03-Ju1-2000
Hi hi all! Well, this is really and truly the end. (sniff sniff--wail!) It was a real journey, discovering the fic as it grew into a happy little corner of my brain (front and centre is more like, tho). Thank you once again to anyone who has replied to the fic. Overwhelming affection for you all. It really made me happy ^_^ Hugs!
Title: Breaking Predestination, Epilogue
Author: TB
Archive: yes pleases GW Addiction (hi hi Tyr baby!)
Catagory: some yaoi, AU
Pairings: various
Rating: R
Warnings: language
Spoilers: yes
Notes: Thanks go in untotaled but estimatedly HUGE
quantity to Marsh for all her help. My goddess, I
salute you! This fic is set in AC 202, considering the
events of the series and EW as cannon. I borrowed some
stuff from Star Trek. If you've ever Trekked, you'll
know it when you see it. ^_~
Feedback: pleases thanksyous
Disclaimers: Pending a coup on the evil ruling power
of Bandai and Ashai TV and Sunrise or whoever the heck
owns GW, I don't have any rights to it. But I'm not
harming anything, and I have actually contributed to
the economy by buying a lot of asprin and paper
notebooks and Bic pens and bigger mailboxes online and
more time online period, in my efforts to write
entertaining fiction. So don't sue me.
Maxwell caressed the arm of the captain's station with ambivalent feelings. "I'm going to miss it," he murmured.
Hirde laughed softly. "Of course you will. But there are other opportunities. And other Angel-5s, you know--this time's Angel is still waiting in the scrap yard for the Sweepers. Wanna go find her?"
"Mmm," he replied. "I don't know. There shouldn't be any use for a warship anymore. Maybe Angel deserves her rest."
A slender hand came down on his. "Let's go, Duo. Everything is ready."
He sighed. "Yeah." He reached out and depressed a few keys; then he said clearly and without regret, "Begin countdown sequence to self-destruct."
/"Authorisation?"/ the computer inquired politely.
"Authorisation 02-Charley-S-HDD-mark-9884, Maxwell, Captain."
/"Please input the authorisation of a commanding officer."/
Hirde announced her concurrence with the decision, and added, "Authorisation Micky-K-PLD-mark-beta-4935, Schbeiker, Commander."
/"Countdown initiated. Self-destruct in ten minutes."/
"Course set in?" Maxwell asked.
"Yes, sir."
Maxwell reached for her hand, and together they left the bridge. The ship was silent and empty, the crew long since evacuated and dispersed anonymously throughout the ever-shifting population of the Reubena. The corridors were tomb-like in the dim flashing lights of the destruct alarm. As Maxwell and Hirde exited the vessel and withdrew behind the safety of the hold doors, the auto-pilot drew the ship out into the blackness of space and began a gentle acceleration away from the satellite.
The explosion sent faint shivering vibrations through the docking bay. Bright fire burned at destructive temperatures for a moment, and then was dampened by lack of oxygen. Here and there, a bit of metal that survived the detonation floated free.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," Maxwell said. Hirde laid her head on his shoulder, and together they watched as Angel's remains drifted free. Alarmed shouts from the satellite crew who had not expected the sudden blaze a mere five kilometres from their home did not stir them, and eventually the noise faded away and quiet descended again.
"It's as if we were never here," Hirde murmured finally. "No trace of our ship, and the crew will find homes wherever they please. What about you? You're not planning some stupid, heroic suicide, are you? Hara-kiri isn't your style."
He laughed softly. "No. God, no. It's a bloody awful mess, and to tell you the truth... I don't really have the stomach for dying. Never have."
"This is supposed to surprise me?"
He pretended to wince. "Itai! Woman, we have to talk about the lack of respect in this relationship."
She chuckled as she laid her head on his shoulder. "So what *do* we do now?"
"I don't know. There's a lot of space out there. I can't imagine it all being boring." His arm slid around her waist, and he pressed his cheek against her hair. "You know I love you."
"I know, Duo." She smiled, though he couldn't see it. "Let's go get married."
He blushed. "Uh--"
"I'm joking, Duo." She poked his ribs lightly. "When did you become so literal?"
He held her close and in silence for a while, watching the tiny pods and shuttles that darted out to examine Angel's ruins. Abruptly he said, "You want to?"
"To what?"
"Get married."
"You're not serious," she said calmly. "Don't rush to make me happy, Duo. We're not living in the middle of a hopeless war anymore, remember? We've got forever to decide what to do with what's between us. We're young, relatively, healthy, relatively... and we're still the team we always were. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
After a moment, he nodded and smiled. "Yeah."
"And so ends the final mission of Angel-5 and her merry band of warriors," a sardonic tenor said from behind them. Shai and Quatre Winner joined them, two pairs of starkly similar eyes looking out the window at the wreckage.
"So it ends," Hirde agreed.
"Captain?" Quatre asked. "I don't suppose you have much use for a Lieutenant Commander, what with your ship gone, and all."
Maxwell tilted his head to one side. "No," he conceded. "I don't suppose I do."
"Well, as you know, I have a very large business in the colonies... resource satellites and the like. Takes a lot of energy, someone young and smart and connected to the family name."
"Good luck finding someone like that," Maxwell said mock-solemnly, playing along.
"As a matter of fact, Captain, I have recently had just a bit of luck. I seem to have happened across this young nephew of mine." He laid a hand on Shai's shoulder, eyes dancing. "I made a proposition immediately, of course; though he explained to me that his first duty is always to the ship and I should talk to you." He looked out the window. "Think maybe you could spare him for me?"
"Well, our schedule does seem open. How much are you going to offer me for him?"
"Uncle Duo," Shai protested, finally tiring of their fun. He made an exaggerated face at both the older men.
"Trowa and I talked it over," Quatre admitted, more seriously. "It will be easy enough to set another place at the dinner table. I've got so many sisters that even *they* don't keep track of each other's children, so no one would question the resemblence... Please, Duo. It would mean a lot to both me and Trowa."
"Winn?" Maxwell asked carefully.
"I'd like to," Shai admitted. "But I won't do it if you think it's a bad idea, Captain."
He pulled the smaller boy close and kissed him on the forehead. "Go be with your father, Winn. And for Christ's sake, make something of yourself. Honestly, were you planning to stay the youngest Lieutenant Commander in the fleet for the rest of your life?"
"You didn't tell me that," Quatre said with some surprise.
"You didn't ask." Shai shrugged.
After a moment, Quatre only dropped it. They would have years to talk about such things. A sudden thought reminded him of something. "Trowa radioed. We've been found out. Zechs in particular is extremely displeased with us for letting Duo escape."
"Do you think Relena will press charges?" Hirde asked uncertainly.
"Um... it might take some persuasion, but I think we can at least get the sentence lowered." Quatre settled his arm around his son contentedly, noticing and wisely pretending not to that Shai leaned subtly into the embrace. "In light of the unusual circumstances, I'm positive that nothing terrible will come of this." He paused. "Although, if you two got going now... if they can't find you, they can't jail you. Not that I ever said that."
"Of course not," Maxwell agreed absently.
"I can't remember the exact registration number," was the straight-faced addition of the second Winner, "but I'm pretty sure I saw an unused distance-traveling shuttle at the main docking bay that looked like a cozy fit for two people without much luggage."
"Really."
Quatre was smiling softly. "You'll write, won't you?"
"It's a promise." He stepped forward, and Quatre released Shai long enough to embrace Maxwell tightly, and then Hirde. "Will I ever see you again?" he asked, wiping his eyes unashamedly.
Hirde laughed gently. "Look for the braid."
"I will. Always."
Maxwell halted the deliberately dragging good-bye with a final kiss. "We'll see you, Quatre, Shai. But I think we're going to take a trip first."
The End
(:./erin/break15)
