Author: Midge-14
Warnings: Mild peril (that sounds funny
) Disclaimer: I don?t own Gundam Wing or the 1939 Wizard of OZ film.
Previous: <a href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 90">1/1</a>, <a href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 98">1/2</a>, <a href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 17">2/1</a>, <a href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 28">2/2</a>
<p align="center">CHAPTER III ? Good witches and Bad witches</p>
?Hurry up so we can make for the shelter!? Zechs barked at his farmhands who were struggling to secure the frightened farm animals in preparation for the storm. Some of the bigger animals were being turned loose so they could fend for themselves instead of getting needlessly injured in the confines of their pens. Hopefully, those that survived could be recaptured later. Duo jumped out of the way when the crowd of sheep he was handling surged past him into the open and gave a whoop of success. A sudden gust picked up his straw hat and sent it sailing away.
?Aw crap!? He moaned before his braid whipped round and slapped him in the face. He grabbed it and tried to control its wild flapping.
?Maxwell stop fooling around!? Zechs snapped and turned to Heero and Wufei. They were coaxing the last remaining cow out of the barn, which was creaking against the wind.
?Zechs!?
He turned round and saw Noin making her way towards him. ?Where?s Relena?? He shouted over the whistling gale. Noin grabbed his arms and looked at him in alarm.
?She wouldn?t answer her door so I?I broke through and the room was empty!?
?What!??
?She?s gone Zechs!?
Zechs just stared at her in shock. She shook him roughly, ?We have to find her!?
His eyes narrowed and he nodded resolutely. Heero stood by the barn door with a grim look on his face as he saw Zechs hold on to his wife and steady her against the forces around them. Loose buckets and crates were sliding all over the place. He clenched his fists.
<i>Heartless?</i>
?This is my fault,? He cursed, ?I completely screwed up.?
?I too, was unjust,? Wufei added. Heero turned to see the Chinese man scowling at himself. Duo stared down dejectedly, holding his braid tightly in his hands to prevent it flying, ?We?re all to blame,? He mumbled.
Heero looked back at Zechs and Noin and his eyes narrowed. When he spoke, it was with a steel edge to his voice, ?We?ve lived around twisters longer than Zechs; we stand a better chance out there.? Duo and Wufei lifted their heads and looked at him in surprise. Heero met their gaze calmly.
?Heck, I even used to chase after them when I didn?t know any better,? Duo offered. ?Stupid thrill I know, but I got to learn a thing or two.?
Wufei just turned away with a troubled look on his face.
?Get in the shelter with the boys,? Zechs ordered his wife, ?I?ll look for her.?
Noin shook her head, ?I?m coming with you.?
He pulled her close and sheltered her head against his chest. ?I want you to be safe Noin.?
?I?ve always stuck by you,? Noin argued. ?Always have and always will.?
Zechs was about to protest when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned round and squinted against the dust flying in the wind.
?Get in the shelter with Noin.? Heero said brusquely.
?What about Relena?? Zechs asked.
?We?ll find her.?
Noin pulled out of Zechs? embrace, ?But??
Duo gave them both a gentle push in the right direction, ?Come on folks, no time to argue.?
Heero met Zech?s eyes. ?You and Noin are all she has left, she can?t lose you,? He said quietly and Zechs barely heard him over the din. A look of understanding crossed his features and as Duo nudged him into the shelter after Noin he called out. ?Be careful.?
Duo closed the shelter and they turned to see Wufei standing by a post where a few horses were still tied. They whinnied and shifted nervously; sensing the approaching storm. Heero untied one of the reins and soothed the horse, calming it before preparing to mount. Wufei glanced at him, ?They?re frightened and will be too difficult to control,? He indicated.
Heero mounted and steadied the creature with skill. He smirked at Wufei, ?I?ll manage.?
Wufei had a strange look in his eyes, ?This is foolhardy. It?s too late.?
Heero frowned and Duo put his hand on Wufei?s shoulder, ?Come on Wu.?
Wufei jerked away from Duo, ?Are you listening to me? I said it?s too late. There?s no point; she?s as good as dead!?
Duo?s round eyes turned mournful. ?Wufei??
?I won?t give up on her,? Heero?s deep tones cut through the wind, ?My emotions are clear about that and I?m going to act on them, whether it?s too late or not.? His voice wavered over the last words.
Wufei sank to his knees in despair and clenched his fists. He couldn?t face the thought of failing again; Relena was right that he was a coward. But after Meiran died he just couldn?t believe in anyone anymore, especially himself.
His marriage had been arranged with Meiran when they were both too young and they had struggled to make a living. The hardships they had faced had taken its toll on her too greatly but she concealed her condition under a mask of strength and refused any help, reassuring Wufei that it was a passing ailment. Like the fool he was, he believed her. When she suddenly collapsed he had rushed to get help in alarm.
He wasn?t fast enough.
When he returned with the doctor, Meiran had already passed away. She had lied to him all this time; she wasn?t strong and she had left him. Even after Zechs offered him a job and he had left the town gladly, he wouldn?t let go of the memory because he was too afraid to take the bold leap forward to regain his life. There was no justice in this world and he was too dishonoured to keep fighting.
Then he had met Relena who had lost her parents but she still seemed so open and trusting that he almost envied her. But she was the same?she had left too and the grief, regret and anger were all coming back. It was Meiran all over again and it was killing him.
Heero?s voice cut through his pain, ?There?s no time. Come, or don?t. I?m going.? Horse hooves thudded on the ground as he left.
?Heero wait!? Duo untied and mounted one of the horses while struggling to calm the jittering animal. He gave a last look at Wufei.
?You know what Relena used to tell me? She used to say ?Duo, it doesn?t matter if everyone thinks you?re an idiot. What matters is that <i>you</i> know you aren?t and you believe in yourself even when the going gets tough. That?s real strength.? She?s got a wise head that one.? He chuckled, ?She was the first person to believe in me and I?m not gonna let her down again. Even Heero?s realised his mistake, God help him. Don?t ya think it?s time for you to realise yours? She?s not your wife Wufei; don?t relive the past through her and every other woman you meet.?
Wufei?s eyes narrowed and he got to his feet. The last remaining horses were kicking at the post and trying to be free. He set them all loose except one. He placed his hand on the horse and looked straight into its eyes. His grip was sure and it settled down under his touch. He mounted the creature swiftly. Duo grinned, ?All right! Let?s roll!? He spurred his horse and rode off but Wufei hesitated for a second. He closed his eyes and willed his strength forth. ?I will do this,? He muttered. And be damned if he was going to be too late again. He turned his horse after Duo and rode off into the storm.
<p align="center">~~+~~</p>
Relena gritted her teeth and lifted the latch on the wooden door while trying to keep her grip on Toto who was slipping out of her grasp. It flew open, throwing them inside, and started banging against the sides of the house wildly. Relena picked herself off the floor and as the door banged against its frame, she pushed her body forward and bolted it from the inside. The wind pounded against it and the bolt rattled weakly. Without stopping to think Relena went to the wardrobe by the wall and pulled with all her strength till her arms strained. It slid slowly in front of the door and she let go and fell backwards; exhausted with the effort.
The house was a small structure; the one room they were in containing all the necessities of a lone resident. A round table was in the middle with one chair near a blackened stove attached to the wall. Apart from the wardrobe, there was one cabinet, a chest of drawers and the bed, which was a plain white cot. Nobody was home. As Relena looked around the winds picked up outside and wailed through the cracks in the wooden timbers, making the walls shake.
There was a loud groan and a violent shudder as the whole house lurched, causing everything to slide a few paces. Toto tugged Relena?s sock urgently but she ignored it and raced to the window; the very place she shouldn?t be anywhere near. Toto barked a warning at her, then growled in frustration and followed as she didn?t listen. There was nothing to see outside except for debris, dust and dirt flying past. The ground was no where to be seen but then Relena saw something that convinced her she was, in fact, dreaming.
Miss Une was riding her bicycle in the air towards her, seemingly unaffected by the swirling vortex around them. Her hand was outstretched towards the house as if she were almost commanding it. As Relena looked on; the bicycle thinned into a line and the appearance of the rider changed. Her clothes became darker; the tip of her hat sharpened to a point and her skin turned off-colour. Relena blinked slowly and when she opened her eyes, Miss Une had disappeared. Relena scanned for her but Toto suddenly pulled at her dress sharply, trying to move her. She snapped out of her daze and crawled away from the window, following him. Toto scrabbled beneath the bed and peered out at her.
The door flew open sending the wardrobe crashing against the wall beside the stove. Relena gave a small scream and crossed her arms over her face as the windows shattered and glass flew out. She gained a few nicks as glass shards grazed her arms, but was protected from the brunt of it, hidden behind the bed frame. A dark figure outlined the doorway and although the twister raged behind it, the house itself seemed stationary in time and untouched.
?We meet again Miss Darlian. How unlucky for you.?
Relena lifted her arms away from her face and widened her eyes, ?You?? She breathed in fear. It <i>was</i> Miss Une, but something was terribly wrong and frightening about her. Her skin was green and she wore a black gown with a pointed hat and a cloak around her shoulders. She smirked at Relena?s reaction.
?Don?t act so surprised my pretty,? She sneered, ?You said yourself I was a witch and so I am.?
Relena pressed herself back against the wall to put more distance between them as Une stepped into the house. The witch grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet roughly. Relena felt cold sharp nails dig into her skin and bit her lip to stop a whimper, lifting her chin instead in a show of false bravery.
Une cackled, ?I?ll show you what there is to be afraid of soon enough, but first, where is your precious Toto??
She glanced around the room and Relena watched her, afraid that she would see him under the bed. She desperately sought for a way to distract her.
?Mr Treize knows I?m here and he?s going to bring help so you?d better leave right now!?
It was the wrong thing to say for Une?s eyes flashed with anger as she let go of Relena?s arm and gave her a backhanded slap across the cheek that sent her sprawling to the floor with her head spinning. Relena was facing the direction of the bed and she could see Toto?s green eyes blazing from his hiding place. <i>Stay put</i>, she mouthed clearly and slowly.
Une was too incensed to notice the motion, ?Don?t you dare say his name!? She screamed. ?You presume much to think that he would come after anyone when he loves <i>her!</i>? She spat bitterly. ?We?re far beyond the boundaries of your lands here so no one can help you. Even if he dares return he?ll not face me. All of OZ fears me.? She laughed madly.
<i>She?s crazy</i>, Relena thought as she lifted herself up on her elbows with her cheek stinging. Une grabbed her golden hair and pulled her to her feet towards the open door. Relena struggled and tried to dislodge Une?s tight grip. ?You shouldn?t have got involved in things you know nothing of.? She hissed, ?You think you can protect your little dog but that?s a mistake you?re going to have to pay with your life.?
Toto snarled and rushed out from under the bed. He took a flying leap and bit Une sharply, causing her to howl in pain. They stepped away from the door as the house gave a sickening creak and lurched downwards. Une outstretched her hand and the house began to descend at a steady pace. As it was nearing the ground, Relena?s thrashing resulted in her shoving her body into the witch?s stomach roughly with her elbow, causing Une to let go and reel backwards into the smashed wardrobe. The house immediately lost control and began to fall. The sudden jerk made Relena lose her footing and she staggered. Toto grabbed onto the hem of her dress with his teeth as her fingers brushed against the doorframe and gripped it. She sank to her knees and her breath was knocked out of her as the house landed on the ground. Relena curled up, pulling Toto under her, beneath the shelter of the doorframe. It held as the roof collapsed inwards behind her with a wood splintering sound.
Relena lost track of time for a moment. She was gasping for breath so she was alive at least and although her body was aching, she could move it without too much trouble. As she got to her knees shakily, she felt something warm trickle down the side of her face that was sticky to the touch. <i>Just cuts and bruises</i>, she reassured herself. Toto was emitting soft whines but her eyes were drawn back to the wreck around her. She could make out the shape of the wardrobe crushed beneath the debris but there was no sign of Une. Relena suddenly felt sick to her stomach and had to get away. She was too disorientated to get to her feet so she crawled out of the cracked doorframe and felt soft grass beneath her fingers. A sharp tug on her foot caused her hands to give out and she fell. Twisting back to look, she cried out in fear.
?You?can?t get away so?easily?
Une had emerged from the debris and grabbed hold of her ankle. The witch?s black clothes were covered in dust and blood. Her breaths were loud and raspy causing her body to shudder with the force of them. Relena tried to pull herself away, ?No get off me, let me go!? She sobbed but Une did not release her and Relena felt her strength giving out.
?Sister??
A gentle voice drifted over the air and Une?s hand loosened on Relena?s foot. Relena pulled herself away as fast as she could. Once she was safe, she turned round, breathing heavily, to see who had spoken.
A woman who looked identical to Une stood facing her. She wore a similar gown but of a red colour that shimmered. She also wore a circlet inset with ruby stones across her forehead and a pair of sparkling ruby-coloured slippers on her feet. In her hand, she held a wand with the symbol of a rose atop it. Her hair was loose, flowing straight and her brown eyes were softened with a gentleness that transformed her face. She smiled at Relena who looked at her in wonder, ?Do not be afraid. I am the Good Witch of the East. Are you hurt??
?Leave her and?help <i>me</i> sister!?
The gentle Une turned slowly to the one lying amidst the wreck of the house and her eyes saddened. ?I felt you were in pain and I came,? She said softly. ?What evil have you done now, and to this poor girl??
Une coughed and blood trickled down the side of her mouth, ?Quiet! I am your other?you must help me!?
?You are dying,? The gentle Une said softly, ?I cannot heal you. You know it does not work that way; we are not immortal beings sister.?
?No,? Une?s eyes flared, ?I am?powerful. I cannot?die!?
?There is nothing I can do,? She replied. Tears began to slide down her cheeks in pity.
Une?s eyes narrowed slightly but then they misted. She looked pleadingly up at her sister and reached out for her. ?Then will you not take my hand and comfort me...one last time? I fear that death is upon me.?
The gentle Une smiled and bent with her hand out. Relena watched with wide eyes and suddenly warning bells rang in her head, ?No wait!? She cried out but the two sisters clasped each other?s hands. A purple glow began to travel up the Witch of the East?s arm and her smile suddenly vanished.
?What are you doing?? She asked. Fear laced her voice.
Une just smiled grimly and held on when her sister tried to break away. ?Stop. No!? She cried out, ?You mustn?t, it is forbidden! You will break the seal of the keepers!?
When Une made no move to let go and the purple glow spread slowly, the panic faded from the gentle Une?s eyes and gave way to acceptance. Keeping her eyes on her sister, she lifted her wand slightly till it was pointed at Relena. A strange sensation entered Relena?s body as if her soul was being penetrated and laid bare before her. Brown eyes softened and the rose atop the wand glowed as the ruby slippers disappeared from the Witch of the East?s feet. She then screamed and dropped her wand as the purple glow encased her completely. Relena started shaking and Toto buried his head in her lap with a whine. There was a blinding flash of light and Relena was forced to cover her eyes.
All at once, the screaming stopped.
When Relena opened her eyes again there was only one Une standing by the house. Her gown shimmered between shades of black and red, deceiving the eyes as to its true colour. She put her hand to her head and swayed unsteadily. She started laughing madly and Relena felt the colour drain from her face.
?It worked! I?m alive I?? She broke off into another hysterical laugh. She ripped the circlet off her head and threw aside the wand in distaste. Then her eyes came to rest on Relena and they narrowed to tiny slits.
?You?re the cause of all of this.? Venom dripped from her voice and made Relena feel faint. ?I?ll have you tortured till you beg for mercy. I want to?? She stopped and her eyes grew wide. Relena clutched Toto to her and followed her gaze downwards. There, resting on Relena?s feet were a pair of sparkling ruby red slippers.
?How did you?you stole the slippers!? She screeched. Relena shook her head and started inching away, ?No! I don?t know how they?? An image of the gentle Une lifting her wand and making the slippers disappear came into her head, ?I didn?t do anything!?
?Give them back,? Une ordered acidly and advanced. Relena shook her head, ?Please I?? She shuffled backwards and edged her feet away as Une reached for them. Une?s fingers contacted with the tip of one slipper and there was a bang. A sudden force knocked Relena backwards and made stars dance in front of her eyes. There was a clamour of voices in the distance.
?Iria wait; it?s not safe!?
?I?m not going to stand by and hide any longer Abdul!?
Relena blinked as a little girl, as tall as her waist, ran over to her and looked into her eyes. Her head cleared and she saw that the girl was in fact a small woman with red lips and sandy cropped hair. The woman smiled at her kindly as she checked her over, ?It?s okay. I?m Iria; a doctor. You?re going to be just fine.?
Relena struggled to get up, ?The witch?? she murmured and saw Une had been knocked away equally as hard but was getting to her feet. ?Why can?t I touch you?? She said, her eyes full of disbelief. Relena couldn?t exactly understand what had happened herself but Une didn?t wait for an answer. ?I?ve had as much as I can take of you. This ends here right now.?
?Run. And take Toto.? Relena whispered hoarsely to Iria but she smiled and shook her head. ?I told you its okay; help?s coming.? She said confidently.
Relena saw Une raise her hand. <i>This is it</i>, she thought, <i>but I?m not going to be afraid</i>. She stared and waited for her end but it seemed that Une was having difficulty with her spell. Her forehead was creased in concentration and glistened with perspiration. Eventually her fingers began to glow but a golden beam knocked her hand away. Iria cheered, ?He?s here!?
?I think you?ve done enough.?
Une gasped and clutched her hand in pain, glaring at the young man who was pointing his wand at her. ?Stay out of this,? She snapped.
He shook his head, ?You are not welcome here in the South. Return to your own lands Witch of the West.?
Une lifted her head, ?I?m not leaving without my slippers,? Relena flinched when Une pointed at her and she shakily reached to remove them.
?Wait!? The young man?s voice stopped her in her tracks, ?They must be powerful if she covets them. Do not remove them.?
?You don?t know how to use them. Give them to me!? Une commanded but Relena wasn?t about to start taking orders from her no matter how much her heart was pounding.
?They have been given to another and you cannot touch them while they are worn. I suggest you leave now before I?m forced to take unnecessary action.? The man suggested less kindly.
?<i>You</i> dare threaten me?? She sneered.
The young man did not falter nor lower his wand. ?You forget that I am keeper here and you are in no shape to contest against my word. What you have done to your sister is unthinkable, but it has left you too weak and tired to challenge me right now.?
?She had it coming to her,? Une sneered but she made no move against the man. Instead she turned to Relena, ?I will regain my strength and then there will be no escape from me. Not for you, not for your precious little dog!? She spat and suddenly she was gone in a puff of smoke.
A loud sob of relief escaped from Relena?s mouth and she put her face in her hands. Iria patted her back comfortingly and Toto reached up to lick her chin. She heard footsteps approaching.
?Are you a good witch or a bad witch??
Relena looked up and saw the young man standing before her. Now that the immediate danger was over; she could get a better look at him. He was fair with short blond hair and was dressed in a white coat that was inlaid with gold patterns along the cuffs and collar. He wore a gold circlet and his wand was also gold with the symbol of two sickles crossed over each other atop it.
?I?m err?not a witch,? She confessed.
He crouched beside her and gazed at her with turquoise eyes. ?Well, you?re certainly something to go against the Wicked Witch of the West.?
?And drop a whole house on her!? Iria nodded in agreement. The blond man raised his eyebrows and Relena suddenly became flustered.
?Oh no, that?s wrong,? She said in dismay, ?You see I was only trying to stop her from taking Toto away??
Toto cut her off with a bark and came forward, placing his paws on the blond man?s knees. The man took in the brown tuft of fur hanging over one of the green eyes that stared at him meaningfully and he grinned in delight. Toto barked, jumped into his open arms and started licking him all over his face.
?I?m glad to see you safe old friend! I had begun to lose hope.? He lowered his voice, ?But it is dangerous for you here.?
Toto jumped back into Relena?s lap and snuggled down. The man watched him and nodded, ?Yes, I see. You are just her dog and she protects you.?
?Do you know Toto?? Said Relena warily.
The man laughed, ?Yes I know him but it seems he has chosen you.? His laughter gave him a boyish air that made him look youthful and the gold on him shone more brightly. He emanated a sense of calm and brilliance that left Relena awestruck. ?Who <i>are</i> you?? She asked curiously.
He grinned again and got to his feet. ?I am Quatre,? He bowed, ?The Good Wizard of the South and keeper of these lands. The Munchkins called me to help the new witch that fell from the sky.? His eyes twinkled with amusement.
Iria took a cloth out from her pockets and started dabbing away at Relena?s cuts. ?We all watched you go up against the Witch of the West,? She explained. ?But everybody was too scared to help,? She stopped to glare at something behind them. Relena turned round to see dozens of little faces, a few paces away, fidgeting and peering out at her from behind a stone wall.
?What is that?? She asked.
Quatre chuckled, ?They are Munchkins, like Iria here,? He turned to them and called out. ?It?s all right, you can come out now. It?s quite safe. Come on.?
A group of little men with red fez?s on their heads came running out and clustered around Quatre, chattering like excited children.
?Master Quatre thank you for saving us!?
?Is she really gone??
?Will she be back??
?What do we do??
Quatre calmed them, ?Settle down. She?s gone and won?t be back for a while.?
?Pity the old hag survived in the first place,? Iria muttered. There was a series of loud gasps and the Munchkins all clutched Quatre in terror.
?Shush Iria! you mustn?t say such things about the Wicked Witch.?
?She?ll hear you and come back.?
?She?s scary.?
Iria huffed and dabbed at the trail of blood on the side of Relena?s face. ?What a bunch of wimps! You?re soldiers and you just hid while this poor thing got attacked. You should be ashamed of yourselves! Call yourself the Munchkin army? Huh! You couldn?t beat up a fly.?
They all shuffled their feet, embarrassed, and looked so disheartened that Relena couldn?t help but feel her heart melt.
?Oh please don?t be sad,? She smiled faintly, ?You did what you could and called for help. I should thank you all for saving me.?
She was taken by surprise as they all suddenly gathered around peering at her curiously.
?If you?re not a witch, are you an angel??
?You?re nice.?
?Weren?t you scared of the Wicked Witch??
?Are you hurt??
Relena opened her mouth but nothing came out.
?That?s enough now, you?re crowding her,? Quatre moved forward gently and they scattered in his wake. He held his hand out and lifted her to her feet as she took it. She wobbled a bit and was forced to grip Quatre?s hand tightly for support.
The crowd of Munchkins parted and two little men walked through. One was dressed like the others, in a red fez but with a pair of dark sunglasses. The other looked like someone important, for the Munchkins all looked at him with respect. He had dark hair pointed outwards at the sides and a beard fashioned in a similar manner. The two walked up to them and stopped.
?Abdul came to fetch me as soon as it was deemed safe,? He said in a deep voice, gesturing at the Munchkin wearing sunglasses beside him. ?He has explained the situation. Welcome Master Quatre, it is good to see you again.? He bowed.
?Thank you Rashid,? Quatre smiled kindly.
Rashid then looked up at Relena. ?And what is your name??
Relena?s tongue was stuck, ?Re?Relena.?
Rashid bowed and all the Munchkins, even Iria, followed suit. ?I am the mayor of Munchkin city and I bid you welcome, Relena.?
?Munchkin City?? Relena was starting to feel funny, ?Where?s that??
?In Munchkin land of course,? Rashid explained.
?Munchkin land??
Rashid gave her a strange look, ?In the southern part of the Kingdom of OZ.?
Relena swallowed as a thought hit her, ?I?m not in Kansas anymore??
?Wuff!? Toto confirmed and tilted his head to the side.
For the first time, Relena chanced a look about her and realised where the twister had carried her. Vibrant green hills rolled on the horizon and flowers painted the landscape in pretty colours. A city lay before her, surrounded by stone walls. Beyond the walls, she could see small houses dotted along the paved roads. She was definitely not in Kansas anymore.
?Kansas?? Rashid asked, ?Is that the name of the star you fell from??
?You don?t even know where Kansas is?? Relena was now feeling slightly sick.
?Why no,? Said Rashid. ?It doesn?t sound like any place I?ve heard of.?
?She comes from the lands beyond the great desert,? Quatre explained. The Munchkins all gave a sigh of wonderment and started chattering among themselves.
?That?s far!?
?How did she cross the desert??
?She must be very powerful!?
Relena remembered the witch?s words, <i>?We?re far beyond the boundaries of your lands here so no one can help you??</i>
Witches, wizards, falling houses, Munchkins, twisters and ruby-coloured slippers. Suddenly the weight of all that had happened spun around her head and fell heavily on her. She swayed dizzily and her legs gave out. All the Munchkins gasped as Quatre caught her in his arms.
?I?m over the rainbow,? She murmured and then drifted into unconsciousness.
<p align="center">TBC </p>
Please let me know what you think!
