"Good afternoon," Greeted Reilna Peacecraft, cheerfully to her fellow classmates.

"I would like you all to meet our newest student. Lieutenant Katja Kizer."

At the sound of her name she stepped through the door. She was wearing her Oz uniform, a bargain out between her and Relina.

All of the girls gasped in surprise at the sight of her.

Heero and Quatre, who were sitting in the back of the group, faced the front and listened more intently.

“Miss Katja is going to be continuing her education here with us. I’d hope you all treat her with kindness and respect.? She paused and looked to Katja. “You may take a seat Katja."

Katja walked around to the back of the group and sat down in an empty chair.

The class continued with the usual discussion on total pacifism. Every few minuets one of the girls in the group would look back at her. Katja never spoke a word, but when she noticed them they would whip back around in their chair as if she were Medusa.

When class was dismissed Katja left the main building and went for a walk through the grounds.

The capital city was, strangely enough, near the mountain boarder of the Canq Kingdom.

“I wonder where she’s going," said Quatre to Heero. The two boys were standing on one of the many balconies watching her as she shrank out of sight.

“Well were ever it is she doesn’t want to be disturbed," answered Heero as he walked back inside.

The walk was long and tiresome. Especially now that Katja had a limp to deal with. The increased gravity made her legs throb with pain if she was late with the aspirin, and caused her to take her medication more frequently. But it was worth it.

She reached the crest of the hill. And there, in the valley below her was Aurora, her home country.

When she had left it was very peaceful, now it was at the brink of chaos. With Oz sitting at the border of the Canq Kingdom, Aurora wouldn’t be safe.

This place is so beautiful. How could any one want to destroy it?thought Katja as she gazed at the bustling valley below.

The tint of deep blues and greens gave the illusion that she was looking through a stained glass window. The colors seemed to melt together like watercolors, to create a perfect portrait. One that made you forget that there was a war going on not far from there. Katja looked to the northeast and there she could get a glimpse of the royal palace only a quarter of it peaked out from behind the slope of a mountain.

Borealis the home to the royal family, now occupied by the last remaining ruler. If he died now, Oz would surely take over.

The thought of Oz occupying her homeland made her want to cry. The only family she had left was with in the boarders of Aurora, and she would be able to do nothing if Oz attacked, but watch and wait.

Katja bowed her head, trying to fight back worthless tears. Ones shed for a fear not an outcome. But with those few tears, came a rage that hadn’t been released since her parent’s death. She snapped her head up and glared at the horizon, her eyes welling over with tears.

“Oz. You destroyed my family. You’ve destroyed my life. But you’ll never destroy my home or my spirit," she said with the clear defiance of any patriot.

Katja wiped her eyes with her sleeve as she turned to leave. But she hesitated and took one last look back.

“Hold on Opa, I’ll get you some help. I’ll bring you safety," she promised. Looked to the snow tipped mountains, then turned her back to her home and walked back to the school.

It was dusk when she had neared the school gate. And unexpectedly, Quatre was waiting for her there.

She walked up to him. Not paying much attention to his welcoming smile.

“So how are you faring??he asked, as she got closer.

Katja stopped, looked up at him and smiled softly.

“I think I’ll be alright. How about you?" she asked

“I’ll survive," replied Quatre with a slight chuckle.

Quatre motioned for her to walk with him and they strolled around the garden. There was an uncomfortable silence between them, but it was broken quickly.

“Heero told me who you are."

“He did?" asked Katja in almost disbelief.

“He said that initially you two trained together then one day you were gone. Dr. J told him that you had died," replied Quatre.

“I figured he would know who I was after I met him at the Lunar Base," said Katja with a small laugh.

“I have to admit. I was a little nervous about having an Oz soldier going to the same school as us. But now that I know you are friends with Heero I’m a little calmer," said Quatre as if it were a great burden he was lifting from his shoulders.

“Well don’t be to surprised if there comes a time when I will refuse to recognize you," warned Katja.

“I know. Trowa had to do the same when he was in Oz," At the thought of Trowa, Quatre’s smile faded.

Katja knew what it would mean to him to know that Trowa was alive but couldn’t tell him. That was one of the prices to being a Guardian as Dr. J had put it once.

She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, and he looked her way.

“I’m sure he’s ok," she said softly then smiled.

He smiled in response.

They walked a little further. Then noticing that walking was becoming somewhat of a chore for her, Quatre offered a seat on a near by bench.

“What did you do to get such a bad limp?"he asked while they took a rest.

“Something fell on me, and I’ve got some bad bruises on my shins. They don’t hurt that much," she answered.

Feeling a little uneasy Katja stood up.

“Well I’d better get to bed. Good night Quatre."

Quatre rose at the same time.

“I’ll walk you to your door. No one should be walking around out here alone."

They reached Katja’s door in about 5 minuets.

She unlocked the door opened it and went inside. Once in she turned to Quatre, who was still standing in the hallway.

“Good night Quatre," said Katja as she closed her door.

“Good night," replied Quatre.

Over the next couple of days it wasn’t uncommon to see Heero, Quatre and Katja together.

On this particular day all three of them had gone to the fencing room after class. They were just standing there watching when Dorothy Catalonia strolled over to them. With her main focus being on Katja.

“So this is our grand Oz soldier is it?" she asked sarcastically.

Katja who, for all apparent reasons wasn’t exactly standing tall with her shoulders back and her back strait, kept her eyes focused on a distant object and didn’t move, let alone respond. Which just gave Dorothy more fuel to throw on the fire.

“I mean look at you!” she exclaimed. “I’m ashamed to consider myself a member of the Romefeller Foundation! Especially with you slouching and limping as if you fought some great battle, when everyone knows you didn’t. That is what we have the mobile dolls for.” She paused for a second.

“Well aren’t you going to answer me?” she asked. Up until then Katja had done a miraculous job at keeping her eyes staring off into the distance and ignoring nearly everything Dorothy had said. But when she asked for an answer, Katja snapped her head to face her directly and gave her an ice-cold glare.

Dorothy was shocked slightly from the glare, then even more when Katja stood up from leaning on the wall, turned on her heel and walked away, with no verbal reply, and no pursuit from Dorothy.

Katja walked all the way back to her room and there she removed her jacket and eased herself into bed. I wonder what month it is, she thought to her self. It’s getting close, I can feel it.

A shot of pain ran through her right leg. She just winced at it. Then took a pen from the top drawer of the nightstand. She pulled off the cap to revel a cleverly hidden syringe. She found a sterile needle, screwed it on and set the dosage.

But then she stopped and stared at the milky liquid for a moment.

'This is the only thing keeping me alive and I neglect to use it. Only for extremes,' she paused a moment deciding weather her present situation deserved this medication. As she stared off into space she tried to think of the last time she had used it.

'At least three months over due, she thought to herself.

Her head bobbed from side to side and she became suddenly light-headed.

Without thinking any further she pulled up her left sleeve and stabbed the needle into her forearm.

“Click, Click, Click.” The dose of medication was given. There was a slight burning in her arm as the medication spread through her veins. She drowsily took care of the needle and then went to sleep. Her classes weren’t worth the pain.

No matter how many alterations Dr. J had made the pain will always be there, she thought to herself as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

“The pain is what will kill me.” She murmured before passing out.

The next morning Katja got up feeling groggy from the medication and went to take to Heero. He needed to know what was going on.

On her way to Heero’s room Katja passed Relina’s secretary, who also served as the mailman for the school.

“Here is your mail, Miss Katja.”

Katja retraced her steps and took the letter from the secretary.

Seeing the emblem on the envelope, she tore open the envelope.

It was from Oz, she was being called back into service.

Immediately Katja went to Relina’s office.

She needed to leave immediately.

“Knock, Knock.”

“Come in.” answered Relina, not bothering to turn from gazing out the window behind her desk.

Upon command Katja entered quietly, closing the door behind her. Then came to stand in front of the desk. She noticed Relina’s mood. Obviously she hadn’t received good news as well and now this was going to make it worse.

“Miss Relina, I’ve been called back into service. I must remove myself from this school.” Said Katja in a monotone voice but with a hint of disappointment.

Relina turned to face Katja. Her expression solemn.

“Well if you must you must.” She said disappointed. She picked up the contract that they had agreed to and tore it in two, then threw it in the trash.

Relina paused after throwing it away, staring at the torn pieces of paper now lying in the trash.

“You would’ve made a great leader, Katja.” She said absently, then looked up at Katja who was standing stone faced like a good soldier.

“Good Luck, and I hope to see you after this is all over.” Relina said as she reached out a hand to shake. Katja shook her hand then turned and walked half way to the door, then paused, turned back and returned to the place she was just standing.

“That reminds me.” She said as she walked back. “The country of Aurora connects with the Canq Kingdom’s mountain border correct?”

Relina, confused at where Katja was going with this, answered. “That’s correct.”

“Could I ask that the Canq Kingdom incorporate the country of Aurora within its boarders for the duration of the war?”

“Katja, I can’t do that without the authorization from a member of the royal family from that country.” Exclaimed Relina, extremely distressed.

Katja looked at her with a mischievous smile and placed a business card on the desk.

“My Grandfather would really appreciate it.” She paused again.

Relina looked at her like a confused child. Katja just smiled again, turned and went to the door, opened it and looked back and continued.

“Just think of it as a favor between two princesses.”

Relina nodded absently.

“Good.” Said Katja. “I’ll see you around.”

And before Relina could get a word in edgewise, Katja left closing the door behind her.

Relina picked up the card from the desk, and read it:

Her jaw dropped and her head snapped up as she looked at the door, stunned. She had just seen the fabled Kizer Ghost.

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