...A woman's work...

By Quicksylver

Another Au fic (you'll see more in the future) about a universe where there were female gundam pilots.
I've seen the boys in drag and got to wondering what it would be like if they were girls. Haven't decided on a proper name yet but i'm looking for one. Send me your suggestions and maybe yours will be the new title but this one will have to do for now. Enjoy!

Standard Disclaimers apply, no unauthorised posting please.

Wufei groaned; his body aching all over and struggled to sit up, wincing from the pain in his ribs and left wrist. Luckily nothing was broken, only bruised. He looked around. The jeep they had stolen lay where it had crashed, tail up, in the ditch. He could see Heero draped over the steering wheel, unconscious. He stood shakily and made his way toward the vehicle, hoping to find the other pilots unharmed.

His mind drifted to the night before. They had been sent by the doctors on a priority one mission: Infiltrate an Oz research centre and steal their experiment. All had been going according to plan and they were on their way back when something hit their getaway jeep and sent them into the ditch.

If it were Oz...wouldn't they have captured us by now? It's not like we could have put up much of a fight. He shook his swimming head and circled the jeep. He found Quatre lying on the grass, a small gash on his forehead bleeding. Wufei checked him out; there were no serious injuries as far as he could see.

Trowa was sprawled in the front passenger seat; his seatbelt was the only thing that kept him from going through the windshield. He unfastened the tall boy and lay him on the grass next to Quatre. Next out was Heero, one of his ribs was fractured from impact with the steering wheel, but knowing Heero he would recover quickly.

Duo was in the back on the floor of the jeep, his chestnut braid hanging out of the open door. Wufei's back screamed in protest as he maneuvered the Shinigami pilot out of the awkwardly angled jeep. Duo was heavy. Probably from eating five times his weight everyday, Wufei thought wryly.

"You need to lose some weight Maxwell" he grunted, hauling the boy over to where the others lay.

"I heard that Wu." Duo moaned, holding his pounding head between his hands. Wufei smirked.

Half an hour later they were all awake and in varying degrees of pain. Heero seemed unaffected as he inspected the prone vehicle. Duo and Trowa were okay but for a few bruises here and there whereas Quatre had a mild concussion. A sudden 'K'so' was heard from inside the jeep and they all looked up.

Heero climbed out quickly with a small bundle. The experiment that they stole, a small glowing sphere, was in pieces. Duo let out a long string of curses. All that trouble and they had still failed. Heero carefully packaged the remains, and climbed the short distance to the road. They would report back with what they had. Soon they were speeding along the highway in another stolen car, this time a plush mini van with tinted windows and AC.

Heero and Trowa took turns driving, not trusting Duo with a car after what had happened the last time.

"Hey...I totally break for animals " he protested, " and those nuns ran the light...I swear!"

One of the Winner residential holdings, which served as their temporary safe house, was only a few miles away. Wufei craved a warm bath and a rest in the huge bed in his room. At he thought of it he moaned, sinking deeper into the cushy seats of the van.

Trowa pulled up to the main hanger, intending to park the van out of sight in one of the side garages. They piled out of the car, grateful to be home at last. Heero started toward the hanger to check up on Wing Zero. He never made it.

"Freeze...hold it right there!" a voice commanded.

Three maguanac soldiers stood, their automatic weapons trained on the five boys.

"What's the meaning of this? Why are you pointing those guns at us Abdul?" Quatre demanded.

"Be quiet boy!...and keep those hands where I can see them" Abdul ordered.

He spoke to one of the others who rushed inside. Quatre stepped forward, confused.

"Do you know who you're talking too...I am Quatre Winner...master of this house...I order you to put down your weapon immediately!"

Abdul laughed, cocking his rifle for rapid fire. Quatre stepped back, fear seeping through the strong front he was putting forward. Trowa and Heero were about to make a move when a deep voice boomed from the hanger door.

"What's going on here?"

It was Rasid. Quatre let out a cry of relief and started toward the big man but Abdul stepped between them. The blonde was now totally confused.

"Rasid..." he pleaded, "...don't you recognize me...it's me Quatre!...what's going on?"

Rasid waved for Abdul to step back.

"I'm sorry young man but I'm afraid I don't know you. This is private property and we don't allow trespassers...especially those who drive right through our front gate."

He said. "But I am Quatre Raberba Winner...master of this house...pilot of the gundam Sandrock...and these are my friends... Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Wufei Chang and Trowa Barton...the other gundam pilots. I demand to know what's going on Rasid...is this some kind of joke?"

"You must be mistaken boy...I know the gundam pilots and you are not them. How do you know about the gundams anyway?...you could be an Oz spy for all we know!" the big Arabian accused.

He motioned to Abdul."Take them inside...I have some more questions."

The five pilots were shoved toward a spare room in the back of the hanger. As they passed the gundams Heero had to restrain himself from making a break for it. If he was alone he would have tried but he had the others to think about as well. The maguanacs and servants as well as the mechanics all stopped to stare. Something was not right...he could feel it.

Meanwhile Quatre was in a state of disbelief. What was going on? Rasid did not recognize them. Rasid entered the room behind them. He stood, blocking the entire door with his hulking presence, sealing off their only escape route. He scanned their faces with a raised eyebrow.

"Did I hear right when you told me your names?" he inquired.

Quatre nodded weakly. Rasid grunted, opening the door a little to speak in rapid Arabic to the sentry outside.

"Well, it seems we have ourselves a situation here. I have asked Mistress Winner to come, she will sort this out. "

"Mistress Winner?"  Quatre choked.

Rasid left before any more could be said and they all sat, dumfounded by the recent turn of events. Who was this Mistress Winner? And how could she have taken Quatre's place? Their questions were answered as the door opened once more.A petit blonde girl stepped into the room and they all gasped.

Her face was Quatre's...the resemblance was so startling. Her eyes were blue and her blonde tresses were pinned behind her head to fall mid- back with wisps hanging around her pretty face. She was wearing a pink shirt with khaki Capri pants. Her jaw dropped as she saw them, bewilderment evident on her face. She soon gathered her wits and introduced herself.

"Greetings?my name is Quatorce Winner, mistress here. Who are you?"

They all sat speechless until Heero spoke.

"We are gundam pilots...what's going on here?" he demanded, standing.

Abdul growled and moved forward, standing between him and the girl. With his gun he motioned warningly for Heero to back away. Heero sat, murder in his eyes. Rasid related the recent happenings once more, the girl's eyes widening when their names were mentioned.

"Trowa Barton?" she gasped, looking at Trowa incredulously. " but...you're not Trowa!"

The tall pilot froze. The girl went on."Rasid..." she commanded, "...send for Trowa Barton up at the house."

A servant was dispatched quickly, returning almost immediately. Trowa Barton was already on the way. Soon a girl entered the room and once again the five boys were struck mute. She was tall and slim; her red brown hair hung mid-cheek around her pale face, covering her right eye. She wore a green polo shirt and fitted jeans. She stared expressionlessly at the boys before turning to the blonde.

"He claims to be you, Trowa." Quatorce explained.

Everyone looked back and forth between the two, more confused now than before. The two Trowas stared at each other, their faces total identical masks. A heavy silence descended over the small room. Duo groaned, cradling his aching head in his hands. This was getting way too complicated. Wufei quickly recapped the previous night's happenings, up until they pulled up in front of the house.

"Well?" Quatorce exhaled, " this is confusing...Trowa...what do you think?"

The tall girl looked at her, then at the boys. "It's a very interesting story...and they seem convinced themselves. They couldn't have possibly made this up on a fluke. I think we should talk to Dana...she knows about this kind of thing."

"Yes, Dana would know... wait a minute...are you...Chang Wufei?" the blonde girl asked.Wufei sat alert.

"You know me?" he asked.

The two girls looked at each other, then back at Wufei. They seemed genuinely surprised.

"You know him don't you?" Heero accused.

The tall girl tilted her head to one side then answered. "We know of you...but we were told that you were dead. You died on the colony."

Wufei was flabbergasted. Dead?

"Hey Wu-man?you're a ghost!" Duo joked, trying to put light on the whole situation. It didn't work.

"Maybe we should take this up to the house" Quatorce suggested, "I think I know what's going on but you'll have to show us that sphere."

                                                                                    ***********

Lt. Zel Marquese fingered the hilt of her uniform sword. It was a habit she picked up back at the academy and could never break. Old habits die hard I guess, she mused as she waited to be summoned. To be called from the field so suddenly by direct order of the general was surprising not to mention unnerving. But she was one never known for weak nerves.

Her train of thought was broken by the opening of the huge oak doors that led to the general's office suite. A young man with purple hair emerged, his face warm.

"Luc!" Zel gasped, she had not seen him since she left the academy.

He smiled and shook her hand heartily, his eyes alight.

"It's good to see you Zel...It's been so long!" he gushed before ushering her into the huge office.

Sunlight poured through the pane glass windows, accenting the exquisite beige and browns of the suite. Zel stood at attention in front of the large mahogany desk and saluted crisply to the Oz general.

"Thank You Lt. Noin ...That will be all for now." A sharp feminine voiced cut through the silence.

The purple haired youth nodded curtly before turning on his heels and leaving the room. Sharp brown eyes then turned to study the blonde.

"General Une..." Zel began but was cut off by a raised hand. Une smiled slightly.

"I know you must be wondering why you were called away from active duty so abruptly..." she began, raising an eyebrow as Zel showed none of the curiosity she obviously felt.

Une curled her fingers under her chin."... but a situation has unfolded that needs some... 'special attention'." She finished off, leaning snugly back into the chair.

Zel wrinkled her fore head beneath the metal of her mask. Special attention?

She decided to bide her time and remain silent until things made themselves clear. Une smirked as the corners of Zel's lips twitched.

"A special project General?"

"Don't play coy with me Lightning Countess..." Une frowned, "...or should I call you Relena Peacecraft?"

Zel stiffened, her breath caught in her throat as her past life resurfaced so suddenly.

"General please... don't call me by that name."

"Very well" Une conceeded, "... there is no room for games here. This venture is important to Oz and could very well be our ticket to winning the war."

Zel nodded. "I'll do my best ma'am"

Une smiled again. "I'm sure you will Zel Marquese... I'm sure you will."


                                                                                        **************

Hope you liked it. ja ne.

On to Part Two

Comments?

Central Archives

Back to Main