Pheonix Rising
Pheonix Rising
by Ratha

Part One: Mission...Botched

"The mission is to destroy the OZ base and obtain the data fields about the secret soldier known as the Pheonix," Heero announced.

"Of course," Duo nodded. The two pilots were seated in their gundams, awaiting the signal for takeoff. The image of Heero on Duo's vid-link was slightly fuzzy, but acceptable. Eager to be off, Duo was practically bouncing in his seat. "Since we know what to do, can't we go now?"

"Not until Quatre gives the thumbs up," was the vaguely reprimanding reply.

Duo blew a raspberry at him. "Picky, picky, picky. You are a royal pain in the ass, you know that?"

"So are you," was Heero's deadpan response.

Quatre's laughter came over the audio link. "Okay, you two! You've got a hole in satellite coverage now. It'll last 8 minutes, so get moving. Radio in at 500 hours tomorrow."

"Gotcha. Woohoo! The Shinigami rides again!" Duo gunned the thrusters and shot up into the air, briefly relaying the message as Heero followed him toward space. "Let's go kick some Leo ass!"

"Hn," was Heero's only reply before they entered the blackout stage of takeoff and Heero's image vanished from the screen.
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"There are two of them coming, Lieutenant," said a slightly amused, vaguely distant voice. "I can sense them."

"Which two, Pheonix?" asked the lieutenant, a man with a commanding presence.

"Now, Lieutenant, that would take all the work out of it. Not to mention the fun," laughed the voice. "Besides I can't tell which two. They're still too far away."

"I see. Very well. Are you sure your plan will work?"

"If one of the pilots is who I think he is, he'll never suspect me until it's too late."

"Good. Get to your station and be ready to set your plan in motion."

"Yes, Lieutenant." The Pheonix laughed and unnaturally blue-green eyes glowed in the darkness of the shadows hiding the Pheonix. *It just won't be the plan you expect, Lieutenant.*
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"So what's the fuss about this Pheonix, Heero?" Duo asked as they stealthily flew toward the base.

"It's rumored the Pheonix is both the ultimate warrior and the ultimate weapon."

"I thought that was you."

"No, the Pheonix is much worse. A telepath, the most powerful in the known universe."

"Tele-what?"

"Telepath. Psychic. Mind reader. Get the picture?"

"Bright and clear. Man, and OZ has that kinda power on their side? We're dead if we don't take out the Pheonix!" Duo spotted a Leo suit heading their way. "Forget stealth! If what you said's true, they already know we're coming!"

There was silence from Heero's side.

"Ya never considered that, didja?"

"No."

"Heh. Some Perfect Soldier." Duo turned to face the approaching mobile suit. "I'm the God of Death! Anyone who sees me has got a date with his maker!"

"God of Idiots, you mean."

"Look who's talking, Heero! Yahoo!" He shot toward the Leo, beam scythe blazing as he laughed maniacally. After destroying the Leo, Duo continued for the base.

Heero appeared on the screen. "There will be havoc around here soon. You know what to do."

Duo saluted with a cocky smirk. "Sure do, Heero. Just keep 'em busy for a while."

Heero remained expressionless and Duo wondered if Heero's gundam would be more responsive. "You have twenty minutes, or I will assume you dead or captured."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Duo muttered as he jetted away. "On the flip side, then." He briefly noted a collection of Leos converging on Heero, but ignoring himself. Strange...He shrugged and headed toward the base.

He expected his main problem to be docking, but to his shock, he found a docking bay open, almost as if waiting for him.

"Either it's my lucky night or someone set a trap for us." He scanned the area and found nothing unusual. "Huh. Some poor soldier's gonna be blamed for this, but ya take what you can get." He grinned and docked the Deathscythe.

The necessary supplies for the mission were scattered in the few spare places in the cockpit. He set to casting about, locating his gun, several ZIP disks, a package of explosives, and naturally his black cap, which he pulled down onto his head and over his eyes with a vigorous tug. He checked his watch: 14 minutes, 38 seconds before he was "dead or captured." Duo smirked. A cinch. Then he was suddenly hit by a wave of dizziness so severe he had to lean against the door of the cockpit.

"Aw, man. I better not be getting sick or something now."

When it passed, he rushed down the halls, holding his gun in a loose grip, ready to raise it in an instant. He soon found himself in front of Lab 476-B. Now to get in. He picked the lock and he prepared to fire his gun as the door slid open.

"Huh?" he said, staring in baffled shock at the empty room, his gun lowering. "What gives? Where's everyone?"

No time for that now. He had to get the Pheonix data. He moved to the computer and began typing furiously. He soon found the information, getting through the firewall and the other security programs. Downloading the data, he looked at his watch again. 6 minutes and 20 seconds left. Still plenty of time. All he had to do now was-

"Uhhnnn..." a voice moaned.

Duo jumped and looked for the source of the unexpected noise. His jaw dropped nearly to his knees at what he saw.

Bound to one of the tables was a young woman who looked no older than himself. She had long black hair framing her pale face, which was covered with purplish bruises. A thin white tanktop and shorts were all that covered her, bruises and cuts were visible on her arms and legs. She was a pitiful sight.

Duo hesitated. He wanted to help her, but something urged him not to. He glanced at the time again. 5 minutes, 40 seconds. Screw common sense. He moved to the table and pulled out a knife, slicing through her bonds. Lucky she was unconscious. He looked around and grabbed a spare lab coat, then wrapped it around her and lifted her off the table.

"Hold it right there!" barked a voice from the doorway.

"Oops." Duo eyed the burly-looking OZ soldier who was aiming a gun at him. "Uh...Can you tell me where your superior is?"

The soldier looked baffled, giving Duo time to shoot him.

"Are all OZ soldiers that stupid?" Duo chuckled and carried the girl into the hall. "Now to get outta here! I dunno who you are, Miss, but I guess I'm stuck with you now. Hang on, 'cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride!"

He ran down the halls toward the docking bay, pausing only long enough to set the explosives. He reached his gundam and ran into a problem. How was he going to get the mysterious girl into the cockpit?

It was that moment she chose to regain consciousness. "Ohhh," she moaned, her eyes blinking open. "Who...what...?" She looked up at him in confusion and fear. "Who are you? What's going on?"

"Later, babe. We gotta get outta here before OZ finds us. Can you walk?"

"I-I think so. Are you an enemy of OZ?"

"Yup. Come on." He set her on her feet and helped her climb into the cockpit. "Buckle up in that spare seat and get ready to rock! We're blasting outta here!"

She quickly obeyed and let out a startled shriek of laughter as the gundam leapt into motion.

Duo grinned and zeroed in on a huge pack of Leo suits heading their way. "ORE WA SHINIGAMI!" he laughed maniacally and blasted toward the approaching Leos. The screen erupted with green light as the God of Death sliced his way through the defenseless Leos and away from the base. "Here, babe! You do the honors!" He tossed the detonation device over his shoulder to the girl. "Push the button to turn the base into a big hole in the ground!"

There was a brief silence, then the click of the button being pushed.

Immediately the sky blossomed in red, yellow, and orange bursts as the huge OZ base exploded in brilliant colors. Duo grinned and pushed the "Comm01" button to contact Heero.

"Yo, Heero! Let's jet!"

There was no reply. Only static and snowy spots reigned where there should have been an image of Heero.