Author's note: I thought it only appropriate to dedicate, as well as make, this story to one of my betas and readers since way back when. Here's to ya, ArtGirl-Chan150! You've been so supportive and wonderful (specially when coming to Blaue Augen) for most of my stories! Here's my way of saying thank you!

/hugs/

Love, Red Tail

Rating: PG-13 or T

Warnings: Uh… violence, gore, and battle scenes. Language as well.

Pairings: none?

Dedication: ArtGirl-Chan150 (A-Chan!) Love ya!

Disclaimer: Don't own Gundam Wing or any of it's characters. References can probably be made to 'The Flight of the Phoenix' which isn't mine either.

Desert Storm
By: Lost-Remembrance
For: ArtGirl-Chan150

Chapter One (Introduction):

"May day! May day!" Static was the only thing that reached Duo Maxwell's ears as he slammed the radio back into it's place. His violet-blue eyes were flashing dangerously as he gripped the wheel of the carrier they had "borrowed".

Sand whipped at the windshield, slashing at it and leaving scraped on the thick glass like those of a hawk's talons.

A grunt brought Duo out of his worry and he glanced to his side. Heero Yuy, pilot of the Wing Gundam and partner to Duo Maxwell who was the pilot of Deathscythe, gripped the extra wheel tightly, trying to hold the jerking craft steady.

"I'm gonna try and bring it higher!" Duo yelled over the noise. Stuff went flying around in the cockpit and the cabin behind as the turbulence increased.

Duo swore he heard Quatre squeak as the plane hit an air pocket. The chestnut-haired man's stomache lurched as the sounds around them momentarily stopped.

Then, as if an eternity later, the plane was back into the raging storm. Panting as he gripped the wheel with wide eyes, he muttered under his breath, "I'll never get used to that."

Heero didn't reply, only pulled the wheel closer to him. Duo mimicked him as they tried to bring the plane higher.

"Try calling again." Duo looked at Heero for a moment and bit his lip before nodding.

Letting go of the wheel reluctantly, Duo grabbed the radio with as much speed as he could to help Heero steady the plane.

Clicking on the switch, silence reached his ears before he heard static. Then, a loud crash came from above the plane and Duo glanced out of the side window to see some metal go flying.

His face went pale. The wind not only tore through the radio equipment, but it also tore through the wing. "Uh…" he panted, turning to face Heero with a wide-eyed expression that made Heero have a pitting feeling in his stomach.

"What is it!" Heero snapped, the jerking of the plane reminding him to keep his mind to the more important task.

Suddenly, the sounds of metal ripping through metal caught them all by surprise.

The blade from the plane of the wrecked wheel had been flung loose and slashed through the side.

"Hold on!" Heero shouted over the noise and sparks that bit into their skin. Duo flinched and tried to grab the wheel. Heero shoved his partner's head down into an emergency landing position.

Gasping, Duo grabbed the intercom and shouted into it, "Get down!" So the other three pilots in the back wouldn't get to injured in the make-shift landing they were planning.

"I'm gonna try and make a belly landing!" The plane jolted and lurched.

The meter hit zero.

Sand scrapping against the belly, or the top of the plane reached Duo's ears. His eyes were shut tight painfully to block out the noise and sounds.

Pain erupted in his shoulders as he was thrown around like a rag doll in his safety harness. Glass shattered and spilled over him, falling into his hair and coming at him like bullets. Cuts lined his face, the shallow wounds leaking crimson tears down his face in thin rivulets.

Then the noise stopped. The jerks halted and Duo wondered, for a fleeting instant, if he had died.

Sand pooled around his feet. Heavy breathing forced him to open his eyes, and when he did he instantly regretted it. His eyes flashed with worry at the bloodied, limp figure beside him. Tears stung, making him wonder if Heero had tried to steady the plane until the last second.

Whispering his name as he reached a trembling hand forward to try and help his injured buddy, he choked out, "Heero."

TBC

Author's note: Short, and for that I'm sorry to everyone reading this. ArtGirl (your nickname is now A-Chan!) I hope you like the first chapter of this story!

/hugs/

Love, Red Tail