"Hey Stahn!  Whatcha doin' down here at lunch time?"  wondered the braided student.

    Stahn opened his eyes and looked down at his now close friend.

    "I should ask you two the same question."

    "You know why we're down here.  You're here for the same reason, pilot 06."

    Stahn flinched at those words.  They were, of course, the words of Heero.  They were, of course, true also.

    "Ok.  I give up.  You found me."

    Stahn slid off the rock and stood in the small circle with the other two.

    "I'm surprised it took you two so long."

    Heero ignored the sarcasm and went straight to the point, which, also, made Stahn flinch.

    "Where's your Gundam?  I wish to take a good look at it."

    Stahn bowed his head and hesitated.  ::  Should I show them Luega?  They wouldn't understand her.  As a matter of fact, they wouldn't understand me either.  Arrggg!  What should I do!?  I know!  I'll bring Luega to the surface in her metal form.  Then, Heero wouldn't doubt it was a Gundam.  He also wouldn't suspect I...  ::

    This train of thought was stopped in it's tracks as Heero interrupted his train of thought.

    "Well?"

    "Sure but I have to use a special devise.  It makes me look less obvious went I bring it to the surface."

    Heero's only reply was a nod.  Duo, for once, stayed silent as Stahn pulled out a polished blue conch shell with various holes in it.  It was also encrusted with jewels.

    "What is that?"  asked Duo, a hint of curiosity and wonder in his voice.

    "It's called a conch flute." replied Stahn.  "It contacts my Gundam in a way that isn't noticeable or that can be picked up by Oz."

    "Wise."  was Heero's only response.

    Then Stahn began to play.  His eyes closed softly as a beautiful melody began to pour from the conch.  Duo stood wide eyed and utterly still and quiet, as if entranced by the song.  Heero had a similar look only not as obvious.  You had to really know what you were looking for to find it.  Suddenly,  the water began to stir and out of the water appeared a large... bird-like, metal, creature.  It had a parrot's beak and it's head was the exact same color, as well as most of it's body, blood red.  It's wings really didn't look like wings at all, besides the feathers.  They looked like huge rectangles protruding from the metal beast's body.  It had the legs of a lion,  the same color as it's body, and the tail of a Stegosaur.  On it's face were two tear drop like black streaks that soon became long, thin, black stripes all the way down it's long neck down to the tip of it's tail.  There were rectangular, black, spikes protruding from it's back that, every so often, would flatten them selves and then return to their normal state (I will draw a picture ^_^ more fun!).

    The two pilots unwillingly gaped at the sight before them but closed their mouths a soon as Stahn stopped playing and put the conch away in his pocket.

    "Well?"

    "It's... impressive..."

    "Impressive!?  It's totally awesome!  You're holding back, Heero!"

    Stahn let out a slight chuckle and pulled out the conch again.  He began to play again and the beast started to submerge once again.  When he had finished, the massive weapon was gone.  :: Good bye again dear friend... ::  Stahn put away the  flute and hopped back on the rock.

    "So, how's the view up there, McBeth?"

    Stahn narrowed his eyes into slits and glared down at Duo.

    "Ok... ok... I'm sorry!  I take it back!"

    Stahn grinned  and looked towards the sunset.  A few moments later, Duo was sitting on the rock next to Stahn and Heero had left to go home.

    "You do know we all ditched classes right?"

    "Yep." Replied Stahn, watching the sunset.

    Duo nodded "Just checkin'"

    "So... you like Luega?"

    "Is that it's name?  Then yeah, totally!"

    "Good, then she'll let you pilot her."

    "Huh?"  Duo looked at him curiously.  "Whatcha mean?"

    "Luega has personality installed in her.  Her attitude is that of a girl's."

    "Ahhh."

    "Yep."

    ""Well," said Duo as he slid off the rock, "I'll see you in the mornin' paly!"

    "How 'bout my place?"

    "Nah, come to mine.  I want you to meet all the guys."

    "'K"

    "See you then!"

    "See ya!"

    Stahn watched to disappearing form of Duo until he was to far away to be seen

    "Good thing Duo didn't decide to come to my place.  This is my home..."

    Stahn looked longingly over the sapphire waters one last time before heading towards his friend's beach house that he had let Stahn use. It wasn't much, but it kept him warm at night and cool during the day, so that's all that mattered.  As he walked in the door and sighed, taking out the metal clasp in his hair.  Suddenly, red streaks appeared all through his hair and his mutiple scars and dragon tattoo painted down the side of his face became clearly visible.  He yawned and floped down on the couch, followed soon by a deep slumber...

                                                                                To be continued....

    E-mail me at zerosystemoverload@gundamwing.net if you want the story to continue.