And on to chapter 7! Sorry for the long wait, but after that really fast update, I wanted a break- and I was kicked off the computer for the week, (damn sneaky parents and their 'strait A' obessions) so I had to severly limit my ff.n activites. So, I hope you like this lil' chappie, that I had to sneak and hide to write, that I sweated over, that I slaved for... okay, ignore me, I think I ate too much of my Halloween candy...


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Duo retreated to the hanger and continued to work on Deathscythe for the rest of the day. The unconcerned chatter from all the metals around him helped to loosen his nerves from the harp-string tension that Heero had unknowingly managed to wind them into. It also kept his aibou in as good a shape as possible.

In this life, that meant the difference between finishing a mission whole or in pieces.

Pieces is not good, 'Scythe commented. Pieces get brought to the scrap heap. We do not want to be pieces.

Duo looked up at the Gundam's blank face, frowning. When had that thing learned to listen to his stray thoughts?

(x)(x)(x)(x)(x)

Heero spent the remnants of the afternoon perfecting several programs he was writing for their next mission into an OZ base. A problem that they often encountered was the personnel could communicate in ways that hadn't been anticipated. This was meant to stop that.

At one base, the officers had e-mailed each other from the various rooms they had been trapped in when the pilots had set a fake alarm off to get into the base without interference. This had resulted in their having far less time to complete the mission then had been anticipated- and had almost caused them to be caught by sent reinforcements. Everyone in their party had taken wounds as they had gotten out.

Heero suddenly frowned as he recalled the image of the large slash on Duo's arm, courtesy of an over ambitious solider who knew how to use a knife. That man had learned, too late, that Duo knew how to handle one better. But that wound shouldn't have been there in the first place. If he, Heero, had fully thought through that plan, he would have realized that the officers would have more ways to contact each other then just the com units. And that slash would not have been there.

Next time, he would not make the same mistake.

(x)(x)(x)(x)(x)

The next mission came two days later. This time it was for all four in the safe house: Heero, Duo, Trowa, and Quatre. Its goals were about the same as the last, but this time they were supposed to steal an experimental alloy that might bring OZ's suits closer to being made with Gundamium.

Quatre was going to attack a factory that supplied parts to many nearby bases. When those bases sent out their Leos and Dolls to counterattack, Trowa would come out of hiding and help to deal with them. Duo felt that this was just as well- separating those two on a mission like this wouldn't have been the brightest move on anyone's part.

Meanwhile, half an hour before Quatre hit the factory, Heero and Duo would infiltrate the base and lab where the alloy had been created. As the troops at the base ran out to deal with the reported pair of Gundams, they would use the activity to secure the metal sample and data surrounding it. Both of these would then be sent on to the Docs through very, very, very secure channels. They were nothing if not paranoid.

Duo grumbled to himself through the entire pre-mission checks. Damn doctors... his personal opinion was that all they wanted was new inventions to monkey around with. The only thing that made this mission marginally acceptable in his mind was the fact that there would be a new metal to examine before they sent it off. He always liked meeting new friends.

But this mission felt too much like the last one for comfort. As much as he wished it otherwise, OZ as a whole wasn't stupid. They did learn from previous experience, and were capable of recognizing a diversion. The idea was to throw them off with the second Gundam helping the original attacker, and the early infiltration- but was it enough?

(x)(x)(x)(x)(x)

Quatre laughed softly to himself as Sandrock flew out of the hangar. It was almost like his Gundam was eager and ready to go on this mission.

"You've been patient, haven't you?" he murmured to his faithful battle suit. "A whole month in that leaky hanger, watching as all the others went on missions, while I cultivated business contacts in the area. Well, now we have a job to do."

He could almost feel the engines push a little harder.

After setting the course into Sandrock's computer, Quatre opened a channel with the other pilots. "Is everything on schedule?"

"Yeah, 04, 01 and I are just about to go in. Blast some Ozzies for us, willya?"

"Sure, 02. 03, are you in position?" Quatre felt the usual flicker of worry for Trowa as he spoke this question. Some time ago he had come to a decision: Hell was bad. Battle and war were worse. And even worse then those two was knowing someone you cared deeply for was fighting in them.

"Ready, 04."

And the fears could temporarily rest. "Attack will start in 45 minutes. All pilots stand ready."

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A/N: Well... that chapter was filler on the way to significent plot happanings. I hope I don't have too many of you screaming in frustration at this pace... er, don't kill me, please...

By the way, how many of you went out for Halloween (those of you who live in America, anyway, cause I don't think it's celebrated anywhere else)? Though I am a few months away from 17, I went out (in a gypsy costume), had tons of fun, got lots of candy, and I have no intentions of giving up my Halloween nights of trick-or-treating until I'm well into college. And so ::THHHHBBBB:: to all the party-poopers out there! Bwahahaha! (Care to guess just how much of that candy I've had already...?

M-python-girl:
Ah, but if the bunnies have gas masks on, how can they smell? And who needs to talk? All I need is a few convieniently left stories... maybe some fliers, media campains... Hey, if it worked for the elections, it'll work for this. (I cannot believe that freaking monkey is sitting in the Oval Office AGAIN! ;P) Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Oh, and thank you for reading and reviewing my poems in Fallen Angel.

Duo's Brother:
Sorry, they don't show up for a long time. But they will eventually be here, don't worry! I love them too much to completely abandon them. Sorry, too, for the long chapter wait... I'm usually quicker, really I am!

inthefire2002:
Oh, ya. Their bodies react, but only Duo realizes what's happaning... Heero has a serious learning curve coming up. Bwahaha. And yea, Duo's always been... creative like that. He never lies, but it's almost impossible to get the truth from him. Or, all of it, anyway. You know, I think I'm having way to much fun with this... anyway, thank you for revieiwng and letting me know you liked it!

ZmajGoddess:
Soon, soon... all in good time. Here's the new chapter, hope you like it!

lolly sister:
The Gundams were fun... really fun... and you can see, the other pilots are about to start noticing. Quatre's the most... faniciful? Imaginative? after Duo- it'll take the others a while to realize it, 'cause they're too pragmatic. Hope you liked it!

Windy River:
Not so soon this time, sorry. But I should be back on a weekly sceduale (I cannot spell) now, so don't worry!

foxhiei:
Sorry this isn't 'soon.' Don't worry though, I do weekly updates usually- update on Thursday, avalible by Friday (at least, in my little section of the world). I hope you liked this chapter!

Anonymous Smiley-face:
I'll take you on trust- until you steal something or try to embezle my funds, or some other heinous crime. And who are you kidding about obsessions? I sold my soul to fanfiction YEARS ago! Hope you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing!

TA:
Here's the more- though it isn't all that much more. When I finish Pirates and G-boys of the Carribean (another fic of mine) these chapters will get longer. Til then, they stay short. Sorry... but I'm glad you like it!

Shaeric Draconis:
Yeah, when you get to know it, the characters really are fun to play with... remarkably like GW, that way! Hope you liked the chapter (and thank you for reviewing my poems in Fallen Angel)!

Kyra2:
But this chapter was so much slower! Sorry... And don't worry- you commented on this one, and it's the thought that counts (who turned me into grandma...?) And Heero will be learning... (I'm going to have so much fun with that) It's going to be missions and Duo's powers getting harder to hide for a while, now. At least it's plot action, hey?

cheerful-pinkstar:
But slow again- don't worry though, I'm back in my groove! Thanks for reviewing!

Ashen Skies:
Thank you for reading my stories! (It's nice to be an acknowleged reviewer... or maybe it means I'm just too annoying to be ignored. Either way, thank you for spending time on me.) I'm going to try and edge in some background as I work on the plot (which is about to start- next chapter, in fact) and you're right- I probably should include a bit of a glossary for what several of the YYH terms mean (You'll see that next chapter, too). Also, the YYH people don't show up for a long time, so I'm hoping that by then some of the Laws Of The Universe will have been established. Thank you again and again for reviewing my story, and for liking it!

See ya'll next chapter! Enjoy!