CHAPTER 42- PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Together with the Dude,they bust out of White Fang HQ and head for the Peacemillion, where the pilots are worried sick over Heero and Relena's disappearance. Zechs is fuming,but at least the Libra is being constructed on Schedule. A week to go, and everyone, including Otto and Lady Une on Earth ,are getting some important practice....for the battle that will loom.

[PEACEMILLION]

<Sally>: We're being hailed by a WHAT?

<Noin>:Pizza van. And I didn't think they delivered out here...

<Heero appears>: I deliver. Mission accomplished. Relena rescued.

<Pizza Dude>: In 30 minutes, no less! (waves to Mom)

<Relena>:Noin....I am prepared to board this ship..*burrrp* oops...too much pizza...

<Pargan>:Oh my, Miss Relena! Oh dear....you're slobbering....

[BOARDED ALREADY]

<Scorpio>:I didn't know you'd do it, Heero. But you did.....perfect soldier indeed....

<Silver>:Queen Relena...welcome on board...(bows)

<Relena>:You're Silver Scorpion.....Dorothy has a major crush on you....

<Silver>:Is it? (laughs) Come, we have much to dicuss...

<Scorpio>:Don't forget the training session! Now that everyone is here, we can have a full workout! Crimson is keeping watch...

<Heero>: Wing Zero is ready.....who am I training with?

<Scorpio>:Nobody. You're going to get some rest. You look constipated anyway...too much Pizza, dude?

<Pizza Dude shrugs>:He's 16..give him a break....

(Heero runs to john):Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh!

[STRATEGY MEETING]

<Scorpio>: I'll get Noin to fix the rosters. Each of us has to fight the one with totally opposite skills. That's how we can beat all those Virgoes.

(Gundam pilots nod)

<Duo>:They won't be expecting it.

<Quattre>:Hit em hard...

<Wufei>:Altron will love this...let's see the roster!

<Scorpio>:Don't be so impatient, Chang. I'll talk it over with Noin and Howard.

<Wufei>:I'd love to fight that woman again...(smirks)

<Scorpio>:WOuldn't we all....

[NOIN'S QUARTERS]

<Relena>:And yeah,he still says good things about you...

<Noin>:Really?

<Relena whispers>:He told me he still has that 'album' of yours....

<Noin blushes but gasps>:Not the "album"...?

<Relena>:Yup...."the album"...you two must have been very wild in your academy days...

(Noin sweatdrops)

<Noin>:Even if you're Queen of the World.....that's no business of yours!!

<Scorpio knocks on door>:Now now, she IS Queen, Noin....strategy meeting....training roster??(hands over clipboard)

<Relena>: I heard Sylvia Noventa is on board the Pisces? I'll pay her a visit...

(Relena walks out)

<Scorpio>: Pick a team, Noin.

<Noin>: I pick Trowa with Nagaki...and Quattre with Silver...

<Scorpio takes clipboard away>:No, that's my team. Who's on yours?

<Noin>:?

<Scorpio>:You still haven't convinced me you're not working for Zechs. (folds arms) By all rights and means, you should be in a White Fang uniform.

<Noin stands up>:I don't have time for this.

<Scorpio grips her shoulder painfully>:Sit down, Noin.

<Noin rubs shoulder>:Ow....oh alright....do you know why I came out here? It's because before we met up with you in space, Zechs and me had a little skirmish....I tried to reason with him,but he just ignored me and batted me away...Ihave to stop him...

<Scorpio>:There are many that Zechs has betrayed....you're not the only one..

(Noin hugs Scorpio,who is surprised)

<Noin>: Heero will kill him, Scorpio...and I think you will too.....please....(tear falls)..save Zechs...he won't listen to me anymore...

<Scorpio>:......I can't speak for Heero,but I....I..

<Noin>:You would,wouldn't you?

<Scorpio to himself>:Oh Lucy...I hate to see you cry......

<Scorpio>:No promises....this is war....and if one switches sides in a war...they get shot.

<Noin>:You going to shoot me?

<Scorpio>:No. You haven't changed sides yet. You are still...a friend to me...

<Noin>:Thank you, Phantom Scorpio...whoever you are...

<Scorpio>:Don't lose sleep over it...get that roster done, Captain.

<Noin>:Captain?

<Scorpio>:Consider yourself promoted.

<Noin>:Yes sir!

[EARTH]

(Wing Gundam does a series of manouvers)

<Lady Une>:THis is amazing!

(Wing Gundam fries a target)

<Otto>:And Rain is back here, too...beautiful, eh Treize?

<Treize>:Yes, she is an excellent pilot. And in Heero's model too...

<Lady Une transforms W Gundam>: Mister Treize! How did I do?

<Treize>:Wonderful. That Wing Gundam is natural for you.

<Otto>: An angel for a saint.....why not?

<Treize turns to Otto>:Our turn?

<Otto nods>:Our turn. (Fires Rising Arrows from ground,Tallgeese II dives and rolls)

<Treize>:Best you can do?

(Basjobber slides under Jauhara and lifts it off)

<Otto>:Come on,now! (takes out scimitar)

(Tallgeese II and Jauhara lock swords)

<Otto>: You're holding back....

<Treize>:You're an ally! How can I attack you?

<Otto>:Pretend I'm Zechs or something! Come on Treize! How are you gonna lead everyone like this?

<Treize>:You are correct. I will fight with full power!!!!

(Tallgeese II slams into a tree)

<Otto>:A bit rusty at MS combat,Kushrenada?

<Treize>:$*%&#@.....One more time,then! (boosts up)

(Une laughs)

[OUTER SPACE ARENAS]

<Noin>:The stage is set. Here is the roster.

Silver VS Quattre

Trowa VS Nagaki

Wufei VS Heero

Scorpio VS Duo

<Wufei>:I protest! Why do I have to fight Heero?

<Scorpio>:He uses beam weapons and mobile tactics. The perfect opposite for you.

<Wufei>:No!! i want to fight that woman!!

<Scorpio>:Noin is not on the list...

<Wufei folds arms>:At least I have a worthy opponent...

<Scorpio>:Gundam fight...start!!

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FIGHT 1- SILVER VERSUS QUATTRE.R.WINNER

<Quattre>:SandRock!! LEt's go!!

<Silver fires chaingun>:Let's go,alright!!

(SandRock twirls around bullets and fires shoulder missiles)

(Scorpio mkII slashes missiles):Winner...

(Scorpio mkII fires its own missiles)

<Quattre>:Oh no! (Boosts away)

<Silver fires chaingun and boosts forward>: You're mine!

(Scorpio mkII takes out saber,SandRock takes out cross crushers)

<Quattre>:Close combat is MY speciality,Silver! (Hammer blows with cross crushers, saber blocks)

<Silver>: Look out for the missiles,boy!

(Dud missiles hit SandRock's back):Arrgh!!!

<Trowa>:Quattre!!

<Scorpio>:Quattre,you're not focusing enough!

<Quattre>:Sorry,Scorpio....

<Heero>:You need the ZERO system....(calls Howard)

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FIGHT 2 - TROWA BARTON VS NAGAKI

(HeavyArms pulls out chain guns, Nagaki takes out twin beam sabers)

<Scorpio>:Trowa, this is important for you. Your unit lacks melee capabilities. In the event that you have to fight hand to hand, you better be prepared!

<Trowa>:Don't worry about me! Worry about the Jegan....

<Nagaki>:Hmph!

(HeavyArms takes out knife, swords clash)

<Nagaki>: I'm too close!!

(HeavyArms boosts backwards and swats a saber away)

<Trowa aims chaingun>: It's gone.

(saber explodes)

(Trowa aims for second saber and blows it off,with the Jegan's hand)

<Nagaki>:I give up! I can't fight without my beam sabers!

(hands up)

<Trowa>:I suggest you stick to captaining your starship.

<Nagaki>:Otto woulda kicked your ass,boy....I'm just his substitute...

---------------------------------

FIGHT 3- CHANG WUFEI VERSUS HEERO YUY

<Wufei>:Better make this quick! (twirls naginata)

<Heero>:Mission accepted. ZERO system on. Uhhhh!!!

<Wufei>:He's not human.....

(Nataku and Wing 0 launch at each other)

<Noin>: Wufei, you have an advantage over the others in that your Dragon claws can go a further distance than any other melee weapon.

<Wufei>:Am I to listen to this woman? (Fires beam tail)

(Heero dodges, arcs in low):Mistake, Wufei!

(Wing Zero transforms and rams Nataku)

<Wufei is rocked>:Damn! I'm not finished yet! (takes out Naginata)

(Wing Zero takes out sword):This might get dangerous...

<Wufei>: Come on, Heero!

(Wufei darts toward WIng Zero, whacking off its shield)

(Wufei spots charging beam cannons and twirls around the beam)

<Wufei>:Nice trick, Heero! But this ends here!

(Rams naginata into WIng Zero's back-it shuts down)

<Heero>:You defeated me, Wufei....even with me using the ZERO system...how??

<Wufei>:You're distracted....is Epyon so fearsome that it makes you lose to me?

<Heero>:Yes. (Relena?)

<Wufei>:HAH! I triumph again!

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FINAL FIGHT: PHANTOM SCORPIO VS DUO MAXWELL

<Noin>:This is not right....equal specialities...

<Master O>: Yes, but Scorpio does not depend on his stealth for attacking...there's a sort of energy in him....a fighting energy...plus he uses no weapons...

<Professor G>:Duo is quick and mobile. This should be a test of his versatility. If I recall, he's never fought a suit like Phantom Scorpio before.Let's see how he handles someone as quick as him.

<Scorpio>: Shinegami versus Shinegami! Come on!

<Duo>:Just none of that mumbo jumbo you pulled at Barge! (Schyte activates)

<Scorpio>: I can beat you without the power! (boosts at DS)

(DS moves out of the way, swings schythe,misses)

<Scorpio goes round for another pass>:Sure, make me sweat!

<Duo>: Come and get me, "Shinegami"!! (Goes dark)

<Scorpio stops>:It's no use having stealth....

(PS elbows Deathschythe,which falls backward)

<Scorpio>: or superspeed....

(PS holds DeathSchythe's head in its left hand)

<Scorpio>:If the enemy knows where you're headed!

<Duo>:I'm not done yet,man! (kicks PS, gets loose)

(PS makes roundhouse kicks, misses)

(DS swings scythe at PS, PS avoids)

<Scorpio>:That is the Duo we all know! Pity it has to end here! Shiiining...Fingaaa!

(grips DS' head and melts it off)

<Professor G>:We have a spare head ready,Duo! don't worry!

<Master Lon>:Well,well,well.....the old way of winning a GUndam fight...grabbing the guy's head...

<Duo>:That was quick....

<Scorpio>:I had to stop the fight....att his point, the Virgo would have been cut to ribbons....

<Heero>:Thanks, Howard....installing the ZERO system in SandRock was a good idea. He needs it.

<Scorpio>:Fights are over....I hope we learned something today...

[EARTH]

<Otto wipes brow>: Phew! One day's practice with the suits...gets an apettite going!

<Treize>:I have to say...fighting like this....it is invigorating..

<Lady Une>:I'm bushed...(unties hair)

(Treize and Otto stare)

<Une>:What...what?

<Otto>:Don't EVER tie your hair up again......(grabs Trieze)look,dude....

<Treize>:Beautiful....

next chapter (phew! three more!)