"Damn, damn, damn.

"Why can't I do it, Wing?

"I've had every opportunity. All I needed to do was pull the trigger. Quick, clean and merciful, just like Odin taught me. Just like every other time.

"Hn. Odin's probably rolling over in his grave right now, shamed by my weakness.

"She has to die. It's a simple fact. She knows too much. She's seen my face. She knows I'm a pilot. She probably even knows I'm Pilot 01. Too much, Wing, too much.

"So, why can't I kill her?

"How many times have I pointed my weapon at her? Five? Ten? And then tonight, the building was crumbling, falling right down on top of her, and what do I do? Protect her with your shield. I should have let the stones claim her. Why am I doing this?

"No, Wing. Don't.

"I said no! I can't think about that.

"STOP IT!

"Hn.

....

"All right. Yes, YES, all right. I admit it. She's the girl with the puppy. When I look at her, all I can see is that little girl in the park, but now she's all grown up, staring at me with her blue eyes and long blond hair, and I can't stand to kill her again. Why should I have to kill her again, Wing? Won't it ever stop? Haven't I killed enough?

....

"I wish he was here. I wish that baka Duo was here. I wish he would say something stupid, or whistle off-key, or laugh, or joke, or ... put his arms around me.

"I think about that, you know. The night he came to my room, after we.... He kind of wrapped himself over me, and it felt nice. I don't remember anyone ever putting his -- or her -- arms around me before. Oh, lots of people touched me -- poked and prodded and measured and manipulated their bioengineering success story. But I have no memory of anyone ever just holding me.

"Until Duo.

"I wish he was here."