Wong Yun Fat allowed himself a sigh of boredom as he and Urube walked into the Plexiglas double doors of the Paragon Institute, a Neo Singapore based company that specialized in mobile weapon production of the most unusual kind. This little excursion had been Urube's plan, not his, and he thought back to a few days ago as he wondered how the hell he had let Urube talk him into this.

"I'm telling you Wong, next time Domon Kasshu might not hesitate! You have to learn how to properly fight back if that happens, what can I say to make you realize that!?" shouted Urube to Wong

"He wouldn't dare, and besides, I don't feel like it. I'm the mayor of Neo Hong Kong, not some trashy gundam fighter!" Wong had replied, though he was repelled by the idea of piloting a mobile fighter for reasons other than prestige.

"I don't care, as your bodyguard, you're going to learn how to pilot, and that's the end of this discussion." Urube had stated, walking out of the room.

Perhaps Urube might not be as valuable an asset as I previously believed. I'll have to watch him a bit closely in the future...

That discussion had been a week ago, and much to Wong's surprise Urube had set up everything for a meeting with the lead engineer of the Paragon Institute to construct a custom mobile weapon for his personal use. By the time he had learned of this he was already on the plane though. Wong grumbled to himself absentmindedly.

The next time Urube tries to pull something like this, I have to put my foot down. But for now... its not like I have anything else better to do..

Situated on the outskirts of Neo Singapore, the successful Institute had it's own runway for private customers. Wong wasn't impressed; he had seen that before. Nor was he impressed with the cluster of buildings, most of them being made of pure onyx.

As the pair entered the largest building, they were greeted by an unusual sight: a trio of mobile suit statues. This pattern would continue as the two proceeded deeper into the complex, Wong begrudgingly admitting to himself that the wide variety of mobile weapons the company had on display were interesting, to say the least. However, they were so only from an artistic perspective, and he had no intention of using any of these machines, no matter what Urube said or did. After all he was a politician, not some gundam fighter.

"Would you two happen to be looking for me?"

Wong and Urube both spun around to see standing behind them a young woman. She appeared to be in her early 20s, and wore a fashionable outfit under a lab coat. Though she was obviously some sort of scientist, she looked out of place in the lab coat, what with the her pendant and chic earrings. Her glasses were small and clipped to her nose, and her hair was bright red. Her eyes were the thing that stood out about her, though. They were dark green, and almost seemed to draw attention to themselves. She carried a clipboard in one hand, and her expression revealed a hint of amusement.

"Not quite." responded Wong impatiently. "We're looking for the..." Wong stopped in the realization that he had no idea who they were looking for, and turned to Urube.

"Who are we looking for again?"

"The head engineer, of course." answered Urube, as if the fact was obvious.

The young woman grinned. "That would be me."

While Urube stared in blatant shock, Wong rolled his eyes. "You, the head engineer. Right."

The young woman's expression changed from amusement to indignation, and she held up the ID card clipped to one of her lab coat pockets. "Here's the proof, smart ass." she muttered.

Wong prepared a retort, but looked down at the ID card first, lowering his glasses so that he could get a better view as he read the fine print. Sadira Kreuz. Paragon Institute Chief Engineer. Before Wong could read any more the incensed scientist withdrew the card. Wong pushed his glasses back up, the surprise evident, her snide remark temporarily forgotten.

Well now, I certainly wasn't expecting this. Judging from Urube's staring, I don't think he did either. Maybe this trip might be a bit more interesting than I'd thought.

"So, since you know me, who are you two?" asked Sadira.

Urube spoke up, since this appointment was his doing. "I am Gunjin Shitajiki, the man who set up this meeting, and this is Mayor Wong Yun Fat, my employer."

Sadira's eyes widened in surprise, and her indignation was temporarily forgotten. "The former Prime Minister of Neo Hong Kong?!"

"The genuine article."

Sadira shifted her clipboard from one arm to the other, and turned her attention back to "Gunjin." "Come with me to the production hangar. We can talk as we go." Without further ado she strode off down the hall. Wong raised an eyebrow at Urube before following her, wishing that he still had his old chair. Walking did get cumbersome after a while

As they walked down hallways and corridors, Sadira watched Urube, jotting down something on her clipboard. As they entered the hangar, Sadira guided the pair through various half-finished mobile weapons, finally stopping at what appeared to be a mobile fighter. Though the armor and right arm had not been completed, the design was large and bulky, vaguely reminiscent of the Bolt Gundam. Sadira turned to Urube, her hands on her hips.

"Impressive build, obvious grapple-oriented fighting style, efficient energy consumption.... I believe this gundam is perfect for you, Mr. Shitajiki. It's only 41% complete, but we can have it ready by the end of the week if you wish." Sadira casually brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes, with an air of utter confidence about her.

Then again, I suppose I could be wrong. It has happened before...

Before Wong could correct her oversight, Urube held up one finger, stopping Sadira before she could go any further.

"No, no! I wanted a mobile fighter for him, not me!" exclaimed Urube, pointing at Wong.

Sadira stared at Urube for a few second and the burst out laughing, very nearly dropping her clipboard.

"Him, pilot a gundam!? Ha ha ha!" Sadira finally managed to regain her composure and wiped tears from her eyes as Wong watched her, his annoyance becoming more and more blatant.

"Yes, I pilot a gundam. What is so funny about that?" he finally asked.

Sadira looked at Wong, still chuckling, though not as loudly as before. "Nothing, nothing at all." she answered, though her response was entirely unconvincing. She wiped her glasses on her lab coat, then tore the top sheet of paper off the clipboard and threw it aside. She then turned her full attention to Wong, circling him and scribbling on the clipboard, muttering all the while.

Finally she looked up from the clipboard and faced both Wong and Urube, her hands on her hips. "Are you sure about this, Mr. Wong? After all, I don't want to say you're out of shape, but..."

"But what?" demanded Wong.

"Well, you're not exactly gundam fighter material." Sadira admitted. "To be frank, you just wouldn't fit well in anything. You're too small to use a bulky, armored gundam, and you're too scrawny to make use of a light, nimble gundam." Her tone made it obvious that she was trying to speak without insulting him, which angered Wong all the more.

When Wong spoke, he was calm and cool as ever. "As the head engineer for the Paragon Institute, I do believe it's your job to find and / or create a mobile fighter for whomever commissions one, am I right?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

Wong smirked. "Then I advise you to do your job and stop whining about my physique. Or, if you wish, I can simply take my business elsewhere... and the business of all of Neo Hong Kong with me."

Sadira frowned, but knew better than to retort; she realized how thoroughly she had pissed off the mayor. "Don't worry, I'll find something."

"I'm sure you will."

"Then it seems our business here is concluded." Wong turned and strode away, leaving Urube to work out anything else with.

What a rude girl... it's quite surprising that someone like her could be head of anything. Then again, she would do well to remember who I am. I can always take care of that...

Urube was silent the whole of the return trip, and he spent most of said trip perusing a notebook that Sadira had given him. Wong, on the other hand, tried a few new flavors of pocky he had been meaning to. The day hadn't been a total loss, but it left much to be desired.

When they returned home, it was quite late. Urube bade Wong good night and retired to his room. Though Wong initially tried to sleep, after thirty minutes he learned that, for the moment, he was getting nowhere.

I know I had quite a bit of pocky on the way back here, but still...

Rising from his bed, Wong got up and looked around his room. Though he had lost many of the luxuries he reveled in as Prime Minister of earth and space, he had enough money to restore his personal quarters to their original condition. Dragons stared at him menacingly from their place in the wall scrolls and gundam fighter models sat on their shelves, cast in shadow. A single portrait dominated the room, one he had saved since childhood and enlarged for this purpose.

Wong rose from his bed, knocking his teddy bear to the ground in the process. He quickly bent and put the bear back on the bed. Of all of his personal possessions this one was the oldest, dating back to his infancy, at a time where it was bigger than he was. He had kept it all these years, paying handsome sums of money to ward the effects of time away. Still in his night robe, he walked to the balcony and stepped outside.

The gentle tide of Neo Hong Kong's waters greeted him below, as the looming orb of the full moon did above. Since he hadn't had enough money yet to purchase an apartment in the heart of his beloved city, he had to settle for this. Yet, it wasn't nearly that bad. Looking down at the rush of the waves onto the beach, he had an impulse.

Perhaps a walk will calm my chocolate ridden system enough to allow for a peaceful sleep upon my return? It certainly is worth trying, I suppose.

Donning his familiar glasses, Wong strode out onto the beach silently. He was barefoot, and almost comical in his night robe. As he strode over the sand, he was reminded of having walked across beaches much like this one on his youth, back when he had been a very small boy. He reached a small hill and climbed to the top, gazing at the new sight before him.

In the distance stood Neo Hong Kong, proud and vibrant. Neon lights shone like beacons, and the activity of the city was obvious even to so far away a spectator. Gazing at the city like this reminded him of the nights when he would stand at the window of his apartment and admire the city below him, content in the fact that under his guidance Neo Hong Kong would grow to unprecedented levels.

If it hadn't been for Domon's interference, all would have gone according to plan... No, I can't honestly say that. Eventually the Devil Gundam would have turned on me, and then I would have been no more than one of it's DG cell-infested minions. I suppose a part of me knew that, having studied it so extensively, but I didn't want to give up the prospect of so much power... and in the process, I ended up losing very nearly everything.

Looking out at Neo Hong Kong like this made Wong feel almost like an outsider, though he had been born and raised in the city. His small oversight had ended up humiliating both Neo Hong Kong and himself. As he studied the far off megalopolis, he looked down and clenched his hand into a fist.

Never again... I'm going to bring us both up again, Neo Hong Kong. I won't rest until I regain our status as the rightful leaders of earth and space. And once I've done that, people will know me again as Prime Minister Wong Yun Fat! Only this time, I won't let anything slip through my grip...

Wong chuckled softly as he mused over his grandiose vision, the sound of his laughter seeming to merge with the break of the surf below him.