Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Essence of Being ❯ Prologue

CASE NUMBER: 426781

SUBJECT: 31 CODE: FP

NAME: MAXWELL, DUO

Heero Yuy set the folder down without opening it and looked up at the doctor seated behind the desk across from him and his companions. "Everything is in order?"

The doctor gave a slight nod. "My team has met the requirements set, the other things are being undertaken at the moment, and a few liberties were taken that I'm sure you will all find very pleasing. However, there are a few things I would like to discuss."

The Japanese youth crossed his legs at the ankle and leaned back in the plush chair, letting his fingers graze over the three lines of information on the cover of the folder. "Continue."

The doctor shuffled through several groupings of paper and folders before coming to the one that seemed to be the focus of his search. Opening it he let his head bow to read the words through wire framed glasses, and when he lifted his head again he removed the glasses and rubbed a hand over his eyes.

"We have created a physical make-up for your approval. It's right here." He lifted a piece of paper from the folder with several computer-generated images on it and leaned over the desk. Beside Heero a hand reached for it curiously.

"The body construction is designed for the idea of stealth, like you wished. A slim form, somewhat hollowed bones, slender almost delicate hands and feet, extra vertebrae in the back, they should all contribute to that thought. The body is all going to be well-toned muscle, the metabolism higher than average to aid in burning fats and processing energy efficiently. The bone itself is different, lighter but reinforced with hormones and supplements to be extremely unbreakable and uncrushable.

"Yes, the facial features are somewhat feminine, but as none of you found any of the normal face structure patterns to your liking, we've taken and created something from somewhat uncertain descriptions of what should be. A pleasant face, nice to look at. As with everything else though, if you are not happy with what you see before you, we can certainly change anything."

"I think this is fine," Heero stated softly, taking the picture and studying it with interested eyes, noting that the person before him appeared American.

"A walking wet dream," Wufei murmured from beside Heero, then turned to the others with a half smile. "If that's your sort of thing."

Quatre snorted softly.

"That actually brings to the front an important question. My team already has everything in place for the "memory" and needed knowledge for the product to be beyond functional, but there are certain more natural concerns to be addressed. The sexuality, for one thing."

"The sexuality?" the Arabian asked curiously.

"Yes. Do you want the product to have a sexual identity, a sexual awareness? If so, then what would you like the product's preferences to be, if any defined at all? What of the sexual attitude, more reservation or complete willingness at the slightest word. My company has actually been doing a lot of research in this area, so you have more options now then even five years ago."

"Continue."

"Complete willingness is not something I recommend, that leaves it too general. From my standpoint, and from what I know of your product's eventual use, that could complicate business matters and could become a weakness, a vulnerability. What I suggest is letting the sexuality and the identity develop naturally, just like anyone's would, with wants and desires and dislikes. Then putting in another layer, restrictions or allowances."

"Such as?"

"Let's see. In this case an indifference concerning your actions, no matter what they be, as long as it's on a personal level and not a working one. And not just in the sexuality area, of course; that will help with a lot of things."

"What would that mean, an indifference?" Quatre inquired softly.

The doctor put his glasses back on. "An indifference, a tolerance of sorts, but not. Affections would be overlooked in the overall picture, even returned if it was requested. From there it's not hard to imagine the meaning in one way or another."

"Like a toy?"

"I wouldn't say toy... More like a tool. A very expensive tool, and in the nature of the product and the requirements a free-thinking tool, but a tool."

"Anything else?"

"The personality. We've decided the best course to take with this project is to allow the personality to form as it would with only the minimal and necessary prodding to bring the completion about in time for the product to be released. Are there suggestions you would like to put in?"

"Cheerful," the Arabian stated. "We don't want any trouble."

The doctor gave a nod. "Anything else?"

"I think stating that we don't want any trouble gives a pretty good indication of traits desired."

"But not total complacency," Wufei stated. "We want an operative who will listen to our advice but still will act according to individual thought processes."

"I'm curious about ownership," a new voice stated.

Heero glanced over at Trowa and then gave a slight nod.

The man made a soft sound and looked down at the desk, lips pursed. Then back up to those sitting around the other side of the desk. "A very touchy subject, as I'm sure you all know. And the court cases within the last twenty years have done little clear up the confusion. In this case, from the being created and the circumstances, the construction corporation holds half ownership rights until it's contested in some sort of official setting. Until then the other half is split between the purchasers and the product. I happen to know that because of the nature of the product being purchased the company will be legally handing over the rights to the purchaser as to not have official responsibility after the initial conception. From there, who between the four of you, and what of the product, only time will tell."

"Anything else we need to know that isn't in our manuals?"

"Well, it is in there, but I'm going to bring it up directly now anyway. Because of the process of this, the unnatural and forced development, there is a fifty percent chance that the body will reach maximum ability and capacity within a 5-7 year time span and will quit working."

The others blinked and looked at each other.

Heero broke through the silence first. "An acceptable risk, considering the circumstance."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Maxwell, Duo. Maxwell, the name of the team that is responsible for creation. Duo, the second attempt to be undertaken under case number 426781. Subject 31 for the Doiserwest Labs Co, under code FP, full construction personal model."

Glazed violet eyes blinked, focusing, and the head turned slowly toward the speaker.

"Subject 31?"

"Yes?" The word came out hoarsely, rough and hesitant.

"What is your name?"

"Duo Maxwell."

A cup was handed to him and he lifted it dutifully to his lips, drinking mechanically.

"Do you have a full memory?" the man attending him asked as he tilted Duo's head back, lifting an eyelid to shine a light in Duo's eyes.

"A full memory...? Oh. As far as I can ascertain."

"You'll need a physical, and we'll have to run a few tests, but all seems as it should be with you. How do you feel?"

"Feel...? I'm not sure. Everything is falling."

"Ah, give it a day or two and then your world will start to make some sense."

"What do I call you?"

"G."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"I'm glad all four of you could make this meeting, but it is important. You have all read through the manual I gave you and answered the questions, signed the secondary agreement form and contract. My secretary put it on my desk this morning. But before I can release the product into your hands it is protocol that everything is clear beforehand. Are there any questions?"

The four exchanged looks, and then Quatre cleared his throat, "What's the state of mind right now?"

"A little muddled, but then again the product has only been functional for three days, and during that time basic hands-on knowledge has been accumulated. The senses are heightened to your requests, so remember to not overload a sensory receptor the first week or so."

"When will the product be fully functional?" Heero asked.

"That's something you'll have to determine from observation and the task you wish accomplished."

"When can we see the finished product?"

The doctor leaned forward on his elbows to regard them closely. "You do realize that this product is a living, breathing being, correct?"

"Of course we do."

"Then kindly refer to me by my name," a soft voice stated from the corner.

The four pilots gave a slight start, turning in their seats to focus on the voice, and a person moved out from the shadows of the large office. His frame was slight, face feminine, hands clasped over his stomach as his empty violet eyes moved to each person in the room, taking them in.

Quatre stood, taking a step back and clearing his throat unsteadily, glancing at his companions for a moment as if they held some sort of answer he needed. He looked back to the person to find those eyes fixed intently on his face, intense yet devoid.

"Uh... Duo then. Nice to meet you..."

"I suppose it is nice to meet me, with the price that you've paid," the other told him evenly.

Quatre paled.

"It will be nice to meet you once we're convinced that you're worth it," Heero told him.

The empty violet eyes slid over to him, head tilted to one side, revealing a braid of chestnut hair that fell to the thighs. "I hope that I prove myself. I'd rather not be labeled defective and destroyed, considering the time and money that has been placed in my creation."

Wufei raised an eyebrow in surprise, glancing at his fellow pilots, finding similar reactions of shock and uncertainty on Trowa's and Quatre's faces. Heero appeared satisfied with the answer.

"Are you serious?" Quatre asked.

"What else would I be?"

Heero snorted and closed the distance between himself and Duo, tilting the other's head up with harsh fingers to study the face. Duo made no sound and gave no indication of pain as the fingers gripped his chin tightly, only waited for Heero to finish his study and release him. When he did the head remained tilted slightly of it's own accord and Heero stepped back, cobalt eyes moving down the body with obvious interest. The clothes he wore were something lab or hospital issue, stark white and loose, completely impersonal and a testament to Duo's origin. It did nothing to conceal the form beneath them.

Heero's action seemed to bring the others out of their own stupors and hesitantly they moved toward the other, obviously caught between interest and taught courtesy. Quatre was the first to lift a hand, letting his fingers ghost across the arm, only to draw away from the touch at feeling warm flesh against his skin. Wufei nudged Duo's leg with a foot, a slight frown on his face as Trowa pushed his fingers against the shoulder, eyebrows lifted but expression unreadable.

"I'm real," Duo stated after a moment of fingers and hands and thoughtless touching.

Quatre pressed a hand against Duo's chest with a half laugh, feeling the heart beat beneath his fingers. "It's just so... wow. I mean, all that planning and talking never prepared me for... it's so..." he trailed off, a smile playing over his lips. "Amazing really. I would have never thought... no one would ever know."

Heero looked up from where he was crouched at Duo's feet, running his hands up the legs as he checked the physical make up of the body over for imperfections. "He's not like you or me, don't grow too attached. He's real, physical and alive, an intelligent being, but he's not a person. Think of him as a trained hunting dog."

"That's a bit harsh, don't you think," Trowa stated, unconsciously resting an arm over Duo's shoulder as he looked down at Heero's bowed head.

"I've done research," came Heero's muffled reply. "I mean, look at this." Heero stood, looking Duo in the face. "Duo, what are you feeling right now?"

The violet eyes slid down to where Wufei was bending the wrist backward curiously to see the flexibility, then up to Heero's eyes. "How do you want me to feel?"

"See what I mean. Perhaps I shouldn't say animal at all. Animals show emotion, and they know what they're feeling even if we don't." He circled around Duo, eyes sliding up and down the braid with a frown. "Is there some reason behind the hair?"

The doctor stood and came around to lean against the desk's edge, watching with guarded eyes. "Rapid growth, to achieve this age in a matter of a few months. Of course that would include hair, wouldn't it? Hair grows throughout life. It was longer but to make it manageable we had it cut down to a reasonable length until further decisions could be made."

Heero picked up the braid, eyeing it distastefully, then shook his head. "It's going to have to go then."

"The hair will not be touched. If you do so, I will kill you."

Heero blinked and let go of the braid, ignoring the shocked faces of the others around him. Gripping Duo's chin in a hand he forced the other to look him in the eye. "Excuse me?"

Anger, hot and intense, flashed through the dead violet eyes. "It's my hair. You leave it alone or I will kill you. It's that simple."

Heero took a step back involuntarily; anger and disbelief shadowing his face, and the doctor cleared his throat for attention, crossing his arms over his chest. "Hmm, yes, should have mentioned that to you, but until reminded it had slipped my mind. In the first few days most of them are disoriented and detached, so he or she is given an anchor to ground them in the moment, whether it be a favorite piece of clothing they put on or some food they enjoy or music that brings them back to reality and such. With Duo the hair seemed the most obvious choice because simple maintenance would take time, washing, drying, brushing, braiding; it would serve as a mindless grounding activity. The braid symbolizes a security factor for him, I don't suggest you take it away until you're all sure that he's comfortable with everything else around him."

"Yes, you should have mentioned that before," Heero stated evenly after a moment of taking the information in and a warning look from Quatre. "I don't like being threatened."

Quatre looked over Duo's once again expressionless face and then back to the doctor. "I thought he was supposed to be cheerful."

"Give him a week, like I said before, so that everything makes perfect sense to him. It's only been a few days and he has a lot of things to get used to." The doctor turned his attention to Duo himself. "Duo, smile."

He did. And no one bothered to notice his eyes remained empty.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"No, absolutely not."

"Heero, it's been a year and a half."

"I don't care how long it's been, it's not going to happen. Figure something else out."

Duo changed the channel with a light press of his finger, readjusting himself on the couch so that he was positioned cross-legged, and spared only the briefest glance away from the television to Heero and Quatre. They were standing on opposite ends of the couch, facing each other, arguing over his head.

"And where is he supposed to stay?"

"He can stay on the couch for all I care."

"Heero-."

"Or in one of your rooms."

"We have an empty room." Duo flicked his eyes over to Quatre, whose pale face was flushed in exasperation, or anger, or both. "At the beginning we all agreed that that room would be where he would eventually stay."

"I changed my mind," Heero snapped.

"It's not entirely your choice!"

Duo moved back to the original channel.

"My answer is no," Heero told Quatre flatly. "And I don't recommend you putting him in there anyway. The room is not his, has never been his, and I will not see him using it."

"Maybe we should return him," Wufei stated lightly from the entrance to the living room. Two pairs of eyes turned to the Chinese youth.

"We will not return something that is a functional product."

"A product that cannot function properly unless properly taken care of."

Heero looked to Duo then. "What are you smiling about?" he demanded, glaring harshly.

"Oh, leave him alone. That smile has been plastered on his face ever since Doc. G. told him to."

"The couch is fine," Duo interjected quietly, breaking his focus away from the television.

"Shut up!" Heero growled. "And he says himself the couch is fine."

"The couch is not fine. I will not stand by and make someone sleep on the couch when a bed is both available and in his best interest."

"Give him your bed then."

"Heero..." Quatre stopped, hands fisting at his sides, and forced himself to take a deep breath. "End of discussion. He gets the room."

A muscle twitched at the corner of Heero's mouth as he stood there for a frozen angry minute, and then he let out a growl, turning cold eyes onto Duo. "I hate you."

Blinking at Heero Duo's eyes tracked him as he left the room, smile faltering, and then he turned to look up at Quatre, a half frown on his face.

"What do you want?" Quatre asked irritably.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"You look lost."

A head of chestnut lifted and wide, half unfocused eyes sought out the speaker. "Lost?"

"Lost, wandering without a destination, floundering, adrift without an anchor, uncertain of yourself, your situation." Wufei stopped, eyes moving over the dimly lit and stuffy room. A room he hadn't been in since that night a year and half ago when he had to drag out his fellow pilot, Heero, kicking and screaming and cursing them in every language he knew. A room that despair and death hovered in, a room that once held comfort and tears and laughter and fear and love. Wufei had no idea what the room would hold now.

"Dinner time," he explained to the patient and waiting person before him. "I was sent to tell you."

"Thank you, I think."

Wufei frowned at the listless note in the voice and leaned against the doorframe, eyes fixed with purpose on the other. "Are you okay?"

Duo gave a half nod.

"Don't let Heero get to you, that's just how he is. He even grates on Quatre's nerves, and Quatre has the patience of an angel."

"How much patience does an angel have?"

"How much patience... it's an expression, Maxwell."

A half smile flicked over the somber face, but unlike the other this only held something whimsical and real, not contrived for everyone else's optimum comfort. "I know that."

"Was that an attempt at humor?" Wufei asked carefully.

"I'm trying..." Duo looked down at the bedspread, the smile melting away to be replaced by a non-expression. "I mean, I logically understand the mechanics behind humor, simple humor, and have tried to grasp the other forms of humor that are not entirely meant to be funny, but it's not easy..." He looked back up at Wufei with a breath of a sigh, all traces of emotion or feeling gone, replaced by that expression of simply being. "Dinner you said. I think I'm hungry."

"You only think?"

"Am I allowed to know?"

Wufei was struck with the simple and uncolored curiosity of the question and it touched something inside of him that unfurled like a waking beast, agitated and hot and all feeling. Mouth pressed into a thin line he crossed his arms tightly over his chest, eyes flashing, and Duo blinked, unconsciously leaning back against the bed, away from the other.

"Why do you need permission to concretely feel something?"

"Inside I feel that the only moments in which I can have absolute understanding of what I want are those in the midst of battle, when I fulfill the duty I am created for. Is that not true?"

"No, damn it, it's not true." Wufei looked to the ceiling, letting his arms relax and fall to his sides, anger leaving him with a slowly released breath. "No. While you may be created for that, that does not mean that away from that you're not the same as... that you have to be something that is..." He looked back down; eyes asking for Duo to understand what Wufei could not put in words.

Duo rose gracefully from the bed and moved over to Wufei, another half smile on his face. A face so empty and without, and yet there was something lurking behind those devoid eyes that hadn't been there before. "It's alright, Wufei. It really is."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Mission."

Trowa waited until four heads had lifted from various activities before explaining further. He let his eyes move over each of their faces, gauging reactions as he spoke, and through it all the dead violet eyes that never left his face unnerved him the most.

"Seems simple enough. Slip in, shut down the main computer and wreak havoc on the main power system. Plant a few explosives and get out in the chaos."

"But all five of us?" Quatre wondered to himself. "I mean, he's..." He let his eyes slide over to the newest member, who had taken the paper Trowa had printed out and was reading it, unaware of being the focus of attention.

"It is simple. It's a test," Wufei surmised. "Necessary, but a test nonetheless to see how we all fair together in a less than high priority assignment."

"Do you think he's ready?" Quatre asked in concern.

"Does it matter?" Heero let his eyes skim down the paper he was handed. "When we picked him up we were assured that he was functional. If he is truly functional, then he will be ready. If not, there's nothing we can do. Who takes what?"

Quatre frowned, eyes sliding to Duo once again, and then to Trowa, who gave a small shrug in answer. "Trowa and I can guard," he offered after a moment of silence, looking over at the other three.

"Yuy, you take Maxwell with you. I'll plant the explosives while you're playing with the computers."

"I would hardly consider that playing, Wufei," Heero said disapprovingly, but the words were light.

"Are there any other objectives?"

Trowa glanced at Duo, who had broken into the easy banter between the other two pilots with his softly spoken question, and shook his head a little. "Nothing else is stated in the sheets I've printed, which you hold, so unless we have more come in between now and tonight, that's it. Any other questions?"

Duo shook his head, putting the papers on the couch beside him.

"Then I think we should all go over our parts right now, to lay them out, and if there has to be any last minute adjustments before we leave no problem."

* * * * * * * * * * *

The knock on the door was light, the only warning given before the knob was twisted and the door pushed open. Quatre stepped into the dim room, blinking and waiting for his eyes to adjust to the change in light. A figure was curled up in the center of the bed, fully clothed, arms wrapped around his knees.

"Duo?"

His eyes opened slowly, focusing directly on the Arabian's face. "Is it time to go?"

Quatre gave a slight nod, reaching out to flick on the light. Duo blinked at the change even as his eyes tracked Quatre across the room to the closet.

"Where are your clothes?" Quatre asked after a moment, turning to survey the room obviously puzzled.

Duo uncurled his body and stretched, pointing to a corner where several large bags stood. "You haven't unpacked the stuff we bought yet?" he asked, coming around to the other side of the bed and opening a bag.

"Heero told me not to move anything. I can't put things away if I don't move things, because there isn't much room. So they've stayed in the bags."

"He did, did he?"

The other gave a nod and sat up, watching as Quatre began to take clothes out and set them neatly on the bed. "Where are those black clothes that...? Ah, here they are. These should work tonight for cover. Get dressed."

Duo glanced at the clothes, then up to Quatre, something inside him flaring to life and murmuring a half protest, but under the guileless blue stare the impulse shuddered and died. Duo stood and undressed slowly, picking up the pants and shaking them out as the door to his room opened. He half turned to see Wufei, mouth open as if about to say something, but no sound came out as the onyx eyes moved slowly over the sight before him.

"What are you doing?" he finally managed, looking past Duo altogether and focusing on the blonde Arabian.

"Just making sure the clothes bought Tuesday are adequate for what's going to happen tonight. We haven't anything in that we ordered."

"Oh."

Quatre gave Wufei a speculative glance, blue eyes obscured by a shower of golden hair. "What did you think we were doing?"

"I... don't know. I was wondering what was taking so long. I didn't expect to come in and find..." he stopped, gesturing loosely to Duo who was still looking at the Chinese pilot.

Quatre sighed and poked Duo's arm. "Can't go half naked."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Those dogs just came out of nowhere," Quatre said with a giggle, half nerves and half relief. Trowa gave a nod, glancing up at the blonde, then brought his attention back down to the arm that he was bandaging.

"It's not deep, you won't need stitches," Trowa assured.

"Well, that's good," Duo stated with a nod of his own, swinging his legs.

Quatre looked over to the other member of the team, who was sitting on the counter, legs over the side, leaning back and propped up on his hands. He looked no worse for wear, sporting a tired grin on his face and a smudge of dirt across one cheek, the only signs of any abnormal activity tonight. Quatre's eyes widened just slightly. "My goodness, though. One minute I'm alone, moving away from the main building, with a snarling beast of a dog on my heels and the next I'm turning to fend the creature off and I see you in the distance. Then a gunshot, a yelp, and the dog just sort of drops, goes limp, as it lunges for me. Where did you learn to shoot like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like what?" Quatre echoed. "You didn't even stop moving or anything, just drew the gun up and leveled it and shot, perfectly. You could have hit me if you hadn't known what you were doing."

"Oh, that. I just knew how." Duo shrugged.

Heero grunted from the doorway. "He left his post."

"Wufei was there, checking on us, since he'd finished handling all the explosives. I didn't leave you alone or anything."

"You changed position with no reason and without permission."

Duo's eyes narrowed. "I heard a sound."

"A sound? All the way out in the courtyard?"

"He saved my life, Heero. I wouldn't question the fates." Quatre stood, taking a hold on Trowa's arm as he moved for support. "We're all tired. The night's been stressful, the adrenaline is still moving through us, and we need a break, some sleep. Everything will look better in the morning."

Wufei cast a glance at Quatre as he passed him in the hall, concerned as his attention fell on the new bandage. "A scratch," Duo called out, seeing the other's shadow looming over the doorway.

""I think you've proven yourself, Maxwell." He gave a nod with a half smile as he entered the kitchen. "Get some sleep, you probably need it." The Chinese youth brought his attention over to Heero. "Successful mission, try to look a little less pained."

Duo's lips quirked but the amused smirk never made it any farther. Wufei looked him over as he walked by him to the doorway. "You worked hard tonight. You hurt?"

"Nope."

"You find anything interesting?" Wufei asked, looking at Heero. Duo recognized his dismissal. Stretching a little to loosen up his limbs he continued on, the soft murmur from the kitchen following him down the hall until he closed the door to his room, and once alone there was no whisper of sound around him save his breath.

Leaving the light off Duo moved across the already familiar territory to turn on the bedside lamp. A small circle of soft light lit the room and Duo stripped, leaving the clothes shed at his feet to be picked up tomorrow upon waking. His eyes moved to the clothes neatly out of their bags and stacked on the bed until he found the black boxers he was looking for and he pulled them on. Gathering the rest of the clothes in his arms with the intention of putting them into their bags again he turned at the sound of his door opening.

"Heero-."

"You left without permission."

"Wufei was there," Duo stated reasonably, resting his chin on top of the bundle in his arms to keep it balanced.

"You do not change plans on a whim."

"Am I not a functional part of this team?"

Heero glared without a word, and Duo waited a moment, brow furrowed, then continued. "All worked out well."

"It was stupid on your part. But yes, it worked out well by luck, this time."

"You're angry with me."

"No, I'm irritated."

"What did I do wrong?"

"Everything. You can't follow simple orders. And your shoes squeak when you move too fast. You breathe too loudly, if anyone had been around you would have drawn attention to us for sure. That hair is absolutely ridiculous; I can't even begin to list the liability that it represents." Heero took in a heavy breath, eyes hard and cold.

"You're acting ludicrous," Duo said, voice even and reasonable. "My shoes only squeaked when we first went in, and that was because of the grass being wet from the sprinklers and the water left over at the bottom of my shoe. I adjusted my walking pattern to silence the noise after the first few steps. And I do not breathe too loudly, if anything if one of us would have given our position away it would have been you, I think. I've never heard anyone with such erratic breathing before-."

"Of course you haven't," Heero growled, cutting in, face uncharacteristically flushed. "There are a lot of things you haven't experienced before. And if you don't improve you won't be experiencing."

Something in Duo's manner closed down with that thinly veiled threat. The glimmer in his eyes slid away, leaving them dull and empty, and the slight frown on his face melted into an involuntary and programmed quirk of his lips.

"Is that all?" he asked quietly.

Heero's eyes narrowed. "How dare you."

"How dare I what?"

Duo didn't even see the space left between them close, or the hand lift, but he felt the blow against the side of his face and the moment of weightlessness and then the press of the mattress of the bed against his back. His jaw ached numbly and his eyes were unfocused. By the time he could see clearly again Heero was towering over him, eyes flashing with anger. He stayed there a moment more breathing slowly returning to normal, and without a word turned on heel and walked out, closing the door silently but firmly behind him.

Duo lifted up on his elbows, staring at the closed door with wide eyes, the taste of blood in his mouth where his teeth had grated the tender inside of his cheek. Slowly the adrenaline stopped pumping and the emotional high of the evening began to wear off. With it Duo could imagine the locks in his mind snapping shut, imprisoning any traces of the person he was inside in favor of an automaton, unthinking, unfeeling, with the barest awareness of self.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"I thought you said you weren't injured last night," Wufei stated.

Duo blinked and looked up from the television, focusing briefly on the Chinese pilot who was standing at the arm of the couch. He had his slender arms crossed over his chest, legs apart in a firm, no-nonsense stance, his onyx eyes narrow and alert. Nothing passed over Duo's impassive face one way or another as he brought his attention back to the television.

Wufei shifted his footing, turning to take a better look at the face before him in the light from the television. There was a sickly bruise on his left cheek, obviously still fresh and forming, which could be easily explained away as happening earlier and just starting to show up on the skin. However, the slight swelling to the left corner of Duo's mouth told another story.

"I was wrong," Duo stated simply, the words coming out of his mouth almost insubstantially, as if he didn't quite believe his own words, or wasn't sure if they were what the other wanted to hear.

"You were wrong? You were wrong about being injured last night or you were wrong about something else altogether and were injured for that?"

Duo blinked and turned his focus back on the Chinese pilot, opened his mouth, but no words were forthcoming. Brow furrowed Duo licked his lips, eyes narrowing as his tongue flicked over the swollen flesh, and slowly his eyes drifted back to the television. "I was wrong," he repeated.

A door down the hall opened and Wufei's head turned, eyes fixed on the shadowy opening, waiting to see who else was up at the early hour. He wasn't surprised to see Heero, dressed in jeans and a tank top, come out. Because he was watching he did catch, and was slightly surprised, by the uncertainty that flashed through those otherwise lifeless eyes when they fell first on Wufei, then on Duo, and finally the scene as a whole.

The way his focus had lingered, just for a second or so longer than necessary, on Duo's cheek made Wufei's mouth harden slightly.

"Was that there last night?" Wufei asked Heero, gesturing loosely to Duo's face.

Heero didn't even bother to look over as he walked past them. "It was when I saw him last."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Everything seems fine," G was saying. "All tests came back normal, no hidden defects that have set in since creation, the aging has slowed to a normal pace so in effect the majority of his growth has occurred. Any unusual behaviors?"

The four pilots exchanged looks, searching their memory for anything that they might want to ask about, then let their eyes wander over to Duo through the glass. He was still sitting on the metal examination table, but was now alone in the room; the doctor finished taking some blood samples for further testing. The unfocused violet eyes settled on what would be a mirror on his side, looking at them, then away.

"Now that I think about it," Quatre stated slowly with a slight frown, turning his eyes away from the image. "I've been watching him closely, and sometimes I think I see something in his eyes. I don't know how to describe it, but one of the others or myself will tell him to do something and it seems like he has this brief internal struggle, as if he would argue, and then it just fades away and he's just like he was before."

"Ah. And you're wondering why he just doesn't roll over like a complacent puppy."

Quatre's face flushed and he shook his head quickly, eyes locking onto the doctor's face. "No, no, not at all. I'm not saying that it bothers me or I'm upset by it, but I'm just wondering. I was under the impression that away from a mission setting he wouldn't question, and even under a mission setting, if it didn't contradict anything he would do naturally what we say is almost... well... law I guess. It seems my impression was wrong, and I would like you to explain the reality of it."

"No, your impression is not wrong," G explained, leaning back in his chair and letting his eyes move from one pilot to the next. "He's only been in a full functioning state for 19 days, there's a lot of still going on inside of him to his body and his mind that is vital to continuing existence. As soon as that is done the more complex biological factors will start to begin to set up. I imagine any resistance to anything right now that doesn't move against the basic instinct of survival isn't anything to worry about, it's only because his mind hasn't finished its growth and until that process is finished he is open to the emotions and thoughts that he won't be in the long run. Don't worry, he's not becoming anything more than what you want him to be."

Heero gave a curt nod to that.

"Is everything working out well socially between you all?" G asked after a moment.

"Socially? How do you mean?" Wufei asked, eyes darting over to Duo again, catching movement out of the corner of his eye as Duo slid off the table and reached for his clothes. Something in his heart ached to see the indecision cross that before serene face, the hand falter in midair, as Duo turned to look around him. Then he brought his attention back to his clothes, eyeing them, hand faltering again as he reached for them.

"Socially, between you and him. I'm sure it's not exactly easy adjusting to a new person, but understandably this may be even more difficult, because of what he is and what you are to him. But I hope that it's not entirely difficult."

"No, there haven't been any major problems," Quatre said softly. "The first few days none of us were entirely sure how to act around him, and there were some small difficulties, but we've grown more comfortable."

"And what would you say he is to you?"

Wufei cocked his head to one side, seeing Duo sit back down, obviously wanting to dress but something holding him back.

"I don't know," Quatre was answering, giving a slight shrug. "He's, well, he's Duo. He makes me laugh when I need it, leaves me alone when I don't want to be bothered. Sometimes I think he's keeping his eye on me so that if there's something I need he'll know and can get it for me before I have to do anything myself. Does that sound silly?"

The doctor shook his head. "No, that's how he's programmed, for lack of a more correct word. You all agreed you wanted an independent pilot, did you not? One that would not bring any unknown dynamics into your group and wouldn't threaten anything within your social set up. Once everything is complete he will be exactly what you need him to be, for each of you, no questions asked."

Trowa opened his mouth to say something but Wufei cut in. "What is he doing?"

"Pardon?"

Wufei gestured to the one-way mirror at Duo, who still had his hand outstretched to the clothes but beyond that had not moved, or did not seem about to move.

The doctor's mouth twitched in a half smile. "It appears that he wants to get dressed."

"Then why hasn't he?"

"Probably moving from one extreme to the other right now until he finds that safe middle ground. Expect for a few days that away from the mission he'll be helpless, needing permission to do everything that is not a basic body function."

"Essentially you're saying that he needs someone to tell him he's allowed to get dressed before he can."

"Yes, but not just someone, one of you. It would probably work if a doctor or nurse or even I went in there to tell him, but he'd still struggle with himself over it. That won't last, of course."

Wufei watched a moment or so more, the frustration and unease on the usually impassive or grinning face, the way his hand trembled as he moved them closer to his clothes, his teeth clenched as if he were in pain.

Without a word Wufei stood, not even realizing Trowa cut himself off at mid-word at the abrupt action, or that the others in the room watched him stalk out. A second later he appeared in the adjoining room, moving toward Duo, speaking to the other. Duo's face relaxed, tension seeping away, and he allowed Wufei to help him dress himself again, a grateful and adoring smile directed at the Chinese youth.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Duo!"

Duo sidled around his Gundam's leg, wiping his hands on a dark red cloth, grimy smears across his forehead and down his chin. "Yeah."

"How are the repairs going?"

Duo wiped his face on his sleeve. "Pretty good. She was awful banged up, ya know, from that last mission and all. Took a couple rough hits, thought you were guarding my back. Where were ya?"

"That doesn't concern you," the other informed him shortly.

"Okay, Heero, if you say so. Pass me that wrench, would you."

Heero picked up the said tool slowly and tossed it to the other, who caught it easily left handed, his usual cocky grin in place. Ducking behind the Gundam's massive leg again, he patted the unresponsive metal affectionately as he did, then peeked back at Heero, braid swinging jauntily behind him as he stilled.

"Did ya need something?"

"Checking on your progress."

"Ah. Well, everything's moving along nicely. Encountered a few small problems, but nothing that I couldn't work out of her with a little patience. You look all tense, man. You want a back rub or something?"

"No."

"Okay. Anything else?"

"Be prepared for another mission within the week."

Duo nodded, the grin still firmly in place.

Heero turned away, moving out of the hanger with purposeful steps. "You'll miss dinner. Come in and clean up."

"Can I finish what I'm in the middle of? It should take about five minutes."

Heero paused, and then gave a slow nod. "Go ahead."

"Okay."

Duo's footsteps moved farther into the hanger, humming softly under his breath. Four minutes and 58 seconds later he came out of the hanger, letting the door close silently behind him, and then turned giving Heero a mock salute. Heero didn't glance up from where he was working on his laptop, although he could see Duo's reflection clearly in the screen and did let his eyes fall down to the time.

His typing stopped as Duo left the small room, small words were exchanged with whoever he happened to meet on his way down the hall, familiarity and something else having been created in the several months since the others had "acquired" Duo, and Heero's fingers did not start moving again until he heard the faint patter that signaled the shower had been turned on. Behind him the thrum of water through the pipes softly vibrated the wall and Heero leaned his back against it. Lulled, his fingers stilled and he folded his hands over his abdomen, eyes half lidded. He let his head fall back until it rested against the dingy wallpaper and could almost imagine he heard the gurgle of water through the pipes.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"That mission was a complete bitch," Duo grumbled, no real complaint or emotion behind the words. His eyes tracked the others in the room in their after mission movements.

Quatre was predictably fussing over a small injury of Heero's, while Heero was predictably muttering and grunting about it the entire time, typing with just his right hand until Quatre had finished wrapping his slightly sprained wrist. Wufei hovered in the doorway, waiting to see if there would be any discussion about the events or if debriefing could wait until morning. Trowa's green eyes, both of them as the shock of hair over his face had been shoved back by the helmet he wore in the Gundam, were not roaming or unfocused in one place, but instead were focused completely on Duo. There was some sort of question in his eyes that he did not voice.

"You don't sound too agitated with it," Wufei muttered, eyes fixing momentarily on Duo, then moving back to Heero, who had regained control of his left hand.

Duo blinked owlishly at Wufei and then looked forward again.

"Something wasn't right," Quatre admitted, putting away the things he had taken out of the first aid kit with distracted precision. "I can't put my finger on it, but to tell you the truth, for such a tiny base, I never expected that much reinforcement. And then, upon actually getting in and seeing the base for what it was, it made even less sense. They weren't protecting anything, weren't storing anything, creating anything, I have no idea why there would be that much focus on such a secondary location."

"Trap maybe?" Trowa asked.

"Maybe."

"Although that seems hard to believe," Heero stated, attention fixed on the screen in front of him. "After all, we heard about it yesterday afternoon, had very little time to prepare extensively for it, just enough to not get ourselves killed."

"But we almost did," Quatre put in softly.

"Almost but didn't," Duo piped in, earning a glare from Heero.

"I'll do some searching on my own to see what might have gone wrong, maybe I'll ask J., since he seems to have a pretty good idea about what's going on around us," Heero stated, eyes fixed on the screen in front of him, hands unmoving. "It didn't feel like a trap to me though, but it certainly didn't feel right. It's almost as if, while not setting us up, they were..."

"Expecting us," Duo remarked off-hand.

Heero grunted at that, turning in his seat slowly to fix his eyes on the American. "Yes, almost as if they were expecting us, had prepared for the possibility, but didn't know enough or wasn't informed in enough time to lay an actual trap."

"You don't think..." Quatre faltered.

Wufei straightened from where he was leaning against the doorframe with a half raised eyebrow. "A fault of our own, maybe," he supplied, biting his lip softly as he thought. "It's entirely possible, someone slipped up somewhere; even the smallest thing can have amazing repercussions given the right circumstances."

"We've been a bit lax. So little time in between things, and then the suddenness of this coming up, and the layout of the base doesn't exactly allow for stealth to human detection, so it's entirely possible we were spotted long before we realized."

"Yeah, but what about all the people at the base."

Duo yawned, pushing away from the wall and crossing his arms sleepily over his chest. "What did the mission email say?"

Heero glanced over at him expectantly.

"The mission email, informing us of everything we needed to know. What did it say?"

"Not very much, actually. Enough, the bare minimum, more than what we sometimes have."

"You should check into that further, see why it was even a target in the first place. Maybe the reason they were so prepared was because they were getting ready to do something or move into something and we were tossed in to make sure that they couldn't accomplish it."

A smile lit Quatre's face. "That makes a lot of sense." He grinned at Duo, who returned it sluggishly. "I bet that's it, it explains an awful lot."

Heero glowered as Duo moved away from the room. "Well, let me know if anything fruitful comes of it. Sorry to bail out on you guys, but it's been about a day since I slept, and I'm useless if I'm half dead."

"Hn."

"You're just annoyed you didn't think of it first," Duo called.

Heero turned back to the computer with a scowl.