Odd Mission Chapter 1
Heero gathered his few meager possessions, packed them up and prepared to depart for his next destination. It was his regular routine but this time it was slightly different. He looked at his duffel bag for a moment before he looked along the bed on which it sat. His eyes traveling up the form of the girl that lay there. She was a hindrance and a huge liability but one he would have to get used to having around. Dr. J had informed him a little over a month ago that until further notice his mission was to protect this girl. At first it seemed simple enough, and if it ever interfered with his other missions he'd out source it – hire a mercenary to look after her when he couldn't. But Dr. J had ordered him not to. That she must stay with him at all times – that no one could be trusted with this task but him. Heero tried not to roll his eyes at the thought. She was just a girl, nothing special about her, no dangerous augmentations or military secrets stored in her head.
Mecca was her name. Mecca Kholm. She was the daughter of a politician. Which one Heero didn't know – it wasn't part of his job to know that. All he knew was that after OZ enacted their coup on the Alliance all representatives, politicians, house speakers and delegates pretty much went into hiding. Or placed their loved ones in hiding while the war raged on. Heero had an inkling that her mother was from the colonies, why else would she enlist the help of a Gundam pilot to protect her daughter. Heero only knew her mother was the one in politics because Mecca had told him. Beyond that she didn't reveal much else.
They had been in the their current location for about three weeks now. In that time it seemed Heero had gained the affection of another girl. Relena Darlian – daughter of another parliamentarian. And the most popular girl in school. She had taken a shine to him. That brought unwanted attention – too much of it. Even if he didn't have another mission to get to, it was time to move on.
"What are you doing in here?" Heero came out of his thoughts when he heard Mecca's voice. She was sitting up now, trying to focus her drowsy eyes in the dim room. She hadn't gotten used to him showing up in her room at odd hours. But at least she didn't scream like she did the first few times she woke up to find him standing there.
"Packing." Heero stated flatly before he moved to her computer terminal. He sat down and started typing away.
"You're leaving?" she asked. "Why are you packing in here—wait this is my stuff." She pulled a shirt from his bag when she recognized it.
"We're leaving." Heero corrected her. "It's time to move on."
"What?" She asked as she got out of bed. "I can't just leave. I have bio-chem test in the morning and—
"No you don't." He interrupted as he typed away. "You don't even go to this school anymore."
"What are you talking about?" she asked as she rushed to him. She looked at the screen just in time to see him delete her files. He typed in 'Mecca Kholm' and the search program promptly displayed 'no results'. "Why?"
"I have another mission. And I can't leave you here. We have to disappear." Heero explained before he wiped the memory of the computer. The screen went black and the machine gave out a dying whirl as it shut down. She lounged at the keyboard, pressing buttons to try and get it to come back on but it was no use.
"I don't want to leave. I just got settled here. I have friends. A life. You can't just uproot me without telling me."
"Actually I can." Heero said as he finished packing. He zipped up the duffel bag and grabbed her hand. "Let's go." She had no choice but to trot after him when he started walking. They went out the back way, avoiding the ruckus out front. Earlier that day there had been an attempt on Relena's life and the school was a buzz with police and other investigators.
"Stop!" Mecca protested as he pulled her toward the van he had acquired to transport them to where he left his Gundam – far away from the school. She didn't have on any shoes – it hurt to dig her heels into the ground and pull against him. Besides that she didn't even come close to matching his strength. "Somebody help me!" she screamed as she continued to pull against him. "Let go! God damn it, why are you so strong—Ah!" she yelped when he hauled her over his shoulder. "Put me down this instant!"
"Stop resisting." He simply said as he carried her the rest of the way. "And keep your voice down."
"Put me down." She tried to kick but he held both her legs to his chest with one arm. Trying to fight against it gave her leg cramp. He only chuckled when she pushed on his back and tried to right herself. With no formal training she didn't know where to jab him to paralyze him. And she was just a girl – her fists against his back felt like someone was hitting him with firm, little pillows. It almost felt like a massage. "Heero—
"Heero!" He turned to look when he heard Relena. Mecca pushed herself up so she could see too. "What are you doing with that girl? Where are you going?" she asked.
"Don't concern yourself with it." He said.
"Answer me." She demanded. "Why did you save me earlier?"
"That's a good question." Mecca snorted. She pushed away her indifference for Relena for a moment. "Relena I'm being kidnapped here. Go get help!" she yelled. Heero just continued towards the van.
"Heero!" She called but he just kept going. He opened the back and tossed in his bag before flipping Mecca in as well. She sprawled in the open space before leaping up to run out.
"Damn it!" She yelled as she moved for the door. He shut it at the last minute, making her run into it with a thud. She tried the handle but it was locked from the outside. "Let me out!" She pounded on the door. She could see Relena still standing there, trying to talk to him. "Relena, get help!" she yelled. She turned around when Heero got in the driver seat. "Why are you doing this?"
"To protect you." He stated before he started the car and drove off. Relena stood there in the wake of the dust it kicked up. Bewildered by what she just saw.
"Who was that girl?"
"Are you still mad at me?" Heero asked. After a few miles, Mecca had fallen silent. When she calmed down Heero opened the partition that separated the back of the van from the seats up front. When he did she took the passenger seat. She had been resting her chin on one of her hands and staring out the window when he spoke up.
"I'm annoyed." Mecca answered. "Annoyed that I have to live like this when I know nothing about what my mother is up to. But…." She sighed. "I suppose it's either this or death. So…. where are we headed?"
"No where in particular. I have a minor mission in Eur-Asian. It shouldn't take too long. I just didn't want to come back to the school for you."
"Your girlfriend seemed a little sad to see you go." Mecca teased. He glanced at her and she smirked.
"She'll live…. for now." He said. She chuckled at his joke and went back to staring out the window.
When they reached his Gundam, Mecca changed out of her nightshirt. Heero caught sight of her wiggling into a pair of jeans as he put specifics into his computer. She climbed up to the cockpit. "Mind if I go into the next town. I want to call a friend."
"Nel, again?" He pressumed.
"She worries." Mecca answered with a smile. "For some odd reason she thinks you're crazy." He smirked.
"You told her about me?"
"Only that's you're crazy." She joked. He laughed and handed her the keys to the van.
"The closest town is Jackson Port. Stay there until I come back." He said as he also handed her a credit card. "And I mean stay there. If I have to come and get you from somewhere else, I will be…. displeased."
"Heh, the last time you were 'displeased' five guys ended up in the hospital." She said. He looked down when she put her hand on top of his. He then glanced up at her. "Be careful." He gave her a small smile.
"Oh, now you're worried about me?"
"Not really. If you die, I'm guessing this card deactivates." She said as she pocketed it. He snorted and powered up the suit. She held on as he made it stand up from it's hiding place. He brought the hand up and she stepped on to it.
"I should be back by night fall." He said before lowering her to the ground. She stood by the van and watched as 01 transformed and flew off.
Mecca paced back and forth a little. She scanned the crowd while drumming on her thumb with Heero's card. She was worried about him already. A feeling she really didn't understand. She had seen him in action, he was capable of taking care of himself…. and her, now that she thought about it. But it didn't put her nerves at ease. It also didn't help that she was in a town by herself. Usually she'd just talk to her friends at school and their regular teenage problems would take her mind off of what Heero was doing. Hopefully—
"Ah!" She gasped when someone grabbed her by the shoulders. She jerked away and whirled around. "Nel." She sighed in relief when she came face to face with her old friend.
"You okay?" Nel asked as she pulled Mecca into a hug.
"Just a little jumpy. I've already been kidnapped once today." She said. Nel snorted as she let Mecca go. "Heero's version of an alarm clock is throwing me into the back of a van."
"So where is he taking you this time?" Nel asked as they started walking through the town.
"Hasn't told me yet. But I don't think it'll be that far from here." Mecca said. "You know I keep thinking about how we ended up living like this."
"I know what you mean." Nel said. "We're victims of circumstance and it has got us screwed."
"I think I'll be able to muddle through." Mecca's mood was suddenly lighter.
"He gave you 'the card' again didn't he?" Nel asked. Mecca held it up between her fingers before stowing it in the back pocket of her jeans. "You know it makes me think Mecca. I know how you and me ended up here – I wonder if anyone else has to deal with the same things we do."
"I doubt it." Mecca said. Nel gave her a questioning look. "I mean, what are the odds?"
"How come he never hides in Maui?" A young girl with short hair groaned as she trudged through a lush, humid jungle. The machete in her hands the only other thing she carried besides a small backpack on her shoulders. "It's always some God forsaken mud hole. Or a swamp with mosquitoes bigger than me." She gripped a vine to steady herself as she walked along a steep ravine. She swallowed hard when she heard the rush of water below – the sight of the river was hidden by more trees.
"Had to get five vaccinations just to come here. Five more when I leave." She continued to talk to herself. "The gravity here is down right oppressive." She rubbed her stomach when it growled. "Uh…. what I wouldn't give for something not fried in fat and lard. Is an organic apple too much to ask for down here? This planet is just begging to be destroyed by their own arteries."
She was nearly across the narrow passage when the ground beneath her gave out. She gripped the vine but it snapped and she plummeted down the valley. "Ahhhh!" her scream echoing before she splashed into the river. She came to the surface with a gasp. Flailing in the strong current – trying to keep hold of her weapon without cutting herself. "Ah!" she gasped when she heard something large move. She looked up just in time to see a large metal hand come down and encase her. She could feel it as she was pulled from the water, most of it draining out of her new enclosure. Her heart leapt into her throat when the hand swung her around. After a few long moments it stilled and opened it's fingers.
"Have nice dip, Zi?" Wufei asked from where he sat in Nataku's open cockpit. He smirked at the tiny girl in the palm of his Gundam's hand. She looked horrified – like someone who had just escaped certain death. "You should really learn how to swim. And stop talking to yourself when you're trying to track someone. I could hear you a mile away."
"What! You knew I was looking for you and you waited so long to—
"I wanted to see how long it would take. You're kind of terrible at this." Wufei said as he moved his Gundam back into the brush so it couldn't be seen. She clung to it's large thumb. Screaming when the hand descended quickly.
"Put me down!" she demanded. The hand suddenly flipped over – she dangled helplessly from it. "Ah!"
"Let go."
"You're trying to kill me!" She screamed as she looked at how far away she was from the ground. Wufei took off his long sleeve shirt and dropped it in the seat as he stood up.
"I'll catch you." He assured her as he held out his arms.
"I'm serious! My hands are slipping—AH!" she shrieked when she dropped her machete. Out of reflex she reached for it and lost her grip. Wufei leapt out of the cockpit and caught her in mid air before tumbling to the ground. Her knife stabbing into the forest floor just a few feet away. Wufei sat up and looked at it before looking down at Zi.
"We're on the ground. You can let go." He said. Her eyes snapped open. She looked up at him and realized she was clinging tightly to his shoulders. She pushed herself away and stood up.
"Why do you do that?"
"Because I know I can. And to prove you're not cut out for this kind of thing…. what are you doing here, Zi?"
"I have my orders-
"I don't need a babysitter." He interrupted.
"Tell that to Master O. He—
"Is clearly going insane." He cut her off again. "Or maybe he's trying to drive me there too. Assigning a weak, spoiled girl to be my handler – like I need one." Wufei scoffed as he walked to retrieve her machete from the mug.
"For some reason he thinks a fifteen year old boy can't handle a Gundam on his own. Thinks you might blow it and yourself up in a fit of adolescent rage. Wonder where he would get an idea like that?" She teased. She could see him tense. He always got aggravated when she reminded him of their two year age difference. "And I am not weak – you just don't play fair." Another biting remark wiped the smirk from his face.
"I can handle it just fine. And if you can't keep up with me then maybe you should quit." He said. His tone was no longer playful as he pulled her machete from the ground.
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction." She said as she walked over to him. "Give that to me." She held her hand out. When he didn't she frowned. "Now!" she yelled. Her shrill voice making him grimace. He handed it to her before walking towards his Gundam.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at her. She opened her mouth to speak but her stomach answered for her. Growling loudly. "Make a fire. The pit should be deep so—
"I know." She said. He caught the small smile on her face before he climbed up his Gundam to find some rations.
"Welcome back Master Quatre." Rashid called as Quatre walked through the open flap of his tent.
"Hello Rashid. How have you been?" He asked before he yawned.
"Already bored – I haven't even started talking yet." Rashid teased him. Quatre smiled.
"A very long day of 'sight seeing'." Quatre said as he waved his hand in front of his mouth for a second. "Have you been here all day?"
"Your father has sent you something almost as soon as you left." Rashid said before he stepped out of the way. Quatre looked at the woman behind him – a little dumbfounded for a moment. Partly because she was dressed in a full traditional saree. Something he wasn't expecting to see outside of India. The elegant dress was so out of place – or at least he thought so.
'What's an Indian doing here?' Quatre thought. Her face was half hidden by the veil. He cleared his throat when he realized he was staring.
"Forgive me." He said before extending his hand. "I am Quatre Winner." She canted her head and bowed. But she didn't speak. "Um…"
"Your father sent a letter along with her. Would you like me to read it?" Rashid asked.
"Please." Quatre begged for an explanation. Anything to cut the tension of this awkward moment. He continued to take in her appearance until he met with her eyes. She was staring right back at him. Her gaze made him uncomfortable. He sighed when Rashid finally got the letter unfolded and began reading.
"Dear, Quatre. Now that you are of age it is time for you to meet your wife." Rashid said. The hair on the back of Quatre's neck stood on end.
"What!"
"Her name is Ami Rhodes. She is the only daughter of a prominent Eastern India family that we do business with. Look after her until you return to the colonies for your wedding. Your loving father." Rashid said before he handed the letter to Quatre. He read it again, hoping for some other information but there was none.
"I…wait what?" Quatre stammered. "He picked a wife for me? But—"
"I'll let you two get acquainted." Rashid said before he left – closing the flap of the tent behind him. Quatre watched him go; terrified at the situation he fell into.
"Hello, husband." She finally spoke – it made Quatre jump.
"I'm sorry about this. I know my father means well but I can't condone this." Quatre said.
"…" She just stared at him for a moment. After a few seconds she started to take off her veil.
"And I'm sure you're a lovely…." He trailed off when she revealed her face. "Lovely woman…" Her green eyes standing out now that more of her dark skin was showing. She pulled the veil over her head – uncovering her dark hair. Quatre swallowed hard when she continued to take off her clothes. "Please, I can't do this—"
"That's all I needed to hear." She said but she didn't stop. She let the fabric fall to the floor. Quatre's eyebrows flew up seeing she was wearing a pair of cargo shorts underneath. She stepped out of the pool of fabric, kicking it off her hiking boots. She reached into one of her pockets and pulled out an elastic hair tie. She swept her bangs off her forehead before pinning her hair in a ponytail. "See I wanted to come down to Earth but my father told me the only way I could was if I was ready to marry you. He thinks I need to be protected." She rolled her eyes before she continued. "In my head I'm going 'no way' but I went along with it just to see how far I could get. And here I am. This place is amazing. Do you know that they actually have rain? And winter? Crazy right. I totally want to see that!"
"I…I'm really confused." Quatre admitted.
"Look, it was nice meeting you. Try to convince your dad not put a bounty on me. But even if he does it's no biggy." She continued. The respectfully reserved tone she had started speaking with had all but dissolved into her quick unabashed dialect. She took up a near by military hat and put it on her head. She also picked up a poncho and wrapped it around herself. "If they ask what happened just say I hit you and ran off into the desert."
"What?" Quatre asked, more stumped than ever. He watched as she picked up a backpack and headed for the back of the tent.
"You know what—" she moved back over to him. He hadn't realized she was a full head taller than him until she got closer. He looked up at her and she smiled. All of a sudden she pulled her arm back and punched him in the face. The move was completely unexpected and Quatre let out a yelp as he went sprawling over a chair and tumbled to the floor. "There, now you don't have to lie. Bye!" she said cheerfully before disappearing out the back of the tent.
Quatre's head spun when he tried to sit up. He flopped back on the floor. His last thoughts were of her and the faint scent of jasmine that lingered in her wake. "What just happened?" he asked before he lost consciousness.
Trowa felt like he was being watched. Which was understandable seeing how he was on stage, juggling three large rings while Catherine threw knives at him. But something was off. He could sense it. It had been a while since he'd gotten a mission – maybe there was one waiting for him. He'd have to check after the show. Or maybe there were OZ soldiers in the audience. His natural instincts telling him to keep an eye out.
The feeling intensified when a nearby clown lit the rings on fire. Trowa had forgotten about that part of the act and found himself occupied – trying not to burn his hair off. The act ended with Trowa twirled the flaming rings on his arms. He extinguished them once he was off stage. Dunking them and his stinging arms into a tub of cold water outside the tent. He pulled the rings out to dry before tending to his skin. He had one particularly bad burn on his right bicep – the cream he put on to keep from burning apparently hadn't stuck right there. A dose of calamine would take the pain away and hopefully keep it from scaring.
"You should be more careful." He jumped when he heard a woman's voice. She had snuck up on him – managed to get comfortable on top of a barrel before he noticed her there. His eyes took in the gun her hands before focusing on her face. "But I suppose if you lose an arm it would be easier for me."
"Who are you?" He asked. He searched his peripheral vision for anything that could be used as a weapon.
"Code name is, Doremo." She answered. "I do not exist. And from here on in you probably won't see me anymore."
"You here to kill me?" he asked. "Hurry up and do it – it's my turn to clean the elephant cage tonight."
"You're funny, Trowa." She laughed. He glared at her.
"How did you know my name?" He asked.
"Not too bright though. They introduced you before your bit." She said as she flipped her short hair out of her face. "And what would be the point of killing you. That wouldn't look good on my record. Gunning down some circus kid before finding out what he's up to."
"I'm not up to anything." Trowa said as he shrugged his shoulders. "My act is over."
"There's that humor again." She said as she hopped down from her seat.
"Are you with OZ? Or the specialist?" He asked when he saw the long coat that flowed behind her.
"Neither." She answered.
"Is that the truth?"
"Yes. But if I'm lying about that how would you know." She said as she holstered her gun. He was starting to become annoyed with her games. "Rest assured, your secrets are no longer safe. And as soon as you reveal the one I'm looking for you'll get a bullet to the back of the head."
"You seem sure of yourself." Trowa said and snorted.
"How else would I unnerve you?" She asked as she started walking away. "I'll be seeing you."
"So you're a spy?" he asked.
"No, I meant I bought a ticket for tomorrow's show. You're paranoid." She laughed before she was out of sight. Trowa stood there for a few minutes longer before heading for his trailer. He'd have to black out the windows before heading for the elephants.