Chapter 1: The Birth of Death

Ok... finally that stupid intro is over with...

We've just jumped forward about 5 years – it's now 187AC, and I'm on the streets of a colony with several other orphans, about 15 total. Our colony is in the L2 sector – one of 5 colony sectors in space – but I don't recall the exact colony number... To be honest, it may have been any L2 colony...

Anyway, those other orphans I was with, we were a family of sorts. We'd look out for one another, making sure we all had food, drink and a place to sleep at night. We even had fun sometimes.

Now, before I go on, I really should tell you all something – my name really isn't Duo. I don't have a name, never did. I never even thought of giving myself one, either. With my family, it never really mattered – we were easy to tell apart from the others. I was the one with the absurdly long brown hair and an extreme amount of energy.

However, like many things, that changed. A fellow orphan joined our group when I was 5 – he went by the name of Solo. He was 12, and really freaking cool too. I hate to say it, but I idolized the guy. I followed him around so much that the rest of the family just started calling me Duo.

What can I say? The name stuck.

I must admit, my so-called-childhood is rather blurry... I can't tell you exact dates for the most part, but I certainly remember one day...

---

Me and a few of the other kids in the group were doing what I've called a strafing run.

...sorry, I should explain that, shouldn't I?

Essentially, one orphan (not me in this case) runs by one of the many fruit stands in the Farmer's Market – grabbing something small off the carts – an apple, or orange, really. As the owner chased that kid off, the rest of us (this time, me and another orphan) would grab what we could – and run.

Usually, it went without a hitch...

...unfortunately, this time, something went wrong.

As our bait ran off – the owner close behind – I was caught red-handed. As it turns out, the owner hired some help recently – word of our tactics must have gotten around...

Before one of these three hulking masses of muscle could grab me, I ran.

Well, I remember thinking, Time to make up a new plan...

Before I could get much further – either in my running or train of thoughts – I was derailed, literally and figuratively. I ran into someone. Someone tall.

As we fell to the ground, I remember seeing this guy's face. He was nice and serene looking, like almost nothing could faze him. He was an older guy, but his hair didn't show much gray. Also, this guy was a priest – he probably worked at the nearby Maxwell church.

I probably would have stayed and made sure he was ok, but... those hulking 'helpers' were after me, looking ready to break a limb or three of mine.

Not looking back, I pulled a 'leapfrog' – hopping quickly over the poor guy, shouting out a quick "Sorry!"

As I scampered off, I was rather surprised to see that the priest actually stopped those goons from getting to me – simply by talking to them, and asking them not to.

It was awfully nice of him, really.

Anyway, before my memory gets even more fuzzy, let's move on.

When I got to what my family called home, I was relieved – we were on thin ice with the local government, and our building was once rumored to be condemned before we took up residence within. If that really happened, though, we'd be out on the street.

But... that would soon change.

Y'see, the Earth Alliance's Military, ever since the assassination of Heero Yuy, has been occupying a lot of the colonies. Ours was one of them. In other words, we got a nice base where a park could have been.

Ah, well.

Now, a lot of the orphans in the group were abandoned for one main reason – the Earth Alliance. Some were products of a rowdy soldier having his way with a civilian, others because a trigger-happy scumbag shot a few civilians rather than soldiers. It was natural for us to want some form of payback.

Looking back, though... I suppose that breaking into their base of operations for this colony for food and supplies was kinda dumb – especially with our 'relations' with the government already strained.

I must have been insane to be one of the 5 to jump that fence. I distinctly remember bullets whizzing past my head – hitting the surrounding buildings and dirt. I wish I could say I stood my ground and fought or something...

But when you're 7 years old, and bullets start flying, you're lucky not to need a new change of underwear.

As far as I remember, no one died... although we were all rounded up and herded to the closest church.

---

I remember looking around at the interior of this church we were all in. It was the Maxwell church, down the street from where we all used to live. They used to drop off food when we couldn't get any ourselves.

I heard a noise – the priest was going to talk to all of us. I froze – and realized that that was the priest I had sorta used as a platform for my getaway a few days ago. I shrank back, hoping he didn't see me.

He did – and only smiled happily.

He cleared his throat and began speaking, his voice a quiet, yet strong one.

"Hello, my name is Father Maxwell. I think most of you know me," he paused to look at me and his smile grew, "...through one method or another. The government isn't happy with that stunt you pulled earlier, so you're all to stay here. We're to act as your orphanage – providing you all food, drink and rooms to sleep – until..."

We grew quiet, although one of the leaders spoke up, "Until what, mister?"

Father Maxwell's face seemed to fall slightly as he finished his sentence, "...until you're all adopted."

Everyone froze. Adoption?

Father Maxwell smiled again, continuing, "Don't worry. I'll personally make sure that each family is as nice as possible to you all. I promise. But..." he held his arms out, "Until then, welcome to the Maxwell Church. Please, make yourselves at home."

As the days past, many of the orphans were adopted – taken away from their family, as it were, to become part of a new one. All but yours truly, that is. I wound up not being chosen for one reason or another. Maybe it was because they didn't like my bright green eyes studying everything I saw, or my ridiculously long hair – now tied up in one of the longest braids in existence. Maybe it was even the fact that I now wore the preacher's clothing as my own – right down to the white collar.

Regardless, it got annoying – but at least I had a new family. The church itself. They looked after me, made sure I was fed, clothed and even helped me with my schoolwork.

However, that would soon change...