Ali ran down the street with the package tucked securely under her right arm. Against her better judgment, she entered the town and, just like everyone else in the city, she shoved herself through the crowds heading straight for a small building with a large coffee cup hanging over the door. The bell above the door jingled as she walked through it. The kind old face of the owner smiled and quickly pulled a large mug out from behind the counter.

"Hello dear! Hot chocolate?'' she asked.

Ali secured a fake smiled and walked to the bar. ''Yes, thank you."

The woman poured the steaming liquid into the mug and looked as though she was about to say something else when someone in the back asked for a refill.

Ali was relieved at the interruption. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy speaking to the woman - and given any other situation she would have greatly welcomed the conversation - but today was different... Today she had just left her partner in what could prove to be a very dangerous situation.

"Why do I let him talk me into these things? Ali muttered into her cocoa.

Duo had a knack for getting her to listen to him. Not only listen, but actually obey! He always had. Ali smiled as she thought about the day they met. She was only eleven years old and already alone in the world. Her mother, after struggling with a very hard pregnancy (as the space colonies had not yet perfected the natural birthing process for the less "fortunate" people), had died shortly after giving birth. Her father, bitter that his wife was dead, left Ali on the streets, determined to get revenge on the child that killed his wife. She had remained on the streets for years, living off anything she could find and had eventually become a rather skilled thief.

Ali chuckled to herself. If only she had followed her instinct that say, she would never have gone into that coffee shop…In fact, it was very coffee shop she was sitting in now. If she had never gone in, she never would have seen the boy with long brown hair sitting quietly at the bar. She never would have tried to pick his pocket. She never would have received a broken wrist, and most importantly, she never would have followed the brunette twelve year old back to the Sweepers Group Headquarters.

Ali smiled. Joining the Sweepers Group had been the smartest decision she had ever made. Her thieving skills proved usefully in the salvage business and she and Duo had become quite friendly. He taught her how to use a gun, how to hot wire a car, and even how to bypass the circuits in a computer. She loved those days; and now, sitting with her head bowed over a cup of hot chocolate, she desperately feared for the life of her best friend.

Come home to me Duo…Come home…

Duo stood facing the closed door with a frown.

"Okay Duo, think." He muttered. The room was still pitch black – that would work to his advantage – and the only exit seemed to be the door and the window Ali just escaped from. The large pounding sounds on the other side of the door told Duo that he would have company very shortly.

I gotta make myself scarce…He thought as he dove behind a pile of boxes.

The guards burst through the doors only seconds later and ran straight for the open window.

I can't let them find Ali…Duo thought desperately. He looked around and saw a small pebble on the floor next to him. He grabbed it, aimed carefully, and threw it hard out the door. It clanged against the floor and walls all the way down the hall. The guards turned and pointed to it.

"They went down there! Hurry!" One called and they chased the pebble back down the hall. Duo smirked and made a move to leave when another figure appeared in the doorway.

"They still don't know?" The figure asked. It was a man's voice, but Duo didn't know who it belonged too.

"No…they have no idea. And they won't till it's too late." Duo nearly gasped. The second figure's voice…it was Professor G! Duo peaked around the corner of the boxes and watched the two figures look out the door.

"You've trained them well…" The taller figure said.

"Yes…" said Professor G. "They will make great warriors."

"But who will pilot Deathscythe?"

"Hmm…I do not know yet. Though I'm sure the decision will present itself shortly." Professor G glanced behind him suddenly and Duo ducked back.

Duo was sure that he'd been seen, but then nothing happened. Duo turned back around and watched the Professor and the man again.

"Professor…I have news." The man said.

Professor G looked up at the man in concern. "Nothing…unfortunate…I hope."

He shook his head. "We have just received news of the true nature of Operation Meteor."

"Oh?"

"Yes…"

"…And what is that?" The professor prompted.

The man turned to him. "Once the signal is given, one of the colonies will be dropped out of orbit to crash on the earth. Then, the Gundams we have created will wreak havoc on the planet."

Professer G. nodded. "I see…" He said and the two men walked out of the room.

Duo stood up when they were gone.

"They're going to drop a colony! I can't let them!" He ran to the window and dove out, determined to find Ali before it was too late.

The cocoa was nearly gone when Ali heard the door swing open. She glanced around her and watched as Duo strolled up to her and joined her at the bar.

"Coffee please." He asked the woman who merrily ran off to get it.

Ali smiled and looked into her cup. "Mission accomplished?" She asked softly.

He nodded but glanced sideways at her. "I think we have a problem."

She turned to him but hid the worried expression that was threatening to show. "Oh?"

Duo leaned in and whispered the conversation he had over heard into her ear. Her eyes widened momentarily then she stared into her cup again. The woman sat the coffee cup in front of Duo, who drank it slowly.

"We have to stop it." She said finally.

Duo nodded. "I agree. But there's something we still don't know about."

Ali nodded also. "Yes…the Gundam." She turned to him. "What is a Gundam anyway?"

He shrugged. "Beats me. It's probably something Professor G was cooking up in that lab he never lets us in."

She nodded. "Maybe…we should just play it by ear for now. If he wants one of us to pilot that…Gundam…then he'll have to tell us about it eventually."

Duo nodded. "Yeah…well," He downed the last of his coffee. "Let's go."