Shannon sat at the head of the oval shaped table, tapping her fingers on the dark 
glass and occasionally taking a sip of her water as she waited for Lt Tory. She was no 
longer in her sweats. Instead, she was wearing denim jeans and a brown sweater. . Her hair 
was wet from her recent shower and hung down around her shoulders. 	
	Daron stood at the door, looking at her stockinged feet and laughing. "Do you ever 
wear shoes?" he asked. She turned her swivel chair to face him.
	"Only when I have to," she stated matter-of-factly, then she started spinning her 
chair until Lt Tory walked in. She stood to salute him, like he had told her to do when she 
had first been brought there, but ended up falling instead. Daron tried to stifle a giggle 
as she struggled to stand. Once again, she attempted a salute, holding on to the table for 
support. Lt Tory glared at her and made his way to the other side of the table as she sat 
back down. She almost missed her seat, but Daron moved it just in time to catch her. Once 
Shannon was finally seated properly, and the three Lt Torys merged back into one, Daron 
went back to his place at the door. 
	"The reason we have brought you here is a matter of great importance," his eyes 
were serious and his mouth was a straight line. He got up and used a remote to turn on a 
screen that had been behind him. On it was a picture of the earth surrounded by green and 
red dots. "These dots each represent a military base.A while ago, rebel troops began their 
own space bases in an attempt to counteract our own. The green dots are our bases and the 
red ones are the positions of enemy bases that we have been able to locate. We beleive that 
the rebels are manufacturing special mobile suits, using a special metal called gundanium 
that can only be manufactured in space. These suits are refered to as Gundams and are a 
major threat to us." he turned off the screen and faced Shannon. "Your job will be to 
destroy these Gundams using the Hailstorm, which is also considered a gundam." Shannon's 
expression did not change.
	"What if I don't want to?" she asked nonchalantly, leaning back in her chair and 
putting her feet on the table. Her eyes were set on his and her features were serious. Lt 
Tory's expression remained unconcerned.
	"Then I will have to find someone else," his hand was poised on the gun that was 
holstered at his side and Shannon heard a click as the safety was disengaged. 'He's 
bluffing,' she thought to herself,'he's only trying to scare me, but it won't work.' After 
a moment she had made her decision.
	"No," she said in a pixie-ish voice. With that, Lt Tory leaped at her and pulled 
the chair out from under her. Then he kneeled and picked her up by the collar of her shirt 
and glared into her surprised eyes.
	"You will do what I tell you," he yelled,"Is that understood?" He was shaking her 
feircly and her vision was becoming blurred. He threw her to the floor and stalked out of 
the room, leaving a very bewildered, very dizzy, Shannon.


	Shannon was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling when Dr Morgan walked in and 
pulled a chair up next to her bed. "How's your head?" he asked, referring to the ice pack 
on her forehead. Shannon winced as he removed it to examine the bruise that Lt Tory had 
left when he threw her down in the conference room. "I had hoped you would agree to his 
demands and avoided his anger," he looked up grinning,"but you just like to annoy him, 
don't you?" Shannon remained focused on the ceiling as though she hadn't heard him. He 
replaced the ice pack and sat back in his chair.
	"I've decided to accept the training," she said with out moving. Dr. Morgan cocked 
an eyebrow and stared at her. His eyes were full of confusion and concern. She sat up and 
faced him, her eyes focused on his. "I know a little about piloting mobile suits, but I 
could still learn more. As soon as I've learned all I can, I'm taking Hailstorm and 
leaving." She was telling the truth, he knew it, and she was determined.
	"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.
	"Because I trust you," was the only answer she gave. He sighed and stood up.
	Turning to leave, he told her,"don't worry, I won't tell a soul," he turned and 
winked at her," and maybe I'll even install a few goodies." When he reached the door, Daron 
was just coming in, followed by another soldier.
	"You have a visitor," he told her, allowing the other soldier to walk past him into 
the room. Then he left with Dr Morgan. The soldier's head was bowed and and Shannon 
couldn't see his face. As he lifted his head, she gasped in surprise.
	"Its good to see you again, too," he said with a laugh.
	"Jon?" her brow was furrowed and her eyes focused on his familiar features.
	"Close, but no cigar,"he replied,"My real name's Duo, Duo Maxwell. I'm the pilot of 
the Gundam Deathscythe."
	"So you're here to rescue me?" she asked, still looking confused.
	"Not quite," he said as he took out his gun and aimed it at her head,"I'm here to 
kill you." 
	"Why?" she asked, staring at his eyes, rather than the gun.
	"If I let you live, you'll be a threat to the rebellion," his eyes looked sad as he 
stared at his friend, preparing to shoot her.
	"Why would I be a threat?" she asked, standing up and taking a step closer,"I want 
to help them. Once I know how to use Hailstorm, I'm leaving. Why do you have to kill me?"
	"Because, its my mission," he stated," I don't want to kill you, but I have to."
	"And destroy an ally?" she yelled at him,"What kind of rebellion is this?" They 
both stood there, eyes locked for a couple of minutes before Duo lowered his gun and put it 
back in its holster.
	"Fine, I'll take you with me then." he said, looking almost releived.