Disclaimer: Nothing but 'Girl' and the plot line belongs to me.

This is a very indirect (for me) shot at a character insertion. Enjoy.

Inspired by Chels-dawg and her fear of fireworks.

____ is all heard over phone/vidcom/radio.

Prologue: Death and Distraction

Duo, the lights are flickering, the powers gone.

"I know, here too."

What if we don't get out of this alive?

"Then we'll see each other in heaven, or hell, whichever."

I think I'm going to hell, for what I've done to the civilians and the soldiers.

"It was your job, you had to, you were ordered to. Don't be so pessimistic."

My life is like dirt compared to all the people I've killed, I can't face the world. Not like this.

"You don't have to, it's not like we'll make it through."

Now who's being pessimistic?

"Well, yeah, but the chances are slim to none."

How come Heero didn't tell us they'd be here this early? He's the perfect one.

"He's human like you and I, give him a break."

Fine.

"How much chance do you have of a decent escape route?"

Why does it matter, you yourself said the advantage is slim. Besides, they're on the stairs, I can hear them now.

"Get out of there."

Why, why do you care? You only just met me anyway, and I tried to kill your friend then. Why does it matter?

"You're being repetitive. Just get out of there, please."

I can't they're here now.

"They'll kill you."

Do you know how, I got your number?

"Get out!" He was screaming now. The phone was barely able to hold the connection to the radiotelephone so the next words were nearly lost in static.

I found it… on my wanted… poster

There were static laced sounds of a fight and machine guns as the armed forces of the Elite Forces entered the room.

All… but…a… The voice at the other end was lost as the static enveloped the line and cut it.

"Shit!" Duo ripped off the headset. "Heero, she's gone. Have you got a lock on the location?"

"6th and Baron street, apartment complex E, second level, room 243." The message was short and sweet.

"Alright!" Duo turned to face the small crowd of ten Preventers soldiers. That was all they could spare, as the rest were defending the base or working the extra generator for the power for the control room. "This is a strictly search and rescue mission. Fire only if fired at, got it?"

A chorus of yes's met the inquisition and the troop moved out.

~

The race up to the room was nearly killing Duo, he had a desperate need to find this killer. The fear her words had put in him was not for his life but for the lives of others that might be lost if this were a code. The apartment door was torn down and neighbors could be seen huddling in the shadows of their own doorframes. The apartment had been dingy to begin with, but now papers were scattered the floor over and the bed in the single room was ripped to shreds the miniscule kitchen was separated from the bed room by only a counter and overhanging cabinets. The only widow was shattered and to its left was a bullet hole pattern on the wall, an x in a circle. Underneath in a pool of shattered glass and her own blood was the girl. He'd not seen her face at the site of Relena's attempted assassination, the skiing mask had covered it. But now it was pale with blood loss, so much so that Duo doubted she would live. He knelt by her head. Then it hit him, as he did not know her name.

"Girl." He settled for, it would have to do for now. "Girl, can you hear me? It's Duo, my base was under heavy attack, and I couldn't get to you."

"I…hear…you." Her eyelids pressed closed then flickered open to reveal gray eyes.

"Are you going to live?" Duo didn't want to force the situation; the pressure could be too great.

"Depends… are…you going…to help…me?" She flinched, talking seemed to pain her.

"Yes." He whispered. "Get me an ambulance, the wounds are too great, I'm afraid to move her." Duo called to the apprehensive soldiers at the doorway.

"No!" She gasped. "No! They'll pry…they'll want…to…know…more."

"I promise they won't ask anything. I'll make sure."

"No! No!" She began to thrash around weakly, reopening what wounds had caked with blood previously.

"Stop!" He glanced back at the nine remaining soldiers. "Do any of you have a sedative?"

One of them did, Duo injected it into the girl who went limp almost instantly and closed her eyes. "Where's that ambulance?"

"Right outside, sir. The paramedics should be up soon."

"Thank you, ensign." Duo said, shaking his head to clear it.