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.

GUNDAM DEATHSYTHE

This black, scythe-toting Gundam was created near the L2 colony cluster by the Sweeper Group salvage organization. The aptly-named Deathscythe is equipped with hyper jammers that conceal it from cameras and radar, allowing this Gundam to ambush enemy mobile suits and strike them down with one blow from its mighty beam scythe. Its buster shield also emits an energy blade, and can even be launched at nearby foes. Since the Gundam Deathscythe relies on short-range weapons, it's designed to dash towards its targets at high speed.