Second Act.

Disclaimer:
I don't have money,
I don't have Cash.
I don't have job, or Visa,
Or Mastercard stash.

So what makes you think,
You can sue me for all I got,
When all there is to my name,
Is a lousy metal cooking pot.

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"Duo Maxwell."

"You recognize me."

The woman smiled, circling him, still keeping her gun trained on the young pilot as she fingered the long tail of hair on the back of his head. "That braid of yours is very distinctive. As is that personality. The others are warriors, soldiers thrown into battle. But you Duo, are the only one who smiles when he kills."

Duo tried to smile, keep up the mask while plotting his escape if the need came. This woman didn't seem to be a threat yet, but the insane were always unpredictable. "So, you're saying I'm some nutcase. Lady you're the crazy one. Holding me here in this graveyard."

The woman smiled. "You were crazy enough to follow me Duo. Duo Maxwell of colony L2. Sole survivor of the Maxwell Massacre. You seem to take on the names of your fallen comrades don't you? Duo, Maxwell, it would be amusing if it wern't so pathetic. I wonder, if the others died. Would you change your name to Sextuple Maxwell? Doesn't seem to fit as well as Duo does it?"

"You know a lot about me."

"I know everything about you Duo. Even your real name. Not as much flair as Duo. No wonder you changed it."

"I still don't know your name."

"In due time."

"And what does the great and powerful Oz want with me?"

"You're mistaken, I'm not Oz. The polar bear is a lone hunter."

Duo smirked. "Polar Bear? Now I know you're crazy."

"Have you ever been in a cage alone with a polar bear? My little brother got too close once. It pulled him right in, they didn't even find all the parts. Needless to say, he wasn't really my little brother anymore."

"You talk a lot for someone pointing a gun."

"I just thought you might be interested, before I had to send you to doom."

"Man if I had a nickel every time I heard that line."

"True. It is a little cliche isn't it? Well it doesn't matter. If you'd be so kind as to lead the way."

She prodded the gun into Duo in the direction she desired to go. Duo saw this as his chance and he ducked in blinding speed, turning around to punch his captor and escape. The woman was ready though and almost immediatly the pilot felt something of a pin prick in his neck. Thats when his vision started getting blurry and he passed out.



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When Duo came to all he could be sure of is that he wasn't anywhere near his last location. The floor was a cold cement and it sent a chill through him. The place was completly black and he couldn't see a thing. His eyes were probably still adjusting. What he could hear were two voices arguing, his sensative ears picked up every word.

"Kalua you idiot! I said I wanted the Wing pilot, not this braided she-male!"

Under any other cicrumstances Duo would have been offended. Actually he was offended, maybe he wore his hair a little long but he was no drag queen.

"You think I'm a fool? I'm not that crazy. A single minded killing machine? I'm good Shinji but I'm not that good. This one is better, he's special."

The male voice seemed intrigued. "Special. You could be lieing to get me to settle for less. I know you Kalua."

"Wouldn't you want more cunning then just brute strength? You need a good balance. Besides, this one has a killers instinct in him. It's not just programed. If we could tap into it, just think of the possibilities."

Great, now he was being compared to a psycho killer. Just because he didn't act like a complete zombie after a gundam battle? He knew that talk, it was the talk of someone trying to make a sale. All because some wuss didn't think Heero was a safe bet. Well he could be deadly too. Wait, that was the whole point of why he was here. Damn.

"Alright, you've got a good record. It's a deal."

"This is half of what you promised!"

Money exchange, even in complete darkness it was obvious.

"And what you brought me is not what you promised. Half is fair even if it's a pilot, considering what I offered you in the beginning."

There were no more words of exchange, but Duo could still hear the footsteps as the woman, his original captor, had walked away. Damnit Duo, 3 years of escaping with barely a scratch and you had to get caught by a bounty hunter.



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Well he didn't have to wait long to get an idea of what was going on. He heard a second set of footsteps approching and then a blinding flood of light entered the room.

"Rise and shine Pilot 02"

Duo's eyes adjusted to the light and he finally got an idea of where he was. He was correct in assuming he was in a cell. It wasn't entirely too big, as not many cells were. Actually there wasn't even a bed. He didn't even have a bucket to shit in. The man, his captor seemed very patiant and Duo took this opportunity to stand up, facing his kidnapper at eye level. He was a tall man and over six feet, Dark hair, styled the way seen by many prominent millionares and he dressed the part too which made Duo wonder off-handedly why he couldn't spring for decent room. "Kalua must have given you a very strong dosage, otherwise you would have tried to escape already."

"Yes well, I couldn't ignore the gracious hospitality you've shown me already. How could I leave without returning the favor."

"Hm yes. Well they all try to escape once. But then they learn they can kill. Of course theres always a problem with taking the innocent ones. So riotous. It's sickening."


"What are you nuts?"

He smiled. "No Duo, I'm a business man."

Duo studdied the man's face and he was instantly hit with the realization of what was going on. "The vanishing inmates. They never escaped, you were behind it."

"My, Kalua was right you are clever. Yes Duo, it was all me, I kidnapped those inmates. But heres the real teaser. Can you guess why?"

"You're having them kill."

"Oh killing isn't half of it. I give them a life. Do you remember what happened after the war? All that peace afterwards. You only know the surface. You pilots helped cause it you know. Countless armies disbanded, but that rush, that adrehnaline you get in combat, it still remained. Many went to the preventers, but not everyone could feel that same rush. You see, they remember going to battle against you, the infamous gundam pilots. Nothing could give them a rush after that, they were lost. It began as a simple underground movement, former soldiers fighting for their lives against former comrades. Against wild beasts, against gauntlets. Well as you can imagine it attracted quite a crowd. Unfortunatly six months later they either got bored, tired of it or just died. The need was still there but there were few fighters to meet the demand. At least, there were few willing."

"So you started kidnapping murderers, Psycho killers on death row."

"Just a little at first, small numbers, barely any to take notice. Anyone who did was paid off handsomely. It was the newbies getting into the business that disturbed the operation and started raising flags. Idiots, they nearly ruined it. I had to cover most of their tracks. It was very costly. I had meant to get you're friend, but you will do. Now that I have you, my losses will be covered. Who wouldn't pay to see a former gundam pilot in battle? Fighting for his life?"

Duo grinned. "Nice try but I think you just blew the lid off you're operation. They'll come looking for me even if I don't manage to escape, and when they find me they'll find you. You're as good as dead."

The man smiled. "Of course Duo, I've covered my tracks before. Don't you think I would make an effort now with such a high profile gladiator? Why do you think you were captured in a grave? Rest assured I've taken the necessary precautions. As we speak you're fellow pilots are mourning you're death."