The mobile suit sprawled in the hangar. Everything from the waist down was nothing but charred, twisted bits of metal. Even the torso had long lasered holes tearing through it. Something glass like had shattered in the top of the head and now there was just a ragged hole with a few shards clinging to it like teeth. Bits and pieces of other suits rose around it like dismembered limbs. The boy stared at it from the shadows on the other side of the room, arm resting on his drawn up knee.

The pilots had just left it here. They hadn't even bothered putting a security lock on the door. It could be that they were going to try to sell the parts under the table or perhaps they were just putting it off until later. Whatever the case, their stupidity at leaving it unguarded had lost them the entire thing. A few mouse clicks and a handful of entered commands told anyone with a terminal that all the parts had been jettisoned into space as refuse. Even if the pilots had come to look for it, they would have a hard time getting past the rotating security code he'd programmed into the door.

With a frustrated sigh, the boy glanced down at the scraps of paper around his feet. The fact was that although it was easy to create a rotating security lock, it was nearly impossible to crack. It had been a week now and still he couldn't figure out the numbers to Hana's room. He'd even spent the whole day there once, tapping in numbers until his fingers were sore. But with an eleven digit number and ten numbers to choose from, the combinations were practically endless. He'd watched her go in and out of that room since the very first day, keeping careful track of the numbers she entered. There was a pattern. He knew there had to be…but why couldn't he see it?

The papers he'd been working on blurred and slid out of focus. Closing his eyes, the boy titled his head back and lightly banged it into the metal wall he rested against. This was impossible. He never should have said he could do it in two weeks. But he couldn't back down from a boast like that. If he said he could do something he had to do it or die trying. Reputation was everything, as Odin used to say. Back out on your word just once and that put a stain on you that would never come off.

Aggravation sent the boy lurching to his feet. Absently he began stretching his legs like he would do before a run. He wanted to run. Run, do pull ups, lift some weights…anything that was active and productive. For too long he'd been sitting around struggling with a problem that had no discernable answer. Maybe he was trying to hard. Maybe all he had to do was concentrate on something else for a while.

The wreckage of the mobile suit once again caught his attention. He came to its blackened feet and craned his neck to stare up at the face plate. He'd intended to try and pull it apart to see what the inside looked like a try to get a feel of how the thing was put together. Unfortunately that was about all he could do. There was no way to test its exact function unless he could get the thing to work. On that thought, he wondered if the cockpit was similar to a leo's.

The hatch proved to be difficult to open, but the boy enjoyed the exercise. After a while he was able to pry it open enough to slither inside. The cockpit was far more primitive then a leo's as far as he could tell. There were quite a few more buttons for one thing and the tiny view window cut off pretty much anything except what was right ahead. Under the view window was a small radar screen. He tapped it thoughtfully with a fingernail. It seemed a bit much. The two vid screens that popped out of the arms of the seat would show exactly where the hands of the demolition unit were going.

On the other hand, he was hardly an expert in mobile suit technology yet. Maybe it was there for a reason he hadn't learned about. Putting the thought to the back of his mind, the boy leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath he reached out, gripping the arm controllers and set his feet on the pedals. He tried to remember how it felt to be in a live machine… The seat vibrating gently under him, the low drone of energy as it pumped through the wires that made up the veins of the mobile suit.

The boy opened his eyes as the daydream faded. Might as well take apart the interior and see how everything was connected. Slipping out of the small opening, he dropped to the ground and nearly in Domo's lap.

The boy stumbled in surprise, nearly falling. His hand moved to his tank top automatically, but there was nothing there. He'd left the gun on the floor. Domo smirked at him. The man was pale and drawn, having been reduced to a wheelchair since the boy had seen him last. But the boy wasn't stupid enough to turn his back on him…not even to get his gun. Since Domo was here, it was probably all ready gone.
"Looking for this?" said Domo, pulling the gun out from behind his back, and showing it to him. The boy said nothing, feeling completely at a loss for a moment. Wrestling the gun from Domo's hands would be stupid and fatal…and there was nothing around close enough to be used as a weapon.

"How did you get in here?" the boy asked, partly to cover his nervousness and partly because he was curious. Not that he expected Domo answer. The man said nothing for a moment, examining the gun in his hand.

"A little boy with a toy like this," Domo said distantly. "Do you even know how to use it, I wonder?"
"Would you like me to show you?" the boy asked. Domo laughed.

"Oh, I don't think so. I'm sure you can aim and I won't be much of a moving target." Domo leveled the gun at him, smirk widening. "You can try to come and get it, if you like."

The boy remained still. Attacking would be dangerous and he didn't know how well Domo could shoot. Maybe not at all… But there was so much about Domo he didn't know and he didn't want to risk it.

"You're intelligent, I'll give you that." Domo's eyes narrowed. "Which begs the question of why you're still here? Maybe you really don't understand."
"I'm not afraid," the boy said, glaring at him. "If Mitsuyo tries anything I'll--" Suddenly Domo sprung from the chair and before the boy could react, long cold fingers were gripping his chin, forcing it up and he could feel the gun jamming into his belly. Domo's eyes were narrow and his face twisted in rage. The boy stared at him, surprised for a moment at the speed of his attack.

"Yes, yes. You'll kill him. You stupid little shit."

The boy tensed to jerk away, but the gun shifted against his stomach, warning him to keep still.

"I don't know what the hell you were before you came here. What gave you this cocky attitude and frankly, I don't care. But whoever taught you didn't do a good job."
The boy narrowed his eyes, clenching his hands into fists, anger tightening his insides. The boy snapped out his hand, pushing the gun away as he lunged forward. Domo moved with liquid speed, snatching his hand and shoving the gun up against the boy's chin.

"I could kill you right now. One touch of my finger and your brains will be splattered all over the floor. I might actually be doing you a favor."

The boy clenched his teeth. If Domo thought to scare him, it wasn't working. It had been a long time since he was afraid of death. He was more angry then anything wondering how the hell this had happened.

"You can stay here. I don't care. Train until your muscles burst. Let Hana-chan teach you to fence because lord knows she needs the company. I won't stop you." The gun was suddenly jerked away, but the back of Domo's hand replaced it, smacking him hard across the face. The boy glared up at him from the floor, cheek aching, tasting blood in his mouth. The gun was pointed at him once more, keeping him there.

"But know this," the man continued, face still twisted in anger. "If you let your guard down one more time I will kill you. You're not safe anywhere. Not here. Not even when you sleep. Just because you can tap in a few codes doesn't make you invulnerable. This is not your playground. This is mine, this is Mitsuyo's. You know absolutely shit about it." With that he lifted the gun away and pulled out clip with a trained hand. Pocketing the ammunition, he hurled the empty gun away and stalked from the room.

The boy sat where he was a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. It was true. He had been stupid. Unforgivably stupid. Suddenly he saw everything, like the last piece of the puzzle being shifted into place. This was not his old world. This was not a place where stupid adults practically threw themselves in the crosshairs. Here, everyone was his equal--no not equal…they were better then him. For now.

The boy stood, crossing to get his gun, then pulled a second clip from his tank top and snapped it into place. Wasn't his playground, huh? Well he would have to make it his playground, wouldn't he? The first thing he had to do, though, was figure out how Domo had gotten past the security lock in the first place- There were quite a few ways to find out. The boy mentally ran down the list of possibilities until he found on that seemed the most efficient. Once decided, he flicked the gun's safety on, jammed it into the waistband of his shorts and leaned against the wall to think.

Domo made it safely around the corner before his legs gave out. He fell, knees banging painfully against the metal floor. He pressed a hand to his chest as his lungs fought for air. Damn Mitsuyo for making him like this. Still clutching at his chest, Domo lurched unsteadily to his feet. He had to get out of here before that kid came out. He couldn't let the boy see him weak. He moved a few steps, only to stumble to a halt a second later as his legs wobbled dangerously underneath him. After a moment there was the tapping of feet and the soft whisper of wheels. Domo looked up and smiled gratefully as Hana came into view, pushing a wheelchair in front of her. She matched his smile with one of her gentle, pensive ones, letting out nothing of her outer feelings.

"Let's go, Hana-chan," he said, sitting gratefully in the chair and leaning his head back. Sweat tickled down his face but didn't even feel up to wiping it away. That had taken more out of him then he cared to admit. There was silence as she pushed him down the long corridor toward the lifts. Domo stared straight ahead, ignoring the looks of the few passersby.

That kid. That stupid, arrogant, tough little brat. There hadn't been a trace of fear in those blue eyes. Anger, surprise perhaps, but nothing of fear. And that security lock had been impossible to crack, too. He'd had to get the paneling off the wall and short circuit the lock just to get in the damn door. He could make impossible codes himself, but it took at least a year of studying and experimenting to find out how. But that wasn't what had impressed him. Anyone could figure out how to set a rotating security lock. And the absence of fear could just mean the kid wasn't taking him seriously. But Domo had been watching the kid ever since he set foot onto the station. Every movement the boy made was done with confidence and purpose. Even when he'd been struggling under the station's gravity, he hadn't shied away from the challenge.

What was his purpose though? What did he want the Gundam so badly for? It was completely inconceivable to him. The boy obviously had no parents or he wouldn't be here. Mitsuyo only took in orphans. Those with no attachments to anything—even their own colonies. So what could that boy possibly be fighting for? What could he possibly want?

"You're just playing with him, aren't you?" Hana's voice broke him from his thoughts and he looked up at her, smirking.

"Now, Hana-chan, what makes you think that?"

She sighed and shook her head. They arrived at the lift and she moved around him to press the up button. Once they were inside the lift and the doors had closed, Hana leaned against the wall and stared down at him, hands folded in front of her.

"Why do you do that, Domo-sempai? What's the purpose?"
"Maybe I just want to see how just how strong he really is," Domo said, closing his eyes. If the boy was strong enough… Maybe he wouldn't get caught in Mitsuyo's web. Maybe… Hana sighed heavily.

"It doesn't matter," she said, moving behind the chair as the lift doors opened. "The end will always be the same.

"That's a cheerful sentiment," he said dryly. She was right, though. Only Tatsu was foolish enough to think that acquiring the Gundam would change anything. While certain others were bound and determined the kid would change everything. Domo rolled his eyes, a wave of old bitterness making him clench his jaw slightly. Nothing would change. Nothing would ever change. The kid would be absorbed into this world just like everyone else was.

They arrived at the door to his room and Hana typed in the security code with her usual calm precision. Domo wheeled himself in as the doors slid open, despite how his arms protested. He wasn't that much of an invalid yet. Hana followed after him, moving over to the shelves on the other side of the room and collecting the chemicals for his daily treatment. His hands were starting to twitch uncontrollably at the armrests, as if to remind him of the fact. Domo watched her work, having nothing better to do with his time.

"If you're so convinced that none of it will make a difference," he said after a while. "Then why are you teaching the little bastard how to fence?" Surely she couldn't be that bored. And she certainly wasn't hurting for company. If she wasn't with him, she was generally following Tatsu around, making him pant like some lovesick puppy. Domo smirked. Stupid, stupid, Tatsu. Hana's shoulders tensed, but as she turned to face him, her expression remained the same.

"I want to make him trust me," she said, lifting a hypodermic needle into the air and looking at the liquid in the light.

"A student/teacher bond is a wonderful way to start."

Domo snorted. He doubted a few lessons were going to change the kid's outlook. His entire body was beginning to tremble now and he stared at the liquid in the needle, both disgusted and longing.

"Tatsu's not going to be very happy with the competition," he said, smirking at her. Hana gave him a dry look.

"Domo-sempai," she said, squirting out some of the fluid to get rid of the air bubbles. "Whether you like it or not, we are family here. All of us. Together." She came over and slipped up his sleeve, swabbing the patch of skin on his arm with disinfectant before sliding in the needle. Domo lowered his eyes as he felt the familiar drug spread into his system, calming the tremors that had rippled all over his body.

"The sooner you come to accept that truth," she said softly, smoothing the hair away from his sweating forehead with a cool hand. "The sooner you'll be comfortable with your role here." Domo glared at her.

"Lovely role, being a guinea pig."
"We're trying to save the future here, Domo-sempai. Don't you understand?"

Fortunately, the computer began to beep softly, indicating that someone was trying to contact him. Hana wheeled him into the other room, but he keyed in the commands himself, managing to get it right on the second try. Domo didn't bother to hide his scowl as Mitsuyo's face popped up on the main monitor.

"Father," Hana said respectfully. Mitsuyo grunted in acknowledgement, but kept his gaze on Domo.

"What the hell do you want, old man?" Domo said. The man was off-satellite at the moment, researching something on another part of L-1. Domo hoped he stayed there.

"It's J's damned little pigeon again," Mitsuyo spat. "He wants to know how the brat is doing."

"Can't you handle it yourself?" Domo asked disdainfully. He didn't relish a chat with J's man. Especially with Hana standing right behind him.

"He wants specifics and I don't have a damned idea. It's your fault for stalking the little twit. I'm patching him through." Mitsuyo looked down and began to fiddle with something on his console. Domo cursed inwardly. He had just enough time to school his expression before the monitor flickered and another familiar face appeared. This one, bright, cheery and belonging to a one Alec Howell.

"Howell," Domo said as flatly as he could muster.

"Hello, Koishi-kun!" the blonde fairly sang. Hana made a disapproving noise in the back of her throat. Domo shifted slightly in his chair.

"Call me Domo or don't call me anything, Howell," he said irritably. He hated when the man used his first name like that. Especially here… Especially now.

"Whatever you say, Koishi-kun." Howell rested his chin on his fist and leaned closer to the screen. "So how is the kodomo? Progressing well? Working hard? Breaking into any munitions rooms?" Alec chuckled. "He's a sneaky little blighter…"

"He's been in the gym almost every day," Domo said with a shrug. "Has some stupid new project."

"Still naïve?" Alec asked. The smile was on his face but there was seriousness in his bright blue eyes that was hard to miss. Domo smirked a little.
"In more ways then one." Then he shook his head and rested his cheek on his fist. "Though who knows how long that will last." Alec frowned, lifting his head and giving Domo an anxious look.

"Koishi-kun, is Mitsuyo-"

"This isn't about Mitsuyo," Domo said quickly. Damnit. Was Alec blind? "What else do you want to know about the kid?"
"Oh," Howell blinked, seemingly thrown off track. He looked down and there was the sound of shuffling papers. Domo closed his eyes tightly, trying to hold back the laughter that bubbled in his stomach. They were cheat notes. He knew they were. Only Alec would have to use cheat notes.

"Project," the scientist murmured to himself. "Naïveté… Health…. Tuna on rye… Tuna on rye? Oh wait…that's the lunch order" Howell giggled softly. Domo snorted a laugh. God help him. The man giggled.

"Howell," he said, sounding a bit lighter then he'd intended. The blond looked up, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Koishi-kun?"

"If that kid doesn't keep his guard up, he's going to die." Domo grinned manically. "And I'm going to be the one to kill him."

"Noted." Alec smirked. "But I wouldn't count on it, Koishi-kun." Alec's eyes softened. The scientist wasn't even looking at him any more. Just gazing away at some spot in the room, a silly little smile on his face. Domo's chest tightened in irritation.

"You have that much confidence in him, do you?"
Alec glanced back at him, a gentle smile lifting his face.

"I do."

There was a moment when they simply stared at one another. To his annoyance, Domo felt his irritation start to fade. Why couldn't he just stay annoyed with the man?

"Anything else, Howell?" Hana asked, coldly. Domo started a little, having almost forgotten she was still in the room. Alec looked up at her, shoulders tensing but the friendly smile still on his face

"Yes, actually." There was rapid tapping as he typed something on a keyboard. "I'm transmitting some files J-sensei wanted you know who to get his mitts on." He spoke the last part while gazing steadily at Domo. Domo nodded, knowing exactly who Alec was talking about. There was a soft bing as the computer received the files. Alec must have gotten some notification on his own terminal, because almost instantly, he shifted in his seat and gave Domo a manic grin.

"Now, Koishi-kun, on a more personal level-"

"No," Hana said. And before Domo could stop her, she had terminated the connection. Domo stared at the desktop screen, clenching his teeth. He hated when she did that. But there was nothing he could say. As far as Hana was concerned, they were a united front against Alec and all of J's minions.

"I'm surprised, Hana-chan," he said, smirking up at her. "I didn't know you had it in you to be that rude. Congratulations."

"I'm only rude because he is." She shook her head and leaned over to grab the mouse. "He has no right to call you by your first name. He doesn't even know you."

Domo didn't comment, but watched as Hana moved the mouse across the screen. His gut clenched when the arrow centered over the files Alec sent. He couldn't very well tell her to stop. That would be suspicious. Domo took a deep breath, disguised as a sigh, to calm himself. The important stuff was probably buried underneath a lot of drivel. Alec wasn't stupid. He'd seen her in the room.

The files turned out to be just one file. A sound clip at that. Now Domo was completely stumped. He'd figured it was sensitive information of some sort…but what kind of sensitive information could be sent with a sound file? Subliminal messaging, perhaps? Somehow, that didn't seem like J-sensei's kind of game. Hana opened the file. At first it was static, then a woman's voice came over the speakers.

"Tragedy struck in X-44769 colony of the L-4 cluster Saturday afternoon when a gathering of college students and young mothers camped out in Rasul Square to protest the Earth Sphere Alliance's continuing assault against the other colonies in the cluster. Three hours into the protest, Alliance troops were deployed under the pretense of crowd control. What happened was a massacre. Out of the sixty-eight people gathered there, thirty of them were shot dead and another twenty were severely wounded. Though Alim Winner, head of Winner Enterprises, couldn't be reached for comment, his publicist says that Mr. Winner regrets the turn of events and wishes things can be resolved more peacefully in the future.

Once again, this is X032CAAC. If you are listening to this broadcast from home; please switch to a higher frequency for your personal safety.

The L-1 cluster was in an uproar earlier this morning when a shuttle load of missiles went missing. The Alliance--"

There Hana cut it off. Domo blinked at the sudden silence and titled his head to look up at her, the movement making him a little dizzy. That would be the drug kicking in. The girl was looking slightly puzzled.

"Why does J-sensei want father to hear that?" she asked, looking down at him. "There doesn't seem to be anything important."

She did have a point. Though the message wasn't for Mitsuyo, he didn't see what the kid would do with it. Still, it wasn't his job to question.

"I'll send it to him later, Hana-chan," he said, words coming out a bit slurred. Another affect of the drug. "Think I'll get some sleep now."

She smiled and kissed him gently on the head.

"Sweet dreams, Domo-sempai. I'll be with Tatsu if you need me."
He waited until she left before opening the surveillance program and checking the satellite for the boy. He found the kid still in the hangar. Apparently the boy had pulled off a wall panel and was now sitting in a tangle of wires, doing god knew what. Thankfully, all the hangers were equipped with speakers for emergency situations. Domo isolated the boy's hangar and patched the file into the sound system. The boy jerked up at the sudden voice, looking around warily, gun already in his hand. After a moment or two, he seemed to relax. Sitting back down, he set the gun beside him and looked straight into the camera for a heartbeat or two before going back to his project. Domo chuckled. He knew that camera was well hidden, and yet, the boy seemed to have picked it out anyway.

Domo yawned. Now that all the excitement was over, his mind longed to shut down. He watched a bit longer, then was forced to give up. Pushing himself into the bedroom, he crawled onto the mattress and snuggled against the pillow. Alec thought the boy had it in him. Apparently so did J-sensei. A part of Domo wanted to believe. But… He sighed into the pillow. The boy wasn't the first that J-sensei had bought. And wouldn't be the last. Children would just keep getting absorbed into Mitsuyo's web until J-sensei finally gave up, or the Alliance found out and blasted them all to hell.

Heey! Updateu! W00t!

Annd I got my first fanart. XD It's from the creator of duoxheero . com (FF.N is stupid. rolls eyes) You should go there and see!

Also, yess, I know, Domo POV…and the next chapter is going to be entirely Domo POV…but then it'll get back to Heero! I promise!

Many, many, many many thanks go out to my Crystal! Because she knows just how much she means to me. See? SEE! I updated! Just for you! Ha! You better do well in school for this, girl! shakus fistu… KANCHOS!

Disclaimer: If I owned Gundam Wing, I would buy me a green dress, but not a real green dress, that's cruel.

Night Mare