonies. I don't know the answer, all I know is to follow my heart."
Relena kissed him softly. "My heart said I couldn't loose you."
"Then I must be truly blessed." They started to leave the room, but Relena paused. She looked down at the bloody figure of Dorothy and whisper to her softly.
"I pity you now, Dorothy Catalonia. I pity you."
Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing © Sunrise, Bandai, and Sotsu Agency.