Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Mended Hearts ❯ Chapter 3

Mended Hearts

Disclaimer: Not mine, and never was

Pairings: 1+2 (not yet), 3x4 5+?

Chapter 3

Heero shut the door to the hanger and glanced at the darkening sky. Everyone was here, everyone except Duo. With a sigh, Heero dug his hands into his pockets and kicked at the ground. It's been two months since any of the pilots had seen Duo. After he left the safe house, they lost all track of him. Even Heero was unable to locate him. Heaving one last sigh, Heero schooled his expression and set out for the safe house.

Quatre looked up from the table where he was preparing dinner. His eyes sought Heero's. Heero didn't spare him a glance as he set up his lap top. Quatre struggled to hold back the tears gathering in his eyes. His hand clutched at his chest. Poor Heero. The pilots were settling down to dinner when Heero's laptop beeped. The other three ambled over to it as Heero read the report. "The target is a satellite by colony L2. Sandrock and HeavyArms are to hit the bottom 3 decks. Nataku is to hit the middle 3." Wufei drew himself up to his full height. "This should be an easy mission." Quatre turned to comment when he noticed the screen on Heero's laptop scrambled out. Doctor J's face appeared on the screen.

"Good evening. Have you read the mission?" he asked. A nod from Heero was his answer. "Good. Heero you need to take out the command unit. That's the top three." The Doctor sighed. "This satellite is rumored to be manufacturing brand new mobile doll suits. We do not know if any are operational yet, but don't concern your self. That area is covered. Mission is in 5 hours." The doctor went to sign off when Heero asked, "Covered by what?"

Doctor J grinned, "By pilot 02 of course." The screen went black.

There was complete silence in the room. Pilot 02, Duo Maxwell. Duo was coming back. As everyone was absorbing this new information, Heero got up and went to the table. He robotically ate the dinner in front of him. Duo. He would get to see Duo again. His heart beat up at the thought.

≈5 hours later≈ The four Gundams were approaching the satellite when Quatre's face popped up on the monitor. "Shouldn't Duo be here by now?" Heero swept the area with his radar again for the fifth time in 10 minutes. Quatre's question echoed his. To cover his persistent fear, Heero answered him. "The baka probably got lost if not captured already."

"Now that is not a very nice thing to say."

The four jumped startled in their seats at the husky voice that was broadcast. "Maxwell?" Wufei asked, searching the area with narrowed eyes. How the hell did Duo appear with out him knowing? Before Wufei could voice his question, Heero spoke up.

"Where the hell have…" he was interrupted by Duo's uncharacteristic sigh.

"You four are late, we have a job to do so let's not waste anymore time." At that, Deathscythe appeared in the middle of them. The four froze as they took in the appearance of the Gundam. It was slightly larger than they remembered. The scythe was long and glowed red instead of green. The missile compartment was double the area of HeavyArms'. Both legs were equipped with bullets and missiles. Out of its back stood blood red wings twice the length of the Gundam itself. The "eyes" of the Gundam itself seemed to burn straight into their souls.

Quatre shivered in his seat. The Gundam scared the crap out of him. Just the appearance of it itself was enough to make him want to high-tail it in the other direction and he hadn't even seen it in action yet. He pulled himself together as Duo took off. "Wow, he's fast."

At the approach of the Gundams the alarms at the satellite went off. "They know we're here. Let's make this quick." With that said the wings of the Gundam surrounded the body and Duo disappeared. Quatre and Trowa went after the bottom deck missiles armed and fired. Wufei was fast behind them letting lose with his own weapons. Out of nowhere, a swarming mass of mobile suits appeared and headed for the Gundams.

"Incoming!" Wufei yelled. Heero was lining up to fire when Duo spoke.

"They are mine, do your job." Duo appeared in front of the suits and attacked. His suit went through them as if they weren't even there. The Gundam was moving so fast that Wing Zero's systems could barely keep up with them. In less than 10 minutes the suits were gone and the satellite blew.

"These are the coordinates of the ship where we need to meet." Duo said. The other pilots watched as words appeared on their screens. As Duo's Gundam turned to go, Quatre's face appeared on the monitor. "Duo?" There was a moment of silence until Duo appeared on the screen. All froze as they took in his appearance. Gone was his traditional priest garb. Now he wore a deep red tank top molded to his chest and tucked into tight leather pants. At his side was a booster rifle. His hair was no longer in just a braid, instead was tied back in a high pony tail and then in a braid. On his wrist was metal wrist bands, along the undersides of which were throwing daggers. His upper arms also sported bands. Looped around his waist was a thin belt of bullets as well as a few grenades. His eyes were hidden behind mirrored black sun-glasses and a black bandana was tied around his neck. But what shocked everyone was his neck. Were once hung a cross, there was nothing. The Duo they knew would not give the cross up.

"Understand this," Duo said in a voice that sent shivers down their backs, "I am no longer part of your little team. I take orders from the Doctor, not you. Leave me be if you value your sanity." With that the monitors went black and Duo's Gundam disappeared. The shock wave of him blasting off sent them reached for their controls.

"He's changed." Trowa said in his monotone voice that barely covered his shock.

"We have a place to be, we had better go." Quatre said in a small voice as he tried to control his shaking. In silence, the four Gundams took off, following the coordinates downloaded.