Family Ties

By Excelcia

Chapter 2:  News

Disclaimer:  I do NOT own Gundam Wing or any characters associated with Sunrise Inc.  Kitana Mason and other characters in this fic are copyrighted to me, for they come of my freaky subconscious.  Thank you!  Enjoy the fic.  Come again.

            Duo paced the hall outside Quatre's office nervously.  He'd gotten an email from the blond pilot a few days ago saying that he had something to tell him.  So why was he so nervous?  It had been six months since Quatre agreed to help look for the girl and her family and still no word.  Quatre said it would take a while to track her down, but not impossible.  Duo sighed and leaned up against the wall.  If he smoked, he was sure he would've gone through about five cigarettes by now.  What was taking him so long?

            The door opened and three men stepped out, all wearing three-piece business suits.  They all turned to look at the black priest's garb that Duo was wearing with a sense of disapproval as they filed out of the office.  Duo shook his head and went through the door.  "What's with the penguins?"

            Quatre chuckled.  "Businessmen.  They're proposing a deal with the colonies and the Earth sphere.  In my opinion, they're trying to get a foothold in the Terra forming project before anyone else.  That way they can distribute property privately and make a better profit for themselves; opposite from Relena's ideas, mind you.  "Anyway, you're probably wondering why I asked you to come."

            "The thought had crossed my mind."

            Quatre's smile disappeared.  "Duo, sit down."  He took his seat after Duo had settled in the chair after him.  "The search results came in…"

            Duo's face lit up.  "And??"

            Quatre pulled a file from his top desk drawer and opened it.  "Dear Mr. Winner, We regret to inform you that the individuals you were in search of were reported killed in a military uprising three years ago.  We are dreadfully sorry to give you such bad news in this way, and wish you the best coping with your loss…" Quatre looked up from the paper.  " I'm sorry Duo…"

            Duo's smile had long since faded.  He slowly sank down into the chair and put his head in his hands.  Dead?  That wasn't possible…it couldn't have been.  "Quatre, maybe they made a mistake?"

            Quatre shook his head.  "I called them to verify.  Kitana Mason, adopted from Maxwell orphanage in the year After Colony 185.  It all checked out with what was in those files.  I'm really sorry Duo."

            "Nah, it's okay Quatre.  Thanks for trying…" Duo got up and headed for the door.

            "Is there anything I can do?"

            "No.  I'll be okay.  Thanks Quat."  Duo headed out of the office and down to the street.  He turned and walked, not knowing where he was going, nor did he care.  "That's it then."  The last shred of hope that he wasn't alone in the world had just been crushed.  He couldn't stand it anymore.  First it had been the only two people who ever cared about him, now it was his only blood relative.  He didn't even get the chance to see her.  He strolled along the fence of the spaceport only stopping to watch a ship speed off towards the inner gate.  The pain was back.  It was the same feeling that over took his senses and numbed his feelings.  He felt it the day his best friend Solo died and again the day of the massacre and he was feeling the same firey pain that burned away his at his soul now.  He just wanted it to go away, to escape this miserable existence that he came to be in.  The only thing that left him hanging on was his commitment to the others as a gundam pilot.  But now…Duo let a resigned sigh escape his lips and made his was around the spaceport in a wide arc towards his temporary home.