Authors Note: This is set during the series. This is Yaoi so if you don't like it don't read it. If you want to flame me, go right ahead but please include your e-mail so that I can respond.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the song "Umi" nor do I claim to.
Warning: Yaoi at least hinted at more likely more than that ( I won't even know until I get there). Pairings… 1x2 3x4 5x? … Some very ooc places for all characters if you don't like it then leave ;P
Mission Children
" I wanna go home." Cried a little girl with long chestnut hair.
" I know little one but they won't let us." Replied an older girl with long dirty brown hair.
" I'm scared, I want my mommy." Sobbed another child.
" Melody, sing for them." Suggested a very dirty looking boy," It will make them feel better, make them forget about the guns."
The girl with long dirty brown hair picked up the little girl," Come over here everyone. Have the older kids each take a younger one. If they're related, keep them together. Dusty, they're not like us, they don't know how to survive. It's up to us to take care of them, get the gang together and tell them."
" What about the others, on the outside?" asked the boy.
" Tipsy and Scary can take care of themselves and the others. These kids can't." She took a deep breath," Come on little ones. Lay down. It's late and they made us walk a long way today." She took the little girl over and lay her down next to a little girl with pigtails," sleep close together and you'll stay warm." Melody sat down in the middle of the large group of children and began to sing,"
Umi Wa Hiroi na, ookii na,
Tsuki ga noborushi,
Higashizumu.
Umi ni ofune o ukabasete,
Yurete dokonode,
Tsuzukuyara.
Umi ni ofune o ukabasete,
Itte mitaina, yoso no kuni."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Heero and Duo walked silently through the city. Everywhere they looked, it was quiet. As they passed the school, they found it empty. Thinking it may be a holiday, the two pilots made their way to the heart of the city but there were still no kids.
" Something isn't right here Heero." Duo said under his breath," Where are all the kids? There aren't even any street kids."
" Let's go in here and try to find some answers, and something warm to eat." Replied Heero pointing at a diner.
The two boys made their way into the diner where all sound stopped. As they moved into the back corner, both door in clear sight, they watched as half the room left as quickly as possible. Heero and Duo exchanged grim looks as a pale, tear stained waitress came up to their table. She held two menus in her trembling hands.
" Is there anything I can get you?" She asked Shakily.
" Where are all the children?" asked Heero.
" Our soup, soup won't be ready for another hour or so but I bet you'll enjoy our ribs." She replied. Tears streamed down her cheeks but she continued without pause for protest," I'll bring you that coffee while you wait for your ribs."
The two stunned warriors watched in silence while she retreated," Heero?"
" Hn."
" Something isn't right here Heero. That woman is terrified. She wants to tell us something but is acting like the room is bugged."
" It is." Replied Heero taking out a pen and writing a note on the napkin.
:: Why are you afraid?::
" Here we are, chef just pulled them off the grill. I'll get your coffee then take my break right here if it's okay with you." Shook the waitress as she picked up the note. Taking the note with her, she went to get their coffee and wrote her reply. Placing their coffee before them, the waitress sat down at the small table across from the booth, her hands trembled uncontrollably as she handed Heero the napkin with her reply and a picture of three children.
:: Oz soldiers came early this morning and took the children from their beds. All of the kids, ages five to seventeen. They even hunted down the street kids although a few escaped. They took our babies and are threatening to kill them if we don't divert the power to their base::
:: Divert the power?:: wrote Duo whom had clamped his hand over his mouth to prevent his angry outburst.
:: This city owns and operates the power plant on the mountain. When the war began we cut power to their base and diverted it to a hospital and an orphanage in the valley. They get power in exchange for medical care. The children are given an education. We made an agreement with the hospital. If they try to take the plant by force we'll destroy it.::
:: Brave,:: wrote Heero,:: But stupid if you have no weapons.::
:: I know who you are.:: Heero and Duo raised their eyebrows at her,:: You're gundam pilots.::
" How is it that you know that?" asked Heero.
" I saw you once." She whispered," Please help us."
:: Mission accepted:: wrote Heero before standing up and leading Duo out.
" Hey, can we get this to go?" asked Duo.
" Yeah, let me get you a box."
When she returned, she had several boxes filled with food," It's on the house, chefs orders."
" Thanks." Said Duo accepting two bags filled with boxes.
Once they were outside Heero turned to Duo," What are you planning to do with all of that?"
" We're going to find the street kids that she said were still out here somewhere." Replied Duo.
" And how may I ask are you planning to do that?"
" Incase you've forgotten, I grew up on the streets." Replied Duo turning them down a side alley.
" Hn."
Heero followed Duo silently through the streets, down twists and turns that were barely recognizable as paths. The buildings seemed to rise-up around them like the walls of a great cavern until they could barely see the night sky. They followed the maze until not even the perfect soldier was sure of where he was. After what seemed like hours, Duo stopped in front of an old rundown warehouse.
" If I were looking for somewhere to sleep this building would be perfect. I bet the inner rooms are still intact." Sighed Duo.
" You thing the kids that escaped are hiding out here?"
" Yeah, I'm pretty sure this building will be the one." Replied Duo. He was just about to find a way into the building when a small head popped out of the side alley.
" Scatter!" yelled the boy just as Heero grabbed his arm.
" Heero, that's not going to get us anywhere!" Exclaimed Duo," Hey kid, we don't wanna hurt you, we just need to talk to you."
" What could you want to talk to me about?" asked the kid trying to pull away from Heero.
" We're trying to save the children." Replied Heero.
The kid stopped struggling," You're gonna try to find the kids?"
" Yes," replied Duo," Are you hungry?"
" How do I know you haven't put anything in it?" asked the kid," Well, that nice waitress at the diner gave it to us and she's the one who asked for our help."
" Is there enough for the others?" asked the kid.
" Yeah, We'll give you one bag." Replied Duo.
" They made 'em walk east to a pole barn. It was three maybe four miles."
" Let him go Heero." Said Duo softly," How many of your gang was captured?"
" Almost all of the older kids. Scary and I managed to get the younger kids away while Melody, Dusty, and Scooter led them away."
" Melody takes care of everybody?" asked Duo.
" Yeah, She says we're the family that OZ took away from her. She makes sure that we can survive without forgetting our M… Mor…"
" Morals?" asked Duo.
" Yeah. She takes in all the kids and makes sure we take care of each other."
" What can I call you kid?"
" I'm Tipsy." Replied the kid.
" Well Tipsy, I'll let Melody know that You and scary took care of the other kids." replied Duo handing him the bag of food.
As soon as he had the food, Tipsy ran away to gather up the other kids. It wasn't until then that Heero put together the origin of his name. His right leg was deformed, making it shorter than the other. Unsettled by the revelation, Heero looked to Duo as if for another answer. Duo was still focused on the point where the boy disappeared. After a while, the braided pilot turned his attention back to his partner. When he saw pained Prussian eyes beyond the hard exterior mask, he smiled sadly.
" The small ones are always the strongest ones." Commented Duo softly.
" Hn." Replied Heero thoughtfully," Where is that hospital care that the waitress spoke of."
" That break was probably a lot older than the life here." Replied Duo then added bitterly," Besides, who care about the street rats."
" I do." Responded Heero softly.
" Let's get back to the others and let them know what we know and come up with a plan." Sighed Duo as he began leading the way out.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
" What do you mean they've kidnapped the children!" exclaimed Quatra pulling his head out of a maintenance compartment of Sandrock.
" All of them, in an attempt to prevent the town from blowing up the plant." Replied Heero.
" That is a most dishonorable course of action." Replied Wu Fei Seething," We shall exact our Justice. It is the only honorable thing to do."
" Yeah, what the Fei said." Grinned Duo.
" What do we know?" asked Quatra.
" Satellite photo's have confirmed the presence of the pole barn three miles east of the city." Replied Heero.
" Tipsy followed them when they force marched the children." Explained Duo.
" The force march of children!" ranted Wu Fei.
" You said three miles?" questioned Trowa," That's a long way for children and the temperatures at this elevation drop very low. Do we have any idea how prepared for the weather they are?"
" No," Replied Heero," They waitress said that they were taken from their beds."
" Then they probably aren't very prepared." Sighed Trowa," We're going to need a truck to move the children back to town in. We're also going to need blankets and medical supplies."
" That Girl, Melody, what do we know about her." Asked Quatra.
" I think we can trust that she'll take care of the children." Replied Duo thoughtfully.
" Why?" asked Wu Fei.
Duo looked at him as though not really seeing him," It was what Tipsy said about teaching them to take care of each other without forgetting their morals."
" Explain." Demanded Wu Fei.
Duo squirmed uncomfortably," They're poor but she's teaching them to survive poor. They take care of each other rather than prey on each other. They may steal to survive but not from anyone who can't afford to loose a little." Duo took a deep breath," And she led the Oz soldiers away while Tipsy and Scary took the littler kids and hid."
" This is going to be a very dangerous operation." Said Heero studying a satellite map of the area, " We're going to need to time everything carefully to protect the children. We're going to have to do this without our gundams, unless we risk the children. Trowa, Wu Fei, get the supplies we'll need. Duo and I will do recon. Quatra, make contact with rebels sympathetic to our cause, I want to make sure that this never happens again."
" Isn't that dangerous?" asked Trowa amazed that Heero would risk their operation.
" Yes, But necessary." Replied Heero," We're here to prevent Civilian casualties and aren't children civilian casualties."
" He has a point." Duo Chirped. Moving forward, he ran a stealthy finger along the Perfect Soldiers spine.
Heero shivered inwardly but plowed onward knowing that it was a thank you. " If we rescue the children and leave without leaving some sort of support for the town then they will be vulnerable again."
" Heero's right." Said Quatra," They are trying to take a stand for themselves but they can't do it alone. They are vulnerable because they have families and people to love."
" Let's get this stuff done," sighed Heero," We're on a strict time frame. I want these children home by morning and us at the next safe house."
AN: Well, what do you think? I need reviews people. I want to know what you think. Should I finish this? Please review and let me know.
Duo- *carrying a very duct taped Wu Fei* Don't forget to feed the muses. * grins* namely me!
Wu Fei- * holds up sign * this is injustice.
Heero- Koi, why are you tormenting Wu Fei?
Duo- He's just so sad and lonely always ranting on and on about how everything's an injustice.
Heero- * grinning evilly * Can I help?