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Gundam W Endless Waltz Book Two Chapter 15

This is an excerpt I translated from New Mobile Suit Report Gundam W Endless Waltz (Magazine Novels Special) by Katsuyuki Sumizawa. It was released in the form of two books. The second book was released on July 23, 1997. Please keep in mind that I am not an expert in translating, therefore some areas may be lacking.

15

X18999 Colony.

In the space prison, Duo woke up from a deep sleep.
"Ah~ah, I slept well..."
He couldn't stretch out much because he was handcuffed, but he had gotten enough rest.
"Well then... It's about time for Quatre to arrive."
As he said that, he put his hand behind his back. Of course, the watch had been removed. His sense of time was purely based on his body's internal clock. However, it was accurate to the minute. Duo inserted his fingers into the braid and pulled out a small black case from there. It was an ultra-compact escape tool set, only about three centimeters long.
"Hehehe... Thanks, Sister..."
He was recalling the face of Helen, who had first braided his hair. (Thanks to you, I've been able to make good use of various things...)
In Duo's memory, Helen is still young.
(If she were alive, she would have become a nice older lady...)
While thinking such things, he took out a wire from the case. Unlike old handcuffs, this lock couldn't be opened just by searching for the keyhole.

201


This is because the magnetic force is working at a special frequency.
Duo inserts the wire between the handcuffs and connects it to a black case that serves as a super-miniature frequency measuring device itself. A digital number is displayed on it.
(Come to think of it, I wonder if there was a man she liked...)
The frequency was found.
It turns out, but if you remove it as it is, the small bomb built in will react and both arms will be blown away. The handcuffs explode if they are not in constant contact.
(If you serve God, you can't fall in love...)
Duo pressed the transmitter switch on the opposite side of the black case. He pressed the same frequency against one of the handcuffs. He had to convince himself that this transmitter was his partner. With this, finally, if he unlocked one side there would be no explosion. One arm was freed.
(Since she's so beautiful, she didn't need to become a nun...)
Once one side was freed, the other was simple. He quickly released that one as well.

202


(If so, by now she would have been married, had a few children, and lived happily...)
This time, he started dismantling the handcuffs.
He was going to get the detonator inside them.
The prison doors cannot be opened from the inside.
(But, you know. I wonder if she'd be able to find someone... she had a pretty tough personality.)
Two detonators and a small amount of explosives were taken out.
Duo peels off the sticker attached to the black case.
Then, he attaches two detonators to the door's hinges.
(Oh, right... Solo, you should get married...)
All that's left is to deliberately change the frequency, push it against the detonators, and the escape from the prison will be complete.
(If that's the case, you might be able to eat something a little better...)
Without someone to talk to, Duo would make the dead appear alive to engage in conversation. The nickname "God of Death" wasn't entirely a lie.

In front of the prison door, two Mariemaia guards stood. At that moment, they heard a familiar small explosion, "Pon..." "What was that...?"

203


"That idiot... he forcibly removed the handcuffs..."
Just as he tried to peek into the cell, the door collapsed towards the guards. Duo had kicked down the door that no longer had hinges.
"Wow!"
The heavy door crushed the guards beneath it. Duo stepped on top of it and picked up the machine gun that one of the guards had dropped.
"Whoa, look at this nice thing that's been thrown away..." He said this in an exaggerated manner and ran down the corridor. As expected, he's such a joker.
Just as Duo ran off, an alarm blared. And as he burst onto the runway, explosions erupted all over the spaceport.
"Hey, hey, things are getting pretty flashy..."
Judging by the intensity of the explosions, it was likely Trowa's doing. (He has a strangely flashy side that doesn't match his personality...)
He don't know if it's because he usually hangs out with circus people or if he just has a natural flair for the dramatic. In any case, the spaceport was in complete chaos. Thanks to that, it was easy to escape.

204


Explosions occurred here and there. Buildings were partially destroyed.
(What an excessive guy...)
Duo was astonished.
"It's okay, you don't have to go that far for just me..."
Before such a Duo, a massive shuttle that had begun to move appeared.
(Is that it...?)
However, he was once again astonished by the size of the shuttle. It couldn't even perform atmospheric entry. It was a passenger plane capable of carrying two thousand people, just barely able to reach the neighboring colony.
(Are we really escaping in something like that?)
That's just too showy, no matter how you look at it.
"What are we going to do with such a big shuttle!?" he shouted as he jumped into the cockpit.
In the cockpit sat Trowa, who had taken off his Mariemaia military uniform. With his arms crossed, he didn't even bother to look his way. Duo couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up.

205


"Hey, that's pretty cold..."
He thought he'd complain step by step.
"I don't think it would have hurt you if you had come to help me."
If Trowa had just opened the door quietly him, he could have escaped more easily without such a flashy act.
"Don't get me wrong..." Trowa said, still looking ahead. "I wasn't waiting for you... but for someone else."
"Huh...?"
At that moment, someone came in.
"Sorry to keep you..."
Duo felt his strength wane upon hearing the woman's voice. It was Sally, wearing a Mariemaia military uniform. As she took it off, she said with a bright smile, "All the hostages on this colony have been rescued..."
"Okay. Let's go..."
"I'm really surprised... there are no female soldiers in the Mariemaia Mariemaia Army."

206


She slipped on a Preventer's jacket and continued to talk cheerfully while fixing her hair.
"When I was suddenly found out, I was in a huge panic... But as expected of a Gundam pilot, your work is efficient and really helped me."
"Right, I see who you meant..."
Trowa hadn't done any of that for Duo. That explosion and this shuttle were all meant for the hostages. If Duo had been delayed in escaping, he probably would have just left him behind. He was colder than Heero.
Of course, since he fully understands Duo's abilities, that attitude was probably expected, but for the person being judged, it was quite a hassle.
(Give me a break too...!)
Sally gently spoke to Duo.
"Thank you, Duo... You were kind enough to leave me plenty of food, huh?" She smiled softly.
Duo had made a lighthearted remark before launching his attack.
"If you're joking, that's cruel...."
He turned away with a displeased expression.

207


"But if you're being sarcastic, that's even worse..."
Sally chuckled at how cute Duo looked. Trowa listened to their exchange and his mouth curled slightly. However, he had no further reaction, and maintaining a blank expression, launched the shuttle----.

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