Author: Ashkara
Rating: PG for now
Pairings: Various Pairings
Warnings: AU, blatant rip on Star Wars, humour, citrus, OOC, sap...
Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I don't own the G-boys. Gundam Wing is the property of Bandai, Sunrise et al. These stories are written for entertainment only- no money has been made, or is ever expected, though it would be nice... Ahem. Well... So don't sue me- I just got out of college and I don't have anything worth suing for, anyway!
Gundam Wars Part 1
Duo's normally cheerful face fell into a dark frown as he peered through the heavy smoke that filled his cruiser's halls- they had finally been caught. The young Prince scowled as he considered the information he was carrying, that he had been entrusted with. Now it would never reach...
No- wait. There still might be a chance... He grinned again, a flash of the crazy smile he usually wore to keep suspicious eyes off of him. Even if he was not the one to do it, the data would be delivered. His mission would not fail!
He flitted like less than a shadow to a secret door and inputted his security code, chewing on his lip until the door opened with a light hiss. He could hear the beeping from inside as the droid became alerted to his presence. "Easy, buddy. It's me, Duo."
A series of beeps came from the small machine, a language that Duo had taken the time to learn. He was glad he had- the little robot had turned out to be quite a good friend. "Took you long enough! We've been boarded! Now give me the data and I'll take care of it for you, baka!"
Duo grinned down at the little machine. Whoever had written its personality programmes had done a truly magnificent job. He pulled a small laser disc from his pocket and slid it into the machine before straightening. "I need to make a recording, R-2," he whispered.
He waited until he got a beep of assent, then began, "General Kenobi, you once served my father in the Clone Wars. Now we need your service again. Rebel spies have managed to steal the plans for the Empire's new Death Star battle station. I've hidden them on this droid. I meant to deliver them personally, but my shuttle has come under attack and I doubt I will be able to talk my way out of this one. You must see these plans safely delivered to my father on Alderaan. He will know how to retrieve the information. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Howie-Wan Kenobi. You're our only hope."
Duo cut his message off, hearing footsteps approaching- the steady tread of OZ Stormtroopers. He looked down at his droid. "Get out of here- I've got to buy you some time. Take Relena with you to translate, and good luck."
Duo turned and left, not truly registering the beeps of "Mission Accepted" the small droid emitted before exiting from another hidden door. The Prince melted into the shadows again as he prepared to face off against whoever was outside. He hid it well- it was part of his role- but he was a truly crafty and treacherous fighter, highly efficient and deadly. He was only a clown for appearances- the Empire tended to ignore him more that way, which made his real work all the easier. It was time to be a clown now.
He opened the door loudly and stepped out, making sure he was seen. Yes- I am the main target, aren't I? So come and get me!
Neither trooper had enough time to register the silent crafty knowledge glowing in Duo's violet eyes before his weapon came up and drilled holes into their heads. Having left a greeting card for the ones following, Duo turned and ran as noisily as he could.
"There he is! Set your weapons for stun!" he head a voice calling from behind him, just before something very hot and painful smacked into him and...
Nothing.
~*~
Darth Treize looked up, his mask sinisterly blank, as a troop of guards entered, escorting a slight young man... Treize chuckled to himself. So we've finally caught him. Now the question is- has he out-thought us again?
The boy marched up to the tall, dark figure with a crazed smirk on his face. "Darth Treize. Why am I not surprised to find you behind this? The Imperial Senate will not stand for this- when they hear that you've attacked a..."
Treize cut him off. "You were on no mercy mission this time, Princeling. Where are the stolen plans?"
Duo's eyes were glinting. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I am a Senator on a diplomatic mission for Alderaan."
"You are a rebel spy and a traitor. Take him away!" Treize growled, turning to watch as Duo was marched out of the room. He turned to the rest of the troops. "I want every inch of this ship searched and the plans recovered immediately!" He turned with a swish of a cloak and followed behind the prisoner.
In his deepest of minds, Treize sighed. There was a memory tugging at him, a memory of something warm- and a name that sprung to mind- Une... He grunted- he had no idea why this was coming back to him. It was in the past, when he could smell the roses in the small garden...
In a fit of anger, he gestured and watched as one of the Prince's private escort began to writhe in pain. Yes- the past had given him great tools- powerful tools that he was now alone in the knowledge and use of. Alone... except for him. My Master...
Treize shivered slightly, and it was lost in the armoured suit he wore. His Master. Emperor Dermail was evil- he was positive of that. And even though he knew himself to be only slightly less dark than his superior, he hated the older man with a passion that was unequalled in his life. In fact there was nothing he wanted more...
Don't go there. There is nothing but pain that way. He sighed deeply as he boarded his own cruiser again and sat down to wait for the search results. Despite the public face Prince Duo wore, Treize was perfectly aware of the mind that resided beneath all that hair. He was almost certain that his search would come to nothing.
But he would wait for confirmation. And think until he got it.
~*~
"What a desolate place this is! I suppose we're meant to suffer- it's our lot in life," Relena-P-O whined to her small companion. R-2 merely beeped at the other droid moodily.
"If you're just gonna whine at me, I'll leave you to be blown up next time. Now come on- we have a mission."
The droid stopped herself in mid-sentence. "A mission? Why would anyone give you a mission? You're just doing this to torture me."
Another series of beeps. "If I wanted to torture you, I would and it wouldn't be pretty! No- Prince Duo sent us down here for a reason, now come on!"
"I'm not going that way! It's too rocky- we'll be bashed to pieces for certain," Relena-P-O replied.
"Suit yourself," R-2 responded as he set off. He beeped to himself in laughter as he heard her voice yelling to him over the sands of Tatooine- "I hope you rust over and die, you wretched little beast!"
R-2 was used to it and perfectly aware that the other droid would need his help soon. It always happened like that. But she would have to wait until Prince Duo's orders were carried out. The mission always comes first!
~*~
Relena P-O (hereafter referred to as Relena) trudged along through the sand dunes of Tatooine and grumbled to her metal self. "That little twerp! He tricked me into going this way- he'll be malfunctioning in a few hours!"
Relena looked around- nothing but sand and rock for as far as her mechanical eyes could see. It was curious- she had a memory file that corresponded to this type of location, an old one that she had not accessed for many years. In fact, it was so old that it was probably obsolete, considering all the advanced programming she had been given.
Which meant that she was stranded in the middle of desert-nowhere.
She was about to go into another rant when something glinted at her from a distant hilltop- "A transport! Out here!? Whatever- I'm saved! Hey! HEY YOU! OVER HERE!"
~*~
The Jawans looked over their catch eagerly- not only had they stolen some rather expensive-looking units, but they had recovered those two robots roaming through the desert wastes. It would be more than enough to turn a profit. And they knew just who to sell them to!
~*~
"Quatre! Quatre!" The blond boy stopped in mid-stride and dutifully turned back towards the house and set off at a run. It was annoying- the Jawan carrier had arrived to sell some new robots, and he so wanted to be there to help his uncle choose good ones- the last set the man had bought had been real duds- but his aunt Iria had to come first.
Iria smiled up at the blond. "Quatre, make sure that he chooses well this time! And remember that we need a translator for those relics he had working in the mining fields!"
Quatre Winner smiled. "No problem, Aunt Iria! But it doesn't look like we have much of a selection to choose from." He turned right back around and trotted towards the huge carrier, silently checking beneath his jacket for his holstered blaster. The Jawans were usually quite easy to deal with, but you could never tell when they'd get rowdy!
He barely managed to catch his Uncle Owen before the older man was dragged up to view the new robots. Quatre followed along, clearly unimpressed by the motley assortment. But still...
That blue one. And the strange-looking P-O unit next to it... We need those two. I know it! Huh?! Why... oh, nevermind!
He turned back around, belatedly noticing that his uncle had moved on and was nearly shaking on a deal for two other suits. "Uncle Owen! You don't want those two! What about a translator?"
The older man looked up, confusion clearly showing in his eyes, and Quatre smirked to himself- it was fun being so... persuasive! He didn't know how it worked, just that he could often make it work, and it made life a hell of a lot easier for him. "How about these two?"
Owen Winner walked over towards his nephew, marvelling at it- he was almost certain he knew how the trick was done. He knew that he had been ready to buy the other two, but he couldn't remember why for the life of him... Which meant that Quatre was up to his tricks again. But still. The boy was too kind to use them unless he had a reason for it. He walked up to the other two droids and stared at them for a moment. "You," he said, addressing Relena P-O, "I suppose that you're programmed for Protocol?"
The robot turned to him with what would have been a smile, had she not been made of metal. "Oh yes, Protocol, translation, changing baby diapers, monitoring intelligence fields..."
"I need a droid that can communicate with Miloan miner systems..."
Relena interrupted him curtly. "Miloan! Of course! I speak Miloan- I am fluent in over five million forms of communication..."
Owen made a sharp movement with his hand. "Shut up. Okay, we'll take these two," he said turning to the Jawans. Quatre motioned for the two droids to follow him, letting his uncle finish the deal.
He talked as he walked, his mind elsewhere. "I'll take you to the workshop, but I'll have to put off on servicing you until I get back..."
"Of course, Sir! I wouldn't dream of putting a cramp into your time- if there's anything I can do to be of service, you need but mention it," Relena rattled off quickly.
Quatre cast a look at the talkative robot- Great, just what I need, a baka robot!
Owen approached the boy and the robots quickly. "Quatre, I need you to service these two for me."
The blond felt his stomach drop- they had promised! This was his day off! "But I was going to head into town for some power converters!"
"You can waste your time with your friends when your chores are done. I need those two ready to go tomorrow morning, and that's that!" Owen replied peevishly. He didn't want to start an argument with his nephew- things tended to get strange when he did.
Quatre glared at his uncle's retreating back before waving to the two robots. "Aw, man! Alright, come on!"
They followed him into the small workshop as he stripped off his now unnecessary jacket and sidearm and tossed both halfway across the room, disappointment glowing in his large, expressive blue eyes.
Relena felt the need to break the silence. "Is there anything I can do?"
Quatre shook his head as he pulled out a set of tools. "Only if you can reverse time and make my uncle admit that I'm not a child anymore!"
"Well, no- I suppose I can't do that."
"It was sarcasm," Quatre grumbled to himself as he straightened.
"Oh, okay. I'm afraid I don't process that well, sir."
Quatre blinked at the title the robot used. "It's Quatre."
"I see, Sir Quatre."
He actually laughed this time. "No, just Quatre, thanks."
Relena held out a mechanical hand. "And I am Relena P-O, human-cyborg relations. This is my counterpart, R-2 D-2."
The little droid beeped out, "Nice to meet you."
Quatre smiled at the little thing and waved. "Hello." He quickly sat down next to R-2 and began looking it over. He sat back with a slight frown. "Lots of scoring and a couple burn marks here. Looks like you two have seen some action."
"Oh, we have! What with the work we've been doing for the Rebel Alliance..."
"You know something about the Alliance?!" Quatre asked, jumping up in surprise.
The robot nodded its head. "That is how we came to be in your service, sir, if you catch my meaning."
Quatre held down his excitement as he bent back down to fiddle with the smaller robot, trying not to pay attention to the growing feeling that this was no coincidence. It was really bizarre, but those gut instincts had never failed him before... "Ow!"
Quatre jumped backwards as something in the small robot sparked and it began to emit... a holographic image?
He stared in shock at the figure there- about his height, maybe a couple of inches taller, it was a young man, more of a boy, really, slender, with a long braid of dark hair and large, hypnotic violet-blue eyes. He was, by far, the most attractive creature Quatre had ever seen.
He listened in silence as the figure began to speak and deliver his message, and stared into blank space after the image disappeared. "He's... he's gorgeous! But it sounded like he was in trouble, I'd better play that back. Can we see it again?"
They waited, but nothing happened. "Hey! Play it back... please?"
Relena decided to try when R-2 didn't respond again. "Play back the message for Master Quatre right now!"
Beep. Beep. I don't know anything about a message. What message?
Relena hit the other robot on its top with her fist. "What message? You know which one- you just played it!"
Beep. Beep. Bite me, Relena.
The other droid turned back to Quatre and shrugged. "I'm sorry, sir. We've seen a lot and it appears this little droid has gotten a bit eccentric."
"Howie-Wan Kenobi," Quatre repeated to himself softly. "I wonder if he meant old Howard."
"Who?"
Quatre smiled at Relena. "Old Howard. He's this crazy old hermit who lives over the dunes. Likes Hawaiian shirts, and..."
"Quatre! Dinner!" his aunt called.
Quatre's smile abruptly disappeared, and he handed the implement in his hands to Relena. "Here. See what you can do with him. I'll be back in a bit." He walked out.
~*~
"Lord Treize!"
Treize turned to his Lieutenant with a dramatic swish of his cloak. "Yes?"
The man gulped furiously before continuing- it was so intimidating, talking to the Sith lord. "We've finished our search of the vessel- the plans are not on board. Now we'll check the systems again, but we're pretty certain... Umm, two escape pods also jettisoned during the fighting, but we let them go since there were no life forms aboard."
Treize silenced the man with a gesture. "He must have hidden the plans with a droid on one of those pods. Go down to the planet's surface and find them!"
The man snapped to attention. "Yes, sir!"
~*~
Quatre frowned as he walked back out to the workshop- his uncle was being unfair! He had been the top in his class, he was the best pilot in the region, and still they wouldn't let him go to the academy to train! He was going to be stuck on this little rock on the edge of the galaxy, and that boy in the video...
The thought of the strange boy sent him back into his workshop with a lighter heart. He would love to help... He flicked on the lights and jumped as Relena popped out from behind a stack of crates. The other robot was nowhere in sight. "Please don't deactivate me, sir! I couldn't stop him- he kept rambling on about some mission and..."
Quatre felt his stomach drop into his toes. "Aww, man!" He grabbed a set of binoculars and ran outside to scan the surrounding hills. The little thing had two hours...
He cast around with a growing feeling of dread. "He's not anywhere on the scope! I am in so much trouble!"
Relena spoke up hesitantly. "Shouldn't we go after him?"
Quatre shook his head. "No- too dark. The sand people would definitely catch us. Damn!"
He headed back for the workshop downheartedly. He would just have to head out first thing in the morning to find the R-2 unit, that was it.
And hope that his uncle didn't find out first!
TBC...
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