The day was cold and windy, with hints of snow occasionally spiraling downward from the gray sky. The small plane’s propeller cut swiftly through the air as the engine started and Noin climbed in. She placed her duffel bag behind the one long bench and sat next to her new partner, who had his hands on his crossed legs and his head leaned back against the seat. Noin strapped herself in and gave the pilot and OK, then pulled out a worn book and settled back in the seat.

She dozed most of the time, staring out the window at the snow flurry that was slowly progressing into a small blizzard. She looked down and around. In the distance was a small dot – most likely a pond or lake – surrounded by a dense forest, which was coated with frosty white snow.

Then there was the mountain. It was the most majestic thing that she’d seen on Earth. It stood tall and proud, as if it were winning a battle predicted it lost. It was in this grand mountain that the enemy base was buried. The opposing force was overly confident, seeming like that mountain. It had a foe seeming larger than an ocean standing high behind it. It was this place where Noin was to be a spy - to spend the next three months elevating through the ranks with the famous and mysterious Zechs Marquise. She would end up lying, killing, maybe back-stabbing. But all for the good of mankind.

The engine sputtered, jerking Noin from her thoughts. She stole a quick glance at the silent soldier by her side, who was packing the small book he’d been reading carefully into his jacket. Noin unbuckled herself and pushed through the separating curtain into the cockpit.

“What’s going on?” She demanded of the young pilot, who was hurriedly fumbling with the controls.

“Uh… Uh… it seems we’ve sprung a leak, Ma’am.” His voice was trembling. “A leak from the fuel tank. And it must’ve been a pretty big hole, because we’re almost running on empty.”

Noin walked back to the passenger hold and started carefully packing things from the plane into her bag. A first-aid kit, a survival kit. Better safe than sorry, she figured. Then Zechs appeared from the cockpit and opened a little door under the bench.

“He’s going to aim for the lake.” He stated shortly, handing her a life jacket. “It might be frozen. It might not. Put it on, just in case.”

Noin blinked. “What about him?” She asked, gesturing towards the pilot.

“He’s a loyal soldier.” Zechs explained. “He’ll stay with his craft, even if it means his life.”

“Oh…” Noin breathed, and slowly pulled on her jacket. It would have been the same thing she would have done with her mobile suit, had the need be. But it struck her odd that the same would occur between a man and his plane. Maybe they weren’t as different as she had thought.

She carefully adjusted the straps on her jacket to fit, then looked at her partner. He sat, chin resting on his hand, looking out the window as the white scenery flashed by. It struck Noin as oddly beautiful, watching the handsome young man watch time race by in a flurry.

But the moment was soon lost, and he was up again, working on the door latch. He pulled it open, then gestured to Noin as he grabbed his bag. She walked over to him and the door, carefully handling her duffel, and watched his face as he surveyed the area.

“Jump when I tell you.” He commanded as the ground started to rush up at them. The canopy of trees turned swiftly to ice, rising and falling in still waves.

“Now!” He said, and Noin pushed her self out of the door into the icy wind.