Studying Duo
by DeathScythe Tech
CHAPTER ONE
The latest test subject entered the spacious building that resembled a huge airplane hanger inside. Mobile suit parts were everywhere, some obviously were being discarded others were shrouded in parachute cloth. The subject wasn't uncomfortable in the least, he sauntered in, threw off his jacket, tossed his long brown braid over his shoulder and started looking the stuff over. Linnea Lang studied the boy, pausing in her work. A shock of recognition and certainty ran through her, she knew he would be the one. As she worked she always pictured the future Gundam pilot in her mind, it made for a better product, the more the mobile suit was customized the better it would work, that was Linnea's theory. Now she had her pilot, now her work could really begin.
"Mr. Maxwell, if you wouldn't mind," Dr. Lang pulled Duo bodily down from a massive arm joint. "When will it be ready, I'm ready to go," Duo said eagerly, like a little boy unwrapping a new video game." Dr. Lang sighed, this subject would not be easy, but what they needed was someone eager and immune to intimidation and Mr. Maxwell so far seemed to fit that bill. "Before we can even begin to complete construction on the mobile suit you will have to undergo intensive testing and study by one of our technicians. Besides, you have not actually been chosen as our pilot Mr. Maxwell. After the testing we'll make our decision and you will be informed," Dr. Lang said. Duo shrugged, "forget the testing, I'm your guy." Lang rolled his eyes and said, "hhmm, well yes. Despite your confidence Mr. Maxwell we will not forgo the testing. Even if we knew without a doubt that you were our chosen pilot our technician's theory is that the pilot must be studied intensely in order to customize the mobile suit to their skills, preferences and personality." "Sounds boring," Duo muttered.
"Linnea, come down here and meet Mr. Maxwell, our new test pilot," Lang called to his daughter. Linnea crawled out of the cloth-shrouded cockpit of the mobile suit and started climbing down the ladder to the floor. Duo pulled his sunglasses down and observed that the technician was a girl about his age, she was wearing a snug pair of well-worn overalls over a purple tank top and a purple bandana covered what appeared to be blonde hair. "Technician's got a nice ass," Duo said, grinning and prodding Dr. Lang with his elbow. "Linnea is my daughter Mr. Maxwell, so please refrain from making such comments in the future," Lang said coldly. "Oh, sorry," Duo apologized a bit sheepishly. Linnea hopped down off the ladder about three-quarters of the way down and turned to meet the new subject. Well, Duo thought, maybe this intensive study stuff wouldn't be boring after all. Linnea shook Duo's hand and then walked around and around him, studying him intently and tapping her finger to her lips and frowning a little. "Okay, we'll definitely need some immediate cockpit modifications before I can even start him on the simulator. Are there people available tomorrow morning father? I'll leave detailed instructions."
The three sat at a conference table while Dr. Lang gave Duo the customary welcome speech and test pilot do's and don'ts. The talk went on and on and occasionally blurbs of information caught Duo's attention -- Gundamiam is percentage-wise this much stronger than basic mobile suit materials, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah. When the hell were they going to let him try it out? He noticed Linnea sitting beside him was taking industrious notes although she had obviously sat through this little talk several times. Duo picked up his own notepad and wrote her a note "I'm so bored!" the note said and he drew a little sad face beside it. She raised her eyebrows at him and continued writing her notes although she smiled a little. Duo wondered suddenly if he was missing something important by zoning out on Dr. Lang's little talk and peeked over at Linnea's notebook. She wasn't taking notes on the talk at all, she was taking notes on him. He could see that she had written -- test subject easily bored -- test subject anxious to begin project -- test subject uninterested in detailed technological explanations -- test subject slightly immature. "Immature," he shrieked, "why'd you write that?" "Excuse me, Mr. Maxwell, did you have a question?" Dr. Lang asked, looking up from his own notes. Linnea giggled and scribbled a note to Duo, "Stop peeking at my notes or you'll see things you won't like!" she wrote. "Father," Linnea finally said, looking at her watch. "Let's continue this another time. Duo and I have school tomorrow and it's past midnight already. Plus I still have to write up my instructions for tomorrow's modification crew." "Why do I have to go to school," Duo asked, suddenly paying attention to the discussion. "And if she's still just a schoolgirl what is she doing working on this project? I'm putting my life on the line in that thing you know!" Dr. Lang explained that they would attend high school as a front to cover the operation. When the mission was deployed to Earth, Duo would also have to attend school and create a cover for himself to avoid detection by Oz. "Linnea can keep an eye on you and make observations on your public conduct in the classroom situation too, so that in itself makes the exercise valuable," the doctor commented. "Well why does she go to school, shouldn't she be working on my mobile suit?" Duo asked. Dr. Lang sighed, "I have already explained that attending school is a cover. My daughter, even at her age, is one of the great technological geniuses in all of the Earth-Space Alliance. Our faction wants to keep that little tidbit of information under wraps from OZ as long as possible. As to your safety, you'll have Linnea to thank for taking the pilot so much into consideration in the mobile suit design, it was entirely her theory and has been adopted by factions in other colonies that are designing similiar suits."
"He's the one father," Linnea announced after Duo had left for bed and she typed her cockpit modifications customized to Duo's body type into the computer. "I agree," Dr. Lang said. "He has the right attitude and the confidence, he's also fairly cooperative."
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TO BE CONTINUED