Disclaimer: I own nothing, 'cept the Rats, Hawk, and Phantom…

Wow the last time I updated this sucker was in May…I'm horrible….

Anyways here it is hope you all enjoy this chapter its kinda long I tried to keep it short…but it was hard to end the thing nothing sounded right…but hopefully this is good.

Enjoy!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The door to his cell slide open and Hawk took a deep breath preparing himself too get the shit kicked out of him again. Instead, he was dragged to his feet and dragged out of his cell. Too weak for his legs to get the message to walk, Hawk allowed himself to be dragged by the soldiers down a long corridor. He wasn't sure where they were taking him, one thing Hawk was sure of, they weren't releasing him, they walked into a MS factory, standing smack in the middle of a lot of commotion, hooked up to wiring and equipment, was,

"Phantom," Hawk muttered weakly staring at his friend. So Hawk thought, they cant figure out how to break your security codes and are gonna try and use me. "Good luck boys," he said to the soldiers who both shot him a glare. Colonel Une approached them fast and looking even more pissed then she had last time he had seen her.

"Its so good to see you young man," she said her voice cold and cruel. "Have you changed your mind about your Gundam?" When Hawk didn't answer she stared down at him "no? Still holding out? Well maybe this will loosen your tongue, tomorrow you are going to be shipped to Colony 423, as I'm sure you are aware that is the disciplinary colony, the day after you are to be executed." Hawk's mouth dropped open, in the back of his mind he knew being executed was probable he just didn't want to believe it. "However if you give us the information we need, your life will be sparred." Hawk looked at Phantom then at Colonel Une, Oz spare his life? That was ridicules he knew Oz would never just let their enemy go just like that.

"You wanna execute me? Then go right ahead, I'll die 'fore I give up my Gundam. You all can go to hell you bastards!" Colonel Une stared at Hawk for a moment this being the first time he had spoken to her, frowning she reached forward and slapped him across the face. Hawk winced as he felt a red mark forming on his stinging cheek, but he didn't cry out,

"Go ahead," the Colonel commanded, Hawk took a deep breath and stared up at Phantom trying to block out the punches and kicks to his stomach and head. "Perhaps the Gundam will react to its pilot's peril. She said to her second in command they both watched Phantom. Blocking out the pain, Hawk kept his focus on Phantom, praying in his mind that no matter what happened Phantom wouldn't open his cockpit hatch. Hawk could see Phantom reacted to him getting beat, the Gundam moved slightly; scaring the crap out of some of the soldiers on the floor near him. But Phantom stayed true to what Hawk had said and didn't react anymore then the slight movement. That was the last thing Hawk remembered as a final blow to his stomach took the wind out of him so fast that he instantly lost consciousness.

OOOOOOOOOOO

The sound of yells and small explosions stirred Hawk from his slumber. He slowly moved and rubbed his eyes, trying to recollect what was going on. He was back in his cell, but he couldn't remember how he got there. The last thing he remembered was staring up at Phantom as he received another round of beatings from Oz soldiers. He remembered the final one and he remembered his breath cut short and everything going black.

Weakly he lifted his head and looked towards the door. What the hell is going on out there? He thought, the sound of someone hitting the floor outside the door was followed by the door sliding open.

"Man kid they've got ya locked up pretty damn tight huh?" Hawk blinked and tried to focus on the figure standing in the doorway. The guy reached to help Hawk up and Hawk's body instantly reacted by moving away. "Hey I'm not gonna hurt you, I'm here to bust ya out. The names Duo," Duo gently pulled Hawk to his feet. He took a pin out from his long braid and picked the cuffs, they fell to the floor landing with a clatter. "Damn they really did a number on you huh?" Hawk nodded grasping his stomach, every breath was still agony and every time he moved it felt like a thousand knives where plunging into his abdomen. "Can you walk," Hawk nodded slightly, but when he took a step forward pain shot through his body and he nearly fell to the floor. "Guess not, come on lets get you out of here," Duo pulled Hawk's arm around his shoulders "just put all your weight on me ok?"

"'K," Hawk said taking small breaths each one a knife though his stomach. They walked through the cell door, Duo looked left then right and they hurried down the corridor to the left. They stopped at a corner and Duo put Hawk up against the wall and whipped out a gun.

"Just one sec," he said grinning, the sounds of shouts and returning fire matched Duo's fire, he reached to his belt and took off a grenade which he tossed then ducked back next to Hawk as the hall exploded with light and smoke. "We're almost outta here, just hang on ok kid?" Hawk started to nod then a panic looked crossed his face

"My…my Gundam, I gotta get it,"

"I'll come back for it, I've got a pal with a ship waitin for us,"

"No you don't understand," Hawk said wincing as more pain shot through his stomach "He'll only let me inside, the hatch will only open for me. That's how come Oz hasn't been able to get in it." Duo looked over at Hawk

"Your kiddin,"

"No I aint,"

"Look kid your in no condition to be walking, let alone piloting a Gundam, do you realize how injured you are? I can see it just by lookin at ya," Hawk nodded

"No shit," he said grasping his stomach "but I aint leavin here without Phantom."

"All right, do you know where it is?" again Hawk nodded "ok, I'll get you there, but when you get outta here follow me, me an' some friends have some questions for you."

"Ya, ya, sure whatever man." Hawk mumbled. They made their way down the corridor, and Hawk silently prayed he knew where he was going. A few times called for them to duck behind a wall as heavy artillery was fired upon them, the entire walk Hawk felt like he was going to pass out then and there, but reaching Phantom kept him from giving into his bodies protests to pass out. When they reached the factory, there stood Phantom.

"Nice Gundam," Duo said,

"Thanks," Hawk said quietly, he moved away from Duo's support and supported himself along the railing, until he stood in front of Phantom. "Phantom," he said weakly Phantom sprang to life and looked down at his pilot. "Open the hatch, its me Phantom, Hawk, Jack's son." The hatch opened, next to the platform on a table was his chain and goggles, glad to have them back he put them on. Phantom held his hand out to the platform, Hawk climbed on it still grasping his stomach.

"Hey kid don't forget you promised to follow," Hawk nodded

"No prob," he said disappearing into the cockpit. Once the hatch closed Duo headed back to his own exit. Hawk leaned into the seat and took a few deep breaths "Phantom you're gonna have to go on my voice commands, there's gonna be a ship waiting for us, head towards it," Hawk felt Phantom smash the equipment and scaffolds that where in his path. Hawk was completely relying on Phantom to get them out of there. He heard shots and explosions nailing Phantom, as he walked towards the hanger door, then Hawk heard and felt Phantom smash the door and suddenly they where floating.

When they landed inside the waiting ship, Hawk took a deep breath "k Phantom, open the hatch…" he said Phantom did as he commanded, the first thing Hawk saw was Duo and another guy the same age with blonde hair standing on a scaffold near them. "Told ya I'd follow," Hawk said to Duo, the room started spinning and Duo and the other guy began blurring together, and that was the last thing he remembered before everything went black.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Flashback/Dream Sequence

Seven year old Hawk wandered through the streets of Colony 6, his stomach growled hungrily as he saw people buying food and other things in the crowded marketplace, he was so hungry having not eaten in days. No one paid any attention to the small dirt streaked faced, rag clothed boy, homeless and street orphans unfortunately where a common sight on the colony despite its well going economy a major portion of the colony itself was in extreme poverty.

Looking around quickly Hawk casually strolled over to one of the tables that held piles of fruit, looking around once more Hawk grabbed two apples and an orange off the table. He slowly began walking off when the vendor, noticing his lack of fruit, shouted

"Hey thief" the man was just shouting this in general however the seven year old panicked and began running, and since he was the only one running, the vendor pegged him as the thief and gave chase, Hawk managed to keep a good lead on the vendor who was much larger and unable to squeeze through the crowd as easily as the small boy. "Stop that kid he stole my merchandise!" the vendor shouted, Hawk looked back at him for a brief second and as he looked forward he saw a man standing directly in his path, unable to stop Hawk plowed into the man and hit the ground hard he held onto the fruit defiantly.

The man stood over Hawk and stared at him. He was a tall man in his late forties; he wore black jeans, black boots, a white shirt and a brown vest. His long graying hair was tied up in a pony tail. He reached down and before Hawk could move away grabbed the boy by the shirt and pulled him to his feet.

"Lemme go!" he said loudly

"Ah thanks sir," the vendor said coming up to them panting "thought I'd never catch the little bastard." The man looked down at Hawk, who still clutched the fruit tightly in his arms he expected a boy this young and in a situation this serious the boy would look at least a little upset, even crying. There was no such thing on Hawk's face; he maintained the stony definite stare he had held when he had run into the man. "I can take him to the proper authorities, after I get my fruit back." The vendor shook his head "thieving little bastards, if I had the means I'd capture every last one of them, a nice colony like this doesn't need this kind of filth ruining our beautiful colony." The man looked at Hawk again then at the vendor

"I would appreciate if you didn't speak that way to my son" The vendor looked at the man in shock, so did Hawk, what was this guy up too?

"Son!?"

"Yes my son,"

"If he's your son sir" the man said with a sarcastic tone "then why does he feel the need to steal from good hard working folks?"

"He's only a child and children make mistakes, I turned away from him for a second and he got away from me. I apologize for any in convince he may have caused you, I can assure you I will deal with him." Now Hawk was more then a little confused and a little scared even though he didn't let this show on his face, he maintained his defiant look determined not to give his emotions away. He had learned very quickly after living on the streets for 2 years if you let others know how your feeling you're more venerable and won't last very long on the streets. Lucky for Hawk he was excellent at this poker face as his father had called it. The man looked down at Hawk "give the vendor back his fruit," at first Hawk refused the man leaned down out of the vendors hearing and whispered "don't be afraid trust me kid,"

Hawk had also learned quickly not to trust anyone that the only one you could trust on the streets was yourself. But he was also a pretty good judge of people and for some reason felt he could trust this guy. So slowly and reluctantly he held the fruit out to the vendor.

"I can't take that back," the vendor said rudely "who knows what diseases your son spread to it." His voice dripping with sarcasm when he said the word son, it was apparent the vendor still didn't believe the man's story about Hawk being his son. He knocked the fruit out of Hawk's small arms and they hit the ground, the orange splattered when it landed on the cement and the apples rolled away.

Hawk watched this and felt his stomach growl even louder then before knowing that he had been so close to getting food and now not only was he not going to have the sweet fruit, but he was probably going to an orphanage or jail. He held back a sniffle as he bit his bottom lip, it was all he could do not to start crying out of desperation.

"Well I'll be happy to pay for the fruit," the man said, the vendor glared at Hawk once more as the man handed him money for the fruit and walked off back towards his stand. This entire time the man hadn't let go of Hawk's raggedy shirt. The crowd that had been watching the scene unfold now began to part leaving the man and Hawk standing there. "That was pretty smooth kid, I'm impressed," Hawk looked up at the man quickly, confused as to what he was talking about. "I've never seen someone your age with such skills, you got a name?" Hawk stared at the man for a moment

"Lemme go," he said loudly

"Lemme go…that's an interesting name,

"Lemme go you sonuvbitch."

"Oo you've got a mouth on you dontcha? That sounds like a plan I let you go, you go off try stealing again, panic and get caught. What do you think will happen to you if you go off on your own."

"I've been doin just fine without any help." Hawk retorted "now lemme go!"

"Look kid just trust me on this, just come with me I promise I won't hurt you." Hawk thought this over for a moment

"All right but I don't trust you," They started walking down the crowded street and the man kept his hold on Hawk's shirt they walked to another vendor

"Whatcha hungry for kid?" Hawk looked at the man in shock "come on I know your hungry, look at you your skin and bones." Hawk pointed at the cookies that lined the table the man smiled and laughed "Cookies sound good," once he paid for the cookies and a bottle of water he handed the cookie to Hawk, who took it and slowly bit into it savoring every little bite even still he made the cookie disappear within a couple bites. "So do you trust me now?" Hawk nodded

"I guess," the man nodded

"Well that's better then a solid no," he led Hawk over to a table and gestured for him to sit down and handed him a bottle of water. "So kid you got a name?" Hawk sipped the water and didn't answer "ah don't trust me enough with that huh?" he paused "well my names Rock, kid have you ever heard of the Rats?" Hawk nodded, who hadn't, they where infamous around the colonies a group of thieves, young and old who where more like a family then a band of thieves. "Well I'm the leader and I'll be straight with you, I watched you swipe that fruit, you definitely would have gotten away with it had you not panicked and run. I've got a good eye for spotting good thieves and kid I'll be honest you've got the makings to be a great one."

"Me?"

"Yea you, with some training you could be one of if not the best. I told you I've never seen anyone your age with such skills. Not many twice your age are that good. So I've got a proposition for ya,"

"A what?"

"A proposition an offer," Hawk nodded "I can take you to our base and you can enroll in my school, if your as good as I think you are then you'll graduate from being a mouse too a Rat. So whatcha say kid you with me?" Hawk thought about it for a moment "or if you prefer I can leave you here on this poor excuse for a colony where you can slide by on swiping skills and eventually get caught." Quickly Hawk nodded

"Ok,"

"Ok what?"

"I'll go with ya,"

"So you gonna tell me your name,"

"Hawk…my name is Hawk."

"Hawk huh? Well Hawk your about to begin a new chapter of your life, whatever your past was its just that in the past." Hawk nodded, Rock looked at Hawk as they started walking, he sighed and grinned, then reached down and picked Hawk up "come on pal lets get you cleaned up, can't start school looking like that." Hawk smiled his first smile in a long time as Rock carried him through the marketplace.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Hi my names Ty what's your name?" Hawk was totally taken aback by the boy standing in front of him. Taller then himself, but about the same age, Ty had an aura about him that screamed total goofball. His clothes where in better shape then Hawk's, but he too was skin and bones he had clearly been living on the streets to survive, just like Hawk. His voice was happy and full of life and every word that came out of his mouth was spoken fast.

"Hawk," Hawk answered shyly

"Hawk? Like the bird?" Hawk nodded

"Uh huh,"

"I like that, I've never met someone named for a bird 'fore, wanna meet my sister? She likes birds,"

"I'm not a bird!" Hawk said forcefully, instead Ty didn't answer to his forcefulness, he grinned wide and took Hawk's hand

"Come on!" he exclaimed and dragged the smaller boy through the crowd, a girl that looked a little like Ty was sitting in a corner drinking juice. "Terr lookie this, this is Hawk, you know like the bird," Terr looked up at Hawk and cocked her head

"Hi," she said shyly

"'lo," Hawk answered, she looked at him again and held out her juice

"You thirsty?" he nodded and took the cup and drank, he hadn't had juice in a loooong time and it felt so good going down his dry throat that before he knew it he had finished the entire cup. He looked at the girl sheepishly

"Sorry," he said handing the cup back to her, "I can get you 'nother one,"

"Its ok, I was finished with it anyways." Hawk grinned wide at Terr, and then at Ty, he had friends, his first friends ever things couldn't get any better.

End Flash Back

"Hey I think he's comin' too, hey kid you ok?" Hawk blinked and slowly opened his eyes. Duo was standing over him patting his forehead with a wet cloth. "Have a nice sleep sunshine?" Hawk groaned and rubbed his head

"Where's Phantom?"

"Don't worry your Gundam's safe see?" Duo helped Hawk sit up; through a window he could see Phantom standing next to two other Gundam's one of which was the one he had helped beat the Oz mobile suits.

"Is that your Gundam?" Duo nodded

"Deathscythe,"

"Deathscythe," Hawk repeated "what 'bout the other one?"

"That's mine, Sandrock," another voice said Hawk's head jerked towards the new voice, it was the blonde haired guy, "my name is Quatra Rebarba Winner," Hawk looked at Quatra, Winner…why'd that name sound so familiar

"Winner?" Quatra nodded

"Ok kid, you've got some explaining to do," Duo said Hawk tried to push himself up a little more and pain shot through his whole body, "you know you better take it easy, your really lucky your not more seriously hurt you could be dead right now."

"Not like I haven't had a brush with death 'fore," Hawk muttered clutching his ribs.

"Ok so what's your name?" Duo asked as Quatra helped Hawk sit up better.

"Hawk, Hawk Miller,"

"Miller?" Quatra said looking at Hawk curiously,

"Yeah," Duo looked from Hawk to Quatra then shook his head

"Ok where the hell did you get a Gundam?" Hawk took a deep breath before answering,

"That's kinda a long story,"'

"We've got time pal, plenty of time."

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

So good chapter? I hope it was…sorry it was so long, I wanna hear from people! Flames not accepted ok? But constructive criticism is always welcome…Later!

(Bows)

Sharpsnout