After Colony 197: Reflections
Episode 1: Jail Break
Duo Maxwell groaned loudly as his world swam back into view. Opening his eyes he tried to sit up and immediatly regretted it, he dropped back to where he was lying on the hard metal floor. Lying there silently he took stock of his situation. He was in a cell with his hands cuffed and his gun was gone. They'd done a pretty thorough search and he could tell that, just by shifting his weight, they'd found and taken all his hidden weapons. K'so! Did they get his lockpic too? Of all the dumb luck!
Duo closed his eyes and relaxed. Relax man, he told himself, just figure how you got yourself into this mess and then you'll come up with some way to get out of it. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and tried to remember.
**
"Duo?"
"Hai?" Duo sat reclined in his pilot seat aboard his own transport, his feet propped up on the edge of the control panel. Beside him Sally gave a light smile, she couldn't help it.
"We're here."
Duo opened one eye and glanced toward the view screen which displayed the view of space around them. The blinking lights of a transport shuttle caught his attension and he opened both eyes, sitting up. "That them?"
"Yep." Responded the Preventer next to him.
"Ok then, here goes." He pressed a few buttons and motioned to Sally, who stood up and headed for the back compartment, closing the door behind her. As soon as the door was safely closed Duo opened communications. "Hello over there? This is Space Trader Charon requesting assistance, please respond." He leaned back and played with the end of his braid as he waited for the other ship to respond. A second later the screen blinked and flashed on to reveal an older looking man with a very pointy nose.
"This is the transport River's Edge, what do you want?"
Not very friendly are they? He thought with a grin. "I'm having some minor difficulties here and I don't have the proper equiptment to make the repairs. Requesting permission to dock for a few hours and fix my ship. You are the nearest ship, there isn't a base for a ways yet."
The man seemed to hesitate.
"I can pay, no worries there. It'll only take an hour, two tops."
The man nodded. "You have clearance, but only for two hours." Then the connection was severed. Duo grinned.
"We won't even need one." Duo prepared the ship for docking while Sally stepped back into the room, armed quite well. She tossed him a fully loaded gun.
"You ready?"
Duo nodded and grew serious. "Lets hope these kids of yours can run fast."
**
Duo's eyes snapped open and he glanced around. He'd heard something. Quickly he sat up and looked around the entire cell, his eyes settling on a shadowy figure sitting completely still in the corner, just watching him.
"You're finally awake," spoke a quiet voice.
"Didn't even see you there... hn, must be losing my touch." Duo reached up and began to run his fingers through his hair, searching for the extra lockpic he always hid there. Meanwhile she stood up and walked over to sit down next to him. She turned her head to watch the door to the cell quietly, her dark red hair covering her face.
Duo swore as he discovered the lockpic was definently gone. "Shimatta!" With an exasperated sigh he dropped back onto the floor and rolled over to stare at the ceiling. She turned her purple eyes toward him in question.
"Something wrong?"
"Yeah, they stole my lockpic! And it was my favorite one too!"
She smiled quietly. "What, do you mean this thing?"
Duo glanced over to see her holding a small piece of finely crafted twisted metal. He sat up to catch it as she dropped it into his hands.
"It fell out of your hair when they brought you in here. I was able to grab it before the guards noticed."
Duo grinned. "Ha!" Duo quickly manuvered the piece and with a loud click his hand-binders fell away. He turned and started to work on her's.
"You were with that woman, the one who helped the others escape right?"
Duo nodded. "You were the one who created the diversion?"
"Yeah, name's Chance."
Duo smirked at that. "Duo. Now what do you say we get out of here?"
"Couldn't agree more."
Both walked up to the door. "One, two, THREE!" At the same time they kicked the door, and watched it buckle slightly on the hinges. A second kick and the door flew out into the hallway, significantly startling the two guards. Duo rolled out into the hallway and kicked out his feet, triping the first guard while Chance rammed herself into the other one. Chance knocked him to the ground and caught him gun, flipping it around to hit him in the head, knocking him unconsious. She then whirled around to find Duo leaning over the other unconsious guard, searching his pockets for ammo. He finally stood up and grinned at her.
"Not bad," he commented as he glanced down the next hallway.
"Not bad yourself. You've had experience in this."
Duo just grinned. "A little, yeah. This way." The two took off down the hallway as fast as they could, yet still a large group of guards and people in offical looking uniforms were giving chase. They reached the docking bay of the ship and ducked behind the wall for cover.
"Can you pilot?" Chance yelled above the hail of gunfire.
Duo nodded as he returned the guard's fire, for the moment keeping them at the other end of the hallway. "Hai, I did a little piloting in my days." He grinned at the private joke.
"Well, then you get to pick our way out. I'll cover you."
Duo took the hint and turned. Mobile suit or transport, hmm. He smirked, not a very hard choice. Shifting his gun to one hand he bolted for the nearest mobile suit. Jumping into the cockpit he let instinct take over and soon the mobile suit came to life. Turning he aimed the main gun down the hallway and fired, causing the guards to scatter in a panic. Chance took her chance to race for the mobile suit and climb in as he closed the cockpit hatch.
"Let's get out of here!"
**
Quatre frowned to himself as he watched the scene transpire below. Sally had arrived about an hour ago with a fairly large group of teenagers from the recovery mission. Presently she was going from teen to teen, checking to make sure none were injured. As far as Quatre had been informed a ship transporting this group of orphans had been hijaked and the teenagers taken prisoner by another transport ship by the name of River's Edge. Sally had been called in and requested Duo's help, and his transport ship, to retrieve the teens.
All the orphans were his age, Quatre noticed. Why? About a dozen teenagers who were completely confused as to what was going on had been rescued. Why teenagers? What exactly was going on?
Sally walked up the stairs to lean against the railing next to him, leaving the Maganacs to take care of the teenagers.
"And Duo?" Quatre asked quietly.
"He stayed behind to help one we didn't get. Her name is Chance and apparently she became their leader of a sense, she created a diversion so we could escape."
Quatre nodded and chewed on his lower lip in thought. "Sally, why them? Why abduct teenagers?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, and apparently neither do they. But now that they are safe here the Preventers can hunt down the ship and find out. That is, of course, assuming Duo doesn't blow it up in the process of escaping."
Quatre smiled at that. "I wouldn't worry about that. However, you should probably head out here and take care of the ship before they come looking for their 'cargo'. We can take care of them until this is over."
Sally nodded and headed down the stairs. "Thank you, Quatre."
Quatre smiled. "No need, we're old friends, you know that."
Sally smiled and headed for the door, cell phone in hand and dialing. As she exited Quatre moved down the stairs toward a small cluster of girls. He needed to figure out what was going on, something about this situation felt strange. As he walked toward the group, the blond one rushed over to him.
"What happened to Chance? Did she make it out?"
Quatre shook his head slightly. "Sally's partner stayed behind to help her out, but we're not sure yet. He hasn't contacted us."
"He'll get her out right?" the comment came from a fairly dark skinned girl who walked up behind the first.
"He shouldn't have any problems. I know Duo, Chance'll be fine if she's with him."
Quatre looked up as the door bell rang. "If you'll excuse me," he headed for the door. Opening it he found a familiar face with a small smile. "Trowa!"
Trowa nodded his greeting. "I found these two in your front yard as well." Stepping aside he revealed a sightly frazzled but otherwise grinning Duo followed by a shorter red head. The blond behind Quatre gave a small squeal.
"Chance!" she raced past them and wrapped her arms around the other girl, Chance laughed.
"Calm down, Sky, is everyone here? Did everyone get out?"
Sky nodded happily and grabbed her arm, yanking Chance toward the small crowd of teens. Trowa watched the group with a raised eyebrow.
"What's going on?"
"Had to help Sally rescue a group of orphans, I take it she requsted that they stay here?" Duo took the tie out of the end of his braid and proceeded to unbraid and then quickly rebraid it, fixing it's unraveled look.
Quatre nodded his agreement.
"Any idea what they were kidnapped for?"
"That's what I can't figure out. The only things they have in common is they are orphans and they are just a little younger than us. Other than that I'm not sure."
Duo tied of his braid and tossed it back over his shoulder. "Well then, let me give it a shot. After all, I used to be one." And with that he waded into the group, mingling as if he'd always been a part of the group.
"You're worried," Trowa commented softly.
Quatre offered a weak smile. "I'm probably completely wrong but something about this doesn't feel right. I can't help but feel there is more going on here then we know."
"Then is appears I picked a good time to visit."
Quatre could only nod.
**
Chance walked along the hallway with her hands shoved in her pockets. Walking over to a door she reached out and slid it open, peeking into the room. Nothing. She shut the door and turned to conitinue down the hall but gasped as she realized someone was standing right in front of her.
"Duo! You scared me."
Duo flashed an innocent grin. "Can't sleep?" he accused.
Chance shook her head.
"Mind telling me why you're snooping around my pal's home then? I don't think he'd approve."
"Sky and the others are gone, they were there when I went to sleep but I just woke up and they weren't there." She sighed. "I know it's rude but we were kidnapped while I was sleeping, I'm not letting it happen again."
Duo opened his mouth to respond when a loud siren filled the house. Duo whirled around and Chance jumped as the windows locked and they heard doors slam shut. Duo swore under his breath and raced for the stairs and Quatre's bedroom, Chance following close behind. They reached the bedroom to find Trowa just stepping out of the room.
"What's going on?" Duo asked quickly.
"He won't wake up. It's the house's security system."
"Sky? Jare?! What are you doing?" Trowa and Duo turned to see Chance racing down the stairs after the group of three girls who'd spoken with Quatre earlier. They were ducking out of the office and heading full run for the front door. With the grace of a cat Trowa grabbed the railing and went sailing over the banister, landing in front of the girls, blocking their path. The dark skinned girl, Jare, didn't even hesitate. She jumped forward and aimed her fist at Trowa, missing only because he moved out of the way at the last second.
The other girls took the chance to race past him and the door exploded open. Duo's eyes widened as he raced down the stairs to help Trowa out. "Trowa! It was blasted from the outside, watch it!"
Trowa, Duo and Chance gave chase as the girls raced outside at top speed. As they entered the yard a large wind started up and they were forced to sheild their eyes from a sudden flash of light. Duo was the first to look back and the sight floored him.
"No way! Wing Zero?!" He stepped forward. "Heero?"
Duo moved to keep chasing the girls but the large gundam leveled its gun at him and he froze. Heero didn't aim his gun unless he meant to shoot. It was all Trowa and Heero could do to watch in amazement and confusion as the three girls climbed up into Wing Zero's hands and the gundam took off into the night.
Even Trowa couldn't hide his surprise and confusion. What was going on?
** End of Episode 1
Next Ep: After Wing Zero disappears into the night Trowa, Duo and Quatre set out to solve the mystery of what the three girls stole. Meanwhile Relena Peacecraft receives a visit from Heero, but why does he show up now? After having disappeared for over a year?
Episode 1: Jail Break
Duo Maxwell groaned loudly as his world swam back into view. Opening his eyes he tried to sit up and immediatly regretted it, he dropped back to where he was lying on the hard metal floor. Lying there silently he took stock of his situation. He was in a cell with his hands cuffed and his gun was gone. They'd done a pretty thorough search and he could tell that, just by shifting his weight, they'd found and taken all his hidden weapons. K'so! Did they get his lockpic too? Of all the dumb luck!
Duo closed his eyes and relaxed. Relax man, he told himself, just figure how you got yourself into this mess and then you'll come up with some way to get out of it. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and tried to remember.
**
"Duo?"
"Hai?" Duo sat reclined in his pilot seat aboard his own transport, his feet propped up on the edge of the control panel. Beside him Sally gave a light smile, she couldn't help it.
"We're here."
Duo opened one eye and glanced toward the view screen which displayed the view of space around them. The blinking lights of a transport shuttle caught his attension and he opened both eyes, sitting up. "That them?"
"Yep." Responded the Preventer next to him.
"Ok then, here goes." He pressed a few buttons and motioned to Sally, who stood up and headed for the back compartment, closing the door behind her. As soon as the door was safely closed Duo opened communications. "Hello over there? This is Space Trader Charon requesting assistance, please respond." He leaned back and played with the end of his braid as he waited for the other ship to respond. A second later the screen blinked and flashed on to reveal an older looking man with a very pointy nose.
"This is the transport River's Edge, what do you want?"
Not very friendly are they? He thought with a grin. "I'm having some minor difficulties here and I don't have the proper equiptment to make the repairs. Requesting permission to dock for a few hours and fix my ship. You are the nearest ship, there isn't a base for a ways yet."
The man seemed to hesitate.
"I can pay, no worries there. It'll only take an hour, two tops."
The man nodded. "You have clearance, but only for two hours." Then the connection was severed. Duo grinned.
"We won't even need one." Duo prepared the ship for docking while Sally stepped back into the room, armed quite well. She tossed him a fully loaded gun.
"You ready?"
Duo nodded and grew serious. "Lets hope these kids of yours can run fast."
**
Duo's eyes snapped open and he glanced around. He'd heard something. Quickly he sat up and looked around the entire cell, his eyes settling on a shadowy figure sitting completely still in the corner, just watching him.
"You're finally awake," spoke a quiet voice.
"Didn't even see you there... hn, must be losing my touch." Duo reached up and began to run his fingers through his hair, searching for the extra lockpic he always hid there. Meanwhile she stood up and walked over to sit down next to him. She turned her head to watch the door to the cell quietly, her dark red hair covering her face.
Duo swore as he discovered the lockpic was definently gone. "Shimatta!" With an exasperated sigh he dropped back onto the floor and rolled over to stare at the ceiling. She turned her purple eyes toward him in question.
"Something wrong?"
"Yeah, they stole my lockpic! And it was my favorite one too!"
She smiled quietly. "What, do you mean this thing?"
Duo glanced over to see her holding a small piece of finely crafted twisted metal. He sat up to catch it as she dropped it into his hands.
"It fell out of your hair when they brought you in here. I was able to grab it before the guards noticed."
Duo grinned. "Ha!" Duo quickly manuvered the piece and with a loud click his hand-binders fell away. He turned and started to work on her's.
"You were with that woman, the one who helped the others escape right?"
Duo nodded. "You were the one who created the diversion?"
"Yeah, name's Chance."
Duo smirked at that. "Duo. Now what do you say we get out of here?"
"Couldn't agree more."
Both walked up to the door. "One, two, THREE!" At the same time they kicked the door, and watched it buckle slightly on the hinges. A second kick and the door flew out into the hallway, significantly startling the two guards. Duo rolled out into the hallway and kicked out his feet, triping the first guard while Chance rammed herself into the other one. Chance knocked him to the ground and caught him gun, flipping it around to hit him in the head, knocking him unconsious. She then whirled around to find Duo leaning over the other unconsious guard, searching his pockets for ammo. He finally stood up and grinned at her.
"Not bad," he commented as he glanced down the next hallway.
"Not bad yourself. You've had experience in this."
Duo just grinned. "A little, yeah. This way." The two took off down the hallway as fast as they could, yet still a large group of guards and people in offical looking uniforms were giving chase. They reached the docking bay of the ship and ducked behind the wall for cover.
"Can you pilot?" Chance yelled above the hail of gunfire.
Duo nodded as he returned the guard's fire, for the moment keeping them at the other end of the hallway. "Hai, I did a little piloting in my days." He grinned at the private joke.
"Well, then you get to pick our way out. I'll cover you."
Duo took the hint and turned. Mobile suit or transport, hmm. He smirked, not a very hard choice. Shifting his gun to one hand he bolted for the nearest mobile suit. Jumping into the cockpit he let instinct take over and soon the mobile suit came to life. Turning he aimed the main gun down the hallway and fired, causing the guards to scatter in a panic. Chance took her chance to race for the mobile suit and climb in as he closed the cockpit hatch.
"Let's get out of here!"
**
Quatre frowned to himself as he watched the scene transpire below. Sally had arrived about an hour ago with a fairly large group of teenagers from the recovery mission. Presently she was going from teen to teen, checking to make sure none were injured. As far as Quatre had been informed a ship transporting this group of orphans had been hijaked and the teenagers taken prisoner by another transport ship by the name of River's Edge. Sally had been called in and requested Duo's help, and his transport ship, to retrieve the teens.
All the orphans were his age, Quatre noticed. Why? About a dozen teenagers who were completely confused as to what was going on had been rescued. Why teenagers? What exactly was going on?
Sally walked up the stairs to lean against the railing next to him, leaving the Maganacs to take care of the teenagers.
"And Duo?" Quatre asked quietly.
"He stayed behind to help one we didn't get. Her name is Chance and apparently she became their leader of a sense, she created a diversion so we could escape."
Quatre nodded and chewed on his lower lip in thought. "Sally, why them? Why abduct teenagers?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, and apparently neither do they. But now that they are safe here the Preventers can hunt down the ship and find out. That is, of course, assuming Duo doesn't blow it up in the process of escaping."
Quatre smiled at that. "I wouldn't worry about that. However, you should probably head out here and take care of the ship before they come looking for their 'cargo'. We can take care of them until this is over."
Sally nodded and headed down the stairs. "Thank you, Quatre."
Quatre smiled. "No need, we're old friends, you know that."
Sally smiled and headed for the door, cell phone in hand and dialing. As she exited Quatre moved down the stairs toward a small cluster of girls. He needed to figure out what was going on, something about this situation felt strange. As he walked toward the group, the blond one rushed over to him.
"What happened to Chance? Did she make it out?"
Quatre shook his head slightly. "Sally's partner stayed behind to help her out, but we're not sure yet. He hasn't contacted us."
"He'll get her out right?" the comment came from a fairly dark skinned girl who walked up behind the first.
"He shouldn't have any problems. I know Duo, Chance'll be fine if she's with him."
Quatre looked up as the door bell rang. "If you'll excuse me," he headed for the door. Opening it he found a familiar face with a small smile. "Trowa!"
Trowa nodded his greeting. "I found these two in your front yard as well." Stepping aside he revealed a sightly frazzled but otherwise grinning Duo followed by a shorter red head. The blond behind Quatre gave a small squeal.
"Chance!" she raced past them and wrapped her arms around the other girl, Chance laughed.
"Calm down, Sky, is everyone here? Did everyone get out?"
Sky nodded happily and grabbed her arm, yanking Chance toward the small crowd of teens. Trowa watched the group with a raised eyebrow.
"What's going on?"
"Had to help Sally rescue a group of orphans, I take it she requsted that they stay here?" Duo took the tie out of the end of his braid and proceeded to unbraid and then quickly rebraid it, fixing it's unraveled look.
Quatre nodded his agreement.
"Any idea what they were kidnapped for?"
"That's what I can't figure out. The only things they have in common is they are orphans and they are just a little younger than us. Other than that I'm not sure."
Duo tied of his braid and tossed it back over his shoulder. "Well then, let me give it a shot. After all, I used to be one." And with that he waded into the group, mingling as if he'd always been a part of the group.
"You're worried," Trowa commented softly.
Quatre offered a weak smile. "I'm probably completely wrong but something about this doesn't feel right. I can't help but feel there is more going on here then we know."
"Then is appears I picked a good time to visit."
Quatre could only nod.
**
Chance walked along the hallway with her hands shoved in her pockets. Walking over to a door she reached out and slid it open, peeking into the room. Nothing. She shut the door and turned to conitinue down the hall but gasped as she realized someone was standing right in front of her.
"Duo! You scared me."
Duo flashed an innocent grin. "Can't sleep?" he accused.
Chance shook her head.
"Mind telling me why you're snooping around my pal's home then? I don't think he'd approve."
"Sky and the others are gone, they were there when I went to sleep but I just woke up and they weren't there." She sighed. "I know it's rude but we were kidnapped while I was sleeping, I'm not letting it happen again."
Duo opened his mouth to respond when a loud siren filled the house. Duo whirled around and Chance jumped as the windows locked and they heard doors slam shut. Duo swore under his breath and raced for the stairs and Quatre's bedroom, Chance following close behind. They reached the bedroom to find Trowa just stepping out of the room.
"What's going on?" Duo asked quickly.
"He won't wake up. It's the house's security system."
"Sky? Jare?! What are you doing?" Trowa and Duo turned to see Chance racing down the stairs after the group of three girls who'd spoken with Quatre earlier. They were ducking out of the office and heading full run for the front door. With the grace of a cat Trowa grabbed the railing and went sailing over the banister, landing in front of the girls, blocking their path. The dark skinned girl, Jare, didn't even hesitate. She jumped forward and aimed her fist at Trowa, missing only because he moved out of the way at the last second.
The other girls took the chance to race past him and the door exploded open. Duo's eyes widened as he raced down the stairs to help Trowa out. "Trowa! It was blasted from the outside, watch it!"
Trowa, Duo and Chance gave chase as the girls raced outside at top speed. As they entered the yard a large wind started up and they were forced to sheild their eyes from a sudden flash of light. Duo was the first to look back and the sight floored him.
"No way! Wing Zero?!" He stepped forward. "Heero?"
Duo moved to keep chasing the girls but the large gundam leveled its gun at him and he froze. Heero didn't aim his gun unless he meant to shoot. It was all Trowa and Heero could do to watch in amazement and confusion as the three girls climbed up into Wing Zero's hands and the gundam took off into the night.
Even Trowa couldn't hide his surprise and confusion. What was going on?
** End of Episode 1
Next Ep: After Wing Zero disappears into the night Trowa, Duo and Quatre set out to solve the mystery of what the three girls stole. Meanwhile Relena Peacecraft receives a visit from Heero, but why does he show up now? After having disappeared for over a year?