Impossible

A Gundam Wing Fan Fiction

Rambled Off by The Manwell

Book One: PILOTS

Duo Maxwell

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

I cannot believe my luck. I flop down on my back across the tarp-covered surface of my mobile suit, tuck my hands behind my head and stare up into the night sky. When I'd arrived at the North Pacific Ocean OZ Supply Base and seen the smoking rubble, a half-formed suspicion had forced my hands to tighten around the controls. I hadn't let myself dwell on it at the time, but I'd speculated on just who my competition was. I'd figured it must be him.

And it was.

So here was my second chance to set this guy straight. To deflate his dangerously over-inflated ego just a tad.

"It looks like we're both after the same thing."

And had I managed to do that?

"Well? Aren't you gonna at least respond?"

The next few moments had been promising. He'd lifted his Buster Rifle and aimed it right at me. I'd locked my Buster Shield on him.

"Seems like the two of us will have to fight it out after all."

And I'd had to fight to keep my cool. Damn, I hadn't realized how much I'd been craving an opportunity like this. But as much as I'd wanted this, I'd decided to call him on his bluff. Recklessness would get me nowhere with this guy. So I'd waited. And that's when my phenomenal bad luck decided to make an appearance.

The ground beneath Deathscythe gave way and I had to throw myself into regaining my equilibrium. And that's when he made his move. I could hear my own voice echoing in the cockpit and I froze as that glowing beam of energy rushed toward me. The explosion came. And went. And I was still standing.

Then I heard the crash of a mobile suit slamming to the ground behind me.

What the hell?

He'd shot the enemy behind me.

And this is when he'd decided to get talkative.

"I've returned the favor."

And then he'd laughed. That bastard.

"Damn you! I'll get you back!"

Heh. That's one promise I'm definitely gonna be keeping.

Dimly, I hear a few of the mechanics drifting towards the mess hall for a drink after a long day. I almost snort. If they think their jobs are hard, they should give my life a try for twenty-four hours.

"Hey, Duo! Duo!"

I sit up, eager for a distraction away from the day's earlier humiliation.

I glance over my shoulder and spot Howard wearing one of his loud, pink Hawaiian shirts.

"What's up, Duo? Whatcha doin' there?"

"Nothin'. Just thinking how beautiful the moon looks from Earth," I tell him, not entirely honest. But hey, if I hadn't been so consumed with thoughts of the day's mission, I would have been thinking about the beauty of the moon. And that's close enough for me.

"You bet it does. It's a real beauty."

I actually take a moment to contemplate the topic of our easy conversation and I realize that it really is beautiful. I hear myself musing, "From the colony the moon's just too close. It almost looks like a graveyard."

"Yeah..." Howard agrees, sounding oddly... detached and awed. "A graveyard..."

I hide a smirk. I guess ol' Howie's gotten into his personal stash o' hash already tonight. For a nanosecond, I consider teasing him about it but I'm too introspective to really work up the enthusiasm. "I wonder how long I'll be able to see the moon like this?" I say instead.

"Hm. I doubt if that guy even looks at the moon," I hear someone comment. And it takes me a moment to realize I'd said it. Shit. What's this crap I'm spewing? Forcing a nonchalant air, I lay back down on Deathscythe's knee and attempt to save some face, not that Howard will clearly remember this conversation in the morning or anything, but because I will.

"He should try enjoying life rather than spending his time trying to outsmart me." And then I feel the corners of my mouth twitch upward as I continue, "While he's alive, that is."

My cool guy façade successfully restored, I continue contemplating the moon and wait for Howard's reply.

"I know what you're saying but it's not that simple," he tells me. I hear him turn away and head toward the mess hall. Probably for another beer and some snacks. That's one thing I can say for hanging out here; no one thinks I eat a lot, not when the guys regularly see the size of Howard's appetite after he's dipped into his not so little bag o' crop.

But he's not done pontificating and his parting shot is simply, "It's just human nature."

That gets me thinking again. Damn. It's bad enough I feel like a total heel for screwing up at North Pacific but now I'm starting to sift back through my memories and examine the guy's mannerisms. All work, no play. How can anyone be remotely happy with a mindset like that? Maybe the rush of battle is the only joy he allows himself. It's a depressing thought but it explains that creepy laugh of his before he'd taken off.

"What's that guy doing? I wonder..."

Damn it. There goes my mouth again. On autopilot, as usual. I do not want to wonder about him. I want to kick his smug ass all over the J.A.P. point.

I gaze up at the moon and decide to dump Deathscythe into the ocean tomorrow. I need to work on my reaction time. I sigh. If it's not one thing, it's another. But I'm convinced that the day's gonna come when he and I are gonna get the chance to duke it out. And I'd better be ready. Unless I want to embarrass myself again.

Not gonna happen, I think, my gaze hardening into a glare. I haven't made it this far just to take second place without a damn long, hard fight.

Notes

The conversation and confrontation Duo recalls is from episode 5. The actual scene (including Howard and the moon) are from episode 6.

: Episode 5: Duo receives the same mission as Heero but arrives a little late. After Duo's attempt at conversation is blatantly ignored, they square off. Then the rubble beneath Deathscythe's foot gives way and Duo is momentarily distracted. Heero fires and takes out a Leo that had snuck up behind Duo. Heero declares he's returned the favor, laughs, and takes off. Duo swears to get back at him.

: Episode 6: Duo has a conversation with Howard while he's lying on his back looking up at the moon.