When the Alliance catches on to the collective efforts of the children and fires
on them as they try to escape, the building is soon torn down. The Maxwell Church offers to take the orphans in and give them
homes, as well as give them something of an education and clean them up.
Sister Helen, one of the nuns living at the church, is saddled with the task
of trying to clean Duo up. Caught in the midst of trying to tame his hair, Father Maxwell walks in on Sister Helen and Duo
struggling. When Sister Helen claims that the boy won't let her cut his hair, he retorts that it's bad enough that he has
to wear the priest's robes, and that he can't let them cut his hair. Still determined to make the boy presentable, Sister
Helen protests further, but Father Maxwell insists to let Duo have his way. With an expression of exasperated resignation,
Duo sits impatiently as Sister Helen braids his hair.
When Duo is sent off to school, Sister Helen wonders if he'll be alright. Father
Maxwell comments that with a little education, he could turn out to be the finest priest in the whole of the Earth Sphere.
Sister Helen counters with some skepticism that he's the only orphan who, upon being sent to a foster family, keeps getting
sent back to the church. When Duo gets into a fight later on, it's Sister Helen who comforts him -- a key point in shaping
his personality, as this is one of the first times he's ever had reassurance like this (or anyone to defend him, as it were).
Later, Duo is talking with Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, presumably a few
weeks after arriving at the church. Duo claims that there must not be a God, to which Sister Helen and Father Maxwell are
somewhat surprised. Duo claims that if there were really a God, then wars wouldn't be started, to which there wouldn't be
any more war orphans like him. Father Maxwell somberly replies that wars are started by people, not by God. Duo's retort is
that God must not matter. Sister Helen stammers, but Duo claims that the only God in this world, then, is the God of Death.
Sister Helen is surprised, to say the least. Duo continues nonetheless -- he's never seen any miracles, but he's seen lots
of dead people...
All good things must come to an end, though. Soon after this lighthearted exchange,
war came even to the peaceful church. Circa A.C. 188, the church was taking in injured rebels as they tried to fight encroaching
Alliance forces, healing them the best as they could. Duo glared at the chaos around him, thinking that it's starting all
over again.
Father Maxwell walks in on the officers as they comment that they just need
one Mobile Suit. The priest shakes his head, disappointed at the continued fighting. He goes on to comment that the colonies'
peaceful leader, the martyred Heero Yuy, once said that the people of the colonies didn't go to space to fight; that they
must not fight. Cursing, the officer dares Father Maxwell to say it again, and Father Maxwell replies that he'll keep on saying
it. The officer strikes Father Maxwell down in front of Duo. Sister Helen begs them to stop, and another officer strikes her.
Duo then steps in, furious, demanding that he'll steal their mobile suit for them -- the officers write it off as the nonsensical
ranting of a brat. Duo merely states that he doesn't lie like the rebel officers (...the author believes he's merely referring
to any soldier in a war, however). He runs off, straight for the nearby Alliance base.
Livid, he tries to reason out war as he slips past the base's defenses, but
can't come to a conclusion. He manages to steal a truck with a Mobile Suit in the back, and comments that he's only alive
by luck and that he should be the one to do the "dirty work."
Duo returns to find the church in ruins, and he finds Sister Helen lying in
the rubble. She tells him that the Alliance attacked, but that they [she and Father Maxwell] couldn't leave the church. In
shock, Duo asks if it's his fault for stealing the Mobile Suit. Sister Helen adds that Father Maxwell preached peace even
to the end, ever noble; and Duo rages that it's just plain stupid -- what's the point if he's dead?
Sister Helen reaches up and touches Duo's face, uttering her last words -- may
he have God's blessing.
•
Some two hundred forty-five people were killed in the upsurgence, and the incident
was called "The Maxwell Church Tragedy." Duo was the only survivor, and promptly incarcerated at an Alliance camp. The wardens
comment that he's the only survivor, somewhat incredulous, and add that he must've cut a deal with death.
Circa A.C. 192, Duo meets with Professor G, the designer of Gundam Deathscyche.
Impressed that Duo was able to sneak aboard the ship he was on, he comments that Duo is an interesting kid. Duo retorts that
he's no kid -- Duo Maxwell, who may run and hide, but never tell a lie. Professor G chuckles, "Maxwell...?
Like Maxwell's Demon, eh?" Duo replies that he's not a demon. He's the God of
Death.
