The vid-phone chimed, and Duo bounced out of the kitchen to answer
it.
"I got it!" he shouted for no particular reason.
"You most certainly do." Heero muttered dryly. Duo rolled his eyes and pushed the speaker button.
"Duo! How nice to see you. Can I talk to you and Heero for a moment?" Relena's face filled the screen.
"Hey 'Lena. Sure thing, Heero come 'ere." Duo called over to the couch. Heero grunted and lifted himself up, coming over to stand behind Duo.
"Heero, Duo, I know this is a big favor to ask and all, but I need you guys to appear at an… um, 'Event'." Relena bit her lip, knowing full well how much they, especially Heero, hated public appearances. "You don't have to say anything, just stand there and look brave. And I don't need all of you- just one of you guys would be great."
"Woah. Sounds big. What caliber of Event?" Duo asked interestedly.
"You know that big space project? The one where we're finally building a ship to colonize planets? It gets sent out next month, and we need space-type celebrities to show approval."
"I don't know…" Duo temporized. "I may need a little while to bring Heero around, and as for the other guys…" Heero broke in.
"I'll make you a deal." Heero stated, waiting for Relena's assent until continuing. "If *I* can name the ship, and reveal the name in a short commemorating speech at the gig, I'll get all five of us there." He deadpanned. Duo looked at his partner with no little shock.
"Seriously? You would? Deal made." Relena answered unhesitatingly. "It hasn't been named yet, I'll pull a few strings, I'll make or *cut* strings if I have to, just be there and ready." Relena didn't look the gift horse in the mouth- she just agreed and signed off before he could recant.
"Heero? What the hell was that all about??" Duo asked in bewilderment.
"You'll see. It's a surprise." Heero actually smiled, and there was an unholy glint in his eye. Duo almost shivered, but settled for maniacallly grinning instead.
**One Month Later**
Heero stood on a little stand in front of tv cameras that broadcast his face everywhere and took a breath. Behind him stood the other four pilots and Relena, all looking expectantly at him.
"Space – the final frontier." Heero began in a deep, strong voice. "These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise," as he said the lines, a banner on the ship behind them all fell, revealing the title of the proud vessel, "it's continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds," Heero's voice throbbed on the word 'mission' and absolute longing showed in his voice as he spoke of new planets, "to seek out new life and new civilizations,"
Meanwhile, Trowa's eyes widened more than fractionally, Quatre was blinking very hard, and Wufei was visibly trying not to laugh. Duo looked shocked for a moment, but as Heero's voice swelled towards the end of his speech he gave up, turned around, and started cackling hysterically, "to boldly go where no man has gone before!" Heero finished in ringing tones, with a grand flourish, and dramatically left the stage. Wild cheering could be heard upon his exit.
Back stage, Duo just looked at Heero, and started laughing again. Wufei collapsed against Duo, chuckling as well.
"I always wanted to do that." Heero remarked to no one in particular.
"I got it!" he shouted for no particular reason.
"You most certainly do." Heero muttered dryly. Duo rolled his eyes and pushed the speaker button.
"Duo! How nice to see you. Can I talk to you and Heero for a moment?" Relena's face filled the screen.
"Hey 'Lena. Sure thing, Heero come 'ere." Duo called over to the couch. Heero grunted and lifted himself up, coming over to stand behind Duo.
"Heero, Duo, I know this is a big favor to ask and all, but I need you guys to appear at an… um, 'Event'." Relena bit her lip, knowing full well how much they, especially Heero, hated public appearances. "You don't have to say anything, just stand there and look brave. And I don't need all of you- just one of you guys would be great."
"Woah. Sounds big. What caliber of Event?" Duo asked interestedly.
"You know that big space project? The one where we're finally building a ship to colonize planets? It gets sent out next month, and we need space-type celebrities to show approval."
"I don't know…" Duo temporized. "I may need a little while to bring Heero around, and as for the other guys…" Heero broke in.
"I'll make you a deal." Heero stated, waiting for Relena's assent until continuing. "If *I* can name the ship, and reveal the name in a short commemorating speech at the gig, I'll get all five of us there." He deadpanned. Duo looked at his partner with no little shock.
"Seriously? You would? Deal made." Relena answered unhesitatingly. "It hasn't been named yet, I'll pull a few strings, I'll make or *cut* strings if I have to, just be there and ready." Relena didn't look the gift horse in the mouth- she just agreed and signed off before he could recant.
"Heero? What the hell was that all about??" Duo asked in bewilderment.
"You'll see. It's a surprise." Heero actually smiled, and there was an unholy glint in his eye. Duo almost shivered, but settled for maniacallly grinning instead.
**One Month Later**
Heero stood on a little stand in front of tv cameras that broadcast his face everywhere and took a breath. Behind him stood the other four pilots and Relena, all looking expectantly at him.
"Space – the final frontier." Heero began in a deep, strong voice. "These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise," as he said the lines, a banner on the ship behind them all fell, revealing the title of the proud vessel, "it's continuing mission, to explore strange new worlds," Heero's voice throbbed on the word 'mission' and absolute longing showed in his voice as he spoke of new planets, "to seek out new life and new civilizations,"
Meanwhile, Trowa's eyes widened more than fractionally, Quatre was blinking very hard, and Wufei was visibly trying not to laugh. Duo looked shocked for a moment, but as Heero's voice swelled towards the end of his speech he gave up, turned around, and started cackling hysterically, "to boldly go where no man has gone before!" Heero finished in ringing tones, with a grand flourish, and dramatically left the stage. Wild cheering could be heard upon his exit.
Back stage, Duo just looked at Heero, and started laughing again. Wufei collapsed against Duo, chuckling as well.
"I always wanted to do that." Heero remarked to no one in particular.