Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Resistance is Futile ❯ Rivals ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11 - Rivals

Heero's stomach growled. After his successful tactical retreat this morning he had hidden in Wing for hours to prevent meeting Relena again. Unfortunately he therefore missed lunch. But now, late in the afternoon it should be safe to come out of his hiding place again. Even Relena couldn't be that persistent. Could she?

But no, she had been talking something about a conference and surely was on her way to get there. Heero frowned as he remembered Relena's strange behaviour. He really never had seen her like that.

She was always so kind and ready to help - admittedly somewhat annoying, but always friendly. And although her opinions didn't agree with his own at hundred per cent he nevertheless admired how determined she held on her principles and tried to achieve peace on her own way.

Therefore he really couldn't understand why she had been that insulting today. First to Seven who had been so kind to show him and Wufei some new martial arts grips - how had she called them? Klingon? Seven really hadn't deserved to be called such names. You didn't really expect "slut" and "bitch" in the vocabulary of a princess - and those had been the most harmless words Relena had used.

It was possible that she had misunderstood the situation and took the harmless practise for a real attack - but that didn't explain her behaviour towards Duo. The furrow on Heero's forehead deepened. Why had she snapped like that at Duo?

Duo hadn't given her any reason for such an attack this time. It had happened before that Duo had made one or another cynical remark in front of Relena, but at large he was always polite. And up to now Relena had never reacted on Duo's sayings - therefore Heero was more than taken aback that she had been that sniffy to Duo today.

And then Relena had wanted to recruit him as her bodyguard. Again! He was really grateful to Duo for giving him the perfect excuse just in time to escape this task - Heero really hadn't wanted to accompany Relena to this conference. Particularly now, when the Borg posed a new threat and he really had more important things to do. Surely there were enough other bodyguards who could protect Relena.

But Heero absolutely knew that without Duo's help he would have indulged Relena in the end - just like all the other times before. Astonished Heero realized that he was still angry about Relena's behaviour. Without his good self-control he wouldn't have been able to refrain himself in the garden.

When Relena had treated Duo so contemptuous Heero had felt the overwhelming urge to strangle her. Therefore he disappeared as fast as possible into the house when the opportunity afforded.

Meanwhile Heero had arrived in the kitchen where Quatre, Duo and the Doctor were sitting at the table. Everyone turned to him when he entered the kitchen.

"Hey Heero, you finally left your hiding hole?" Duo called, "Relena has been gone for hours."

"Hn," Heero answered and opened the fridge to search for something edible.

"How could you leave me alone with Relena? That hadn't been very nice of you, Hee-chan." Duo's voice sounded really crestfallen.

For a second Heero felt something like guilt. He hadn't even thought of Duo during his escape. He only wanted to be away from Relena. He emerged from the fridge and wanted to apologize to Duo when he noticed the wide grin on Duo's face. That stopped him.

That baka. Couldn't he ever be serious? Heero answered Duo's accusation with another "Hn!" but had to smirk inwardly anyway.

Quatre, who had been making tea meanwhile, gave everyone a cup of it. The Doctor, who had been silent so far, asked Quatre amused, "What shall I do with that, my boy? I'm only made of light. Holograms are not able to drink."

Quatre turned red and spluttered, "I thought… uhm… oops… sorry." Hastily he removed the cup.

"It's alright, no need to be embarrassed," grinned the Doc.

"How come you're so human?" Duo asked curiously, "You really don't act like a normal program. Are you an artificial intelligence ore something like that? And are there more holograms like you?"

"As long as I know there aren't," answered the Doctor, "There are indeed lots of holograms that are able to achieve complex procedures but only within the limits of their programming. However, I am unique. I have developed an own awareness over the years and have therefore equalled the status of an individual with all it's rights and responsibilities."

"Really? How did that happen?" Duo's curiosity had apparently been inspired by this answer more than ever.

"Well," the Doctor continued, "I had been designed as Emergency Medical Hologram - shortly EMH. The duty of an EMH is to replace the doctor of a star ship in case of an emergency for a short time. Because of circumstances - it would go too far to explain them - I had constantly been activated for seven years. Because of this uninterrupted duty and the ongoing interaction with the crew it had been necessary to advance myself."

Duo had both elbows on the table, his chin leaned on his hands and he listened curious to the explanations of the Doctor.

The EMH smiled. "Normally a hologram is confined to rooms with holographic projectors. I owe my freedom of movement to my mobile emitter which I received during a temporal incident. The interplay of these different factors led to me being an individual."

"Fascinating," Duo said with awe when the Doctor finished his explanations.

In this moment the door opened and Seven entered the kitchen, closely followed by Wufei. Heero frowned surprised. He noticed that Wufei always stayed around Seven. What only could be the reason for this behaviour?

Heero turned away and sat at the table when he noticed that Duo glared angrily at him. Heero returned that look surprised. Why was Duo so angry all of a sudden?

Duo noticed his look, made a grimace, turned abruptly to Quatre and asked for another cup of tea.

Heero shook his head inwardly. He simply wasn't able to make heads or tails of Duo. His erratic mood swings couldn't be foreseen or even comprehended.

"Doctor, I think it is essential to make more scans," Seven addressed her colleague, "We should start with the Delta Flyer immediately."

"Did you succeed in making a connection?" answered the EMH.

"What are you talking about?" Heero asked, "What connection? What's the matter?"

"Seven had been trying to make a connection to the Hive - the collective consciousness of the Borg - to gather some information about their plans for some days now," the Doctor explained, "And it looks like she succeeded."

"Not quite," Seven contradicted the Doctor, "I couldn't establish a complete connection. All I came to know where some coordinates on the borders of the solar system that seem to have some significance. I suggest to analyse them."

"Al right, Seven," said the Doctor and stood up. "Let's go."

"I should accompany you on this mission," Heero said, "I could be helpful."

"Heero is right," Wufei agreed, "I should better go with you too. Then we could divide the work."

"Corky pretence, Wuffie," Duo murmured silently.

Heero cast him an irritated look. What did the Deathscythe pilot mean by that?

"Your help is not required for this mission," Seven clarified emotionless, "We only need to scan the concerned area. We will be back in a few hours and tell you all the ascertained data. You stay here and wait for instructions from your scientists."

"But don't attempt anything till we're back," she added and picked the small communicator from her clothes. "If you had to contact us for some reason, once tipping will do," she said and held the device on her outstretched hand.

Heero lifted his hand to grab it but Wufei was faster and snatched the communicator out of Seven's fingers.

"Hn," Heero said irritated. Wufei really acted strange.

Silently the five pilots - Trowa had joined them in the meantime - followed Seven and the Doctor out in the garden. No one of them wanted to miss the launch of the star ship. Fascinated they watched Seven and the Doctor enter the ship, and shortly after that the two coils on which the ship stood flashed in a blue light and the star ship took off almost entirely soundless and with an amazing speed.

"Wow," whispered and looked with shining eyes after the ship.

"That had really been impressing!" Quatre agreed.

"I really would like to know what drive they use," Trowa mused.

"With such a technology we could beat OZ in no time," Heero thought aloud.

"Injustice!" Wufei growled, "I should be with Seven and help her!"

"Love must be truly wonderful!" Duo grinned towards Wufei.

"I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about, Maxwell," Wufei said prim.

Duo rolled his eyes. "Please! It's totally obvious what's going on! You're making sheep's eyes at Seven all the time! You follow her every step just like a trained pet dog! Do you think we're blind?"

Wufei turned red, hissed "You're talking bullshit, Maxwell," and vanished quickly into the house.

Duo snickered and shouted after Wufei, "Say it often enough, perhaps you can at least talk yourself into believing it!" while following him together with the other pilots. Quatre and Trowa vanished into the kitchen, Heero and Duo turned towards the stairs.

"Why did you say that, Duo?" Heero asked. "Was it necessary to make Wufei angry?"

"Yes it was. I just can't bear your behaviour any more. Don't you realise what fools you make of yourselves?" Duo hissed and walked up the stairs without turning back to Heero.

Heero stopped perplexed. HIS behaviour? What was this baka talking about? "My behaviour?" he called after him. Duo only snorted and kept on walking.

But Heero really wanted to know what was going on. He rushed after Duo, grabbed his arm and pulled him into his room. "What is wrong with you, Duo?" he asked and closed the door.

"What's wrong with ME?" Duo asked furious, "The question is, what's wrong with YOU? You are the one who is running after this killer blonde the whole time!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Heero got slowly angry too. Though he couldn't explain why Duo was that furious, he wouldn't let this accusations rest.

"Oh please," Duo replied, "Day and night you're stalking Seven and cast her lovesick glances! You're even worse than Wufei! I never would have thought you go for that Barbie doll type!"

"I only asked her to show me how she overrode my security codes in Wing! And when she showed Wufei some new martial arts tricks I joined them," Heero justified himself, "That's all. Why are you averse to it? It's for the benefit of our mission!"

"Oh that's how it's called nowadays!" Duo bitched snidely. "But I have to give her one," he continued, "Seven is really good. She succeeded in those few days what I couldn't accomplish all along. The Perfect Soldier actually seems to have the ability to feel emotions."

Heero frowned confused. He really didn't understand what Duo meant.

"Emotions, Heero!" Duo said, "You know what that is, do you?"

Heero didn't answer but stared further on puzzled at Duo.

"Oh, what the heck!" Duo finally called, stepped closer to Heero, grabbed his head with both hands, pulled him closer and pressed his lips on Heero's mouth.