Alex's eyes fluttered open slowly. I'm alive, he thought as he looked around. He was lying in a bed with blankets piled on top of him. Situated near the fireplace, it was the most comfortable bed he'd ever been in, especially when compared to the bunk that he and Muller shared back at the base...
He snapped upright. Where was Muller? Pushing aside the covers, he jumped to his feet. Then, standing there, he remembered. Muller was dead. Deflated, he sank back down, Muller's last scream echoing in his head: "Alllleeeexxxx!" Why couldn't I have protected him? That's what I was there for! He buried his head in his hands. The door opened and an old man in a t-shirt and cutoffs sat down next to him.
"You're finally up," he said.
Alex looked up at him. "Who are you?" he asked abruptly.
"Considering that you're a stranger in my house, I think you should be a bit more polite," the man said. " However, Alex, you may call me Howard."
"How did you know my name?"
"It was written on your goggles," Howard said with a chuckle. He passed the goggles to Alex. Alex stared at the writing on the strap, neat and straight. He and Muller had written each other's names on their goggle straps, an OZ tradition for partners. He shoved the goggles into his jacket, which was hanging on a nearby chair, and stood up.
"Are you alright, son?" Howard asked.
Alex nodded numbly. " I need to go outside," he said. He slammed the door behind him and strode out onto the dock, where he took a deep breath of fresh air.
"Hey," a boy with a long braid called up to him. " It's about time. I could have used your help down here!"
Alex blinked. "What?" he said, puzzled.
"You're the new guy, aren't you?" the boy yelled back, his hands on his hips. "Howard's not paying you to stand around. Get busy!"
Alex climbed over the edge of the railing, lowering himself down in front of the boy. "And just who might you be?"
The boy grinned cheekily at him. "The one and only Duo Maxwell, mechanic and just about everything else anyone needs. Who are you?"
"Alex Dekker. Mobile Suit pilot."
"Alliance?" Duo asked hopefully.
"OZ."
Duo's face fell. "I was hoping you wouldn't say that."
"You have a problem with OZ?" Alex asked, an edge creeping into his voice.
"I kinda find it hard to like anyone that trains people to be butchers. Like that jerk in the Aries who destroyed the Alliance base."
Alex scowled angrily at Duo. If Duo were smart, he would have shut up at that moment, but having a reputation as a baka, he chose to keep talking.
"I wish they killed the guy. One less of those... hey!"
Alex grabbed Duo by his shirt and slammed him up against the wall.
"Listen closely, punk," he hissed at Duo. "That 'jerk in the Aries' was my best friend. Do you know what happened to him? His suit exploded. He died." His voice dropped to a whisper. "And I couldn't save him." He let Duo slide to the ground.
"Man," Duo said softly. "I'm sorry." He put a hand on Alex's shoulder. "I know."