Alien in our Midst
-A GW Alternate Universe

part 1
---------------------------------

In another place and time, light-years away from the cluster of planets 
and colonies that formed the United Earth Sphere, an alien ship lay 
slowly dying.

Within the doomed craft, a slender young woman crept out from under the
body of one of her fallen comrades, tears slowly dripping down her face
as she gently closed the corpse's staring eyes.  A pained sob caught at
her throat as she clutched her precious burden to her chest, forcing 
herself to ignore the senseless carnage around her.  Forcing herself to 
forget that she now stood alone in the path of the Imperial Forces, just 
one small girl left to defend their people's last Hope.

She sniffed, straightening her shoulders.  She would not let them down.  
She would not let their sacrifices -- :oh, Gods, Orcus!: she whimpered --
be in vain.

No matter what, her son must LIVE.

Disheveled and bruised, clad in the remains of what had once been an 
elegant gown, the gently-bred girl doggedly made her way down the 
corridor, klaxons and flickering lights a dizzying accompaniment to her 
slow progress.  After what seemed an eternity, she finally arrived at the
ship's evacuation chamber.  Trembling fingers reached out to code in the 
access sequence, and a sigh of relief escaped parted lips as the doors 
silently swished open.  Various explosions suddenly rocked the 
beleaguered vessel, tossing the weary young woman down into an ungraceful
sprawl on the cold floor.  She instinctively curved her body protectively
around the tiny infant she held in her arms, shielding him from worst of 
the flying debris.  As the ship gradually stilled, her large violet eyes 
desperately scanned the ravaged room, filling with dismay as they fell on
the chaotic heap of metal and wires that had once been a fully-functional
escape pod.  

A despairing sob escaped her throat. 

How, oh HOW, could it have come to THIS?

* * * * *

Two months ago, in another sector of the galaxy.

Orcus the Fourth, Guardian of the Five Rivers, High Lord of the twin 
worlds of Tartarus and Erebus, he who was known simply as 'the Prince', 
looked decidely undignified as he cooed and made faces at his three-week
old son.  One might even go so far as to say that he looked rather 
silly--if one were feeling suicidal enough to provoke a being capable of
bringing death with a single touch, that is.

A quiet laugh came from behind the young man.  "What ARE you doing, my
lord?" Two slender arms wrapped themselves around his middle, a small
pointed chin coming to rest one broad shoulder.  Amusement colored the 
newcomer's voice.  "You DO realize how ridiculous you look, do you not?"

Then again, one may make as many impertinent comments as one likes, if 
one were assured of doing it with impunity.

"Such insolence, wench!" He whirled around and grabbed the laughing
young woman, wagging a finger threateningly in front of her nose.  
"Don't you know better than to mock your Lord And Master?" he growled, 
stressing the capitals in the last three words.

Undaunted, the violet-eyed girl grinned and nipped the admonishing 
digit, giving it a naughty lick before snuggling close to the 
now-sputtering young man.  "Oh don't be such a fuddy-duddy, Orcus!" she 
purred, nuzzling his neck contentedly.  "You're beginning to sound like
one of your dried-up old ministers."

The chestnut-haired youth rolled his eyes, sighing in exasperation.
"Why do I even bother?" he asked plaintively of no one in particular.

Elegant fingers wound in his hair and tugged, bringing his face in close
for a long, lingering kiss.  "Because you love me, perhaps?" A smug look
filled the girl's stunning eyes.

He shrugged, an answering smirk curving his lips.  "Perhaps...."

Her self-satisfied smile grew.

"...but then again, methinks you need some discipline, my lady."  Before
she could ascertain his intent, his questing fingers quickly made their 
move, seeking and exploiting all of the imp's most ticklish spots.  She 
squealed and squirmed, dissolving into helpless giggles under his
unrelenting assault.  

"ORCUS!" she wailed, vainly twisting away from his merciless fingers.

He gave her a devilish grin.  "Do you yield, wench?" he asked, his own
eyes sparkling with mirth.

She presented him with a rebellious look, the effect somewhat lessed by 
the uncontrollable laughter spilling from her lips.

"Well?"  An eyebrow rose up in challenge while deft hands continued 
their fiendish onslaught.

"Yes, you odious man!"  She glared, panting slightly as she caught her
breath.  

He chuckled, pulling her in to a rough embrace.  "Oh, Persephone, what 
WOULD I do without you?"

The dark-haired girl just pouted, muttering darkly to herself.

Laughing, he freed one arm to pick up their son, smiling down at the 
wide-eyed child.  "Who's Daddy's big boy?" he crooned, as the baby cooed
and giggled in delight.

She poked him, heaving a threatrical sigh of disgust.

Orcus simply grinned back, unabashedly.

"Have you finished packing for our trip?" he asked, tucking the boy into
the crook of one arm, and cuddling his wife close.

Persephone grew quiet, absently reaching out to tickle the baby's chin.
"Yes, I'm done."  

"What's the matter, imp?" Emerald eyes darkened in sudden concern.  
"Don't you feel up to travelling so soon?"

She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.  "It's not that, Orcus."

"Then what's wrong, love?" he asked gently.

"Do you really think it's all right to betroth the little one so soon?"
'And to HER?' she silently added.  "It's just.....that family...." she
trailed off, shivering slightly despite the room's warm temperature.

"Shh, I know."  He rubbed her back soothingly, his own mood growing 
sour.  "But this match with the Emperor's daughter is our only chance of
securing the peace."  He sighed.  "If he'd just demanded something 
else...."

She closed her eyes and placed a finger against his lips, silencing him 
with her touch.  A sad, solemn look settled on her face.

"Let's just hope everything works out for the best."

* * * * *

But they hadn't, she thought bitterly, shifting little Orcus into a more
comfortable position.  There hadn't even BEEN a princess to betroth her
son to, only a prince with a sweet, angelic face, and cruel, cruel eyes.

Her hold on her son tightened almost painfully.  The LOOK that he'd 
given her child.....

She shuddered.

It had all been a trap, the treaty, the betrothal, EVERYTHING--a bold 
gambit by a power-hungry ruler to steal what the men of her husband's 
family had held and guarded for millenia.  The Emperor had known that
he would never have been able to compel her mate to further his twisted 
designs.  He'd known he could not turn the man, so he had not bothered 
to try.  His child however, a mere babe, that was another matter 
entirely.

Children were such fragile creatures.  She touched the faintly glowing
sign on her son's forehead, and shuddered again.

To think that they had marked her son as THEIR property.....Oh Gods....

She closed her eyes, the events of the past few weeks rushing at her like
a horde of charging soldiers.  She recalled vague memories of fleeing in
the night, of losing her beloved husband in the first flurry of 
fighting, of sneaking on board their current vessel, of the long 
harrowing days of endless running, of finally being cornered and 
trapped, of seeing her friends and followers falling one by one.

Tears fell silently down her cheeks, slowly dripping off her chin to 
bathe her son's face in their salty wetness.  He whimpered in distress at
the unfamiliar sensation.

The tiny, mewling sound jogged her back to the here and now.  Fierce
determination hardened her eyes to cold amethysts.  No, this would not,
COULD not, end here.

She scrambled to her feet, gently placing her son in one of the more 
protected areas of the room, and quickly started digging through the
heap of twisted metal on the floor.  There must be ONE pod left - there 
simply had to be.

There was no way she was letting that family touch her son again.

No way at all.

* * * * *

"We've captured the princess, your majesty."

Piercing silver eyes turned towards the monitor, a cruel, anticipatory
light growing in them.

"And the young prince?" he asked, steepling his hands beneath his chin.

The soldier lowered suddenly nervous eyes.  "He's....not here."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed.  "What did you say?" he hissed.

"He's gone, your majesty." The unfortunate warrior replied, 
unconsciously cringing back from the venomous anger in that voice.

He surged to his feet, slamming his hands down on the arms of his 
throne.  "Find him!" he snarled.  "Find him!  And bring the bitch to 
me."

Oh, she WOULD pay for this.

No one thwarted his plans.  

No one.

* * * * *

Persephone stood proudly before the massive onyx throne, head held high
as she faced the twin stares of Emperor and Crown Prince alike.

"Where is he?" the child's high, piping voice asked, its sweet tone
belying the terrible anger in his face.

"Yes, where is my son's bride, my lady?" One long, pale hand reached out
to grasp the dark-haired girl's chin.  "What have you done with him?"

"Wouldn't YOU like to know?" she smirked, a fierce light glowing past 
the weariness in her eyes.  

He tightened his grip, fingers digging into soft, white flesh.  "I will
not ask you again.  WHERE IS HE???"

She flashed him a serene smile.  "Somewhere you'll never find him."

His face flushed, eyes turning into dangerous silver slits.

Her smile only grew wider, then with a suddenness that left him stunned,
she grabbed his hand, and with a twist of her wrists, used it to break
her own neck.

The Emperor stared at the lifeless body hanging limply from his hands.
With an enraged howl, he threw the corpse aside.  The still form landed 
in front of the Crown Prince, a pitiful bundle of rags and marred flesh.
The boy used one slippered foot to roll it over, turning the girl's face
towards him.  Her sightless violet eyes gazed up at him in silent 
triumph.  He cocked his head to one side, tapping a finger to his lips.

"Pretty."

He knelt down, gently cupping the girl's cheek.  Smiling beatifically,
he brushed a few stray curls from her face, then calmly tore out her 
eyes.  He stood, cradling the bloody orbs possessively to his chest.

The Emperor raised one eyebrow, but said nothing.

The boy simply smiled, and said, "Mine."

* * * * *

Several light years away, a young man was thrown forward by the explosion
caused by two rapidly moving objects - i.e., the asteroid he was on and 
something else.  Curious, he picked himself up, dusted himself off and 
bounded over to investigate - one never knew what treasures one might 
find, ne?  Lord knows, he and his wife could use all the help they could 
get.  

Moments later, he came upon a small craft, battered and dented, and 
hardly big enough to hold anything of value.  Disappointed, he turned to 
leave; dilly-dallying around like this would not serve to put food into 
his wife's belly.  The pod suddenly tipped over, as if something inside 
had moved.

Wait a minute....something inside???

K'so!

He quickly whirled around and scrambled back towards it, forcing the lid 
open and cursing as the hot metal burned him through the thick gloves he 
was wearing.  As the lid fell back, he gasped in shock.  Inside was a 
child, a babe no more than a few months old.  What was it doing here?

* * * * *

"Anata...where did you find him?" the young woman breathed in wonder, 
gently cradling the child in her arms.

The man shrugged, hanging up his coat.  "I found him in an escape pod on
TK162," he said, referring to the hunk of rock he'd been working on.

"An escape pod?" she blinked, lifting her gaze to meet his.  "Were there
any other people?"

He shook his head, walking over to her side.  "No, I didn't find anyone
else.  Just this little guy."

"Sou desu ka...." she murmured thoughtfully.

The baby whimpered, nuzzling hungrily against her chest.

Her large dark eyes melted at the sight.  

"Ne, anata....can we keep him?"  Her barren womb ached as she stared 
wistfully at the child.  

He looked at her, at the picture the two of them made, and decided he
quite liked the idea.  He'd always wanted to have a son.

Besides, it would make his wife happy, and he'd always been a sucker for
her big brown eyes.

"Sure...why not?"

* * * * *

Fifteen years later....

The slender figure lay sprawled on the grass, head pillowed on crossed 
arms, violet eyes wide with childlike curiosity.  "Ne, Q-man, you're
kidding me, right?"

The angelic blonde blinked at him innocently.

"Come on, you can't expect me to believe you!  I mean...ALIENS???  Even 
Wuffie could think up a better explanation than that!" he exclaimed, 
waving the tip of his braid at him.

"That's WU-FEI, Maxwell!  I have a name, and I'd appreciate it if you 
used it!" growled the Chinese pilot from his spot on the porch.

"Yeah, yeah, Wu-man, I hear you," Duo replied, an impish grin quirking
his lips.  "Sides Q, aliens don't exist!(1)"

"But Duo," Quatre smiled, all sweetness and light.  "How else can you
explain those eyebrows? (2)"

The Shinigami pilot thought about it.  "Anou....maybe it's a side effect
of too much inbreeding?"  He suddenly shook his head.  "Nah...if that 
were the case, then Wu-Wu here would have 'em too, ne?"

"M-A-X-W-E-L-L!!" Wufei roared, a vein popping into bass relief on his
forehead.  A decidedly psychotic gleam entered his eyes as his hands
clenched over the hilt of his katana.

"Eh-he-he...." Duo gulped, wisely skittering back into the dubious safety
of the smaller Arabian's shadow.  "It's a joke, Wu, a joke!  Calm down!"

A firm hand clamped down on the other boy's wrist, dark eyes rising to 
meet cobalt blue.  Heero shook his head at the angry boy's pleading look.
"You can't kill him yet, Wufei."

"Next time then?" he asked hopefully, visions of him inflicting loud and
painful justice upon a certain braided baka's person filling his head.

Heero turned to smirk at the cowering L2 pilot.  "Aa."

Duo sweatdropped.  "Hidoi~~ii!"

Wufei reluctantly resheathed his sword and went back to his interrupted
reading.  "Damn American bakas....*grumble grumble*...."

Heero calmly seated himself on the porch steps.  "Hn."

Trowa just leaned back into the comfortable lounge chair he had co-opted
for himself and quietly enjoyed his lemonade.  *sigh* Just another quiet 
day in the lives of the Gundam pilots....

* * * * *

"Sir!  I've got some strange signals coming from that sector!" the ship's
navigation officer called out, fingers flying over the control board as
he struggled to amplify and decode the faint readings.

The captain leaned forward, eyes intent.  "Report!" he barked in crisp, 
clear tones.

"Sir, it's coming from an escape pod.  ID...." he fiddled with some 
buttons.  "SHN-GM002!" The man raised his eyes in wonder.  "This is it, 
Captain!"

The captain closed his eyes as relief washed over him.  His head suddenly
felt much more secure on his neck.

"Communications!  Open a line to the Emperor."

"What do I tell him, Sir?" Another, younger man asked, already 
establishing a connection to the Capital.

"Tell him..." he took a deep breath, savoring the first few moments of 
his bright new future.  "Tell him that the prince has been found."

* * * * *

~tsuzuku~

Author's notes:
(1) Ahh, the irony of that statement....*smirk*
(2) For those of you who didn't get it, they're talking about Treize and 
Dorothy. ^_^;;;

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