Principle Matters
A Gundam Wing Story
by E. E. Wolfe
The ground lay beneath me, clammy and wet, like the flesh of the dead, flames of pain licking my body. But that was about as much as I knew. That and the Death Scythe was little more than an inferno, burning proudly beside me. My good eye and heart were rooted to my blazing compatriot, and my head ached with the brightness. How could this be happening? *How* could *this* be happening to me, a Gundam pilot, the Gundam pilot. Many men had died in front of that wicked machine, and here I was, at its feet, ending life as they did. Now I knew what it felt like...
Heero was there too. I didn't know when he came, or how he came, but he had. I could still sense the sting where the tape was ripped off my mouth, and grimy rags lay beside me. It felt like my body was strung out over the glen, but much to my disbelief, it was all intact, even my hair.
My mind was a siren, screaming, screaming, for assuagement, but outside...I merely cried. Like a frightened little boy, I wimpered, as the perfect soldier watched on. Oh how could he just stand there and be so freakin' grim? I think I might have just out right laughed at myself, had I seen me, sitting there sobbing like I was.
"C'mon, buddy," I said, "Don't smile so much...uhhh...It might crack your face. Be...happy! The grin with...a...braid is going on a...nice...long trip." I forced a chortle, but it made everything every thing hurt like mad.
His chiseled eyes glared down at me, like I was something nasty stuck to the bottom of his shoe. Was he going to leave me here? It would be like him, so why shouldn't he? But a dull, monotonous "Let's go," escaped his lips, much to my bewilderment. Possibly the man wasn't so heartless after all, I pondered with a certain painful hope. However he didn't make a move, or even seem to question it. Then again maybe not, I concluded. At last, maybe finally noticing my knee joints sticking out in odd angles, he stuck out his arm.
I stared at my own pale appendage lying limply by my side. It didn't appear like it was going listen to anyone's orders at that particular point of time, be it mine or not. My left arm, though drenched in blood and throbbing, was no worse for wear, and slowly I flexed it, bones popping with disagreement. His arm, lanky but surprisingly sinewy, remained stiff as I reached for it and was swung across his back.
"Hang on." He said gruffly, gripping both of my forearms.
I almost asked if I had to, feeling as if I would much rather have fallen to the ground and died. My feet dragged limply along in the mud, and everything else just tagged along. My hair, matted with blood, and had come totally undone and had fallen over my face. The world began to spin and I squeezed my eyes shut, and unaware, buried my head in his shoulder. I muttered curses, tears flowing again. Heero didn't seem to notice.
***
"Is he going to be OK? Oh please God, let him be OK..." A small panicked voice whimpered, muffled and tired sounding. Something hit my leg. I flinched.
"Duo! He moved! Heero, someone, he's alive! Quick come over here!" A few pairs of footsteps moved closer to me, and a finger lightly prodded me in the chest.
"OOW!" I complained, "Stopit!" I opened one eye, trying to see who was sticking me. A friendly face, at the moment filled with worry hovered over me.
"Quatr-uhhh-what's up-oooh!...." I couldn't help it and attempted to grin, but it was pure torment.
"Shhhh, Duo, don't talk. My sister's here, she's going to take good care of you." The aqua-marine eyes blurred out for a second, and I tried to put it back in focus. Ugh....
When everything was clear once more, my one useful eye panned around, and I saw the source of the panicked voice, Hilde, her head engulfed in the bed clothes at my feet. Heero was standing uncomfortably next to Quatre, and his MD sister scurrying busily about the small room, which ever one she was. I recognized the place we were lodged as a large tent, like those of Quatre's own people.
"Where's...Trowa...?" I managed. The blonde flushed brightly and mumbled something about getting groceries. "It's...nice of you all to come...I feel...," My lungs screamed for air, and I paused, "So loved." I finished, flashing what I suppose looked like a grimace, because Quatre was about to reprimand me for talking again, but I was saved. Trowa had lifted the flap of the tent, one arm loaded with groceries. Quatre immediately went over to help him, snatching a bag or two, and smiling happily, as if the circus had come to town just for him. I giggled weakly at this, because in a way, it had.
"Is the patient alive and laughing already?" asked the tall boy quietly, for that was his way.
Quatre nodded, tossing me a glance over his shoulder, "He's pretty bad off, but at least he's awake now. I still think we should take him to a hospital. There's only so much Alicia can do." The smaller boy sighed, giving me a 'poor baby' look.
That I didn't need! All right, so I was injured and couldn't move, but I didn't need Quatre's pity. I'd laugh and I'd smile, I'd be a good sport, but that didn't mean I was a weakling. My eyes darkened for a second, boring a hole in the back of the blonde pilot's head. And then he turned around.
"Duo, are you in a lot of pain?" He asked, mistaking my icy stare for a look of some sort of agony.
What a fruit. I sighed loudly, trying to pull myself up on my uninjured arm, but failed miserably.
"Sure Quatre. I'm going to die any second. Oops, second's up. Blaaaaaah" I flung my head back, my tongue lulling out to the side in immediate death. I slit my good eye to see every one's reactions, and quickly closed it, reemphasizing the fact that I was dead.
Heero seemed mildly interested, his cobalt eyes cast in my direction. Quatre was, of course all in a frenzy while Trowa watched on, highly amused. Alicia wasn't paying attention at all and was bustling about with medicines and odd objects. Hilde, still at my feet, started to wail. I smirked.
"Boo!"
Everyone jumped, excluding Mister No Fear, and I wheezed myself silly. Tears eased their way out again, partly out of the hilarity of it all and partly because every part of my body felt like it was being run over with a steam roller. But it didn't matter. I hadn't felt this good since...I don't know when. No missions, no fighting, nothing, just the whole happy (and unhappy) family together again. Well, except Wufei, who was probably out somewhere being 'just,' however I couldn't have cared less at that moment.
Finally, Alicia took notice of all the happiness happening and decided to end it, feeling it might affect her patient's health. She made her way over to my bed, informing me it was time for my visitors to disperse. Hilde, who hadn't found anything the least bit funny, moved away and outside grudgingly, along with Trowa and Quatre. Heero didn't move. She placed herself in front of him and cleared her throat in attempt to shoo him out.
"Excuse me, but you are going to have to leave the tent."
Heero stood there, and if looks could kill, the woman would have been dead ten times over. Her defense weakened.
"Ahem...Mr. Yuy...could you please leave for just a minute...please?"
The death look.
"Please??"
The pilot snorted.
"I...uh...guess you can stay...." She gave a defeated smile and acted as if it had been her plan all along.
As I endured her probing and pricking, a curiosity came over me; why, exactly, had Heero refused to leave? Maybe he didn't want to go out in the elements, if you called a couple sprinkles an element. That *surely* was not his reason. At that time I was pinned on my side, staring at the khaki tent wall, and couldn't quite get a good look at his face, but I couldn't help thinking he was enjoying all this. Gently I was transferred to my other side so my chest wounds could be seen to, and was suddenly peering right into the eyes of Yuy. Blood rushed to my face. 'Great...just great. Why can't it just pour out that gash in my back or something?' I thought, hopelessly. It was my luck my neck didn't move, so I was now locked into this position. I groaned.
Alicia, concerned, looked up from her work, "I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"
I tried to shake my head, but it was defective so sadly told her no. What I wouldn't give for that to be the only reason.
Unable to look at the boy any longer, I stared at the floor, yet I could feel his gaze upon me, eyeing the large purple and yellow bruises all across my chest and stomach. Why didn't he go with the others? Why didn't I say anything against it? Oh never mind. He did save me, after all. I would have been mobile suit road kill if he hadn't have grabbed me at the last minute, although that probably would have suited him more. Because of me, he had to leave the battle. The 'god of death,' huh...more like the 'great boy of annoyance.' What a life.
"There. All finished." Alicia said, knocking me out of my thoughts. I was again on my back and much more comfortable as well. "Do you want me to send the others back in?"
I sat for a moment. "No...I need to talk to Heero. Tell 'em to come in later on." Sounding weak and weary convinced her that I didn't need the extra company.
"Oh...all right. I'll be in later, k?"
I didn't answer. She left, after biding her time of course, trying, I suppose, to have me ask her to stay. I didn't. With my good hand, I ran my fingers through my hair. I wished I could brush it....
"Well?"
"Well what?" I replied, surprised at Heero's sudden outburst.
"If you have some thing to say, hurry on with it. I have to get back."
Back where, I was about to say, wondering where on earth he possibly would have gone. I bit my lip, and took a deep anguished breath. "Kinda obvious isn't it? You saved me again today. Said you wouldn't ever do it again." I knew I was just rubbing it in, but he wouldn't show any emotion anyway so there wasn't any chance of him screaming at me.
"Three days ago." He corrected, almost to himself.
"What?"
"I saved you three days ago."
"Have I really been asleep that long...You gotta be joking!" Eyebrow raised, I peered over at the pokerfaced boy. "I uh...guess you're not. But Heero, why'd you do it?"
"I dunno...I just did....I've been doing it a lot lately, it seems...." He muttered darkly.
Leave it to Heero to be as brief as possible. Preoccupied, my hand traced a scratch on my forehead. "So...uh how's the Death Scythe?"
He looked away, almost sympathetically. "It's gone. *They* have found a new explosive...the doctors are trying to figure it out now."
"Dang it, dang it dang it!" I cursed silently, my good eye watering with my small explosion. It was all my fault it was destroyed. It was my fault I was in this condition. It was all my fault!! I should have known better than to have fallen asleep, even for a few minutes, with Oz about. But I did.
Heero stood across from me brooding over some unknown cause, and was about to speak when he turned abruptly and went out. I had seen something right then I had never seen before, nevertheless I didn't dare say anything, and I closed my eye.
~~*~~
It was 01300 when the rain started, and under the cover of my Gundam, the Death Scythe, I watched the torrents rip across the glen, mist rising up from the hot, dry earth like millions of invisible horses. It had not rained in what seemed like eons. I redid my braid and tossed it over my shoulders, stroking it uninterestedly. Sleep was almost inevitable in this atmosphere, stranded but not alone. Craft could be heard rumbling over head, as it had been for the past few hours, and I wasn't concerned. I could have swatted them out of the air like midges, but wasn't really in the mood. I yawned contemplatively, arching my back, enjoying the snapping and popping of my spine. Ahhhhh! This was the life.
"Well, old buddy, you deserve a day off more than I do." I patted the gundanium leg, my lithe hand a mere speck on the white metal. Throwing my head back, I shut my eyes blissfully, remembering the old days and my new acquaintances, and was just trying to figure out the meaning of 'Space Heart,' when slumber took me....
"Get up, boy!" A voice bellowed in my ear.
I awoke groggily. Wha--? Who--? Someone kicked me in the ribs.
"Not so big and strong without yer Gundam, are ya boy?" A thin man rasped, thrusting his foot into my back.
I tried to grab my gun, but I could no longer feel it's presence, and the fact that my arms were bound tightly to my side, along with my hands and feet. "Get the bloody heck off me, you little---!" I tried to scream, but it came out muffled, my mouth stuffed with dirty cloths and sealed with duct tape. I gagged, then slowly got a hold of myself. The stench of sulfur and some other foul substance filled my nostrils, and I almost passed out from lack of air.
A harsh, young voice asked what they were to do with me, and I heard laughing as large stones and boots pummeled me continuously, slashing my face and chest.
"Might as well kill him. That wretch is no good to us. We want Yuy." Returned an older man, bitterly. The men, most likely soldiers of some kind, sneered and joked among themselves.
"'Ay Klawson, think we ought to beat 'im first an' then kill 'im, or kill 'im first and then beat im?"
Someone snickered. "You sure it's even a he? Looks like a pretty little girl to me! Wonder how the likes of him even got a Gundam like that...."
"Hahahaha! Yeah...sweet little pig tail you got there, buddy, maybe you oughta put a purty bow on yer Gundam to match!"
Someone yanked my braid just then, and followed it with a kick to my skull. I struggled but to no avail.
"Maybe we oughta rip it off...I think he'd like that; no more of his big buff pals fingerin' it! hehehhehhee!"
"Naw! We gotta let him look all nice for his funeral. No one would recognize him without it: might think he's a guy!!" A sour, grating voice screached, shoving a thick branch into my left eye, which was tightly closed in agony all ready.
A small voice of a younger soldier filled the slight silence between. "I think we should leave him alone. His Gundam's destroyed and he probably won't live...just let him alone."
"Aw, has Private Johanson gone soft on us?"
"Perhaps he has a crush on pretty boy!!" Some other soldier snickered, bemused with this nasty little joke. Everyone else seemed to like it too, because it was succeeded by crude comments like, 'Why didn't you tell us, Johanson?,' or 'shouldn't you wait until your first date?,' and 'what about your girl friend?'.
Tired of all the ignorant and tasteless comments, the leader of the small group began to talk. "C'mon fellas, let's go show Big Bad Gundam Man his suit."
I felt myself being grabbed by the arms and dragged in the mud, then flung down as suddenly as I was picked up. Something huge was beside me, looming, and what smelt like burning. The Scythe...!
"F-stone always did burn nice and pretty, don't you think boy? Too bad we had to do that. It was a good machine. Would have served us nicely. But we don't do mobile suits...." The screeching man breathed hotly in my ear. "But it's really too bad we have to do this to you. You could have served *me* nicely as well...." He ran a knobby finger down my cheek. I shuddered violently, and the man jerked away with a chortle.
"Now! Let's see how you like dying, Gundam Pilot!" And with a loud report, a bullet flew, glazing my left arm. Bad aim and a frightened aimer, I thought...
~~*~~
"Duo....?Duo...? Wake up, Duo...!" Again I was prodded, and I felt the wetness of rain still on my face. It wasn't a dream! I was still being tortured! I began to struggle as I felt someone bracing me gently. 'GET OFF! GET OFF ME, YOU PIG!!' I started to scream. They kept on, and every thing started to hurt again, and I was unable to defend myself. My world was spinning!
FWACK!
"Oh, Duo, I'm so sorry!"
My eye opened wide, and I was once more looking into the sad, fearful eyes of Quatre hovering over my cot. I was breathing hard, salty sweat dripping down the bridge of my nose. My left hand instantaneously rubbed my cheek, which had a hand print of fire etched on it. Oh God, it *was* only a dream. Well, not entirely. I knew it had been all real at one point...I had just relived it again!
"Duo, I am really so sorry! I didn't know what to do! I tried to wake you up with ice water and nudging, but nothing would work! You were screaming and kicking, I was afraid you'd hurt yourself." Quatre sobbed, a small tear running down his face.
I moaned, touching the hotness. "Uuh...Quatre...for such a little guy, you sure do got a strong hand...but thanks anyway. I needed that." I don't know what I had said, but it just seemed to make him cry more, and was soon being comforted in the arms of Trowa. How sweet, I mulled, then cringed. The mental recording of the screechy man and his taunting flooded my mind. The knobby finger, his sour intent. I shuddered again.
I sighed painfully. Hilde was there too, looking just as scared and miserable as Quatre, but I couldn't see Alicia. I asked and was finally informed by Hilde that she had t o go 'pick up' some medicine from the hospital. Trowa and Quatre were busy at the time, I saw later, and couldn't have answered if they had wanted to. But where was Heero?
~~CH. II~~
The rain had stopped altogether now, though the day had still been overcast and rather dreary, the sun left a deep red stain visible on the gray firmament. Slowly, the others left the tent to find their own places to rest, and I was left alone with my thoughts. Not for very long however, for in came Heero, worn out and filthy.
"Back from the crusades already, Mr. Yuy?" I said putting on my best crooked smile. Heero snorted in response. So much for socializing, I said to myself, but all at once, surprising me as usual, the Perfect Soldier began to talk. Maybe not to me in particular, but at least he did.
"I don't know anything. Not one solitary thing. No one does. I talked to Dr. J and he and the others have no idea what the explosives were. All we do know is, on Earth, if you were to use dynamite to reach the gundanium breaking point, you would succeed in blowing up a small country. But the explosion seemed to be all centrally located and went no farther than the suit...and no parts were found on the site. It's like they disintegrated, into thin air! It's not possible. No one is that advanced yet..."
I stared momentarily at the normally quiet man, and wondered why he was telling me this, other than the fact that it was my Gundam. He looked at me solemnly, and began to pace. I wasn't exceptionally tired right then, but having someone going back and forth didn't really calm your nerves either. I wished the boy would get to his point. It had been like he wanted to say something all day and never could get it out. The only problem was, when he grew uncomfortable, tension built up like thunder after the first bolt of lightning, and I felt like I was about to be blasted any minute.
"C'mon Heero, don't be so gloomy. We'll find it in time-."
"Yeah. Like after all the Gundams are destroyed."
"We just can't be...be as careless as I was. No sleeping on the job." I sighed.
"No, we can't. That was a really stupid mistake, Duo. I thought you were smarter than that." Heero said darkly, frustration pouring from cobalt eyes.
I closed my eye. Just like him to rub it in. "Well I'm sorry, Evil Konevil. Some people can't stay awake 24/7...but it's over, I screwed up, can we move on?" My voice pitched higher as I finished, sounding like a simpering child.
Heero sat down, clutching his knees to his chest. "You don't understand, do you? It's all like a big joke. I see you smiling and laughing, as if none of this ever happened. Wait till it hits, and it will hit, Duo, like a train hits a brick wall. You'll figure out that your Gundam is beyond repair, and that you are no longer a Gundam pilot. Sure, the doctors might make you a new suit, and no doubt they will, but you will have to live with the fact that you burned the Death Scythe."
"I didn't burn it!" I gasped.
"Agreed. You physically did not touch it. But you let it happen...it is your fault."
"Dammit, Heero, just leave me alone! I don't need this!" I finally gripped reality. I was no longer suited to be a Gundam pilot, the man had told me so...it had to be true. But my head hurt so much already, I could not comprehend this...I would not comprehend this. I was a good pilot, better than all of OZ combined. So how was it that I was kicked out of the team snap! Like that? Unless...Heero himself didn't want me here.
"Good night." I said, meaning that it was time for him to leave.
He got up slowly, edging closer to my cot so that his breath was warm on my face, "Remember what I said, Maxwell. You are no longer good enough for us. You have no purpose here. Omae o korosu." And then he left.
" Fine! Kill me then! What would it matter?" I hollered after him, my voice sounding dry and hollow in the tepid night air. And as suddenly as he left, I began to cry. What has come over me, I asked myself. Had that beating really affected my emotions so much that I cried at every whim? Something was not right here, but I just didn't know what. Jeeze, I was beginning to sound like Quatre! The sobs began to rack my body in hiccuping gulps, until I could no longer hold it in. *
Death was mourning its loss that night, and its wailing filled the camp till there was hardly room to breath. I was Death. Everyone heard my cries, and I felt no shame.
***
The next morning came and went very silently. Too silent. I wasn't quite over my sense of emptiness, but my eyes were dry and wouldn't hold any more tears. My face, already swollen, was especially red and it worried Alicia. She was apparently not around last night, but I left her to think what she wanted to think, and stayed my mouth. Quatre and Trowa entered around 11, looking tousled and haggard. Neither of them was smiling. They spoke quietly together, and I caught little snitches.
"He cried all night...there has to be something wrong..."
"Don't worry, he'll be fine..."
"But...maybe...the hospital...they could..."
I stopped listening at that point. I wasn't going to the hospital, no ifs, ands, or buts. There was more than our identities at stake here; no one knew yet that some one was specifically after Heero. Every member of that little Anti-Yuy society would probably be on the look out, and the first place they would search would be the hospital. They knew I wasn't dead, that the bullet had missed. Maybe they had planned it that way. A lure to get all of the pilots together, making their job easier to pick Heero off. It *would* be a perfect murder. I mean who would we tell? No one had any love for Gundam pilots any more, so what harm would one less be? I fingered my bad eye with contemplation. Naw, no way. Duo, old boy, you've had too many murder mystery flicks for your own good. But who knew?
The two boys looked at me solemnly. It was coming to that wasn't it? They saw no good reason why I shouldn't go, so I guessed it was time to enlighten them before they made any stupid mistakes.
"Hey fellas...rough night?"
They nodded groggily.
"Well I forgot to tell you something, now that the conversation has obviously turned to the medical pit," I stopped to urge on their curiosity. "About Heero."
"Duo, this sounds rather important; why didn't you tell us sooner?" Quatre began.
"Now, now, hold your horses. I haven't even told you what it was yet. The night when I was attacked, Heero was mentioned, said they were after him. They didn't want me so I was thrown to the dogs, and possibly to be killed, but I have an odd premonition that they didn't really plan on doing me in just yet. And it's not just because I'm cute." Well maybe half, I thought grudgingly.
"So you're saying there are maniacs chasing Heero? How on earth did that slip your mind?!" The blonde pilot yelped.
"I have my reasons."
"Duo, this isn't time to joke around," Trowa piped up. "I take it Heero doesn't know about this....Has anyone seen him?"
I shook my head, "Last night was the last time I saw him. I made him mad and he left."
"Great." Quatre looked at me with disagreement. "We really gotta get that kid a beeper."
"Is Relena there...Yes...Trowa Barton...thank you." Quatre threw me a 'can't believe you're making me do this' look over the receiver. I smiled back. His face became serious once more. "Relena? This is Trowa Barton, Heero's uh...acquaintance....Yes...I was wondering if you knew...No, I haven't seen him...I thought you would have an idea...o.k....O.k...O.K!...Thanks for your help...Goodbye!" He punched the end button with aggravation. "Dang it! I would have thought of all people to know of his whereabouts, it would be her! Gaw that woman's a shrew."
"No luck?" I said, almost too happily. It was so fun to torment him like that.
"None at all. She just whined and whimpered and told her sob story. I have never known a woman to be so clingy. I don't even think Heero likes her all that much."
"Well, no time to give up now. Why don't you try Doctor J?" Suggested Quatre.
"I don't know anyone else to call. We really need some better technology..." He muttered, pressing a few odd numbers. All of the sudden, Quatre's eyes widened, and he tapped Trowa on the shoulder.
"What is it? I'm kinda busy right now...can it wait?"
"Uh...no." He whispered something in his ear. I wanted to see what it was he was trying to point out, but my head was placed so I stared straight up at the ceiling. Trowa put the phone down, the telephone ringing on the other end.
"Heero!" Quatre cried, "Where'd you go? We were so worried, you just disappearing like that."
"It never bothered you before." He said dully.
" That was before we knew there were assassins after y-." Trowa stifled his gibbering instantaneously.
"We need to talk to you...."
*
"...And that's the whole story, at least, according to Duo."
"It's nice to know there are more people trying to kill me. I wish I was notified sooner." The Japanese soldier gave me a death look.
"Sorry, Heero. It's not like had other things to contend with ya know." The sardonic tone in my voice was hardly unnoticeable.
"This is not the time to argue about it now." Trowa reprimanded.
"Right." Quatre finished. "We must get a hold of Wufei. Inform him of the circumstances, get him on the look out. Does anyone know where he is?" Every one but I shook their head.
"Duo?"
"I dunno...where does he usually hang out, other than Justice Hall?"
"Justice Hall...what is...you mean with Superman and Wonder Woman?!-Oh! That is beside the point!" Quatre snorted. Trowa chuckled.
Heero had been holding his gaze on me the whole time since he came in, and I started to feel very self conscious. At that moment, the ceiling became much more interesting than ever before. So out of the blue I commented, "Hey guys? Have you ever thought of putting some posters up here like they do at the dentist's office? You know, those ones with the kitties and the pretty mountain scenes that say 'don't give up', and 'every day's beautiful?"
"DUO!!" Everyone (but Heero) screamed at me in en masse.
"What?" A little halo appeared over my head.
They all stared at me like I had said the most irrelevant thing in the world, little lighting bolts zapping me to death. Well, they should, I thought stuffily.
"ANYWAY!" Quatre started over again. "If I know Wufei, he can get some more information on this little society, whatever it is. Trowa, could you try to page him? Good. Furthermore Duo, as you are the witness, did they mention any particular names and such that could help us? "
I thought for a second, trying to remember who all said what, though my brain fiercely fought against it. There was a younger one, Johanson, who was teased. And someone was referred to as Klawson, I believe...and one other name...not a man's name, no, something about my Gundam...how well it burned...F-Stone! The Screechy Man had said it always burned nice...and pretty....
"F-Stone? What is that?" The taller boy pondered out loud.
"Why don't you ask Doctor J?" Came Heero's droll voice.
"It's our only alternative, as it seems."
***
"Narutaki, I have no choice. I am weak."
The Shenlong sat serenely, gazing unconcernedly at the mountainous horizon. The sun was high in the sky, gleaming off its colored metal skin.
"I don't deserve to live anymore. Those people were weak and they had no reason to die, so I find it no longer just for myself to keep on. I must set right what has been flawed. Will you help me, old friend?" Wufei sighed deeply, dark almond-shaped eyes closed. An innocent town had been destroyed and thousands of people had been killed, all because of his ill placed battle. The machine remained statuesque, dragon-headed hands resting on its legs.
"Thank you for allowing me to serve you." The young boy bowed to Gundam, and climbed up into the cockpit. He hit a small switch and the lid flipped open mechanically on the detonation device. Suddenly, the screen flickered to life and a voice called through the speaker, almost causing him to jump.
"Wufei! Wufei, are you there? This is Trowa? Are you there, Wufei?"
The Chinese pilot stared at the picture coming through on his shattered monitor. His small, noble shoulders sagged as he reluctantly pressed the 'Speak' button.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Great. Your here. I was about to give up, but I am very glad your still around." Unfortunately, thought Wufei. "No doubt you've heard about Duo's...accident."
"What, did he pee his pants again?"
Trowa smiled and answered, "A bit worse than that. He was seriously injured last week when he was kidnapped---"
"Duo? Kidnapped? I wouldn't think that was humanly possible."
"Well, he was. Anyway, he was captured and injured pretty badly, but we have been told there is something else...flowing in his system that even our private doctor can't cure. We haven't been told what it is yet, only because she, herself, doesn't know. We certainly won't worry Duo about it; there isn't anything he can do. Whatever it is, if it reaches his heart, could be deadly."
"Very well. Is there anything else?"
Trowa glanced down, his hair covering all of his face. "His Gundam was destroyed as well. No parts, no marks, nothing left of it. " Wufei stared in disbelief at the screen.
"How?" was the only the thing he managed to say.
"We also have no idea. It was blown up with something referred to as F-stone. It's very bewildering. We are going to get a hold of Dr. J, that is, if we can find him. The doctors as well as you have always been infamous nomads ."
"I see...I'll check out this F-stone and search out the Doctors' whereabouts. And...uh...tell Duo I'm sorry."
"K. Thanks Wufei. Over and out." The monitor turned to black with a last flash, the warbling of birds filling the remaining silence. Wufei stared at the detonation device he still held in his sweaty hand. He closed the lid, and flipped the extension switch, putting it back. He was depended on...it would be incredibly unjust to let whoever did this go free; to let whatever magic they had conjured blow up anything else; to let this man die. The pilot took off his jacket and tossed over his shoulder and started up the Gundam suit. Duo wasn't a weakling like he or the dead people of the village. He deserved to live. The suit blasted out of the trees and into the clouds, noticed by no one except the birds.
***
I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. What could I say, I had been on my back for two weeks on end. The guys weren't much help either, although Hilde tried. They would turn their backs to me and whisper, as if they knew something that I didn't. About that time, I would interrupt them and turn the subject, but still I didn't enjoy being left out. Hilde would talk to me but it was always about the same; oh Duo are you O.K.? Duo do you hurt? Yada yada yada! I was beginning to understand Heero's pain, so to speak. I had no idea women could grow so irksome.
I, with all my solo missions, was never granted the pleasantries of the female kind. Heh...that is almost funny, now that I get around to it. I'd rather watch Trieze pluck his eyebrows hours on end than be stuck with someone like Relena for a few minutes, much less my whole life. I guess I'll always be alone; but there's certainly nothing wrong with that.