Gundam Wing
Episode 6 *The Arrivals*
11:45am
About a week later, a shuttle takes off from an L2 colony. "I don't know Heero. Quatre might be too busy to help us. He's working on a few new buildings. They say his crew is the fastest and safest in building construction."
"If anyone can get a lead on Fox its Quatre," Heero says confident.
Duo notices Trowa looking a little toned out. "What's the matter, Trowa?"
"Hum . . . there's something about Fox that's familiar . . . but I can't put my finger on it," Trowa says softly closing his eyes to sleep for the fifteen-hour trip.
"Where'd you get that," Duo asks as Heero takes a black box out of his pocket.
"I picked it up after the robot exploded."
"You think it's important?"
"I don't know, but I have a hunch it is." Heero quickly stuffs it in his pocket as a stewardess comes by.
"Does anyone need a blanket?" She asks notices that Hilda and Trowa were asleep.
"No thank-"
"Sure and maybe some snacks as well," Duo says cutting Heero off.
"Mr. . . . "
"Maxwell, Duo Maxwell, just call me Duo."
"Ok . . . Duo, I'll be right back," she says walking away. A few minutes later, the stewardess came back with the things asked for.
"And thank you, beautiful. Fastest service I've ever had. What's your name so I can recommend you to some of my friends"?
"My name is Shimi," Shimi winks at Duo, "and if you need anything just call me." She walks away leaving Duo to chow down after throwing Heero a blanket for Trowa and covers Hilde.
"The robot was right." Heero places the blanket on Trowa and sits back in his seat crossing his arms.
"Hum." Duo looks at Heero.
"You do talk too much," Heero says knowing the comment would get on his nerves.
"Well, you can just forget about me sharing any snacks with you! Why don't you take Trowa's example and get some sleep. It's going to be a long trip."
"Good idea, there's nothing else to do." Heero closes his eyes as Duo opens a bag of chips.
Ha, he actually listened to me. Duo stuffs a few chips in his mouth.
Trowa's right there is something familiar about Fox. Heero slowly falls asleep despite the obnoxious chewing of Duo. He dodged or blocked almost all my moves . . . like he knew them . . . something . . . familiar about . . . his . . . fighting . . . style . . .
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~
Five years after Dr. J had found me, I had just finished my first base infiltration that was a success. "Good job Heero; now, it's time for a new type of training," Dr. J said as I entered the new completed training room. "I want you to fight a new student who had just mastered a few rounds of training." A small cloaked figure about four feet tall walks up to Dr. J as I came closer. "Now, take off the cloak so it won't slow you down."
"No," the kid said in the tiniest voice but loud enough to hear pulling the hood further over her face.
"You're not just going to give up, are you," Dr. J tries unsuccessfully to take off the cloak off her pulling her and the cloak a few feet in the air. A small smile formed on my face before she dropped to the floor and we made eye contact.
I guess she saw my smile and returned it then looked up at Dr. J. "He's hungry," she says before Dr. J could say anything just then my stomach growls, which actually surprised me.
"Fine, since everyone's hungry we might as well." A wave of fried fish hit me as I entered the room with a long table that was set. I remember sitting next to her at the table.
"I made it myself," she said which surprised me because this was my first time seeing her and by the way she looked when she came in it looked like she just arrived. "Do you like it?" she looked me straight in the eyes when she said this. Her eyes seemed too burned into mine as though she was reading my mind . . . eyes like Wufei . . . only, with some brown cut into them like someone took a knife and slashed each eye with a hint of brown which wasn't visible until you looked closely. That dinner was the biggest I've ever had and still was. "Now that you've had your fill, we'll wait three hours before we fight," this time her voice was serious and not as small as she got up from the table.
She fought fast and swift, but I easily overpowered her. That didn't stop her though; she was sneaky and crafty exploiting any weak point she saw in me, soon evening us out, teaching me to be more careful and alert around everyone on my mission of Operation Meteor. I admired that, but unfortunately, nothing would prepare me for Relena. Her whole attitude changed back when the exercise was over, like she was two separate people . . . Like two separate people . . . the same way . . .
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~
Heero was jerked awake by a sudden explosion and the screams of the other frightened passengers. "Everybody calm down. It seems to be a minor explosion. We're working on it right now," Shimi says to calm the passengers.
"Excuse me, about how long is this going to take," says a female voice that sounded familiar.
"I'm not sure, but it's going to delay our trip," Shimi answers as Duo turns in his seat to see who the person was who was talking behind him.
"Hi, never thought you'd see me again, huh," Duo says to her.
Flirting again, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason Hilde and Duo broke up in the first place, but he never was the person to go around flirting even though sometimes it doesn't seem that way all the time though. He usually just sticks with one girl. They both are taking this braking up thing pretty well since they're still good friends. I'll just forget about it, most likely an old friend of his. Heero decides to ignore Duo's little conversation and see if he could speed up repairs.
"What needs fixing?" Trowa asks as though reading Heero's mind.
"The left engine I believe," Shimi says moving out of his way as Heero stands up.
"Hey Heero, aren't you going to say hi to your girlfriend," Duo calls suddenly.
"Hum," Heero looks straight into the eyes of Relena Darlian, "Relena?"
-_- Tikki wakes up with the sound of the alarm clock the reading 3:00 a.m. from across the room. He just stares at it half awake waiting for it to stop. After 15 minutes of constant beeping, he moans and pulls his pillow over his head to drown it out, but his sensitive ears still pick it up.
Why did I have to get the clock that doesn't stop beeping until you get up and turn it off. Frustrated Tikki finally gets up and turns it off. He looks it the mirror at his glowing bright blue eyes in the mirror. I might have to do something about that, but first a shower. Without turning on any lights, he showers and dresses wearing all black. He looks in the mirror again at his glowing eyes. I might need these babies the way they are, just in case.
Tikki dashes though the hallways not making a sound until he reaches the kitchen. Moving a picture on the wall, he presses a button and a secret door opens. He walks in and the door closes swiftly behind him. After a while of walking, he enters an old hanger that looked like it used to hold mobel suits. Cobwebs were everywhere and the air was slightly stifling as though the hanger hasn't been used in a few years.
He goes as high as he could since looking down was easier than looking up and he'd easily be out of sight if anyone was inside. That's when he noticed Hiyami below and she was talking to someone in what looked like a green ninja. Tikki looks at Hiyami, but a sudden movement on the other side catches his eye.
What, the hell was that? His eyes focus on someone with binoculars looking straight at him. Great I don't need this now. Tikki decides he's not important and turns back to Hiyami, but she and the ninja were parting ways. EEEAHH! Stupid, you let yourself be distracted. I'll have to try again another time. He moves away from the railing and heads for the exit, but stops on the second section.
"You know, you're louder then you think." He turns as a guy about 5'11", with high cheekbones, skin that was nice cream color, coal black hair that came to his knees in a braid and serious eyes the color of aquamarines covered in frost. His clothes were all black, but his T-shirt had its sleeves cut off and a leather jacket.
"I'm surprised you heard me at all." His voice was a light tenor that was rare in men and uncommon even in women, and by his accent, he was Australian.
"What impressed me was how fast you got here. It's rare to find someone who's as fast as I am." Tikki takes a step back as a gun goes off the bullet grazes his head.
"I had a feeling it was a little too easy." Hiyami says pointing the gun at them. "I was expecting Fox, but not Niko Nightwind. I'm flattered. I didn't know I was that famous." She fires.
Tikki yawns sleep in his eyes still remembering how he jumped over the railing the railing to escape the fire of the deadly assassin. It turned out he was her target so her distracted her long enough that Niko got away. His eyes close slightly beginning to doze off. "Niko Nightwind, I wonder if I'll," Tikki mumbles as he slides upside down hanging from a steel beam the guys below catch what he says.
"Looks like someone has girls on the mind," two Maganacs say in unison as everybody begins to eat their lunch.
"I knew he was mad about not meeting a girl last month at the party. Next time we'll leave one for you ok, Tikki," Auda says with a smile. "They were all over me. Maybe I can give you some pointers next time."
Tikki opens an eye then closes it again turning right side up on the bar. Like I'd want help in that department. They took pity on him because he was so drunk; they didn't want him to get tramped by the dancing couples. Tikki looks up to see Rashid who seemed a little distracted on the beam above. He stands up and jumps so he could get a good grip on the beam above and pulling himself up then sits next to Rashid. "This is the hundredth time Ms. Hiyami Taichi caught your eye, am I right?"
Rashid jumps at the sound of Tikki's voice. "Aren't you supposed to be working instead of harassing me?" How can someone so serious be so immature at the same time?
"I would be if it wasn't our lunch brake, plus it's my favorite pass time."
"Everything about you is lifeless that is until you get yourself in trouble."
"Can't I have something normal about me? Besides am I right about Ms. Taichi or not."
"If you keep this up, I'll consider taking everything you broke out of your pay check on Friday."
"So, it's that close. Thanks for telling me." Man, I can't even ask a question without being ratted on. "If you're thinking about asking her out my rose garden beside the mansion has started to bloom, so if you need roses, just call me."
; ( Damn! These guys are good. I might have to think of a different plan to find Fox. Well, look on the bright side I get to watch theses guys work, sweat, and see some muscle. Shimi hands Trowa something to drink.
"Thank you."
Wow, look at those dark green eyes, mustard brown hair, and to top it all off... muscle on muscle . . . if I weren't a dangerous spy I'd date him in a heartbeat, but I always have the worst luck with guys. With my luck, he's after Fox too and is a dangerous assassin . . . why, is he looking at me?
"I believe my friends would like something to drink as well," Trowa says after she stared at him for at least five minutes straight.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Shimi says knowing she's blushing as she hands Heero and Duo a drink. "I'm sorry about that, excuse me." She exits the back room jumping into a bathroom. That was real stupid, Shimi. He probably thinks you're a gawking idiot, now.
Trowa watches Shimi exit quickly. "G's, Trowa, you stole her away from me with one look."
"Hum," Trowa turns to face Duo.
"I think she likes you, Trowa."
"If you want her, she's yours, Duo."
"I don't know, I've already talked to her and she didn't give me a look like that."
"She humored you, to be nice," Heero says after finishing his drink. "If you haven't noticed this is a conversation between Trowa and I," Duo says not pleased with Heero's remark, "Well, you don't have to worry about getting a girl since you have Relena."
Heero looks at Duo a moment before turning back to his work, "Just because you can't get a girl doesn't mean you can take it out on me."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Duo looks at him a second before deciding to shrug it off. "So, Trowa, you like her? Come on, I saw the way you were looking at her."
Trowa puts down his drink, "If you haven't noticed we have work to do." Sure, beat up the little guy who's just trying to help.
:`) Tikki looks up at the simulated sky of the colony. Hum, looks so real, but at the same time you know it's fake. He watches a bunch of kids playing ball. Unless you're a kid nothing bothers you or at least they're supposed. Tikki drives into the driveway on his motorcycle then parks it beside the rose garden. I better get started if Rashid wants these flowers maybe then I can start looking around more without getting caught.
Auda comes out of the mansion, but instead of greeting, him Tikki went to a small door leading to the basement of gardening supplies. "Great, just great, who trashed the place!" This is going to take forever to clean up. He sits Indian style on the floor for a moment and sighs wondering where to start first, that's when he hears an unfamiliar voice from outside. Tikki slides to the half-cracked door to listen.
"Tiger, where are you, now?" says a person with an Australian accent.
"I'm in the bathroom on the shuttle heading your way," replies a strong, frustrated Jamaican accent only it came from a communicator.
"Make up your mind are you going to stop it or are you actually coming here?"
"I did stop it, and then these three guys are fixing it as we speak."
"Well, you can't come now I haven't found her yet. If you come now my plan won't work."
"Don't count on me so soon the pilots have been disposed of unless these guys plan on piloting the shuttle themselves... So, you haven't been able to locate her at all and without being detected."
"Yes, but it's hard to be a maid and look for her when these guys hit on you all the time, and trying to disguise myself as a Maganacs is even worse you never know when your twin is going to walk in, so I'm going to try something else.
"Don't worry about it right now it's a big place, you most likely haven't seen her yet. Oh and one more thing make sure your disguise has no flaws or she'll know you're in a disguise, ok Niko." The transmitter blips out. "Looks like I'm off to work, then."
~~~~~ Flash ~~~~~
The door closes and Sophia turns around to see a Chinese boy at the age of 14. "Pip, you know you're not allowed in here. If Master O catches you in here you're in big trouble."
"Still the goody, goody huh, Sophia." Pip walks up to her. "Come on, I want to spend some alone time with you."
"Sorry Pip, but we have work to do on the Gundam tomorrow morning, remember. So you're going to need your sleep." She turns back to unpacking her suitcase.
"So you're really staying."
"Well, yeah, I'm helping with the Tallgeese am I not?"
"Riding a Gundam is a man's job not a woman and especially not for a little girl." He crosses his arms confident.
"And I'm assuming that goes for little boys as well."
"Yes only a man can ride a Gundam."
"Well, since we both can't use it there's no use in fighting over it." She stops unpacking after stuffing a few things in the dresser and dumping the suitcase on the floor.
"What! What did you call me?" He looks at her angry. Sophia faces him with a smirk.
"You heard me! You're just as much of a kid as I am. Do you know how to look at death in the face! It's much different than any training simulation! ... anyway I know how to handle the system I have to pilot it." "You're just a girl; how do you-"
"I made it Pip! Yeah, you heard me I'm the one who developed that horrible system in Tallgeese and if something happens to this one I have a back up Gundam thanks to the help of Instructor H."
"You, you made another Gundam, but why. Gundams can't be destroyed."
"Everything has its limits, Pip, I'm just thinking ahead; just in case... besides if I don't pilot it, Wufei will."
He puts a hand on her shoulder. "You're always thinking ahead, Sophia. You're a strangest Chinese girl I've ever met and the most beautiful."
She pushes his hand off. "I'm more American then I am Chinese, Pip, and I'm to busy with Tallgeese to even consider boys right now."
"Come on, Sophia, you're the only girl without a boyfriend.
"Boyfriend nothing! They're future husbands that's what I see and I'm not ready to even think about that kind of stuff. I saw what happened to Wufei and my father, ok; I don't want to be forced to marry anyone. And I don't care about my rep here; all those girls do is gossip anyway."
He looks at her strange a moment. "You know you remind me of Mulan. Are you sure you're not a descendant."
"If I am, la de da for me."
"I was . . . kind of hoping you'd be . . . my girlfriend, Sophia." Sophia looks at him surprised a moment.
"Wow, Pip, I . . . I don't know what to say." He gives her a long kiss on the lips before she could say anything more.
"Just say yes you will and I'll be happy." Sophia looks slightly uneasy.
"Sorry, Pip, but I can't say yes. I like someone else and besides you're too possessive. I'd feel like a fox trapped in its fox hole."
"Why is it that you're so stubborn?! I gave you everything you wanted and you still say no!"
"Wrong Pip, you gave me everything a girl would want not a tomboy. I told you straight up I don't love you plus we're too young. I'm only 12. What are you stupid?"
Putting a hand on her shoulder, "I just want to make you see that I care about you." He moves his face close to hers, but she pushes him away.
"Geeze, leave me alone already!"
Wufei exits the training room and enters the hallway. I guess I should go see if Sophia's settled in yet. He stops at Sophia's door. I had better take a shower first. She might say something. He starts to leave.
"AAAHH! Stop it!" There is a loud crash in the room as Wufei turns the doorknob on the door, but when it wouldn't open he breaks the door down. Pip tries to pry the closet door open, but he stops as they make eye contact as.
He smiles at Wufei, as though reading his mind, then exits the room closing the door behind him. Wufei goes to the closet and opens the door. "Sophia?" Out of the corner of his eye, he sees something move. Moving towards it, he sees its Sophia curled up in a ball. She looks up at him as he kneels next to her. "Are you, ok, Sophia?"
Her eyes begin to water as she looks into his. She closes her eyes and the tears spill onto her face as she shakes her head. "No." To his surprise, she hugs him and cries in his arms.
"Sophia, What-?" he stops himself when he sees her shirt is shredded, and that she was shaking like a frightened kitten.
"You can share a room with me, night," he says after she calmed down some. He carries her out of the closet.
"My tiger," Shattered on the floor is a glass figuring.
"Don't worry about it, Sophia; I can get you another one."
"Thanks, Wufei... your timing has always been perfect," she says as he caries her out of the room. "Oh and Wufei."
"Hum."
"Take a bath, man, you reek. I feel like I'm being smothered by sweaty gym socks."
~~~~~ Flash ~~~~~
"Wufei, Wufei what's the matter"?
"Hum"? He turns to face Sally sitting beside him on the shuttle.
"You normally don't space out on me. Are you feeling ok"?
"Just remembering something about when Sophia finally moved into the temple to get away from her stepmother a while."
"Did something bad happen"?
"I think Pip tried to rape Sophia, but I'm not sure because she never really told me what happened. I barged in before anything bad happened."
"Was she ok."
"Yes, but she was badly shaken by it. Sometimes she still has nightmares."
"Why are you thinking about this now"?
"You know Officer Tembo? He's Pip."
"That explains why you weren't so happy to see him." Just then, an announcement came on.
"Ladies and Genital men it seems a neighboring shuttle needs help so we're going to board those people on this shuttle which will take no more than 30 minutes tops." There is a series of groans from the other passengers. "I know I know."
As the passengers begin to board, the shuttle Relena noticing them sits next to them. "Why, hello Sally, Wufei. How are you"?
"We're great so, how's you Terror Forming Project going"?
"I'm actually going to see Mr. Winner about the type of building I want him to build for it."
"Hey! Wufei, I missed you!"
"Shimi"?
"Yes, Wufei its Shimi, the Tiger Goddess and how is the lone wolf, or should I say king of dragons." She stands next to his seat.
"I thought you were dead."
"Oh, really. Well that's too bad," She sighs and looks up at the ceiling and thinks for a moment before asking, "So how's Sophia doing"?
"That's what we'd like to know. She has been missing for about half a year."
"Whoa, she did another disappearing act, huh. I bet this time she's going to be harder to find then the last time she played tag with her." She smiles.
"So, you grew up with her." Sally asks curious.
"Yeah, she's great. Just don't get her angry or she'll be hard to manage." Shimi sticks her hands in pockets. "Honestly, I haven't seen her since our last ..."
Sally gets suspicious because of the way she stopped herself. "Your last, what"?
"Uh, don't mind me; how about you. Is this your girlfriend, Wufei"? She changes the subject a little too quickly.
"I believe Sally asked you a question, Shimi; are you not telling us something?"
"You actually think I'd keep something from you, Wufei"? Uneasily, she turns away as the other pilots finally board the shuttle. Catching a glimpse of Trowa, she forgot about Wufei and Sally. "Oh, it's that cute guy from before," she begins to blush as he comes near.
Shimi and Trowa's eyes meet as he makes it to them, "Hello, Trowa, what a pleasant surprise. Still haven't found Fox yet." Sally says pleasantly still noticing how quickly Shimi's attitude changed.
"We think maybe Quatre can get a lead on him." Trowa glances away from Shimi, but only for a second.
Fox, he's looking for Fox. "Crap... man!" Everyone stares at her. Wufei is now even more suspicious as she blushes. "Sorry, uh go on ha, ha." I guess now should be a good time. Suddenly there is a giant explosion.
About a week later, a shuttle takes off from an L2 colony. "I don't know Heero. Quatre might be too busy to help us. He's working on a few new buildings. They say his crew is the fastest and safest in building construction."
"If anyone can get a lead on Fox its Quatre," Heero says confident.
Duo notices Trowa looking a little toned out. "What's the matter, Trowa?"
"Hum . . . there's something about Fox that's familiar . . . but I can't put my finger on it," Trowa says softly closing his eyes to sleep for the fifteen-hour trip.
"Where'd you get that," Duo asks as Heero takes a black box out of his pocket.
"I picked it up after the robot exploded."
"You think it's important?"
"I don't know, but I have a hunch it is." Heero quickly stuffs it in his pocket as a stewardess comes by.
"Does anyone need a blanket?" She asks notices that Hilda and Trowa were asleep.
"No thank-"
"Sure and maybe some snacks as well," Duo says cutting Heero off.
"Mr. . . . "
"Maxwell, Duo Maxwell, just call me Duo."
"Ok . . . Duo, I'll be right back," she says walking away. A few minutes later, the stewardess came back with the things asked for.
"And thank you, beautiful. Fastest service I've ever had. What's your name so I can recommend you to some of my friends"?
"My name is Shimi," Shimi winks at Duo, "and if you need anything just call me." She walks away leaving Duo to chow down after throwing Heero a blanket for Trowa and covers Hilde.
"The robot was right." Heero places the blanket on Trowa and sits back in his seat crossing his arms.
"Hum." Duo looks at Heero.
"You do talk too much," Heero says knowing the comment would get on his nerves.
"Well, you can just forget about me sharing any snacks with you! Why don't you take Trowa's example and get some sleep. It's going to be a long trip."
"Good idea, there's nothing else to do." Heero closes his eyes as Duo opens a bag of chips.
Ha, he actually listened to me. Duo stuffs a few chips in his mouth.
Trowa's right there is something familiar about Fox. Heero slowly falls asleep despite the obnoxious chewing of Duo. He dodged or blocked almost all my moves . . . like he knew them . . . something . . . familiar about . . . his . . . fighting . . . style . . .
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~
Five years after Dr. J had found me, I had just finished my first base infiltration that was a success. "Good job Heero; now, it's time for a new type of training," Dr. J said as I entered the new completed training room. "I want you to fight a new student who had just mastered a few rounds of training." A small cloaked figure about four feet tall walks up to Dr. J as I came closer. "Now, take off the cloak so it won't slow you down."
"No," the kid said in the tiniest voice but loud enough to hear pulling the hood further over her face.
"You're not just going to give up, are you," Dr. J tries unsuccessfully to take off the cloak off her pulling her and the cloak a few feet in the air. A small smile formed on my face before she dropped to the floor and we made eye contact.
I guess she saw my smile and returned it then looked up at Dr. J. "He's hungry," she says before Dr. J could say anything just then my stomach growls, which actually surprised me.
"Fine, since everyone's hungry we might as well." A wave of fried fish hit me as I entered the room with a long table that was set. I remember sitting next to her at the table.
"I made it myself," she said which surprised me because this was my first time seeing her and by the way she looked when she came in it looked like she just arrived. "Do you like it?" she looked me straight in the eyes when she said this. Her eyes seemed too burned into mine as though she was reading my mind . . . eyes like Wufei . . . only, with some brown cut into them like someone took a knife and slashed each eye with a hint of brown which wasn't visible until you looked closely. That dinner was the biggest I've ever had and still was. "Now that you've had your fill, we'll wait three hours before we fight," this time her voice was serious and not as small as she got up from the table.
She fought fast and swift, but I easily overpowered her. That didn't stop her though; she was sneaky and crafty exploiting any weak point she saw in me, soon evening us out, teaching me to be more careful and alert around everyone on my mission of Operation Meteor. I admired that, but unfortunately, nothing would prepare me for Relena. Her whole attitude changed back when the exercise was over, like she was two separate people . . . Like two separate people . . . the same way . . .
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~
Heero was jerked awake by a sudden explosion and the screams of the other frightened passengers. "Everybody calm down. It seems to be a minor explosion. We're working on it right now," Shimi says to calm the passengers.
"Excuse me, about how long is this going to take," says a female voice that sounded familiar.
"I'm not sure, but it's going to delay our trip," Shimi answers as Duo turns in his seat to see who the person was who was talking behind him.
"Hi, never thought you'd see me again, huh," Duo says to her.
Flirting again, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason Hilde and Duo broke up in the first place, but he never was the person to go around flirting even though sometimes it doesn't seem that way all the time though. He usually just sticks with one girl. They both are taking this braking up thing pretty well since they're still good friends. I'll just forget about it, most likely an old friend of his. Heero decides to ignore Duo's little conversation and see if he could speed up repairs.
"What needs fixing?" Trowa asks as though reading Heero's mind.
"The left engine I believe," Shimi says moving out of his way as Heero stands up.
"Hey Heero, aren't you going to say hi to your girlfriend," Duo calls suddenly.
"Hum," Heero looks straight into the eyes of Relena Darlian, "Relena?"
-_- Tikki wakes up with the sound of the alarm clock the reading 3:00 a.m. from across the room. He just stares at it half awake waiting for it to stop. After 15 minutes of constant beeping, he moans and pulls his pillow over his head to drown it out, but his sensitive ears still pick it up.
Why did I have to get the clock that doesn't stop beeping until you get up and turn it off. Frustrated Tikki finally gets up and turns it off. He looks it the mirror at his glowing bright blue eyes in the mirror. I might have to do something about that, but first a shower. Without turning on any lights, he showers and dresses wearing all black. He looks in the mirror again at his glowing eyes. I might need these babies the way they are, just in case.
Tikki dashes though the hallways not making a sound until he reaches the kitchen. Moving a picture on the wall, he presses a button and a secret door opens. He walks in and the door closes swiftly behind him. After a while of walking, he enters an old hanger that looked like it used to hold mobel suits. Cobwebs were everywhere and the air was slightly stifling as though the hanger hasn't been used in a few years.
He goes as high as he could since looking down was easier than looking up and he'd easily be out of sight if anyone was inside. That's when he noticed Hiyami below and she was talking to someone in what looked like a green ninja. Tikki looks at Hiyami, but a sudden movement on the other side catches his eye.
What, the hell was that? His eyes focus on someone with binoculars looking straight at him. Great I don't need this now. Tikki decides he's not important and turns back to Hiyami, but she and the ninja were parting ways. EEEAHH! Stupid, you let yourself be distracted. I'll have to try again another time. He moves away from the railing and heads for the exit, but stops on the second section.
"You know, you're louder then you think." He turns as a guy about 5'11", with high cheekbones, skin that was nice cream color, coal black hair that came to his knees in a braid and serious eyes the color of aquamarines covered in frost. His clothes were all black, but his T-shirt had its sleeves cut off and a leather jacket.
"I'm surprised you heard me at all." His voice was a light tenor that was rare in men and uncommon even in women, and by his accent, he was Australian.
"What impressed me was how fast you got here. It's rare to find someone who's as fast as I am." Tikki takes a step back as a gun goes off the bullet grazes his head.
"I had a feeling it was a little too easy." Hiyami says pointing the gun at them. "I was expecting Fox, but not Niko Nightwind. I'm flattered. I didn't know I was that famous." She fires.
Tikki yawns sleep in his eyes still remembering how he jumped over the railing the railing to escape the fire of the deadly assassin. It turned out he was her target so her distracted her long enough that Niko got away. His eyes close slightly beginning to doze off. "Niko Nightwind, I wonder if I'll," Tikki mumbles as he slides upside down hanging from a steel beam the guys below catch what he says.
"Looks like someone has girls on the mind," two Maganacs say in unison as everybody begins to eat their lunch.
"I knew he was mad about not meeting a girl last month at the party. Next time we'll leave one for you ok, Tikki," Auda says with a smile. "They were all over me. Maybe I can give you some pointers next time."
Tikki opens an eye then closes it again turning right side up on the bar. Like I'd want help in that department. They took pity on him because he was so drunk; they didn't want him to get tramped by the dancing couples. Tikki looks up to see Rashid who seemed a little distracted on the beam above. He stands up and jumps so he could get a good grip on the beam above and pulling himself up then sits next to Rashid. "This is the hundredth time Ms. Hiyami Taichi caught your eye, am I right?"
Rashid jumps at the sound of Tikki's voice. "Aren't you supposed to be working instead of harassing me?" How can someone so serious be so immature at the same time?
"I would be if it wasn't our lunch brake, plus it's my favorite pass time."
"Everything about you is lifeless that is until you get yourself in trouble."
"Can't I have something normal about me? Besides am I right about Ms. Taichi or not."
"If you keep this up, I'll consider taking everything you broke out of your pay check on Friday."
"So, it's that close. Thanks for telling me." Man, I can't even ask a question without being ratted on. "If you're thinking about asking her out my rose garden beside the mansion has started to bloom, so if you need roses, just call me."
; ( Damn! These guys are good. I might have to think of a different plan to find Fox. Well, look on the bright side I get to watch theses guys work, sweat, and see some muscle. Shimi hands Trowa something to drink.
"Thank you."
Wow, look at those dark green eyes, mustard brown hair, and to top it all off... muscle on muscle . . . if I weren't a dangerous spy I'd date him in a heartbeat, but I always have the worst luck with guys. With my luck, he's after Fox too and is a dangerous assassin . . . why, is he looking at me?
"I believe my friends would like something to drink as well," Trowa says after she stared at him for at least five minutes straight.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Shimi says knowing she's blushing as she hands Heero and Duo a drink. "I'm sorry about that, excuse me." She exits the back room jumping into a bathroom. That was real stupid, Shimi. He probably thinks you're a gawking idiot, now.
Trowa watches Shimi exit quickly. "G's, Trowa, you stole her away from me with one look."
"Hum," Trowa turns to face Duo.
"I think she likes you, Trowa."
"If you want her, she's yours, Duo."
"I don't know, I've already talked to her and she didn't give me a look like that."
"She humored you, to be nice," Heero says after finishing his drink. "If you haven't noticed this is a conversation between Trowa and I," Duo says not pleased with Heero's remark, "Well, you don't have to worry about getting a girl since you have Relena."
Heero looks at Duo a moment before turning back to his work, "Just because you can't get a girl doesn't mean you can take it out on me."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Duo looks at him a second before deciding to shrug it off. "So, Trowa, you like her? Come on, I saw the way you were looking at her."
Trowa puts down his drink, "If you haven't noticed we have work to do." Sure, beat up the little guy who's just trying to help.
:`) Tikki looks up at the simulated sky of the colony. Hum, looks so real, but at the same time you know it's fake. He watches a bunch of kids playing ball. Unless you're a kid nothing bothers you or at least they're supposed. Tikki drives into the driveway on his motorcycle then parks it beside the rose garden. I better get started if Rashid wants these flowers maybe then I can start looking around more without getting caught.
Auda comes out of the mansion, but instead of greeting, him Tikki went to a small door leading to the basement of gardening supplies. "Great, just great, who trashed the place!" This is going to take forever to clean up. He sits Indian style on the floor for a moment and sighs wondering where to start first, that's when he hears an unfamiliar voice from outside. Tikki slides to the half-cracked door to listen.
"Tiger, where are you, now?" says a person with an Australian accent.
"I'm in the bathroom on the shuttle heading your way," replies a strong, frustrated Jamaican accent only it came from a communicator.
"Make up your mind are you going to stop it or are you actually coming here?"
"I did stop it, and then these three guys are fixing it as we speak."
"Well, you can't come now I haven't found her yet. If you come now my plan won't work."
"Don't count on me so soon the pilots have been disposed of unless these guys plan on piloting the shuttle themselves... So, you haven't been able to locate her at all and without being detected."
"Yes, but it's hard to be a maid and look for her when these guys hit on you all the time, and trying to disguise myself as a Maganacs is even worse you never know when your twin is going to walk in, so I'm going to try something else.
"Don't worry about it right now it's a big place, you most likely haven't seen her yet. Oh and one more thing make sure your disguise has no flaws or she'll know you're in a disguise, ok Niko." The transmitter blips out. "Looks like I'm off to work, then."
~~~~~ Flash ~~~~~
The door closes and Sophia turns around to see a Chinese boy at the age of 14. "Pip, you know you're not allowed in here. If Master O catches you in here you're in big trouble."
"Still the goody, goody huh, Sophia." Pip walks up to her. "Come on, I want to spend some alone time with you."
"Sorry Pip, but we have work to do on the Gundam tomorrow morning, remember. So you're going to need your sleep." She turns back to unpacking her suitcase.
"So you're really staying."
"Well, yeah, I'm helping with the Tallgeese am I not?"
"Riding a Gundam is a man's job not a woman and especially not for a little girl." He crosses his arms confident.
"And I'm assuming that goes for little boys as well."
"Yes only a man can ride a Gundam."
"Well, since we both can't use it there's no use in fighting over it." She stops unpacking after stuffing a few things in the dresser and dumping the suitcase on the floor.
"What! What did you call me?" He looks at her angry. Sophia faces him with a smirk.
"You heard me! You're just as much of a kid as I am. Do you know how to look at death in the face! It's much different than any training simulation! ... anyway I know how to handle the system I have to pilot it." "You're just a girl; how do you-"
"I made it Pip! Yeah, you heard me I'm the one who developed that horrible system in Tallgeese and if something happens to this one I have a back up Gundam thanks to the help of Instructor H."
"You, you made another Gundam, but why. Gundams can't be destroyed."
"Everything has its limits, Pip, I'm just thinking ahead; just in case... besides if I don't pilot it, Wufei will."
He puts a hand on her shoulder. "You're always thinking ahead, Sophia. You're a strangest Chinese girl I've ever met and the most beautiful."
She pushes his hand off. "I'm more American then I am Chinese, Pip, and I'm to busy with Tallgeese to even consider boys right now."
"Come on, Sophia, you're the only girl without a boyfriend.
"Boyfriend nothing! They're future husbands that's what I see and I'm not ready to even think about that kind of stuff. I saw what happened to Wufei and my father, ok; I don't want to be forced to marry anyone. And I don't care about my rep here; all those girls do is gossip anyway."
He looks at her strange a moment. "You know you remind me of Mulan. Are you sure you're not a descendant."
"If I am, la de da for me."
"I was . . . kind of hoping you'd be . . . my girlfriend, Sophia." Sophia looks at him surprised a moment.
"Wow, Pip, I . . . I don't know what to say." He gives her a long kiss on the lips before she could say anything more.
"Just say yes you will and I'll be happy." Sophia looks slightly uneasy.
"Sorry, Pip, but I can't say yes. I like someone else and besides you're too possessive. I'd feel like a fox trapped in its fox hole."
"Why is it that you're so stubborn?! I gave you everything you wanted and you still say no!"
"Wrong Pip, you gave me everything a girl would want not a tomboy. I told you straight up I don't love you plus we're too young. I'm only 12. What are you stupid?"
Putting a hand on her shoulder, "I just want to make you see that I care about you." He moves his face close to hers, but she pushes him away.
"Geeze, leave me alone already!"
Wufei exits the training room and enters the hallway. I guess I should go see if Sophia's settled in yet. He stops at Sophia's door. I had better take a shower first. She might say something. He starts to leave.
"AAAHH! Stop it!" There is a loud crash in the room as Wufei turns the doorknob on the door, but when it wouldn't open he breaks the door down. Pip tries to pry the closet door open, but he stops as they make eye contact as.
He smiles at Wufei, as though reading his mind, then exits the room closing the door behind him. Wufei goes to the closet and opens the door. "Sophia?" Out of the corner of his eye, he sees something move. Moving towards it, he sees its Sophia curled up in a ball. She looks up at him as he kneels next to her. "Are you, ok, Sophia?"
Her eyes begin to water as she looks into his. She closes her eyes and the tears spill onto her face as she shakes her head. "No." To his surprise, she hugs him and cries in his arms.
"Sophia, What-?" he stops himself when he sees her shirt is shredded, and that she was shaking like a frightened kitten.
"You can share a room with me, night," he says after she calmed down some. He carries her out of the closet.
"My tiger," Shattered on the floor is a glass figuring.
"Don't worry about it, Sophia; I can get you another one."
"Thanks, Wufei... your timing has always been perfect," she says as he caries her out of the room. "Oh and Wufei."
"Hum."
"Take a bath, man, you reek. I feel like I'm being smothered by sweaty gym socks."
~~~~~ Flash ~~~~~
"Wufei, Wufei what's the matter"?
"Hum"? He turns to face Sally sitting beside him on the shuttle.
"You normally don't space out on me. Are you feeling ok"?
"Just remembering something about when Sophia finally moved into the temple to get away from her stepmother a while."
"Did something bad happen"?
"I think Pip tried to rape Sophia, but I'm not sure because she never really told me what happened. I barged in before anything bad happened."
"Was she ok."
"Yes, but she was badly shaken by it. Sometimes she still has nightmares."
"Why are you thinking about this now"?
"You know Officer Tembo? He's Pip."
"That explains why you weren't so happy to see him." Just then, an announcement came on.
"Ladies and Genital men it seems a neighboring shuttle needs help so we're going to board those people on this shuttle which will take no more than 30 minutes tops." There is a series of groans from the other passengers. "I know I know."
As the passengers begin to board, the shuttle Relena noticing them sits next to them. "Why, hello Sally, Wufei. How are you"?
"We're great so, how's you Terror Forming Project going"?
"I'm actually going to see Mr. Winner about the type of building I want him to build for it."
"Hey! Wufei, I missed you!"
"Shimi"?
"Yes, Wufei its Shimi, the Tiger Goddess and how is the lone wolf, or should I say king of dragons." She stands next to his seat.
"I thought you were dead."
"Oh, really. Well that's too bad," She sighs and looks up at the ceiling and thinks for a moment before asking, "So how's Sophia doing"?
"That's what we'd like to know. She has been missing for about half a year."
"Whoa, she did another disappearing act, huh. I bet this time she's going to be harder to find then the last time she played tag with her." She smiles.
"So, you grew up with her." Sally asks curious.
"Yeah, she's great. Just don't get her angry or she'll be hard to manage." Shimi sticks her hands in pockets. "Honestly, I haven't seen her since our last ..."
Sally gets suspicious because of the way she stopped herself. "Your last, what"?
"Uh, don't mind me; how about you. Is this your girlfriend, Wufei"? She changes the subject a little too quickly.
"I believe Sally asked you a question, Shimi; are you not telling us something?"
"You actually think I'd keep something from you, Wufei"? Uneasily, she turns away as the other pilots finally board the shuttle. Catching a glimpse of Trowa, she forgot about Wufei and Sally. "Oh, it's that cute guy from before," she begins to blush as he comes near.
Shimi and Trowa's eyes meet as he makes it to them, "Hello, Trowa, what a pleasant surprise. Still haven't found Fox yet." Sally says pleasantly still noticing how quickly Shimi's attitude changed.
"We think maybe Quatre can get a lead on him." Trowa glances away from Shimi, but only for a second.
Fox, he's looking for Fox. "Crap... man!" Everyone stares at her. Wufei is now even more suspicious as she blushes. "Sorry, uh go on ha, ha." I guess now should be a good time. Suddenly there is a giant explosion.
